Native Son - The American Century Theater

Production Staff
Bob Bartlett (Director) teaches theatre at Bowie State University where he has
recently directed Sizwe Bansi is Dead, Two Trains Running, and A Lesson Before
Dying. Other recent directing credits include: an O’Neill trifecta, Ah, Wilderness!
(for TACT), Long Day’s Journey into Night (Quotidian), and A Moon for the
Misbegotten (Colonial Players); regional premieres of Rounding Third, Matt &
Ben, and Colorblind: The Katrina Monologues (AccokeekCreek Theatreco);
Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Quotidian), Streamers (Elden Street
Players), and The Piano Lesson (Colonial Players). Bob is in the MFA in
playwriting program at The Catholic University of America.
Frances Burnett (Assistant Stage Manager) is a graduate of Bowie State
University with a BS in Theatre. She has stage managed, directed, and performed
in The Samson Musical, Two Trains Running, A Raisin in the Sun, Susan Lori
Parks’ 365 Plays in 365 Days, Colorblind: The Katrina Monologues and
Absolutely Positive (promoting HIV prevention/awareness).
Nicole A. Carter (Assistant Stage Manager) is a senior theatre major at Bowie
State University. She has stage managed and performed in Two Trains Running (as
Risa), The Samson Musical, Bodywasher, Constellation, Colorblind: The Katrina
Monologues, Platinum, HIV Awareness Performance Troupe, AccokeekCreek’s
Short Stack series at the Kennedy Center’s Page-to-Stage Festivals, and other
shows.
Rip Claassen (Co-Producer), a fixture on the Washington theatre scene, is
Dramaturg at Backstage, Inc. and has taught theatre and acting at The Institute for
the Arts for Fairfax County Public Schools, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and
other local programs. He has costumed for TACT and numerous other companies;
directed for Natural Theatricals among other venues; and coached students seeking
admission to competitive college theatre programs, Governor’s School, and roles
in community and professional theatre. Rip founded the Northern Virginia Theatre
Festival for high schools and is Artistic Director of Teens and Theatre (TNT)
Company, a nonprofit educational theatre company.
Lex Davis (Fight Choreographer) has worked as a fight choreographer and fight
captain mostly at the University of Maryland for such shows as The Pillowman,
The Froegle Dictum, The Illusion, Winter’s Tale, and The Physicists. He has also
helped teach and perform fights for Gallaudet University and the Shakespeare
Theatre Company.
Kate Dorrell (Props Designer) assisted with props for TACT’s Life With Father
and has stage managed for Senior Moments Theatre Company. She recently joined
the TACT staff.
Jen Durham (Hair and Makeup Designer) is on her second production with TACT,
having designed hair and makeup for Life With Father. Other design work includes
St. Mark’s Players’ The Wiz (WATCH Nomination), M. Butterfly, and the upcoming
Parade; LTA’s Saturday, Sunday, Monday and the upcoming Scapino!; and The
Arlington Players’ Sweet Smell of Success.
Andrew F. Griffin (Lighting Designer) returns to TACT where he last designed
Ah, Wilderness! A freelance lighting designer, his recent credits include Dante with
Synetic, The Receptionist with Studio, Marisol with Forum Theatre, and Brundibar
with Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus. Andrew has created designs for
Olney Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Adventure Theatre (where he is resident artist),
and Washington Shakespeare Company, as well as the Toledo Opera and Delaware
Shakespeare Festival. He is also resident Assistant Lighting Designer for Michigan
Opera Theatre in Detroit.
Sherri Haddad (Co-Producer) is returning to TACT after producing Life With
Father. She has produced many shows in the DC theatre community, but her
favorites include The Wiz, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The
Last Night of Ballyhoo, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Saturday, Sunday,
Monday. Sherri is pleased to have joined the staff of TACT.
Rachel Morrissey (Costume Designer) holds a BFA with performance emphasis
from Utah State University. While a student, she earned food money as a
seamstress in the costume shop and designed many shows. Recently, she helped
costume and design The Wiz at St. Mark’s, but most of Rachel’s recent theatre work
has been onstage, including appearances in A Little Night Music, Dearly Departed,
and Saturday, Sunday, Monday. She also directed The Most Massive Woman Wins.