Drunken Owl Theatre

As my finger pauses above the mouse, ready to post this program and thus send forth an e-mail to all DOT subscribers, our ticket sales for Opening Night are a bit low. Please come out and support the performing arts!

Music by the Bard Owls: “Rockin’ Chair” by Hoagy Carmichael and “Brown-Eyed Women,” by the Grateful Dead.

“Estelletown” by Elena Naskova.

When Estelle Horton discovers that her father Julius plans to name ‘Georgetown’ after her brother George, instead of ‘Estelletown’ after her, she devises a secret plan to change that.

Poetry by Mary Ellen Talley.

“Historians in Babyland,” by Pamela Hobart Carter and Mike Hickey.

A pair of noted historians from a local university studies the gravestones at Comet Lodge Cemetery at the same time that a pair of occupants of Babyland, the cemetery’s resting place for indigent young victims of epidemics of the late 19th and early 20th century, studies their own situation. How the two pairs intersect gives them all a fresh understanding of their histories and futures.

New Merch for sale!

Intermission

Music by the Bard Owls: “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” by Fats Waller, “Spooky,” by Classic IV and “New Coat of Paint” by Tom Waits.

Monologue by Chris Clark, performed by Jillian Faulk.

“The Georgetown Tea Party,” by Thomas Pierce.

Will wild Georgetown vote to become part of sober Seattle?  Georgetown’s saloons, brothels and gambling dens recruit No voters from the Poor Farm with offers of booze and a ride to the polls.  A former Colonel in the Union army takes advantage.

Poetry by Margaret O’Donnell, read by Nela de Paz.

“Patience Waits for a Spark,” by Anna Tatelman.

Patience Waits for a Spark is a play inspired by the true history of Comet Lodge Cemetery about three of its ghostly residents banding together to exact revenge.

Music by the Bard Owls: “Perfect Day,” by Lou Reed.

Meet the artists:

Alex Anderson (she/her; Sound and Lights)
Alex is a musician, teacher, sound engineer, and PNW lifer. She has been gigging locally for the better part of 15 years, most recently in the bands Floral Tattoo and Look at the Bones.

Juli Brown (Actress)

Juli is very glad to be joining Drunken Owl for the second time! Born and raised in the PNW, but just finding their way into Seattle’s theatrical scene, Juli has worked with Woodinville Rep, Band of Bards, Silverkite, and a few others. They’re excited to keep doing more with the wonderful artists of Seattle!

Pamela Hobart Carter (Board Member, Playwright, Set Design)
Pamela has enjoyed painting flats, reading her poems, and sitting on the board for DOT. Her plays have been produced in Seattle (her home), Montreal (her childhood home), and Fort Worth. Carter has a new poetry e-chapbook, Behind the Scenes at the Eternal Everyday (Yavanika Press).

“TRAILHEAD DIRECT” by Pamela Hobart Carter 

High on the volcano

we munched crackers 

and nuts and gazed about 

at the green meadow’s bowl—

a palm, cupped. Through the fingers

of that hand (holding us in safety) 

a creek mumbled in its own language.

We sat among fat marmots,

below a sun that warmed everything. 

Jillian Faulk (Actress)

Jillian is so thrilled to be working with Drunken Owl Theatre!  She is a local teaching artist and performer in the Seattle area. You may have seen her previously in the Kenmore Quickies, or the  Plague Master General with the Blue Hour Theatre group. She wants to thank her friends and family for their endless support.

Kevin Finney (Artistic Director)
As a young man, Kevin acted in summer stock, playing Nathan Detroit in “Guys and Dolls” at the Mt. Washington Valley Theatre in NH and Sefton in “Stalag 17” at NJ Summerfun. He was John Ritter’s stand-in in the film “Real Men,” and had a brief song and dance gig in a Japanese amusement park. In the Seattle area, he’s acted in three plays at ArtsWest, playing Sir Studley in “Once Upon a Mattress,” Lindner in “Raisin in the Sun,” and the Doctor and Father Donnelly in “The Marriage of Bette and Boo.” At Burien Actors Theatre, he’s played Gordon in “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” Selsdon in “Noises Off,” Zeus in “They Walk Among Us,” and Fezziwig in “Christmas Carol Rag”. He’s acted in the past two Kenmore Quickies at As If Theatre. He’s directed plays for Fauntleroy Church, Van Asselt Elementary and Meany Middle School.

Stacey Hansen (Sound Design)

Stacey is super excited to be working For The Fourth Time! with Drunken Owl Theatre. A Seattle native, she has stage managed more shows than she can count on her fingers and toes, and for more years than is polite to ask. Thanks to Kevin for asking me back, and to this fabulous cast for sharing this lovely artistic ride with them.

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Michael G. Hickey (playwright), professor emeritus, grew up in Belleville, IL, the oldest of eleven children. He received a BA in creative writing from the University of Arizona, 1987, and an MFA from the University of Washington, 1992. In 2009, he was inaugurated as Seattle’s eighth Poet Populist. In addition to two novels, Hickey has also published three books of poetry and prose: IN DEFENSE OF EVE, A DRESS WALKED BY WITH A WOMAN INSIDE, and HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS (& other urban myths). His most recent publication is his first children’s book, TRAVIS THE TALKING DOG” (2022) In 2023, he co-wrote a stage play with Pamela Hobart Carter entitled, “Prohibition Pigeons.”  

Emily Hoffman (Stage Manager)

Emily Hoffman is delighted to be participating in her first production with Drunken Owl! You may have previously seen her work as an actress and playwright at the Kenmore Quickies, or in last year’s production of The Squirrel Plays with Mirror Stage. She’s excited to be trying her hand at Stage Management for the first time. Enjoy the show!

Philip Kelley (Bass) left the suburbs of NYC in the eighties for the wilds of the PNW. He still relishes outdoor adventure, and is happiest somewhere off trail in the Cascades. He has always loved music, and upon taking up Bass in 1997, found his muse. When not busy with the above, he’s probably contemplating the universe, riding his bike, being a semi-retired Acupuncturist, or trying to make presentable sounds on the trombone.

Leonie Mikele Fogle (Board Member & Set Design) writes both poetry and plays. She’s been a supporter of the arts for several years—having been a board mem­ber of 911 Media Arts before it closed its doors—and is a theater and concert enthusiast. She is happy to be a part of the DOT family; she is excited to contribute to the artistic life of the theater and music community generally, and to support Drunken Owl Theatre in par­ticular.

Elena Naskova (Playwright)

Elena Naskova was born and raised in Macedonia. She immigrated to the USA in her late twenties. After spending thirteen years in LA, she moved to Seattle, Washington. Elena’s plays have been produced and read in the USA, Canada, England, Spain, and the UAE. She’s received a few awards for her work and some of her plays have been published. Elena is a member of the Dramatist Guild of America.

Sean Neely (Actor)
Born in East Texas, he has acted in NYC, Chicago, Minneapolis, Austin, and Seattle. Recently, he reprised his role as Torvald in Tacoma Little Theatre’s “A Doll’s House 2” and performed his own plays at Shattered Glass Project and Rain City Projects. He thanks his junior high and high school theatre teachers, David Duvall and Doug Holcomb, Professors Kim Frederick & Carl Yowell, and his wife for her unwavering support!

Margaret O’Donnell (Poet)

I’m a Seattle playwright and poet who writes about the migration of peoples, the old, conserving the Earth and all its beings, the mysterious ways we relate to one another, and the byzantine workings of US law and government.  Also, whatever hits my funny bone.  Find my work at https://newplayexchange.org/users/28755/margaret-odonnell  and  https://odonnellplaywright.com/ .

“In Praise of Hamlet Adaptations”

Watching a new Hamlet

preparing for the worst

but instead of lying down to die

they all rise up and sing!

It’s a lights music dance glitter

over-the-top

explosion of joy.

If there’s hope for the folk

in that cold and grey palace of doom

it’s time, high time, for us –

let’s jump this train

to a muffled end

don some razzle-dazzle

and dance! dance! dance!

-Margaret O’Donnell

https://johnbennettproperties.com/

Nela de Paz (Actress)

“Nela de Paz recently debuted on the PNW stage as Laura Wingfield in Heart Rep’s production of “The Glass Menagerie.” She is excited to be part of Drunken Owl’s “Tales of Georgetown,” a prescient collection of stories and poems inspired by local history. While Nela loves her classical playwrights, the opportunity to work with local and living playwrights is truly a privilege.”

Thomas Pierce (Playwright) Plays produced in cities throughout the US, including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City.  International productions in London, Seoul, Tel Aviv, Melbourne, Heidelberg and Dunedin and Queenstown, New Zealand.  Member of The Dramatists Guild.  Instructor Emeritus in Philosophy and Composition, South Seattle College, Seattle, WA.  A proud regular with Drunken Owl Theatre.

Noel Sherrard (Actor, Poster Design, Gravestone Lettering) is excited to participate in his first Drunken Owl Theater production. You may have recently seen him in the Kenmore Quickies theater festival or in his backyard studying a tall Douglas Fir. The tree occasionally emits distinctive whining sounds which he believes belongs to a Barred Owl. Noel invites audience members who have encountered unique owl calls to help him identify the eerie—perhaps even intoxicated—howls. 

David Sorey (Keyboards) grew up in Denver, studying classical and jazz piano, and playing in funk and soul bands, and in jazz groups with Keith Oxman and Paul Taylor.  After earning degrees in piano performance and landscape architecture in the Pacific Northwest, he toured with Charles Neville and the Flambeaux, and played in the James Baddington Quartet along with numerous other small jazz groups in Seattle.  He also as has played solo piano in many Pacific Northwest night clubs.

Mary Ellen Talley (Poet)

Mary Ellen Talley’s poems have been published in journals including Gyroscope, Deep Wild, and Banshee as well as in multiple anthologies. Her poems have received three Pushcart nominations. She has three chapbooks: “Postcards from the Lilac City” from Finishing Line Press, “Taking Leave” from Kelsay Press, and “Infusion” online at Red Wolf Journal. Her website is maryellentalley.com. She is a former speech-language pathologist (SLP) in Seattle Public Schools.

Anna Tatelman (Playwright) (she/her) is honored to have Drunken Owl produce the world premiere of “Patience Waits for a Spark.”  You may have previously seen her “zombie rom-com” or “the dishtowel play” at DOT. Her other plays have been produced locally and internationally by organizations like the Detroit Repertory Theatre, As If Theatre, Pitchy Breath Theatre, and Pacific Play Company. She has local productions upcoming at Aspire Repertory Theatre and the Maple Valley Creative Arts Council. www.annatatelman.com.

Shannon Tucker (Costumes)

This is Shannon’s first time costuming a show. She is excited to help out the Drunken Owl Theatre. She  has been in Washington state for over 2 years and has been sewing for over 10 years.

“The Georgetown Hop Bines”

Visual artist round

generations of red brick. 

Poems  Plays  Music  Dance

Industrial boho warmth

cloaks dark corners, wraps romance.  

by Judith Camann

Big thanks to Kelly Lyles, West Seattle Artist, for the loan of several costume pieces.