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bullet GI's in Europe  
 

By Scott OKen and Ernie Deak
Directed by Nick Digilio

Click here for a preview:
GI's In Europe (Quicktime)

Appeared in 2006

 
     
 
  GI's in Europe  
 
     
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Show Info

 
 


Preview - June 9th
Benefit - June 10th
Press Opening - June 11th
Runs Friday and Saturdays at 8:00 and Sundays at 7:00
Closing - July 15th

Factory Theater at the Prop Thtr 3504 N. Elston Ave, Chicago.

TICKET PRICES
$10.00 Preview - June 9th
$40.00 FACTORY BENEFIT GALA - June 10th
$20.00 general run
$5.00 Industry Night TBA

Click here TO PURCHASE TICKETS or call 866.811.4111

 
     
 
     
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Synopsis

 
 


Call the Bingo... Save the Hotel... Retrieve the Sextant... Don't upset the General... And do it all while singing Good, Old- Fashioned Rock and Roll! I tell ya, there's nothin' like being a G.I. in Europe!!!!

 
     
 
     
bullet The Cast  
     
 

Chet: Scott OKen
Rick: Anthony Tournis
Sgt. LaPhonso: Manny Tamayo
Gen. Lompoke: Tucker Curtis
Theresa: Sarah Graber
Gunther: Ernie Deak
Ilsa: Jennifer Pompa
The Wizard: Ryan Palmer
Mariana: Stacie Barra
Juliana: Jennifer Santanello
Adriana: Corri Feuerstein
Monique: Anne Sheridan Smith
Lolique: Pamela Pierro
Rampart: Colin Milroy
Skaarsgard: Paul Metreyeon

The Crew

Director: Nick Digilio
Assistant Director: Eric Roach
Playwrights: Scott OKen & Ernie Deak
Producers: Laura McKenzie & Matt Engle
Executive Producer: Allison Cain
Technical Director: Dan Tamarkin
Set Designer: Wade Nachtigall
Lighting Designer: C.W. van Baale
Sound Designer: Chas Vrba
Costume Designer: Lisa Stevens
Props Designer: Christine Jennings
Original Music: Scott OKen
Program Layout: Amanda Hueneke
Graphics: Marshall Wolfe

 
     
  Stacie Barra (Mariana)
 
 

This is Stacie’s first show with The Factory, and her 2nd anniversary of living in Chicago. She has had the good fortune to work with Chemically Imbalanced Comedy, Stockyard’s Theatre Project, GreyZelda Theatre Group, Noble Fool, Wing and Groove, and Milwaukee Rep. Stacie’s favorite things include Diet Coke, Food Network, and Chim Richalds. She wishes you a happy Dairy Month.

  Stacie Barra
 
     
     
  Tucker Curtis (Gen. Lompoke)  
 

Tucker Curtis is turning his bio in two days late and wishes to publicly apologize. Otherwise, he is overjoyed to the point of distraction at being once again on the Factory stage and working with all these wonderful people. He likes crossword puzzles, quiet evenings at home drinking, and the Boston Red Sox. Besides the Factory, Tucker has had the honor of working recently with such theaters as the Raven, Free Associates, Thinkprov, the Mammals, and his theatrical home of WNEP. Would it look less pathetic if there was a comma placed between “home” and “drinking” in the third sentence? Tucker didn’t think so either. Audience fun: See how many dead celebrities Tucker can reference over the course of tonight’s play. Correct answer: 18! Thanks for playing. (Miss you, Ole Buddy!)

  Tucker Curtis
 
     
     
  Ernie Deak (Writer, Gunther)  
 

This Deak guy was previously seen in The Willing Participant, Top Shelf …, Toast of the Town, Factory Match Game ’99 and Surface Dwellers. He also co-wrote Win, Place or Show, Surface Dwellers and Toast of the Town. In addition, he will drop-kick those fuckin’ dogs if they come near him.

  Ernie Deak
 
     
     
  Corri Feuerstein (Adriana)  
 

Corri loves the Factory. And coffee. In fact, she would like very much to see these two things in a duel for her honor. She also serves as Artistic Director for Will Act For Food, a kickass theater company that feeds Chicago's hungry (go see Absent Friends and bring non-perishable food with you. go now. ok, tomorrow. go). She's worked with lots of other companies and she'll tell you all about them later, as there isn't much time now. She would like to tell the love of her life that he is uberswell and can serve as referee for the aforementioned duel - also that she's thrilled to be his fiancee. She would also like to thank some other people for stuff – thanks.

  Corri Feuerstein
 
     
     
  Sarah Graber (Theresa)  
 

Sarah is incredibly excited to be making her Factory Theater debut with GI's in Europe! Originally from sunny Miami, Florida, Sarah came to this freezing city to pursue her dreams of doing the acting thing. She graduated from Northwestern University's Theatre Department in 2005 and so far has been enjoying her first-year-out-of-school adventures. Sarah has recently been seen as Princess Marina Amphitrite in Neptune's Holiday Kingdom, a brief stint as a Court Jester at Water Tower Place (she'll tell you all about it!), Eunice in A Streetcar Named Desire, and in her one woman show Time For Take-Off! about her travels circumnavigating the globe! She currently performs every week at the Improv Kitchen and is a professional storyteller and mime (which is a dangerous combination because she could tell you a wild lie or just not say anything at all). Sarah would like to send love and many thanks to Nick, Roach, Heather, the amazingly hilarious cast, the Factory Ensemble Members, Nathan, and her family for all their support. She also promises not to pee on anyone's lawn… well almost anyone's.

  Sarah Graber
 
     
     
  Paul Metreyeon (Skaarsgard)  
 

Loves getting to play with the Factory. He Really loves this amazing cast and hopes to sit in everyone's lap at least once before its over. A loyal Ensemble member of the Factory, he enjoys being company photographer, and when not in a show, enjoys making babies. He was last seen as Elk in the Utter Brilliance that was Top Shelf here at the Factory. Thank you for coming to the show, and Love to my beautiful Shannon, and my lovely man-child Rowan.

  Paul Metreyeon
 
     
     
  Colin Milroy (Rampart)  
 

Originally from New Mexico, Colin has lived in Chicago for 11 years doing theatre in acting and technical capacities. The show you’re seeing is Colin’s double joy: his first show in three years and first ever show with the Factory. Previous joys include many shows with the Raven Theatre, The Hypocrites, and Stage Left Theatre, among others. Colin spends his downtime trying to write while chasing misbehaving cats through the house and developing a growing obsession with European football and obscure movie star resumes. Love to Koko. Hope you enjoy the drumbeat.

  Colin Milroy
 
     
     
  Scott OKen (Playwright, Chet)  
 

Scott OKen....what can we say? Not much. He channels Elvis, or maybe he channels Fred Travelena doing Elvis....He has 10 guitars. Why? Because he who has the most guitars wins! He was looking at the inner sleeve for Ozzy Osbourne's second LP Diary of a Madman when he noticed that Randy Rhodes was billed as..All Guitars...OKen wants to play All Guitars! All of them!!!!! Oh yeah, OKen wrote the recent Top Shelf, and co-wrote Surface Dwellers and Toast of the Town with Ernest Deak. He's been in a few Factory Productions, noteably Clean, Here Comes the Regular, Escape From the North Pole, White Trash Wedding and a Funeral, Being at Choice (remount) and a crapload of others. Hehe..... I said crap.....

  Scott OKen
 
     
     
  Ryan Palmer (The Wizard)  
 

G.I.'s is Ryan's first attempt at Wizardry with The Factory Theatre. His wizard training began at the age of 14 in Barstow, Ca. in the mop room at the Tastee Freeze. The assistant manager, Carl, taught Ryan some dark magic there in the closet; how to render someone unconcious, how to make things disappear, and how to keep my "stupid mouth shut." Ryan carried these lessons throughout his life and is more than happy to share these experiences with you tonight! Also, Ryan's daughter is also his wife...he feels very fortunate with this set-up.

  Ryan Palmer
 
     
     
  Pamela Pierro (Lolique)  
 

Ms. Pierro is pleased as punch to be returning to the Factory's stage in this production. You may have seen her in the Willing Participant or at Chief O'Neill's doing shots. She is currently a member of the Factory's Board of Directors and is a litigation attorney during normal business hours. She throws mad props to her peeps for putting up with her schedule. Special love and thanks to Rich and Paul for their support.

  Pamela Pierro
 
     
     
  Jennifer Pompa (Ilsa)  
 

Jennifer is happy to be back with the Factory after a brief hiatus. Her last Factory show was Ménage a Trailer, where she played the fish sammich loving, semi-bayou talkin’, and wise drunk, Miss Mae. And yes, she’s drunk again in this one. But this time she’s German! Some other stuff she’s done includes: Brutality of Fact with Eclipse Theater, Being At Choice with Factory Theater, [the] Violent Sex with Visions and Voices Theater and The Cider House Rules, Parts I and II with the, gone but not forgotten, Famous Door Theatre (Jeff Award-Best Supporting Actress.) Currently, she performs children’s theater at Navy Pier where she is also the resident Fight Choreographer. Factory favorites include: Poppin’ and Lockdown, White Trash Wedding And A Funeral, The Vinyl Shop and The Death and Life of Barb Budonovich (PSNBC/New York.) Film and Television credits include: “dot”, “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment” and Jennifer says, “one time, when I was in high school, I went to the Oprah show, and she picked me to stand up and ask a question, and I did, and it was on TV, but I don’t remember what I said, or what the show was about. But I know it happened in the 1980’s and I’m pretty sure that I came off like an idiot. Joe, thank you for loving me”.

  Jennifer Pompa
 
     
     
  Jennifer Santanello (Juliana)  
 

Jennifer has a crush on the Factory...there she said it. They make her feel giggly and warm inside and she doesn't care who knows it. She's having a ridiculously good time with this show. She also had a extra good time when she got to be the governess in Leonce Und Lena with the hypocrites and when she played Mona in Blindfaith Theatre's Gorey Stories. She's a company member of Blindfaith so she knows that Gorey Stories is coming back in the fall...you should see it..it rules. She's married to the guy who plays her Dad in this show...isn't that weird? He rules as well.

  Jennifer Santanello
 
     
     
  Anne Sheridan Smith (Monique)  
 

Anne is "totally jazzed" to be working with Factory Theater. She enjoys performing and developing original works and has performed in Porchlight Theatre’s Off the Porch series’ first three new musical staged readings. Anne is a Chicago native, acting or singing in theaters, cabarets, clubs and pubs throughout the Chicago area. She recently appeared in Appetite Theatre’s production of the play Museum by Tina Howe. Other Chicago companies include: Drury Lane – Oakbrook, Boxer Rebellion Theatre Co., Theatre Building Chicago, Light Opera Works, Wavelength Inc., WNEP Theatre Foundation and Vitalist Theatre . She is a founder and performer in the vocal trio Foiled Again, winning an After Dark Award for Best Cabaret Performers of 2003, and lead sings with The Chicago Rovers, an Irish folk-rock trio, performing at pubs, festivals and Chicago’s Celtic Fest

  Anne Sheridan Smith
 
     
     
  Manny Tamayo (Sgt. LaPhonso)  
 

Manny is a proud member of The Factory ensemble. He also serves as Ensemble Director. He hails from Joliet.

  Manny Tamayo
 
     
     
  Anthony Tournis (Rick)  
 

This is the part where I refer to myself in the third person. Anthony is overjoyed to be working with The Factory again. You might remember him as Thurston in Toast of the Town, or Dom in Top Shelf... Any other questions feel free to ask him, he doesn't mind talking. I would love to thank my family, friends, Dawgz, and Stacie for putting up with me. You guys are the best...all of you!

  Anthony Tournis
 
     
 
     
bullet The Crew  
     
 

Nick Digilio (Director)
In the past 13 years, Nick has written, appeared in and/or directed 9,000 shows for the Factory.
Favorite Elvis movie: Viva Las Vegas.
Favorite Elvis song: If Can Dream.
Favorite room at Graceland: The TV Room.
Favorite Elvis thing of all-time: The '68 Comeback Special.
Nick would also like to let everyone know that Magnolia is the greatest film ever made and that Crash sucks.

Christine Jennings (Props Designer)
Christine Jennings has been involved with the Factory for 10 years. She likes to swim.

Wade Nachtigall (Set Designer)

Eric Roach (Asst. Director)
Eric Thomas Roach digs it the most that he is working behind the scenes with the Factory this time. This production marks his triumphant return to Assistant Directing. He is a full-blown Factory Ensemble member and thinks that we are the greatest of all time. You may have seen him in The Willing Participant, Top Shelf..., and Menage a Trailer. He has also grooved with the cool cats in The Hypocrites, The Mammals, The Griffin, and Hi-Volt. He would like to encourage everyone to see the film Bubba Ho-Tep, which is the best Elvis film that Elvis never made. Love to my Stella Stevens, Angel.

Lisa Stevens (Costume Designer)
GI's in Europe is Lisa's first endeavor with The Factory. As a costume designer, Lisa has created garb most recently for Pine Box Theatre's Life and Limb (set during the Korean War.) As an actress, she has just come from performing in the trenches of Pegasus Players Theatre as Cheryl in Still Life (set post Viet Nam). She would like to thank the factory for a chance to lighten the frick up and remind herself that soldiers can be funny, too.

Dan Tamarkin (Technical Director)
Dan Tamarkin is a fifteen-year veteran of Chicago theater, having worked and played with Metraform, Sweetback, The Journeymen, European Repertory, National Pastime, Chicago Park District, Teatro Luna, and many others. A proud Factory Theater member, and founder of Why A Duck Theatrical Productions, Dan consults & designs for, rents to, and remains generally infatuated with Chicago theater. When he's not in tech, Dan rides Trek/Bontrager, climbs Petzl, Chouinard & EMS, and believes completely that collaboration is king. Thanks to everyone here tonight, to Laura, and especially to Jean.

Heather Tyler (Choreographer)
I hope you enjoy the dance numbers in tonight's performance. The choreography in this show is 100% authentic American 1960s dance moves and techniques, as described via telecon by my mother, Dr. Jan Fielder Ziegler, and her girlfriends over at The Serendipity Book Club. Forgive me for not including the Watusi...too vigorous. Other choreography & stage credits at The Factory Theater include Top Shelf, The Willing Participant, Toast of the Town and Menage a Trailer. You may have also seen me perform Porno (the play) at The Side Project this spring. Thanks for coming.

C.W. van Baale (Lighting Designer)
C. W. van Baale (not to be confused with Constatine Wapkaplet van Baale) is the Lighting Designer for GI's. Recently, he lit Willing Participant and Top Shelf. By day, he scrambles about as an ordinary school teacher, but when theatrical treachery erupts, he transforms into a random trivial fact generating troubleshooter. His weaknesses are only sound and high fructose corn syrup, as far as you know. Anyway, he also is the T.D. for Will Act for Food and Open Eye Productions; both company's have shows running in June 2006. Many thanks to Newton, both Isaac and Iowa.

Heather Vogel (Production Stage Manager)
Heather is thrilled to be working with Factory for the first time! She graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in stage management and has been working in the Chicago area ever since. Most recently Heather was the Production Stage Manager for Reverie Theatre Co.’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma. She has previously stage managed Maybe Baby It’s You for the Prop Thtr and numerous other plays about town. Heather would like to thank all of the Factory crew for teaching her about the Cubs and comic timing! She would also like to thank her friends and family for making it all worthwhile.

Chas Vrba (Sound Designer)

 
     
     
     
 
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