August 11-27, 2023
DANCING AT LUGHNASA
By Brian Friel
Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa took the theater world by storm when it debuted, winning the 1992 Tony Award for Best Play. This powerful and intimate portrait of a country and a family at a crossroads, set in rural Ireland in 1936, tells the tale of five unmarried sisters -- the proud Mundy sisters -- staving off the hardships of daily life through talk, laughter and dance. But after they welcome their frail missionary brother home from Uganda, several intersecting events threaten to irreparably burst the Mundy women's fragile bubble of happiness.
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES
Molly Hall (Kate Mundy) has been a theater artist all her life, as an actor, choreographer, dialect coach, and educator. She has performed with many theaters throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Favorite recent roles include: Athena Sinclair in Suite Surrender (As If Theatre), Judith Bliss in Hay Fever (InD Theatre), Miss Honey in Matilda (BPA), and Lotty in Enchanted April (EDP). Molly is a proud co-founder of As If Theatre Co. and a graduate of the UW’s Professional Actor Training Program. She is delighted to be working with SSR for the first time! Dancing at Lughnasa is very dear to her heart. She is honored to be a part of this truly luminary cast, telling a story about the power of women, sisterhood, and family. All her love to Jason, Sadie, and Charlie.
Ingrid Sanai Buron (Rose Mundy) is thrilled to be making her SSR debut in one of her favorite plays. She was most recently seen on stage as Mary Meekly in Unnecessary Farce at EDP. Other favorite stage roles include: Plodgett in Chemical Imbalance (Phoenix), Mrs. Boyle in The Mousetrap (EDP), Stepmother in Into the Woods (Red Curtain), Aunt Ester in 37 Postcards (Phoenix), Annie Cannon in Silent Sky (EDP), Lady D’Ysquith in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (EDP), Kate in Sylvia (RCT). During her decade in LA she recurred on: House (FOX), guest starred on Gilmore Girls (CW), Prison Break (FOX), etc. In the Pacific Northwest she has appeared in numerous short films, commercials, etc. Her website is www.ingridsanaiburon.com. Love to Brian.
Mark Kuntz (Gerry Evans) makes his debut with SSR. Mark is a 2001 graduate of the UW PATP. Mark has toured regionally with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks (1996-2012), and nationally with Montana Repertory Theatre (2013-2022). Local credits include Seattle Children’s Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre (2003). He has multiple screen credits. Mark has returned to Seattle after a 17 year hiatus.
Jillian Faulk (Christina Mundy) is so excited to be performing in her second production here at SSR. You may have seen her recently in She Kills Monsters as Vera/Evil Gabby, or on other stages in the area as Margaret in Silent Sky, or Yokel in The Winter’s Tale. She earned her BFA in theater performance from Central Washington University, and is so happy to be back on the stage again. She would like to thank her friends and family for always supporting her pasions, dreams and theatrical endeavors.
Mary Guthrie (Maggie Mundy) is thrilled to be part of her first show at SSR! Mary was last seen in Unnecessary Farce at EDP. Other notable performances include Ghost-Writer at WRT, I Hate Hamlet and Skin Flick at Phoenix Theatre, Deathtrap at Red Curtain, Slyvia and The Butler Did It at RCT. Mary would like to thank the amazing cast and crew for pouring their talents, passion, and care into this show. To Chris: Your creative generosity is a gift I treasure every day. Thank you for the constant inspiration and encouragement.
Colleen Davis (Agnes Mundy) is excited to be making her SSR debut. She has performed with various theaters in the Seattle area, including the Fern Shakespeare Company, where her roles included Rosencrantz in Hamlet and Antonio in The Tempest. She is originally from the Midwest, where her favorite roles included Viola in Twelfth Night, Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story, and Anne Sullivan in The Miracle Worker. In her free time, she enjoys painting and playing violin.
Eric Hartley (Father Jack Mundy) was last seen at SSR dispensing justice as the Foreman of Twelve Angry Jurors. Other SSR appearances include Tony Reilly in Outside Mullingar, Sam Byck in Assassins, and Otis in The Last Starfighter. Most recently Eric was seen as oddball Wilton Dekes in Thumbs at RCT, and, last winter, as Santa in Elf the Musical at EDP. Eric is glad to be working with friends old (JAG, Mary, and Ingrid) and new (Jillian, Colleen, Molly, and Mark), and most especially oldest and dearest friend Doug Knoop--always a pleasure, bud. Go Mariners!
Jag (Michael) is happy to be making his sophomore appearance at SSR; his first being as one of the Twelve Angry Jurors. He was recently seen in Angel Street at WRT, in I Hate Hamlet at Phoenix, in Deathtrap at Red Curtain, and in Accomplice at RCT. He performs monthly improv shows at The Rendezvous in Seattle with Turbo Turkey and spends his free time with his pit bull, River. Jag’s favorite color is purple and he loves mangoes and climbing trees. Many thanks to Mark and Doug for believing. Respect to this incredible cast for bringing such talent and joy. Love and appreciation to Zeke for putting up with me and deep gratitude to you, the audience, for coming to see us. Without you it wouldn’t be live theater.
MEET THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Doug Knoop (Director) is delighted to return to the director’s chair for Brian Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa. In 2022 he directed Outside Mullingar for SSR. He was last seen onstage in a reading of Kate Danley’s A Spirited Manor, SSR’s Saint Joan and as Gomez in EDP's production of The Addams Family. His other recent credits include Bessie in Casa Valentina for The Lesser Known Players, Bob in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at BPA and Irrational Robot Bureau's The Cause Was Zeus. He also directed Stuart Little and The Cat in the Hat for SSR, and produced Love Song for his company KTO Productions. In 2015 he played Mr. Rice in KTO's production of Molly Sweeney (also by Brian Friel). In 2014 he played Tevye in SFFT’s Fiddler on the Roof. Many thanks to this wonderful cast and SSR for letting me play again, and much love to the casts of Mullingar (miss you), and KTO’s 2011 production of The Weir, the show that started me on this Irish journey.
Mark Chenovick (Set/Light/Sound/Projection Design)
Elizabeth Shipman (Costume Design)
Kate Kingery (Choreographer)