Cast and Creative Team
A.K. Murtadha - Lincoln
Originally from Washington, D.C, Abdul-Khaliq "A.K." Murtadha has been performing and practicing theatre on stage and in front of and behind the camera for the past 20 years. His most recent stage appearances include being Auburn University's featured Guest Artist in Suzan-Lori Parks's "The America Play" at the Telfair Peet theatre, he was also at Seattle Repertory Theatre in Eduardo Machado's "The Cook" and as Demetritus in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with the LA Shakespeare Festival. His most recent television appearances were in this years season openers of Medium on NBC, The Unit (directed by David Mamet) on CBS, and the season finale of Stephen Bochco's new legal drama Raising The Bar. The New Orleans Big Easy Shorts Film Festival presented him with the Best Actor award in 2008 for his performance in the short film "In the Wind" (which also won the award for Best Film). A.K. is an active Actors Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild Member. He has a Masters of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of California, San Diego and is a company member of the LA Shakespeare Festival and is a producing partner with the independent film company State and Cabrillo Productions, Inc. He currently resides with his wife and children in Los Angeles, California.
M.D. Walton - "Booth"/Producer
M.D. Walton was raised in Schenectady NY. M.D. was last seen on FOX’s TV Series LIE TO ME opposite Tim Roth. Television credits roles on: Law and Order, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, FX’s Rescue Me, NBC Digi’s "The Gemini Division" opposite Rosario Dawson, The Unit, All My Children, and Guiding Light. Film credits include: Columbia Pictures’ Reign Over Me opposite Adam Sandler, Fall to Grace, House With Pool, and a lead in the recent horror released The Black Waters of Echo’s Pond. M.D has worked extensively in theater with some of Broadway’s greats. He played the leading role in the West Coast Broadway Tour (Old Globe, Seattle Rep, Golden Gate Theaters) Richard Greenberg’s Take Me Out directed by Tony Winner Joe Mantello. Off Broadway: Public Theater/NYSF Workshops: The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel dir by Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Invisible Man dir by Joe Morton. Regional: Williamstown Theater Festival, Syracuse Stage, Studio Theater DC, The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, The New Century Theater, Austin Shakespeare Festival where he garnered the B Iden Payne Award for Actor in a Leading Role for Aaron in Titus Andronicus. He received his BA in Theater from UMASS Amherst, M.F.A. in Acting from The Univ of Texas-Austin. He’s also trained with the Public Theater/NYSF Shakespeare Lab Program.
Marty Papazian - Director
Martin Papazian is thrilled to be directing "TOPDOG/UNDERDOG" at the Lillian Theater in Los Angeles. Previous LA theater credits include the sold-out run of the one woman show "You Can Eat Me" (Comedy Central Stage). Martin Papazian formed a unique relationship with Track 16, an art gallery in Bergamot Station, where he has directed several productions in conjunction with art exhibitions; the proceeds of which are donated to a related charity. Notably, "The Exonerated" during Malaquias Montoya’s "PreMeditated: Meditations on Capital Punishment"; Eric Bogosian’s "Pounding Nails Into the Floor with my Forehead" during Robbie Conal’s career retrospective of protest posters, "No Spitting, No Kidding"; "Tall Tales" from "The Kentucky Cycle" during Ken Light’s "Coal Hollow": a photographic journal on present-day conditions in Appalachia; "The Back Home Set" with "Michelle Rogers: Troubles at Home," paintings relating to U.S. post-September 11 and the loss of patriotism. Other directorial credits include Boyz & Girlz (Producers Club, NYC); Tennessee Williams "Talk To Me Like The Rain And Let Me Listen" (LA). Martin also produced the West Coast Premiere of Neil Labute’s "Autobahn" which ran in a sound stage at Sunset Gower Studios.
As a film director, Martin made his debut with the award winning short film "In The Wind" which centers on a soldier who returns to Katrina ravaged New Orleans only to discover that the place where he grew up has collapsed in his absence. The film was awarded BEST PICTURE and BEST ACTOR at the New Orleans "Big Easy" Film Festival and BEST PICTURE at the VAIL Film Festival. The film was also the Official Selection of numerous highly respected film festival: Newport Beach International, New York’s UrbanWorld, Mammoth Film Fest, Beverly Hills High Def., Los Angeles Vine Fest., Beverly Hills Film Fest. The feature film "Least Among Saints", written and to be directed by Martin will mark his next directorial venture. The film is currently in pre-production and slated to shoot September ’10.
Martin earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and Directing from the Arizona Reparatory Theater at the University of Arizona. He also spent a semester abroad in London training with The British Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Heather Graff & Richard Peterson - Lighting Design
Heather & Richard arelight & scenic designers transplanted from Chicago. West Coast Designs include: Center Theatre Group’s 365 Plays/365 Days: Finale, Black Dahlia’s B Forgiveness, Vineyard Valley Theatre’s Troubled Love, Playwrights’ Arena’s Pyretown, 1st Voice San Francisco’s Mermaid Meat, and Spokane Interplayers Ensemble’s Wingsand Lobby Hero. Chicago Designs include: The Second City/Chicago Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet Musical, The Second City’s Iraqtile Disfunction, The Hypocrites/ Steppenwolf’s 4.48 Psychosis, Red Moon’s The Golden Truffle, Lookingglass’s Wants & Needs, About Face’s The Home Project, The Second City/Northlight's Disgruntled Employee Handbook, Porchlight’s Sweeney Todd, Shattered Globe’s Dealer’s Choice, A Red Orchid’s Eric LaRue & Hunger & Thirst, The Hypocrites’ Machinal (Jeff Citation Light Design),Balm in Gilead, Happy Days, Blood Wedding & Rhinoceros and Timeline’s Hauptmann (Jeff Citation Nomination: Lighting) & The Crucible(Jeff Citations Scenic & Lighting Design/After Dark Award Scenic Design). www.HeatherandRichDesigns.com
Cricket S. Myers - Sound Design
Cricket is a Los Angeles based Sound Designer. Cricket was nominated for 4 Ovation Awards in 2009, bringing the total Nominations to 10. The nominations include for Large Theater: The Little Dog Laughed, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Mary's Wedding, Trying, Norman's Ark, Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Emergency and in Intimate Theater: Battle Hymn, dark play or stories for boys, and The Bacchae.
Cricket has been named Sound Designer of the Year mulitple times by StageSceneLA. Cricket was a finalist for the 2005 TCG/NEA Career Development Grant, and in 2003 won the USITT Young Designers Clear-Com Award for Sound design. See a complete list of awards here.
Cricket received her MFA in Sound Design from California Institute of the Arts in 2003, and was named a "Young Designer to Watch" in Live Design Magazine's April 2007 Issue, and was recognized as "An Artist To Watch" by LA Stage Magazine in September of 2007. Cricket was the Resident Sound Designer for the Celebration Theater from 2005-2008, and the Resident Assistant Sound Designer at the Mark Taper Forum for 3 years.
Peter Wooley - Scenic Design
Production designer, director, stage designer, author Peter Wooley was born in East Liverpool, Ohio when the world was in black and white. It was never his intention to seek a career in motion pictures, television or the stage. He did, however, spend his Saturday afternoons at the American Theater watching westerns and serials. What the young Mr. Wooley wanted was to be Frank Lloyd Wright. To that end, he attended Kent State University School of Architecture on the G.I. Bill. After graduation and starting a family he headed west to seek his fortune.
That’s when the trouble started: He got involved with movie people. Before he knew it, he had thrown away his childish dreams, and was searching the back alleys for a way into show business. A dirty, steel-clad door with a barely readable sign with the words “Warner Brothers” screeched open, and a filthy arm reached out and yanked him out of that alley and into the arms of show business. Peter Wooley has not been seen since. One of Peter's most notable credits amongst many is doing the Production Design for Mel Brooks' acclaimed film "Blazing Saddles".
Dianne Graebner - Costume Design
Dianne received her MFA in Costume/Set Design from Rutgers in NJ. She stayed and worked in around the NYC area but missed the weather in her native Southern California. Her local credits include Jaques Brel at the Colony Theatre. Children of a lesser God and A Streetcar Named Desire (DeafWest theatre). Lascivious Something, Battle Hymn (LAweekly nomination), The Flu Season, Eurydice, and The Brothers Karamazov- Ovation Nomination (all for Circle X at Inside The Ford). Clay and Dogeaters (Kirk Douglas Theatre) and 365 Days/365 Plays (Mark Taper) LA opening and closing weeks. The Good Book of Pedantry and Wonder (Circle X in collaboration with Boston Court Theatre) and The Sequence (Boston Court Theatre). The Shaggs- Philosophy of the World (Inside the Ford) and Golden Prospects (Powerhouse Theatre) are among her favorites. Dianne also has been on staff at Center Theatre Group for the last eleven years and is a member of Circle X Theatre Co. She is happy to be working with old friends and new ones on this project.
BMCdesign - Props
Misty Carlisle's most recent prop credits include Jawbone of an Ass (Circle X), Titus Andronicus (Theatre of Note). Misty has been a theatre Producer/Director and Actor for the last 11 years. She produced and directed Glengarry Glen Ross (LA Times Recommended, Backstage West Critics Pick) at the Egyptian Arena Theatre. Selected producing credits include: Bent (LA Weekly Pick of the Week), Anteroom (2100 Square Feet), Jimmy Gamble (Entertainment Today Critics Pick), Free the Wild Beast (Entertainment Today Critics Pick), Burn This , Remade as Fiction (with Taylor Negron). As an actor she has guest appeared on "24" and "Days of Our Lives."
Cate Cundiff - Stage Manager
Cate is happy to be back working at the Lillian after recently stage managing "Jawbone of an Ass". Originally from New Orleans, she grew up working in the local theatre scene. Cate then attended the University of Louisiana BFA Theatre Program before making LA her home. In addition to TV and Film work, Cate has stage managed and ASMed various productions throughout Los Angeles and Louisiana. Some highlights include "Oedipus the King Mama", "Salam Shalom", "Good Bobby", "Love Water", "Man of La Mancha", "Trojan Women", "Barber of Seville", "The Magic Flute", and "Battle Hymn". She would like to thank her family for their unwavering support.
Vesna Hocevar - Assistant Stage Manager
Vesna, a fledgling with big dreams, was born in a small village of Tlake in Slovenia. While in middle school, she fell in love with theatre during her first performance as a Starlet/Vampire. In 2003, she co-founded GUD Sibi, a non-profit theatre responsible for cultural revival of her hometown Smarje Sap. It was there that she masterminded her first multi media performance vPETa, which sealed her fate and transformed her into a full time artist. She never looked back, surrendering herself to devising in both theatre and film world. While not completely submerged in theatre, Vesna moonshines as a Head Dreamer at a production company Vindicated Dream. She is exhilarated to be a part of Topdog/Underdog.
Director: Enigma Variations; The Most Massive Woman Wins; A Glass of Karma; 2Dance (stop motion animation short); Singular Of Dice (stage reading). Producer: 15th OAF, ASAP Fables (Moving Arts); Sashwood, Horror Tres (Vindicated Dream). AD: Butterfly Wings (SMC); Doomsayer(MA). SM: Car Plays, 15th OAF(MA); 10 Years… (Playwrigts 6). ASM: The Prodigal Father (Celebration Theater).
Suzan-Lori Parks - Playwright
Named one of TIME magazine’s "100 Innovators for the Next New Wave," Suzan-Lori Parks is one of the most exciting and acclaimed playwrights in American drama today. She is the first African American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for the Broadway hit Topdog/Underdog and is a MacArthur "Genius" Award recipient. She has also been awarded grants by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York Foundation for the Arts. She is recipient of a Lila-Wallace Reader's Digest Award, a CalArts/Alpert Award in the Arts (Drama) for 1996, a Guggenheim Foundation Grant and and is an alumnae of New Dramatists. Her work is the subject of the PBS Film "The Topdog Diaries." Suzan-Lori Parks’ talks are part performance, part storytelling – always high energy, with an inspired sense of humor.
In 2007 her project 365 Plays/365 Days was produced in over 700 theaters worldwide, creating one of the largest grassroots collaborations in theater history. Her numerous plays include Topdog/Underdog, In the Blood (2000 Pulitzer Prize finalist), Venus (1996 OBIE Award), The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World, Fucking A, Imperceptible Mutabilities in the Third Kingdom (1990 OBIE Award for Best New American Play), and The America Play. Her first feature-length screenplay was Girl 6 written for Spike Lee. She’s also written screenplays for Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, and adapted Zora Neale Hurston’s classic novel Their Eyes Were Watching God which starred Halle Barry and premiered on ABC’s Oprah Winfrey Presents. Parks is co-author of the screenplay for The Great Debaters, starring Denzel Washington (December 2007 release). Park’s well-reviewed first novel Getting Mother's Body (Random House, 2003) is set in the west Texas of her youth and follows the scrappy Beede family as they embark on a riotous road trip in hopes of recovering a fortune of jewels – rumored to be buried with a long-dead relative. She is the author of Ray Charles Live!, a musical based on the life of Ray Charles that premiered at the Pasadena Playhouse. In 2008, Parks was named the "Writer in Residence" at New York’s Public Theater, a position she will hold for three years, actively participating in the artistic community of the Public Theater.
In November 2008 Suzan-Lori Parks became the first recipient of the master writer chair at the Public Theater, a three-year residency in which she will also be a visiting arts professor in dramatic writing at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. The Public Theater will present her new play, titled, Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 8 & 9) in June 2009. Ms. Parks will also star in this world premiere. Her play The Book of Grace will premiere during the 2009-10 season at the Public.
Holding honorary doctorates from Brown University, among others, Suzan-Lori credits her writing teacher and mentor, James Baldwin, for starting her on the path of playwrighting. One of the first to recognize Parks’ writing skills, Mr. Baldwin declared Parks "an astonishing and beautiful creature who may become one of the most valuable artists of our time."
Robert Papazian - Executive Producer
Robert A. Papazian, an Emmy Award winner for his critically acclaimed production of Inherit the Wind on NBC, is recognized as one of Hollywood's most successful and creative television producers. In 1988, Papazian partnered with writer-producer James G. Hirsch to create one of the industry's most respected independent production companies, Papazian-Hirsch Entertainment.
Papazian's prodigious body of work includes producing more than 60 television movies and miniseries, garnering a total of 27 Emmy nominations and 9 Emmys. Other television laurels include the all-time top-rated (46.0/62) multi-Emmy nominated television movie, The Day After (ABC); the Christopher Award for Crisis at Central High (CBS); California Governor’s Community Excellence Award for A Reason to Live (NBC); and the Excellence in Programming Award from American Women in Radio and Television for Why Me? (ABC).
Papazian-Hirsch also produced the long-running CBS hit hour dramatic series, Nash Bridges, starring Don Johnson; the highly rated, critically acclaimed miniseries The Invaders, starring Scott Bakula; Crazy From the Heart (TNT), for which Christine Lahti won the coveted ACE Award; and the highly acclaimed ABC Theater presentation, The Boys, starring John Lithgow and James Woods. Additionally, the team produced five separate one-hour Hart to Hart TV movies, starring Robert Wagner and Stephanie Powers. In 2004, Bob and Jim were honored with the ARPA International Film Festival "Lifetime Achievement Award" for their distinguished accomplishments as filmmakers on both the big and small screens. Currently, Papazian-Hirsch is developing projects for both television and theatrical release.
In 2005, Bob was named Chief Executive Officer of Hollywood's legendary Sunset Gower Studios, originally the headquarters for Columbia Pictures and famed movie mogul Harry Cohn. In addition to heading-up the studio's operations as CEO, Papazian and Hirsch have also partnered with GI Partners, the $526 million private equity fund, which recently acquired Sunset-Gower Studios. Together, they intend to return Sunset Gower to its original luster while upgrading the studio with every modern production convenience.
This is not Papazian-Hirsch’s first venture into creating a destination production studio, in 1997 Bob and Jim co-founded Ray-Art Studios, a full-service state-of-the-art production facility, which housed many of Hollywood’s leading independent producers, studios and networks (e.g. MGM, Fox, Disney, Paramount, Spelling NBC, ABC, WB and TNT). Ray-Art Studios was sold in May 2004.
Further distinguished producing achievements include The Enemy Within (HBO), The Betty Ford Story (ABC), North and South Book II (ABC), Willing to Kill: the Texas Cheerleader Story (ABC), Line of Fire: the Morris Dees Story (NBC), In the Best Interest of the Child (CBS), The China Lake Murders (USA Cable), The Karen Carpenter Story (CBS), The Rape of Richard Beck (ABC), and The Outsider’s Fox television series as well as the feature films Dillinger and Coffey for AIP.
Robert Papazian was born in Boston and raised in Los Angeles. A graduate of Lutheran High School, he received his B.A. in speech and drama from Los Angeles State College. While in college, Papazian began his career in the entertainment industry working as a page for the CBS Television Network.