directed by blanka zizka
CAST BIOS
WHO'S WHO IN THE CAST
The Wilma's East Coast premiere of THE INVENTION OF LOVE features a cast of 11 talented actors.
 | MARK ALHADEFF (Housman) Mark has played Claudio in Measure for Measure and the title role in Romeo and Juliet at The New Jersey Shakespeare Festival. He is making his Wilma Theater debut with THE INVENTION OF LOVE. |
| GEORGE TYNAN CROWLEY (Oscar Wilde / Vice-Chancellor / Bunthorne / Chairman) played Oscar (before Wilde's imprisonment and falling out with Bosie) in Florida Studio Theatre's production of Gross Indecency last winter. He has numerous regional credits (including American, New Jersey and Colorado Shakespeare Festivals, an upcoming film, Skid Marks and an MFA in Directing from Yale. Thanks to family and teachers all. |
| JOHN CURLESS (Ruskin / Stead) Broadway: The Sound of Music, The King and I, Racing Demon and A Small Family Business. National Tours: Crazy for You, The Real Thing and Aren't We All? Off-Broadway: Owners/Traps, Absent Friends, The Entertainer Prin, Up 'N' Under, Progress and Sus. Various regional theatre and television appearances in England and the United States. |
| EDMUND C. DAVYS (Jowett / Harris) Broadway: An Ideal Husband, directed by Sir Peter Hall, St. Joan directed by Michael Langham, The Show-Off, A Small Family Business, Shadowlands, Crucifer of Blood and Othello. Regional: Henry in The Real Thing (Stoppard), King Arthur in Camelot, Henry Carr in Travesties (Stoppard), Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein. TV: Law & Order. PBS: American Playhouse A Marriage: O'Keefe & Steiglitz. |
| ELI FINKELMAN (Pollard / Committee Member) Eli was last seen in Gross Indecency with the Philadelphia Theatre Company, and has twice appeared in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival with his own works, Plastic and White Heartbeat. He has also been seen in The God of Desire at InterAct Theatre Company. Eli is a graduate of Temple University. |
| LENNY HAAS (Chamberlain / Postgate / Balliol Student) This marks Lenny's debut performance at The Wilma Theater. He is a member of the resident acting company at People's Light and Theatre Company, having appeared in over 20 productions there. He has appeared at the Arden (The Real Thing, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Private Lives). Love ya Nan, Cat and Nick! P.S. Body by Claudia! |
| BENJAMIN LLOYD (Pater / Labouchere) 1988: Graduated from Yale School of Drama. 1988-1994: Struggled valiantly in New York City. 1994: Travesties at The Wilma Theater, directed by Blanka Zizka. 1994-present: New life in Philadelphia including: many roles at People's Light and Theatre Company, where he is a company actor, and teaching acting at Villanova University. Thanks Blanka. |
| LAURIE NORTON (Kate) recently completed her MA in Theater at Villanova University, where she now teaches undergraduate acting. While at Villanova, she was nominated for the role of Harper in the Barrymore Award-winning Angels in America. She is very excited to be making her first appearance at The Wilma. |
| IAN MERRILL PEAKES (Jackson) Ian is delighted to be at The Wilma. He was last seen at the Arden in Three Days of Rain. Also seen locally at People's Light and Theatre Company, Hedgerow Theatre, Pennsylvania Shakespeare, Cheltenham and Philadelphia Theatre Company. Next up, Clifford in Side Man at Philadelphia Theatre Company, directed by Jim Christie. For Karen. |
| MARTIN RAYNER (AEH) Martin came to America in 1983 and was a member of Adrian Hall's Company for nine years. Moving to New York, he won a Drama Desk Award for Travels With My Aunt and now lives on both coasts, doing theatre, Doctor Chaotica in Star Trek Voyager and the new cartoon Mike, Lu + Og. |
| H. MICHAEL WALLS (Charon / Pattison / Committee Member) is a 35-year stage and screen veteran with more than 125 roles to his credit. He was last seen at The Wilma Theater in Road, and aside from television and film work, has performed at most regional theaters in the area as well as his performances in Washington, D.C. and New York. |
Casting: Jerry Beaver & Associates (New York) and Don Montrey (Philadelphia).
