Birdy - Iron Age Theatre

The Centre Theatre and Iron Age Theatre

Present

by Naomi Wallace
Adapted from the novel by William Wharton
March 27, 28 & 29
April 3,4,5,17,18,19,24,25,26, 2009

Adam Altman (Sgt. Al) This is Adam's ninth production with Iron Age, having performed as Thomas Paine in the world premiere one-man show CITIZEN PAINE, Dr. Lanyon/Inspector/Student/Hyde in DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, Hamlet/Benvolio in SHAKESPLOITATION!, Father Welsh in THE LONESOME WEST, Estragon in WAITING FOR GODOT, Jack McCall in FATHERS AND SONS, Cripple Billy in THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN and Mairtin Hanlon in A SKULL IN CONNEMARA. Adam holds a B.A. in Theatre Performance from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA and has also studied acting at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. In 2004 Adam received the Peggy Ezekiel Award of Distinction in Undergraduate Student Lighting Design from the USITT for his work on Seton Hill's production of PROOF. Other recent onstage credits: ROMEO & JULIET, RICHARD III (Delaware Shakespeare Festival); THE FULL MONTY (Montgomery Theater); PURLIE (Ritz Theatre). See Adam at the Fringe Festival this year in Iron Age's productions of CITIZEN PAINE and SHAKESPLOITATION 2: IAMBIC BUGALOO.
Chris Braak (Birdy) Chris Braak attended the Villanova University Master's program. He was last seen onstage as Antipholus in the Comedy of Errors. He is also a playwright whose one-act, "Glossolalia" won the Vagabond Acting Troupe's "Best of Festival" award in 2008.
Chris Handschuch (Young Al) Christopher is making his debut performance with Iron Age Theatre. He has recently been seen as Angelo Barbieri in MAMBO ITALIANO at Allens Lane, Ronnie/Guard Caldwell in GETTING OUT with Simpatico Theatre Project, Nathan Brennan in the world premiere of APPLYING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD at Plays and Players and as Homer in the national tour of THE MORRIS BROTHERS, a Regional Emmy award winning production based off of a FOX Kids television special. In addition, he has worked with both the Philadelphia Dramatists Center and Vagabond Acting Troupe for evenings of one acts and staged readings. He spends his summers as the Director of the Drama Department at Camp Wayne in upstate New York. Christopher holds a B.F.A. in Acting from Arcadia University and has also studied acting at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Sláinte!
Aaron Stall (Young Birdy) Aaron is a proud first semester junior theater major at Temple University. He has been a performer for most of his life with his first non-professional appearance as a member of his first grade choir. In high school, Aaron played Barnaby Tucker in THE MATCHMAKER and Tony in WEST SIDE STORY and was a member of district and regional choir. For his professional debut, Aaron was cast for his endearing young looks and his miraculous ability to sit still on a chair for forty minutes. He played Wally Webb in Villanova University production of OUR TOWN directed by Barrymore award winning director James Christy. In his first year at Temple, Aaron played Lucky the Newsboy in TIME OF YOUR LIFE and Leonardo in MERCHANT OF VENICE. Aaron is cleared and ready for stage flight. See him four floors up with Iron Age Theatre at the Centre Theater in Norristown. Look up in the sky, its a bird, its a plane, its no we were better off with a bird. Its Aaron Stall as Young Birdy.
Dorien Belle (Renaldi) last appeared as the "spooky" Ghost of King Hamlet & Phat Ho in Iron Age's production of SHAKESPLOITATION. Prior to that he played Chris in the Philadelphia premiere of HAVE A NICE LIFE with the Nice People Theater Co. Regional theater credits includes: CATS & FINIAN'S RAINBOW at the Walnut Street Theater & KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN with the Ritz Theater Co. Previous shows includes: RAGTIME as Coalhouse, BEAUTY & THE BEAST as the Beast, MAN OF LA MANCHA as Padre, TWELFTH NIGHT as Sir Toby, LUCKY STIFF" as Vinnie, and THE CRUCIBLE as Giles Corey. He holds a B.A. in Musical Theater from Seton Hill University. He thanks his family and friends for their undying love and support.
Jerry Puma (Dr. White) A resident of the Art Museum area, Jerry has been a part of Philadelphia’s Theatrical community for several years. He has recently been seen as Hank Clymer in A FEW SMALL REPAIRS for Painted Bird Productions, Baptista in TAMING OF THE SHREW and Leonato in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING with Commonwealth Classic Theatre, Dexter Valentine in THE PRIDE OF BROADWAY for Mosaic Theatre, as Pete in Philadelphia Theatre Workshop’s production of THE BIGGEST BOX OF CRAYONS and has participated in the FRESH FISH TEN MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL with B. Someday productions. In addition to stage work he has appeared in commercials, industrials, voice over, and independent film, including features for Window Wizards, Beau Rivage Casinos, NFL Films and The National Park Services’ Gateway Visitor Center. A strong advocate of new works he has participated in staged readings for playwrights at the Phila. Dramatists Center, A.C.T. and the Brick Playhouse. Other interests include portrayals of Historical characters ( Aaron Burr, Stephen Douglas and Andrew Carnegie ) for American Historic Theater and ( John Dunlap ) for Historic Philadelphia Inc. an organization for which Jerry worked as Program Coordinator. This is his first appearance with Iron Age Theater and he looks forward to participating in this new venture.

For information e-mail us.

Return to the Home Page

	Adam Altman (Sgt. Al) This is Adam's ninth production with Iron Age, having performed as Thomas Paine in the world premiere one-man show CITIZEN PAINE, Dr. Lanyon/Inspector/Student/Hyde in DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, Hamlet/Benvolio in SHAKESPLOITATION!, Father Welsh in THE LONESOME WEST, Estragon in WAITING FOR GODOT, Jack McCall in FATHERS AND SONS, Cripple Billy in THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN and Mairtin Hanlon in A SKULL IN CONNEMARA. Adam holds a B.A. in Theatre Performance from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA and has also studied acting at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. In 2004 Adam received the Peggy Ezekiel Award of Distinction in Undergraduate Student Lighting Design from the USITT for his work on Seton Hill's production of PROOF. Other recent onstage credits: ROMEO & JULIET, RICHARD III (Delaware Shakespeare Festival); THE FULL MONTY (Montgomery Theater); PURLIE (Ritz Theatre). See Adam at the Fringe Festival this year in Iron Age's productions of CITIZEN PAINE and SHAKESPLOITATION 2: IAMBIC BUGALOO.
	Chris Braak (Birdy) Chris Braak attended the Villanova University Master's program. He was last seen onstage as Antipholus in the Comedy of Errors. He is also a playwright whose one-act, "Glossolalia" won the Vagabond Acting Troupe's "Best of Festival" award in 2008.
	Chris Handschuch (Young Al) Christopher is making his debut performance with Iron Age Theatre. He has recently been seen as Angelo Barbieri in MAMBO ITALIANO at Allens Lane, Ronnie/Guard Caldwell in GETTING OUT with Simpatico Theatre Project, Nathan Brennan in the world premiere of APPLYING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD at Plays and Players and as Homer in the national tour of THE MORRIS BROTHERS, a Regional Emmy award winning production based off of a FOX Kids television special. In addition, he has worked with both the Philadelphia Dramatists Center and Vagabond Acting Troupe for evenings of one acts and staged readings. He spends his summers as the Director of the Drama Department at Camp Wayne in upstate New York. Christopher holds a B.F.A. in Acting from Arcadia University and has also studied acting at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Sláinte!
	Aaron Stall (Young Birdy) Aaron is a proud first semester junior theater major at Temple University. He has been a performer for most of his life with his first non-professional appearance as a member of his first grade choir. In high school, Aaron played Barnaby Tucker in THE MATCHMAKER and Tony in WEST SIDE STORY and was a member of district and regional choir. For his professional debut, Aaron was cast for his endearing young looks and his miraculous ability to sit still on a chair for forty minutes. He played Wally Webb in Villanova University production of OUR TOWN directed by Barrymore award winning director James Christy. In his first year at Temple, Aaron played Lucky the Newsboy in TIME OF YOUR LIFE and Leonardo in MERCHANT OF VENICE. Aaron is cleared and ready for stage flight. See him four floors up with Iron Age Theatre at the Centre Theater in Norristown. Look up in the sky, its a bird, its a plane, its no we were better off with a bird. Its Aaron Stall as Young Birdy.
	Dorien Belle (Renaldi) last appeared as the "spooky" Ghost of King Hamlet & Phat Ho in Iron Age's production of SHAKESPLOITATION. Prior to that he played Chris in the Philadelphia premiere of HAVE A NICE LIFE with the Nice People Theater Co. Regional theater credits includes: CATS & FINIAN'S RAINBOW at the Walnut Street Theater & KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN with the Ritz Theater Co. Previous shows includes: RAGTIME as Coalhouse, BEAUTY & THE BEAST as the Beast, MAN OF LA MANCHA as Padre, TWELFTH NIGHT as Sir Toby, LUCKY STIFF" as Vinnie, and THE CRUCIBLE as Giles Corey. He holds a B.A. in Musical Theater from Seton Hill University. He thanks his family and friends for their undying love and support.
	Jerry Puma (Dr. White) A resident of the Art Museum area, Jerry has been a part of Philadelphia’s Theatrical community for several years. He has recently been seen as Hank Clymer in A FEW SMALL REPAIRS for Painted Bird Productions, Baptista in TAMING OF THE SHREW and Leonato in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING with Commonwealth Classic Theatre, Dexter Valentine in THE PRIDE OF BROADWAY for Mosaic Theatre, as Pete in Philadelphia Theatre Workshop’s production of THE BIGGEST BOX OF CRAYONS and has participated in the FRESH FISH TEN MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL with B. Someday productions. In addition to stage work he has appeared in commercials, industrials, voice over, and independent film, including features for Window Wizards, Beau Rivage Casinos, NFL Films and The National Park Services’ Gateway Visitor Center. A strong advocate of new works he has participated in staged readings for playwrights at the Phila. Dramatists Center, A.C.T. and the Brick Playhouse. Other interests include portrayals of Historical characters ( Aaron Burr, Stephen Douglas and Andrew Carnegie ) for American Historic Theater and ( John Dunlap ) for Historic Philadelphia Inc. an organization for which Jerry worked as Program Coordinator. This is his first appearance with Iron Age Theater and he looks forward to participating in this new venture.