Getting to know some of our 12 Chairs Actors:
PEGGY SMITH (Actress Two/Mom) has had a busy year playing Madame Pernelle in Tartuffe, and Gonzala in The Tempest with Commonwealth Classic Theatre Co, Mammy in The Cripple of Inishmaan with Curio Theatre Co, Bertie in Mother Tongue with Quince Productions, and Vera Charles in Mame for Renaissance Music Theatre/P&P. Select credits: Long Day's Journey Into Night (Mary Tyrone, Simpatico Theatre Project), Wenceslas Square (The Women, Walnut Street Theatre Independence Studio on 3 Series), Memory House (Maggie, Flashpoint Theatre Co), Our Town (Mrs. Soames, Delaware Theatre Co), and three previous shows with Quince Productions: May Logan Eastern Standard, Barbara Ellen Diggs The New Century, Arlene Next Fall. Peggy is a trained theater Audio Describer for the Blind. Never forever...
J.J. Van Name: Off-Broadway: Created role of Sinclaire/SEALED FOR FRESHNESS: New World Stages and Pantheon Theatre, Bertie/MOTHER TONGUE: Abingdon Theatre-GAYFEST NYC. Favorites at The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre: Nurse/ROMEO & JULIET, Paulina/THE WINTER’S TALE, Cerimon & Bawd/PERICLES, Emilia/OTHELLO, Goneril/KING LEAR, Maria/TWELFTH NIGHT, Baptista/THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, Witch/MACBETH. Other performances include: Delaware Shakespeare Festival: The COMEDY OF ERRORS; Bristol Riverside Theatre: THE BALKAN WOMEN, ZORBA, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU; Wilma Theatre: THE RULING CLASS; Lantern Theatre: LOVERS, TWELFTH NIGHT, ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. Philly Premiere of PARALLEL LIVES: THE KATHY & MO SHOW. Next up: Cornelia/THE WHITE DEVIL: PAC, Philadelphia Artist’s Collective.
Jaylene Clark Owens is an AUDELCO and Barrymore Award winning actress, as well as a highly acclaimed poet. She is a Philly resident from Harlem, NY. Owens received her BFA in Acting from Ithaca College. She is a first place Apollo Theater Amateur Night winner for her poetry. Owens is the Executive Director of Harlem KW Project, LLC, which is the theatrical company she created with three other women to create the poetry-infused play about gentrification in Harlem, Renaissance in the Belly of a Killer Whale. Her theatre credits include: An Octoroon (The Wilma Theater), Moon Man Walk (Orbiter 3), Red Speedo (Theatre Exile). She is a Resident Artist for The Wilma Theater’s acting company, Hothouse. For more information: JayleneClarkOwens.com
Christina May is a lover, artist, educator who lives to love, create and inspire. Christina is a graduate of the University Of The Arts, where she received her BFA in Theatre Arts in 2005. She is the Founder and President of Image of The Word, LLC established in 2008. She developed her own company to serve as an Acting Coach for aspiring artists, and to create and showcase her original works as an Actor. Her approach is zany, full of energy and 100% authentic.
Christina has worked with the Philadelphia Jazz Project performing with renowned jazz singer Rhenda Ferrington. Participating in the Philadelphia Jazz Walk, Strayhorn Tribute at Philadelphia Theatre Company and recently with Rhenda in "Art After 5" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Christina was cast in "In The Blood" by Susan Lori Parks last season with Theatre Horizon which was nominated for several "Barrymore Awards" including "Best Ensemble" also participating in conjunction with a project called “Imagine No Homelessness" taking parts of this production to shelters in Montgomery County. Christina most performed in the Philadelphia Fridge Festival 2015 with "Ferdinand’s” Not For Profit" with Jack Tamburri, MJ Kaufman, Doug Green, Jennifer Macmillan in the Wilma Theatre Lobby.
Christina was featured in an episode of “Who Wants To Star In A Move” as a judge which airs every Sunday 4pm in on PhillyCAM Channel 66/966 Comcast and Channel 29/30 Verizon. Christina also collaborated with Luke Allen Productions to Produce two full length documentary films: “Gender Journey’s More Than A Pronoun” which premiered at the “Women’s Film Festival” in Philadelphia and “Gender Journey’s Trade Addiction & Homelessness” which will have a feature trailer in next year’s Women’s Film Festival where she will be the host. You can currently catch her at the Painted Bride Arts Center where is curating the “Secret Show Series” with Pheobe Shaub.
Love to Michelle Pauls for being a wonderful director, Meryl for being great partner to play with on stage and Revamp Collective for facilitating such series.
Christina has worked with the Philadelphia Jazz Project performing with renowned jazz singer Rhenda Ferrington. Participating in the Philadelphia Jazz Walk, Strayhorn Tribute at Philadelphia Theatre Company and recently with Rhenda in "Art After 5" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Christina was cast in "In The Blood" by Susan Lori Parks last season with Theatre Horizon which was nominated for several "Barrymore Awards" including "Best Ensemble" also participating in conjunction with a project called “Imagine No Homelessness" taking parts of this production to shelters in Montgomery County. Christina most performed in the Philadelphia Fridge Festival 2015 with "Ferdinand’s” Not For Profit" with Jack Tamburri, MJ Kaufman, Doug Green, Jennifer Macmillan in the Wilma Theatre Lobby.
Christina was featured in an episode of “Who Wants To Star In A Move” as a judge which airs every Sunday 4pm in on PhillyCAM Channel 66/966 Comcast and Channel 29/30 Verizon. Christina also collaborated with Luke Allen Productions to Produce two full length documentary films: “Gender Journey’s More Than A Pronoun” which premiered at the “Women’s Film Festival” in Philadelphia and “Gender Journey’s Trade Addiction & Homelessness” which will have a feature trailer in next year’s Women’s Film Festival where she will be the host. You can currently catch her at the Painted Bride Arts Center where is curating the “Secret Show Series” with Pheobe Shaub.
Love to Michelle Pauls for being a wonderful director, Meryl for being great partner to play with on stage and Revamp Collective for facilitating such series.
(pictured above, clockwise): Elise D'Avella, Jennifer MacMillian, Katherine Perry, Meghan Winch, Kyra Baker
(not pictured): Meryl Lynn Brown, Rupal Pujara, Cathy Simpson, Christina May
(not pictured): Meryl Lynn Brown, Rupal Pujara, Cathy Simpson, Christina May
