The Spin
By Spenser Davis
Directed by Spenser Davis
April 14-25
2021
Extended THRU May 15th!!
LIVESTREAM EVENT
synopsis
Politics are at a boiling point, COVID is rampant and Zoom calls are still the absolute worst. When the Public Works Director of a major city confesses to a horrible crime, a team of spin doctors are brought in at the last possible second to pull off a tough assignment: prepare the Mayor’s top aide for a crucial news interview, distance City Hall from the controversy and point the public’s attention elsewhere. And do it entirely over video-conferencing. At a time when live theatre is at a standstill, THE SPIN is a brand-new dark comedy written and produced for the virtual medium.
THE SPIN was originally commissioned by Interrobang Theatre Project, Chicago, IL.
2020/2021 B. Iden Payne Awards
Award for Outstanding Production - Digital Live
Award for Outstanding Direction - Spenser Davis
Award for Outstanding Technical Direction - Carlo Lorenzo Garcia
Nomination for Outstanding Large Cast
Nomination for Outstanding Lead Performer - Shariba Rivers
Nomination for Outstanding Featured Performer - Zac Carr
Nomination for Outstanding Featured Performer - Natalie D. Garcia
Nomination for Outstanding Featured Performer - Kelsey Mazak
Nomination for Outstanding Stage Management - Morgan Brochu
Nomination for Outstanding Media Design - Carlo Lorenzo Garcia
playwright / DIRECTOR
Spenser Davis
bio
Spenser is an award-winning, Chicago-based writer-director, and he’s so grateful to the Street Corner Arts family for letting him play in their sandbox! He has received the 2020 Elizabeth George Commission from South Coast Rep, the 2019 M. Elizabeth Osborn New Play Award from the American Theatre Critics’ Association, was a finalist for the Harold & Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award, and is the current Michael Maggio Directing Fellow at The Goodman Theatre. He’s a three-time nominee for the Joseph Jefferson Best Director Award, winning once; two of his casts have also won the Jeff Award for Best Ensemble. As a director, his credits include work with A Red Orchid Theatre, American Blues, Interrobang Theatre Project, First Floor Theater, Promethean Theatre, The New Colony, Hell in a Handbag, and Steppenwolf 1700; he’s an ensemble member of both Broken Nose Theatre and The Factory. He’s a series writer-director for SQUID, a short-form comedy series on American Prime, and his other plays include PLAINCLOTHES, MERGE, SICK, UNDERDOGZ, and A MILLION TINY PIECES. He’s represented by William Morris Endeavor. All of the love to Elise.
*THE SPIN was originally commissioned by Interrobang Theatre Project, Chicago, IL.
cast & creative
ZAC CARR
CLARK MEGAN
Zac is thrilled to be back in the room working with Street Corner Arts, his favorite company to work with. Previous collaborations have included JUNK at Zach Scott Theater and the sweeping production of WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT A PRESENTATION… Zac is an Austin-based actor, improviser, and writer, member of the meta-comedy musical duo SNACKS, and musician in the kids’ music band The Other Other Brothers. He recently joined the board of Austin’s Emerging Arts Leaders, and is working to develop mentorships and professional development opportunities to ATX artists and admins. In the before-times, he performed in plays like Penfold Theatre’s HENRY V, Hidden Room’s ARDEN OF FAVERSHAM, and Theatre En Bloc’s COCK.
MICHAEL
GALVAN
Shawn Treadmore
Michael is excited to be playing Shawn in his first Street Corner Arts production. He is a Hispanic actor based out of Austin, TX. Michael’s most recent show was helping develop a new play, THIS BITCH (The University of Arkansas Theater Dept.), and has been seen in such shows as DANCE NATION (Theater En Bloc) and MAS CARA (The Vortex). He has been nominated for best featured actor in a drama and comedy by Broadwayworld.com and The B. Iden Payne Committee. Michael is very grateful for the acting opportunities he has come by during the pandemic and is thankful for everyone who continues to support the arts.
NATALIE
D. Garcia
KC
Pecarrero
Natalie is honored to be working with the Street Corner Arts gang for the second time! She is originally from Chicago, where she worked as an actor, writer, and producer before moving to Austin in 2016. You may have seen her in SCA’s last live production, as Midge in THE BUTCHER OF BARABOO, for which she won a B. Iden Payne Award for Best Actress in a Comedy, or around town pre-COVID times as Fefu in FEFU AND HER FRIENDS (Filigree), Lise in THE MAGIC FIRE (Different Stages), Vanessa in SIGNIFICANT OTHER (Jarrott Productions) , or as part of the ensemble in SELF PORTRAITS (Bottle Alley Theatre). She resides in East Austin with her amazing husband Carlo (yes, that Carlo) and their adorable pup dogs Karate and DeeDee. She would like to thank her mom and dad for always supporting her in her artistic endeavors!
JASON
GRAF
PAUL
MCGUIRE
Jason is thrilled to be doing anything not involved with homeschooling. Jason was most recently seen on stage, in the B. Iden Payne nominated role for Best Actor in a Comedy, as Dex in DEX AND ABBY (Ground Floor Theatre), and was so close to opening SHINING CITY (Different Stages). Other recent roles include Guiseppe Addesso in JUNK (Street Corner Arts) and Bill in THE FAULT (Theatre Synesthesia).
KELSEY
MAZAK
APRIL
HENNING
MIKE
OOI
LORNE
COLLIER
Kelsey is so excited to be working with her favorite people at Street Corner Arts for the second time! Before this pandemic madness, Kelsey was last seen in Street Corner’s BUTCHER OF BARABOO (Winner of 6 B. Iden Payne Awards including Outstanding Small Cast and Outstanding Production of a Comedy) as the Morman mother of 6. Other Austin theatre credits include DRACULA (Zach Theatre), THE BOOK CLUB PLAY and YANKEE TAVERN (Different Stages), SIGNIFICANT OTHER (Jarrott Productions), THE ANTIPODES (Hyde Park Theatre), OUR TOWN and INTO THE WOODS (Trinity Street Players), and THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (Ground Floor Theatre). Kelsey graduated with her BFA in Acting from the Meadows School of the Arts at SMU and is currently an Austin-based actor. She lives in East Austin with Sam, her amazing and patient fiancé, and their three fur babies. Kelsey would like to thank everyone for supporting local arts during this crazy time! We need it now more than ever.
Mike is delighted to be back in Austin after enjoying a fruitful stage career in Chicago. Austinites may have seen Mike in GUYS & DOLLS (Zilker Park), THE BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS (Second Youth), numerous productions with the Austin Commedia Society, or an improv jam at ColdTowne. In Chicago, Mike worked as an actor with many companies including The Factory Theater, Lifeline Theatre, AdventureStage, Strawdog, and The House Theatre. Two of Mike’s plays were produced in Chicago - DATING & DRAGONS (Factory Theater) and CAPT STEVE’S CARING KINGDOM (Factory Theater). TV credits include CHICAGO FIRE (NBC). He is represented by Pastorini-Bosby.
SHARIBA
RIVERS
DEIRDRE
YOUNG
Shariba is thrilled to work with Street Corner Arts for the first time! A Chicago-based actor, Shariba recently returned from Fayetteville, AR after working on SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY (TheatreSquared). Other recent performances include THE PROJECT(S) (Stage Left) Zoom edition because...2020; THE TASTERS (Rivendell Theatre); and HOODOO LOVE (Raven Theatre), for which she earned a Jeff nomination and a BTAA nomination. Shariba voices one of the main characters, Lily Harper, in the audiodrama, UNWELL: A MIDWESTERN GOTHIC MYSTERY, for which she won an AudioVerse award. A member of three Chicago-based theater companies—First Floor Theater, The New Colony, and MPAACT, where she serves as casting director—Shariba also has TV credits that include Empire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med, and The Chi. She is represented by Gray Talent Group. Keep up with her at www.sharibatheactor.com.
Andrea Skola Summers is an artist and educator in Austin, TX. She is a co-founding member of Street Corner Arts and a Core Company Member of Hyde Park Theatre. Skola has directed SCA shows: Perfect Mendacity, Skylight, The Great God Pan, The North Plan, A Walk in the Woods, Gruesome Playground Injuries, and Men of Tortuga.
A. SKOLA SUMMERS
FEMALE
NEWS ANCHOR
CARLO
LORENZO
GARCIA
COMMERCIAL
NARRATOR
Carlo is happy to get virtual with Street Corner Arts. Previous work with SCA includes directing The Butcher of Baraboo for Street Corner (Winner of 6 B. Iden Payne Awards and 10 Nominations) and performing as Eddie in POCATELLO (B. Iden Payne Nomination) and as Robert Merkin in JUNK. In a past life, he served as Producing Director for Mary-Arrchie Theatre in Chicago from 2008-2016. Carlo directed RED LIGHT WINTER (4 Jeff Award Nominations & 1 Jeff Award Win), OUR BAD MAGNET (2 Jeff Award Nominations), and AMERICAN BUFFALO (1 Jeff Award Nomination), among others. Other directing credits include RICHARD III with Wayward Productions and THE CHILDREN for Jarrott Productions at Trinity Street Playhouse (2 B. Iden Payne Award Nominations). | www.carlogarcia.com
Morgan
brochu
SCREEN MANAGER
Morgan Brochu is happy to join the Street Corner Arts team again! Morgan previously worked on THE BUTCHER OF BARABOO with SCA. Other stage management credits include DIDO AND AENEAS (Local Opera Local Artists/Panoramic Voices), ADMISSIONS, THE NICETIES, THE CHILDREN (Jarrott Productions), and THE THREE MUSKETEERS, MEN ON BOATS, ROMEO AND JULIET(Mary Moody Northen Theatre). She is a graduate of St. Edward’s University with a B.A. in Theatre Management. Enjoy the show!