Writer/Performer – Stu Richel
Director/Dramaturge – Linda S. Nelson
Photo Montages/Video Design – Michael Lee Stever
Stage Managers
Amy Henault, Melissa E. Carroll, Elaine Wong,
Michael Lee Stever, Benjamin A. Vigil,
and Timothy Babcock
The Touring Company...
STU RICHEL (Playwright & Actor). Long before Vietnam…through my lens arrived, Stu researched, wrote and toured three, other, (solo) stage shows: Mortal Decisions, a Diary of the Donner Party; Theodore Judah and the Transcontinental Railroad; and Everyone’s War. He has written a handful of full length plays for “other people,” as well. Two of them, The Same Cloud and The Bugs Don’t Call Me Nigger, were produced by Northside Theatre Company, in San Jose, California. He has had readings of a number of his one acts; one of them, Road Kill, was produced in NYC several years ago.
On screen, Stu has had principal roles in over thirty-five (indie) films. In Hiding Divya, he played the companion of the Indian actress and author, Madhur Jaffrey. In Death in Love, he played the father of Lukas Haas and Josh Lucas…and the husband of Jacqueline Bisset. Stu played Jill Eikenberry’s husband in Starting Out in the Evening, a slimy landlord in Red Cockroaches, a lonely, hotel owner in Friendship Hotel, an eccentric valet in Tom & Valkyrie and a homeless veteran in Pvt. Francis of Williamsburg. Stu plays a dad with a wandering eye in the upcoming, indie feature, "Love, Repeat".
On television, Stu has had principal roles in “30 Rock” (Alec Baldwin’s boss,) "Billions" (a rich guy in a scene with Damian Lewis), "What Would You Do?" (an old fellow whose best buddy just died), "Gypsy" (Blythe Danner's husband), "The Get Down" (a deacon in a scene with Giancarlo Esposito), “One Life to Live” (fire chief,) “Michael and Michael Have Issues” (irritated, gay man) and “As the World Turns” (Jules, the caterer.)
On occasion, Stu books a corporate ad. e.g. AT&T, Siemens, ING & Nortel. And, every once in a while, you will see his mug in a print ad for a pharmaceutical product. e.g. Xarelto, Leukine & Fentora.
Stu has appeared in dozens of Off Broadway, Regional and other stage shows. Regional appearances include Proof (Redhouse, Syracuse), Twilight of the Golds (Shadowland, Ellenville), Holiday (San Jose Rep), State of the Union (J City Theatre, Jersey City), Mortal Decisions, A Diary of the Donner Party (Depot Theatre, Westport, New York) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (San Jose Stage.) Some of his NYC appearances include roles in The Lower Depths (Luka), The Philanderer (Craven), Summer and Smoke (J. Buchanon), Bag Fulla Money (hotel owner), The Substance of John (Jack Kerouac), Autoeroticism in Detroit (executive), Slaughter City (heartless businessman), The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shallow), American Soldiers (frustrated dad), The Detour (Jewish peddler) and Barrier Island (curmudgeon).
Here is what some folks have had to say about Stu’s work on stage:
“nicely played by Stu Richel”
New York Times
Sickle, New York City
“The actors perform ably, especially…Richel as the pensive, doubting physician.”
The Village Voice
Wind on the Water, New York City
“A true work of sublime genius”
New York Observer
Mortal Decisions, a Diary of the Donner Party,
New York City
“Richel’s deftly described characters bring home deeply affecting messages about the human loss in…waging war. But he is never more riveting than when he portrays himself, returning from service as a combat photographer in Vietnam.”
The Village Voice
Everyone’s War, New York City
“Excellent performance by Stu Richel (as Robert)”
The Syracuse Post Standard
Proof, Syracuse
“It is to the outstanding Richel’s credit that even when Carlo Senior feels like a minor character, the naturalistic actor plays him with major gravitas. His disappointment and weariness as a struggling patriarch are palpable.”
Offoffline Reviews
American Soldiers, New York City
“a convincing Luka, the itinerant philosopher”
Show Business
The Lower Depths, New York City
“Richel…organizes the material in a way that teaches something new about the Donner Party fiasco; so, more power to him.”
San Jose (Ca.) Mercury News
Mortal Decisions, a Diary of the DonnerParty, San Jose, California
“The performances you offer are brilliant as, in each sketch, the characters and their stories come to life. Seemingly with little effort, but powerful dignity, you return us to the poignant and historic moments that have torn humanity apart, but all the while binding us as an audience.”
Norma Wright, San Jose (Ca.) Fine Arts Commission
Everyone’s War, San Jose (Ca.)
In earlier lives, Stu was a corporate attorney, college teacher, and teacher/performer at hardcore prisons. He is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University (1964) and Cornell Law School (1967.)
LINDA S. NELSON (Director & Dramaturge) is also an actor and producer. New York directing credits include Toast, Boast or Roast – A Tribute to Austin Pendleton featuring Olympia Dukakis, Louis Zorich, F. Murray Abraham, Dylan Baker and Becky Ann Baker at the Players Club (Oberon Theatre Ensemble); Missa Solemnis or The Play About Henry by Roman Feeser (World Premiere, Tour, The Barrow Group Theatre, Downtown Urban Theatre Festival and Winterfest); Tongue of a Bird by Ellen McLaughlin (Shetler Theatre and The Medicine Show), The Necessary Disposal by Bob Ost (Scripts Up!); The Choice by Claire Luckham (Shotgun Productions, North American Premiere); Three Tenors in Search of an Act (Helen's Cabaret, Backstage Bistro Award Winner); and two interactive murder mysteries The Art of Murder and Delicious Death, both of which she co-wrote. In addition to many regional credits, she has also directed dozens of readings, short plays and 24-Hour Festivals, both independently produced and for companies such as Boomerang Theatre Company, TRU, Oberon Theatre Ensemble, and New Light Theatre.
As a dramaturge Ms. Nelson has worked with dozens of writers including playwright/novelist, Cailin Heffernan; Screenwriter, Michael Lee Stever; and playwrights, Cyndy Marion, Roman Feeser, Bob Ost, and Phil Olson on his plays in the popular series, Don’t Hug Me, and is the Resident Dramaturge for White Horse Theater Company.
Founder of Shotgun Productions, she served as its Producing Director for 19 years and produced theatre, dance, opera and classical concerts throughout New York, New Jersey and in Europe.
As an actor, Ms. Nelson has been seen Off Broadway, Off-Off Broadway, Regional Theatre, Film (opposite Nick Nolte and Sigourney Weaver) and Television/Video (including "Orange Is The New Black"). She is a member of SDC, SAG-AFTRA, AEA, NJ Rep, Oberon Theatre Ensemble, Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU), and is a CTI Graduate. She served on the Board of Directors of Boomerang Theatre Company (2010-11) and currently serves on the Board of Directors for New York Innovative Theatre Foundation (NYIT) (2011-Present). LSNActs@nyc.rr.com
MICHAEL LEE STEVER (Photo Montages & Video Design, Touring Stage Manager) is a full time freelance director, filmmaker, cameraman and writer, filming and editing projects all over New York and Los Angeles. His documentary short films, Resurrecting Carrie with Piper Laurie, and Jan Broberg’s Guide to Thespians, Sociopaths & Scream Queens with Elijah Wood were chosen as “Official” selections at the 3rd and 5th Annual Macabre Faire Film Festivals in Long Island, and the 1st Annual ParaFest Festival in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In 2012 he finalized principal photography on the music video, “Don’t Come A Knockin’” for singer/songwriter Dwight Thomas Vaughn. Stever’s first independently produced documentary Saturday Nightmares; The Ultimate Horror Expo! screened in New York City in October, 2010 to solid reviews and is now available on DVD and pay-per-view. His exclusive featurette on Stephen Schwartz’s first ever opera, Séance On a Wet Afternoon can be viewed at BroadwayWorld.com along with several other multi-media exclusives. He also worked for three years at UPM on the critically acclaimed “Broadway: The Golden Age” and serves as the official cameraman for The Drama Desk in New York. Recently, Stever had the honor of directing and filming Vanessa Redgrave for a Drama Desk promotional video and also filmed Debbie Reynolds induction into The Friars Club, NYC.
AMY HENAULT (Touring Stage Manager, NYC Production Stage Manager). Stage Managing credits include Crazy for the Dog (Jean Cocteau/Rachel Reiner Productions); Embracing Freedom, Liberty Dance, and Taking a Chance on America: Bela Lugosi’s Ellis Island Experience (Ellis Island Living Theatre); Faust (JOS Productions/Theatre Lila); Toast, Boast or Roast – A Tribute to Austin Pendleton, Of Mice and Men, Three Sisters, The Miser, Finding Louise, Moonchildren (Oberon Theatre Ensemble); The Chaos Theories and La Grimas de mis Madre (Shotgun Productions). Directing credits include Monster Tales and Patience (Boomerang Theatre Company); Feasting on Cardigans and The Stronger (Oberon Theatre Ensemble). She is a member of Oberon Theatre Ensemble, and a board member for Boomerang Theatre Company.
BENJAMIN A. VIGIL (Touring Stage Manager) is a NYC-based stage manager and actor. Select credits include: Much Ado About Nothing (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival), Keaton and the Whale (Amas Musical Theatre), Bayard and Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical (Richard Allen Enterprises), How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (PPAS), The Queen’s Dilemma (American Theatre of Actors), Dream Ticket (FringeNYC/Fortress Productions), Extreme Whether, The Beekeeper’s Daughter (Theater Three Collaborative), Keep (Wide Eyed Productions/Mastodon Theatre Company), Sapien Sapien Sapien (Baby Crow Productions), Galapagos (Arboretum Productions). Thanks to Mom, Dad, Sam, Brittany, and everyone who has helped, in any capacity, along the way!
TIMOTHY BABCOCK (Touring Stage Manager) NYC Credits: SM/Tech Director On the Verge (Gene Frankel Theatre, Retro Prod, Sara Thigpen, Dir); PSM The Medium (Marjorie S. Deane Theatre, Counter Prod/Mark Cortale Prod, Donna Drake, Dir); ASM Loveless, Texas (Sheen Center, Boomerang, Cailin Heffernan, Dir.); PSM Well Strung (54 Below); Regional Credits: The Medium, Snail Road, Well Strung, Candide (Provincetown, MA); four years as Touring Stage Manager for Well Strung. Also an actor (primarily that, actually), Timothy has NYC credits with Boomerang, UTC61, Nylon Fusion and NYC Fringe; regionally with Counter-Productions, WHAT, P’town Rep and P’town Theater Co. and the Footlight Club.
MELISSA E. CARROLL (Touring Stage Manager, NYC Production Assistant Stage Manager). Usually working as an actor, Melissa E. Carroll is happy to be playing the very important role of Touring Stage Manager. As well as readings and workshops, she stage managed Missa Solemnis or The Play about Henry (dir. Linda S. Nelson, in several venues in NYC and Salt Lake City) and Sin Eater (dir. Eflin Vogel, Kabayitos Theatre, NYC). Previously, Melissa toured nationally as an actor and director with Missoula Children’s Theatre. Favorite New York acting credits include Adventures of the Puppet Princess (The Looking Glass Theatre), Mono (Another Urban Riff) and Subliminable Strategery: A Political Revue (LaMama, Etc., dir. Liz Swados). A member of SAG/AFTRA, she is the voice of Squirrel Girl for Marvel Entertainment, and voices programming tutorials on RubyThursday.com. Melissa earned a BA in Theatre from Marymount Manhattan College.
ELAINE WONG (Touring Stage Manager, NYC Production Lighting Designer) is originally from Mississauga, Ontario, and received her MFA in Lighting Design from Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts. Her selected design work includes: NYC but i cd only whisper (The Flea); Hurlyburly, One/1, Dividing Lines, Much Ado About Nothing (Snapped Productions); BUBBA (Black Angus Productions) (nominated - Outstanding Lighting Design for the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity); NJ: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Circle Mirror Transformation, 7th Inning Stretch (2016) (Mile Square Theater); Tick Tick Boom (American Theater Group); Once Upon a Mattress (Princeton Festival); Carmen (State Repertory Opera of NJ); Tales of Hoffmann (Rider UniversityEchoes (Yass Hakoshima Movement Theater); The Box Social (Preface Theatre); and Machinal, Intimate Apparel, Tracing Nora, Egyptology, Czech Girls!, Laundry and Bourbon, and Lone Star (Rutgers Theatre Company). CO: God of Carnage, Aida, Big River, Sister Act, Hairspray, Moon Over Buffalo, Damn Yankees, The Secret Garden, Tarzan, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Misterman (Thingamajig Theater). She is currently a Master Electrician and Adjunct Professor with Montclair State University, and her website can be found at www.elainewong-LX.com.
New York Production....
Vietnam…through my lens
Was originally produced in November of 2014 at
the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre in New York City
with the following additional staff:
MARISA MERRIGAN (Scenic Designer) possessing a BFA in painting/theatre, Marisa has designed and executed sets in the tri-state area for over 15 years. Credits: Off-Broadway: Missa Solemnis, Off-Off B’wy: Prayer. Regional theater: Hair, Into The Woods, Dreamgirls, A Christmas Carol, The Secret Garden, Rocky Horror, James and the Giant Peach, A Soldier’s Play, Sunday in the Park with George and most recently scenic painting for Monmouth University’s Brookdale PAC’s production of Spamalot.
SAMANTHA NEWBY (Costume Consultant) is proud to be involved in this production. Recent design credits include Twelfth Night with Essential Theatre, Little Wars with Beautiful Soup Theatre Collective, Photo Narrative with Tom Wilkinson LLC, and Hurlyburly with Variations Theatre Group. She has recently worked on The Gig with NYMF and Samantha Spade: Child Detective with TADA. She is a graduate of Hofstra University and is a part of Union 764. More information at www.linkedin.com/in/samanthanewby/
PHILIP EMEOTT (Graphic Designer) has designed marketing materials for a number of New York based productions, including work for Boomerang Theatre Company, Oberon Theatre Ensemble, Workshop Theater and playwrights Rich Orloff, Anne Fizzard, Gene Ruffini and more. He is also an actor and director, and has designed video projections for his own directing work and others. Philip studied graphic design, drama and communications at Flagler College in Florida. He works as an art director and marketer for FreshDirect. philip.emeott@gmail.com
CHRISTOPHER A. MCCARTHY (Website Design & Development) is the Co-Founder and Partner in The Skittles Entertainment Group, a multi-varied Party Entertainment Firm. Christopher has a technical marketing background in developing corporate websites and has created and maintained websites for a start-up snowboard company, a BMX company and a comic-themed corporate website, as well as his own firm’s commercial website. When not creating websites, Christopher is a co-owner and general manager at The Skittles Entertainment Group: www.skittlestheclownnyc.com with his business partner and fellow website creator/developer Chris Evans. Christopher enjoys theatre and was involved in theatre production work earlier in his life. He has always been attracted to the “behind-the-scenes workings” of creative events.
TERENCE MCCARTHY (Marketing Consultant), a former CMO and CEO of a Telecommunications Company, is a Marketing Consultant to various-stage, high-growth Companies in the Technology, Sports, and Entertainment Sectors. His clients included Apple, US Broadband, Lucent Technologies, NBC Sports, Telemundo Television, Nike International, HubHuman-Event Marketing and AAT [America’s Amazing Teens]. Additionally, he is an Adjunct Professor in the Integrated Marketing Program at New York University’s Graduate Business School. Terry was an active duty Officer in the US Navy serving in The Western Pacific’s Gulf of Tonkin on Board the Aircraft Carrier, The USS Kitty Hawk-CVA-63. He is a friend of Stu Richel, the creator and performer of Vietnam…through my lens.
CHRISTOPHER T. EVANS (Website Design & Development) is the Co-Founder and Partner in The Skittles Entertainment Group, a multi-varied Party Entertainment Firm. Additionally, Christopher is a performer with Skittles the Clown NYC and is attending college with a major in Theatre Arts. Recently Christopher was featured in his college’s production of Colombinus. Christopher is also very interested in Children’s Theatre and has plans to run Children’s Theatre Workshops in the future.
LSNELSON PRODUCTIONS (Producer) is an independent production company founded by Linda S. Nelson. Prior to founding LSNelson Productions in 2008 to develop and produce the readings, workshops, showcase and the tour of Missa Solemnis or The Play About Henry by Roman Feeser, Ms. Nelson served nineteen years as the Producing Director of Shotgun Productions, Inc., a not-for-profit theatre company which she founded. Highlights of her time spent with Shotgun include developing and producing dozens of original plays, musicals, dance concerts, and multimedia events. Their world premieres include Seduction a “dance opera” by Chet Walker, The Chaos Theories and Big Kids by Academy Award, Golden Globe Winner, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., The Lost Boy by Ronald G. Paolillo, and Mia Michael’s NYC debut concert, R.A.W. – Reality at Work. Additionally, Shotgun co-produced with companies such as The Helen Hayes Theatre Company, Queens Theatre in the Park, and NJ Rep. During this time, Ms. Nelson also acted as the Company Manager for Shotgun’s European Tours of a classical concert of works by Schonberg and Strauss produced in Vienna, and a fully stage concert of Wagner’s opera, Tristin und Isolde at the National Theatre of Sofia, Bulgaria, which was televised throughout Eastern Europe and recorded as a double CD. The experience was also the subject of a full length documentary which was featured on PBS. Ms. Nelson has also produced independently prior to her years with Shotgun in New York and in her home state of Utah. She has since co-produced special events for other companies, namely Oberon Theatre Ensemble at The Player’s Club, NYC, and RoMan Productions. She also represents the award winning Sweet Texas Reckoning by Traci Godfrey and is an Associate Producer on the Off Broadway Hit Silence! The Musical – the unauthorized parody of The Silence of The Lambs and is the Executive Producer of the original cast recording of Silence! vietnamthroughmylens@yahoo.com