red fern theatre red fern theatre
red fern theatre
red fern theatre
red fern theatre
red fern theatre

melanie red fern theatre melanie
Melanie Moyer Williams Emilie Elizabeth Miller
red fern theatre
melanie red fern theatre melanie
Martin D. Anderson Bennet Leak

Cast

Kimberly – Emilie Elizabeth Miller
Lee – Martin D. Anderson
Matthew – Bennet Leak*

*Actor appears courtesy of
Actor’s Equity Association

Equity Approved Showcase

Patient A
By Lee Blessing
Directed by Melanie Moyer Williams
Featuring Martin D. Anderson, Bennet Leak*, and Emilie E. Miller

"Patient A" by Lee Blessing depicts the story of Kimberly Ann Mary Bergalis, a young woman from Florida who contracted the AIDS virus from her dentist.  Kimberly's parents commissioned Blessing to write a play about their daughter.  Although very moved by her story, Blessing wanted to be responsible in including the voice of the gay male community who felt largely forgotten in the attention Kimberly received.  In his struggle to include both voices, Lee made himself a character in the play and actually argues with his characters.  Written 13 years ago, "Patient A" reminds us of how uneducated the public remains about HIV/AIDS.  It challenges the audience to face the reality of the AIDS epidemic and the stigma it places upon its victims.  We hope you talk about this performance and its lessons with your friends and families in the hopes of dispelling the many myths surrounding this virus.  Together we can help educate the world, one person at a time.


Performed May 2006 at the American Theatre for Actors, NYC


Melanie Moyer Williams, Director

Melanie Moyer Williams, a graduate of Duke University, is thrilled to be directing the Red Fern Theatre Company’s premier production of Patient A.  This past fall, she directed A Tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber with the Youth Symphony Orchestra of El Salvador in El Salvador with Wanderlust Theatre Company.  She also directed a new reading of Henry Kissinger by John Attanas with Woodframe Productions.  She directed That is the Question in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, and it was named to the “Best of the Fringe” list.   Last summer, Melanie directed Medea excerpts as well as musical directed Iphigeneia for CYPRECO and the New York Public Library.  For the Michael Chekhov Theatre Company, she directed Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, When the World Was Green and Icarus’s Mother.  Other favorite directing credits include A Tribute to the Blues (Wanderlust Theatre Company) Red, Hot and Cole; Oleanna; What the Butler Saw and assisting Director Susana Tubert on the NY premiere of Joyce Carol Oates’ Bad Girls for the Director’s Company.  In addition to founding the Red Fern Theatre Company, Melanie is currently directing a reading of a new musical Temps with a full workshop production to be performed Fall 2006.


Emilie Elizabeth Miller, Kimberly

This is Emilie's first producing endeavor. Her role in the theatre previous has been primarily on stage. She has appeared in various plays, film and television projects in and around New York City. Emilie's foremost
inspiration has been the work she has seen and been a part of at Shakespeare & Company, in Lenox, MA. She is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. Emilie would like to thank Bennet, Martin, and most importantly Melanie.


Martin D. Anderson, Lee

Martin is delighted to be a part of "Patient A" after a several year hiatus from acting. Favorite roles from the days of yore include Frankie in A Lie of the Mind, Stanley in The Birthday Party, Arthur in Joyriders, Max in Lend Me a Tenor, Cleante in Tartuffe, and of course the Sea Horse and The King from two memorable summers at the Berkshire Theatre Festival. He recently appeared as A.J. in an original play, Henry Kissinger. He currently studies at Michael Howard Studios, and like Lee, has a cat he can barely take care
of.


Bennet Leak, Matthew

Bennett Leak (Matthew) is thrilled to be part of Patient A. He recently made his Off-Broadway debut in The Lonely Way at The Mint Theater. Bennett studied at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and graduated with his BFA from Boston University. Favorite shows include Cloud 9, The Grapes of Wrath, And Baby Makes Seven, and Venus. Thank you to my friends and family for your love and support.