Latest News from Proud Mary Theatre

Audrey Zongrone Waldrop Takes on Multiple Roles in ‘Laramie Project’

sandman2k99 September 14, 2020 No Comments

Proud Mary Theatre Company continues to push the boundaries of theatre during the Covid-19 crisis as we open our 4th season with the 20th anniversary production of The Laramie Project, the award-winning play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project.

This is a FULL PRODUCTION (not a ZOOM reading) and will be presented as a Virtual Multimedia Experience available for streaming Tuesday, October 6, 2020 on the 22nd anniversary of the attack of gay college student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, and ends on October 12, the day Shepard died and became a martyr for establishing hate crime legislation in the gay rights movement.

Audrey Zongrone Waldrop is a Licensed Massage Therapist who has worked in pain management and physical rehabilitation since 2003. Originally from New York, she came to the upstate in 1998. She is a long time visual artist, mother and grandmother to 6 brilliant and hilarious people, and first time actor. I also am grateful to Ben for the shot, and am honored to be included in such a talented group!

Directed by Ben Dawkins, The Laramie Project features a Who’s Who? cast of 14 amazing Upstate actors in some 60 roles: Ryan Barry, Michele Colletti, Ava Davis, Jonathan Davis, Kelly Davis, Doug Egge, Samantha Eyler, Darryl Harmon, Jim Huber, Dave LaPage, Rebecca Schledwitz, Tyler Smith, Audrey Waldrop and Chase Wolfe. Ashley Zimmerman is stage manager.

Suggested donation of $10 for unlimited streaming. More info is available at proudmarytheatre.com.

Upstate’s Chase Wolfe Tackles ‘Laramie Project’

sandman2k99 September 14, 2020 No Comments

After a 3 year stint of traveling and performing out of town, Chase is back and couldn’t be more excited about this show and the unique/new way of presenting a story that matters. A local boy, Chase is a graduate of Wofford College with degrees in both Chemistry and Chinese. He has spent much of the last 2 years performing on ships and recently finished a run of Footloose the Musical on the Norwegian Joy. Best known in the Upstate for his portrayal of Bert in Mary Poppins (SLT) and The Beast in Beauty and the Beast (SCCT), he is excited to be making his Proud Mary Theatre debut and could not be happier to be a part of this cast and creative team.

Suggested donation of $10 for unlimited streaming. More info is available at proudmarytheatre.com.

Ben Dawkins Makes Directorial Debut in ‘Laramie Project’

sandman2k99 September 12, 2020 No Comments

Proud Mary Theatre Company continues to push the boundaries of virtual theatre as we open our 4th season with the 20th anniversary production of The Laramie Project, the award-winning play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project.

This is a FULL PRODUCTION (not a ZOOM reading) and will be presented as a Virtual Multimedia Experience available for streaming Tuesday, October 6, 2020 on the 22nd anniversary of the attack of gay college student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, and ends on October 12, the day Shepard died and became a martyr for hate crime legislation and the gay rights movement in the United States.

BEN DAWKINS (Director), singer/actor/director living in Spartanburg, is making his Upstate directorial debut! He graduated in 2014 with his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in voice performance from the University of Georgia. Since moving to Spartanburg, he has performed with the Spartanburg Little Theatre, Proud Mary Theatre, Gaffney Little Theatre, Limestone College Theatre, Centre Stage. As a director, he has worked with the Heritage High Patriot Players, Sandersville Community Theatre, Athena Grand Opera, and the UGA Opera Theatre. Directing highlights include: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Our Town, Trouble in Tahiti, and The Old Maid and the Thief. Local performance highlights include: BOY (Peter and the Starcatcher (Alf), Guys and Dolls (Nathan Detroit), Spamalot (Historian, Minstrel, Not-dead-Fred, French Taunter, and Prince Herbert), and Avenue Q (Nickie/Trekki Monster). Regional highlights include leading roles in My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, and several roles as a repertory artist for the International Festival of the Aegean in Ermoupolis, Greece. Special thanks to his wife Blair for her constant support and to Proud Mary for the opportunity to help tell this important and timely story!

The Laramie Project features a Who’s Who? cast of 14 amazing Upstate actors in some 60 roles: Ryan Barry, Michele Colletti, Ava Davis, Jonathan Davis, Kelly Davis, Doug Egge, Samantha Eyler, Darryl Harmon, Jim Huber, Dave LaPage, Rebecca Schledwitz, Tyler Smith, Audrey Waldrop and Chase Wolfe. Ashley Zimmerman is stage manager.

Suggested donation of $10 for unlimited streaming. More info is available at proudmarytheatre.com.

Doug Egge Portrays Playwright in ‘Laramie Project’

sandman2k99 September 12, 2020 No Comments

Doug Egge is honored to be able to perform in The Laramie Project, his second show with Proud Mary Theatre Company. As we approach the 20^th anniversary of these events, it is very telling that they are still an issue we deal with. His previous PMTC show was Southern Baptist Sissies (Preacher). His other roles include Captain Slank (and company) in Peter and the Starcatcher and Harry the Horse in Guys and Dolls at Spartanburg Little Theatre, and Ram’s Dad (and others) in Heathers at Converse College. Other roles at SLT were Sir Bedevere in Spamalot , Monsieur D’Arque in Beauty and the Beast, Mr. Northbrook in Mary Poppins, Max in Dial M for Murder and Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire. Doug wants to thank his understanding wife, Shana for allowing him to “live in a play” a few times each year.

Suggested donation of $10 for unlimited streaming. More info is available at proudmarytheatre.com.

Michele Colletti Co-Stars in ‘The Laramie Project’ Vigil

sandman2k99 September 12, 2020 No Comments

Since relocating to the Upstate in 2016, Michele Colletti has been seen in Centre Stage productions of Mamma Mia, Good People and Sister Act, among others, she has performed in The Asheville Christmas Show and most recently found a niche’ in directing and producing virtual plays for Centre Stage, Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre, Attic Salt Theatre, and most recently Proud Mary’s Production of The Pussy Grabber Plays. She is so honored to be part of The Laramie Project. By day Michele is an Adjunct Instructor at Greenville Technical College.

Suggested donation of $10 for unlimited streaming. More info is available at proudmarytheatre.com.

Ryan Barry Featured in ‘The Laramie Project’

sandman2k99 September 12, 2020 No Comments

Ryan Barry (Jedadiah Schultz / Father Roger Schmit / Jeffrey Lockwood / Newsperson #4 / Priest / Juror #4). Ryan is honored to be part of this production! Ryan made his debut with the Proud Mary Theatre with the virtual online production of Blue Camp. He was in Tryon Little Theatre’s production of Bright Star as Max and played over a dozen roles in The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time. Last summer he performed with The Upstate Shakespeare Festival’s production of The Tempest as Stephano in Greenville’s Falls Park. You may have also seen Ryan in Spartanburg Little Theatre’s production of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None as Doctor Armstrong. He has also appeared in Spartanburg Little Theatre’s production of Peter and the Starcatcher as Mrs. Bumbrake/Teacher, Disney’s The Little Mermaid as Scuttle. He is a USC Upstate graduate with a degree in theatre. He would like to thank Ben Dawkins, his family and all his friends for their wonderful support.

Suggested donation of $10 for unlimited streaming. More info is available at proudmarytheatre.com.

Tyler Smith of ‘Boy’ Travels to ‘Laramie’, Wyoming

sandman2k99 September 12, 2020 No Comments

TYLER SMITH (Aaron Kreifels, Matt Mickelson, Russell Henderson, Governor Geringer, Bailiff) is a Greenville actor who was last seen in Proud Mary Theatre Company’s production of BOY, as Doug Turner. You may also recognize him from The Younts Center for Performing Arts’ production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as Frederic/ensemble. Tyler graduated from Greenville Technical College with an Associate in Arts, with an emphasis in Graphic Design. He currently works as a Title Service Specialist at Holliday Ingram (Real Estate Law), in downtown Greenville. Tyler would like to thank his friends and family for their loving support.

Suggested donation of $10 for unlimited streaming. More info is available at proudmarytheatre.com.

Proud Mary Founding Actor Dave LaPage is in ‘Laramie’

sandman2k99 September 12, 2020 No Comments

Dave LaPage is thrilled to be working with Proud Mary Theatre Company again! He previously worked with Proud Mary on their inaugural production, the award-winning one-person show I Am My Own Wife. Other favorite past credits include: Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (Glow Lyric Theatre), Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher (Spartanburg Little Theatre), R.P. McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Michael Novak in God of Carnage (both at Centre Stage South Carolina), and the Emcee in Cabaret (The Market Theatre Company).

Suggested donation of $10 for unlimited streaming. More info is available at proudmarytheatre.com.

Jonathan Davis Tackles Multiple Roles in ‘Laramie’

sandman2k99 September 12, 2020 No Comments

Jonathan Davis is appearing in his fourth Proud Mary virtual production and can usually be found in local Shakespeare performances, including last year’s Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest (Upstate Shakespeare Festival), and has been acting in the area since 1997 in various productions. He also enjoys the odd film role now and again. When not acting, he spends his time reading and painting.

Suggested donation of $10 for unlimited streaming. More info is available at proudmarytheatre.com.

Atlanta’s Ava Davis Thrives in ‘The Laramie Project’

sandman2k99 September 12, 2020 No Comments

Proud Mary Theatre Company continues to push the boundaries of virtual theatre as we open our 4th season with the 20th anniversary production of The Laramie Project, the award-winning play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project.

This is a FULL PRODUCTION (not a ZOOM reading) and will be presented as a Virtual Multimedia Experience available for streaming Tuesday, October 6, 2020 on the 22nd anniversary of the attack of gay college student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, and ends on October 12, the day Shepard died and became a martyr for hate crime legislation and the gay rights movement.

Ava Davis, also known as the Duchess of Grant Park, is an actor, producer & writer, working and living in Atlanta. She recently appeared in Proud Mary Theatre’s production of It’s A Generational Thing by Robert Fuson.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature from the University of Georgia, and has made Atlanta her home, along with her partner, two standard poodles and one bengal cat.

She has acted in, written and produced several short films, including Feast, The Decision and the upcoming short film, Duchess of Grant Park. She has performed with the One Minute Play Fest, including a special performance in collaboration with the Queens Theater in New York City to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pride. In addition, she does sketch comedy with Critical Crop Top.

Ava Davis is a trans actress, and an advocate for increasing trans and queer representation, especially that of black and other minorities. She also loves jellybeans and coffee, and is always happiest when she finds herself with the privilege, honor, and sublime state of performing.

Directed by Ben Dawkins, The Laramie Project features a Who’s Who? cast of 14 amazing Upstate actors in some 60 roles: Ryan Barry, Michele Colletti, Ava Davis, Jonathan Davis, Kelly Davis, Doug Egge, Samantha Eyler, Darryl Harmon, Jim Huber, Dave LaPage, Rebecca Schledwitz, Tyler Smith, Audrey Waldrop and Chase Wolfe. Ashley Zimmerman is stage manager.

Suggested donation of $10 for unlimited streaming. More info is available at proudmarytheatre.com.