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Kingfish
Written by Lane McLeod Jackson
Directed by Tyer Riley
Dedicated to Chris Longo whose patience during many bass fishing trips inspired this play. The playwright can guarantee with 83 percent accuracy he was not the devil.
The Boat and others things
We took a bare bones approach to our production. The boat is flame red named, "Ahab." Probably a ranger. The rods are top of the line. The fish are both impressive and not made of paper. And Champ's larger than life... you'll see what we mean.
Director's Notes
Director is used quite loosely in this regard. Yes, I was responsible for how rehearsals ran and when, but as with most projects with Lane, its 100% a collaboration. When ruminating about this particular piece, Lane and I both were interested in exploring characters that cannot stop competing, even as it destroys them, the type of people whose own hubris often becomes their undoing. Furthermore, I wanted to dive into who is worthy of salvation and who isn't. Both of these characters have good and bad qualities (yes, even the devil in this play). One character is of course naturally worse than the other... but is being the lesser of two evils enough? I hope you ruminate with that question after the performance.
Playwright Notes:
Why should the devil arrive at your door? What calls him, what's makes you so special? We never hear about the devil praying on the mediocre, the everyday, or the weak. He does, of course, but who wants to see it? The kind of "pride" needed to believe the devil takes a personal interest mirrors the kind of confidence required to become the best. Whatever that means. The what in some way doesn't matter... music, or cards... or even what should be relaxing- fishing. Do we invite the devil? Are greatness and evil intertwined. Don't ask me, I just wrote the thing. This could not happen without the insight and brilliance of our director, Tyler. And of course, thanks to the audience, without whom I’d be very strange.
Tyler Riley-J.J. Williams
Tyler Riley (he/him) is a New Jersey native. He graduated in 2013 from Stockton University with a B.A. in Theatre Studies. After graduating, Tyler had an 8-year career in house management, most notably at the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ, and at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, BA.
Tyler is also the creative director of Company of Fools. He can help make CoF even more equitable and inclusive by expanding their talent and design pools. He also aims to create lasting artistic partnerships with theatre service organizations and other theatre companies.
Tyler is also the creative director of Company of Fools. He can help make CoF even more equitable and inclusive by expanding their talent and design pools. He also aims to create lasting artistic partnerships with theatre service organizations and other theatre companies.
Lane McLeod Jackson - Old Scratch
Lane McLeod Jackson is an actor, writer, director, and (unless you hear differently) human who has worked professionally in New York, New Jersey, and Ireland. Since he returned to performance in 2021 he's been cast regularly in short film and theatre pieces including the off-broadway production of "And Then There Were None" and the award-winning, Caprices.
Jimmie Yamaguchi - Jimmy
Jimmie Yamaguchi has been voice acting professionally since 2019. His most recent voice over credits include New Gods: Yang Jian, PubG Mobile, Kingshunt, Mobile Legends as well as many audio drama podcasts.
When he isn't making random noises into a microphone, you can probably find him being a dingus with his family or enjoying the nerdier things in life.
When he isn't making random noises into a microphone, you can probably find him being a dingus with his family or enjoying the nerdier things in life.
L.J. Longo- Producer/Prop Mistress
L.J. Longo received her M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her first novel was published in 2016 but she has multiple publications through Evernight, including three novels and various novellas in various amazon-best selling anthologies. Her book, Freeing the Witch: Heart of the Mountain Series, was nominated for an Evernight Reader’s Choice Award.
Outside of Evernight. Additionally, her work has appeared in The Fantasist, Monologuing, and Dharma Direction, where she has an on-going fiction column. In 2018, her short story Knife and Needle was honorable mention in the Horror category for Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Competition In 2020, and won 3rd place in Writer’s Digest Short Fiction Competition for her short story To Harvest Lavender.
Outside of Evernight. Additionally, her work has appeared in The Fantasist, Monologuing, and Dharma Direction, where she has an on-going fiction column. In 2018, her short story Knife and Needle was honorable mention in the Horror category for Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Competition In 2020, and won 3rd place in Writer’s Digest Short Fiction Competition for her short story To Harvest Lavender.
Special Thanks
Ginger Bartkoski Meagher, Edward Dylewski, Cait Dylewski, Audrey Riley, Zeynep Akca, Sarra Piscitelli, Sean McCullough, Melanie McLeod, Rodger Jackson, Dana Jackson, Nate Bennett, Dave Namery, Chris Robertson, Rebecca Robertson, and Brian Conover with GTMS Drama Club.
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