Part One Millennium Approches by Tony Kushner

 Drew Barr has directed productions of new, modern, and classical plays and musicals for theaters across the United States and around the world. He directed the Dutch-language premiere of the National Theatre of London’s War Horse, which opened at Amsterdam’s Royal Carré Theatre before a year-long tour of the Netherlands and Belgium. For the National Theatre, he also directed the Australian premiere of War Horse, which ran in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. He was the Resident Director for War Horse on Broadway at Lincoln Center Theater. Also on Broadway, Drew served as associate director for Nicholas Hytner’s productions of Sweet Smell of Success, starring John Lithgow, Kelli O’Hara and Brian D’Arcy James and Twelfth Night, starring Helen Hunt, Paul Rudd and Kyra Sedgwick, as well as for Simon McBurney’s acclaimed revival of All My Sons by Arthur Miller, starring John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest, Patrick Wilson and Katie Holmes. Drew was associate director and dramaturg for Simon McBurney’s production of The Kid Stays in the Picture at the Royal Court Theatre in London.

Drew has directed and guest taught for many of the country’s leading actor training programs, including the Juilliard School, NYU’s Graduate Acting Program, USC’s School of Dramatic Arts, SUNY Purchase, the University of Delaware’s PTTP, the University of Washington’s School of Drama and the Department of Dramatic Art at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He is on the acting faculty of AMDA College of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles.

As an actor, Drew appeared on Broadway in Wendy Wasserstein’s An American Daughter. He was a founding member of East Coast Artists, a performance collective under the leadership of Richard Schechner, with whom Drew devised and performed in Faust/gastronome, The Three Sisters and Amerika. He toured the country as a member of Maurice Sendak’s national children’s theater, The Night Kitchen, playing the role of Alligator in the Sendak/Carol King musical, Really Rosie. 

Drew moved to Lexington with his filmmaker husband, Tim Kirkman, in June of 2024.

The Cast in alphabetical order:
 

 Keifer currently serves as the Director of Development & Outreach at Woodford Theatre. He has over twenty years of performance experience and is thrilled/honored to tell Joe’s story onstage! Some of Keifer’s most memorable acting roles have been Rosencrantz in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead (Flashback Theatre), Merrick in The Elephant Man (Fountain Square Players), and Harry Roat in Wait Until Dark (Public Theatre of Kentucky). Keifer would like to dedicate these performances to his friends Bailey, Thomas, and Martha. 

Shayne has waited 30 years for the opportunity to be involved in a production of AiA, as it is his favorite play in existence.   He was last seen on the ActOut stage (2022) as Ned Weeks, in Larry Kramer’s ‘The Normal Heart.’  

An actor of 30 years, Mr. Brakefield is a proud graduate of the full time  Meisner Actor Training program at the William Esper studio, in NYC.   He studied Improv performance at Upright Citizens Brigade, in NYC.   A licensed massage therapist of 15 years, he is also a graduate of the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences, in NYC.   

His work here is lovingly dedicated to his teachers and mentors:  Janet Scott, Suzanne Esper, Laurie Genet, Judith Grodowitz, Ted Morin, Pat Fletcher, Nancy Mayans, Per Brahe, Karen Chamberlin, Bruce McCarty, Ave Lawyer, and Bill Esper.  

 Daniel is the Executive Artistic Director of Woodford Theatre. He has performed in various productions across the region. He is honored to speak these words in this place, at this time. He offers all of his love to his partner - Casey, and his puppy - Ollie. He hopes you enjoy the show.  

 Jenny is a teaching artist, dancer, choreographer and director. She has been dedicated to performing arts and young artist education for fifteen years. While owning and operating her own performance-based dance school, Blackbird Dance Theatre(2014-2024), Jenny wrote and produced several original dance theatre works, mentored hundreds of young students in the classroom, and ran a small business dedicated to providing creativity and inclusion to her community.  

Catherine is honored to make her ActOut debut with such a phenomenally talented cast and creative team. Originally from the SF Bay Area, Catherine holds a BA in Theatre Arts and an MFA in Acting/Directing. Here in the Bluegrass, some favorite moments on stage have been in The Cake and The Importance of Being Earnest at AthensWest, Holes at Lexington Children’s Theatre, and The Sound of Music & Fiddler on the Roof at The Lexington Theatre Company. Catherine is also an audiobook narrator and acting teacher. She is eternally grateful to her incredible husband, Sean, for putting up with every dialect she tries and supporting her in telling stories to make the world a better place. @cathgaff 

Evender is an actor, director, playwright, fight choreographer, and the founder/owner of Ingénueity Unlimited. (FB: @IngenueityUnlimited, IG: @ingenueityunlimited.) Her recent acting credits include “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” (White Witch) and “Blithe Spirit” (Elvira) with Woodford Theatre, “The Spooky Soirée” (Unquiet Grave & Elizabeth Lavenza) with Ingénueity Unlimited, “The Three Musketeers” (Milady) with Leeds Center for the Arts, “And I Love You Richard” (Kathy) with Message Theatre, “Animals Switching Into Servants” (Fairy Godmother) with Studio Players 10-Minute Play Festival, “Sweet & Deadly” (Connie Bee Rebel) with Bluegrass Mystery Theatre, “Conversation One Night” (Steph) with SmokeyDog Entertainment, and “Blocked” (Anita) with She Dreams Content Development and Production. She also holds certification in various stage combat disciplines with the Society of American Fight Directors. Much love to her husband Mike and daughters Olivia and Audrey for their endless encouragement, and many thanks to YOU for supporting the arts. 

 This is Nick’s first play with ActOut, but he is not a stranger to the stage. Throughout his life, Nick’s been on a stage, whether it was in church, on the track, or helping raise money for LGBTQ charities through the art of drag/female impersonation. When this opportunity came, I jumped at the chance to be a part of this play, especially during this turbulent time in our nation.

 Mead is honored to be part of this production. He graduated from The New School for Drama in 2017 with a BFA in dramatic arts, focusing on directing. In 2021, he directed and performed in “What am I Supposed to do Knowing You’re in the World,” the winner of the SOOP to Nuts short play fest in Pelham, New York. Recently, he performed as Felix Unger in The Odd Couple and Manolo Costazuela in The Odd Couple(Female Version) at Woodford Theater. He’d like to thank his mom for her support. 

 Haberlin is a graduate of Transylvania University with a degree in Theatre. After graduation she interned with Endstation Theater in Virginia with a focus in costuming. She is currently a Costume Artist with Lexington Children’s Theater. Her other recent theater credits includes costuming (Best Christmas Pageant Ever), stage management (The 39 Steps, Miracle on 34th Street and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), acting (Into the Woods) and props (Lend me a Tenor and The Odd Couple) with Woodford Community Theatre. 

 Becca is currently a Gifted and Talented Elementary Teacher in Woodford County. She spends much of her time outside of work stage managing for theatre companies in Lexington or running her own photography business. Some favorite credits include Titus and Flight of the Inner Bird (Stage Manager - Blackbird Dance Theatre), and Uncle Vanya and Lion in Winter (Stage Manager - On The Verge Theatre).

 Gregory is excited to work on the crew for ‘Angels in America’!  This is his first time being on a crew and is honored to work for ActOut Theatre again.  As a performer he played Ty in ‘A Very Sordid Wedding’ last summer and recently played The Scarecrow in Woodford Theatre’s ‘The Wizard of Oz’.  He loves learning new things and learning the crew side of theatre will be valuable experience.  Enjoy the show!

Dave is honored to participate in the telling of this important story with such an immeasurably talented cast, staff, and crew. When not working off-stage, Dave is treading the boards himself, with recent roles including Phineas Wingfield (Anatomy of Gray, Woodford Theatre), Mayor of Hillsboro (Inherit the Wind, Shelby County Theatre), and Fred Narracott (And Then There Were None, Bluegrass Theatre Guild).
 

  Michael has spent the past 20+ years working professionally in theatre as an artist and educator. He even served as the Technical Director for this very building from 2004-2006! Locally, he has designed and fabricated scenery, lighting, puppets, props, special FX, sound, and more for several theatre groups—including Studio Players, Woodford Theatre, Project SEE Theatre, AthensWest, and Ingénueity Unlimited, to name a few. This year has been a year of change. Michael left the freelance world after seven years to join the team at Woodford Theatre this season–as their Director of Production & Design. 

He is thrilled to be working with ActOUT for the first time and to be a part of Angels in America Pt. 1. Thank you to Terry, Bill, and Drew for inviting me along. Much love to his wife, EvEnder and their daughters, Olivia and Audrey.

 Amellia is very excited to be working on her first performance with ActOUT! You may have seen her as “Glinda/Aunt Em” in Wizard of Oz at Woodford Theatre or “Woman 1” in Songs for a New World with Adventure Theatre here at the DAC! She would like to thank her family, and specifically her fiancé Molly (and their cats Juju and Rory) for always supporting her passions. To keep up with Amellia - Instagram: @amelliagabrielle  

  Sarah has experience in various aspects of the theatre world as a pit musician, actor, assistant director, stage manager and props master. This is her first show with ActOut and she is honored to take part in such a powerful piece. Sarah is thankful for this opportunity working alongside genuine, talented artists that better our community together. She loves the theatre community because she believes in the therapeutic power of sharing stories authentically and vulnerably: a powerful experience for storyteller and story engager alike. 

 Noah is thrilled to be a part of this production! As an avid lover of theatre, they have been both backstage and onstage previously with Woodford Theatre (Including: The Music Man 2023, Grease 2024, Narnia 2024, The Odd Couple 2025, and more). This is their first time being involved in an LGBTQ+ show, and they are so excited to share that experience with both the cast/crew, and with the audience. Noah would like to thank Act Out, Daniel Ellis, and Sarah Dorrell for this opportunity; And their mother for letting them borrow the car every night. Enjoy the show! 

Happy Pride!

 I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone on stage and behind the scenes of this production. You are what make ActOut’s mission not only possible but powerful.

To our audience—your unwavering support fuels our commitment to delivering bold, meaningful, and unforgettable theatrical experiences. Your presence here tonight means the world to us.

Thank you, and I hope you enjoy our production of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America.

With sincere gratitude,
Bill Chandler
Co-founder, ActOut Theatre Group