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Ovation Newsletter for A Christmas Carol & Tuna Christmas is available HERE!
Meet The Players
Armando Acevedo*(Jonathan Harker)Armando Acevedo is filled with blood-curdling delight in returning to the Hippodrome on the trail of Count Dracula. He made his Hippodrome debut earlier this year as the unfaithful Palomo in Anna in the Tropics , and he spent all summer shake-shake-shaking his booty in 8-Track: The Sounds of the 70’s . Armando received his MFA in Theatre from the California Institute of the Arts after completing his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Miami. He has worked for the Walt Disney Company in California, in Florida and in France and currently lives in Los Angeles, where he moonlights as a singer in Russian nightclubs. |
Garrett Bantom(Butterworth, the Attendant)Garrett is delighted to return to the Hippodrome main stage in Dracula. He was recently seen in Mere Mortals. Garrett would like to admit that he is truly afraid of Vampires and working with them on this production has not helped his condition. He would like to thank Mary, Rocky, Lauren, Lizz, Tamerin, Kim D., and the cast. He would especially like to thank his family for their support of his life in the arts. He would like to thank the Gainesville community for being so kind in welcoming him to his professional career. Finally he would like to thank God for guidance. “Never mistake knowledge and wisdom. One helps you build your career the other helps guide your life.” - Sandra Carey |
Robin Bloodworth*(Count Dracula)Robin is very glad to be back at the Hippodrome after enjoying the Lion in Winter many seasons ago. Favorite productions include: Much Ado About Nothing (winner OOBR Award) and Taming of the Shrew for the NY Classical Theatre in the Park. Cloud 9 at the Bank Street Theatre and Romeo and Juliet at the Lucille Lortel. Regional favorites: Art, Glengarry Glen Ross, Private Lives, Joe and Betty and The Woman in Black. Thanks to Lauren Caldwell, and to Kelly. |
Ryan Burbank(Mina)Ryan is thrilled to be making her debut at the Hippodrome State Theatre with her role in this production. Ryan is currently a first year MFA student in the Acting Program at the University of Florida. Originally from New York, Ryan received her BFA in the theatre studies from the University of Connecticut. Ryan just completed a year studying Asian Theatre Performance at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her most recent credits include: Sylvia in Dating and Mating in Modern Times, Franzisca in Arabian Night, Babe in Crimes of the Heart, and April White in Savage in Limbo. Ryan would like to thank her classmates and professors at UF for their unwavering support and inspiring her on a daily basis. |
Mark Chambers*(Professor Van Helsing)www.mark-chambers.com has information available on his site. Mark appeared on the Hippodrome stage most recently opposite Lauren Caldwell in the Mary Hausch directed A Tuna Christmas. |
Mark Kincaid*(Dr. Seward)Mark is so pleased to be working again with his dear friends at The Hippodrome. Last season he appeared as Theo Maske in The Underpants. In seasons past he was seen as Tessman in Hedda Gabler, Jerry in God’s Man in Texas, and Russ in Like Totally Weird. Mr. Kincaid was a company member at The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival for eight seasons where he played a variety of roles including, Macbeth, Cyrano de Bergerac, and Prospero. At the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, he played Pa Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, Aegeus in Medea, Jerry in God’s Man in Texas, Elvis Presley in Southern Cross and most recently Capt. Keller in The Miracle Worker. Among his favorite roles played at Georgia Ensemble Theatre are Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird, and Lenny in Of Mice and Men. Two seasons ago he played John Barrymore in the one man show, Barrymore at the Springer Opera House in Columbus, GA. Mark has worked at The Old Globe Theatre, The McCarter Theatre, Mill Mountain Stage, Peoples Light and Theatre Company, and has twice toured the nation with The Acting Company. He lives in Atlanta with his talented actress–wife, Tess and their beautiful little girl, Barbara Rose. Mr. Kincaid is proudly celebrating his 25 th year as a member of Actors Equity. |
Tom Nowicki*(R.M. Renfield)Tom Nowicki first performed at the Hippodrome in the mid 1980’s in Ted Tally’s South-Pole epic Terranova (or, as it was known fondly by the company Many Are Cold, But Few Are Frozen…). His return here in Dracula qualifies him as a kind of theatrical un-dead, resurrected as he has been after so many years in silence and darkness (i.e., film and television). Tom starred in Fox-TVs brilliant but cancelled small-screen version of L.A. Confidential, and as the Angel of Rock in Showtime’s ill-fated series of the same name. Due out next year is Descansos, a feature film with Gary Busey and Charles Durning. Tom studied at Yale and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and is happy to be back among the living… |
Loren Omer(Miss Wells, the Maid)This is Loren’s third production at the Hippodrome. You may have seen her previously as Martha Cratchit and Belle in The Christmas Carol. Some of her favorite roles have included Antigone from Antigone, Alais in The Lion in Winter, and The Witch from Into the Woods. She is a Gainesville native who has enjoyed attending Hippodrome shows since childhood, and is thrilled to be involved in Dracula. Loren would like to thank the production team for giving her this opportunity and her boyfriend and family for their love and support. “I love you guys!” |
Rachel Roberts(Lucy)Rachel returns to her old stompin’ ground to make her Hippodrome debut! Since graduating from University of Florida with a BA in Theatre in 2002, Rachel has been living and acting in Atlanta and was a member of the 2003-04 intern company at Actor’s Express. Recent credits include: The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Burn This and Spain at Actor’s Express; Language of Angels at Synchronicity Performance Group, and Sunday in New York at Atlanta Classical Theatre. Film credits include: Independence and La Boda Negra. Next up: Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women at Actor’s Express! Rachel would like to thank her family for their continued support and encouragement. |
Kayla Robins(Girl Child)Kayla Robins is in 10 th grade in the IB program at Eastside High School. She has had experiences in modeling and been involved in theatre since she was five. This is her second Hippodrome production, having preformed the role of Fan in A Christmas Carol. Credits include the role of Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the messenger in The Wiz, and numerous school productions. She was also involved with the production crew in Eastside’s productions of Amadeus, and recently Bat Boy, until she was offered her role in Dracula. Kayla is active in the International Thespians Society and is on her school tennis team. |
Kelsey Salazar(Girl Child)Kelsey, 15, is elated to return to the Hippodrome stage. She has previously been seen in various roles in A Christmas Carol and many summer shows. Her favorite roles to date are Flora in The Innocents and Migdalia in El Bluebird. Kelsey achieved a Critic’s Choice award at the Florida Junior Thespians Competition, along with her duet partner Kelsey Markey. She thanks her friends and family for their support. |
Lizz Nehls*(Stage Manager)This is Lizz’s 3 rd season with the Hippodrome as the Stage Manager. Before returning to the Hippodrome, Lizz lived, worked, & played in NYC for 4 years. She was also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida in Stage Management. Peace & Love! |
Monday, March 15