Cast

Devon Pipars – Tracy, Asylum

Devon PiparsOriginally from BC, Canada, Devon completed her MFA in acting at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory where she enjoyed playing roles like Raina in Arms and the Man and Evelyn in The Shape of Things. In NY, last year’s TV credits in include Lipstick Jungle and Law and Order: SVU. Devon has begun film fight choreography, and has a short on YouTube called The Barn Identity-Round 2. Devon is the president of Element 8 Ensemble, whose members are amongst the cast.

Jamie Carroll – Molly, Below the Belt

A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC), Jamie has been performing throughout New York for many years. Some favorite roles include: Shelby (Steel Magnolias), Margory (Vinager Tom), and Sophie (Star Spangled Girl). She had the privilege of originating the role of Jules in Lisa Del Rosso’s Clare’s Room which premiered at the New York International Fringe Festival, and the role of Alexandra in Stuart Gerber’s comedy 99 Degrees. A veteran of stage, television and film, Jamie can be found behind the scenes when she’s not performing, working as a Casting Producer in the television world. Many thanks to an amazing cast and crew, and to Dennis for the gift of his words and spirit.

Justin Anselmi – Tim, Asylum; Jerry, Below the Belt

Justin AnselmiJustin Anselmi, a recent graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC) and former member of the AADA Company is thrilled to be a part of Dis/Connections. As a member of the AADA Company Justin had the pleasure of playing Iago in Othello, Betty/Gerry in Cloud 9, Nick in Snowing at Delphi and Hubert Laurie in Night Must Fall. Originally from Kansas, Justin cultivated a love and need for the theatre in the small town of Paola, KS where he graduated high school. He then spent several years studying theatre at various colleges while teaching high school students with autism and working as a custodian at an elementary school. He’s now enjoying the fruits of NYC.

Keith Hamilton – Mark, Fetal Pig; Curtis, Below the Belt

Keith HamiltonKeith Hamilton is a writer, actor and co-founder of Traplight Productions (www.traplightproductions.com), a company dedicated to the development and creation of film/theater with artistic integrity and imagination. Keith wrote and co-starred in the play, Pipeman on the Moon, which opened at the Elephant Asylum Theater in Los Angeles, 2005, and enjoyed a successful second run at the Hudson Mainstage Theater (LA) in 2006. Keith often collaborates with his brother, writer/director Blake Hamilton. Their short films, In Light of Mrs. Walton and Unfurl, were official selections of The Montreal World Film Festival and The Tel Aviv Film Festival, respectively. Keith is currently completing his feature length screenplay The Skylark, which is tentatively scheduled to shoot winter 2010.

Kelsey Torstveit – August, Asylum; Amy, Below the Belt

Kelsey TorstveitKelsey Torstveit is rounding out her first year of living in New York City with this production of Dis/Connections, but is no stranger to Dennis Bush’s work. She was in the original workshop productions of Below the Belt and Asylum and was in the debut performance of his one-act play, Cracks, at An Evening of New Works presented by the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts in 2008. She attends New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and the Lee Strasberg Institute of Theatre and Film. She is beyond thrilled to be working with such a talented group of people.

Kiki Bertocci – Janine, Asylum

Kiki BertocciKiki Bertocci began her acting career at age 15 as a skull carrying chorus member in Shakespeare & Companyʼs Fall Festival of Shakespeare. Since that first step into the footlights she has worn the robes of Cleopatra, Katherine, Bianca, the Lady Anne and Beatrice. Outside of the Bardʼs cannon she has performed leading roles in Brighton Beach Memoirs, The House of Bernarda Alba, Arms and the Man, Women of Lockerbie, Final Placement, Baby Dance, and The Skriker. Kiki received her training in voice, speech, movement and acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Art (NYC) and is a proud member of Shakespeare & Company.

Krystal Blackman – Dinah, Asylum; Willow, Below the Belt

Krystal BlackmanKrystal Blackman was born and raised in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. After acquiring her Technical Theater degree at Johnson State College, VT, she moved to NYC to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she received an associate’s degree in acting and participated in the 2007 Academy Company. Previous roles include: Judith Keith in The Jewish Wife, Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest, Blanche in Brighton Beach Memoirs, Bertha in Hello from Bertha, and Teresa in Memory of Water. She would like to thank her family and friends for their continual love and support: “my cup runneth over”.

Melissa Teitel – Emma, Fetal Pig; Selena, Below the Belt

Melissa TeitelMelissa originally hails from Pittsburgh, PA and is a founding member of the Element 8 Theatre Ensemble. She could not be happier to be working on this, her 3rd collaboration with Dennis Bush. Melissa first performed the play Fetal Pig at the Evening of New Works presented by the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts in 2007. She is a recent graduate of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. Her favorite roles include Aunt Blanche in Broadway Bound (Asolo Theatre) and Helena in Midsummer Night’s Dream (Asolo Theatre). She has been listed as a Top Performer by both the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the Sarasota Herald Tribune. She has also been seen in the NYC Fringe Festival in a play called, Clare’s Room, written by Lisa Del Rosso. Melissa would like to thank Dennis Bush for his unwavering support, and his immense talent.

Nick Coleman – Ray, Below the Belt
(Photography, Web/Print Design)

Nick ColemanA writer, actor, photographer, and filmmaker originally from West Plains and Nixa, Missouri, Nick’s training includes years of community and educational theatre, collegiate work at Missouri State University, and private coaching in New York City. He is an owner and partner in Howell County Films, a founding member of the Missouri Film Alliance of Springfield, and also Element 8 Ensemble. For the theater: Sean (All Aboard the Marriage Hearse), Ben Denbo (Single Bullet Theory), Dag (In The Parlance—OOBR Award). For the screen: Patrick Whistler (Larva—Sci-Fi Channel), Barry (Maid of Honor—Best Short Film, LI Film Fest), et al. Nick is a member of SAG and AFTRA. www.ncoleman.com

Ross Beohringer – Kevin, Asylum; Xander, Below the Belt
(Lead Producer)

Ross BoehringerRoss Boehringer most recently appeared in Hellʼs Kitchen the Musical at the Hudson Guild Theatre. He has done many rounds of The Dare Project – 10 minute plays based on a dare. In Chicago, he did an original musical called Any Someone at All at Second City. He once went on an East Coast Tour of A Christmas Carol–that was very fun. He also did Laughing Stock, Anything to Declare?, A Christmas Carol, and Lady Windemereʼs Fan at the Asolo Theatre in Sarasota Florida. He played Dave in Otherwise Engaged at the Banyan Theatre in Sarasota. He is a graduate of the Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training in Sarasota. Heʼs just really happy to be doing these plays.

Sarah Stockton – Laurie, Asylum; Trish, Below the Belt

Sarah StocktonSarah Stockton, a native Oregonian, received her MFA from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory in 2005. New York theatre credits include Rokhele in the world premiere English adaptation of Sholem Asch’s With the Current (Center Stage) as well as Celie in Language of Angels and Sarah in JB (78th Street Theatre). Sarah was most recently seen in May playing Una in Florida Studio Theatre’s production of Blackbird. Film/TV: Amy in 3lbs and Adelle in the feature film The Unidentified. In June of 2007, Sarah was chosen to participate in the Shakespeare Workshop taught by Robert Neff Williams of Juilliard, through Theatre for a New Audience. Prior to graduate school, Sarah was awarded Best Actor at the American College Theater Festival nationals (”Irene Ryans”), held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

Tommy Buck – Geoffrey, Asylum; Bill, Below the Belt

Tommy BuckTommy Buck is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC) were he appeared in productions of Boys Life, The Real Thing, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Flight of the Earls. Some of his favorite regional theatre credits are Ellard in The Foreigner, Eugene in Broadway Bound, and Woman One in Samuel Becket’s Play. Tommy played Ben in Six Degrees of Separation for the Brooklyn Gallery Players. Tommy was a member of the original New York cast of Asylum and has enjoyed working on the piece for a second time.

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