Talena Laine (Kate) A recent graduate of Gonzaga University’s theater program, Talena couldn’t be more thrilled to debut her first post-academic performance at SecondStory. Some of her favorite past roles include Estragon (Waiting for Godot), Emma (Stupid Fucking Bird), Katurian (The Pillowman), Pontius Pilate (Jesus Christ Superstar), and Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing). Visit www.talenalaine.com for more! Finally, she would like to dedicate her performance to all the other Kates out there; the ones who play an unfair game to win and change the rules.

Jeff Allen Pierce (Petruchio) most recently performed in Shakespeare’s Other Women with Island Shakespeare Festival. He has performed coast to coast with such companies as Mill Mountain Theatre, Fusion Theatre Company, Key City Public Theatre, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. His favorite roles include Sam in Fully Committed, Sir Toby in Twelfth Night, Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun, and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. In his copious free time Jeff works as a banker, theater manager, fiancé, and father.

Pat Owen Kachikis (Hortensio) is a Miami native who, after receiving his BFA in Theater Performance, moved to Bellingham. Pat performed with the Mt. Baker Theatre as well as extensive work with iDIOM Theatre over three years there. Now in Kirkland, Pat is excited to work with SSR and contribute to the creation.

Lauren Clinkenbeard (Bianca) is excited to be making her SSR debut alongside this amazing cast and creative team! A longtime love of storytelling drew her to complete her Communications: Public Speaking degree at the University of Washington and she has continued acting ever since. www.LaurenClinkenbeard.com

Jeff Spaulding (Baptista) is making his SSR debut with this production. Jeff has played on stages across the Puget Sound region, including The Village Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, GreenStage, Seattle Musical Theatre, and the Triple Door. Thanks to the cast, production team, and especially the audience for supporting the dramatic arts.

Dale Bowers (Gremio) Over the years Dale has worked at several Puget Sound area theaters including ACT, Intiman, Village, Seattle Shakespeare and Taproot. This is Dale's ninth show at SSR having last appeared as Selsdon in Noises Off. He holds a Masters Degree in Theater Arts from WSU. Dale spent last summer at Leavenworth Summer Theatre performing in The Sound of Music and Annie with his actress wife Carrie.

Kaysy Ostrom (Grumio) is thrilled to be back at SecondStory after doing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) last season as well as several TYA shows: Fancy Nancy, Stuart Little, and Alice in Wonderland. Kaysy has her BFA in Theater Studies from SMU. Besides acting, Kaysy pens plays, songs, and teaches theater to the next generation of artists at Studio East, Youth Theatre Northwest, Seattle Theatre Group, and ACT Theatre. Up Next: A New Hope in the Park with Hello Earth Productions. Big thanks to the cast, artistic team, Mom, Dad, and Devin: "For where thou art, there is the world itself!"

Olivia Ochoa (Biondello) is excited to return to SecondStory! In the six years since her last onstage role here, she’s been acting, directing, music directing, teaching, and developing new work in Seattle, San Antonio, San Francisco, London, and Cleveland. Next up: music directing Tuck Everlasting for Kitsap Forest Theatre.

William Hamer (Vincentio) Bill has appeared at SSR in La Cage Aux Folles and How to Succeed... He was also been seen as Andre in SMT’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Antonio in Taproot Theatre’s ILLYRIA. He has been seen at many local theaters including The 5th Avenue, The Village Theatre and the Community Theatre. Among his favorite roles are Hornby-A Kind of Alaska, Clive-Chaps, M. Loyal- Tartuffe and Horatio-Hamlet. He would like to thank his beautiful wife Gail for all her love and support.

PRODUCTION TEAM BIOGRAPHIES

Adam St John (Director) is an actor, director, and teacher and is excited to be making his directorial debut at SSR with The Taming of the Shrew. His last time directing came in 2013 while he was earning his MFA in Acting from Indiana University. For SSR, Adam has appeared on stage in The Pillowman, Noises Off, The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged), and Closer. Adam wants to thank Mark and Jen for (again) believing in him, Erin for being such a delight, the cast for going on this adventure with him, and Melissa, Stella, and Sophia for letting him continue to do this crazy little thing called "theater".

Melissa St. John (Costume Designer) is thrilled to be making her SecondStory Rep debut as a costume designer. She last worked on As You Like It (Ghost Light Theatricals), Marina (Bellingham TheatreWorks), A Steady Rain, Doubt (Indiana University) as well as Cheat, Closer and the Iceman Cometh (Western Washington University). A very special thanks to Mark and Jen for the opportunity to work with them and to the loves of my life Adam, Stella & Sophia.

Jen Chenovick (Light Design) Jen's theatrical career began in 2002 when she was asked to assistant stage manage The Importance of Being Ernest right here at SSR. Following her passion for theater Jen moved to Hollywood in 2005 where she stage managed for The Blank Theatre including the oddly satisfying Lobster Alice starring Noah Wylie and Nicholas Brendon. While in California, she also worked with Syzygy Theatre Group and the World Premiere of Tender, Abi Morgan’s trenchant drama of the human hunger for connection. Jen moved back to Redmond in 2007 and jumped right back into her work with SSR. During her eighteen plus years at SSR Jen has worn many hats, from stage manager to production manager to managing director and now light design. Special thanks to my parents, they’re pretty cool.

Mark Chenovick (Set Design/Technical Director) has been designing, building, and painting sets since the mid-eighties. Having the fortune to begin his theatrical career under the tutelage of Don McLaughlin in his hometown of Helena Montana, Mark continued his training at the University of Washington where he was accepted into the Graduate Design Seminar his sophomore year. With subsequent degrees in Art History and Drama, Mark went on to serve as technical director/designer for multiple organizations including: Virginia Musical Theatre, Fort Peck Summer Theatre, the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Little Theater of the Rockies, and the Norfolk Governor’s School for the Arts. As Technical Director/Production Manager of the national tour of Anything Goes (starring Gloria Loring) Mark travelled around the United States and Canada realizing that there is no place quite as wonderful as the Pacific Northwest. Shortly after the turn of the millennium, and following a brief stint as a carpenter at The Studio Theatre in Washington D.C., he moved back to Seattle. Locally he has worked behind the scenes for the Village Theatre, Seattle Musical Theatre, Redwood Theatre, and, of course, SecondStory Repertory.


Mark Chenovick (Sound Design) I began my sound design journey splicing reel-to-reel tape together in the basement of the original Penthouse Theater on the University of Washington campus but it was my brief time in the MFA program at Utah State University, where I learned the joys of digital sound design, and subsequently, became hooked on sound design for life. Having provided composed and curated underscoring and soundscaping, original and sourced sound effects, and performance amplification services for multiple theaters across the US, I have felt the most at home at SSR. Special thanks to Squolfie, ‘lil Squolf, and my extended family. You are the music of my life. #bandistoohot #sorrynotsorry

Mark Chenovick (Projection Design) has designed projections for over 100 shows in the last ten years. Prior to that he worked with CJS design, a website design and hosting company, developing custom websites for clients ranging from Draper Valley Farms to Seattle Film Group. He also co-created and ran the now defunct SeattleActor.com, a website focused on Seattle area theater, featuring audition listings, helpful articles, and show reviews. In addition to projections, Mark also designs all of the marketing materials you see at SSR including; posters, show graphics, and website. All my love to Jen. Enjoy the show!