(Click on the poster for a high res version)

Yes, Svetlana, There is a Grandfather Frost
Written by Jeff Goode
Directed by Todd Ristau
Performed December 8 - 13, 2009
with special $5 preview night on December 7th!

Credits

DEVUCHKA: Shay Mullins

MADAM EDITRIX: Stevie Holcomb

TSERKOV: Patrick Kennerly

BOLYSHOI: Brian O'Sullivan

SHIROKY: Chad Runyon

Producer: Kenley Smith
Stage Manager: TBA
Costume Design: Min Johnson, Todd Ristau
Scenic Design: Todd Ristau, Jason "Blue" Herbert
Scenic Construction: Jason "Blue" Herbert, Todd Ristau, Steven V. Rice, Chad Runyon
Lighting Design: Jason "BLUE" Herbert
Board Op: Jason "BLUE" Herbert
Sound Design: Jason "BLUE" Herbert, JD Ruelle
Volunteer Crew: Michelle Bennett, TBA

Special Thanks to our Community Partners: Playwright's Lab at Hollins University, Roanoke Times/Roanoke.com, City Magazine, 101.5 The Music Place and New City Media

Special Thanks to those who loaned us props, costumes, or other material support: John Forsman, Hollins Theatre Department, Jonathan Overturf, Stevie Holcomb, Shay Mullins, Patrick Kennerly

About the Play
At a State-run newspaper in Communist Russia, a cynical journalist is asked to defend the Soviet Santa. "And even though your father turned out to be an embarrassment, and a traitor, you must still miss him, sometimes, at the holidays."

About the Playwright
Jeff Goode is a director, actor and the author of over 50 plays, musicals and children's shows, including The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, the cult serial Larry and the Werewolf, and the shock-comedy Poona the F***dog and other plays for children. His published scripts include THE EIGHT (now available in Dutch!), The Misadventures of Dick Piston, Hotel Detective and The UBU Plays, a children's trilogy based on the Jarry classic. Currently living in Los Angeles, Jeff has written television pilots for Fox, UPN, USA Networks, Canal Plus, and two for MTV, including the pilot for Undressed. For the Disney Channel, he created and executive produced the animated series American Dragon: Jake Long>. Jeff is a co-founder of No Shame Theatre, founding artistic director of No Shame Los Angeles, and guest faculty in the graduate program in playwriting at Hollins University.

About the Director
Todd Ristau is a distinguished graduate of the Iowa Playwright’s Workshop. He serves as Artistic Director of Studio Roanoke and also Program Director for the Playwright’s Lab at Hollins University, a unique graduate program in playwriting. Todd’s work has been performed in theatres across the US and England, including London’s West End. He founded No Shame Theatre in 1986 and oversaw its evolution into a national network of venues for new works in dozens of cities. He worked for four years with Mill Mountain Theatre as Literary Associate and oversaw its Underground Roanoke alternative programming and the CenterPieces Reading series.  In addition to his expertise in playwriting, Ristau is an accomplished director, designer, and an actor who has performed over 400 roles in academic, professional, and amateur theatres. He is an Active Member of the Dramatists Guild as well as a member of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of America.

Cast and Crew
Stevie Holcomb (Madame Editrix)
Stevie is excited to be involved in her first Studio Roanoke production, having acted and worked behind the scenes at other Roanoke area theatres such as Showtimers, Attic Productions and Little Town Players. Some favorite roles include Ruth in Blithe Spirit, Faye in Neil Simon's Chapter Two and Veta Louise in Harvey. Thanks to Todd, this incredible cast, Jeff Goode for his marvelous story, the entire staff of Studio Roanoke and her friends and family for their support.

Patrick Kennerly (Tserkov)
Patrick has performed locally in the productions of Showtimers Community Theatre and Logos Theatricus. While he read in this past summer’s new play festival here at Studio Roanoke, Svetlana is his first full production at the Studio. Patrick lived and worked in New York City for eight years after graduating from Va. Tech with a BA in Theatre. Studio Roanoke happily reminds him of his days in the lofts and basements of Off-Off Broadway. In a good way!

Shay Mullins (Devuchka)
Shay is a 20 year old lady that just recently moved to Roanoke from Franklin County. She’s been doing theatre since she was in the 7th grade and realized that she had a hunger for it and wanted more. By the time she graduated high school Shay had been a part of several plays and theatre competitions, many of which were for Ferrum College’s One Act Competition. She has received honorable mention for the performance in Story Book Theatre, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for directing several scene study and improv performances. Last fall she was part of Rocky Mount’s community theatre, and is excited to be a part of Roanoke’s. Shay plans on going to school for photography and sign language, and hopes to one day be a flight attendant.

Brian O'Sullivan (Bolyshoi)
Brian made his acting debut at 8 years old in Gypsy, and has performed in more than 200 plays and musicals since. He is also a director, playwright, and stage manager with experience in virtually every aspect of theatre production. He was a member of the Michicagn State Performing Arts Co., and the only undergraduate to date who was allowed to direct a regular departmental production. He chose to remain at Michigan State to pursue graduate school, and was hired by the Colorado Shakespeare Festival as a principal actor where (despite stiff competition) he was cast to play Sir Toby (Twelfth Night), Rodorigo (Othello), and Salisbury (Richard II). Near the end of his third and final year at Michigan, Brian was cast in the Magic Theatre of San Francisco's production of Neon Psalms, a new play which went on to win the CBS/Dramatist Guild Award for Best New Play of 1985. Before locating to the Roanoke Valley, Brian spend several years in New York City, most notably as a principal actor with Gorilla Rep and as a drama teacher at the Calhoun School. He has authored several short plays and musicals, some of which have been showcased with New York Rep.