Faust, U.S.

The Folly and Consequence of Bad Decision

Feb. 1 - 16, 2008
All Shows 7:30p

performing at
Imago Theatre
17 SE 8th Ave
Portland, OR

Personal and political gain. Environment in the balance. A world at the brink. Is this even fiction?

Just how much effect can one politician have on the system? How about when the pol in question is willing to nakedly leverage the environment for his own myopic gain? Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus is given a topical new treatment in the Re-Theatre Instrument's inaugural production, Faust, U.S. With the zeitgeist shouting ever louder for a frank debate on climate change, we offer the story of a Senator who becomes a President only to discover that there is no magic bullet to effect sweeping social change, and the lure of quick fix is much too great.

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for a politician to break with dogma...

Testimonials

"...the production is surprisingly polished and the heart of the company is in the right place..."
Richard Wattenberg, The Oregonian

"It was the best live theatre we've seen in 5 years! Great script... well acted... relevant!"
Sam & Denise Long, audience members

"...a well acted, mature, stylistically provocative work of art. It is refreshing to see solid performances on the stage, and it gave me a sense of hope for local theater... absolutely dead on performances."
Djerek Kayzakian-Rowe, audience member

Cast

Danielle Vermette Danielle (BFA, University of Central Missouri) has been an Imago Theatre company member since 1999, touring with trademark shows Frogz and Biglittlethings in venues as varied as the New Victory Theatre in New York City and Maplewood Elementary School in Portland, Oregon. Most recently, she appeared in Imago's Hit Me In the Stomach and The Father Thing, and can be seen in Carol Triffle's The Dinner this spring. Additionally, she spends many hours (along with musical genius and compulsive IKEA shopper, Katie Griesar) creating tiny pieces of theatre for Performance Works Northwest. Danielle is thrilled to be part of RTI's debut show in Portland.
Jamie Rea A renaissance woman of the theatre, Jamie has had the pleasure of exploring this powerful tool for connection and change for over 15 years. She is a founding ensemble member of the Drunken Monkeys of Brooklyn Bay (Scott Kelman) and an associate artist with Sojourn Theatre. Some favorite local roles include 7 Great Loves (Sojourn), Tao Soup (Kelman), Hannah in Arcadia (Lakewood Theatre Co.), Ymma in Silence (jackers productions), Gabriella in References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot and Guard in Lorca in a Green Dress (The Miracle Theatre). She has production stage managed and designed in Australia, directed in Canada, danced at The Body, a festival of dance and physical theatre in Christchurch, New Zealand and sound designed in Ohio. Jamie is a connoisseur of hats and could never be satisfied with just one. Jamie can be next seen as Florela in The Miracle Theatre's prodcution of Labyrinth of Desire in May. Her heart does live in ensemble however and she is honored to be a part of RTI's debut production. In loving memory of Scott Kelman, who hated text.
Jeff Gorham I have had the fine pleasure of being able to act in the greater Pacific Northwest for the past 20 years. With that said, I have also had the wonderful opportunity to work with some very fine actors, directors, and production folks. It always seems like my favorite roles are whatever I just finished doing, but here are a few of them. - Clarence Darrow, Clarence Darrow a one man play, Initman Theatre in Seattle - Sir Charles Marlow, She Stoops to Conquer, Intiman Theatre in Seattle - Williamson, Glengarry Glenn Ross, Cygnet Productions - Doc, Crimes of the Heart, LOCT - GW, Sordid Lives, triangle productions! - Vagabond, The Tavern, PCT & LOCT - Orlando, As You Like It, Taproot Theatre Co. TV/Film: - Zack Taylor, All My Children, ABC - Hank Molle, Terror in the Towers, NBC movie of the week - Flamingo Kid, Harry and the Hendersons I would very much like to recognize and honor my lovely wife Sarah, and my three not-so-little kids, Jake, Maddy, and Parker. A man could not ask for a better more supportive family. You guys are the best things in my life.
Lior Zadok Lior recently graduated from the Portland Actors' Conservatory. He was seen last year in the conservatory productions of The Sweetest Swing in Baseball and The Mail Order Bride. He grew up in Israel and moved to the U.S in 2001.
Paul Blore Paul Blore is a Pennsylvania boy, reared in Philadelphia, schooled at Juniata College in Central PA, and having begun his professional acting career in Bethlehem at Touchstone Theatre. Wearing his playwright hat, he produced Shards of Skin & Porcelain, addressing on-campus sexual assault, and Through Wyeth's Window, a movement piece exploring the worlds of famed American painter, Andrew Wyeth, as well as a few short movement pieces. He meandered to San Diego and Alaska, dabbling in film and nature, respectively, before landing (for the foreseeable future) in Oregon, where he plans to continue pursuing both. He is more than stoked to make his NW debut with RTI. He can also be seen later in February in Last Rites' Conversion Reaction.
Rebecca Martinez Rebecca Martinez works professionally as an actor, director, singer, dancer and choreographer. Her next projects include writing and directing OYA: Call the Storm (Miracle Theatre) and performing in BUILT (Sojourn Theatre). As a performer, Ms. Martinez has recently been seen in Throwing Bones (Sojourn Theatre) and Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing (Oregon Children's Theatre) and her self-produced Cuentos - Searching for My Story (RACC 2006 project grant). She is an ensemble member of Sojourn Theatre, and in 2003 she was awarded a Drammy Award for choreography for 7 Great Loves (Sojourn Theatre) and in 2006 for Best Acting Ensemble for The War Project: 9 Acts of Determination. Ms. Martinez is a 2006 co-recipient of the Lilla Jewel Award (MRG Foundation) and is the Education and Outreach Director for Artists Repertory Theatre.

Staff and Designers

Jason Zimbler, Director

See company bios.

Tamara Carroll, Assistant Director

Tamara is honored to be participating in RTI's premiere production. She most recently directed Fall of the House, which was the inaugural production for Action/Adventure Productions, of which she is a proud founding member. After many years of stage managing for such companies as Miracle Theatre, Profile Theatre, and triangle productions!, Tamara is pleased to be stage managing for CITE Educational Theatre as her day job, leaving her evenings free for directing/producing endeavors.

Kate Kauffman, Scenic Designer

Kate Kauffman has been a set, costume, and props designer and maker for over six years. She likes making weird stuff, like disco cowboy hats and kinesthetic topiaries. Recently, she has made poofy pumpkin pants that will be debuting in Portland Center Stage's production of Beard of Avon. She also had the privilege to work for Michael Curry, which gave her the opportunity to make a fur cat suit for The Lion King's Nala, in the Disneyland 50th Anniversary parade. She does not recommend refurbishing cats. They stink and are dirty.

Marychris Mass, Costume Designer

Gayle Shanley, Lighting Designer

Since discovering the joys of light design while a student at Brown University, Gayle Shanley has light designed more than two dozen shows, ranging from Equus to Hedwig and the Angry Inch to new work such as Dance-O-Matic and Balloon. After an exhilarating year in New York working in the world of theatrical lighting, Gayle moved to Portland and has put her double concentration in Theatre Arts and Mathematics to use teaching math and drama in homeschooling circles as well as light designing Insight Out's production One and several productions for Do Jump's Zig Zag company, the Vanillatown Vaudevillians and the Public Playhouse. She is delighted to be reviving her theatrical collaboration with Jason and Sam with this production of Faust, U.S.

Sam Kusnetz, Sound Designer/Composer

See company bios.

Luke Norby, Video Designer

Luke is a native Oregonian finding a home in Portland in January of 2007. Luke grew up doing musical and classical theater as it was a family trade. After studying acting at The Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts, Luke branched out into writing and directing short films. The hobby quickly became a job and Luke started writing and producing commercials for Dutch Bros. Coffee. With a day job Luke found little time for theater but continued to feed the need to perform through music and performance poetry. After five years (and hundreds of commercials and videos) helping the dutch empire expand from 20 to over 100 stores; Luke stepped down as the companies creative director and spokesperson and began to pursue his new love of film making. With an impressive resume of music videos, commercials, short films, webisodes, television pilots, video installations and the like Luke has dabbled in a broad range of pre post and production experimentation. Since he left his cozy corporate job he can be seen sweating it out on stage or behind the scenes of a myriad of film, television, theater and music projects. To find out more, google him... He likes it.

Michelle Jazuk, Stage Manager

Michelle Jazuk is ecstatic to be joining RTI with their premiere production of Faust, U.S. and to be part of this incredible ensemble. Celebrating her third year in Portland, Michelle has worked with various theatres including: Artists' Repertory Theatre (House & Garden, Orson's Shadow, Inspecting Carol, Theatre District, Owen Meany); Theatre Vertigo (The Love of the Nightingale, Valparaiso); Salem Repertory Theatre (Kimberly Akimbo, A Farndale Ave. Christmas Carol); STAGED! (The Secret Garden '05 and '07); and Portland Center Stage (JAW/West '05 and '06). After graduating from Western Oregon University, Michelle received a stage management internship with The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, where she worked on various shows including Metamorphoses, One, My Fair Lady, Life In The Fat Lane, Sing Hallelujha!, and Always Patsy Cline.