The Spitfire Grill Bios
CAST BIOS (alphabetical)
JOHN BREEN 
(U/S Sheriff, Visitor) is thrilled to be returning to The Umbrella's stage! Previous shows with The Umbrella include The Full Monty, RENT, Head Over Heels, Tuck Everlasting, and 42nd Street. You can spot John competing in the first season of the Netflix original series Sugar Rush Christmas.
CATHERINE LEE CHRISTIE 
(Effy Krayneck) was last seen at The Umbrella in the role of Elmire in Tartuffe. She most recently played Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit at Sullivan Rep, and appeared as Dana in The Good Deli and Miss Prism in The Importance of Being Earnest at Moonbox. Her other roles include Mrs. Eyensford-Hill in My Fair Lady at Lyric Stage Company, Truvy in Steel Magnolias at Hub Theatre, Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd at Theater UnCorked, Mrs. Drudge in The Real Inspector Hound, and Mrs. Curtin in A Man of No Importance at Bad Habit Productions.
SEAN DONNELLY 
(Sheriff Joe Sutter) is thrilled to be making his debut at The Umbrella Stage. Previous credits include The Mad Ones, February House (Treehouse Collective), Steel Pier, Annie (Sullivan Rep), Rock of Ages (Firehouse), The Sound of Music (BCE), Little Women, The Play That Goes Wrong (Concord Players), Cinderella, Something Rotten! (Company Theatre), Witch (Hovey Players), Legally Blonde, and Hairspray (Wayne Theatre). “Special thanks to this cast and crew for a uniquely wonderful experience creating the world of The Spitfire Grill, and much love to friends and family for your enduring support!”
KERRY A. DOWLING* 
(Hannah Ferguson) is excited to be performing at The Umbrella Stage for the first time. Her credits include Mrs. Grace in A Man of No Importance; Joan in Small Mouth Sounds (Norton Award - Best Ensemble); Marge in The Bridges of Madison County (IRNE Award - Best Supporting Actress); Margaret White in Carrie; Diana Goodman in Next to Normal; Mrs. Tottendale in The Drowsy Chaperone; Saraghina in Nine; Betty in The Great American Trailer Park Musical; Princess Puffer in The Mystery of Edwin Drood; Edith in The Women; Meredith Parker in Bat Boy; Jenny in Company (IRNE Award - Best Supporting Actress) at Speakeasy Stage; Mrs. Hubbard in Murder on the Orient Express; Mrs. Crummels/ Mrs. Squeers in Nicholas Nickleby; Stella in Follies at Lyric Stage Company; Cora in Calendar Girls; Miss Prism in The Importance of Being Earnest; Truvy in Steel Magnolias at Greater Boston Stage; and Cleo in The Most Happy Fella at Gloucester Stage. (she/her)
LIZA GIANGRANDE 
(Percy Talbott) is thrilled to be back at The Umbrella Stage. At The Umbrella: Emma Borden in Lizzie: the Musical. Off Broadway: Girls Who Walked On Glass. Regional: Jo March in Little Women (Greater Boston Stage Company - Elliot Norton Award Nominee), Joan of Arc in Born to Do This (Company Theatre - World Premiere), Harriet Smith in Emma (Actor’s Shakespeare Project). Film & TV: Fetch With Ruff Ruffman (PBS Kids), Wish I Was There (NYIFA Best Actress Recipient). BA in Music from Fairfield University, Meisner Foundational Training from Michael Chekhov Actor’s Studio Boston, Vocal Training from Noel Smith Voice Studio. “Many thanks always to family, friends, and mentors – I simply would not be here without you! This one is for all the tough kids trying to find their place in the world.” Instagram: @lizagiangrande | TikTok: @lizarookangaroo
CRISTHIAN MANCINAS-GARCÍA 
(The Visitor) was last seen at The Umbrella playing the role of Lorenzo in Melancholy Play: A Chamber Musical. Some of his favorite Musical Theatre credits include: Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone (Lyric Stage Company); King Triton in The Little Mermaid (Reagle Music Theatre); Manuel in Miss You Like Hell (The Wilbury Theatre Group); Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar (Firehouse Center for the Arts); Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages (Marblehead Little Theatre); Mr. Black in The Wild Party (Moonbox Productions). Cristhian has been fortunate to perform on stages in México, the USA, and the UK for over 20 years. www.CristhianMancinas.com (he/him/his)
SHONNA MCEACHERN* 
(Shelby Thorpe) is thrilled to return to The Umbrella after last season’s The Full Monty! Most recently seen as Christine in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Moonbox Productions, past credits include Lyric Stage Company: Assassins, Sweeney Todd. Huntington Theatre: Candide. Greater Boston Stage Company: Miss Holmes Returns. Fiddlehead Theatre: Ragtime (IRNE Award), Showboat. Wheelock Family Theater: Shrek (IRNE nomination). New Repertory Theatre: Camelot, Man of La Mancha. Moonbox Productions: A New Brain, Company, Barnum (IRNE nomination), The Rocky Horror Show. Reagle Music Theatre: Me and My Girl (IRNE nomination), Bye Bye Birdie (IRNE nomination). The Hanover Theater: A Christmas Carol. Nextdoor Theater: Legally Blonde, A Little Night Music. Speakeasy Stage Company: Carrie. A real estate agent and group fitness instructor by day, Shonna enjoys spending time with her dog Bosco and lifting up heavy things. Love to friends and family. (she/her)
KARA CHU NELSON 
(U/S Percy & Shelby, Movement Captain) is honored to be working with this brilliant team at The Umbrella, where she has been performing for over 10 years. She has also performed with Lyric Stage Company, Moonbox Productions, Seacoast Rep, and North Shore Music Theatre, among others. Favorite past roles include Natalie in Next to Normal, Éponine in Les Misérables, Samantha Brown in The Mad Ones, and Marcy Park in …Spelling Bee. Kara would like to thank the Spitfire team for this wonderful opportunity.
KATIE PICKETT 
(U/S Hannah, Effy): With The Umbrella: Now. Here. This., Head Over Heels. Other area credits include: Greater Boston Stage Company (The Irish and How They Got That Way, Titanish, Clue, A Christmas Carol), Lyric Stage Company (The Drowsy Chaperone), Wheelock Family Theatre (Flora & Ulysses), Gloucester Stage Company (Tall Tales from Blackburn Tavern), Hub Theatre Company (46 Plays for America’s First Ladies, Into the Breeches! -- Elliot Norton nom.), Apollinaire Theatre (Lunch Bunch, Dance Nation), Speakeasy Stage Company (Hot Star, Nebraska), Arts After Hours (Next to Normal), Hovey Players (Falsettos), and The Longwood Players (Company, Merrily We Roll Along, A New Brain, She Loves Me, Nine, Songs for a New World, Pirates of Penzance, and Sweeney Todd).
ANTHONY PIRES, JR.* 
(Caleb Thorpe) is thrilled to return to The Umbrella Stage Company, where audiences may remember him from Tuck Everlasting, Parade, The Wild Party, and Side Show. Recent credits include A Year with Frog and Toad, The Addams Family, and Matilda at Wheelock Family Theatre at BU; Once on This Island and The Prom at SpeakEasy Stage Company; Urinetown and Preludes at Lyric Stage Company; Next to Normal with Central Square Theater/Front Porch Arts Collective; Ain’t Misbehavin’ at Greater Boston Stage Company; and Passing Strange with Moonbox Productions. A proud Black-Cape Verdean Boston native and two-time Elliot Norton Award recipient, Anthony extends his deepest gratitude to his family, friends, and supporters. Follow him on Instagram: @anthonypiresjr | www.AnthonyPiresJr.com (he/him)
CREATIVE TEAM BIOS (alphabetical)
FRED ALLEY (Lyrics and Book) was the co-founder and Artist in Residence at American Folklore Theatre (now Northern Sky Theatre) in Door County, Wisconsin, a populist theatre with a seasonal audience of 50,000 where he collaborated on over 20 original shows. It was at Northern Sky that Mr. Alley first collaborated with James Valcq on The Passage. His second collaboration with Mr. Valcq, The Spitfire Grill, won the American Academy of Arts and Letters’ prestigious Richard Rodgers Production Award for 2001. Premiered at the George Street Playhouse in New Jersey and produced off-Broadway by Playwrights Horizons, it received Best Musical nominations from the Outer Critics Circle and Drama League, as well as two Drama Desk nominations. Mr. Alley was also the librettist and lyricist of the musicals Guys on Ice, Lumberjacks in Love and The Bachelors, all of which set box office records at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, and continue to win new fans at regional theatres all across the country. Fred Alley died unexpectedly in May 2001. In 2002, he was posthumously honored with the Mark R. Sumner Award for Distinguished Achievement, presented by the National Conference on Outdoor Drama.
KELLY BAKER (Costume Design) is thrilled to be designing at The Umbrella Stage Company for the first time! Other companies Kelly has worked with include: Lyric Stage Company, Greater Boston Stage Company, North Shore Music Theatre, Theatre By The Sea, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, New England Conservatory, Kelly would like to thank her family and besties for their continuous support. “Hi, Mama!” www.KellyBakerCostumeDesign.com
ALEX BERG (Sound Designer) is excited to return to The Umbrella after designing Now. Here. This. A Boston area designer and composer, Alex has designed shows for North Shore Music Theatre, Wheelock Family Theatre, Theatre by the Sea, A Contemporary Theater of Connecticut, Pittsburgh Playhouse, Prescott Park Arts Festival, Kavinoky Theatre, and Shakespeare in Delaware Park. www.AlexBergAudio.com
BRIAN BORUTA 
(Producing Artistic Director) This is Brian’s 56th production with The Umbrella and his 52nd as the Director of Performing Arts, during which time he has earned Best Production nominations for The Color Purple, Glengarry Glen Ross, Red, Angels in America, Equus and Bonnie & Clyde; a DASH Award for Best Play for True West and To Kill A Mockingbird, and Best Musical for Parade and Big Fish. The Umbrella directing credits include: Parade (DASH Award for Best Director of a Musical), Big Fish (DASH Nom.), Hair, Evita, Side Show, Next to Normal, The Rocky Horror Show. Elsewhere: Sweeney Todd, Legally Blonde, Godspell, Seussical the Musical, The Actor’s Nightmare, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You. Favorite on-stage credits include Billy Lawlor in 42nd Street (DASH Nom.), Judas/John the Baptist in Godspell, Cosmo Brown in Singin’ in the Rain, Austin in True West, and Greg in A Chorus Line. As a designer and educator, Brian has worked with numerous college, high school and community groups including Merrimack College, Goddard College, Framingham State University, The Performing Arts Center of MetroWest, Brookline, Chelsea and Wellesley Public School. His solo piece, UnMasqued, has been workshopped and performed at the Wheeler Theater in Port Townsend, WA. Brian holds a Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College and was named the recipient of the 2014 Framingham State University Young Alumni Achievement Award for his work in the performing arts.
TREE BROCK (Wardrobe Supervisor) is proud to be working with The Umbrella again after joining them as Wardrobe supervisor on Network, RENT, Middleton Heights, The Color Purple, Lizzie: the Musical, The Minutes, and Now. Here. This.. They have previously worked as the costume designer with Hovey Theatre doing Witch, Marjory Prime, and Pillowman. They were also costume designer with The Christmas Carol in Waltham. Most days Tree also works backstage and costume work for Drag me to Brunch and Strut or at Walnut Hill School for the Arts with the Dance department costumes and adjustments. During the summer they help at Creative Arts helping kids costume creation and looks for the summer productions. Their company is Red Bark Crafting and believes you should fly your fandom banners proudly.
CHRIS BROUSSEAU (A1) has worked both on- and off-stage as a member of greater New England community theater for over 25 years. Recent credits: The Umbrella Stage: Where We Belong (Sound Design), Now. Here. This. (Audio Tech), The Minutes (Audio Tech). Hovey Players: Stupid F#&*ing Bird (Sound Design), Appropriate (Sound Design). Footlight Club: Yellow Face (Sound Design), Sweat (Sound & Video Design, EMACT DASH Nominated), Proof (Sound Design), Woman in White (Technical Direction, Virtual Theater, EMACT DASH Award: Excellence in Technical Direction), Legally Blonde (Sound Design). Riverside Theater Works: Next to Normal (Sound Design). www.ChrisBrousseau.com
JACK CLINE (Music Director) is so cheesed to be back at The Umbrella after conducting Now. Here. This. last fall. Other recent projects include Cabaret (Tufts University), The Rocky Horror Show (Central Square Theater), and Beautiful (Reagle Music Theatre, upcoming). Kisses on the cheek to their people and everyone at the Spitfire. Love is lifeforce. (they/he)
JANIE E. HOWLAND+ (Scenic Designer) Previous productions at The Umbrella include: The Minutes and The Color Purple. Janie has been a visiting artist at Willamette University where she taught and designed Far Away and Bloom Bloom Pow. Upcoming productions include Ja-Ja’s African Hair Braiding (Speakeasy Stage Company) and Hello Dolly (Lyric Stage Company). Other Venues include Trinity Rep, InterAct Theatre (PA), Southwark Playhouse (UK), Berkshire Opera Festival, Mass MOCA, Reagle Music Theatre, Central Square Theatre, Wheelock Family Theatre, New Rep, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Weston Playhouse (VT), Company One, Gloucester Stage. 2024 recipient of Elliot Norton Award for Sustained Excellence, 8 prior design awards, adjunct faculty at Bridgewater State University, and Wellesley College. She is the founder of Prop Co-Op, www.prop-co-op.com, www.JanieHowland.com, USA Local 829.
SHAUWNA DIAS GRILLO* (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back at The Umbrella after stage managing last year’s Lizzie: the Musical and White Rabbit Red Rabbit! Select previous AEA SM credits include: Noises Off (Lyric Stage Company); Pride and Prejudice, Into the Breeches! (The Barnstormers); The Little Mermaid (Reagle Music Theatre); Flora & Ulysses, The SpongeBob Musical, A Wrinkle In Time, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Make Way For Ducklings (Wheelock Family Theatre); Guys and Dolls, Clue, Beehive, Little Women, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Ain’t Misbehavin, Miss Holmes Returns, All Is Calm, and The 39 Steps (Greater Boston Stage Company). As AEA ASM: West Side Story (Reagle), Miracle on 34th Street (GBSC). She has also worked with Revels Inc., Bridge Rep, Brown Box Theatre, Emerson College, and Opera Del West.
LEANNA NIESEN (Asst. Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working on her first show at The Umbrella. Recent credits include F*cking A (Boston Conservatory); Noises Off (Lyric Stage Company); Lysistrata, Of Thee I Sing & Let Them Eat Cake (Odyssey Opera); and The Hombres, Wipeout (Gloucester Stage Company). Other credits include Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812, Merrily We Roll Along, and Edges (Capital City Theatre) in Madison, Wisconsin, where she grew up. Leanna is a recent graduate of Muhlenberg College with a B.A. in Theatre (stage management) and Dance (choreography). Special thanks to her family and partner for their love and support.
KAREN PERLOW+ (Lighting Designer) The Spitfire Grill is Karen’s first show at The Umbrella. Based in Boston for over 30 years, Karen has designed the lighting for over 200 productions. Her work has been seen at Boston Symphony Orchestra, Merrimack Repertory Theater, Speakeasy Stage Company, Lyric Stage Company, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Central Square Theater, New Rep, Boston Midsummer Opera, and Shakespeare & Company. Karen has taught Lighting Design at MIT and Northeastern University, and has been a guest designer at Boston Conservatory, Boston College, Brandeis University, Suffolk University, and Emerson College. She is proud to serve as the treasurer of the Theater Community Benevolent Fund and is a member of the United Scenic Artists’ Union 829.
ZOE PEPIN (Stage Crew) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist who is excited to be joining the team for The Spitfire Grill. She most recently worked backstage for Where We Belong at The Umbrella. Earlier in the season, Zoe appeared onstage as Camera B Technician in Network.
ILYSE ROBBINS** 
(Director, Choreographer) is delighted to return to The Umbrella having directed last season’s production of Lizzie: The Musical and performing in White Rabbit, Red Rabbit. Recent directing projects: Noises Off (Lyric Stage Company); 46 Plays… (Hub Theater); Mr. Popper’s Penguins (Wheelock Family Theatre). Recent choreography projects: A Man of No Importance (SpeakEasy Stage); A Christmas Carol (Hanover Theatre); Rocky Horror (Central Square). Ilyse is a multiple Elliot Norton and IRNE Award recipient. BS in Communication/Theater - Northwestern, Theater Certification - BADA, Ed.M. - Harvard. Upcoming: Choreographer - Hello, Dolly! (Lyric Stage Company), Director – Barefoot in the Park (Barnstormers). Love to Glen and the kids. www.IlyseRobbins.com
SARABETH SPECTOR (Scenic Design Assistant) is a scenic and props designer based in Medford, MA. Credits include: Where We Belong (Props Designer, The Umbrella); A Christmas Carol (Props Designer, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company); Amour (Props Designer, Emerson Stage); Now. Here. This. (Props Designer, The Umbrella); Mermaid Hour (Asst. Scenic Designer, Props Designer; Moonbox Productions); Cost of Living (Props Designer, Speakeasy Stage); Legally Blonde (Scenic Designer, Moonbox Productions); Honeyhole (Scenic Designer, Moonbox Productions); Boston New Works Festival (Props Designer, Moonbox Productions), Jado Jehad (Props Designer, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre); For The Fish (Assoc. Scenic Designer, Moonbox Productions); NIGHTTOWN (Scenic Designer, Lowell House Opera); Baltimore (Scenic Designer, Emerson Stage). www.SarabethSpector.com
JAMES VALCQ (Book and Music) is the composer of the off-Broadway musical The Spitfire Grill (Playwrights Horizons, 2001) which has been seen in nearly 900 productions spanning North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, as well as a highly lauded London premiere in 2015. Also off-Broadway, Valcq was the composer/author of Zombies from The Beyond, which opened to critical acclaim in 1995. Regional credits include The Passage (a collaboration with Fred Alley), Victory Farm and Boxcar for Northern Sky Theatre, and adaptations of the classic children’s books The Pancake King (commissioned by Milwaukee’s Next Act Theatre) and Anatole (commissioned by First Stage). During his decade as co-Artistic Director of Third Avenue Playhouse in Wisconsin, Valcq created performing editions of several early 20th-century musical theatre pieces, including his reconstruction of George Gershwin’s first Broadway musical, La La Lucille, for its centennial in 2019. As a conductor, orchestrator, actor and stage director, his career has spanned Broadway, National Tours and regional theatre. He holds an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is a proud member of Actors Equity.
JULIA WONKKA (Props and Set Dressing) is a props and scenic designer based in the Boston area, and is thrilled to be returning to The Umbrella! Previous credits include: The Umbrella: The Minutes (Props/Set Dressing), Central Square Theater: The Hound of the Baskervilles (Scenic/Props Designer), Your Town (Scenic/Props Designer), Her Portmanteau, SPACE, Beyond Words, Machine Learning, The Rocky Horror Show, Angels in America: Perestroika (Props Artisan). American Repertory Theater: The Odyssey, Diary of a Tap Dancer, Gatsby, Evita (Stage Operations), The Hub: Tartuffe, Burn This (Props Master), Spindrift Theater: My Mama and the Full Scale Invasion (Scenic Designer). Moonbox Productions: Legally Blonde (Props Master), Emerson Stage: Are You Someone to Somebody? (Scenic/Props Designer), Three Romances for the Unwell and Otherwise (Scenic Designer).
LEE DAVID ZLOTOFF (Filmmaker) is a producer, director and screenwriter best known as the creator of the TV series MacGyver, which ran on ABC between 1985 and 1992 and was sold throughout the world. He then produced the television series The Man from Snowy River, loosely based on the Banjo Patterson poem 'The Man from Snowy River'. Additionally, he wrote and directed the 1996 film The Spitfire Grill, which won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. Zlotoff graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1970. He then went on to St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland.
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