The Vortex
By Noël Coward
Sep 24 - Nov 8, 2015Low-priced Previews Sep 24 - Oct 2, 2015
Nicky Lancaster brings his elegant fiancée, Bunty, home to introduce her to his famous mother, aging socialite Florence Lancaster. Nicky is shocked to discover that Florence has taken a much younger lover, and when Bunty ditches Nicky to run off with his mother’s boy-toy, both are forced to confront the truth about themselves. Noël Coward’s first commercially successful hit, The Vortex premiered in 1924 in London, and its scandalous subject matter of drug abuse, repressed homosexuality, nymphomania and Oedipal jealousy made Coward an overnight sensation.
Performed in Rep with Hay Fever.
“The Vortex (1924) is the play that turned Noël Coward into a star… Almost nine decades later, it still packs a powerful punch.” -The Telegraph
Study Guide
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Cast
Paul EggingtonPaul Eggington
David LancasterCynet Theatre: debut. Regional Theatre/Off-Broadway: Joyful Noise (Lamb’s Theatre, NY), Private Lives (Idaho Shakespeare), A Little Night Music, Dandelion Wine, Getting Out, The Rainmaker (Colony Theatre, LA), Turn Of The Century, Too True To Be Good (Old Globe). San Diego/Orange County: All My Sons, Taming of the Shrew, Othello, To Kill A Mockingbird (American Coast Theatre, OC), Art, Boomers, 1776, Dr. Faustus, Busman’s Honeymoon, A Secret Garden, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Hunchback Of Notre Dame, She Love’s Me (Lamb’s Players), The Wake Of Jamey Foster, Private Lives, The Foreigner, The Circle (Hahn Cosmopolitan), I Can’t Get Started (Ensemble Arts), La Bete (Fritz), Hamlet (Sledgehammer). An actor for over 40 years, Paul has numerous television, film, voiceover and audiobook credits. A former Resident Ensemble member of Lamb’s Players Theatre in San Diego and LA’s The Colony Theatre, he currently teaches in the Theatre Arts Department at Vanguard University.
Charles Evans, Jr.Charles Evans, Jr.
Nicky LancasterCharles is extremely pleased to be back on the Cygnet stage to share these wonderful plays from Sir Noel Coward. Past Cygnet Theatre productions include Dogfight, My Fair Lady, A Christmas Carol, Follies, and Spring Awakening. Recent San Diego credits include La Jolla Playhouse: The Car Plays, Lambs Players: Fiddler on the Roof and Twelfth Night, Intrepid Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing, ion Theatre: Grey Gardens, and New Village Arts: Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings. Charles also recently completed his fifth summer as a resident actor with the Okoboji Summer Theatre and is a BFA theatre graduate of Stephens College for Women. Many thanks to Sean Murray, Robby Lutfy, and to CG.
Rhona GoldRhona Gold
PrestonRhona is thrilled and delighted to be making her Cygnet Theatre debut. She grew up in Canada, trained at the Theatre Resource Centre in Ottawa, Ontario and worked in theatres across Canada before moving to Santa Fe, NM, where she helped found Theatre In The Red, a company focusing on new and experimental works. Most recently she appeared as Bunny in Old Jews Telling Jokes at the Lyceum Theatre. She played Yente in the Lambs Players Theatre remount of Fiddler On The Roof at the Lyceum Theatre. Also at Lambs: The Music Man, Steel Magnolias (with Rosina Reynolds), Enchanted April and Guys and Dolls. She has been seen frequently at Moxie Theatre in Skinless, Eurydice, Drink Me, The Crucible, Expecting Isabel, and Eleemosynary (with Rachael VanWormer). She lives in University Heights with husband, actor J. Michael Ross.
Paul Eggington
Cynet Theatre: debut. Regional Theatre/Off-Broadway: Joyful Noise (Lamb’s Theatre, NY), Private Lives (Idaho Shakespeare), A Little Night Music, Dandelion Wine, Getting Out, The Rainmaker (Colony Theatre, LA), Turn Of The Century, Too True To Be Good (Old Globe). San Diego/Orange County: All My Sons, Taming of the Shrew, Othello, To Kill A Mockingbird (American Coast Theatre, OC), Art, Boomers, 1776, Dr. Faustus, Busman’s Honeymoon, A Secret Garden, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Hunchback Of Notre Dame, She Love’s Me (Lamb’s Players), The Wake Of Jamey Foster, Private Lives, The Foreigner, The Circle (Hahn Cosmopolitan), I Can’t Get Started (Ensemble Arts), La Bete (Fritz), Hamlet (Sledgehammer). An actor for over 40 years, Paul has numerous television, film, voiceover and audiobook credits. A former Resident Ensemble member of Lamb’s Players Theatre in San Diego and LA’s The Colony Theatre, he currently teaches in the Theatre Arts Department at Vanguard University.
Charles Evans, Jr.
Charles is extremely pleased to be back on the Cygnet stage to share these wonderful plays from Sir Noel Coward. Past Cygnet Theatre productions include Dogfight, My Fair Lady, A Christmas Carol, Follies, and Spring Awakening. Recent San Diego credits include La Jolla Playhouse: The Car Plays, Lambs Players: Fiddler on the Roof and Twelfth Night, Intrepid Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing, ion Theatre: Grey Gardens, and New Village Arts: Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings. Charles also recently completed his fifth summer as a resident actor with the Okoboji Summer Theatre and is a BFA theatre graduate of Stephens College for Women. Many thanks to Sean Murray, Robby Lutfy, and to CG.
Rhona Gold
Rhona is thrilled and delighted to be making her Cygnet Theatre debut. She grew up in Canada, trained at the Theatre Resource Centre in Ottawa, Ontario and worked in theatres across Canada before moving to Santa Fe, NM, where she helped found Theatre In The Red, a company focusing on new and experimental works. Most recently she appeared as Bunny in Old Jews Telling Jokes at the Lyceum Theatre. She played Yente in the Lambs Players Theatre remount of Fiddler On The Roof at the Lyceum Theatre. Also at Lambs: The Music Man, Steel Magnolias (with Rosina Reynolds), Enchanted April and Guys and Dolls. She has been seen frequently at Moxie Theatre in Skinless, Eurydice, Drink Me, The Crucible, Expecting Isabel, and Eleemosynary (with Rachael VanWormer). She lives in University Heights with husband, actor J. Michael Ross.
AJ JonesAJ Jones
Tom VeryanAJ is thrilled to be making his Cygnet and San Diego debut with these classic and timeless stories. Based in Los Angeles, his recent theatre credits include: No Homo (Atwater Village Theatre, Players Theatre NYC, Kirk Douglas Theatre), LA Premiere of Enron (Lex Theatre), Look Homeward, Angel (The Production Company), World Premiere of Revolver (Celebration Theatre), and Trainspotting (Elephant Theatre). AJ studied at the Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio and Playhouse West in Los Angeles. A native of Orlando, Florida, one of his fondest memories was scaring people in Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios when he first became an actor. He’s incredibly grateful for his tremendous parents, and his good friend Tuffet Schmelzle, without whom none of this would have been possible.
Lauren King ThompsonLauren King Thompson
Clara HibbertLauren is delighted to be making her debut with Cygnet Theatre. Previous credits include: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1st & 2nd National Tours), You Can’t Take It With You, Joseph…Dreamcoat, Pete ‘n Keely, Guys and Dolls, The Music Man (Lamb’s Players), To Kill a Mockingbird, Miss Firecracker Contest (New Village Arts), A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The Musical (Intrepid Shakespeare) Divine Sister (Diversionary), Joseph…Dreamcoat (SDMT), Oklahoma (Moonlight), Stepping Out, Hairspray (Welk). Lauren received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Cal State University, Fullerton. Love and gratitude to husband Scott.
Rosina ReynoldsRosina Reynolds
Florence LancasterCygnet Theatre: The Glass Menagerie, Noises Off, Arcadia, Little Foxes, Copenhagen. Regional Theatre: 33 Variations (Theatreworks, Palo Alto), Love In American Times (San Jose Rep), Steel Magnolias (La Mirada Theatre), Dividing the Estate, Sea of Tranquility, Romeo and Juliet, Missing Footage, Trojan Women, (Old Globe Theatre), San Diego Theatre: Favorite roles include; Uncanny Valley, Doubt. (San Diego Rep) Mandate Memories, Ghosts, Wit, Amy’s View, (The North Coast Repertory Theatre), Lettuce & Lovage, (Lambs Players Theatre) Shirley Valentine, Long Days Journey Into Night, (Renaissance Theatre Company.) Other San Diego theatres include New Village Arts, Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company, Sledgehammer Theatre and Malashock Dance Company. Rosina has directed over 30 productions in San Diego. She is the founding artistic Director of the Chequamegon Children’s Theatre in Northern Wisconsin.
AJ Jones
AJ is thrilled to be making his Cygnet and San Diego debut with these classic and timeless stories. Based in Los Angeles, his recent theatre credits include: No Homo (Atwater Village Theatre, Players Theatre NYC, Kirk Douglas Theatre), LA Premiere of Enron (Lex Theatre), Look Homeward, Angel (The Production Company), World Premiere of Revolver (Celebration Theatre), and Trainspotting (Elephant Theatre). AJ studied at the Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio and Playhouse West in Los Angeles. A native of Orlando, Florida, one of his fondest memories was scaring people in Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios when he first became an actor. He’s incredibly grateful for his tremendous parents, and his good friend Tuffet Schmelzle, without whom none of this would have been possible.
Lauren King Thompson
Lauren is delighted to be making her debut with Cygnet Theatre. Previous credits include: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1st & 2nd National Tours), You Can’t Take It With You, Joseph…Dreamcoat, Pete ‘n Keely, Guys and Dolls, The Music Man (Lamb’s Players), To Kill a Mockingbird, Miss Firecracker Contest (New Village Arts), A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The Musical (Intrepid Shakespeare) Divine Sister (Diversionary), Joseph…Dreamcoat (SDMT), Oklahoma (Moonlight), Stepping Out, Hairspray (Welk). Lauren received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Cal State University, Fullerton. Love and gratitude to husband Scott.
Rosina Reynolds
Cygnet Theatre: The Glass Menagerie, Noises Off, Arcadia, Little Foxes, Copenhagen. Regional Theatre: 33 Variations (Theatreworks, Palo Alto), Love In American Times (San Jose Rep), Steel Magnolias (La Mirada Theatre), Dividing the Estate, Sea of Tranquility, Romeo and Juliet, Missing Footage, Trojan Women, (Old Globe Theatre), San Diego Theatre: Favorite roles include; Uncanny Valley, Doubt. (San Diego Rep) Mandate Memories, Ghosts, Wit, Amy’s View, (The North Coast Repertory Theatre), Lettuce & Lovage, (Lambs Players Theatre) Shirley Valentine, Long Days Journey Into Night, (Renaissance Theatre Company.) Other San Diego theatres include New Village Arts, Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company, Sledgehammer Theatre and Malashock Dance Company. Rosina has directed over 30 productions in San Diego. She is the founding artistic Director of the Chequamegon Children’s Theatre in Northern Wisconsin.
James SabaJames Saba
Pauncefort QuentinJames is making his Cygnet Theatre debut! Credits include: Off Broadway Premiere of Widows (59E59), His Girl Friday and Boy (La Jolla Playhouse), The Kite Runner, (San Jose Rep, Arizona Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville and Cleveland Playhouse), Behind the Eye (Cincinnati Playhouse), Centennial Casting (Virginia Stage Company), A Christmas Carol (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Cymbeline and Travels With My Aunt (The Old Globe Theatre), Travesties/Earnest (North Coast Repertory Theatre), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Cleveland Playhouse/San Jose Repertory Theatre) and 20 seasons at Hope Summer Repertory Theatre. Television credits include Smash, 30 Rock, Law and Order: Criminal Intent and Conviction. James is the Executive Director (and a proud alumnus) of San Diego Junior Theatre.
Jill Van VelzerJill Van Velzer
Helen SavilleJill is delighted to return to Cygnet after playing Phyllis in the 2014 benefit presentation of Follies. Nat’l tours: The King and I (Anna). Favorite regional credits: Blithe Spirit and The Playboy of the Western World (Artists Rep, OR), The Heiress (Pasadena Playhouse), Boeing, Boeing (Arrow Rock Lyceum, MO), The Matchmaker (Utah Shakespeare), and a heck of a lot of musicals, including The Music Man (Marian), Kiss Me, Kate (Lilli/Kate), Into the Woods (Witch), Camelot (Guenevere), 1776 (Abigail Adams–Ovation Award), She Loves Me (Amalia), and here in San Diego, The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Pippi–SD REP–Craig Noel nominee), The Sound of Music (Elsa–SDMT), and Into the Woods (The Baker’s Wife–Moonlight). Occasionally, Jill lives in Los Angeles with her roommate and her masterfully indifferent cat.
Rachael VanWormerRachael VanWormer
Bunty ManwaringPlayhouse Productions: Love, Loss and What I Wore; San Diego Rep: boom; New Fortune: Henry V; North Coast Rep: Faded Glory, A Christmas Carol; Cygnet Theatre: The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Arcadia, The Matchmaker, The Little Foxes, Curse of the Starving Class; Diversionary Theatre: Regrets Only, Birds of a Feather, Speech & Debate, Corpus Christi, Beautiful Thing; Intrepid Shakespeare: Oleanna; PCPA TheaterFest: The Wizard of Oz, Lifeboat, The Reluctant Dragon; ion Theatre: Reason to be Pretty, In the Heat of the Night, The Woolgatherer, bash: latterday plays (Critics Circle Award), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, In a Dark Dark House; Moonlight Stage Productions: The Mousetrap, You Never Can Tell; New Village Arts: Waving Goodbye, Things We Want, Time Flies, Be Aggressive, This Is Our Youth, The Playboy of the Western World, The Two Gentlemen of Verona; Moxie Theatre: Eleemosynary, The Sugar Syndrome, The Listener.
James Saba
James is making his Cygnet Theatre debut! Credits include: Off Broadway Premiere of Widows (59E59), His Girl Friday and Boy (La Jolla Playhouse), The Kite Runner, (San Jose Rep, Arizona Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville and Cleveland Playhouse), Behind the Eye (Cincinnati Playhouse), Centennial Casting (Virginia Stage Company), A Christmas Carol (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Cymbeline and Travels With My Aunt (The Old Globe Theatre), Travesties/Earnest (North Coast Repertory Theatre), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Cleveland Playhouse/San Jose Repertory Theatre) and 20 seasons at Hope Summer Repertory Theatre. Television credits include Smash, 30 Rock, Law and Order: Criminal Intent and Conviction. James is the Executive Director (and a proud alumnus) of San Diego Junior Theatre.
Jill Van Velzer
Jill is delighted to return to Cygnet after playing Phyllis in the 2014 benefit presentation of Follies. Nat’l tours: The King and I (Anna). Favorite regional credits: Blithe Spirit and The Playboy of the Western World (Artists Rep, OR), The Heiress (Pasadena Playhouse), Boeing, Boeing (Arrow Rock Lyceum, MO), The Matchmaker (Utah Shakespeare), and a heck of a lot of musicals, including The Music Man (Marian), Kiss Me, Kate (Lilli/Kate), Into the Woods (Witch), Camelot (Guenevere), 1776 (Abigail Adams–Ovation Award), She Loves Me (Amalia), and here in San Diego, The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Pippi–SD REP–Craig Noel nominee), The Sound of Music (Elsa–SDMT), and Into the Woods (The Baker’s Wife–Moonlight). Occasionally, Jill lives in Los Angeles with her roommate and her masterfully indifferent cat.
Rachael VanWormer
Playhouse Productions: Love, Loss and What I Wore; San Diego Rep: boom; New Fortune: Henry V; North Coast Rep: Faded Glory, A Christmas Carol; Cygnet Theatre: The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Arcadia, The Matchmaker, The Little Foxes, Curse of the Starving Class; Diversionary Theatre: Regrets Only, Birds of a Feather, Speech & Debate, Corpus Christi, Beautiful Thing; Intrepid Shakespeare: Oleanna; PCPA TheaterFest: The Wizard of Oz, Lifeboat, The Reluctant Dragon; ion Theatre: Reason to be Pretty, In the Heat of the Night, The Woolgatherer, bash: latterday plays (Critics Circle Award), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, In a Dark Dark House; Moonlight Stage Productions: The Mousetrap, You Never Can Tell; New Village Arts: Waving Goodbye, Things We Want, Time Flies, Be Aggressive, This Is Our Youth, The Playboy of the Western World, The Two Gentlemen of Verona; Moxie Theatre: Eleemosynary, The Sugar Syndrome, The Listener.
Creative Team
Vanessa Dinning
English-born and professionally trained in theatre and classical music in London, Vanessa pursued a successful stage career in theatre acting, direction, theatre education, cabaret, and text and dialect work throughout the UK working at The Royal National Theatre, The Belgrade Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe in London, various drama schools and touring. Moving to San Diego in 2007, Vanessa became Artistic Director of San Diego Shakespeare Society, a position she held for three years, producing and directing performance and outreach programs. In recent years she has worked at North Coast Repertory Theatre School, Coronado Playhouse, Scripps Ranch Theatre, Cygnet Theatre and Moonlight Stage Productions as an actor, a director, a voice teacher and a dialect coach. Vanessa is excited to return to Cygnet after working as dialect coach on My Fair Lady last season.
Sean Fanning
Sean is a Southern California based scenic designer and Resident Artist of Cygnet, where he has designed over twenty productions including The Whale, Sons of the Prophet, Pageant, Maple & Vine, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Shakespeare’s R&J, Mistakes Were Made, Man of La Mancha, Parade, Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, The Norman Conquests, Noises Off, and many more. Elsewhere: Globe for All, A Doll’s House, Plaid Tidings, KINGDOM (The Old Globe); Honky, In the Heights, Walter Cronkite is Dead (San Diego Repertory); West Side Story (San Diego Musical Theatre); Menopause The Musical (Harrah’s Las Vegas); Pericles, Much Ado About Nothing, Measure for Measure, Twelfth Night, The Winter’s Tale, Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Old Globe/USD). He holds an M.F.A. in Scenic Design from San Diego State University. See more of his work at www.seanfanningdesigns.com.
Ryan James Heath
Dogfight, The Whale, Sons of the Prophet, The Motherf***ker with the Hat, Maple and Vine (Cygnet Theatre), DNA Reading Series, Kingdom City, Side Show (La Jolla Playhouse), A Dolls House (The Old Globe), Pericles, Reckless, Antigone (Old Globe/USD MFA Acting), Marry Me a Little, The Divine Sister, Birds of a Feather, The Pride (Diversionary Theatre), References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Freedom of Speech (MOXIE), Merry Wives of Windsor (Livermore Shakespeare Festival), I Hate Hamlet (The Western Stage). Ryan has earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from San Diego State University.
Peter Herman
Wig & Makeup Designer
Jacinda Johnston-Fischer
Costume Designer
Jennifer Kozumplik
Stage Manager
Peter Herman
Cygnet Theatre: Costumes and Wig/Makeup Design for Shakespeare’s R&J, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Wigs/Makeup Design for Dogfight, My Fair Lady, Sons of the Prophet, Pageant, Fool for Love, True West, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Spring Awakening, Maple and Vine, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Company, Assassins, A Christmas Carol, Gem of the Ocean, Mistakes Were Made, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Blonde, Parade, A Behanding in Spokane, The Glass Menagerie, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Cabaret, The Norman Conquests, Private Lives, Sweeney Todd. Elsewhere: Peter has designed hair and wigs for over 300 productions, including the La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Rep, San Diego Opera, Disneyland, and various film and television projects. Film: Costume design for Ready? OK! Peter currently teaches wigs and makeup at SDSU.
Jacinda Johnston-Fischer
Jacinda is thrilled to be returning to Cygnet Theatre as Costume Designer for Noël Coward’s Hayfever and The Vortex. Previous costume design credits include: Dogfight (Cygnet Theatre), Trouble in Mind, Skinless, HickoryDickory (Moxie); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Diary of Anne Frank, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Arizona Repertory Theatre); Blood Wedding, Arcadia (Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts); The Pearl (PCPA Theatrefest). Jacinda holds a BFA in Theatre Design and Technology from the University of Arizona, where she received a creative achievement award for her work in Costume Design. She would like to take the time to thank her colleagues, friends, and family for all their support.
Jennifer Kozumplik
At Cygnet: My Fair Lady, A Christmas Carol, The Motherfucker With the Hat, Maple and Vine, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Gem of the Ocean, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Blonde, Our Town, Private Lives, Noises Off. La Jolla Playhouse: Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin, His Girl Friday. San Diego Repertory Theatre: A Hammer A Bell and A Song to Sing, In the Wake, Superior Donuts, Culture Clash in AmeriCCa, Blessing of a Broken Heart, The Who’s Tommy, The Road to Mecca, The Seafarer, Doubt, and Water and Power. ion theatre: Frozen, La Gaviota, Punks. Jennifer received her Bachelors Degree in Theatre Arts from San Diego State University.
Matt Lescault-Wood
Dying City, It’s A Wonderful Life, History Boys, Mauritius, Noises Off, Sweeney Todd, Private Lives, Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors, Glass Menagerie, A Behanding In Spokane, Dirty Blonde, Man of La Mancha, A Christmas Carol, Assassins, Company, Spring Awakening, Pageant, True West, Fool For Love, Sons of the Prophet, My Fair Lady (Cygnet); Butcher of Baraboo, Dog Act, Expecting Isabel, Eurydice [2010 San Diego Critics Circle Nominee], Eleemosynary, The Crucible, Toughest Girl Alive, Ten Cent Night, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Coming Attractions, Hickorydickory, References To Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Skinless, Mud Blue Sky, ENRON, Eternally Bad (Moxie); Richard II, Hamlet, Macbeth, I Hate Hamlet (Intrepid), The Break-Up/Break-Down, Ragnarok, Deconstruction of A Drag Queen (Circle Circle dot dot); Seascape, Stage Kiss, Lord of The Flies (New Village Arts); Henry V [2014 San Diego Critics Circle Nominee] (New Fortune). Matt holds a degree in Theatre Design and Technology from SDSU.
Sean Murray
Mr. Murray co-founded Cygnet Theatre in 2002 along with partner Bill Schmidt. Cygnet Theatre: Dogfight, My Fair Lady, True West, Fool for Love, Spring Awakening, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Company, Assassins, WCYG presents A Christmas Carol, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Blonde, Parade, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Cabaret, The Tragedy of the Commons, The Norman Conquests, Private Lives, Sweeney Todd, It’s a Wonderful Life, Noises Off, Bed and Sofa ‘09, The History Boys, A Christmas Carol, A Little Night Music (SD Critic’s Award, Best Director), The Receptionist, The Invention of Love, Bed and Sofa ‘04 (SD Critic’s Award, Best Director, Best Musical Revival), Las Meninas, Escanaba in da Moonlight (SD Critic’s Circle, Set Design), The Book of Liz, Pageant, Bug, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, St. Nicholas, The Matchmaker, Desire Under the Elms, Santaland Diaries, Firebugs, Fully Committed, Arcadia, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Little Foxes, My Fair Lady. Elsewhere: North Coast Rep: The Elephant Man (Patté Award, Direction), Man of La Mancha, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties; Diversionary: Never the Sinner, Love! Valour! Compassion!. Education: University of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA). In 2000, Sean was named one of San Diego Magazine’s “50 People to Watch” and in 2005 he was named Producer of the Year by the San Diego Critic’s Circle.
Nick Pecher
Nick is delighted to make his debut with Cygnet. Recent credits include The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Alice: Curioser and Curioser, Les Miserables, Jungle Book, and Romeo and Juliet at San Diego State University. Past: The Magic Flute and Cosi Fan Tutte at Opera San Luis Obispo. He is currently an MFA candidate at San Diego State University, and interned at the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts. He also worked for The Old Globe as a properties craftsperson. See more of his work at www.nickpecher.com.
Chad Shelton
Assistant Lighting Designer-
Syd Stevens
Propeties Designer 
R. Craig Wolf
Lighting Designer
Chad Shelton
Chad is thrilled to be working with Cygnet again. Most recently having served as the assistant lighting designer for Sons of the Prophet. He has recently worked as a lighting design intern at the San Francisco Opera, and has recently designed Baby With The Bathwater at Diversionary Theatre, and The Great American Trailer Park Musical at San Diego State University. He would like to thank Cygnet, and his professors for this opportunity. He looks forward to working with Cygnet again in the future.
Syd Stevens
Syd is a multitalented fine artist, photographer, filmmaker and multimedia designer. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cinema and Photography from Southern Illinois University. Syd has contributed to numerous theatre productions, music videos, television productions, TV commercials and has worked both behind the scenes and in front of the camera on motion picture film productions. Syd is an accomplished fine artist and has had many public art, photography and digital multimedia exhibitions. He is also a community activist and covers current local events as a photojournalist and blogger. At Cygnet, Syd contributes his talents as Props Designer, Charge Artist and Set Painter. Other theatres include: Bailiwick Theater, Diversionary Theatre, J*Company Youth Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company, Moxie Theatre, Northwestern University Theater Department, The Old Globe, San Diego Jr. Theatre, SDSU Department of Theatre, UCSD Department of Theatre & Dance. Syd has two National Youth Theatre Awards for Outstanding Set Design.
R. Craig Wolf
R. Craig Wolf has taught and designed lighting nationwide for both theatre and dance. Credits include designs for New York’s Dance Theatre Workshop, Theatre Artaud in San Francisco, Japan America Center in Los Angeles, SRT in Santa Rosa, and the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. In addition, Craig is resident designer for Native Voices at the Autry and senior designer for Mountain Light Company in Denver, CO. Former Head of the Design Area and Professor Emeritus of Stage Design at San Diego State University, Mr. Wolf is the co-author of Scene Design and Stage Lighting, now in its tenth edition. Craig is pleased to be designing for Cygnet Theatre again this season.
Taylor M. Wycoff
Previous dramaturgical credits include Dogfight, The Whale, My Fair Lady, Sons of the Prophet, True West, Fool For Love, Pageant, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Spring Awakening, Maple & Vine, A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play, Playwrights in Process, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Company, Shakespeare’s R&J, Assassins, Gem of the Ocean (Cygnet); Red Planet Respite (Circle Circle dot dot); Kita y Fernanda, Yellow Face (Mo’olelo). She has taught for Playwrights Project and Kids Act, and is a graduate of Young Audiences Teaching Artist Institute. Taylor received her BA in Theatre & International Relations from the University of San Diego.
April 2024