July 2 – August 8, 2021
Advantage Rule
a new play by Meg Berger, directed by Sarah Hawkins Rusk
Featuring Monica Spencer and Tim Pollack.
Charlie and Laura disagree on who has the advantage – men or women. But when they magically switch bodies while watching a soccer game, the question of “ball in and out of bounds” takes on a whole new meaning.
This show is part of our DRIVEWAY THEATRE series. To book a performance contact Maria Tejada at (313) 378-7879 or maria@openbooktc.com. Learn more HERE.
Meet the Cast and Crew!
Monica Spencer (Laura) attended the Young Americans College of the Performing Arts, continued studying musical theatre at the New York Film Academy, and is now at Eastern Michigan University for Media Broadcast Journalism. Monica works as a set designer and performer for different theatre companies here in the region. Previously she ran Bella Fortuna’s Dinner Theatre and has entertained guests with Carnival Cruise Line. Some local performances include Joan in Fun Home (Encore) Sara in Murder Ballad (Penny Seats), and Mae in Wild Party (Dio). Monica was part of our first Weekend Wonders New Play Festival. She would like to thank OBTC for this opportunity, as well as her friends and family for all the love and support. Check out MonicaSpencer.weebly.com for future performances and other artistic endeavors.
Tim Pollack (Charlie) is delighted to return to Open Book Theatre Company. He previously appeared as Brad in Be A Good Little Widow and Charles Bingley in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. Tim received his BA in acting from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and has worked as an actor and director since returning to the U.S. Some of his recent roles include Hamlet (Experimental Performing Arts Association), Oliver in The Intruder (Detroit Theatre Collective), and Lee in Scar Tissue (HFC Guest Artist). He also works as the Artistic Director at Cabrini High School in Allen Park. Tim will also appear as Gary in This Random World opening this September at Open Book.
Sarah Hawkins Rusk (Director), a native of Indiana, has been working as an actress, director, and educator across the country for the last thirteen years. Sarah received her MFA from Wayne State University and BA from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. Previously at Open Book, Sarah directed Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Wonder of the World, and Emilie, and performed as Ada Lovelace in Ada and the Engine. She also adapted and directed last fall’s Haunted: Window Theatre. Sarah is a certified teacher in the Michael Chekhov technique and teaches theatre at University of Detroit-Mercy.
Meg Berger (Playwright) is excited to be back with Open Book Theatre after writing two plays for our Weekend Wonders Online New Play Festival (The Patriarchy Isn’t Going to Smash Itself in February and Love is an Ocean of Emotion in April). She has been a part of the Metro Detroit theatre community for the last decade as an actor, writer, stage manager, costumer, and director. Her one-acts have been performed at the Rosedale Community Players One-Act Festival, Ridgedale Community Players One-Act Festival, and BoxFest Detroit. When she isn’t writing scripts, she toils away on the manuscript for her romance novel, which is untitled, but features plenty of consensual smooching!
Krista Schafer Ewbank (Artistic Director, Props) is the founding Artistic Director of Open Book. She loves having an artistic home and providing a place for other artists to work and play, and has been particularly proud of keeping live performance going in new ways during a global pandemic. Krista received Wilde Awards for her direction of The Watson Intelligence and her performance in Emilie, and was previously nominated for her performance in Boy Gets Girl as well as for her direction of Peter and the Starcatcher. A native Michigander, Krista holds a degree in theatre from Northwestern University and has worked in theatres across the country acting, teaching, and directing.
Maria Tejada (Production Manager) is a professional stage manager who has worked with several Michigan theatres including Water Works, Planet Ant, Roustabout and six years at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC even traveling to Macao, China with the production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Maria graduated from Grand Valley State University with degrees in Theater and Spanish. While Covid has challenged her to think outside the black box, she is so grateful for the opportunity to travel to people’s backyards, parks, and computer screens to connect through art.