TWO MOTHERS AT A ROADSIDE CAFÉ
Allan Bates (Playwright)-Taught playwriting classes for 7 years at Victory Gardens Theatre, Chicago. Playwright-in-Residence at Raven Theatre, Chicago, for 4 years. Numerous productions, Equity, amateur, and university, in Chicago, New York, and elsewhere. Retired from full-time teaching which included Head of Creative Writing at Northeastern Illinois University. Then taught part time in Indiana Correctional program, both at men’s prison at Wabash, Indiana, and women’s prison at Rockville, Indiana, for Indiana State University. Currently directing Shakespeare workshops at the Federal Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana. Member Playwrights Center and Dramatists Guild. allanbates.com.
Jim Shankman (Director)- has been a New York City actor since the late 1970’s when he appeared on Broadway in Grease and Once In A Lifetime.. Favorite credists include Moonlight and Magnolias, As Bees In Honey Drown and Rough Crossing (all at the Dorset Theatre Festival), Luv at Syracuse Stage directed by Terry Schreiber and the world premieres of Opus and End Days at Florida Stage and Sick and Jericho at The New Jersey Rep. He has studied acting with Michael Howard, Terry Schreiber, and Gloria Maddox. He currently teaches at T. Schreiber Studio. Jim is a playwright with three productions in the New York International Fringe Festival: Suicide Math, Kiss Your Brutal Hands and The Screenwriter Dies Of His Own Free Will, which won a 2015 Fringe Festival Best Playwriting Award. For an earlier version of Kiss Your Brutal Hands he received a Best Actor award at the 2013 United Solo Festival. Jim has a BA in Philosophy from Princeton University,and MFA in Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. www.jimshankman.com
Naama Potok (Christine)- was last seen playing Rivkeh Lev, Anna Schaefer and Rachel in Penguin Rep Theatre’s production of My Name is Asher Lev, following a nine month run understudying the Off Broadway production playing 48 performances. Additional credits include Eileen Rafferty at The Williamstown Theatre Festival (dir. Geraldine Fitzgerald), Scheherazade in LookingglassTheatre’s touring production of Arabian Nights (dir. Mary Zimmerman – BAM, Steppenwolf Theatre, Actors Gang), Mirror of the Invisible World (Goodman Theatre), Katherine in Henry IV, Lady MacDuff in MacBeth, Boy in The Old Man and the Sea, and Pia Shim in History of the Devil (Next Theatre Company), Manke in Donald Margulies’ World Premiere adaptation of God of Vengeance (A Contemporary Theatre), Hindle in God of Vengeance (Target Margin Theatre), Judy in Blue Moon Over Memphis (Lincoln Center Director’s Lab), Sylvie in Captain’s & Courage (T. Schreiber Studio), and Beatrice in A View from the Bridge (Oxford University Drama Society). Film credits include Christie in Waiting for Marilon Cotillard (Mediane-Art &Communication), Party Guest in The Chosen (20th Century Fox), and Carol in the Independent film Reindeer Games (Hardeye Films). Ms. Potok is thrilled to be back at T. Schreiber Studio.
Celia Schaefer (Jan)- has recently played in Off-Broadway productions of Right Down Broadway’s “Voices of Swords” and Go Show Entertainment’s “Chekhovek.” Other New York appearances include productions at Ensemble Studio Theatre, Atlantic Theater Company, LAByrinth, The Ohio Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Source, and countless others. Celia’s regional work includes Fusion Theatre Company’s “Disgraced” and “The Other Place,” Living Room Theatre’s “Exit the King,” Stageworks/Hudson’s critically acclaimed world premiere of “Tomorrow in the Battle,” WTD Theater’s production of “Virtue Desire Death and Foolishness” the touring company of Chicago City Limits Improv. Her film work includes “Detachment” “Heterosexuals” “Little Pieces” and the upcoming “Thirsty” and “Detours.” She has appeared on television on NBC’s “Conviction” and CBS Daytime’s “As the World Turns.” Celia is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and is an alumna of The North Carolina School of the Arts, and a proud member of Actors Equity Association since 1987. www.celiaschaefer.com
Dana D’Ascoli (Waitress)- her love for live theatre dates back to her childhood when she would perform in backyard productions with her brothers, sisters and neighborhood friends. A Jersey girl at heart, she has called NYC her home for the last decade. In addition to her acting pursuits, Dana also enjoys anything to do with the great outdoors. On any given day you can see her biking or walking throughout the city! She is thrilled to be working with this wonderful cast and grateful to be a part of Schreiber Shorts. Feel free to visit her at www.danadascoli.com.