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CORE CAST BIOGRAPHIES
For rotating cast biographies and schedule, click here.
Jim Bracchitta (Prosecutor 2) is proud to be back with The Exonerated, after performing it around the country and here at Culture Project a few years ago. In a long career of more than 25 years as a working actor (on Broadway, off-Broadway, on TV, film, and thousands of commercials) it’s the only play he’s ever done that’s had a direct, positive effect on public policy. It’s also great to be working again with Bob Balaban (with whom he’s done Vick’s Boy and the HBO film Bernard & Doris). Jim lives in Manhattan with his wife and two sons, and loves his job.
Amelia Campbell (Sandra Cook). Broadway: A Streetcar Named Desire; Our Country’s Good (Tony Nomination); A Small Family Business; Translations; The Herbal Bed; Waiting in the Wings. Off Broadway recents: The Fall to Earth (59E59); Philip Roth in Khartoum (LAByrinth); The Misanthrope (NYTW); Tryst (Promenade). Regional includes: Janis Joplin in Love, Janis (San Diego Rep & also in NY); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (La Jolla); The Night of the Iguana (BTF); Desire Under the Elms (A.R.T.); Film & Television includes: “What Maisie Knew” (upcoming); “Leaves of Grass;” “Coming Up Roses,” “The Paper,” “A Simple Twist of Fate,” “Law & Order,” and “Law & Order: CI;” “Mercy,” “A Dog Year” (HBO), and “My Lousiana Sky” (Showtime). Member of The Actors Center Workshop Company.
Bruce Kronenberg (Prosecutor 1) performed in the original 2002 ensemble of The Exonerated at Culture Project. He also performed in the Edinburgh, London and Dublin productions. Other credits include Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers, Broadway and National Tour; The Hourglass Group’s production of Mae West’s Sex; Culture Project’s Rebel Voices and Soho Rep’s Stars by Francine Volpe.
Curtis McClarin (David Keaton) Broadway: Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in the ‘Da Funk, Off-Broadway: The Good Negro, Public Theater; Dust, West Side Theater; King Hedley II, Signature Theater; The Exonerated, Culture Project; Tartuffe and East Texas Hot Links, Public Theater. Regional Theater: The Luck of the Irish, Huntington Theatre Company; Topdog/Underdog, South Coast Repertory; Intimate Apparel, Two River Theater Company; Lobby Hero, Pittsburgh Public Theater; Elmina’s Kitchen, A Raisin in the Sun, Baltimore Centerstage; Jitney, Crossroads Theatre. Television: “Made in Jersey,” “The Good Wife,” “Damages,” “Rescue Me,” “The Wire,” “Law & Order.” Web Series: The Confession. Movies: The Happening, Path to War.
April Yvette Thompson (Georgia Hayes) is a writer, actor and producer working across media. Recently, April starred in the smash Broadway hit, Clybourne Park, (Tony for Best Play). Her Off-Broadway credits include Medea, King Lear and Macbeth. April’s film credits include The Exonerated, Accidental Husband, Blue Caprice, Backwards and on television: “Law & Order” and “Third Watch.” As SimonSays Entertainment Producing Associate, April develops indie features, including Night Catches Us and Gun Hill Road as well as producing the Broadway revivals of Porgy & Bess (Tony for Best Musical Revival) and A Streetcar Named Desire. April is currently developing her second play, Good Bread Alley (NYSF, NYTW, Arsht). Her first play, Liberty City (co-written with Jessica Blank) was nominated for Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Lortel & AUDELCO awards. Education: Vassar College, Rutgers University. AprilYvetteThompson.com, SimonSaysEntertainment.net
JD Williams (Robert Earl Hayes) graduated from the prestigious Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts. After high school, he quickly started working as a professional actor. He has extensive television credits, including regular roles on the acclaimed HBO series “Oz” and “The Kill Point” for Spike TV. Most notably, Williams played the highly intelligent and violent drug dealer ‘Bodie,’ on the critically acclaimed smash, “The Wire.” Williams’ many guest star appearances include “Blue Bloods,” “The Good Wife,” “Detroit 187″ and “100 Centre Street.” Williams has a particular love for the theatre and played ‘Roger’ in Scott Ellis’ Streamers at Roundabout Theatre.
Bob Balaban (Director) received a 2010 Emmy nomination for directing Joan Allen and Jeremy Irons in Georgia O’Keeffe (Lifetime). He received three 2008 Emmy Award nominations, two for directing and producing the HBO film Bernard and Doris, starring Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes, and the third for his performance in Recount. Other directing credits include The Last Good Time (starring Armin Mueller-Stahl and Maureen Stapleton) and Parents (with Randy Quaid and Sandy Dennis). He produced and co-starred in the Academy and BAFTA award-winning film Gosford Park. His acting career spans nearly one hundred films including Howl, Capote, A Mighty Wind, Ghost World, Best in Show, Cradle Will Rock, Waiting for Guffman, Absence of Malice, Prince of the City, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Catch-22, Midnight Cowboy, and, most recently, Moonrise Kingdom, directed by Wes Anderson. His theater appearances include Plaza Suite, The Inspector General (Tony Award nomination), Speed the Plow, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Marie and Bruce, and Some Americans Abroad. He directed and produced the original hit off-Broadway production of The Exonerated (Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Fringe First Award at Edinburgh Fringe Festival) as well as the television version starring Susan Sarandon and Danny Glover. His bestselling series of children’s books, “McGrowl,” sold over two million copies, and his new series, “The Creature” from the Seventh Grade, will be released by Viking/Penguin in September.
Jessica Blank & Erik Jensen (Authors) are actors, writers, and directors. They are writers of The Exonerated, and adapted the award-winning movie for television. Their documentary play, Aftermath, was produced by NYTW in 2009 (directed by Jessica); it was a New York Times Critics’ Pick and nominated for two Drama League Awards. As an actor Jessica appears regularly in CBS’ fall 2012 series “Made in Jersey.” Other TV: “Bored to Death,” “Rescue Me,” “Law And Order: CI,” and “The Bronx is Burning.” Film: The Namesake (dir. Mira Nair), You’re Nobody Till Somebody Kills You (prod. Spike Lee), The Exonerated, several indies including On the Road with Judas (Sundance) and Undermind. Erik’s TV credits include leads in 2012 NBC pilot “The Frontier.” 2009 Fox pilot “Virtuality” and 2008 TNT pilot “The Dark;” Thurman Munson in The Bronx is Burning, also “NCIS: LA,” “CSI,” “Love Monkey,” “Law and Order: CI,” “Gravity,” “Lie to Me,” “Leverage,” “Alias,” and “Century City.” Film: Black Knight, The Love Letter, and several indies. Stage includes MTC, Public Theater. Jessica’s first novel, Almost Home (Hyperion, 2007), was optioned for feature film with Jessica and Erik adapting and Richard LaGravenese attached to direct. Her second novel, Karma for Beginners (Hyperion, 2009), is in development with Fox TV Studios, with Jessica and Erik adapting. Liberty City, a play Jessica co-wrote with April Yvette Thompson, ran Off-Broadway at NYTW in 2008 (with Jessica directing), and was nominated for Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle awards. Erik’s graphic novel The Reconcilers was published in 2010, and optioned for film with Erik attached to co-adapt and executive produce. Jessica and Erik are developing a play based on the writings of rock critic Lester Bangs, in conjunction with the Lester Bangs estate. They are married and live in Brooklyn and Los Angeles with their daughter Sadie.
Understudies
Leonard Robinson (Robert Earle Hayes) is best known as series regular on MTV’s hit comedy show “Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out,” MTV’s sketch comedy show “Short Circuitz,” as well as the critically acclaimed mini-series, “The Bronx is Burning,” for ESPN Entertainment. Additional Television & Film appearances of note: “Law & Order: LA,” “NCIS: LA,” “Criminal Minds,” “Parks & Recreation,” “The League,” and the film Freaky Deaky directed by Charlie Matthau. Originally from Connecticut, Leonard Robinson has appeared in theaters nationwide including the Williamstown Theatre Festival, New York Fringe Festival, and Studio Theatre in Washington, DC. He performs stand-up and long form improvisation in theaters and clubs in across the country. He has studied with The Groundlings and Improv Olympic in Los Angeles and Wynn Handman Studios, The Actors Center, and Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York & Los Angeles.
Performing: Nov 6-18 (in place of JD Williams)
Katherine Leask (Sandra Cook, Sue Gauger) is pleased to once again be a part of The Exonerated, having played Sue/Sandra for 11 months during its earlier Off-Broadway production, and appearing opposite Brian Dennehy in the television film version. She was a resident company member at The Guthrie Theater and has had long associations with Washington DC’s Arena Stage and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Major regional theatre appearances include The Long Wharf Theatre, Old Globe Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse, Arizona Theatre Company, and others. Film and television work includes several appearances on Law & Order, numerous television commercials and voiceovers. She is a longtime member of Ensemble Studio Theatre.
Performing: Nov 11 (in place of Amelia Campbell, who will be playing Sunny Jacobs)
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