PlayLab Workshops 2000

BILLIE AND FRAN

April 26, 29, 30, 2000

By Eric Hissom

Theatre unmasked!  Step behind the scenes and take part in the concocting of three new plays.  The Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival presents the second play in its PlayLab Workshop series, Eric Hissom's "Billie and Fran," 7 pm Wednesday April 26.  Treated as a work-in-progress, "Billie and Fran" will be presented again at 2 pm on Saturday April 29 and Sunday April 30.  All workshops will take place at the Festival's theatre at Orlando-Loch Haven Park, 812 E. Rollins St.  

A full-length farce-noire, the play depicts a wild affair between Creativity and Destruction, in the incarnation of a team of playwrights, one besotted, the other bedraggled, who are hoping for one more chance at Fame and Success in Hollywood.  Hissom has produced two of his works ("Daybreak" and "Dusk") at the Orlando International Fringe Festival, and his adaptation of "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" was professionally produced in New Jersey at Cape May Stage.  

Director Laura Lee Oliver is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and a product of the Berkshire Theatre Festival's Internship program. In addition to Billie and Fran, Laura-Lea is directing The Cerulean Group's production of Oscar Wilde's "Salome" for the Orlando International Fringe Festival.

Professional actors from the Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival's repertory company will be taking part in the workshop: Holly Haire, Sarah Hankins, Mandi Moss, Suzanne O'Donnell, Richard Toth, and Eric Hissom.

The PlayLab Workshop series follows a very successful Readings series, which took place this past Fall and Winter.  As an intermediate step between a reading and a full production, the Workshop series enables playwrights to refine and polish their scripts, in collaboration with the Festival's directors and actors.  Eric Hissom, the Festival's Director of New Play Development, envisions the Workshop series as a laboratory where the volatile ingredients of new play, professional artists, and willing audience all mix together for the first time.  By scheduling three workshops for each new work, Hissom hopes to thoroughly nurture the plays, with an eye towards scheduling them for future Festival seasons on the Mainstage.

Tickets are available for the "Billie and Fran" workshops, as well as the remaining show in the series, "Around the World in Eighty Days."  Please call (407) 893 4600 extension 1 for reservations.  Admission prices are $7 for each workshop, or $15 for all three.  For further schedule information, please call (407) 893-4600 ext 242, or check the website at www.shakespearefest.org.

Directed by Laura-Lea Oliver
Sarah Hankins, Stage Manager
Sponsored by Foster Harmon in memory of his beloved wife Martha.

Who's Who
Holly Haire, Billie.  Holly can currently be seen on the Mainstage as Emilia in "Comedy of Errors" and Moth in "Lovešs Labouršs Lost."  A graduate of Boston University, Holly has worked with the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, Utah Shakespearean Festival, Actor's Shakespeare Company, Huntington Theatre Company, George Street Playhouse, and the Passage Theatre Company, as well as Off-Broadway productions.  She earned the Best Cameo Performance for her role in the East Coast premiere of Beth Henley's play "Signature."  

Sarah Hankins, stage manager.  Sarah is finishing up a year-long internship with the Festival, where she acted as the assistant stage manager for "Macbeth," "Complete History of America (abridged,)" and "Love's Labour's Lost" and appeared on stage in "Gross Indecency" and "Comedy of Errors."  She has also performed in the PlayLab reading series.  Sarah spent last year with Charlotte Repertory Theatre as ASM and understudy, and performed in their New Play Festival 1999.  She graduated Cum Laude from Davidson College with a BA in Theatre.

Eric Hissom, playwright and Les.  Eric has been associated with the Festival for five seasons, and is appearing on the Mainstage as Berowne in "Love's Labour's Lost" and Dromio of Syracuse in "Comedy of Errors."  He won the 1999 Lillie Stoates award for Best Actor for his work in the world premiere of Jim Helsinger's one-man show "Frankenstein, the Modern Prometheus."  Eric's directorial debut with the Festival was this season's highly acclaimed
"Complete History of America (abridged)."  Regional credits include work at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the Arden Theatre, the Philadelphia Festival for New Plays, and Cape May Stage, where Eric also directed several works.  He is the director of PlayLab, the Festival's new play development program.

Mandi Moss, Bobbie.  An intern at the Festival, Mandi is appearing in the spring repertory season as Luce in "Comedy of Errors," Maria in "Love's Labour's Lost," and the glamorous Martine in "Renaissance Revels."  She played Fred Atkins/Frank Harris in "Gross Indecency," and Ross in "Macbeth," during the Festival's indoor season.  Past credits include "Titus Andronicus," "Suckers...," "The Insanity of Mary Girard," and "Noises Off."  She is a featured model for Anti-Babe: Body Attitudes by Jodi.

Suzanne O'Donnell, Fran.  Suzanne has been a frequent and popular actor at the Festival, most recently as Lady Percy in "Henry IV part one) and Hermia in "A Midsummer Night's Dream."  She has directed both here at the Festival ("Holiday Memories") and at Southwinds Theatre.  She was the lead educator for the year-long pilot program at Edgewater High School this year.  Suzanne returns to the Festival stage in "Billie and Fran" while still continuing the lead role of Mommy, costarring husband Jim Helsinger and ten-month-old Rosalind.

Richard Toth, Dunhill.  In his debut season with the Festival, Richard is playing Angelo in "Comedy of Errors," Holofernes in "Love's Labour's Lost," and a musician in "Renaissance Revels."  He has worked as an actor, circus
clown, puppeteer and director in the United States and Europe with companies such as Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, Circo Americano, and The Hudson Vagabond Puppets.  His own performance group, Misery Loves Co., recently finished a five year residency in Prague, the Czech Republic and is currently producing a series of short films.  Richard also taught in the Festivalšs MasterClass series this year.

Laura-Lea Oliver, director.  Laura-Lea is thrilled to be collaborating with the Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival for the first time.  A graduate of The University of Central Florida and product of the Berkshire Theatre Festival's
Internship program, she plans to continue her education in pursuit of an MFA in Directing.  In addition to "Billie and Fran," Laura-Lea is directing The Cerulean Group's production of Oscar Wilde's "Salome" for the Orlando Fringe.  She would like to thank Eric for the opportunity, the cast and crew for their dedication, and Mike for his support.

This production is dedicated to the memory of Martha (Marty) Harmon, beloved wife of Foster Harmon.  During her lifetime, Marty espoused many arts causes, including the Art Museum at Ohio University, the Sarasota Opera, and Florida State University's Asolo Conservatory.  The Harmons sponsored Ericšs graduate studies at the Asolo, and have been closely involved with his career for many years.  Warm thanks to them both for their love and support.

                                                                 Last Updated: 05/06/2007                    Copyright Orlando Shakespeare Theater