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THE
PLAY
 Blithe Spirit was Coward's own favorite play, written in an amazing five days... even more amazing when you know that it ran over four years in its original production in London. The challenge of Coward is that every word counts precisely, usually having several meanings. What can seem mindless slapstick at first read, is actually very sophisticated, smartly written farce, rich in irony, layers and meaning. It really is a wonderful antidote to depression. The characters and situations are wracked with finely observed contradictions that resonate with audiences of any age.
When Charles Condomine decides to invite a psychic to dinner in order to gather material for the novel he's writing, he can't possibly imagine the life-altering consequences. Despite the scepticism of Charles and his wife Ruth and Dr. and Mrs. Bradman, who join them, Madame Arcati manages to conjure up the spirit of Charles' dead wife Elvira. And then the fun really begins.
| THE CAST |
PHIL RESTIVO (Charles)
 Returning for his fourth Advent Theatre production, Phil may want to be considering dual citizenship as a Brit... SHADOWLANDS-British, AN INSPECTOR CALLS-British, THE FANTASTICKS-The Mute (there were no roles requiring a British accent), BLITHE SPIRIT-BRITISH!!! Ah, tis jolly good anyhoo.
Absolutely loving: this play; the process; the opportunity to dance with this group of actors; being led by Glenda, Jerry, Christina, Karl, Shirley, Aliza, Robb and everyone else who's put in their time and effort after I wrote this bio in February. Much gratitude to pastors Bob & Louise and the congregation for supporthing this ministry. |
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CHRISTINA GRAY
(Ruth)
 Christina had her Advent Theatre acting debut last year - playing Sally in A.R. Gurney's LATER LIFE. The daughter of two actor parents, Christina grew up onstage and backstage at the local little theater in her hometown of Baytown, Texas doing everything from acting and singing to props and make-up. After college, Christina found herself working in Dallas and spent six years studying at the renowned Film Actors Lab and working in various commercials, industrials and independent films. Christina moved to LA in 2001 and is a current member of SAG and AFTRA. She is also a writer and script consultant (www.thescriptconsultant.com) and sings first soprano with the FCCNH Chancel Choir.
Christina wants to thank everyone in the FCCNH family for their support in this production, as well as everything else. She also wants to give special thanks to her beautiful and talented daughter Madison, who proudly supports her mom in her acting - despite the many late nights and hours and hours of rehearsals. |
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JEANNA MARIE PHILLIPS (Elvira)
 Jeanna
is originally from San Antonio, Texas. She has lived in California for eight wonderful and productive years. Upon her arrival in L.A. she joined this church where she currently works in the nursery on Sunday mornings. She has often acted on stage and in film. A great highlight was working on a movie with Elizabeth Taylor. She has opened a fine arts studio for children; all of this accomplished by her 30th birthday. She celebrates each and every one of her life achievements and continues to move forward with high hopes and dreams for the future. As always, she will reach for the stars. Thank you Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, Jaxon, and all my friends and family for loving me, supporting me, and making me who I am today. |
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BILL GARNET (Dr. Bradman)
 Bill recently returned to the theater with his appearances in Agatha Christie's AND THEN THERE WERE NONE at the Space Theater. An alumnus of The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, Bill has studied with Sanford Meisner, Bill Esper, Fred Kareman, Bill Alderson and Helene and Michael Lembeck. Bill's "on again, off again" acting career includes appearances in such films as THE WAY WE WERE and THE ADDAMS FAMILY.
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JACQUI DIXON (Mrs. Bradman)
 A few months after Jacqui began attending FCCNH, there was an announcement in the Sunday Morning Service that The Advent Theatre needed help in creating sets for the production of TEN LITTLE INDIANS. Jacqui had such a great time meeting people and painting that she has been a part of the Advent Theatre ever since. She began working with Props, moved onto Lighting and Sound and Stage Managed the last three productions.
BLITHE SPIRIT marks Jacqui's debut on our stage and she's thrilled with the experience. Her regular weekday hours are spent working at an insurance brokerage – GNW- Evergreen Insurance Services in Encino. |
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MELODEE HOLSINGER (Edith)
 Melodee is pleased to be apart of her first Advent Theatre production. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA Melodee moved out to LA 5 years ago after graduating from Point Park Conservatory with a BFA in Musical Theater to continue pursuing her dreams as a performer. She has since released her first full length album, NOTHING BUT CHANGE and as a result, competed to the finals on NBC’s STAR TOMORROW with acclaimed producer David Foster, as well as being nominated for Female Singer Songwriter of the year at the LA Music Awards.
Melodee has been thrilled to be apart of the FCCNH congregation and is so thankful for the opportunities it has brought her! She has been a part of the worship teams for both the Contemporary 5:30 pm and the Informal 7:30 pm Sunday services, and was an integral part in starting the 7:30 pm service.
She is thrilled to jump back into theatre with this fabulous cast, and could not be more thankful to share the stage with such talent! She would like to thank her mom and Joel for their endless love and support, her family, and friends far and wide that she loves so much! |
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PEGGY LORD CHILTON (Madame Arcati)
 Peggy has had leading or supporting roles in over 60 stage productions in N.Y. and regionally, produced and directed for regional theater and for the University of the Americas in Mexico City, and has had a musical review, THE NEW SENIOR CLASS, that played for 9 seasons in Arizona. TV credits include ALL MY CHILDREN and IN JUSTICE, film credits include FAITH HAPPENS (soon to be released) and TOO MUCH SLEEP about which Roger Ebert wrote "... her timing and daffy energy are so infectious that the whole audience is chuckling, partly in disbelief." |
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 GLENDA
MORGAN BROWN (Director/Artistic Director)
Glenda has been directing theatre for more than a quarter of a century (she started as a toddler). While living in the Akron, Ohio, area, she shared season directing duties with her husband, David Colwell, at the Coach House Theatre. Some of her favorite projects include THE CONSTANT WIFE, DIAL ‘M’ FOR MURDER, PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, and of course, the Advent Theatre’s GREATER TUNA, LEND ME A TENOR, SHADOWLANDS, GREETINGS!, AN INSPECTOR CALLS, THE FANTASTICKS and LATER LIFE.
In addition to directing, Glenda enjoys acting: recently, she’s been murdered on CLOSE TO HOME, played the Vice President’s wife on COMMANDER IN CHIEF, served up caramel apples on THE WEST WING, was the Jury Foreperson on BOSTON LEGAL, an Alumni Wife on MONK and will be seen soon as Nurse Lois on 7th HEAVEN. Glenda would like to thank everyone involved in making BLITHE SPIRIT come together, expecially David for his constant love and support, and you, the audience, for being here. |
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JERRY L. JACKSON (Producer)
Jerry has spent most of his adult life in the film business as a cinematographer,
editor, development executive, and an award-winning writer/director and producer... always in varying stages of blissful denial or semi-violent protest
of his attraction to the boards.
He even spent time studying with Lee Strasberg and claimed it was all
to be a better writer/director.
As an actor, he first trod the Advent Theatre's boards as Bob Cratchett in our adaptation of Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL in 1988, and most recently as Gerald Croft in J.B. Priestley's AN INSPECTOR CALLS.
Jerry's an Elder at FCCNH and a member since 1987 (sons Sean and Matthew both graduated
from the Nursery School here). If he looks familiar, it may be that you bought your Christmas tree from our annual tree lot... he's co-chaired it since 1997. Jerry also wrote, directed, and co-produced
the feature film drama WRESTLING
WITH GOD based on the life of Alexander Campbell, one of the founders
of the Disciples of Christ. Jerry is an active member of the WGA (chairs the
New Members Committee) and SAG.
"For me, every experience with the talented and committed group of volunteers who make up the Advent Theatre family has been expanding and rewarding. Thanks to Glenda for her trust... and to everyone who put in the immense amount of time and enthusiasm it took to bring BLITHE SPIRIT to life." |
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 TODD BURGESS (Stage Manager)
Todd has acted in four Advent Theatre productions (SHADOWLANDS, THE FANTASTICKS, LATER LIFE, JOHNNY GUITAR) and this is his first as Stage Manager. He says it's a pleasure working with both familiar faces as well as new ones. He'd like to thank Glenda for having him read for his past roles and for the opportunity take on this new responsibility. "Love to Mom, Dad, Jay, Sandi, Chirstopher, Jeff, Patti, Alexandra and Trace for the support and encouragement through rehearsals and permormances. I'd like to send a big THANK YOU out to you, the audience, for your love and support of the Advent Theatre."
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PRODUCTION STAFF
Director
Producer
Stage Manager
Set Design & Construction
Lighting Design
Audio Design
Costume Design & Wardrobe
Set Dressing/Props
Hair Design/Effects
Production Accountant
Booth Staff
Construction Assistants
Graphic/Web/Program Design/Marketing
Box Office/Concessions
Program Ad Sales
Photo/Video-graphy
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Glenda Morgan Brown
Jerry L. Jackson
Todd Burgess
Rudy Rodriguez
Karl Wm. Klein & Aliza Ramos
Karl Wm. Klein
Lauren Lewis
Cynthia Helmerich
Jefferson Alvez
Aliza Ramos
Aliza Ramos, Karl Wm. Klein, Rob Koffski, Jennifer Winslow-Kuesch, Shirley Prince
Todd Burgess, Dick Kline, Don Bilsky, Larry Williams, Michael Immel, Richard Johnson, Glenda Morgan Brown, Jerry L. Jackson
Jerry L. Jackson/Water's Edge Communications
Shirley Prince, Raymond Torres, Stephen Johnson, Rhoda Lesh, Harris Pieper, Christina Nayve
Olga Stromerson, Shirley Prince, Christina Nayve
Sean M. Jackson & Jerry L. Jackson
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