Download Shocktoberfest 17: Pyramid of Freaks

Shocktoberfest 17: Pyramid of Freaks
Cast Bios
David Bicha (Mr. Avenel in HAUNTED HOUSE, Setri in DEMON TRAIN, Tozzini in
FREAKS) made his Thrillpeddlers debut as Sister Aimee and Isadora Duncan in Club
Inferno and has since appeared in Shocktoberfest 16: Curse of the Cobra and The
Untamed Stage. Over 25 years of performing in San Francisco, David’s appeared
in Christmas With the Crawfords (five times), Dirty Little Showtunes! (3), Scalpel! The
Musical, Scrumbly Koldewyn’s Die Wilde Buhne, The Andrews Sisters Hollywood
Canteen, The Divine Sister and Dear Harvey, just to name a few.
Kai Brothers (Lawyer in HAUNTED HOUSE, Junior & Bacchus in DEMON TRAIN,
Roustabout in FREAKS) Kai first joined the Thrillpeddlers family by stepping in to
play Hank in Pearls Over Shanghai, closing out the first run. He returned for Hot
Greeks and Shocktoberfest: Jack the Ripper and is thrilled to be back for more
Shocktoberfest shenanigans. Kai has performed in many San Francisco productions
over the years including multiple shows at New Conservatory Theatre, Left Coast
Theatre and the SF Opera. He dedicates this performance to his boyfriend, Brian for
all his love and support.
Culpability Brown (Inebriated Man in HELLGRAMMITE METHOD) is making his
debut in Thrillpeddler's Shocktoberfest17: Pyramid of Freaks and is grateful for the
opportunity to contribute.
Natalie Demchenko (Genevieve in HAUNTED HOUSE, Flashine in FREAKS) moved
to US two years ago from Ukraine to pursue a career as an actress. Life is full of joy
and happiness. Just focus on what is important for you and makes you feel good.
Cindy Emch (Vagabondage – accordion / vocals) is the whiskey voiced singersongwriter from bands the Secret Emchy Society, Vagabondage, Rhubarb Whiskey,
Feral, Sinners Tonic, and the Oakland Wine Drinkers Union. Her heart breakin', foot
stompin' old school country tunes are the hybrid child of Johnny Cash, Nick Cave,
Tom Waits, and Hazel Dickens - with just enough strange and esoteric influences to
keep you guessing.
Cameron Eng (Freako in FREAKS) is a producer, designer and performer focused
on creating intimate and vibrant theatrical experiences with Foul Play Productions,
from plays like the Princess Bride, CLUE, and Wicker Man: the Rock Opera, to events
like the Faux Queen Pageant, Fallen Cosmos, and Exquisite Corpse Theatre, to films
such as the comedy Climax and training industrials for PIRE. He thanks Russell
Blackwood, and the luminary Thrillpedders for this wondrous opportunity; and his
husband, Terrance Alan, without whom this would not be possible.
Alix Feinsod (understudy for Mrs. Ravan in HAUNTED HOUSE, Farmer’s Daughter
in DEMON TRAIN, Dog Child in FREAKS) is not throwin' away her shot. A lifelong
musical theater geek, she has performed in many musicals in the Bay Area, including
Urinetown, 1968: Summer of Love, Man of La Mancha, Fiddler on the Roof, Les
Miserables, A Chorus Line, Once Upon a Mattress, The 25th Annual Putnam County
Spelling Bee, Mothers of Ludlow, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Hairspray. Recently, she
was a member of the Loose Lips lip sync troop at UC Santa Cruz. This is her first
Shocktoberfest and second Hypnodrome experience after appearing as Delicious
Robbins for select performances of Pearls over Shanghai. Alix would love to thank
her aunt Zelda and her whole family for being the bomb dot com.
John Flaw (Vagabondage – guitar /vocals, Lloyd in HELLGRAMMITE METHOD,
Preacher & Checkered Demon in DEMON TRAIN) is consumed by the desire to
constantly perform on stages. It's a blessing and a curse. It all began with his
acceptance into some of San Francisco’s finest youth theatre groups, such as
SFArtsED and Young People’s Teen Musical Theatre Company, playing roles like The
Boss in Side Show and Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet
Street. Mr. Flaw played The Wolf in Ray of Light Theatre's 2013 production of
Sondheim's Into The Woods. He made his Thrillpeddlers debut in the title role in
Shocktoberfest 14: Jack the Ripper and has since been a continuous member of the
company appearing as Chang in Pearls Over Shanghai, Virgil in Club Inferno and
other memorable roles. He has come to the conclusion that the world is a better
place with a little song and dance (not to mention a bit of fake blood).
Dan Foley (Miley Judson in HELLGRAMMITE METHOD, C.A. Beauvais in FREAKS) is
grateful to have had you, my audience, to growl and convulse in front of. 2016
marks the first year in which I have had the pleasure of doing so on the
Thrillpeddlers' Stage. Such lovely people, and a fine step forward from the parking
spot where I'd cut my SF acting props -- The Dark Room (may you R.I.P.)
James Jeske (Fulbert in HAUNTED HOUSE, Farmer & A Sprite in DEMON TRAIN,
Roustabout in FREAKS) reappears at the Hypnodrome for his third Shocktoberfest,
his first being Fear Over Frisco, followed by Bride of Death. Not one to put all his eggs
in one basket, James has also been featured in such Cockettes tribute shows as Vice
Palace, Hot Greeks, and Tinsel Tarts In a Hot Coma. He wishes to express his
gratitude to his friend Scrumbly Koldewyn for encouraging him to “sing out,” and for
creating just the right songs for him to do that.
Eric Johnson (Mr. Ravan in HAUNTED HOUSE, Alligator Boy in FREAKS) is ... errr ...
thrilled to return to the Thrillpeddlers, having last been its Shocktoberfest 14: Jack
the Ripper. He also performed in its second iteration of Shocktoberfest (when fancy
titles had not yet been invented). Eric likes to perform in both legitimate and
illegitimate theater in the Bay Area, and was recently in the Dark Room's
productions of The Twilight Zone: Live! and Batman (the TV show): Live!
Zelda Koznofski (Mrs. Ravan in HAUNTED HOUSE, Madame Banga in FREAKS) was
most recently showcased in Scrumbly Koldewyn's new musical The Untamed
Stage as The Conferenciere. Prior to that, Zelda starred as Judy Garland in Tuck’n’
Roll Players’ Club Inferno and Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in Star Trek Live at San
Francisco cabaret nightclub Oasis. Zelda has been a Thrillpeddler for 6 years,
performing in Theater of the Ridiculous Cockettes revivals Vice Palace, Hot Greeks,
Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma and Pearls Over Shanghai. This will be her fourth
Shocktoberfest along with Fear Over Frisco, Bride of Death and Jack the Ripper. Other
work includes annual musical Nutcracker performances as Clara with the SF
Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band and independent film Humans Being. She can also be
found trilling jazz standards or collaborating with fellow musician/producer Steven
Bolinger (stevenbolinger.bandcamp.com) in locales of dubious distinction all over
the SF Bay Area. Zelda loves bacon.
Sean Malroy (Vagabondage – fiddle / mandolin) also plays violin for The Sweet
Trade who has recently released their new album, The Huntress and the
Gardener. Sean has been playing violin around the bay area since 2008 and
occasionally will bring out his mandolin or glockenspiel. He just returned from
performing in Farmfest 2016 near Victoria Canada. With a well-stocked project
studio, Sean engineers, produces, and also writes original music.
Earl Alfred Paus (Michael in DEMON TRAIN, Dog Child in FREAKS) had his
Shocktoberfest cherry chopped off and magically manipulated with as Brad
in Shocktoberfest 15: The Bloody Debutante. He continued as an all too real Puppy
in Shocktoberfest 16: Curse of the Cobra. But the Thrillpeddler trouble all started
when Earl twirled on the head of a pin as Chop Chop in the infamous 2014 revival
of original Cockette's Musical Pearls Over Shanghai, for which he was nominated him
for a Theatre Bay Area award. Earl was then Shanghaied into becoming a
Thrillpedder for all eternity. Outside of The Hypnodrome, he's toured with Rumi
Missabu as a principle dancer in NYC at the Judson Memorial Church (Keeping the
Tigers Away) and at The Center (The Questioning of John Rykener). Earl also just
played Chino in West Side Story this summer with Mountain Play at the Sidney B.
Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre on Mt. Tamalpias. The Hypnodrome will forever be
a doghouse to this little pup.
CJ Smith (Dr. Eugene Maddox in HELLGRAMMITE METHOD, Kobal in DEMON
TRAIN, Professor Radley in FREAKS) first appeared on stage in his native Louisville,
KY at the age of 5 singing in a dance recital. He’s been trying to get it right ever
since. C J found his way to San Francisco many years ago where he was seen at the
original Eureka Theatre (Marathon ’33), the Magic Theatre (Europa), the One Act
Theatre Co. (Adaptation, The Case of the Purloined Sterling), the Illustrated Stage Co.
(Revenge of the Space Pandas) and toured the provinces from Sunnyvale to Vallejo. C
J was more recently seen in Glenngary Glen Ross, Twelve Angry Men, The Exonerated,
and Dangerous Corner. The Untamed Stage was the first time the
Thrillpeddlers lured him onto the lurid stage of the Hypnodrome. He is tickled to be
back as part of Shocktoberfest 17 and to have discovered playwright Rob Keefe as a
former Louisville neighbor. Thrillpeddelin’ goin’ on up in here!
Rochelle Urban (Mrs. Avenel in HAUNTED HOUSE, Indytan in DEMON TRAIN) is
returning to the Thrillpeddlers after her debut in The Untamed Stage. Though she
took a brief 13-year hiatus from the stage, she spent her youth performing,
directing, and designing. Highlights include Arcadia, Into the Woods, Company, Once
on This Island, and A Science Revue (her one and only playwriting venture).
Jason Wade (Kyrion in DEMON TRAIN) Since Jason's reluctant introduction into
society he has performed millions of shows in various hardcore punk, scum rock,
power-violence, harsh noise, and uncomfortable performance art acts. He has
appeared on the Jerry Springer show, made a Cameo in Ted V. Mikels film
"Paranormal Extremes, Text messages from the Dead," and made national news
when he freed superstar baby, Baby Jessica (Jessica McClure Morales) from the
bottom of the well. Jason first joined the Thrillpeddlers as a crew member for the
legendary Club Inferno, since then he has been proud to contribute to the 2016
"Naked Dudes reading Lovecraft" show and appeared as a Masochist/ Wild boy in
The Untamed Stage!
Crystal Why (Frannie Judson in HELLGRAMMITE METHOD, Farmer’s Wife & Mara
in DEMON TRAIN, Screamerella and Roustabout in FREAKS) first performed with
Thrillpeddlers in Club Inferno, and she returned for more in Shocktoberfest 16: Curse
of the Cobra, the short but feisty Club Inferno revival, and The Untamed Stage. Other
favorite performances on the West Coast include Hedwig, SF Rocky Horror, and the
occasional appearances of Cherry Anomaly at the Stud and various drag shows.
Crystal is grateful to her Thrillpeddler family for proving that blissful decadence
knows no boundaries.
Hans Winhold (Vagabondage – upright bass) plucks, bows, and slaps that bow
fiddle for Vagabondage, T & A, and Bug, as well as rocking vocals, mandola, banjo,
and harmonica for FrontJunk. He also teaches trapeze, raises chickens, and forgets
to sleep.
Diogo Zavadzki (understudy for Preacher & Checkered Demon in DEMON TRAIN)
is an actor, performer, singer, guitarist, songwriter and dancer. Born May 8, 1984, in
Curitiba, Brazil. He started performing at the age of 5 when he started doing folk
dancing in South Brazil. At the age of fifteen he started getting involved with
ballroom dance and practicing the guitar, often spending ten hours a day practicing,
before eventually joining bands where he found his passion for singing. He started
Law School at the age of 19 but 5 years later he realized he couldn’t stay away from
his art, even if he tried; a friend got him interested in theater classes and within a
month he he became involved in a local theatre and hasn’t looked back for 9 years.
Working with many companies in so many productions and now working with
Thrillpeddlers where he’s performed in Pearls Over Shanghai, Shocktoberfest
15: The Bloody Debutante, Club Inferno and The Untamed Stage.