MEET THE PLAYWRIGHTS
 Ben
H. Winters' plays and musicals have been produced Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway,
regionally and internationally. He wrote the libretto and/or lyrics to A
(TOOTH) FAIRY TALE, produced January 2008 at the Vital Theater and
subsequently transferred Off-Broadway to the Soho Playhouse; SLUT, which ran Off-Broadway in the fall of 2005 at the American Theater of
Actors; THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE, currently touring the
United States for TheatreWorksUSA; and BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO, a musical
comedy based around the songs of Neil Sedaka, enjoying productions around
the country. His plays include MARYLAND (November, 2007, Orlando Theatre
Project) and CIRCUS MUSIC (Chicago, 1999; Los Angeles 2001). His work as a
journalist, covering politics and culture, has appeared in numerous
publications, including In These Times, The Nation, the Chicago Reader, the Chicago Tribune, NewCity, and Stagebill. His first book, the Worst Case Scenario Pocket Guide to
New York City, will be published in spring of 2009 by Quirk Books.
Stephen Sislen (music & additional lyrics) is the recipient of the
2008 BMI Harrington Award for excellence in musical theatre writing. He
wrote the music and additional lyrics for SLUT, which enjoyed an
Off-Broadway run (James Hammerstein Productions) after premiering at the New
York International Fringe Festival, and he is the composer and co-lyricist
of TheatreWorksUSA’s THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE (book & lyrics
by Ben H. Winters), which continues to tour nationally. Stephen
wrote the music and lyrics for the ten-minute musical O AND J (book
by Jeremy Dobrish) and his 5-minute micro musical RESTLESS LEGS (lyrics by Rachel Axler) was seen at the 2007 NYMF Festival. On television
Stephen’s work has been featured on the Disney Channel’s “Johnny and the
Sprites”, starring John Tartaglia. His current project (in
collaboration with Winters), ROOM 16, was recently showcased
at the 2008 ASCAP/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop in New York. Stephen
is a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop and the
Dramatist’s Guild.
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MEET THE DIRECTOR
 Kerry
Ferguson is thrilled to be back in her hometown and to be working with ATC for the
first time. She is a playwright and director currently residing in
Spartanburg, SC, where she is an
instructor of acting and directing at Wofford College. Kerry holds her BA in
Theatre and MA in Dramatic Theory from Washington University in St. Louis,
where she first met the creators of SLUT, Ben Winters and Stephen Sislen.
Recent directing credits include WEST SIDE STORY (Ballet Spartanburg), STEEL
MAGNOLIAS and DRIVING MISS DAISY (Greenville Little Theatre), and LAST LISTS
OF MY MAD MOTHER (Theatre Converse), and 7 vignettes from Suzan Lori Parks’
yearlong national performance project, 365 DAYS/365 PLAYS. Other regional
credits include work at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, Actors Theatre
of Louisville, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and Steppenwolf Theatre
in Chicago, where she worked as John Malkovich’s assistant director. In
addition to her time as a theatre artist, Kerry is also a full-time mom to
Mirabelle, 2, and Beckett, 3 months. She would like to especially thank her
mom, Kathy, her dad, Mike, and her husband, Mark, for their support and for
providing such amazing help with childcare during these summer rehearsals.
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MEET THE CAST
 Jon
Parker Douglas (Dan) is excited to make his Actor’s Theatre of debut! Charlotte credits
include 42ND STREET (CPCC) and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Charlotte Summer
Theatre). Regional credits include MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION, THE DIARY OF
ANNE FRANK, SLEEPING BEAUTY OR COMA, VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM, CAROLINA
JACK’S LAST ADVENTURE, and the World Premiere of BROTHER WOLF (Triad
Stage), and PLAID TIDINGS (Open Space). Other credits include
URINETOWN, TALES OF THE LOST FORMICANS, SWEENEY TODD, BAT BOY, OUR LADY OF
121ST STREET, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and MARAT/SADE. Jon received his BFA
from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
 Tommy
Foster (Adam) is very excited to return to Actor’s Theatre, where his credits
include Jon in TICK, TICK…BOOM! and his one-man show, THE METHOD TO MY
MADNESS. He received a “2005 Bistro Award” from Backstage for his New
York run of METHOD. Regional Credits include Burrs in Andrew Lippa’s THE
WILD PARTY at Cleveland’s Kalliope Stage; Jamie in THE LAST FIVE YEARS at
Tampa’s Gorilla Theatre; Billy in CAROUSEL at the Gateway Playhouse on Long
Island; and Willard in FOOTLOOSE at the Ogunquit Playhouse. He has also
toured as Aslan in THE LION…WARDROBE reaching out to children after 9/11;
toured the world as the lead singer on board the MS Norwegian Crown; made a
two-second appearance on HBO’s SEX AND THE CITY; and made a one-time
appearance passing out condoms in front of the NY Public Library as
‘Trojenna Bush.’ He taught theatre this past year at Central Cabarrus High
School in his native Concord, NC, and will return to NYC (again) this fall.
He attended the NC School of the Arts and received his BFA (Musical Theatre)
from the University of Michigan. His performance in SLUT is dedicated
lovingly and appropriately to his vocal coach, Ray Bailey. (www.tommyfosternyc.com)
 Liz
Hutchens (Lilly) is a rising senior at Wofford College, but originally from Bismarck,
North Dakota. Some of her favorite theatre experiences have been playing The
Witch in INTO THE WOODS and directing THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW.
 Tory
Macomson (Delia) is from Hendersonville, NC and a recent graduate of Wofford College
with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and English. Some of her favorite roles
include Mrs. Smith in THE BALD SOPRANO, for which she won “Best Female
Actor” at the Southeastern Theatre Conference in 2004, Maria in THE SOUND OF
MUSIC, Proteus in TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, Mrs. Seizmagraff in BETTY’S
SUMMER VACATION, the Baker’s Wife in INTO THE WOODS, and most recently Hero
and Dogberry in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. She enjoys composing music, and most
recently composed music for the original Children’s Theatre Musical,
ABBY THE ALIEN AND HER ANIMAL ADVENTURE, performed at Wofford College. Tory
studied abroad at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in the fall
of 2007 where she underwent a rigorous semester of classical conservatory
training. She is excited about SLUT, and would like to thank Kerry for this
opportunity, and the cast and crew for a great experience!
 Candace
Neal (Veronica) is thrilled to make her Actor's Theatre debut in this witty
musical with the classy title. A recent graduate of Catawba College, Candace
is glad to be back in Charlotte after two glorious summers in Lake Dillon,
Colorado where she performed in shows such as CHICAGO (Velma Kelly) I LOVE
YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE (Woman #2), and GYPSY (Louise).
Other theatre credits include THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD (Princess Puffer),
HELLO DOLLY! (Dolly), and SWEENEY TODD (Mrs. Lovett). She hopes you'll check
her Youtube page (http://youtube.com/user/stikobutta),
where she is using the Internet as a vehicle for fame. She is forever
grateful to her parents Hal and Linda, and sister, Taylor for their undying
support.
 Stan
Peal (Doug) has appeared previously with Actor’s Theatre as Bart in JOHNNY
GUITAR, and behind the scenes as Set Designer for THE PILLOWMAN, THE LITTLE
DOG LAUGHED, THE OLDEST PROFESSION, and the upcoming production of THE
LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE. Other local appearances include A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S
MUSICAL (Bottom), THE EXPANDING SKY (Hubble), and MAN OF LA MANCHA (Sancho).
Stan earned his Theatre degree at Wisconsin’s Carroll College, then moved to
Minneapolis where he met his wife Laura Depta. They moved to Charlotte in
2001, and founded Epic Arts Repertory Theatre, where Stan is Managing
Director and Resident Playwright. Stan’s plays produced in Charlotte include
GODDESS AND THE MAGDALENE, A MAD, MAD MADRIGAL, SCRATCHY SCRATCHERTON’S
REVENGE, THROUGH THE WATER, THE BUSINESSMAN AND THE CHEERLEADER, and others.
His musical THE EXPANDING SKY had a public reading at The Ensemble Studio
theatre in New York; THE FRIAR & THE NURSE was revived at the 2005 NYC
Fringe, and BEST LITTLE CRACKHOUSE IN PHILLY, won top prize at the NY Bad
Musicals Festival. Stan is the recipient of a 2002 NC Arts/ASC Regional
Artists Grant, an EST/Sloan Foundation Commission, and a
Residency/Commission at The Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, MN. Stan is
also an ordained minister. Visit www.stanpeal.com.
 Elizabeth
Simpson (Janey) is thrilled to be making her debut at Actor’s Theatre in this
not-so-wholesome musical. She recently graduated with a BA in Theatre
Performance from Catawba College in Salisbury, NC. While there, she played
roles in AS YOU LIKE IT and ALL OF THE ABOVE, as well as the title role in
PETER PAN, winning an MTA award for “Best Actress.” Elizabeth was last seen
as CB’s Sister in DOG SEES GOD with Queen City Theatre Company.
She has worked with several other local theatre companies, including CAST
and Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. Elizabeth would like to thank her
family for their never-ending support and free food, her roommates for
putting up with hearing her sing the same songs over and over again, the
cast and crew of SLUT, and ATC (especially Kerry!) for giving her this
amazing opportunity.
 Ryan
Stamey (J-Dogg) is excited to be back on the Actor’s Theatre stage for SLUT. You
may remember him tickling the ivories in THE OLDEST PROFESSION and HEDWIG
AND THE ANGRY INCH, sniffing markers in THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK
MUSICAL, or as Cupid in THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES.
He has performed on land and sea with Royal Caribbean, and his local acting
credits include THE SHAKESPEARE STEALER at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
and PSYCHO BEACH PARTY with Barebones. Ryan’s other credits include Musical
Director for both Barebones’ production of DEBBIE DOES DALLAS and Epic Arts’
production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S MUSICAL. |
Slut!
The Musical