222 CAST & CREW
ALYSSA BENITEZ
"MORRIS"
The Nether
Alyssa (she/her) is a Theatre Arts graduate of Fresno State (2019) and longtime community theatremaker. Previous credits include Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire, Julia in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Little Sally in Urinetown, #14 in the Wolves, Susy Hendrix in Wait Until Dark, and many more. Thank you for attending this reading, I hope you take something from it and enjoy.
VERNON LEE JONES III
"WOODNUT"
The Flick
Vernon (he/him) is a Fresno City College Theatre Arts alumni from Fresno, CA. Previous credits include She Kills Monsters (Bug Bear), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Saint Matthew, Butch Honeywell), Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Understudy: Darcy, Bingley), Emma (Mr. Elton), Lunacy (Robert), Let the Right One In (Jocke, Janne), The Thanksgiving Play (ensemble), The Humans (Richard) and Detroit '67 (Lank).
JAMES KNUDSEN
"SIMS/PAPA"
The Nether
James (he/him) is a Tulare, California native who first appeared on stage during the Johnson administration. More recently, he has performed with the Good Company Players, College of the Sequoias, and Fresno City College where he has been an adjunct faculty member since 2012. Many thanks to the artists at UR Here, Karina Balfour, and this talented cast. And special thanks to Andra.
TERRY LEWIS
"DOYLE"
The Nether
Terry (he/him) has been appearing with local theatre companies for over 35 years now. Some of his favorite recent roles include Next to Normal (Dan), The Music Man (Harold Hill), Guys & Dolls (Sky Masterson), La Cages aux Folles (Georges), Mamma Mia (Sam), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Ed Boone), The Rocky Horror Show (Frank-n-Furter), Rock of Ages (Stacee Jaxx), Fun Home (Bruce), The Fantasticks (El Gallo), Peter and the Starcatcher (Black Stache), and Camelot (Lancelot). He has previously appeared with UR Here in Outside Mullingar (Anthony), and will be appearing in Seminar (Leonard) at Fresno State in December appearing in Seminar (Leonard) at Fresno State in December.
STEPH LUCIDO
"IRIS"
The Nether
Steph (she/her) has been seen previously with CMT in the ensemble of Chicago Teen, and as Snarky Kid in Matilda the Musical. A Granite Ridge student, she was a member of Constant Interruptions Improv Team this past year. She studies dance at Shirley Winters and performs each year in The Nutracker. Previous productions include Frozen Jr (Bulda) Alice In Wonderland Jr (Little Alice), Annie Jr (orphan), and Peter Pan Jr (Fawn). Steph is thankful for her family and support and sends them her love.
KARINA BALFOUR
DIRECTOR
The Nether
Karina (she/her) is an adjunct instructor of Theatre at Fresno City College. She earned her BA in Theatre (Fresno State) and MFA in Acting Pedagogy (University of Alabama). Karina spent 9 years in Philadelphia, PA and Atlanta, GA performing in regional theaters and teaching at several colleges. Most recently she was seen in UR Here’s Dance Nation. Since returning to Fresno, she has also performed in The Wolves (Fresno State), Gentleman’s Guide… (Selma Arts Center), Book of Will (Stageworks), The Humans (FCC), Matilda (CMT) and Zoot Suit (SAC); and directed The Line (FCC) and No Easy Road to Freedom (FCC).
Love to Steve and Beckett!
JENNIFER HALEY
PLAYWRIGHT
The Nether
Jennifer Haley is a playwright whose work delves into ethics in virtual reality and the impact of technology on our human relationships, identity, and desire. She won the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for her play, The Nether, which premiered with Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles and has been produced off-Broadway, on London’s West End, across the US and internationally. Other plays include Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom, a horror story about suburban video game addiction, and Froggy, a noir thriller with interactive media design and a live soundtrack. Jennifer has worked with Center Theatre Group, the Royal Court Theatre, Headlong, Sonia Friedman Productions, the Humana Festival of New Plays, American Conservatory Theater, The Banff Centre, Sundance Theatre Lab, O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, Lark Play Development Center, PlayPenn, and Page 73. She is a member of New Dramatists in New York City and lives in Los Angeles, where she founded the Playwrights Union.