GABE McKINLEY (Director) is a writer, actor and director. His work has been produced nationally and internationally, including at the Imperial theater in Tokyo and by the Atlantic Theater Company in New York. He is thrilled to be working at the Legacy Theatre.

JAMIE BURNETT (Scenic & Lighting Designer) is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, recipient of the 2005 New Haven Arts award, and Founding member of The Elm Shakespeare Company. Lighting Designer at Elm Shakespeare for 26 years and Set Designer until 2009. Lighting Design credits include International Festival of Arts and Ideas 2018, Requiem for an Electric Chair; Iseman Theater 2017, Never Stand Still. CCT: Skeleton Crew, Rasheeda Speaking, Jesus Hopped the A Train, Sunset Baby, Topdog/Underdog. SCSU: Stop Kiss, Much Ado About Nothing, The Boyfriend, and Our Country’s Good. SHU: In The Heights, Jesus Christ Superstar. Citywide Open Studios: New Haven Armory; Projects2k: Stamford Train Station Façade Lighting; Producer/Lighting Designer/Production Manager for Terra Tractus (The Earth Moves), (2005) Terra Mirabila, (2001) Terra Lumina and Terra Continuum (1999): performed in the Stony Creek Granite Quarry; PNM’s Branford (2010) lighting Branford Green Town Hall. His company, Luminous Environments, specializes in theater and TV studio renovations and public art installations involving specialized lighting. Recent projects: Branford HS Theater, Fairfield Community Theater, and Legacy Theatre.

GALI NOY (Costume Designer) www.galinoy.com

POLLY GREGORY (Assistant Costume Designer) is a costume designer and costumer living in Los Angeles. She is originally from Nashville, TN, and studied costume design in theater at The George Washington University in DC. Even though Polly primarily works in film and television now, her roots will always be in theater and she is excited to be assistant designing on this show.

ERICA PAJONAS (Properties Designer) Legacy Theater: The Tales of Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh (Owl), The Rape of Lucretia (Assistant Stage Manager), A Christmas Carol (Female Swing), The Great Gatsby: A Live Radio Play (Props Coordinator), Deathtrap (Props Coordinator & Assistant Stage Manager), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hippolyta & Mustardseed). Yale School of Music: Le Comte Ory (Assistant Stage Manager). Quinnipiac University: Thebes: A New Musical (Laius), Proof (Catherine), Macbeth (Lennox & Doctor, Props Master), Thom Pain (based on nothing) (Producer), The Lifespan of a Fact (Props Master), Love & Information (Ensemble), Bad Jews (Set Designer), Seven Minutes in Heaven (Run Crew), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Fairy) New Play Festival 2019 (Stage Manager, Last Words). Education: Quinnipiac University, Psychology and Theater double major. Awards: Alpha Psi Omega Theater Honors Society, Psi Chi Psychology Honors Society.

ADAM JACKSON (Sound Designer) is thrilled to be a part of Legacy’s third season! Adam has worked on over 50 productions as an actor and designer. He has done technical theatre design work for Walsh Intermediate School, the Branford High School Fall Play and Spring Musical, Ivoryton Playhouse, WCSU Opera, and Elm Shakespeare Company. He is also the resident technical supervisor at Shoreline Theatre Company where he particularly enjoys working on the summer camp shows. Adam recently graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a BS in Music Education and a concentration in classical trombone. He runs sound for The River Church in Danbury and occasionally has the pleasure of being invited into theatre classes to speak to students about the joys of technical theatre!

RICH BURKAM (Master Carpenter) came to Connecticut to study music and music recording at UNH. He played in bands such as 4:20, Space Cushion, and Over The Line. His studies continued, learning to be a luthier under Barry Lipman and Chris Tatalias, giving him a taste for fine woodworking. Richard now owns a woodshop that makes fine furniture, in a space which is shared with lighting designer Jamie Burnett. Together they have built sets for many production companies, including Elm Shakespeare, Yale Baroque Opera Project, and many small black box theater productions.

T. RICK JONES (Stage Manager) is pleased to be back among his Legacy family. You may have spotted him haunting the booth during 2022’s A Christmas Carol or The Rape of Lucretia earlier this year. His career spans 30 years, with other credits including Regional: White Heron Theatre Company (Resident SM/Production Manager); Lyric Stage Company of Boston (PSM); White Plains Performing Arts Center (PSM); Colonial Theatre – Shakespeare in the Park (PSM, Production Manager, Assistant Producer, Production Photographer); The Ivoryton Playhouse (PSM); Seven Angels Theatre (PSM). Off-Broadway: Sessions: The Musical (PSM); A Night at the Carlyle (PSM); Yohen (PSM). T. Rick is also the Managing Editor of the online outlet Daily Star Trek News and a Contributing Writer for Sherlock Holmes Magazine.

LAURENCE DAVIS (Playwright) The author of this play and his past works must remain kayfabe** and circled squarely behind the mask of the luchador at this time. This enigmatic dramatist wishes to thank his family for their encouragement; the donors and especially the PowerSlam donors for their generosity; the cast for bringing life to these characters with such elegance and inspiration; the director for lending the show his passion and expertise; and The Legacy Theatre for boldly originating a challenging new work. Your pseudo-innominate scribe insists on a special shoutout to K.F. for his editorial brilliance. And is proud to share his great, great gratitude to J.R.R. for being the shepherd, shipmaster and shaman of this show. In loving memory of Manny, Jack, Brian and Bea. And dedicated to the future World Heavyweight Champion of Connecticut, Caleb. **See glossary of wrestling term definitions on page 13 of the program

JAMES RODAY RODRIGUEZ (Producer) went to NYU and studied theater with a bunch of other people in this company. He co-founded Red Dog Squadron and made plays in Los Angeles for 20 years for dozens and dozens of people who sometimes enjoyed watching them. One of those plays was Gabe McKinely’s Extinction which they moved Off Broadway at the Cherry Lane. He couldn’t be more excited to reunite with these old, talented bloodhounds and help bring this production to life at the Legacy Theatre. As an actor, James continues his work on Psych and just finished a five year run on ABC’s A Million Little Things. Thanks, as always, to the fans who support him in all his endeavors including this one. And thank you Keely for taking this swing.

ACTOR’S EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA) was founded in 1913, and AEA represents more than 50,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org

SPECIAL THANKS FOR MASTERS OF PUPPETS
Sarah Pero, The Burry Fredrik Foundation, Ken Bjork, Josh Braun, James Buchanan, Tim Healey, Kevin MacLeod, Cara Mulqueen-Teasdale, Tommy Rosatti at Regional Center for the Arts (Trumbull), Salon Paul Michael, David Sepulveda, Ron Yavnieli, Amie Ziner, Ice Bucket, Guilford High School Theatre Arts

Select music pieces from Over the Line