WITTE'S END

WITTE'S END is to die for! An hysterical, fast-paced, sexy, laugh-out-loud comedy about life and death as seen from the bottom of a glass. Peter Witte, self-proclaimed “hack” screenwriter is going to end it all because he lacks legitimacy as a playwright. He has five bottles of wine, one of which contains poison. He opens each bottle in a game of Russian Roulette, while his friends, neighbors and strangers watch with horror and humor fearful that any bottle may contain the "fatal draught."
PG-13 for language; Running time: approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes with intermission.
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WITTE's END
Riprap Studio Theatre
5755 Lankershim Blvd.
NoHo, CA 91601
November 2008 - January 2009 - NOW CLOSED
November 21, 2008 is FRIENDS NIGHT by invitation only
Every Friday and Saturday at 8PM;
Sundays at 2PM and 7PM
(NO 2PM MATINEE Sunday, January 11, 2009.)
RSVP Box Office (818) 990-7498
Or buy tickets safely and securely online
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Important: ALL TICKET SALES ARE FINAL. TICKETS ARE NOT SHIPPED, bring your email receipt to the door. You are automatically RSVP'd as PAID when you pay online. No refunds but we will honor your PAID ticket at another performance if possible. Double check your order including event, date and time of event, quantity of tickets, and ticket prices before completing this transaction Include day and date of performance you are attending in "Special Instructions" on the secure order form and please INCLUDE A VALID TELEPHONE NUMBER. When ordering ONLINE please print your receipt for your records. REMEMBER you will be RSVP'd at the door without it if purchased before 5PM on the day of performance or earlier. QUESTIONS Call (818) 990-7498

EVAN KELIHER (Playwright). A native Detroiter, Evan Keliher grew up in the city along with nine siblings in a home long on family values and short of cash. All members of the family worked part-time and contributed to the communal budget on a regimen that encouraged thrift and interfered with their studies. Unhappy in school, Evan dropped out in '48, enlisted in the Marines, and lived to rue the day when he found himself in the midst of the Korean War and at risk of serious injury. However, the military experience wasn't entirely wasted, as Evan realized the importance of education while in the service. He graduated from high school and went on to study at Wayne State University in Detroit where he earned a teaching degree in '55 and launched a 30-year career in the city's public schools.

He wrote his first book in '76, a satire on the schools titled NEW AFRICA HIGH: A Low Comedy. The school board took umbrage and transferred him to a new post but was unable to fire him thanks to the tenure laws. Evan later earned masters and doctoral degrees and rose to the lofty position of department head before they wised up and passed new city ordinances to prevent further advancement.

Other writings include stage plays, screenplays, sitcom pilots, novels, and videos. Sample chapters and play manuscripts may be found at www.grandpaspotbook.com. More information via Google.

In addition, Evan is aka Grandpa Ganja, a longtime user of marijuana to treat glaucoma discovered in '62. The pot works at least half the time as he can still see out of one eye. He has written a book titled GRANDPA'S MARIJUANA HANDBOOK and produced a video by the same name that is available on YouTube. Other books may be found on Amazon.com.

DARRELL PHILIP [PETER WITTE - THE WRITER]. Born and raised in Texas where he began acting as soon as he could talk, much to the chagrin of his babysitters who were forced to watch his performances. He worked as a reporter and news producer in Texas before moving to Los Angeles where he worked as a production assistant on films with Anthony Perkins and A Nightmare On Elm Street series. On stage he has been seen as Cyrano in Cyrano de Bergerac, Neil Simon's California Suite and most recently in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit. He has studied at the Groundlings with Kathy Griffin, with Ivana Chubbuck, and currently Jordana Capra. He can soon be seen in the forthcoming films Redux, The Chronicles Of Hernia, Three-Part Disharmony and the new martial arts series Eve: Beauty And The Blade as the evil Tiberius. Also look for Darrell in a new series coming soon to MTV called Backstabbers.

LAURA NAPOLI [CAROL - THE WIFE and JACKIE - THE AGENT]. A recent transfer from the NYC area, Laura has made a name for herself in the motion capture and voice-over worlds. Credits include: Celebrity Deathmatch, Dead Rising, and Devil May Cry 4. Currently, she is performing as Sarah Connor in the Universal Studios live- action stunt show Terminator 2:3D. She is a member of the Sacred Fools Theater Company, The Improviders improv company (6 time Improv Olympic Cage Match champions), and StolenDress Entertainment production company. And if her résumé were not versatile enough, she is part of the Grammy-nominated rock/sketch group, The Incredible Dollface. She is thrilled to be working with the cast and crew at Riprap Entertainment and Riprap Studio Theatre for the first time. Laura is represented by The Beverly Agency. See her website at: www.laura-napoli.com. (Member of Actors' Equity Association, The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.)

EFIA PEARSON [CAROL - THE WIFE U.S. and RONA - THE ACTRESS U.S.] Efia joins Riprap again having played the roles of REPORTER, HOUSEKEEPER and TICKET AGENT in the hit stage play ECCENTRIC at Riprap Studio Theatre July 2007 - Sept. 2007. Efia got her start in both stage and film at Florida State University, where she earned her BA in Theatre. During her time there, she appeared in over 20 stage productions, and acted in many student films at FSU's prestigious Film School. Efia also studied in London, where she got to workshop with Fiona Shaw ("Harry Potter"), Selina Cadell ("Match Point") and several instructors from the Le Coq school (Paris, France). Her favorite stage roles include Helen in Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Eliante in The Misanthrope, Marianne in Tartuffe and Delia in Blues for an Alabama Sky (winner Best Supporting Actress). Most recently, Efia was seen on the highly anticipated season premiere of The Shield, and participated in the weekly Riprap Entertainment Television broadcast (2006-2007 on KVMD) as the clever Siren, Brook. She is extremely happy to be a part of this production and hopes you enjoy the show. Efia currently studies at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. You can also check her out at www.efiapearson.com

SANDRA NUTT [RONA - THE ACTRESS]. Producer and founder of Riprap Entertainment and Riprap Studio Theatre, veteran actress of prominent New York stages including AMAS Rep and the Negro Ensemble Company. Sandy has finally found the comedy she's been looking for! Add to that the phenomenal cast and you'll be laughing throughout the Holidays.
More about Sandra.
(Member of Actors' Equity Association, The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.)

CHRISTIANN MARIE CASTELLANOS [RONA - THE ACTRESS and doubling as CAROL - THE WIFE]. Christiann is a graduate of San Diego State University where she majored in Theatre and minored in Television and Film. She has worked on several commercials and also makes her living as a commercial print model. She has worked on Everybody Hates Chris, America's Most Wanted, and several web series projects. Christiann is represented by Lane Management Group and is currently working on internet videos with her sketch group Awkward Kids Hugging.

RJ FARRINGTON [MRS. CRAMER - THE NEIGHBOR]. RJ Farrington recently completed the films Sunshine On Sale, Redeemed, and Ellen & Spent, winner of the best film short award at the 2008 San Diego Film Festival, the stage plays Ewe, Gotta Have Friends! , Picnic & The Love Song Of T.S. Brown, the music video Mamasita, and the internet TV show Dangerous Women. Ms. Farrington holds a B.S. Degree in Business Administration and is currently a member of the Eclectic Company Theatre. RJ is represented by Castle Hill Enterprises.
See her website at: www.rjfarrington.com.

MATTHEW EDWARD FRIEBERG [FATHER FINN - THE PRIEST]. As a homeschooled kid, Matt was introduced to acting through participating in plays at various churches, however, later he saw the theatre kids in high school as "a bunch of drama dorks". As fate would have it, he changed his major in college to Theatre after realizing his talents as an actor during a trip to the Czech Republic. In 2002, Matt moved to California from his home in Arizona to complete a B.A. degree in Theatre from California State University, Fullerton. Matt's professional career began in 2006 when he returned to SoCal from a year at the U.S. Army Flight School in Alabama. Soon after his return, Matt received his SAG card through his experiences in the military and theatre training. He can be seen in the Halo 3 Believe and the Mercury Insurance commercials (Matt's the one who bumps his head into a wall in the low-ceiling Mercury Ins. commercials). In addition to appearing in several other low-budget films, Matt also starred as a soldier alongside TV's American Gladiator captain, Titan in NBC's All American Summer promo this last summer. Besides acting, Matt has aquired experience as a make-up artist, fight choreographer, military advisor, stagemanager and even worked as a lighting controller for one production. He is also a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot for the CA Army National Guard and will soon receive a promotion to the rank of Captain. Some of the missions Matt as worked on besides fighting wildfires, included assisting as an Army pilot for the film productions of Eagle Eye and The Day the Earth Stood Still. When asked if he should focus on just one job, Matt replies with, I can do both! I'm living the dream as a pilot AND an actor.

PASEAN WILSON [JACKIE NOONAN - THE AGENT]. A Native New Yorker, PaSean Wilson has always had a flair for the dramatic and has been performing since the tender age of six. Because PaSean's mother Maydell didn't allow television in the home she was able to expand her imagination by putting on "variety" shows with her brothers and sisters for entertainment. After attending Howard University where she majored in Psychology she returned to New York and studied at HB Studios with Earle Hyman. She began appearing in off-Broadway and Regional plays including Body Shop, Song Of Sheba and in a Dreamgirls company directed by Obba Babatunde. After toiling away off-Broadway, PaSean made her Broadway debut in the Tony nominated play Once On This Island, where she understudied and performed the lead role of Timoune. While performing in Once On This Island she was discovered by an agent who began submitting her for theatrical roles. She quickly landed the recurring role of Asst. DA Dana Kramer on the NBC drama Another World. After being bitten by the TV bug. Wilson decided to move west and pursue TV and film opportunities. Shortly after moving to LA, PaSean began booking pilots and appeared alongside Demi Moore in Striptease and Michael Nouri in Heart of A Champion. She also helped form an independent film production company with friends called Mama's Reel Black Market and appeared in two of the productions. PaSean is usually recognized from her role as the sassy girl in the long running Yoplait Yogurt ("It's sooo good") commercials as well as other national spots for Progressive Car Insurance, Dunkin Donuts, Toyota, McDonalds as well as voiceovers for Sunkist (national) and Toyota to name a few. View clips from PaSean's documentary Stranger Within: Fibroid Stories at: MySpace and YouTube. (Member of Actors' Equity Association, The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.)

CHRISTOPHER RUIZ [THE OFFICER]. Like most actors, Chris always planned to perform on stage. Born in Detroit, the Motor City, he made his way to Hollywood to study with Aaron Speiser and a number of other leading acting coaches. As a working actor, he's been the lead and a featured performer in productions large and small. His current project No Better Friend is scheduled to shoot late winter of '09 in Michigan. He is serving as co-producer and starring as one of the leads.

I'm an actor-producer because, the truth is, that Hollywood is collapsing. Changes in film production and distribution technologies are returning us to the days of Shakespeare at the Globe theater, where every person in a project wears many hats. I enjoy building projects from the ground up, creating truly ensemble productions, and taking a film from script to screen. I'm fortunate to live in a time when I have that freedom.
--Chris Ruiz
Visit Christopher's fabulous web site

DAVID L. STEWART [DIRECTOR], and Artistic Director of Riprap Studio Theatre directs WITTE'S END. Artistic Director of Riprap Studio Theatre since its inception in 1999, David has directed and/or participated in all productions in some capacity including the initial concept “Riprap Writers’ Playhouse” as both writer and director, set builder and photographer. A retired professional photographer and writer, David also directs Riprap Entertainment Television (“RETV”) which is currently on hiatus and aired on KVMD TV July 2006 – through July 2007. He will direct RETV when Sandra moves the weekly half hour broadcast to KDOC 2009.

ANNIE JUSSAUME-LAVIGNE. [LIGHTING DESIGN]. Annie is a native of Montreal and a recent graduate from Montreal University in Comparative Literature and Cinema. She has recently moved to California and is diligently pursuing her love of photography. Annie is contributing her time and expertise to Riprap Studio Theatre for lighting design as well as press and rehearsals photos.

JOHN S. NEMETH, Jr. [SET DESIGN]. A contractor by trade, Johnny helped Sandra build the theatre from the ground up. A fledgling camera man, Johnny has worked on three prior productions in the capacity of set builder, set design and electric and lighting. Originally from Hawaii, he currently splits his time between Santa Monica, North Hollywood at Riprap Studio Theatre assisting with camera and Lancaster continuing his construction.

JIM NEMETH [ELECTRICAL and STAGE MANAGER]: Jim Nemeth resides in Lancaster and works as an electrician by trade. He is also a key gaffer for Riprap Entertainment Television. He has contributed his time to Riprap Studio Theatre for Witte's End as stage manager and assistant to the producer.