Joshua Brown began acting in earnest on his 30th birthday, realizing a lifelong dream. Last season he played Buddy in Open Book’s production of Kimberly Akimbo. He has worked with Tipping Point Theatre as File in The Rainmaker and in their 2013 Sandbox Festival. He has also acted professionally with Two Muses (Sylvia), Planet Ant (Algorithm) and the Matrix Theatre Company (Best of Enemies). He has trained at Tipping Point Theatre and Purple Rose Theatre Company.
Sarah Hawkins Moan, a native of Indiana, is delighted to be making her debut at Open Book Theatre! Sarah has been working as an actress, director, and educator across the country for the last ten years. A recent graduate of Wayne State’s Masters of Fine Arts program, favorite roles include Motherhood Out Loud at Matrix Theatre Company; Big Love (Lydia), Marriage (Fiokla), and Romeo & Juliet (Juliet’s Nurse, Wilde Award Nominated Performance) at the Hilberry; Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Suzanne) and Little Women (Beth) at Commonweal Theatre. Love and kisses to DM, TP, Mama and Papa.
Allison Megroet is thrilled to be a part of such a stellar cast in her first appearance at Open Book. Previously, she has worked with Shakespeare in Detroit, Oakland Community College theatre, Magenta Giraffe, Stagecrafters, and Matrix theatre company. Most recent shows include Almost Maine (Hope), A Kid Like Jake (Nurse), Precious Little (C), and Next to Normal (Natalie). She has an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from OCC and is also a licensed cosmetologist. Being a huge fan of Kurt Vonnegut, she is excited to have this opportunity to bring his wonderful stories to life, and hopes you will enjoy them as much as she does.
Richard Payton is honored to be returning to the Open Book Theatre stage having previously performed in Red and Dead Man’s Cell Phone. He has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University and has performed at many theaters in the area including The Ringwald, Two Muses Theatre, Planet Ant, The Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company, Slipstream Theatre Initiative and even Detroit’s Music Hall. He would like to thank Krista for always welcoming him back, Topher for always believing in him, his supportive family and you for supporting local theater.
Sean Paraventi is an actor, playwright and improviser, who is thrilled to be appearing in his third Open Book show after being seen earlier this season in The Shadow Box and in last season’s Sylvia. He would like to thank Topher and Krista and everyone involved in this wonderful production, which he is honored to be part of. He would also like to send gratitude out to his family and friends for all of their support and he would like to thank whoever is reading this program for supporting local theatre. Lastly, he would like to remind everyone (including himself) that life is short: so just breathe, don’t play it too safe, and enjoy the journey!
Chris Peterson is a recent graduate of Wayne State University, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. Chris was last seen in All’s Well That Ends Well with the Water Works Theatre Company. Other credits include: Romeo & Juliet, Three Sisters, Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, Macbeth, and Oohrah! Chris is very excited to be working with this thriving company on such a spectacular piece(s) of literature.
Krista Schafer Ewbank is the founding Artistic Director of Open Book, and was seen in The Shadow Box, Sylvia, Independence and Kimberly Akimbo. She directed Bauer and Wiley and the Hairy Man for Open Book, and also recently directed the Grosse Ile Boar’s Head Festival. A native Michigander, Krista holds a degree in theatre from Northwestern University. Some other favorite roles she’s played on stages large and small across the country include Veronica in God of Carnage, Catherine in Proof, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing, Fiona in Flanagan’s Wake, The Angel in Angels in America, Agnes in Dancing at Lughnasa, and Mrs. Pinkerton in Pinkalicious! The Musical. Krista can be seen as The Statue of Liberty on the cover of Cootie Shots (published by TCG), in which she was an original cast member, and has appeared in national and regional radio and television commercials. She is thrilled to have an artistic home.
Harley Miah (Lighting Designer) is a professional in the entertainment technology industry. He is a freelance lighting programmer for a large number of nightclubs, concerts and festivals in the Detroit area, and across the country. He works with the RHS Theatre program and is a proud member of, and lighting designer for, AKT Theatre Project in Wyandotte, MI. Harley designed the lights for all the shows in Open Book’s Inaugural Season and earned a Wilde Award for Best Design – Lights for his work on Red. This season he has designed the lights for The Shadow Box and Dead Man’s Cell Phone. In the summer he loves to ride his bike and Slow Roll on Monday nights.
Topher Payne (Director) is a Michigan based actor and director. He is the Associate Director of Open Book and directed all the shows in the Inaugural Season. Originally hailing from Lubbock, Texas, Topher has a BFA in Acting Performance from Texas Tech University and an MFA in Acting from Wayne State University. Additionally, he has worked on stage with Michigan Shakespeare Festival, Tulsa’s American Theatre Company, Lubbock Moonlight Musicals, The Angel Fire Mountain Theatre Company, and The Berkshire Fringe Festival. He has also taught high school theatre and directed many productions on the high school level and in various theatres in Texas, Oklahoma, and Michigan. During the day he performs in the educational shows offered at the Michigan Science Center. He wants to thank his boyfriend Jeff for all of his love and support.
This production is supported by the Michigan Council for the Arts & Cultural Affairs Minigrant Program, administered by the City of Detroit Recreation Department.
