Work\Place CREATIVE TEAM

Production/Set Build/Design/Director

Elise Hodge

As the head producer and director, Elise has spent over 15 years in the world of theater as a producer, director, actor, writer, set designer and builder, tech, costumer, lighting designer and all the other things you can think of which has led her to owning her own space, The Ooley Theatre which allows for local talent to come shine. She is pleased to have this one person show hit the stage for its debut from Chris Smith and to contribute to the staging and production. Providing a home for artists to share their work with audiences is a dream realized and she thanks you all for supporting the arts! To help keep The Ooley alive and kicking, please visit our donation page and contribute! Every little bit counts. :)

Director - "Trans-itions", "The Drag Net" and "The Promotion"

Joanna Johnson

Joanna is thrilled to be directing three pieces with Elise for the Workplace Festival. Primarily an actor, Joanna loves being able to grow her skill sets in other facets of theatre. Besides on stage, Joanna can be found in the tech booth, working on costumes or behind the camera. She is excited to continue her theatre career with The Artist Collective and beyond.

Director - "Rewrite"

Heidi Schuyler

Heidi Schuyler is excited to be directing her first piece at the Ooley and the first overall in 9 years! She has been a member of the Artist’s Collective for the past two and a half years and has enjoyed performing in several shows here at the Ooley; most recently, String of Pearls as part of the Women’s Wit and Wisdom festival. Heidi thanks her cast for being a part of this experience with her and Edward Nason for writing a fun piece for her to direct. She hopes you all enjoy the show!

Director - "Hack 1974" and Writer - "Rewrite"

Edward Nason

Eddie is super pumped that you’re here! He’s always incredibly grateful when you support something he loves. Which in this case not only includes his acting, but directing for the second time and especially having his written words performed. He’s come a long way from the rock he played as a child on an Easter church stage. And as always he encourages you to come play. He looks forward to seeing you at the next auditions.

Director - "Teachers are REAL People" and Writer - "Peace. Love. All Along."

Candace Adams

Candace Adams has participated as an actor and playwright in community theatre productions. For the last six years, she has participated in ongoing playwriting groups in Berkeley, Oakland, CA and the Oregon Contemporary Theatre. Candace is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Playwrights’ Center, the Playwright Center of San Francisco, and Play Café. Adams’ first full length play in 2012, Healing Grace, a World Premiere received four out of five stars in the Sacramento News & Review. Adams‘ play Rowin’ Up Salt River had a staged reading at the Berkeley Rep Summer Intensive Workshop in 2022. Adams was assistant director to Elise Hodge for String of Pearls by Michele Lowe, Women’s Festival, Ooley Theatre, March 2024. Currently, she is excited to direct Teachers are Real People, by Stacey Nason. Adams’ short play Peace. Love. All Along will be presented also. She is excited to be part of Ooley Theatre Artist’s Collective.

Director - "Peace. Love. All Along." and Writer - "Teachers are REAL People"

Stacey Nason

Welcome! We are so glad that you can join us for Workplace!! Stacey is so excited to be performing at The Ooley theatre again! She has been performing in Sacramento and the surrounding areas for several years. Stacey is so pleased to be directing her first one act play. She is also debuting as a writer with her piece, “Teachers are REAL People.” Relax and enjoy these work experiences that may ring true to you.

Writer - "Trans-itions"

Lee Zamloch

Writer - "The Promotion"

Laura Sheperd

Laura, who is a playwright and actor, is pleased to see her work as a playwright once again performed on stage. She always enjoys seeing how the actors bring her characters to life. Several of Laura’s past plays received award nominations and she received the “Best New Play of the Year” award for her very first play.

Writer - "Truth"

Judith Plank

Judith Plank is a screenwriter and playwright. She has written and directed five short films (four of them were winners of the annual A Place Called Sacramento Screenwriting Competition). She is the Director of the Davis Film Festival as well. She is currently working on a feature-length script. Judith is also expanding into the realm of playwrighting, with two short pieces that went up on stage in 2023 and her One-Act which is a part of this 2024 Festival of One-Acts at Ooley Theater. Finally, Judith is tinkering with one of her short scripts from last year, hoping to turn it into a full-length play. She lives in Davis, California with her cat Henry. She is also writing a memoir.

Writer - "Hack 1974"

Tim Foley

Timothy J. Foley lives in Sacramento. His dark fiction and critical essays have appeared in such periodicals as Wormwood, Supernatural Tales, West Marin Review, All Hallows, Dark Hollow, and anthologies published by Flame Tree Press and Egaeus Press. His play “Special Request” was staged by Theater One in 2019 and nominated for a SARTA “Elly” award. He is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild. More info at his website: www.TimothyJFoley.com

Writer - "The Drag Net"

Scot Charles

Scott Charles is a long time playwright and novelist in Sacramento and a valued member of The Artist’s Collective! His award winning play Dinners with Augie has toured the country. We are so thrilled to have Scott’s work on our stage at The Ooley. His work has been seen several times with us, including Matters of Life &  Death and What Could Go Wrong. We look forward to having more of his writing on our stage in 2025!

Writer - Return to Office

Mark R. Heckman

Mark has been a long time member of The Artist's Collective and we are so happy has started sharing his writing with us! This will be his second piece to hit The Ooley stage, his first being featured as part of What Could Go Wrong? in 2023. We look forward to more work from Mark as he continues his playwrighting journey!

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

It is always a challenge to put up a show like this one, and always worth it. To highlight local actors, directors, writers and The Ooley Theatre as a supporter of these wonderful people is what a night like this is for! This set of pieces was put into motion by setting up a theme for our writers in The Artist's Collective, having them submit a piece or two and then finding a way to make them connect to one another, bit like your Love Actually formula. This one brought out our Twilight Zone penchant.

A writer. must completely change his script to fit a new actress he has found. In the course of doing his rewrites, he falls into a deep dream filled sleep. As he goes from dream to dream we follow him through laughs, love, farcical moments, drama and even a little crazy!

We hope you enjoy these eclectic pieces that create our little world of Work and Place in life!

Thank you for joining us at The Ooley Theatre! Want to support us and local artists? Donate today!