Angels in america pt.2 perestroika

 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.  

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 

 Laurie is an actress and educator with credits in theatre, film and television. Favorite stage roles include Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice, ) Mamma Mia (Tanya), The Wolves (The Mother), The Turn of the Screw (The Woman), The 39 Steps (Annabella/Margaret/Pamela) and Dinner (Paige) On screen, she has appeared in Belle Brezing and the Gilded Age of the Bluegrass (Emmy Award, Lead), 23 Blast, and several independent films. Laurie earned her BFA in Acting from the University of Kentucky and teaches acting at Transylvania University. She is also a professional voiceover artist and theatre director. 

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. 

    With Drew Barr: Much Ado About Nothing / The Tempest (Great Lakes Theatre), I am My Own Wife / Clean House (Boise Contemporary Theater) Opera: the Mozart / da Ponte trilogy (La Monnaie, Brussels – scenery), Mitridate, Re di Ponto (La Monnaie – scenery and lighting), La Chute de la Maison Usher (Opéra national de Paris – scenery and lighting), Rusalka (Opéra Grand Avignon, France – lighting), Ariadne auf Naxos (Opèra de Limoges, France – Lighting) and Serse (Staatstheater Nuremburg, Germany). Member: United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE. 

 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).

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. 

  Alison Rickert is a Lexington native and a graduate of Berea College, where she received a bachelor’s degree in theatre. During her time at Berea, she was the media specialist for the Berea College Theatre Laboratory and worked part time in the costume shop.  Apart from Berea College, she has worked with various local theatre companies including The LEX, Studio Players, and Distilled. She is excited to be joining the crew of ActOut!  

 Matt is thrilled to be helping out on the run crew for this incredible show. Matt is a local actor, singer, and director, who has worked all over the region, most recently at Woodford Theatre in their production of The Crucible as Reverend John Hale. Matt would like to thank each and every one of you for coming out and supporting the arts in Central Kentucky. Enjoy the show! 

 Susan has had the good fortune to work with many successful theatre companies across Central Kentucky: Woodford Theatre, Jessamine County Arts + Community Theatre, Adventure Theatre, East Jessamine High School Theatre, and Leeds Center for the Arts. This is her second time working with the ActOut Theatre Group, She played the role of Vern in the production of 5 Lesbian Eating a Quiche. Her most notable roles include; The White Witch in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe; Rosie in Mamma Mia; Miss Hannigan in Annie and she was last seen as clown 1 in Woodford Theatre’s production of 39 Steps. Susan would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support throughout her theatre adventures and she would like to give a special thank you to Lindsey Sovkoplas for introducing her to this amazing world!  

 Brian Estes-Uecker is happy to be working again with ActOut Lexington. Brian has recently performed in Romeo & Juliet with Antagonist Productions and The Crucible at Woodford Theatre. Ubi caritas et amor deus ibi est. 

 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! 

 I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone on stage and behind the scenes of this production. You're what makes 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 enjoy the show.