Exit, Pursued by a Bear

Exit, Pursued by a Bear

by Lauren Gunderson
directed by Stacy Madson

featuring the talents of Patrice Hood, Jake Konrath, Nicole McCarty, and Christopher Orth
with production design by Alan Piotrowicz

Nan has decided to teach her abusive husband Kyle a lesson. With the help of her friend Simon (acting as her emotional — and actual — cheerleader) and a stripper named Sweetheart, she tapes Kyle to a chair and forces him to watch as they reenacts scenes from their painful past. In the piece de resistance, they plan to cover the room in meat and honey so Kyle will be mauled by a bear. Through this night of emotional trials and ridiculous theatrics, Nan and Kyle are both freed from their past in this smart, dark revenge comedy.

Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.

May 12th & 13th, 2022 @ 7:00pm
May 14th & 15th, 2022 @ 2:00pm & 7:00 pm
May 16th, 2022 @ 7:00pm - Pay-What-You-Wish (discount available at the door)

Cast

Nicole McCarty (Nan Carter)

Nicole (she/her) has a B.M. in music education from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater and a M.M. in vocal performance from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM). Her most recent performances have been as Joy Southside Summer with the #Enough project to end gun violence, Renee in Babel with the Constructivists, and as an ensemble member in Black Nativity with the Black Arts of MKE. Her upcoming performances will be as Nan Carter in Exit, Pursued by a Bear with Sunstone Studios and as Apollo in L'Orfeo with Milwaukee Opera Theatre. She also sings with a funk cover band named Montage.

Jake Konrath (Kyle Carter)

Jake is thrilled to be making his debut with Sunstone Studios. Jake, a graduate from UW-Stevens Point received a Bachelor of Arts in Drama. He has acted in a variety of productions throughout Milwaukee. Recent credits include SHERLOCK HOLMES with Milwaukee Entertainment Group. HAND TO GOD with Voices Found Repertory. Renaissance Theaterworks Br!nk New Play Festival where he appeared in an original play ANNIE JUMP AND THE LIBRARY OF HEAVEN. As well as TAKING SHAKESPEARE with Boulevard Theatre. He is also a huge Bucks fan and he’d thank his friends, family and Fiancée Maddie for all their support!

Patrice L. Hood (Sweetheart/Peaches/Superkyle)

Patrice (she/her) is very blessed to be a part of Sunstone Studios production of Exit, Pursued by a Bear. Meeting new people in this production has been a great pleasure. Patrice has recently been seen in the staged reading of RIP the Musical (Sunstone Studios), #ENOUGH Plays to End Gun Violence (All in Productions), Witness for the Prosecution (West Allis Players), The Nerd (Summer Stage of Delafield), Sister Act the Musical, Villains, Monsters, & Ghouls Cabaret, The Moment Concert Reading, The Laramie Project, and Dream Role: A Cabaret (Waukesha Civic Theatre). Patrice would like to first thank God for the love, friendships, and blessings bestowed upon her. Special thank you to Stacy, Ben, Sunstone Studios for a great experience during this relatable tale.

Christopher Orth (Simon Beaufort)

Christopher Orth (Simon Beaufort) has worked as an actor, director, and teacher for several local schools and fine arts companies including Falls Patio Players, Waukesha Civic Theatre, Martin Luther High School, To the Pointe Fine Arts, Above the Clouds Milwaukee, and currently serves as the Company Supervisor for Kohl’s Wild Theater. Recent acting credits include Sister Act (Joey), Deathtrap (Clifford Anderson), Miss Holmes (Thomas Chapman/Michael Stamford), Cinderella (Prince Christopher), Antigone (Kreon), and Little Women the Musical (John Brooke). Huge thanks to Stacy and Sunstone Studios for the opportunity to be a part of this fantastic show!

Production Team

Stacy Madson (Director)

With over 35 years as an actor, Stacy (she/her) is stunned and exhilarated to find that directing is now a perfect fit. Incredibly, homeschooling her five kids has cultivated many of the same skills she's needed to direct; the ability to examine history and the human condition, to patiently listen with respect for other's autonomy and countless hours of conversation dissecting inner motivation and cultivation of one's character. Stacy acts on stage, film and works as a Madame of Ceremonies with burlesque troupe Grindhouse Tease as well as others throughout the Milwaukee area. Currently, she also teaches Science, Cooking, and Improv classes, leads arts workshops, studies Stoic philosophy and communication, and is a motivational public speaker and soccer coach. People around the world enjoy Stacy's meditative readings on the app Insight Timer. Stacy's next projects include judging entries for Village Playhouse's Annual One-Act Festival and Directing a pilot episode of the "taped before a live studio audience" MKE (Mostly, Kinda Entertaining) Milwaukee Variety Show. In early June she'll be featured as Cassandra in Lake Country Playhouse's staged reading of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Then she'll direct and appear as Margie in LCP's staged reading of Good People in August. She sends out a very heartfelt thank-you to artist Leo James for all of the ideas and help he provided throughout group rehearsals and with individual monologue work. She could not feel any luckier than to work with him again.

Alan Piotrowicz (Production Designer)

Alan (he/him) is proud to complete his third production design for a Lauren Gunderson show at Sunstone, following TOIL AND TROUBLE and THE TAMING earlier this season. He also designed Sunstone’s MACBETH and coordinated WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT (in collaboration with Cooperative Performance). He's designed for several companies around Milwaukee, including All In Productions, Cooperative Performance, Danceworks, Falls Patio Players, First Stage Children’s Theatre, In Tandem Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Next Act Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, Theatre Gigante, Theater RED, and Windfall Theatre, among others. He’s also designed for TITAN Theatre Company in New York City, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre in Holland, MI, and Ivoryton Playhouse and Brief Cameo Productions in Ivoryton, CT. He sits on the board of both Cooperative Performance and Brief Cameo Productions and received his training at UW-Madison and The Santa Fe Opera. www.alanpiotrowicz.com

Ben Yela (Stage Manager)

A theatermaker and musician, Ben (he/him) co-founded 1419, an interdisciplinary arts collective, in Minneapolis at the beginning of the 2010s. Beginning his professional career as a stage manager with other MPLS companies such as Red Eye Theater and Nimbus Theater, he then moved to Milwaukee in September 2012, becoming a founding member of Quasimondo Physical Theatre. Since, he has worked with several other Wisconsin companies as a performer, stage manager, and technician, including Voices Found Repertory, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, Theatre Gigante, Cooperative Performance, Danceworks, Optimist Theatre, Acacia Theatre, Truepenny Theatre, 53212 Presents, Sunstone Studios and Door Shakespeare.

Special Thanks