Sherry VerWey - (Director)
Directing From Up Here at the Towle was a dream come true. I could not have asked for a more perfect cast & crew of human beings to work with when faced with such an emotional journey of a show. As a director (and actor) I want the audience to really connect and feel what my characters are going through, and have a lasting impression through the art of storytelling. I still get chills thinking back to that run and will always cherish that experience, which was my first time directing a musical.
FAST FORWARD
Since that show back in 2014, I have gone through some major life changes, but theatre is still my number one passion. I just graduated from IU Northwest with my Masters in Liberal Arts (4.0) with my final defense focusing on a controversial production I directed and the impact that theatre has on social justice issues, again discussion the need for connection through storytelling. (obvious cut next part depending on what’s the plan) I’ve been fortunate enough to be asked to direct again at the Towle in the future and look forward to bringing you another emotional journey, this time to Ireland! Stay tuned.
Tom Moran - (Dan)
I met Jeff, Kevin and all the Towle Theater family when I was cast in From Up Here back in 2014. At the time, I was studying abroad in Chicago. I’m from Dublin, Ireland and had finished just finished a semester abroad in Columbia College Chicago, so I was a long way from home and looking for reasons to extend my stay through the summer. Luckily for me, From Up Here was a PERFECT fit, both creatively and social, but The Towle Theatre became a home away from home.
Being away from my family and friends, the cast and crew at the Towle became a massive source of support and community for me. Cliched and all as it may be, they became family. One particularly fond memory of that time was, during a post-show discussion with some students who had been in the audience, I got to reveal my true Irish accent. They’d only heard me speak in character up until then and, when I spoke in my natural Irish brogue, they were all very shocked, and I... well, I felt like a wizard.
FAST FORWARD
I now work as an actor, comedian and writer back in Dublin. I am due to star in Copper Face Jacks: The Musical which has been a smash hit on the Irish Theatre scene. This will be our 3rd successive sold out run at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre, a beautiful 1200 seater and, then, we’re due to be heading out on tour, but for now, COVID-19 has laid rest to those dates. In the downtime, I am writing scripts for television, in particular in the sitcom/comedy drama sphere which is where my career is moving towards more and more.
Ian Rigg - (Alan)
It’s always a treat to work with Towle, and a musical about 5 suicidal strangers crossing paths on the Brooklyn Bridge and re-inspired to live as a result was no different. I remember Steve’s deeply felt and naturalistic acting, Sarah’s stellar voice, Tom’s eminently likable, effusive energy, and of course the breaking heart behind Lauren’s comedic chops; I remark at Sherry’s experienced, emotive vision and fun collaborative spirit, Elizabeth’s perpetually physical, kinetic and thrilling music direction, Kevin’s phenomenal set and snazzy costumes (what a talent! What a tailor!) and of course Jeff’s wise acumen, a remarkably adept and driven producer whose keen artistic and business senses keep every project cohesive and special. Through photography, you tackle time. You capture a single instant, decide in a split second what to leave in the frame and what to leave out, and with the pull of the trigger you’re at once a liar and the most honest person who ever lived. Wes’ production photos are always phenomenally striking, and it was supremely cool to have actual photography in universe, onstage, in show. Taking to his role like a fish to water, Tom really took some sublime shots on Steve’s camera.
FAST FORWARD
Since the special summer performing From Up Here, I’ve not only walked the Brooklyn Bridge – I’ve watched my castmates and artistic team flourish! I’ve loved watching everyone’s accomplishments the last 6 years, and remembering 2014 with a warm smile. As for me and my antics, I luckily went on to play more cherished roles at Towle, from a Green Machine-riding kindergartner, to a ghostly coal miner, to a train wreck on his wedding day, to a timid poet in a haunted house, to a murderous London police detective. Elsewhere in the Chicago scene I played a "cool" Irish priest, socialist ghost Jacob Marley trying to corrupt noble job creator Ebenezer Scrooge, and cult classic the The Room's enigmatic architect, Tommy Wiseau. I spent a summer sprinting through backyards and bashing in heads as the titular nameless hitman in the pulp action thriller webseries The Collector. I was even honored with a Jeff nomination for Best Performer in a Revue for my turn as a chic, cheeky embodiment of Noel Coward! But amidst triumphs, we all face a few crises of the soul like Alan. We're all strangers standing on a bridge. But when we reach out and connect, we can come back from the ledge and walk on together. 'Til we all trod the boards together again!