The 2015 production of Welcome to the Hard Luck Cafe, a finalist for best play at the Thespis Theatre Festival in Manhattan, featured the following:
DEBRA WHITFIELD (Director/Choreographer)
Debra was named Best Director for Welcome to the Hard Luck Cafe at the Thespis Theater Festival. A year earlier she directed and choreographed the world premiere of ROPE, the most nominated show of the Venus Adonis Festival in NYC. She was the dramaturg and directed Olympics Über Alles, Off-Broadway at St. Luke’s Theatre. Debra developed/directed The Banana Monologues, Off-Broadway at the Acorn Theatre. She directed/choreographed Bennett House, a new musical version of Pride and Prejudice, by Eric Dente and David Aaron Austin (Upcoming Beaches on Broadway). Other credits include Trifles/Looking Glass Theatre/Beaux Arts Da Vinci Award for Best Revival and In the Belly of the Beast/Florida Studio Theatre/Best Play of the Year, also Best Director nomination. Debra was an Associate Producer for the Off-Broadway musical, National Pastime. She recently directed/choreographed the West Coast premiere of ROPE in San Diego in March, 2016. www.DebraWhitfield.net
TREVOR M PIERCE (Music Director)
Trevor is a New York-based music director, accompanist, and vocal coach, and has worked at regional houses across the east coast in many different musical capacities. Upcoming: ELF Nat'l Tour (Associate Conductor). Select credits include: ANYTHING GOES Nat'l Tour (Associate Conductor), New London Barn (DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS), Eagle Theatre (CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, Philadelphia Premiere), Forestburgh Playhouse (MY FAIR LADY, MAME with Loretta Switt, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES), 11th Hour Theater Co (Lippa's THE WILD PARTY). A Philadelphia transplant, Trevor has worked with the Walnut Street Theatre, the Arden Theatre Co, University of the Arts, Montgomery Theater, and many others. He holds a BA in Theatre Arts and Music from the University of Pennsylvania. www.trevompierce.com
SAM DURANT HUNTER (Richard)
Sam is a New York City based film and stage actor originally from southern Vermont. He has set his sights on new works and is very excited to be a part of this production of WELCOME TO THE HARD LUCK CAFE. Past credits include SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD (Man 2), GODSPELL (Jesus), JOHN AND JEN, ROPE (Noah), PARIS THROUGH THE WINDOW, and RAISE ME UP (Clyde). Training: University of Vermont Department of Theatre, Ken Schatz Acting Studio, The Studio with Brad Calcaterra. www.samduranthunter.com
LINA SARRELLO* (Cynthia)
Originally from Miami, Florida, Lina Sarrello is a multi-lingual actress, director, writer, and producer. She has toured nationally in West Side Story (Anita), The King and I (Lady Thiang), and She Loves Me (Ilona Ritter). New York credits include Repertorio Español, LaTea, SEA, the Duo Theater, Latino Flavored Productions, and The Puerto Rican Traveling Theater (2010 Latin Ace Award/ Best Actress in a Comedy. As a voice artist, Lina has voiced products for L'Oreal, McDonalds, and Radio Shack in both Spanish and English. TV credits include 30 Rock and Inside Amy Schumer. She can be seen as Mena in the new comedy web series, Mix-Matched, on YouTube. www.linasarrello.com // LoboShortFilm.com
JOEL HURT JONES* (Joe)
Joel’s theatre credits include the Kennedy Center, Irish Rep, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Theatre for the New City, etc. Film and television include “House of Cards”, “Scrubs”, “Law & Order”, “Blue Streak”, “Showtime”, among others. He has written professionally for television (Rocky & Bullwinkle’s Christmoose Special) and with comedy partner Jason Kravits won the Jurors Award for best Sketch/Alternative Act at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, CO. In February, 2016 Joel appeared as Nathan Detroit in the Pittsburgh Public Theatre production of Guys and Dolls.
DARRELL PURCELL (Marcus)
Darrell is ecstatic to be joining Welcome to the Hard Luck Café! Darrell is a graduate of East Carolina University and New York Film Academy. Darrell made his Off Broadway debut in “Olympics Uber Alles” at St. Lukes Theatre in 2014 and recently finished a run as Seaweed in Hairspray at Temple Theatre in NC. Favorite Credits include: CATS, Cinderella (AFT national tour), Black Journey, Peter Pan, Clybourne Park, 42nd Street, Shrek the Musical, Tarzan, and Young Frankenstein. Proud EMC.
JANICE LANDRY* (Hazel)
Off-Broadway/Tour: Disney On Classic Japan Tour with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra (Anna in Frozen), National Pastime at Playwrights Horizons (Karen), and Dear Edwina at DR2 Theater (Edwina). Favorite NY/Regional credits include: Woody Guthrie's American Song at Saint Michael's Playhouse, Deployed at NYMF, and The Irish... And How They Got That Way at The Kimmel Center. Much love to Martin! www.janicelandry.com
MARY DILLON (Anne)
Some of Mary's most recent, favorite roles have been: Martha in Bury the Dead at HB Playwrights-Directed by Geoffrey Owens, the Lead Female in Finding the Way- a Finalist in last years's Midtown Int'l Theater Festival and Mary Lincoln's Psychic on the Travel Channel. She knew immediately upon entering the audition room for Welcome to the Hard Luck Cafe, that she wanted to have this role, and is pleased to have been cast. Thanks to Michael Beckett, Helen Gallagher and Dan Manjovi.
MELISSA BRODER (Mimi)
Melissa Broder has been performing in community, regional, and off-Broadway shows since she was 9-years-old. Favorite stage roles include Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense, “Stella Deems” in Follies, “Melissa Frake” in State Fair, Josephine Strong in Urinetown, Dora in Fiorello!, “Gilmer” in Godspell, “Jenny” in Company, “Narrator” in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, “Susie” in Babes in Arms, and Gwendolyn Pigeon in The Odd Couple. Melissa is a proud Lifetime Member of the St. Bart’s Players in Manhattan, where she has served on the board for 25 years, and lives in Hoboken, NJ with her husband, and 2 cats, Mack and Mabel. She is thrilled to be joining the cast and team of Welcome to the Hard Luck Café.
RICHARD LINDENFELZER (Dan)
Richard is from Tyngsboro, Massachusetts and a proud graduate of Ithaca College. He most recently played Evelyn Oakleigh on the national tour of Anything Goes. Other credits include Les Miserables (Bishop) and An Enemy of the People (Hovstad). Love to my family, friends and HDs! www.richardlindenfelzer.com
TAMMY SALAZAR (Katie)
Tammy is thrilled to be making her NYC debut! Venezuelan and raised in Miami Florida, she has performed in the Sunshine state as well as in Chicago. Favorite credits include Much Ado About Nothing, West Side Story, and the Real Inspector Hound. She thanks her family and dear friends for all their support. Much love.
ALEXIS TIDWELL (Alexis)
Alexis Tidwell is an actress, vocalist, and vocal coach from Memphis, TN but currently resides in New York, NY. She holds a Masters of Music with a concentration in Choral Music Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her accomplishments include performing in Carnegie Hall with the University of Tennessee Choral Department, performing at 54 Below, singing back up for Michael Buble’, singing for the likes of Dr. Ben Carson and Hill Harper, performing for the Norwegian Cruise Line, and being cast in numerous professional and regional productions.
* Courtesy of Actors' Equity
CREW
KATY SWANN (Stage Manager)
Katy is a New York based Stage Manager from Oklahoma City. Off-Broadway: The Liquid Plain (Signature Theatre), Tamburlaine the Great: Parts I & II (Theatre for a New Audience), Fable (NYMF/Signature). Las Vegas Strip: Surf! The Musical (Kristin Hanggi, director). Other Credits: Abingdon Theatre Company, The Actors Company Theatre, New York Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Busch Gardens. M.F.A. University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
JANICE O’DONNELL (Costume Design)
Janice has designed costumes for New York City’s ACC stage for over 15 years-- most recently, Outward Bound, The Lyons, Ramshackle Inn, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Ten Little Indians and Laughter on the 23rd Floor. Other Off-Broadway costume design credits include Olympics Über Alles, The Banana Monologues and Bikeman- The 9/11 Theatrical Experience.
DEBRA MOOLIN (Prop Master )
CASEY SCHWARTZ (Set Designer)
PATRICK BAKALLI (Light and Sound Designer)
STEVE HILL ( Photographer)
PAULA HOZA (Program Designer)
ED HUETHER, Id Unleashed Productions (Video)