Meet the Cast: Loose Knit!

First of all...it has been some time since we've updated our blog, so our deepest apologies to our faithful readers.

Second of all...what better way to revamp Behind the Scenes then with a meet-and-greet with the cast of our next production Loose Knit by Theresa Rebeck? Loose Knit is a hilarious comedy that follows five women who on a weekly basis, nestled in the heart of New York City, find comfort in a knitting circle. As the sweaters pile up, their lives unravel. Liz is having an affair with her sister’s husband, Gina’s lost her job, Paula is having an identity crisis, and Margie just wants a date.Enter: Miles, a swaggering businessman who made his first million before he turned 30, and only needs a wife to complete his life. And he knows exactly what he’s looking for. On a series of hilarious blind dates in a sushi restaurant, Miles and the women go head to head in an attempt to define what it is men and women want these days.

Meet the Director:

HALEY MURPHY is delighted to be returning to Taking Flight Theatre after directing Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha and the WATCH nominated Six Degrees of Separation. She has worked regionally in theatres from New York to North Carolina, most recently developing a summer drama camp in western Maine. Locally she has directed for companies such as Source Theatre (DC), the Arlington Players, the Reston Community Players, Encore Theatre, and Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theatre among others. She has taught theatre in a wide variety of theatres, schools and camps and is currently the founder and director of Dodgeball Theatre where her locally renowned Teen Ensemble develops and performs original work. She was a WATCH award winner for best Director of a Musical for her RCP production of Seussical.

Meet the Cast:
JACKIE DAVIS (Lily) majored in theatre arts at the University of Pennsylvania and began working in community theatre this past year. She was last seen as Rapunzel in Taking Flight Penguins’ production of Humpty Dumpty is Missing. Previous acting credits include Ralph/Wikewitch/Joe Bob in Anton in Show Business, Frau Gabor in Spring Awakening, Muriel Tate in Plaza Suite, and Antonio in The Tempest. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support.

CAITY BROWN (Gina) This is Caity's debut with Taking Flight and with community theatre in Virginia. Since moving to D.C. two years ago, she has appeared in several shows in Maryland and D.C., including Doubt, Young Turg (both at the Greenbelt Arts Center), I Remember Mama (Rockville Little Theatre), Who Dunit? (Bowie Community Theatre) and King Lear (Capital Fringe Festival). Originally from the Philadelphia area, she has also lived and studied in Connecticut and New York, where her community theatre credits also include Six Degrees of Separation, The Diary of Anne Frank, Getting Away with Murder, Psycho Beach Party, and Don't Drink the Water. She holds a degree in drama from Vassar College, but is now pursuing a Ph.D. in political science at Georgetown University. She would like to thank the director, cast, and crew for a great experience, in which the only trying part was learning how to knit.

JENNY GIRARDI (Liz) Jenny is effing thrilled to be in a production once again after being on a theatrical hiatus for several years. After earning her BA in Theatre at George Mason University, she moved to NYC in pursuit of the arts where she studied at the Maggie Flanigan Studio and was accepted into Atlantic Acting School. Jenny worked on several TV shows while in New York including consistent work as a Photo Double on CBS' The Good Wife before moving to Italy to run workshops for artists. She could not have asked for a better Director and cast to get knitty and gritty with!

KATE KEIFER (Marge) This is Kate's second production with Taking Flight, after last appearing in Frankenstein: A New Musical. After appearing in a long string of musicals, Kate is excited for the opportunity to perform in a play. With lines. Previously, Kate appeared with RCP in Curtains as Jessica Cranshaw for which she received a WATCH nomination, as well as Honk! (Dot/Henrietta),Mame (Gloria Upson), and City of Angels (Angel City 4). She has also appeared as Our Lady of the Spa in Nine (KAT), and Katherine Housman in The Invention of Love (ESP). Kate would like to thank Haley for talking her out of using a knitting stunt double, Mark Zuckerberg for giving her something to do when she's not at rehearsal, Steve, who always says yes against his better judgment, and Jack and Jane, for teaching her about comic timing.

ANISSA PAREKH (Paula) Anissa is thrilled to working with such a wonderful cast in crew in her first production with the Taking Flight Theatre Company. Anissa is a graduate of the Theatre Lab Honors Conservatory, and currently studies at the Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory. When she is not acting, Anissa practices law and yoga, and loves to knit. Anissa would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support, and especially her Mum for teaching her how to knit

STU FISCHER (Miles) has appeared in many productions, most recently as the male lead in "Spirit Tales" at this summer's Fringe Festival and as Marullus and Metellus in "Julius Caesar" for the Capital City Players. This summer he also performed the lead role in a stage reading of "The Wolf in Peter" at the National Theater sponsored by Theater J and Theater Lab. In real life, Stuart hates sushi and met his wife through eHarmony.

WAYNE JACQUES (Bob) Wayne is excited to be working with Taking Flight Theatre Company again. He has Had such a wonderful time working with such a talented cast and crew. Wayne has been with TFT since 2004, some of the shows he as been in include The Elephant Man, Six Degrees of Seperation, One Flew Over the Cookoo"s Nest and Fifth of July. Wayne would like to thank all of his family and friends for their love and support and thanks to his amaizing girlfriend Colleen which he loves so very much!