Tragedy: a tragedy Bios

tragedy: a tragedy cast Bios

MEI LU BARNUM (Constance) NYC-based, Boston area raised, and Pittsburgh educated, Mei Lu is excited to be back with Barebones for her first virtual play. She was last seen in Barebones’ production of Dance Nation as Sofia. Past Credits: Grease (Pittsburgh CLO), Peter Pan (Pittsburgh CLO), A New Brain (Front Porch Theatricals), Sunday in the Park with George (Celeste #2), Coram Boy (Thomas Ledbury) BFA Point Park University. www.MeiluBarnum.com 

BILLY JENKINS (Michael) is a Pittsburgh-based actor and a 28-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps where he serves as a Sergeant Major. As an actor, he appeared in the TV series “Kill Point” with John Leguizamo, Captain Phillips with Tom Hanks and The Next Three Days with Russell Crowe. On stage, Mr. Jenkins has appeared in Barebones Productions of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, in Pittsburgh Public Theater’s A Few Good Men, as well as Demaskus Theater’s production of Flyin’ West.

Mr. Jenkins is also a nonfiction and essay writer based in Pittsburgh. His essay “Going Home” won the essay award and is published in Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors. Volume 6, published by the Missouri Humanities Council. His work can also be seen in Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors Volume 7. His stories “Banana Milk and Mystery Meat” and “Ebenezer” were  featured in Bricolage Theater’s Word Play. Jenkins is a City of Pittsburgh Firefighter with over 22 years of service. He earned his MFA in Creative Writing from Chatham University in 2015. jenkswc@yahoo.com

GABRIEL KING (John): You may recognize Gabe from his previous appearances with Barebones in True West, Lobby Hero, and Small Engine Repair. Elsewhere his New York Credits include: Half Moon Bay at Cherry Lane, La Brea at Clubbed Thumb, Henry V and Murrow’s Boys at Irondale, The Maids at The 4th Street Theatre, as well as Restoration Comedy and These Seven Sicknesses with Exit Pursued By a Bear of which he was a founding member. Regionally, he has starred in: Troublemaker, or the Freakin’ Kick-A Adventures of Bradley Boatright at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Comedy of Errors, House of Home, and Western Country at Williamstown Theatre Festival, and Rock & Roll at Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre. He holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon School of Drama where he was the recipient of the 2010 John Arthur Kennedy Acting Award. 

DAVID WHALEN (Frank): David is excited to be back with barebones, having previously appeared in A STEADY RAIN, & directed TAKE ME OUT. Recently, he filmed CYRIL with Pgh Playwrights Theatre. David will be seen as George Washington in the film:  THE CONSTITUTION, a historical docu-drama coming out in 2022. He has performed in over 100 theatrical productions across the country, including over a dozen World & American Premieres.   Some of the theatres he has worked at include: The Guthrie, Roundabout Theatre, South Coast Rep (10 productions), Alley Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theater (12 productions), Philadelphia Theatre Company, Center Stage in Baltimore, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (4 productions), Arden Theatre, Folger Theatre, Hartford Stage, Everyman Theatre, Roundhouse Theatre, Huntington Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, McCarter Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Repertory theatre of St. Louis, Peoples Light & Theatre, Venice’s Bienalle Festival, Playmakers Rep, City Theatre Company (7 productions), Kinetic Theatre (9 productions), PICT (23 Productions),  among others.  AWARDS:  Performer of the Year by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, nominated and/or received:  KEVIN KLINE. BARRYMORE, & HELEN HAYES Awards.  Representative FILM & TV credits: “THE LOUDEST VOICE”, “AMERICAN PASTORAL”. “SOUTHPAW”, “THE LAST WITCH HUNTER”, “THE FAULT IN OUR STARS”, “JACK REACHER”, “UNSINKABLE”, “CHECKMATE”, “THE FIRST SEAL”, “61*”, “THE CHRISTMAS TREE”, “BLACK DAHLIA”,  “MY BLOODY VALENTINE”, “INDICTMENT: THE MCMARTIN TRIAL”, “WITHOUT WARNING”,  “THREE RIVERS”, “PENSACOLA”, “SILK STALKINGS”, “DIAGNOSIS: MURDER”.  www.davidwhalenactor.net