The Cast and Crew of The Happy Show

Alicia Dansby, Ensemble
Alicia M. Dansby is so excited to be working with Live Action Set on 'The Happy Show'! She is a graduate from the University of Minnesota with a BA in Theatre and a minor in Ninjabatman fighting! You may have also seen Alicia locally in the productions of ' The Two Gentlemen of Verona' at the Guthrie, the Jungle's 'Shipwrecked' or on your t.v. set. She hopes you enjoy the show as much as she does and she would like to give a special shout out to her family for all their love, support and much needed laughs:)

Allison Witham, Ensemble

Amelia English, Ensemble
Amelia English is happy to be working with Live Action Set for the first time. She’s also thrilled to be performing at Bedlam where she’s been secretary of the Board of Directors for the past four years. Amelia spends her days making people happy at Nickelodeon Universe and with the Saint Paul Saints Baseball team. Next up she’ll be movement coach for Robo-homa! at the Fringe Festival teaching androids how to move to their version of Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Andy Langenfeld, Musician
Andy Langenfeld has taken on many roles both on stage and behind the curtain. He has worked internationally as a performer, collaborator, composer, mask-maker, and puppeteer. Andy has professional experience as a director, playwright, technical director, master carpenter, and teacher. He has a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Lecoq Based Actor-Created Physical Theater from Naropa University’s London Campus. Much of his time is spent collaborating with his wife and coworkers in the Black Dirt Theater to create exciting new theater for everyday people.

Blythe Riske, Ensemble
Blythe Riske is an active member of the Twin Cities' arts community. She just completed her term as a Minneapolis Arts Commissioner, worked in marketing for the Walker Art Center, and is currently employed by Minnesota Public Radio | American Public Media as the marketing manager for the organization's classical music services. She has created work with Twin Cities artists Jon Ferguson, Megan Odell, Judith Howard, and Deborah Jinza Thayer, and spent a brief period as a No Pants Dancer in the Scrimshaw Brothers' monthly late-night comedy show, Look Ma, No Pants. Blythe is a graduate of Macalester College with a degree in American Studies.

Brant Miller, Happy Maker / Graphic Designer

Diogo Lopes, Happy Maker
Diogo Lopes studied at the Academia Contemporânea do Espectáculo in Porto, Portugal, and at LISPA (London International School of Performing Arts). Diogo has been performing, devising, teaching, and directing Physical Theatre and Clown since 2001 in Portugal, Spain, France, and the UK. This is his second show in the USA and the first in Minneapolis. He is overwhelmed with joy by this warm welcome that is The Happy Show! He wants to thank the cast, the director, Ryan, and Live Action Set for this wonderful opportunity. Be Happy!

Emily King, Happy Maker
Emily King was born and raised on the plains of South Dakota; this makes her very happy. In addition to her degree in Dance from the University of Minnesota, she has had the privilege to work with such wonderful artists as Karen Sherman, Morgan Thorson, Jon Ferguson, and Eric Melzer, among others. She was honored to be able to perform her collaborative work with the sensational Ryan Underbakke at the 2009 Walker Art Center's Choreographer's Evening, during which she wore bloomers and got to hold Mr. Underbakke's hand; this also made her happy. Emily is in love with her family, which includes her friends, and only hopes to bring a little bit of joy to those who make her, truly, so very very happy. Amen!

Eric Melzer, Photographer

Galen Treuer, Ensemble
Galen Treuer, co-founder, Live Action Set. Galen grew up in Duluth, Minnesota, where he began performing at age eight. After graduating from Oberlin College with high honors in economics, he moved to Minneapolis in 2001 to pursue a dance career. He since has performed with more than 20 companies and choreographers, and presented choreography in several Twin Cities venues. In 2002, he began making theater with Noah Bremer, a collaboration that led to the creation of Live Action Set and an interest in European style clown. He has studied clown with Jon Ferguson, Pierre Byland, Ricardo Puccetti, and others. Galen has been recognized in the Minnesota and national press for his physical performances. His artistic activities have been supported by an Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, a Travel Study Grant from the Jerome Foundation, and an Emerging Artists Residency at the New York Mills Art Center.

Holly Brimhall, Ensemble

Isabel Nelson, Happy Maker
Isabel Nelson is a performer and physical theatre creator who studied at Macalester College and the London International School for Performing Arts. She has performed locally with Jon Ferguson Theatre and Four Humors Theatre, and is producing and directing a Fringe show this August. She is tickled pink beyond belief to be a part of this joy machine called The Happy Show, and would like to thank Ryan Underbakke and Live Action Set from the bottom of her heart for this opportunity. Extra special love and thanks to her family and Diogo Lopes for their love and support.

Joanna Harmon, Executive Director, Live Action Set
Joanna Harmon is a graduate of the University of MN/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program, Class of 2009. Local performance credits include: American Sexy (New Theatre Group, Dowling Studio), Running on Empty (The Directors, Dowling Studio), The Sense of What Should Be (Workhaus Collective, Playwrights' Center). She has also understudied and participated in readings at The Guthrie Theater. She was associate producer of Super Monkey (Jon Ferguson Theater, Dowling Studio). Currently: to the Lighthouse,! (Bedlam Theatre) an adaptation of the novel by Virginia Woolf, for which she is co-creating-and-producing. Upcoming: Down, A Fable (Red Eye Theatre New Works, June ‘10).

Joshuah Nelson, Video

Kalen Rainbow Keir & Zeina Khalife, Environmental Sound Technicians

Katie Jorgenson, Ensemble
Katie Jorgenson joins Live Action Set for the first time with The Happy Show. After spending the 2008-2009 season with The Children’s Theatre Company as a Performing Apprentice, Katie has been continuing her theatre studies at the University of Minnesota, riding her new moped, and collaborating with her fantastic friends. For the upcoming summer she is excited to travel to the Winnipeg fringe with an original show, as well as swim, play, BBQ, bike, and love life.

Katy Clanton, Production Manager / Set and prop designer & construction
Katy Clanton is currently a student at the University of Minnesota studying Theatre Arts. She works in prop shop as a prop artisan and a prop master. Katy has worked with Live Action Set before in their productions of The Piano Tuner at the Southern Theater and Deviants during the 2008 Minnesota Fringe Festival. Next year, she looks forward to being the Co-Exective Director for the Xperimental Theatre, the student theatre company based in Rarig Center at the U of M.

Kristin Campbell, ASM / House Manager / Box Office / Board Op.
Kristin Alanna Campbell has stage managed numerous productions around the Twin Cities, primarily with Four Humors Theater, including Deviled Eggs, Bards, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Love is Blind... and Furry, Welcome to Dystopia and their annual fundraiser April Fools. Other credits include stage managing Animal Farm (Jon Ferguson and Ktron) and Stories as Told in a Bed (Bedlam Theatre) and production managing Million Dollar Museum (Bedlam Theatre). She is an alumnus of the University of Minnesota. Kristin is the managing director of Four Humors Theater.

L. J. Johnson, Ensemble
Above all L.J. Johnson is interested in stories. You may find her performing one, writing one, thinking one, reading one, or teaching one. She coaches storytelling at LNHS, and this summer will be directing a group of students in a devised version of Peter Pan through her new company.

Lisa Bol, Ensemble
Lisa Bol is really happy about making her debut with Live Action Set as a Bunny. Since receiving her B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, she has worked with quite a few theatre companies in the Twin Cities, including 20% Theater Co, The Seasons Dinner Theater, Cromulent Shakespeare Co, Gremlin Theatre, and The Old Log Theater. Some of her most memorable characters would be Mrs. Jennings in Sense and Sensibility, Touchstone and Audrey in As You Like It, Francesca in Perfect Pie, Snow White in Snow White, and A Three Legged-Tap-Dancing Martian in War of the Worlds: The Musical. She would like to thank her eternally supportive family, friends and coworkers as well as the amazing Twin Cities theatre community. For more fun information, check out www.lisaannbol.com.

Mandy Langenfeld, Musician
Mandy Langenfeld has been performing and composing for 20 years. She has a BA in Music from St. Catherine University and has done several performing tours all over the globe. She carefully balances her time between her two passions, massage therapy as her vocation and music as her avocation. She and her husband, Andy, work together on stage for this production, as well as in their own company, Black Dirt Theater.

Mark Benzel, Ensemble
Mark Benzel is a company member with Upright Egg Theatre and has worked with companies such as Sandbox Theatre (The Horse, The Bird, The Monkey and The Dancer), Upright Egg (Love Project, Chuck Mee Project), 20% Theatre Company (elephant shoes and olive juice), Old Log Theater (Treasure Island), and Walking Shadow (Mojo, The American Pilot). Mark recently returned from studying clown at the Burlesk Center in Switzerland. He thanks friends, family, and fellow performers for all the inspiration and support they give him with his every leap.

Mark Ruark, Technical Director / Lighting Designer
Mark Ruark is a freelance theatre artist by trade, musician by heart, and is pursuing his passions as often as he can. This is his 7ths show with Live Action Set in various capacities, he is also the resident sound and light technician for Xelias Aerial Arts School and a member of the Monday Night Band Club.

Matt "Sass" Spring, Stage Manager / Assistant Director / Consigliore
This is Matt Spring’s first production with Live Action Set, as well as his first venture into stage management. Matt is a Founding Director of Four Humors Theater and has been with the group since its inception in 2005. He's had the pleasure of appearing in Sideways Stories from Wayside School,Mortem Capiendum, Romeo and Juliet, Bards, Beckett's Widow, and Deviled Eggs. Matt graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with a BA in Theater Arts in 2006. He has never worked on a show like this, and knows that it is only made possible thanks to the incredibly talented and professional cast and crew.

Matt Riggs, Ensemble
Matt Riggs is founding member of Upright Egg Theatre Company. Past Project work the company includes The After Life Project (Director), The Love Project (Director), The Chuck Mee Project (Creative Collaborator/Set Design), The Eight (Director/Actor), Dreaming Project (Actor/Puppet Design), The Hope Moment (Actor/Puppet Design), Uranus (Actor), A Dastardly Tale of Skullduggery and Shenanigans (Playwright/Actor), The Hit and Run (Director), reCollect (Director/Co-Playwright). Outside acting credits include MN Jewish Theatre, Lone Wolf Tribe (New York), and Youth Performance Company (Puppet/Mask Design). Matthew is a graduate of Hamline University and the O’Neil National Theatre Institute. In addition to his theatre work, Matthew is also a teaching artist working with students grades K-12 all over the twin cities metro area and beyond.

Mike Rylander, Ensemble
Mike Rylander is thrilled to be making his debut performance with Live Action Set! Previously, he has worked with Four Humors (Deviled Eggs, Romeo & Juliet), Girl Friday (The Skin Of Our Teeth), Hennepin Theatre Trust (The Awesome 80's Prom), Actor's Theatre of MN (Tony & Tina's Wedding, Song of Singapore), Theatre Unbound (Babe: An Olympic Musical), Lamb Lays With Lion (Cat On A Hot Tin Roof), Dana's Boys (The Saved By The Bell Show, Hamluke) & Brave New Others (The Da Vinci Code Cliff Notes). Mike has appeared in several national, local & internet commercials - including the "Most Watched Commercial of All-Time" (Doritos' Snack Attack Samurai), which aired during this year's Super Bowl. He is a graduate of the Brave New Workshop's Institute of Improvisation, the In-Arena Host for the Minnesota Timberwolves, a Television Host for ShopNBC & Lifetime Fitness, and a former Television Host for The CW Twin Cities. This summer, Mike will be reprising his role of AC Slater in a remount of The Saved By The Bell Show at the Bryant Lake Bowl, and in the fall, he will portray Lt. Jonathan Kendrick in Urban Samurai's production of A Few Good Men.

Nick Marcouiller, Ensemble
Noah Bremer, Happy Maker / Artistic Director, Live Action Set
Noah Bremer is an actor, director, creator and instigator. He has worked with the Guthrie Theater, Children’s Theatre Company, The Red Eye Collaboration, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, the Soap Factory, Illusion Theater, Southern Theater, Pillsbury House Theatre, and others. As a director or actor/creator, he has collaboratively created more than 40 original theatrical works. He received an Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board in 2005. Also that year, the Star Tribune and City Pages recognized his co-creation of Please Don't Blow Up Mr. Boban, with the latter naming him Artist of the Year. Noah has studied theater at the University of Minnesota and at the Dell’Arte School of Physical Theater in California. In June, he is thrilled to join the cast of the Cirque du Soleil European touring production of Varekai.

Noah Coon, Ensemble
Noah Coon is thrilled to be a part of The Happy Show! Noah is a fifth grader and has performed nationally in theater, film, and TV commercials. Some of his favorite roles include the Guthrie Theater; Macbeth, Caroline or Change, and A Christmas Carol and touring nationally with A Christmas Carol and Songs From The Tall Grass. Other roles have been Rumspringa, Encore, Narnia, Joseph..., Oliver, Little House..., Oklahoma!, Cinderella, 101 Dalmatians, Light and its Effect..., Souvenirs,Money 101, Heavenly Sight, and Older Women and Younger Men. Noah has won several awards for Best Actor in theater and film. In addition to his love for theater, Noah also loves to sing, dance, read, play games and trumpet. Noah has had the time of his life creating this show and can't wait for your Adventure to begin!

Rachel Petrie, Ensemble

Ryan Lear, Ensemble

Ryan Underbakke, Director
Ryan Underbakke received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota, attended Stella Adler Academy's Conservatory Program in Los Angeles, California where he a company member of City Garage Theater Company and Son of Semele. He went on to attain his Masters of Fine Arts from the London International School of Performing Arts in London, England where he created with London's Punch Drunk Theater Company. While in England he was commissioned by the Playground Theater and Camdens People Theater. He is the Co-Creator and Artistic Director of Giant Bird International Theater Company which was short listed for High Tide Festival at Young Vic in London and winner of Producers Pick at Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Ryan was chosen as a featured artist with Emily King at the Walker Arts Center Choreographers Evening 2009.