THE GUESTS

ZombieShark

Never fear! ZombieShark is somewhere near your neighborhood. Rather than spending time writing and memorizing jokes, ZombieShark improv acts out scenes presented just seconds before they begin performing. And YOU get to make the suggestion for what these scenes will be about!
ZombieShark answers the age-old questions; What directions could this go? What can they build on from there? and Now what am I going to do? Come see us deal with the unexpected and not not take ourselves so seriously.
For information about ZombieShark improv comedy, please contact Rick at 267.278.5250 or ick1019@aol.com.

The Ninjas

The Ninjas are Philadelpia's most deadly improv group. Emerging in 2003, the Ninjas have been a part of the Philadelphia improv scene ever since. They have performed in the Philadelphia Fringe, the Philadelphia Improv Festival and venues all over the Philadelphia area. The current line up consists of Jay Brenner, Tim Callahan, Tony DiGerolamo (director), Dan Lavelle, Kent McGroarty and Dan Rich. The group performs a unique blend of Chicago-style improv that's based on audience suggestion and an editing technique called "follow the action". Look for Ninja performances in and around Philadelphia in the coming months and visit them on the web at www.ninjaimprov.com

Johhny Showcase

Johnny and Bonnie Showcase, the very height of hospitality, invite you to share the laughter and the tears of their Christmas together. It is purely top shelf yuletide entertainment as they sing such classics as "Please (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)" and "Do It (In the Ford Taurus This Christmas)," among countless others.
Johnny Showcase is the nausiatingly talented host and star of "The Lefty Lucy Cabaret" at The World Café Live. Lefty Lucy is like a Prairie Home Companion, but with a dry martini, Jerzy Grotowski, and a fading vomit stain on your lapel. Every month, the "A-List of the B-List" come together a mix of music, mayhem, and Ultra Ultra-High Art.

Mr. Showcase, a Native Rhode Islander, is the 1993 winner of the "Magic in Every Note" Award, and dubbed "Top-Shelf Crooner" by the Providence Journal Bulletin in 1996. After faking his own death in 1999, and hiding out in the Amish communities of Lancaster, PA, he has retuned to reclaim his title. "I just wicked like to sing a lot," says Showcase. His modesty is staggering. To hear him sing is like the heavens opening up, and the ground breaking underfoot. It is what Frederico Garcia Lorca searched endlessly to define, El Duende. He is also originator of the acclaimed Regional Children's Show, Starfish and Tortoise.

THE REINDEER

T.j. Sokso (Dasher)
T.J. is happy to be joining the cast of the 8 for the holidays! Favorite roles include; Happy in Death of a Salesman, Cliff in Cabaret, Rocky in Rocky Horror (Seacoast Rep.), Joseph Wykowski in Biloxi Blues (Walnut Street Theatre) Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol (Walnut Street Theatre) and Reporter in Floyd Collins (Weathervane Theatre). T.J. has a five year relationship with the Walnut Street Theatre as an actor /director/instructor and most recently directed Urinetown the Musical at LaSalle University. T.J. would like to thank Greg and the Bckseet gang for dragging him back on-stage after a three year acting haitas and for the antlers!! Special thanks to family and friends, especially my favorite doe, Nina. Enjoy the show and Happy Holidays!

Dan Rich (Cupid), a Philadelphia Native and graduate of De Sales University with a BA in Theatre, is excited to return as Cupid this season.Dan has worked locally in commercials, industrials, and film, but has been mostly on stage in productions for BCKSEET Productions (Louis, Angels in America), the Delaware Theatre Company (The Diary of Anne Frank), and Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival (Two Gentlemen of Verona and the 2007 season). Dan is also a member of the Ninjas, improv comedy. Dan would like to thank his friends and family for all their support and encouragement over the years. Feel free to check out www.myspace.com/danrich78 to see where Dan will be next.

Noah Mazaika (Hollywood) is delighted to join the cast of this amazing show. Before playing a flying reindeer movie star, Noah has been seen in Three Tall Women (BCKSEET Prod.), Six of One (11th Hour Theatre Co.), and 50 West 50 (Philadelphia Theatre Workshop). Other favorite roles include Alan Strang (Equus), Romeo (R&J), and George Spelvin (The Actor's Nightmare). Many thanks to Greg and Tara for the opportunity to work with them again! Special thanks to my Megan, for her constant support and camaraderie...and Grace, for the constant flow of cat-hair.

Adrienne Maitland (Blitzen) is excited to be performing with BCKSEET again so quickly after her choreographic/ performance debut in The Wall- In Concert in September. She holds her BFA in Musical Theatre and minor in Dance from Penn State University. She is a performer/director/ choreographer who has performed/worked on more than 42 shows in 6 states and 4 countries. Among her favorites are: West Side Story (Consuela & Anita u/s- European Tour), Peter Pan (Peter ­ ARTBridge, Guatemala), Chicago (Roxie Hart), Victor/Victoria (Norma Cassidy), A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum (Director/Choreo), Bat Boy (Choreo). Thanks for coming out and supporting live theatre! This and every performance is dedicated to her mom.
Dream and Believe Always.

Oscar Dubon (Comet) is delighted to jump back on the sled this Holiday Season. Acting credits in Guatemalan City include The Phantom of the Opera (Raoul), West Side Story (Tony), Hello Dolly! (Barnaby Tucker), Yerma (Juan), Merchant of Venice (Lorenzo), Metamorphosis (Midas & others), The King and I (Lun Tha), Othello (Iago), Glengarry Glen Ross (Baylen), and Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour Krelborn). Philadelphia Credits: Larry in Closer (BCKSEET), Valentin in Kiss of the Spiderwoman (BCKSEET), and The Life of Galileo (The Wilma Theatre). Directorial credits: Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, Part II or How we got America's Most Wanted and The New York Post (Spark Festival 2006) and Edward Albee's Three Tall Women (2007), both with BCKSEET Productions.

Kate Brennan (Dancer) is thrilled to rejoin the cast of The Eight. In her thesis MFA year at the University of Virginia, Kate just completed a run of Hedda Gabler (Hedda). Other credits include: Hair (Jeanie), Arms & The Man (Louka), Truth & Beauty (UVA); Sunday in the Park with George (Celeste #2/ HRT); Alpha Female, Angels in America (Harper) (BCKSEET Productions); Yank! (PGLTF - premiere); A Year with Frog & Toad (Turtle & Snail u/s), Tooth & Claw (Ana u/s) (Arden Theatre Co.); Annie Warbucks (Miss Clairk u/s) (Walnut Street Theatre). Her next projects include Songs for a New World with UVA as well as completing her thesis project: an original one-act musical. Thanks, Mom, Dad & Greg.

Mark Cairns (Donner)

Nicole Venson (Vixen)

The Elves

Tara Gruber, Production Stage Manager.
Stage Management credits include BCKSEET's Three Tall Women, The Ritz Theatre's Blood Brothers, Much Ado About Nothing, Lost In Yonkers, and independent productions of Joined at the Head, Museum, Small Shorts. She's also served as Assistant Director for the Growden Theatre and spent three years as Production Stage Manager of the Philadelphia production of Tony N Tina's Wedding. Her proudest theatrical accomplishment is having directed Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit. Thanks to Greg and Oscar for this dazzling experience. Thanks to Patrick for being there. Love.

Jacob Walton, Set Designer / Technical Director
Jacob is a set designer hailing from Portland Me, and he is thrilled to be working with BCKSEET. Philadelphia design credits include: The Why, Romeo and Juliet (Clark Park), Angel's Fall, Patient A and Vietnam 101. He is a founding memeber of Simpatico Theatre Project. Much love to friends,family, Ana and Tom for all their support.