A single mother places a bet on a new life after an intimate encounter with a decorated senator, and the fallout will change them both forever. The Harassment of Iris Malloy is an epic political thriller that challenges us to explore power, privilege and parenthood. Zak Berkman’s new drama is a rolling world premiere.
The Harassment of Iris Malloy
The Harassment of Iris Malloy is an epic political thriller that challenges us to explore power, privilege and parenthood. Zak Berkman’s new drama is a rolling world premiere.
A single mother places a bet on a new life after an intimate encounter with a decorated senator, and the fallout will change them both forever. The Harassment of Iris Malloy is an epic political thriller that challenges us to explore power, privilege and parenthood. Zak Berkman’s new drama is a rolling world premiere.
Meet The Cast
Ned Baker
Sticker
Ned Baker is so pleased to be back in his home state for his Detroit Public Theatre debut. Currently a resident of Chicago, Ned has performed there with the Hypocrites and (re)discover theatre, assistant-directed for Steppenwolf and the Hypocrites, and worked for four years as a director and a writer in Chicago Parks with the public access company he co-founded, Rabid Bat Theatricals. Thanks to Mom, Dad, and all loyal loved ones. Long live the theatre.
Alysia Kolascz
Iris
Alysia is thrilled to be making her Detroit Public Theatre debut. She is a graduate of Albion College and regularly performs on various stages around southeast Michigan. Some of Alysia’s previous credits include Pulp (Williamston Theatre), Bright Half Life (Theatre Nova), Leaving Iowa (Tipping Point Theatre), Gift of the Magi (Performance Network Theatre), I Hate Hamlet (Tipping Point Theatre), Ebenezer (Williamston Theatre/Tipping Point Theatre), Richard III (Performance Network Theatre), Rosmersholm (Magenta Giraffe Theatre), Salvage (Planet Ant Theatre), Equus (Blackbird Theatre), and Jack Goes Boating (Blackbird Theatre).
John Lepard
Senator Aarons
John is happy to be working at Detroit Public Theatre for the first time. Over the years, he has worked at such venues as The Signature Theatre in New York, St. Louis Rep, Hartford Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Gem in Detroit, Ford’s Theatre in Washington DC, and many of the professional theatres in Michigan. He has also been featured in over 20 films and television series. John received his BA in Theatre from Michigan State University and his MFA in Acting from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. John is the Executive Director of Williamston Theatre and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Sarah Winkler
Cyd
Sarah Winkler is a Co-Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Detroit Public Theatre. She was a company member with Off Broadway’s Epic Theatre Ensemble for more than a decade before moving to Metro Detroit in 2013. Sarah has performed on stage and film in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and around the country, and is now so proud and honored to be a part of the Detroit theatre community.
Meet The Creative Team
Zak Berkman
Playwright
Zak has been at People’s Light since 2011. He has over twenty-five years of experience producing theatre and developing new plays and musicals. Zak was Associate to Broadway producer Margo Lion, and the Founding Executive Director of Artistic Programming with the multiple award winning Epic Theatre Ensemble in New York City. Zak is a playwright, director, dramaturg, and former soap opera writer. His plays include The Harassment of Iris Malloy, Beauty on the Vine, and A Breath Short of Breathing. He is the co-author and co-composer of Such Things As Vampires. Zak has published articles on Howlround.com about the New Play Frontiers Residency & Commission program at People’s Light as well as other subjects. Zak is married to Teri Lamm. They have two sons, Eliot and Theo.
Geoff Button
Director
Geoff received his BA in Theater Performance from Western Michigan University, and his MFA in Theater Directing from Northwestern University. He has long been an active part of the Chicago theater company The Hypocrites, where he directed Adding Machine: A Musical (Joseph Jefferson Nomination – Best Midsize Musical), Into the Woods, Coriolanus, Desire Under the Elms, True West (Non-Equity Jeff Nominations – Best Play, Best Director), as well as his own adaptation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters. Also an actor, he has performed in several Hypocrites’ productions, including All Our Tragic, Woyzeck, Mud, and Equus (Joseph Jefferson Citation – Best Actor). He has taught theater at the Chicago Academy for the Arts, The National High School Institute, and in the Music Theater Certificate Program at Northwestern University. Currently he is the Casting Director/Associate Producer at Writers Theatre in Glencoe, IL.
Moníka Essen
Production Designer
Moníka Essen is an award-winning, nationally recognized artist and designer. The recipient of the prestigious Lawrence DeVine Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre, she studied interior architecture and Environmental Design at Parsons School of Design NYC and received her MFA in scenography from the renowned Hilberry Repertory Co. Ms. Essen has designed countless productions in theatre, opera and film, and is currently the Resident Designer at the Michigan Opera Theatre, where she has just recently designed their highly acclaimed productions of “Amahl and the Night Visitors” and “Frida”, which also just made its debut at the Florida Grand Opera, and will be traveling to The Atlanta Opera in October. Other local favorites include “The Foursome,” “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”, and “The Impossibilty of Now” at Tipping Point Theatre, and “Murder Ballad” and “American Hero” here at Detroit Public Theatre. Additionally, she creates furniture, museum exhibits, interiors and full sensory, multimedia environments for residential and commercial clients, including the Detroit Zoo. All her design work can be viewed at www.studioepoque.com
Mike Durst
Lighting Designer
OFF-BROADWAY: Secrets of the Trade at Primary Stages, The Opponent at 59e59, Extinction at Cherry Lane, Splitting Infinity at Theater Row. NATIONAL TOUR: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Nightman Cometh. REGIONAL: Huntington Theatre Company: Come Back, Little Sheba; Lookingglass Theatre Company: Still Alice. Great Fire. CHICAGO: The Hypocrites, A Red Orchid Theatre, Theater Wit, Timeline Theatre, Remy Bumppo Theater, The House Theatre, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Chicago. Upcoming: Olney Theatre Center, Maryland. McCarter Theatre, New Jersey. Court Theatre, Chicago. Mike is a lecturer of Lighting Design at The University of Chicago and a consultant on theatrical renovations. He has received two Jeff Awards (Chicago), an Ovation Award (Los Angeles), San Diego’s Craig Noel Award, and nominations for IRNE, Elliot Norton, and L.A. Drama Critics Circle awards. Mike is a member of United Scenic Artists 829 and IATSE Local 2.
Frannie Shepherd-Bates
Sound Designer
Frannie Shepherd-Bates is an accomplished prison theatre practitioner, director, educator, designer, choreographer, administrator, and performer.
Frannie is the founder, director, and lead facilitator of Shakespeare in Prison (SIP), Detroit Public Theatre’s signature community program. She began SIP in 2012 (under the auspices of Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company, which she led from 2008-2014) as its sole volunteer facilitator and administrator, personally handling every aspect of the program.
Since those early days, Frannie has worked with the prison ensembles (and alumni!) to develop the structure, objectives, and pedagogy of the program; developing a culture of warmth, openness, professionalism, and dedication. In 2015, the program moved from Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company as it dissolved to Detroit Public Theatre as it was founded.
In addition to her prison work, Frannie has directed plays for many of southeast Michigan’s theatres; including Detroit Public Theatre, Williamston Theatre, Tipping Point Theatre, Shakespeare in Detroit, Planet Ant Theatre, and Water Works Theatre Company. Her work with youth includes programs and productions with Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus, the Roeper School, Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, and Matrix Theatre Company. She also served as Director of Programs for Detroit Public Theatre, and Director of Education for Water Works Theatre Company for several years.
Frannie has been recognized for her work as an artist and arts advocate by the Wilde Awards (Critics’ Choice 2013; Best of the Bard 2015; Best Play nomination 2016), the Pulsar Awards (Best Play 2017), and CBS Detroit, and she accepted an Arts Achievement Award on behalf of MGT from WSU’s Department of Theatre and Dance. She has spoken about prison theatre at conferences such as Shakespeare in Prisons (2013, 2017), Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed (2017), Art X Detroit (2015), and Human Rights Through Education (University of Michigan, 2013). She has been featured numerous times in local, regional, national, and international media for her work in prisons and as an artist.
Frannie graduated from Wayne State University with a BFA in theatre (acting) in 2006.
