COMING OUT was originally produced at The Abbey Theater of Dublin, in Dublin, Ohio, October 4-19, 2013, by Creatures Plays Corporation, and was presented by special arrangement with Riverdale Literary Holdings, Inc.

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Original Cast

COMING OUT had its premier at The Abbey Theater of Dublin, in Dublin, Ohio, on October 4, 2013, where it was presented for a nine-performance limited run. The original production was produced by Creatures Plays Corporation, and directed by Colleen Dunne, and featured the following cast.

J.T. McDANIEL (Robert “Bob” Anderson, DPhil.)

COMING OUT author J.T. McDaniel takes on the role of Bob Anderson in this first ever production of his play. Over the last 40 plus years, McDaniel has tackled roles as diverse as the elderly Jewish pharmacist Doc in West Side Story, Judge Taylor in To Kill a Mockingbird, and the comic serial murderer Jonathan Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace. Other roles have included the supercilious French diplomat Cascada in Franz Lehar’s The Merry Widow, and both the Constable and Mordcha in different productions of Fiddler on the Roof. Most recently he has been seen as the Narrator in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, and Inspector Ruffing in Don Nigro’s Ravenscroft. Forays into the classics include Banquo in Macbeth in a military production in Japan, Scarpia in a bastard opera production of Tosca (McDaniel sang in Italian), and Andrew Borden in the Jack Beeson opera Lizzie . McDaniel also spent several years working in radio, as news director, disc jockey, and staff announcer at several stations in the southern United States. He is the author of the novels Bacalao, With Honour in Battle, and The Alukam (the last writing as Jacob Thomson), and has edited numerous other books. His eldest son, Richard, is a digital animator, film restorer, and plays lead guitar with the Colombian death metal band Phalogore. McDaniel is a member of the Military Writers Society of America, and the Dramatists Guild of America. Photo © 2013, Shannon Williams Photography. Representation, Heyman Talent.

BRENDA NEWSOM (Susan Morton Anderson, PhD.)

Brenda is pleased to be participating in the world premier of COMING OUT for Creatures Plays Corporation.  In the past six years, Brenda has performed with various community theater groups in central Ohio, including Bread and Circus Theater Company, Imagine Productions, Little Theatre Off Broadway, and Worthington Community Theater. Favorite roles include Doctor Scott in The Rocky Horror Show with Imagine Productions; Mrs. Thompson in Boy Meets Girl with Bread and Circus Theater Company; Mrs. Dubose in To Kill a Mockingbird and Frau Schmidt in The Sound of Music with Little Theatre Off Broadway. Brenda has enjoyed singing in the chorus for the productions of Cinderella and The Wizard of Oz with Worthington Community Theater. Brenda has performed with VaudVillites and various vocal groups, and loves to sing at her favorite karaoke bar. Brenda would like to thank acting teacher Tim Browning and friends for their encouragement and support.

JIM LeVALLY (Rev. James Anderson, DD)

Jim LeVally is an award winning designer, director, and actor who works with several local professional and community theater companies. He has worked with Contemporary American Theater Company, Little Theatre Off Broadway, Theatre Daedalus, Curtain Players, Evolution Theater Company, King Avenue Players, Upper Arlington Arts Council, The Academy of Performing Arts, Available Light Theater, and Bread and Circus Theater Company. His favorite roles include Lenny in Of Mice and Men, and Rude  French Waiter in There is No Here, Here. Special thanks to GKP  and H for their love and support, and to MJL, who warms his heart with memories every day as he strives to live by the example she provided.

MARTHA KATHRYN SMITH (Karen Dalywn Anderson)

Marty is ecstatic to be in her first show for Creatures Plays Corporation. She is a 2012 graduate of MCT’s Next Step Prep, and has been seen in such shows as Anne of Green Gables (Anne), Aida (Ensemble), Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr. (Student), and Ravenscroft (Marcy). Stage manager, Moonlight and Magnolias. Marty would like to thank her friends and family for their endless support.

JAI FURLONG (George Anderson, CPA)

My name is Jai Furlong. I used to be a spy. That is until I got burned. When you’re burned you’ve got nothing. No cash, no credit, no—wait, wrong show. My name is Jai Furlong. I’m pleased to be a part of this cast and to be originating the role of George. Some of my past credits include One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (ECP), Much Ado About Nothing (LTOB), and Pirates of Penzance (LTOB).

WILL ‘TuTAIL’ SMITH (Eric Simpson)

Will is excited to be back on stage after a two year absence. He has done over 21 shows and one movie, both behind the scenes as tech crew, and on the stage, since 1985. His most recent was Romantic Fools for CSCC. His favorite role that he has done to date is Day They Shot John Lennon, in which he played Silvio, for Columbus State Community College, Nancy Kephart, dir.. He would like to thank several people for their help in his career, including Doris, Nancy, Frank, Mom and Herb, and Jack. He hopes you enjoy the show and thanks for coming.

ASHLEY COLLINS (Ellen Anderson Winston)

Theatre: Dolly, Ravenscroft; Mrs. Parker, Catch Me If You Can; Jean McCormack/Mimsey, Plaza Suite; Harriet, The Shirt Off His Back; Lisa, Wait Until Dark; Footman/Sloppy Girl/Ensemble, Cinderella; Ensemble, Fiddler on the Roof; Julie, Potluck; Tansy,The Nerd; Officer Pudney, Rumors; Sunny, The Last Night of Ballyhoo; Actor 1, And Then They Came for Me. Film: Humming, Frequency; Girl, Where Am I?

CHRIS WHARTON (Mark Winston, MD)

GRACE RINEHART (Carol Burgess)

Grace’s previous roles include Gingerbread Child, Hansel and Gretel; Marmee, Little Women; Charlotte Lucas, Pride and Prejudice; Constance Bonacieux, Three Musketeers; Ensemble, Baby: The Musical; Turning Woman 6/Ensemble, Les Misérables; and Emma Woodhouse, Jane Austin’s Emma.

Production Staff

COLLEEN DUNNE, Director

Colleen Dunne has been doing theater semi-professionally for almost 18 years. She assistant directed and stage managed the world premier of The Red Velvet Cake War in her home state of Tennessee. She has worked primarily as an actress, and her favorite roles include Abigail Williams in The Crucible; Alais in The  Lion in Winter; Brooke/Vicki in Noises Off!; and Bobbie Michelle in The Last of the Red Hot Lovers. Colleen [made] her Columbus stage debut in December  in MadLab’s production of Wall.

LORI WALSH, Stage Manager

ASHLEY WILLS, Costumes

Wardrobe Head: Albert Herring; Costume Design: The Wedded Husband, A Song for Coretta, The Woman in Black, The Undergraduate Sandbox; Wardrobe Crew: The Camouflage Project, Art in Bloom, The Wedding Party, Yesterday and Today.