Alice, Formerly of Wonderland

MATTHEW GREENWOOD (Caterpillar/Alfred Rowston) was born in Orange County, California to British parents. At 8 years old the family up-and-moved back to their hometown of Southport, England. This exposure to both cultures heavily influenced Matthew’s artistry. At just 15 years old, Matthew received a full scholarship to study theatre at Liverpool Theatre School in Liverpool, England. He gained the Student of the Year in both his first and second years of training. After graduating at 18 years old, he moved to London where he worked in the West End, to his own personal projects. His credits during this time include Tommo in The Girls (West End workshop), Underdog in Sing For Your Life (The Vaults and Edinburgh Fringe), Kane in The 8th Fold (The Duchess Theatre) and Harry in The One Direction Story (The Lyric Theatre). At 22, Matthew decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue more work in TV and film. His TV and film credits include; “1923” (Paramount+), “The Company You Keep” (ABC), and “The Monuments Men” (Columbia Pictures). Being in LA also allowed Matthew to become involved with the rapidly growing, immersive theatre community, playing lead roles in original works with JFI Productions and Ceaseless Fun. Matthews most recent work was also his professional American theatre debut! He played Johnny Collins/Assistant Director in the Pre-Broadway Engagement of A Wonderful World, a new musical about the life and loves of Louis Armstrong. Matthew is truly overjoyed to be in a new play that’s set in a country so close to his heart. Follow him on instagram: @colormegreenwood.

MARGIE MAYS (Alice) is an LA based actor/singer and is very excited to make her Ensemble Theatre Company debut. Margie is best known for her two-season appearance on ABC’s “American Idol,” as well as her recurring role as up-and-coming country singer Zoey on FOX’s sitcom “Call Me Kat.” She is currently the voice of Build-A-Bear’s “Poodella” in “KABU,” an upcoming animated TV series. Margie’s regional theatre credits include: Legally Blonde: The Musical (Elle Woods, 2x award winner for Best Performer in a Musical from Broadway World LA and StageSceneLA) and Disney’s TARZAN (Jane Porter, nominated for Best Performer in a Musical by Broadway World San Diego). For more about Margie, please visit @margiemays on Instagram or www.margiemaysmusic.com.

BREE MURPHY (Queen Victoria, Mrs. Pettigrew, Victor) is delighted to be making her ETC debut as part of this beautiful story. She was most recently seen in MTW’s 42nd Street in Long Beach, CA. Bree has spent numerous seasons on the Central Coast: at SLO REP as Masha in Vanya, Sonya, Masha and Spike, over 10 years working at The Great American Melodrama in Oceano, CA and as a guest artist with PCPA Theatrefest in Solvang, CA where some of her favorite roles included Tracy in Hairspray and Emma Goldman in Ragtime. Bree has also enjoyed working five seasons with The Utah Shakespeare Festival where her favorite roles include Mrs. Peacock in Clue (directed by Hunter Foster), Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd and Hostess Quickly in Henry IV Parts 1&2 as well as Henry V. Other regional theatre work: Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, Swine Palace and Okoboji Summer Theatre. Before the theatrical shutdown of 2020 she was traveling across the US and Canada for 2 years with the National Touring company of Les Miserables (Madame Thenardier cover). Her notable Voice Over work has been with Blizzard Entertainment; World of Warcraft and Overwatch. Despite spending a majority of her career working away, Bree is a Southern California native who lives in LA with her husband and spirited three-year-old toddler. Bree revived her M.F.A. from UCIrvine. She is a proud member of AEA and represented by Firestarter Entertainment. For more about Bree, please visit www.breemurphy.com.

SAM O’BYRNE (Prince Leopold) is thrilled to be joining this wonderful production. Past LA theatre credits include Salvage (dir. Damian D. Lewis) at the Hudson Theatre, Slings and Arrows (dir. Lukas Cox) at the Broadwater, and the World Premiere concert reading of Dr. Silver (dir. Logan Vaughn) with South Coast Rep. TV: “Julia” (HBO), “Physical” (Apple TV). Carnegie Mellon University B.F.A. Thanks to James, Mark, and the Alice team for trusting him with the role of Leopold – he remains grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the escape. Sends his love to his family, Sierra, Susan, and Rug.

SAWYER PATTERSON (Edward Brocket) is excited to be making his regional theater debut at ETC. He grew up in Burbank, CA and was last seen on stage as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet at Marin Shakespeare Company. He has a B.F.A. in Theater Performance from Baylor University where he was seen on stage as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and Alcippe in The Liar by David Ives. He was also an M.F.A. Candidate in Theater Performance at UC Irvine. He was last seen on screen at the Santa Fe Film Festival as the lead role in the film “Only Here and Now” dir. Raymond Singer from the writers of “Mulan”. Sawyer looks forward to building his career as a professional actor and would like to thank his parents, Michael and Laura, for their love and support.

BRENT SCHINDELE (Dean Henry Liddell) happily returns to the Ensemble Theatre after starring in its productions of Sondheim’s Marry Me A Little and Groovelily’s Striking Twelve, the latter of which he also music directed. His most recent work at the New Vic was beneath the stage, as the pianist and music director for ETC’s production of Emma, and he is so glad to be able to return topside for this latest effort. Brent graduated from Dartmouth, trained in New York City and has performed all over the country: as Tony in the national company of West Side Story, Zeller and Captain Von Trapp in Jack O’Brien’s recent touring revival of The Sound of Music, and in a dozen roles in the Broadway tour of Jesus Christ Superstar with Carl Anderson. He played the Leading Man in the Off-Broadway hit The Musical of Musicals: The Musical!, in New York and various regional premieres nationwide. He appeared on TV in “General Hospital” and “Cold Case”, and in the title roles of the films “Cold Cold Man” and “Call Me Dan”. Other stage roles include Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps, Serge in Art, Anthony Chapman in End of the Rainbow, David Marshall Lee in The Foreigner, Franklin Shepard in Merrily We Roll Along, Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls and the Kevin Costner role in The Bodyguard. In Los Angeles, he starred in the world premieres of South Street at the Pasadena Playhouse and A Booth at Chasen’s at the El Portal, and opposite Scott Bakula in No Strings, with Kelli O’Hara in Sunday in the Park with George, directed by Jason Alexander, and most recently as Ben in Sondheim’s Follies at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica. For Erika and Jack.

MARK SALTZMAN (Playwright and Songwriter) began his career in New York with Jim Henson, writing for the Muppets. His “Sesame Street” sketches and songs (including “Caribbean Amphibian”) earned him seven Emmy Awards, but behind Kermit’s back, Mark was writing shows for Soho Rep, 13th Street Theater, and the Village Gate, where he co-wrote the long-running revue A, My Name is Alice. Later, Mark collaborated with Jerry Herman on the tv movie “Mrs. Santa Claus”, starring Angela Lansbury. For the movies, he wrote “The Adventures of Milo and Otis”, “Three Ninjas Kick Back” and has had screenplays commissioned by SONY, Universal, and Disney. His TV movie “The Red Sneakers”, directed by and starring Gregory Hines was nominated for a Writers Guild Award. His first full-length stage work was The Tin Pan Alley Rag, Pasadena Playhouse 1997, nominated for five Los Angeles Ovation Awards including Best Musical. It went on to play theaters throughout the US, including a run at New York’s Roundabout Theater, nominated as Best Musical by the Outer Critics Circle. Other works for stage: Falling for Make Believe based on the life of Lorenz Hart at LA’s Colony Theater, directed by Jim Fall. Mr. Shaw Goes to Hollywood, Laguna Playhouse optioned for a film, Romeo and Bernadette, Off-Broadway 2022, two Drama Desk Award nominations for lyrics and book, as well as a Critic’s Choice nod from the NY Times. Cast album appears this fall. Mark is a graduate of Cornell’s English and theater departments. He runs The Arnold Glassman Fund, which offers grants to worthy documentaries. Much gratitude to the Wyoming Theater Festival where Alice first took stage, the Wildfire Theater for the space to work, to Simon Callow for British language and culture advice and Attila Szuklik for love and support. More at Mark-Saltzman.com

JIM FALL (Director) has had a diversified directing career spanning over 35 years, including theatre, film and TV. His recent theatre directing credits include the world premieres of: Mark Saltzman’s musical about Rodgers and Hart; Falling for Make Believe at the Colony Theater, Primal Scream, The Musical, music by David Foster, book and lyrics by Arthur Janov, at the Smothers Theater, Pepperdine University, Howard Skora’s comedies Miserable With an Ocean View and Damaged Furniture at the Whitefire Theater, and Gary Lennon’s The Interlopers at the Bootleg Theater. His TV movie credits include: “Wedding Wars” starring John Stamos and James Brolin, “Holiday Engagement” starring Shelley Long, “Holly’s Holiday” and ”Kristin’s Christmas Past.” He also directed episodes of “Grosse Pointe,” and “So NoTORIous,” VH1’s scripted comedy starring Tori Spelling and Zachary Quinto. His feature film credits include: “Trick,” starring Christian Campbell and Tori Spelling, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and Disney’s “The Lizzie McGuire Movie,” starring Hilary Duff. He is currently developing “The Lord Won’t Mind,” a TV series based on Gordon Merrick’s 1971 New York Times bestseller “Hate: A Love Story,” a feature film based on the true story of Al Snyder who took the Westboro Baptist Church to the Supreme Court after they protested his military son’s funeral, and “Out In The Vineyard,” an original movie musical set in Sonoma, CA, shooting in early 2025.

JACK LIPSON (Music Arranger/Supervisor) collaborated previously with Mark Saltzman on Romeo & Bernadette (off-Broadway 2022) and Another Roll of the Dice (arrangements/orchestrations, world premiere 2019). The LA-native-turned-New Yorker composed the theme and score to “zenroom,” a new sitcom starring Cheri Oteri, and his short musical May I Be Frank? (with Jessica Wu) was recently produced at NY’s Merkin Hall. Both Carnegie Hall and the LAPhil commissioned Jack to arrange cabarets for their respective Weimar Festivals. Other MD highlights include Sweet Charity (dir. Kathleen Marshall starring Laura Bell Bundy); Iphigenia (music Wayne Shorter, libretto esperanza spalding, dir. Lileana Blain-Cruz); “Welcome to Chippendales” (with Andrew Rannells); and B’way legend Barbara Dixon. He has supported Idina Menzel, Josh Groban, Darren Criss, Michael Feinstein, Meow Meow, and many more at venues from The Hollywood Bowl to Disney Hall. Jack co-writes music, lyrics, and stars alongside his twin brother in Jack & Benny Lipson’s “sensational, clever, and astute” revues across the country. Graduate of BMI Musical Theater Workshop and UCLA. thejacklipson.com

HARRY FEINER (Scenic and Projection Designer) designs scenery, lighting, and projections for theatre, opera and dance. Designs for Off-Broadway, LORT and regional productions, including The Mint, Peccadillo Theatre, Cherry Lane, FPA, Barrington Stage, Pearl Theatre, Directors Company, Missouri Rep, Virginia Stage, Red Orchid, Ensemble Theatre, Peoples’ Light, Olney, Studio Arena, Pittsburgh Public, McCarter, Capital Rep, Delaware Theatre Company, Two River Theatre, GEVA, Premier Stages, George Street Playhouse, Syracuse Stage, Theatre Virginia, Philadelphia Drama Guild, New Jersey Rep, & Actors’ Studio. Designs for Shakespeare Theatre of N.J., Colorado, Alabama, and North Carolina Shakespeare Festivals. Dance design: Rioult Dance, Viewsonic Dance & N.C. Dance Theatre. Opera designs: Maryland Lyric, Central City, Boston Lyric, Lake George, Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Manhattan School of Music, Pennsylvania Opera Theatre, Fort Worth, Florida State, Syracuse, and Chatauqua Opera. Exhibitions: Prague Quadrennials, World Stage Design and USITT. Teaching: Queens College CUNY, Parsons, UMKC, N.C. School of the Arts, and Boston Conservatory.

MICHAEL RATHBUN (Lighting Designer) is excited to be back at ETC, where he has designed for Seared, The Children and American Son. His designs have graced stages in L.A., San Diego, Chicago, Boston, Bangkok, and Paris, with some notable institutions including San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre, and LA Dance Project, among others. Some notable credits of his include Kanye West’s Sunday Service Choir (Associate Lighting Designer), Theatre Y’s devised adaptation of 3 Sisters (Lighting Designer), Ariel Dorfman’s La Muerte y La Doncella (Scenic and Lighting Designer), Benjamin Millepied’s Pillar 7 (Lighting Designer) and Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem (Midwest Premier, Lighting Designer). He also holds an MFA from Trinity College, Dublin’s Lir Academy. Examples of his work can be found in his online portfolio at mfrdesigns.net.

KATE WECKER, she/her (Sound Designer) is thrilled to be making her design debut at Ensemble Theatre Company. Some of her favorite past sound designs include Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery at Totem Pole Playhouse, Animal Farm at A Noise Within (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award nominee), and The Seafarer at Laguna Playhouse. She has been the Resident Sound Designer at Laguna Playhouse and Pioneer Theatre Company. Her designs have also been heard at Swarthmore College, Rowan University, Southern Utah University, Pepperdine University, Cape May Stage, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Fox Valley Repertory, and Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre. Kate is a proud member of the Philadelphia chapter of Sound Girls.

MICHAEL MULLEN (Costume Designer) is an L.A. based costume designer, actor, and writer who is very happy to be working at Ensemble Theatre Company! Among his theatrical design credits are Dreamgirls, The Boy From Oz, Siamese Sex Show, Fugue, When Jazz Had The Blues, Burners, Cabaret, Year Of The Rooster, Fixed, Sweeney Todd, American Idiot, The Legend Of Georgia McBride, A Little Night Music, The Wild Party, Guess Who‘s Coming To Dinner, and The Revolutionists. He has received several awards and nominations for his work both onstage and off from such organizations as LA Stage Alliance Ovation, L.A. Drama Critics Circle, L.A. Weekly, N.A.A.C.P., StageSceneLA, Stage Raw, Robby, Broadway World, O.C. Theatre Guild, Ticket Holder, Eddon, and Desert Theatre League. Michael wants to thank everyone involved with this production for their dedication, talent, and hard work and he hopes you all enjoy the show!

JENNA SCORDINO (Props Designer) is freelance props designer and artisan based in Orange County, California. She is thrilled to be back for her 4th show with Ensemble Theatre Company, her previous credits being The Lehman Trilogy, Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, The Thanksgiving Play, and Seared. Jenna was previously the Interim Props Supervisor at South Coast Repertory Theatre, where she worked on shows such as A Christmas Carol and Million Dollar Quartet.

JESSICA BALLONOFF (Choreographer) was born in Los Angeles and raised in Santa Barbara, where her love of movement started early. Years in the studio from a young age lead to a BFA in Choreography from the University of California, Irvine where she worked with Israel “El” Gabriel, Loretta Livingston, Molly Lynch and Diane Diefenderfer. This is where a personal love for Pilates started and continued throughout the next decade and a half, during which time Jessica also ran numerous arts and education non-profits as well as obtained her California Teaching Credential in Physical Education. During her time within the local school district and after-school programs, Jessica choreographed and produced roughly fifty musical productions in addition to her work with local theater companies like Out of the Box! and On the Verge Summer Repertory Theater Company, in which she was a founding member and producer. Now a business owner and trainer at Groove Pilates in Montecito, Jessica continues to volunteer in the SBUSD theater classrooms teaching dance and choreographing musicals, most recently Anything Goes! at Dos Pueblos High School. When she’s not working, Jessica enjoys time with her husband and two children at their Goleta home.

MATTHEW FLOYD MILLER (Dialect Coach) is delighted to be working with Ensemble again, and with these amazing artists! He last dialect coached for ETC’s production of The Children. His ETC acting credits include Sleuth, It’s a Wonderful Life, Measure for Measure, Fallen Angels and The 39 Steps. He has performed with a wide variety of accents including Standard British, Scottish, Russian, Israeli, and various New York and American Southern accents to name a handful. His other acting credits include: Broadway: The Cottage starring Eric McCormack, the world premiere production of Not About Nightingales, directed by Trevor Nunn and The Invention of Love, at Lincoln Center Theatre. L.A. and regional credits include: Stupid Fucking Bird at The Theatre @ Boston Court in Pasadena (L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award); the world premiere of Designing Women, the play at Theatre Squared; Private Lives at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival; Macbeth at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, directed by Aaron Posner and Teller of Penn & Teller; The Pillowman at ACT in Seattle; and Desire Under The Elms at San Jose Rep. (Dean Goodman Choice Bay Area Theatre Award). Film and T.V. credits include: Vince Foster in Ryan Murphy’s “American Crime Story: Impeachment” opposite Sarah Paulson (FX / Hulu); “Welcome to Chippendales” (Hulu); “Barry” (HBO); “Law & Order” (NBC); “Hand of God” opposite Ron Perlman (Amazon); “Colony” (USA); “Major Crimes” (TNT); “Criminal Minds” (CBS); “Stan the Man” (streaming on Amazon), and “All Good Things” (as young Frank Langella. The film stars Ryan Gosling.) His radio theatre credits include: Oslo (L.A. premiere), and Judgment at Nuremberg (Nat. tour) all with L.A. Theatre Works, as well as Lucy Loves Desi for L.A. Theatreworks and the BBC. He teaches accents to professional and student actors through his virtual studio ‘Learn an Accent with Matthew Floyd Miller’. matthewfloydmiller.com

BEN SHIPLEY (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be returning to ETC for the 23-24 Season! National Tours include Disney’s Aladdin, The Prom, Hamilton (Angelica Tour), Warriors Don’t Cry, The Magic School Bus: Lost In The Solar System, Junie B. Jones. Selected Off-Broadway credits include The Watering Hole (Signature), 1001 Nights (Atlantic), Don Juan, The Winter’s Tale (The Pearl). Selected Regional credits include Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, The Wallis, South Coast Rep, New Harmony Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Geffen Playhouse, Berkeley Rep, NYSAF. Ben is an alum of Ithaca College. Love and gratitude to Dominic, my family and friends, and this stellar company of collaborators! This process is dedicated to Jane Pole.

KRISTAL GEORGOPOULOS (Assistant Stage Manager) is a Behind-the-Scenes Steward of Theatrical Excellence. Proudly stationed at Ensemble Theatre Santa Barbara, she had the privilege of orchestrating the intricate dance of stagecraft for a range of productions. From the soul-stirring melodies of The Pianist of Willesden Lane to the comedic charm of The Thanksgiving Play and the thought-provoking dialogue of War Words, her journey as Production Stage Manager has been defined by a passion for the craft. In addition to her PSM credits, she lent her expertise as an Assistant Stage Manager to noteworthy productions such as Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, Seared, Selling Kabul, and The Children, ensuring each performance runs seamlessly. Beyond ETC at the New Vic, her stage management journey has been quite the adventure. From the Black Hills Playhouse in South Dakota, where she handled 10 different musicals and plays, to Cedar Point’s live entertainment in Ohio. In Chicago, she managed “Always… Patsy Cline,” and in Portland, Maine, she worked on four productions at Portland Stage. Each place brought its own challenges and rewards, shaping her into the versatile stage manager she is today. A heartfelt thank you to my sister Jen and dear friends Haley and Fausto for their unwavering support, joining me in celebrating the transformative power of live theater. Here’s to the next act, filled with countless moments of collaboration and artistic fulfillment.