Misery

Lesley Abrams

Lesley Abrams is thrilled to be performing at Live Theatre Workshop (and with her favorite director, Sabian Trout) once again.  At LTW she has appeared in DOROTHY PARKER’S LAST CALL (which she wrote), THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS (about Ann Landers) SHOW PEOPLE, MISS WITHERSPOON and ON THE VERGE. She has directed two well-received shows at LTW: LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR and SYLVIA. Lesley has performed locally in productions of WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, DOUBT, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, NOISES OFF, SISTER MARY IGNATIUS EXPLAINS IT ALL FOR YOU, and FROZEN.

Brendan Guy Murphy

Brendan Guy Murphy has worked as an actor, photographer, and videographer for

over two decades. He has been featured in many films and commercials, including

the soon-to-be-released films The Wall, Time of the Witch & Wasteland Cop.

Additional credits include Spin, directed by Jamie Redford, Wastelander, Lucky U

Ranch, and The Men Who Fell, among others. Brendan’s theatrical credits include, The Dining Room (Live Theatre Workshop), Noises Off (UA Repertory Theatre), and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (directed by Lou Bellamy and performed at the Arizona Theater Company & Guthrie Theater). He is excited to be working with The Live Theatre Workshop once again.

Suzanne Cipra

Suzanne Cipra (Buster / Stage Manager) is excited to make her on stage debut in MISERY.  Suzanne has been stage managing at LTW for 10 years, and some of her favorite shows that she has done at LTW include SIC, DEATH BY DESIGN, ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE, THINGS BEING WHAT THEY ARE, WAITING FOR DOGGO and THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY . Suzanne would like to thank you for continuing to support local theatre and she would especially like to thank her husband Kyle for being so supportive! 

Sabian Trout

Sabian Trout (Director) thoroughly enjoyed her eighteen seasons as LTW’s Artistic Director. A few favorite directing credits include THE BEST BROTHERS, BUYER & CELLAR, THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION, PHOTOGRAPH 51, REGRETS ONLY, RECKLESS, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, TRYING, ON THE VERGE, SHIRLEY VALENTINE, DANCING AT LUGHNASA, and ARSENIC AND OLD LACE. Sabian has over 35 years of experience as a director, stage manager, producer, and theatre teacher. Professional credits include productions at the Stratford Festival of Canada, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Missouri Repertory Theatre, The Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis, Austin’s State Theatre, LA Theatre Works, and Arizona Theatre Company.

Shanna Brock

Shanna Brock (Shadow/Assistant Director) This is Shanna’s first production this side of the stage. She is so excited to be transitioning to the role of director and is ecstatic to be learning from the best! ‘Thank you to LTW for allowing me this opportunity and to Sabian for sharing the inner workings of your brilliant mind with me.’

Hilary Myli

Hilary Myli (Assistant Stage Manager)

After a hiatus from theatre, Hilary is thrilled to be a part of the MISERY crew! This is her first show with Live Theatre Workshop.

Pre-Tucson, Hilary lived in New York City. She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. She’s worked in various capacities in theatre and acted in video, film, and television. Experience includes a voiceover for THE ART OF MELANCHOLY, directing THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE and RUNAWAYS, stage managing BLITHE SPIRIT, and the role of Annie Sullivan in THE MIRACLE WORKER.

“Thank you Suzanne for your patience and guidance!”

Shana Stilley

Shana Stilley (Costume Designer) is incredibly happy to be back at Live Theatre Workshop as part of this production. Shana was a 2009 Arizona Daily Star MAC nominee, a 2011 Tucson Weekly Best of Tucson recipient, as well as the 2021 The Taming of the Review, Best Director, and Best Show recipient for the critically acclaimed production of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH. Other favorite productions include: SWEENEY TODD, LES MISERABLES, THE PRODUCERS, MAMMA MIA, and AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY. Shana currently serves on the board of directors of the Pima County Joint Technical Education Advisory Committee. -For my husband; I’m your number one fan.

Karin Hupp

Karin Hupp (Prop Master) has been the prop master for over eight years; she also does scenic painting and box office. Some of her favorite projects included the wedding cake for ONE SLIGHT HITCH, the hound from BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK MYSTERY, and the cookies from FROG AND TOAD. Favorite scenes she has painted include Dorothy Parker’s VICIOUS CIRCLE and the bookshelves in THE COLUMNIST. Karin enjoys working for LTW because it helps her grow as an artist.

Michael James Zimmerman

Michael James Zimmerman (Sound Design) is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, audio engineer, and private music instructor with over 20 years of teaching experience and more than 35 years of acting and performance experience. He spent 25-plus years as a recording artist and touring musician with Honeybeegroove and Kristen Chandler. After graduating from the University of Oregon in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Music Technology, Michael moved to Tucson, AZ. He currently teaches guitar, piano, voice, drums, percussion, bass guitar, and music theory both from his home studio and as a master teacher at Music & Arts.

Richard Gremel

Richard Gremel (Lighting Designer/Technical Advisor) has been lighting the LTW stage for the past 16 years. His lighting designs have also been seen on other Tucson stages in the past. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona where he received a B.F.A. in Theatre Education. Richard is the acting and technical theatre teacher at Empire High School. He is the recipient of the Arizona Thespians Teacher of the year (2017-2018 & 2023-2024) and the OnMedia Tucson Arts Hero (2018-2019).  Aside from teaching, Richard acts, directs, and writes plays for the LTW stage. He currently has 11 published plays which have been seen all over the United States, Canada, India, Hong Kong, England, and Australia. www.richardgremelplaywright.com

Rachel Silverman

Rachael Silverman (Co-Scenic Designer/Scenic Artist) appreciates being back at LTW, now in a new role. Rachael just returned home to Tucson after moving post U of A graduation. She has spent the last decade at Nashville Children’s Theatre in what ended up being referred to as “Director of All of the Things”. Over her span there she was: Scenic Charge Artist, Props Master, Stage Manager, Tour Manager, Director of Production, Facilities Manager and now Company Manager.  She is most grateful for Siesta the rainbow pup.

Norm Testa

Norm Testa (Co-Scenic Designer, Carpenter) received a BFA from UCSB and an MFA from UAz in Theatrical Lighting and Sound design. He has worked at The Children’s Theatre Company, in Minneapolis MN, as Stage Supervisor for three seasons + 8 months touring across the US & Canada. He was a Lighting Designer and Stage Manager for Norwegian and Holland America Cruise Lines from 1992-1996. Back in Tucson he worked as a Facilities Technical Coordinator for ATC, running all event rentals at the Temple of Music and Art and TPCA from 1996-1998. Meanwhile, in 1997, Norm married Christiane Rekemeier at Burg Trendleburg, a German castle built in the 12th century. From 1998-2004 Norm volunteered his time, and safety, restoring the Tucson Fox Theatre. In 1998 he began teaching at Catalina Foothills HS, where he developed the first Arizona State Education’s 4-year Technical Theatre HS program, and achieved CTE National Teaching State Board Certification. Norm gladly retired from teaching 23 years later. After a short break he’s back in Theatre designing and building shows for LTW…Cheers!