EOE CAST/CREW

*North East Ohio Premiere*
Adapted by Frank Galati 
Oct 19-Nov 11, 2018

Directed by Ian Wolfgang Hinz
MAINSTAGE Theatre
Fridays & Saturdays @8pm.
Sundays @2pm

"... probably the best of John Steinbeck's novels."
- The New York Times Book Review

“Rich in symbolism and substance…
a significant achievement…” - Chicago Tribune. 

MEET THE EAST OF EDEN CAST & CREW

Dana Hart* (Sam Hamilton) first appeared with Ensemble in Steel Bound directed by Lucia Colombi and more recently in The Iceman Cometh and Jerusalem directed by Ian Hinz and in St. Nicholas, directed by Sarah May (Voted Best of Cleveland 2012). He has performed Off-B’way and with regional theaters including Alaska Repertory Theatre, San Diego Rep, Milwaukee Rep, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Baltimore’s Center Stage The Cleveland Playhouse and the Harare International Festival of the Arts. He has also perform locally with The Beck Center, Cleveland Public Theatre, Actors’ Summit, TrueNorth Cultural Arts, Convergence-Continuum, Cesear’s Forum, and in the Equity Members’ Project: Heartbreak House.

Scott Miller* (Adam Trask) is the Director of the Cleveland School of the Arts Theater Arts Program. Scott served as the Artistic Director of The Children’s Theater of Charlotte and was also the Founding Artistic Director of The Orange Summer Shakespeare Festival. Scott has worked as a director and actor in N.Y.C, in various regional theaters, and locally for over 35 years. Locally he directed Made in America, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, The Seafarer, and Sons of the Prophet for Dobama Theater, The Merchant of Venice for Cleveland Shakespeare, Hamlet, Poe, Romeo and Juliet, Frankenstein, and The Colored Museum among many other productions at CSA, and Medea, Live at Six, which he also wrote, hosted at Ensemble Theatre. As an actor Scott recently played the lead role in the Ohio Shakespeare Festival production of Charles III, and has appeared in Mystery of Love and Sex, God of Carnage, I Have a Remarkable Letter…, and The Goat, at Dobama Theatre, and Burial Thebes and Talley’s Folly, at Ensemble Theatre. He is delighted to return to Ensemble Theatre.

Jill Levin (Cathy/Kate) makes her Ensemble Theatre debut in East of Eden. She has most often been seen at Cleveland Public Theatre, in shows such as last season’s Barbecue, and previously in productions of Hellcab, Goldstar Ohio, Fefu and her Friends, Summer and Smoke, The Hairy Ape, and Nickel and Dimed (co-production with Great Lakes Theatre). Jill has taught acting and theatre at area institutions such as Cleveland State, University of Akron, The Cleveland Play House, Cleveland Public Theatre and Montessori High School. She is a graduate of Circle in the Square Actor Training Program in New York.

Joey Cayabyab (Lee) is very excited to be a part of the NE Ohio premiere with these talented actors for his first production with the Ensemble Theatre.  He was last seen as the King in the K & I.  He was formerly a member of the actor’s union with vocal and dance training with the UP Conservatory of Music and the Metropolitan Dance Theatre respectively.  He is also an aspiring director and choreographer. Favorite roles include, "Rookie Carroca" in Favorite Year; “Thuy” in Miss Saigon; "Sancho" in La Mancha; "Judah" in Joseph; “Paul” in A Chorus Line at the Repertory home of Tony Award winner Lea Salonga; “Simon” in Superstar; “Ali Hakim” in Oklahoma!; “Lt. Muñoz” in City of Angels; “Benjamin Coffin III” in RENT; “Rooster“ in Annie; "Jester” in Mattress, to name a few.  A special thanks to Aimee and Jordan for the vote of confidence.  He dedicates this show to his wife June-Marie.

Kyle Huff (Caleb Trask) is elated to be working on one of his favorite Steinbeck stories at Ensemble! Kyle has been involved at Ensemble Theatre for many seasons, both on stage and behind the scenes. He directed Farragut North and Assistant Directed The Night Thoreau Spent In Jail. Kyle was seen on stage at Ensemble as Artax in The Never Ending Story, Ensemble in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Ensemble/Chester in The Great Gatsby, and Lee Piper in Jerusalem. He has also worked at Beck Center, Actor’s Summit, and French Creek Theatre, and is a Care Lite Instructor for Cleveland Playhouse. Kyle's most recent production endeavor was opening the new Shahrazad Theatre Company with fellow Hiram College Alumni Kayla Davis and August Scarpelli, and directing it's inaugural show, Caucasian Chalk Circle. Kyle would like to thank Becca for being his light, Ian and Celeste, his folks, his friends, and everyone else.

August Scarpelli (Aron Trask) has been in love with this theatre since The Iceman Cometh in the spring of 2013. He was lucky enough to get cast in his first show, Death of a Salesman, in the fall of 2015, started helping out with the sets and the rest is history. Discovering East of Eden has been an engagement that has plunged the depth of his soul, and he couldn't be more grateful. The next sighting of August will be across the hall where he is fortunate enough to be directing the original adaptation of Around the World in Eighty Days in association with Shahrazad Theatre Company.

Leah Smith (Abra Bacon) is thrilled to return to the Ensemble stage! She was previously seen here in Jerusalem, Slow Dance on the Killing Ground, Neverending Story and The Great Gatsby. Other credits include Gypsy (Tessie Tura) and City of Angels (Ensemble) at Beck Center, and Michael Stanley Super Star (Leah) with Last Call Cleveland. Currently she is an Actor-Teacher for Great Lakes Theater. Thanks to the cast and crew for their hard work, and to the family and the Boneman for all their love.

Whit Lowell (Will Hamilton/Joe) is excited to be back at Ensemble Theatre and to be working with a top rate cast and crew. He's gratefully taken part in numerous other productions here including last season’s The Hairy Ape. Whit does some commercial and film work but these days appreciates good theater more than anything else. Much love and thanks go to his family, Ian and Celeste, and Christina for the support always.

Greg White (Mr. Bacon/Dr. Murphy) is an actor and director who has been performing in the Cleveland area for a decades. He was last seen as the title character of Jelly Belly at Ensemble. Before that, he played two characters at Cleveland Public Theatre in Lisa Langford's The Art of Longing. He played the role of Willy Loman twice in Death of a Salesman at True North Theater and at Ensemble Theatre. Greg has also directed one play at Ensemble: Slow Dance on the Killing Ground. In 2015, he was recognized as Best Actor in Scene Magazine for his performance of Thurgood Marshall in Thurgood and for Superior Achievement by the Cleveland Critics Circle for his performance of Chris Christopherson in Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie, both for Ensemble Theatre. He most recently finished the run of Sunset Baby as Kenyatta at Dobama. He can be seen later this season at Ensemble in A Raisin in the Sun and Water by the Spoonful. Greg received his training at the Ohio University's School of Theatre.

Valerie Young (Mrs. Bacon) In accepting the role of Mrs. Bacon, Valerie reminds herself of the famous Stanislavski quote; "There are no small parts, only small actors." She humbly steps back onto Ensemble's stage, grateful for their keeping her on their boards for over 30 years. 

Mia Radabaugh (Nurse) is proud to return to Ensemble Theatre this season after playing Lena in the new play Mama/Moon. She was most recently seen as Jenny in Exit the Body at East Cleveland Theater, and can be seen this December as Mrs. Cratchit in A Christmas Carol at Rubber City Theatre. She has a BFA in acting from Ohio University. Some of her other favorite roles include Kristine Linde in A Doll’s House, Alex in On the Verge, and 1st Citizen/1st Murderer/Adrian in Coriolanus. She would like to thank her husband and co-workers for putting up with her continually ridiculous evening rehearsal schedules for months on end.