KPFT Interview With Dust Bowl Motel

Thanks to Larry Winters at KPFT 90.1 FM in Houston for welcoming Dust Bowl Motel into the Spare Change Studios to talk about the play.  Larry is always an entertaining host and his assistance in getting the word out about the project was much appreciated.

 

After A Successful Run Our Hearts Are Heavy

After a very successful run of Dust Bowl Motel, our hearts are heavy for one of our team members.  The joy of our success turned to grief just a few hours after close, when we got the news that Chrissy Mafrige Cogdell's son Chris Barrow was killed in an automobile accident.  Chrissy had worked countless hours to promote the show and was our liaison to Make-A-Wish.  Chrissy has the most giving spirit of any person I have ever known.  She gives much and takes little.  All of our energy is now with her healing from this devastating loss.  When the time is right we will make a complete update to the show.

Dust Bowl Motel Runs on the Efforts of Volunteers

The heart of the Dust Bowl Motel project is its volunteers.  Over the next few weeks we are going to highlight some of the people who have given so much of their time and talent to produce a show that will be entertaining and leave you with a sense that it was an evening well spent at the theatre.  Today we spotlight our two leads, Jennifer Barnes and Dominic Orozco.

 

Jennifer Barnes – Katie Jo Dawkins

Jennifer Barnes

Jennifer Barnes

Jennifer has been in love with acting ever since her first role at age 8 as Bullwinkle in a local North Carolina production of Rocky and Bullwinkle. She spent a summer training in a rigorous program of acting, voice and movement at The University of North Carolina School of the Arts, which turned her on to the idea of further professional training. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. While there, she studied at the Meisner Studio and spent a semester abroad in London training in Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Jennifer spent time in both New York and Los Angeles, acting on both stage and screen, before finding herself here in Texas. One of her favorite acting gigs in New York was her season as a gypsy and magician's assistant at the New York Renaissance Faire. (Shh! Don't ask how she survived the box of knives, because she won't tell!) In Los Angeles, Jennifer had the pleasure of being a part of the LA premiere of Blank, a new play by Bruce Reisman, which is currently being made into a feature film.

Among her favorite theatre roles were Mary Magdalene and the Angel Gloria in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Nora in A Doll's House, and Boo in Blue Window. Jennifer was last seen in Huntsville Community Theatre's production of Jake's Women as Molly at age 21. She is excited to make her Crighton Theatre debut and would like to thank her husband, her family, and her four cats and dog for their love and support.

 

Dominic Orozco – Dusty Wagner

Dom Orozco

Dom Orozco

Dominic Orozco is an awarding winning writer and producer/director/actor from Los Angeles, California with over 20 years experience in the film and stage industry. His career began with a Latin performance of Beatus Vir, by Vivaldi in New York’s historic Carnegie Hall in 1991. After winning the Richard Scott Handley Scholarship for creative writing, he began his film career in the early 90s working as a PA and script doctor on numerous films during the Los Angeles Indie Movement. In 1994 he returned to the stage where he won the Bakersfield Playwright Festival and LaHabra Playwright Festival for his play, O-64 Bingo. He followed that work with a seven week run of his critically acclaimed play, Junkies which premiered in Hollywood at the famed Complex Theater. In 1999 he adapted, Junkies for the screen, produced by Todd Gilmer Productions. He spent the next 9 years working as a producer and actor for both screen and stage around the country. In 2008 he co-wrote the feature film, Broken Promise starring the late Francesco Quinn, son of Oscar winner Anthony Quinn. It also starred Erin Moran of Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi fame.

 In 2011 he moved to Huntsville, Texas where he played Juror #8 in The Huntsville Community Theater’s stage production of 12 Angry Men. In the summer of 2012 he played Jack in HTC’s Boys Next Door. In the fall of 2012 he began Long Road Film Company with 3 SHSU Alumni partners. In 2013 he wrote/ produced and acted in the feature film Walk Away starring Donny Boaz of TNT’s Dallas and the biopic My All American working opposite Aaron Eckhart. Walk Away also starred Screen Actors Guild award winner Patrick Sane of Breaking Bad. In the same year, he was a producer for the horror film, The Pick Axe Murders 3 (The Final Chapter) starring scream queen Tiffany Shepis and A. Michael Baldwin of the Phantasm franchise. In 2014, Dominic directed Shadowlands for HTC starring Dust Bowl Motel director Melissa Miller. After writing and producing numerous short films and directing a handful of music videos, Orozco wrote, produced and co-directed the docu-drama feature, Unknown Champions, based on SHSU’s 1973 National Champion for men’s basketball starring Willie Aames of Eight is Enough and Charles in Charge fame. Mr. Aames portrayed SHSU legendary basketball coach Archie Porter. Orozco is currently producing the short film, The Cask written by award winning writer Susie McCauley, based on Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, The Cask of Amontillado which he’ll be producing with Rival Studios in the Spring of 2015. The Cask will star Jeffry Griffin who can also be seen in the Oscar nominated film, The Big Short. Dominic is thrilled to be a part of The Dust Bowl Motel and having the opportunity to bring the character of Dusty to life.

Dust Bowl Motel Runs on the Efforts of Volunteers

The heart of the Dust Bowl Motel project is its volunteers.  Over the next few weeks we are going to highlight some of the people who have given so much of their time and talent to produce a show that will be entertaining and leave you with a sense that it was an evening well spent at the theatre.  Today we spotlight one of the playwrights, Scott McCarley

G. Scott McCarley - Playwright

G. Scott McCarley - Playwright

G. Scott McCarley - Co Playwright

Scott has been an artist since the 1970’s in some form or medium.  His list of original songs numbers in the 300’s.  He has performed across the United States.  His paintings have been exhibited in many settings and his sculptures have been represented in fine galleries across the US. He is happy to have playwright added to the list of artistic endeavors, as the play, Dust Bowl Motel penned with California playwright Jim Roth, debuted to three sold out performances at the J. Philip Gibbs, Jr. Centre for Performing Arts in 2014 resulting in great reviews.

After the success of the debut of Dust Bowl Motel in 2014, the play was chosen for Sam Houston State Univesity’s Summer Rep program in 2015. This production played to two sold out performances in the University Showcase Theatre again with rave reviews. 

Scott’s musical influences are rooted in the sounds of Woodstock Rock and traditional country music. His own sound evolved with the 70’s Texas music revolution and have been rounded out by a sense and sound of Folk and Americana. Scott’s music found a home in the theatre with Dust Bowl Motel, which includes five of his original songs.

Spending more time on songwriting and perfecting his craft through words has opened new doors for the seasoned musician and playwright which include theatrical productions.  Scott has three CD’s that were released under the SpringStreet Records Label.  “Too Old”, originally released in 1997, was a compilation of country and folk reflecting on a 25 year songwriting experience.  His CD, “Smiling In The End”, released in 2005, shows the maturity of this songwriter who will leave a legacy of honest and real life songs for years to come.  His most recent CD, ”Highway 19”, was released in 2007 and chronicles the stories of growing up in a small Texas town, Friday night football games, two chair barber shops, one stop-light and a Dairy Queen.  Scott is currently working on a forth CD entitled Dust Bowl Motel which will feature music from the play of the same name.

He has been fortunate enough to have been married to the same fine lady for over half his life and is blessed with a wonderful daughter that allows him to spoil two beautiful grand children.  If that were not enough, he has had the pleasure of owning several fine horses.

Dust Bowl Motel Runs on the Efforts of Volunteers

The heart of the Dust Bowl Motel project is its volunteers.  Over the next few weeks we are going to highlight some of the people who have given so much of their time and talent to produce a show that will be entertaining and leave you with a sense that it was an evening well spent at the theatre.  Today we spotlight one of the playwrights, Jim Roth.

 

Jim Roth, Co-Playwright

Jim Roth came to the theater arts after completing his career from which he retired as Chairman, President and CEO of GRC International (GRH on the New York Stock Exchange), and as a Director of a number of other Corporations.

Jim makes his home in San Clement, California with his wife Marilyn and spends part of the year in Southern Arizona.

 Having been bitten by the theater bug, he first tried out for and appeared with his wife Marilyn as leads in Dorothy Parkers “Here We Are”, followed by the leads in a four act Christmas musical, written for the Performing Arts Guild (PAG) in Quail Creek—a retirement resort in Southern Arizona.

He was an original member of “The Rusty Zippers”, a musical trio still performing in Southern Arizona. He appeared with that group in a number of musical reviews and is still active as a soloist in various musical productions.

 He also served as President of the aforementioned PAG for two years and as a Director for the Community Performing Arts Center (CPAC—A Pima Countytheaterfacility in Green Valley AZ) for three years.

  With this background, he began to try his hand as a playwright. Parenthetically, he had done no creative writing since his junior high days, when he penned some deep and heart-rendering poetry dedicated to a likely lass named Gwendolyn. Failing to win any literary awards—or Gwendolyn for that matter—he allowed his talents to ferment for fifty years or so.

His first two plays were presented by the PAG. The first was a short comedy sketch, entitled “Goobers”, and the second, “Holiday’s Inn”, was a full length Christmas musical produced for dinner theater.

 He was induced to write a play for the Westcliffe Center for the Performing Arts (in Westcliffe CO) as an entrant for their “New Rocky Mountain Voices” play writing competition, open to all writers in the Rocky Mountain States, annually. His award winning entry, “And the Winner Is…” was produced and presented at the Jones Theater in Westcliffe CO, and on local radio.

 Jim Roth’s one act and short plays are available to high school and college drama classes in exchange for information regarding their presentation and reception. The list includes among others:

·       In search of Prince Charming

.         Better Gnomes and Gardens

·        Fool on the Hill

·        And the Winner Is…

·        Goobers

Dust Bowl Motel Runs on Efforts of Volunteers

The heart of the Dust Bowl Motel project is its volunteers.  Over the next few weeks we are going to highlight some of the people who have given so much of their time and talent to produce a show that will be entertaining and leave you with a sense that it was an evening well spent at the theatre.  Today we spotlight Melissa Miller.

 

Melissa Miller

Melissa Miller

MELISSA M. MILLER - Director

Melissa is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and earned her BFA in Theatre with aspirations of bringing her written works to the stage.

She spent the better part of seven years creating with and for Long Beach Shakespeare Company (LBSC) in Long Beach, California—acting, singing, playwriting, managing, building puppets of Shakespearean intent, and directing. While with Long Beach Shakespear Company, Melissa’s directing credits include “The Posthumous Affairs of Felson, Jones and Lordygan,” as well as “Breath,” and “The Braid of the Muses”—all three of which are original works of hers, making their debuts upon the stage of LBSC, as part of the company’s summer New Writer’s Series. All three productions received rave reviews from the local papers, including Back Stage West (for “Posthumous”), the Long Beach Press Telegram, The Grunion Gazette and The L.A. Times.

Other directorial credits include “Nunsense”, "The Trip to Bountiful", “Holiday Revue,"  “A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Almost, Maine," and most recently "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!”

 

Scene Work at Rehearsal 02/20/16

Actors working hard on Saturday with some very productive scene work.  Thanks to Sam Houston State University for the use of the great rehearsal room in the Performing Arts Center.  What a treasure.

Jennifer Barnes and Daniel Nepveux

Jennifer Barnes and Daniel Nepveux

Candida Barrientos and Daniel Nepveux

Candida Barrientos and Daniel Nepveux

DUST BOWL MOTEL RUNS ON VOLUNTEERS

The heart of the Dust Bowl Motel project is its volunteers.  Over the next few weeks we are going to highlight some of the people who have given so much of their time and talent to produce a show that will be entertaining and leave you with a sense that it was an evening well spent at the theatre.

Maureen V. McIntyre

Maureen V. McIntyre

This week we highlight the talents of Maureen V. McIntrye.  Ms. McIntyre serves as our Creative Consultant and brings a long resume of amazing accomplishments in theatrical arts to our project.  Ms MyIntyre was instrumental in assisting in some of the first readings of Dust Bowl Motel and has continued to lend her assistance in script analysis and character development.

Ms. McIntrye  received her M.F.A. and B.F.A., University of Texas in advanced studies in theatre movement, and acting for film. She has directed  professionally and has directing credit for over 90 plays.  She was named Texas Educational Theatre Association Educator of the Year for Colleges and Universities  in 1993.  Ms. McIntyre was named Who's Who among America's Teachers and was awarded Outstanding Leadership for Children in the Arts in Huntsville, Texas in 2000.  She has served as a  UIL One-Act Play Critic Judge for Texas high schools from 2000 through the present.  Ms. McIntryre was a professor of Theatre and Musical Theatre at  Sam Houston State University from 1972 until her retirement this year. She is the Lead author of THE YOUTH THEATRE DIRECTOR'S HANDBOOK (J.A.C. Publishing).  

Maureen McIntyre has touched the lives of educators and actors from Broadway to small town schools.  She is indeed a respected force in the world of theatre and we are blessed to have her as a part of the Dust Bowl Motel team.