WICKED LIT CAST
Elyse Ashton (Gerlinde Mesmer ~ The Spirits of Walpurgisnacht)
Elyse thanks Unbound Productions for this opportunity to join Wicked Lit! Her diverse LA theater credits include roles as weeping, witty literary ladies, many Shakespearean heroines, distressed damsels, terrible mothers, numerous madwomen and…boys, working with troupes like the Grand Guignolers, California Shakespeare Company, and the Classical Theatre Lab. Film/TV includes Theatre Fantastique, Doctor Mabuse: Etipopmar, The Watermelon, Born To Lose, Fortune‘s 500, Night of The Dead, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Radio Free Albemuth as well as numerous music videos. She is a Regency dancing, historically inspired correspondent on Youtube’s The Anglophile Channel and collaborates on projects in LA and England.
John T. Cogan (Johann ~ Dracula’s Guest)
John is truly excited to once again perform in an Unbound Production. After a two year hiatus (The Unammable – WL10, WL11), he is back in the cemetery, and loving it? On that note, he’d like to pay his respects to MaryAnn Hawkins. It may be dark, but she’s out there… Boo! He’d like to thank his partner in life & shenanigans, Kenna. If you’d like more of John, listen for his voice in Fight Card: Felony Fists, by Paul Bishop, on Audible.
Joe Camareno (El Diablo ~ Las Lloronas)
Joe is proud to make his return to the stage with Wicked Lit’s Las Lloronas! He recently shot two films in London, directing one of them. His feature directing debut, Revenge of the Bimbots Zombie Killers just secured distribution. He is elated to be working with Paul Millet and Jeff Rack again after many years. Camareno directed the multi-award winning Fixing Paco web series starring Paul Rodriguez and Gloria Garayua. Theater: A Weekend Near Madison, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Bocón! for CTG. Huge thanks to the Unbound team, especially Jonathan Josephson for creating such a delicacy.
Angel Duran (The Older Man ~ Las Lloronas)
A native Angeleno, Angel is an alum of the Los Angeles County High school for the Arts. He also has a theatre degree from Long Beach State University and helped launch the Elephant Theatre Company in its infancy at the Brewery Arts Complex. He has also been fortunate enough to study with renowned performance artist Rachel Rosenthal and star of stage and film Bill Irwin. He went on to play Luis Felipe in Portland Center Stage’s live stage reading of Celebrity Row by acclaimed playwright Itamar Moses prior to its world premiere.
McKenzie R. Eckels (Countess ~ Dracula’s Guest)
McKenzie was raised by a lawyer and a sculptor in an art museum located in Long Beach, California. At the tender age of 11, she was compulsorily moved away from her beloved ocean to the plains of Dallas, Texas. It was there however, where McKenzie discovered the joy of the theatre; successfully competing in Texas UIL State Theatre Championships all four years of high school. At 18, she returned to California to pursue an acting career. McKenzie is a recent graduate of the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She made her professional debut two months after graduation in The Gamester as Angelique.
Kyle Fox (Marko/Gypsy ~ The Spirits of Walpurgisnacht/ Soldier ~ Dracula’s Guest)
Kyle Fox was born and raised in Southern California and studied theater at Whittier College. His L.A. stage career began with the West Coast Premiere of Julia Cho’s B.F.E. Since then Kyle has appeared in a variety of commercials (including Rite Aid and the NFL), performed stand up at The Improv, The Comedy Store, The Ice House and dozens more, as well as film and television. He is proud to make his Wicked Lit debut and thanks everyone at Unbound Productions. More information at kylefoxactor.com.
Katelyn Gault (Leigh Wilson ~ Las Lloronas)
Katelyn is thrilled to be making her Wicked Lit debut! BFA Theatre Performance, Chapman University. Recent credits: Andronicus, The Yellow Boat (Coeurage Theatre Company), Pray to Ball (Hollywood Fringe 2012), and Cockroach (Monkey Wrench Collective). Professional credits: The Tempest, As You Like It, Loves Labors Lost. Other: The Trojan Women, Taming of the Shrew, A Night of One Acts by Tennessee Williams, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. Web-series: Sprinkles, Vampire Killers. TV: Medium (NBC). For more information visit www.katelyngault.com.
Bianca Gisselle (Lady Amelie ~ Las Lloronas)
Bianca is thrilled to be apart of her third production of Wicked Lit! Previous roles include Sylvia in Cask of Amontillado (WL11) and Lenore in The Masque of the Red Death Experience (WL13). Other favorite roles include: W5 Roar The Musical (Rockwell), Swing The Album Project: Jagged Little Pill (Rockwell), Willow The Cave (winner of 3 Hollywood Fringe Fest awards), Justine Turntable: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (For the Record Presents), Mimi RENT, Lucy The Waters Edge (Road Theatre), Virginia Spider Baby The Musical (Lyric-Hyperion Theater). Tours: Robot Maria Vox Lumiere: Metropolis, Christine Vox Lumiere: Phantom of the Opera. Short Films: Bellatrix Lestrange Sirius Black and the Secret Keeper(www.itallbegins.com). She is also a singer/songwriter with music available on iTunes. BFA from California Institute of the Arts. Follow @biancagisselle www.biancagisselle.com
Anna Gabrielle Gonzalez (Araceli ~ Las Lloronas)
Anna Gabrielle Gonzalez began her carrier in front of the camera at the age of ten staring in various commercials and television shows; you may have seen her on Without a Trace, Jamm X Kids, Americas Most Wanted, or Good Morning America. Though she has done a handful of stage productions (most recently In The Heights) she is beyond excited to share the story of “La Llorona” along side such talented individuals! She holds the story of the weeping woman very close to her… so beware or La Llorona will get you!
Eric Harris (Ambrosio ~ The Monk)
Eric is thrilled to be back with Unbound Productions! Previous credits include Bo Willis in The Lurking Fear (WL13), Janvier in The Dead Smile (WL12), Goblin 1 in The Chimes (WL10, WL11), George in Two Pictures in One (History Lit), and Janvier in The Dead Smile (WL12). Other favorite theatre roles include: Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Lucien P. Smith in The Boys Next Door, Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd, Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird, Horse in The Full Monty, The Creature in Victor, Jim in Big River and Hoke Colburn in Driving Miss Daisy. A native Texan, Eric studied theatre and music at the University of Texas in Austin before making the trek to California.
Dustin Hess (Franz Mesmer ~ The Spirits of Walpurgisnacht)
Dustin is excited to play vis the cast of Wicked Lit! After becoming upset with the ‘industry’ and finding no creative satisfaction in it in general, he hid himself away in his painting studio and in the tenor section of his choir to find better ways to express himself. He enjoyed a whirlwind of a choir season this year, recording for an album that in it’s first week of release, reached #1 on Billboard’s World Album charts, and then singing the World Premier in Carnegie Hall. He then jumped on stage to play Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with a girl he really likes! There, Dusty was once again bitten by ze acting bug unt he finds himself here playing vis you tonight adding another wonderful experience to a creative year he won’t soon forget. He’d like to thank his friends and family for their laughter and support and the girl he really likes for the inspiration, the love, and the adv3nture.
William Joseph Hill (Gustav/StoryGuide/Soldier #1 ~ Dracula’s Guest)
William has been involved with Wicked Lit since its inception, portraying John in Pigeons From Hell (WL09), Fortunato in Cask Of Amontillado (WL10, WL11), and Stewart in Count Magnus (WL12). He’s excited to be back again this year working with Jeff, Paul and Jonathan. In between Wicked Lit, you can find him working in film, TV, stage and other media. Most recently he’s working on the horror project Shelter He thanks his lovely and talented actress wife Pamela for her love & support.
Angie Hobin (Daciana ~ Dracula’s Guest)
Angie is so excited to be joining the cast and creative team of Wicked Lit 2014! While new to the actorial aspect of the show, she is not entirely a stranger to the Unbound family. Last year she had the privilege of choreographing dances for The Masque of the Red Death Experience, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (WL13). (You can catch more of her choreography in ʺLa Lloronaʺ this evening!) Favorite past credits include ʺMid-summerʺ, ʺTaming of the Shrewʺ and ʺSmoke and Mirrorsʺ. Thank you to the incredibly talented trio of Paul, Jeff, and Jonathan for letting me play! Enjoy the show!
Eric Keitel (Jonathan Harker ~ Dracula’s Guest)
Eric is ecstatic to be making his sixth appearance with Unbound Productions! Past Unbound credits include The Lurking Fear (WL13), The Tell-Tale Heart (installation at ScareLA 2013), The Dead Smile (WL12), The Body Snatcher (WL11), and Two Pictures in One (History Lit). Eric’s latest work includes an appearance on the current season of TNT’s Franklin & Bash. A member of The Echo Theater Company, he recently made his Echo debut in The Optimist in the ʺEcho One Acts 2014.ʺ More info at erickeitel.com! Happy Halloween!
Ember Knight (Matilda Dalfa ~ The Monk)
Ember Knight is a Los Angeles-based performer. In 2010, she graduated from the LA County High School for the Arts, where she studied classical theater and acting for film. She now writes and performs avant-garde stand-up comedy. Although this is Ember’s first experience working with Unbound Productions, she has worked previously with Debbie McMahon in several fantastic shows, including The Grand Guignolers’ Shanghai: Absinthe, Opium and Magic. Ember is very excited to be working with such an amazing cast, and to be wearing such amazing hair extensions.
Richard Large (Delbruck ~ Dracula’s Guest)
For Unbound’s Wicked Lit, Richard has played Deputy Toby in The Lurking Fear (WL13), Stephen in The Tell-Tale Heart, the Deacon in Count Magnus (WL12), Toby Veck in The Chimes (WL10, WL11), and Baltrus Van Tassel in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (WL09). He is a veteran of over 80 productions in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. He has been a member of the West Coast Ensemble and the Knightsbridge Theatre. Favorite roles include Shotover in Heartbreak House, Brack in Hedda Gabler, John Cleary in The Subject was Roses (Shellie Award winner) and Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night. Richard was awarded a Dramalogue Award for his direction of The Cave. Richard earned an MA in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University.
Sonny James Lira (The Younger Man ~ Las Lloronas)
Sonny is so grateful to be a part of his first Unbound Production! He would like to thank Paul Millet, Jonathan Josephson, and the entire Unbound team for making this possible. He would also like to thank Michael & Melissa Perl for introducing him to Wicked Lit and encouraging him to participate this season! Enjoy the show!
Lisa McNeely (Pia Faye Thomas ~ Las Lloronas)
Lisa McNeely grew up in Denver, CO where she studied dance, vocal performance and theater. She is a graduate of Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theater and has recently moved from rural Northern California to Los Angeles to continue writing, producing and performing her own music, as well as acting, clowning, fabricating puppets and creating original theatrical works. Lisa is very excited and thankful to be a new edition to the Unbound family. She would also like to thank her siblings Nina and Stephen McNeely for all of their tough love and support and always many thanks to La Familia!
Melissa Perl (Dona Marina ~ Las Lloronas)
Melissa is very excited to be returning to the cast of Wicked Lit! Past Wicked Lit roles include the Story Guide for The Unnamable (WL11) and Evelyn in The Dead Smile (WL12). She is forever grateful to Jeff, Jonathan, & Paul. Thank you Mr. Millet for this incredible opportunity. Thank you so much to the entire cast, crew and staff at Mountain View Mausoleum. She dedicates her performance to her husband, Michael…thank you for your unwavering love and support.
Michael Perl (Lorenzo ~ The Monk)
Michael is pretty damned excited about being back with the Wicked Lit crew. The caliber of professionals in this outfit is astounding. He dedicates his performance this year to his new bride, Doña Marina (Melissa), whom he loves with the power of a noonday sun in summer (to quote a certain playwright he knows…thanks Doug) www.michaelperl.net
Tina Van Berckelaer (Tsura/Gypsy ~ The Spirits of Walpurgisnacht)
Tina is a Belgian born in New York, and raised in Paris, Singapore, and Pittsburgh. She speaks English like an American, French like a Parisian, and Dutch like a Fleming. Educated at Stanford University and based in Los Angeles, she has performed at Rubicon Theatre, The Theatre @ Boston Court, Sierra Rep, The New York International Fringe Festival, Folger Shakespeare Library, Sacred Fools Theatre, Zoo District, and the cult favorite Grand Guignolers de Paris. You can see her latest film work at www.bunker731.com.
Wendy Worthington (Sister ~ The Monk)
Film: Steven Spielberg (Catch Me If You Can), Clint Eastwood (Changeling), Robert Zemeckis (Cast Away). TV: Recurring on Bones, Ghost Whisperer, Desperate Housewives, Ally McBeal, So Little Time. Theatre (acting): The Women (LA Weekly Award nomination), Gynecomedy (DramaLogue Award), Man of La Mancha (with Brent Spiner), Die! Mommy! Die! (with writer/star Charles Busch); (directing): Free ([inside] the Ford), Voice of the Prairie (Theatre Neo). Writer: Short stories in several mystery and horror anthologies.