The Exonerated
By Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen
Directed by Melanie Moyer Williams
Featuring Jeffery Belford, Steven Bennett, Kim Carlson*, Alexandra Cremer*, Reginald V. Ferguson, Karen Gayle, Scott Shaw Matthews*, Emilie Elizabeth Miller, David Pringle, Lorenzo Scott*, and Brad Thomason*.

*Actor appeared courtesy of Actors Equity Association.

Culled from interviews, letters, transcripts, case files and the public record, The Exonerated tells the true stories of six wrongfully convicted survivors of death row in their own words. Moving between first-person monologues and scenes set in courtrooms and prisons, the six interwoven stories paint a picture of an American criminal justice system gone horribly wrong—and of six brave souls who persevered to survive it.

The Exonerated was performed from November 1-11, 2007 at the 78th Street Theatre Lab (236 West 78th Street @ Broadway).


Show Schedule:

Thursday, November 1 @ 8pm
*Friday, November 2 @ 8pm
*Saturday, November 3 @ 8pm
*Sunday, November 4@ 3pm
Monday, November 5 @ 8pm
Thursday, November 8 @ 8pm
Friday, November 9 @ 8pm
*Saturday, November 10 @ 8pm
Sunday, November 11 @ 3pm AND 8pm

Brooklyn Law School’s Second Look Program

Chosen for “The Exonerated” by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen

The mission of the “Second Look Program” is daunting: to free innocent prisoners whose appellate remedies have run their course. The clinic’s mandate is to review the cases of New York State prisoners who assert their innocence and whose cases do not contain issues amenable to resolution through DNA testing. The clinic fills a desperate need, since there are no other programs in New York City that focus exclusively on non-DNA innocence cases. It has already received over 4000 requests for help. These cases, which generally involve erroneous eyewitness identification, false confessions, ineffective counsel, and police and prosecutorial misconduct, are believed to be the hardest to “crack,” because generally they do not turn on scientific proof but on newly discovered evidence secured through extensive legwork.  To read more on one of their most successful cases, visit:
http://www.brooklaw.edu/news/homepage_news/2ndlookvictory.php
http://www.brooklaw.edu/academic/clinics/news_2ndlookclinic.php

Cast Bios:


Jeffery Belford, Kerry

Jeffery Belford is making his Red Fern Theatre Company debut, and is excited about participating in this production .  Having studied recently with acclaimed author Julia Cameron and Musical Director John Fischer, has ignited new passion in this Actor/Singer.  Past productions include Extremities (Joe) , Dinner with Friends (Tom), as well as international commercial appearances.  Jeffery is currently freelancing with Kolstein Talent Agency, and studies at Black Nexxus with vocal instructor Mary Setrakian.  Much love and respect to those who have given unconditionally to the development of my life.


Steven Bennett, Robert

Steven Bennett caught the acting bug at the age of 15 in New Rochelle, while doing a play written by his sister for her performance art school Bennett Academy of the Arts.  At the age of seventeen he auditioned for a small part in Kevin Kline's movie  The Emperor's Club and although he was not cast, it helped build his confidence for the road ahead. At 18, Steven's abilities were accepted at The School for Film and Television in Manhattan.  The summer before enrolling he spent three months with the late great Tina Sattin, the first acting coach of Denzel Washington, in Mount Vernon, NY.   After two years at SFT, in 2005, Steven was cast in the Jerry Roebuck produced play Harlem Coffee Shop which ran at the Beacon theater.  After the run Steven was cast in the acclaimed off-broadway play, Platanos and Collard Greens as the lead, Freeman. He ended the run with the show in June of 2007.  Steven recently played famous author James Baldwin in Arthur Alleyne's Scribblin' at the Automat.  Later this past summer Steven was cast in Lori Payne's original play Catherine Street dealing with the topic of baby dumping.  In August, Steven was cast in a short film directed by Roberto Lopez called 2 piece meal where he plays a Muslim who's brother dies in a Iraq.  His varied resume includes voiceover work, independent films as well as work on stage. Steven looks forward to working with Red Fern Theater company.

Kim Carlson*, Sunny

Kim Carlson has had a varied career—she appeared in the musical Lovesongs at the 13th Street Theater, made a solo album, toured as a background singer with Cat Stevens on his last world tour, wrote and directed her final project for film school, and toiled in the corporate world until unforeseen events allowed her an exquisite chance to jump back into her creative life.  She is thrilled to be part of The Exonerated, for she, too, feels she has at last been set free.  She holds a BA in creative writing and studied acting with William Esper, Maggie Flanigan, Austin Pendleton, and Terry Schreiber.  She is at work on a one-woman show about the unintended consequences of ignoring your dreams.

Alexandra Cremer*, Sue

Favorite roles include Gertrude in Hamlet, Titania in Midsummer Nights Dream (Shenandoah Shakespeare Company VA) and Kate in Sylvia (Theatre Barn). Alexandra has also appeared on Law and Order SVU and had the lead in the film Revenge. Alexandra is pleased to be working with the Red Fern Theatre.

Reginald V. Ferguson, David

A native New Yorker, Reginald V. Ferguson is the "New Kid on The Block." In addition to acting, Reg is a standup comedian and can be seen regularly at Gotham Comedy Club and New York Comedy Club. His last theatrical performance was in the roles of Buster and Huey Newton in “Decadence.” His recent movie performance was in the role of Lucifer in the independent film "The Creation." His recent television credits include “Guiding Light (CBS-TV).” You can hear him in various radio spots for Verizon FiOS. In addition, he can also be heard as a reader of books and magazines for the Jewish Braille Institute. Legit representation would be a much appreciated way of letting Reg know that he’s on the right path.

Karen Gayle, Georgia

Karen is thrilled to be returning to the world of theatre. With roots in dance, Karen has worked as a dancer/choreographer for both the stage and screen and is currently a faculty member at Steps on Broadway and Ballet Hispanico. As an actor she has had the pleasure to work with Louis Gossett Jr., Betty Buckley and Hinton Battle. Some credits include: Girl Talk (Naomi); Critical Choices (Tayisha); Iron Eagles IV (Dana); and Bronx Casket Co. (Rain). She is excited to be working with the Red Fern Theatre Company.

David Pringle, Gary

Recently seen as "Tyler" in Musclebound at Breedingground '07 and as The Devil, The Doctor, & The Witch Hunter in Caryl Churchill's Vinegar Tom for Patchwork Theatre Initiative. David has appeared on many stages Off- and Off-Off B'way and in showcases, workshops, staged readings for Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, Lincoln Center Library, Neighborhood Playhouse, etc. in NY and LA. Including: The original production of Season of Youth at Madison Avenue Theatre and Courtyard Playhouse; A Hole in the Fence at The Ohio; Stray Dog Story at Second Stage(L.A.); Attitudes and the Dance at Hudson Guild(L.A.)Film work includes: Jeffrey(featured); Stonewall(featured); Damien's Demons(Damien); as well as numerous student- and short-films. TV: Various on-camera and voice-over commercials; Primitive New York-PBS/WGBH(narration); and spent 3 years as the tortured and mostly-mute "Waiter" at The Country Club on Guiding Light--CBS ("I'm not a waiter in real-life, but I've played one on TV.").  Seeking representation..contact: dvdpringle@yahoo.com

Scott Shaw Matthews*, Male Ensemble 2

Scott Shaw Matthews was last seen in New York in The Scales. Other NY credits include, Andre's Mother, by Terrence McNally, and Beautiful Dreamer. In Regional Theatre he has performed the role of Cowboy in I'm Not Rappaport.  Recently he has been featured in a number of short and independent films. He is a student of Vivian Matalon's.

Emilie E. Miller, Sandra

Emilie, along with being one of its co-founders, is also the Director of Philanthropic Development for the Red Fern Theatre Company.  She is formally trained as an actor and the Red Fern Theatre Company is her first production endeavor.  Emilie appeared as Kimberly in Patient A, the Red Fern Theatre Company’s inaugural production; Lainie in the RFTC's production of Two Rooms; Claire in The Long Christmas Ride Home; and most recently, Melody in the RFTC's fourth production, Found a Peanut.  Emilie is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the British American Dramatic Academy.

Lorenzo Scott*, Delbert

Lorenzo Scott grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y.  He started his acting career doing television commercials and can be seen in various commercials from Cablevision to American Express.  People are familiar with his voice from doing the on-camera and station identification for PBS-Channel 13.  When not in a stage production or "on set" filming a commercial or film, Lorenzo is usually working as a model.  He has been featured in print ads for Verizon, American Express, Ritz-Carlton, Costco and Absolut Vodka, to name a few.  Lorenzo attributes his acting coach Alan Gordon, with instilling him with the tools to do whatever comes his way and a great work ethic.  Lorenzo is a proud Actor's Equity member and a student of the Meisner method.

Brad Thomason*, Male Ensemble 1

Brad has performed in over two dozen Off and Off-Off Broadway productions.  Some favorite roles include Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, the Actor in The Woman in Black, and Ed in Torch Song Trilogy.  Having appeared in several independent and feature films, Brad recently wrapped his first lead role in the feature length indy Filthy Rich, Filthy Uncle Phil.  Watch for Brad as Chris Klein’s brother-in-law in the soon-to-be released Day Zero and as Louis XIV on The History Channel’s Engineering an Empire-France.  Additional TV credits: The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Ed, Guiding Light, Law and Order and L&O: SVU. Visit www.bradthomason.com. 

Production Bios:

Melanie Moyer Williams, Director

Melanie, a graduate of Duke University, is also co-founder and Executive Artistic Director of the Red Fern Theatre Company.  Most recently, she directed The Long Christmas Ride Home by Paula Vogel and Found a Peanut by Donald Margulies for the company.  Last fall, she directed Two Rooms by Lee Blessing as well as the initial reading of Stars in a Dark Sky by R.E. Vickers for Lime Rock Press, Inc. Last summer, Melanie directed Henry Kissinger by John Attanas with Woodframe Productions where they received rave reviews at the NY Fringe Festival. In 2005, she directed A Tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber with the Youth Symphony Orchestra of El Salvador in El Salvador with Wanderlust Theatre Company. She directed That is the Question in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, and it was named to the “Best of the Fringe” list. In New York, Melanie has also directed Patient A for RFTC; Medea excerpts as well as musical directed Iphigeneia for CYPRECO and the New York Public Library; Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, When the World Was Green and Icarus’s Mother for the Michael Chekhov Theatre Company; and A Tribute to the Blues for Wanderlust Theatre Company.  Upcoming productions include the new play Memorial Days for Woodframe Productions and a full production of Stars in a Dark Sky by R.E. Vickers.

Jessica Greenberg, Lighting Designer

Jessica is so happy to continue working with Red Fern. New York lighting credits include: The Long Christmas Ride Home, Found A Peanut, Stars in a Dark Sky (Red Fern Theatre), Ana 3/11, A River Apart (Century Productions NYC), Don't Go Home for the Holidays (Calamity Carolers), and DeCADence (Rising Sun Performance Company). Jessica is also the co-founder of The Co-Op Theatre and is producing their New York premiere of Ruby Red at Dixon Place Dec 20-22.  Jessica received her BA from Hampshire College with a self-designed concentration in lighting, directing, and producing.

Adrienne Kapalko, Set Designer

Adrienne is thrilled to be returning for her second show with the Red Fern Theatre Company. Design credits include: Found a Peanut (78th St Theatre Lab), The House of Yes (The Neighborhood Playhouse), Bat Boy: The Musical (St. John's University). Selected assistant credits include: Gypsy (City Center), Almost Maine (The Daryl Roth), 1776 (The Guthrie), Disney Live! Mickey's Magic Show (National Tour), Hairspray (Johannesburg, South Africa). Adrienne graduated with a BFA in scenic design from SUNY Purchase.

Laura Luciano, Stage Manager

Laura is excited to be working on another Red Fern production.  She is a graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz where she received a BA in both performance and design technology.  Her most recent credits include Polaroid Stories (director/SUNY New Paltz), Striking Chords (playwright/Creative Place Theatre), Dust (production assistant/Soho Think Tank), Henry Kissinger (stage manager/NY Fringe Festival), Two Rooms (stage manager/Red Fern Theatre Company) and The Long Christmas Ride Home (stage manager/Red Fern Theatre Company), Stars in a Dark Sky ((stage manager/Red Fern Theatre Company), and Found a Peanut (stage manager/Red Fern Theatre Company)

Lauren McDonnell, Marketing

Lauren McDonnell is excited to be working with the Red Fern Theatre Company on this season’s productions of Two Rooms, The Long Christmas Ride Home and Found a Peanut. Lauren is a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Public Relations and currently works for Yahoo!.  In the past two years, she has combined her love of the arts and her PR background to design websites.  Her client list includes the Broadway actress, Stephanie J. Block, David Garner, Mason McCulley, Paige McDonnell, Jennifer Lucas, and Grace Cullman. Many thanks to Melanie and Emilie for this continued opportunity to work with Red Fern!

Chris Flecker, Illustrator

Chris's time at Freeze CMI, Wine and Spirits Magazine, IN New York Magazine, and Kenneth Cole Productions cultivated a dedication to teamwork, taught him the value of client collaboration, and instilled a respect for the merit of deadlines.  Studying under working Illustrators provided a haven for his conceptual thinking to grow and flourish and allowed him to challenge and expand boundaries.  He graduated in the top of his class at Pratt Institute with a degree in Communications Design.  Young and in-the-know, Flecker ignores it all and forges ahead in a style that is both implausible and knowledgeable, harsh yet delicate, yin but yang, detailed yet simple. A student of social satire, his approach to human interaction is driven by Carravagio, Bill Watterson, Ben Sargent, and Gary Larson.  Chris is a resident of the NYC area and would be glad to meet with art directors interested in his work and hiring his services.  www.chrisflecker.com