CREATIVE TEAM

Gwyn is a journalist, humorist and playwright who has written over 1,000 feature stories for newspapers and magazines. She also works as a copywriter and as a publicist. She has had short plays and a full-length play produced as readings on Martha’s Vineyard and New York City. Gwyn has twice performed her own work as part of a series called Broad Humor which featured, among others, New Yorker writer, playwright and humorist Jenny Allen and actresses Brooke and Lynn Adams. Gwyn's publishing history includes stories for Highlights for Children magazine and articles in Men's Health, PBS Parents, and A&E's Asterisk, among many other publications. Gwyn grew up around the theater. Her father worked for Circle in the Square and founded a small theater in East Hampton, NY. Her one and only outing as an actress was in an off-off-Broadway production of THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES – an experience that taught her that she better stick to writing. Gwyn wrote her first two plays as a child – one for her Girl Scout troop (she invented the “Playwriting Badge” of which she was, and still is, the only recipient) and one for her fifth-grade health class (a play that is still considered among the finest in the “Evil of Drugs” genre). Gwyn's blog pickyourpoison.net features irreverent poems, short stories, anecdotes, and the occasional poorly illustrated cartoon.

MJ is the Artistic and Executive Director of Martha's Vineyard Playhouse. Her work as a stage director spans over 25 years, including world premieres of Jon Lipsky’s WALKING THE VOLCANO, Arnie Reisman's NOT CONSTANTINOPLE, and SWEETENED WATER by Edward L. Beck. Her most recent credits include RED, THE SECOND GIRL, DUSTY AND THE BIG BAD WORLD and DRIVING MISS DAISY. MJ is the recipient of the 2005 Creative Living Award from the Permanent Endowment Fund of Martha's Vineyard. She is a member of SDC. She and her husband Paul live in Vineyard Haven.

Molly is delighted to be performing at Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse for the first time! Off-Broadway credits include MY BIG GAY ITALIAN MIDLIFE CRISIS (The Theater Center) and THE TEMPEST (New York Classical Theatre.) Other NYC credits include an all-female OTHELLO and productions at NYMF and Alvin Ailey. Regional credits: THE GAME’S AFOOT (Ivoryton Playhouse, currently nominated for Best Ensemble by the Connecticut Critic’s Circle), START DOWN (premiere at Centenary Stages), UNNECESSARY FARCE and GREETINGS! (Shadowland Stages), OLIVER!, CHICAGO and EQUUS. Film credits include Monster (Winner: Best Actress at the Nohu International Film Festival) and the award-winning web series turned feature film, While Waiting for Godot. Molly has appeared on Collegehumor, Nickelodeon, Amazon series and in various national and international commercials. She has also preformed stand-up comedy in NYC, LA and Dublin. For more info, visit backstage.com/mollydensmore.

Matt is thrilled to be back at Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse where he has been seen in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, IF ALL THE SKY WERE PAPER, and THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK. He has appeared alongside Oscar, Tony and Emmy award winning performers in Musicals, Plays, Shakespeare and Opera in New York City and across the Country. Matt extends his gratitude to MJ, The Playhouse staff, and company. Proud Member AEA, SAG-AFTRA. BFA: Ithaca College. This fall, Matt will be entering his first Year at The Ohio State University working towards his MFA. He looks forward to working with their Shakespeare and Autism Institute in hopes of making theatre more accessible to those with disabilities. This one is for his Mom and Dad.

Finty is very excited to be making her Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse debut as well as her professional acting debut as Clarice in PASSIONATA. She recently graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York where she was a member of their Academy Company. It was here that she performed in the world premiere of TO WONG FOO THE MUSICAL directed by Douglas Carter Beane. Other Academy credits include: Katherine in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, Lilly in PUNK ROCK, Emma in Stupid Fucking Bird and Yvette in Mother Courage. Prior to this she performed in the UK at the National Theatre as a member of Great Britain’s National Youth Theatre and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as Imogen in Cymbeline. Finty would like to thank her family, friends, teachers and directors for all their support.

Michael is thrilled to be back at the Playhouse having previously appeared as Ken in RED. Broadway: CAMELOT (concert) OLIVER! (concert) BRIGADOON (concert) SOMETHING WONDERFUL (concert) Off Broadway/NYC Theatre: COLLEGE: THE MUSICAL! (Chernuchin Theatre) THE SECRET GARDEN (APAC) PERICLES (Anti-matter Collective) HAMLET, JOAN OF ARC (Gorilla Rep) IRENE, ERNEST IN LOVE, NAUGHTY MARIETTA, ROBERTA, HALF A SIXPENCE (Musicals Tonight!) Regional: The Guthrie Theater (MN) Trinity Repertory Company (RI) Hudson Stage Company (NY) Greater Boston Stage Company (MA) Ocean State Theatre Company (RI) Kentucky Repertory Theatre (KY) Tennessee Williams Festival (MA) The Here And Now (VT) Media Theatre (PA) BFA: Musical Theatre, University of Michigan MFA: Acting, Brown University/Trinity Rep. (Stephen Sondheim Fellow) Special Thanks and Love to MJ, Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Chris.

Paul has been a part of Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse since 1986. In that time he has acted, sang, stage managed, designed sets, lights and sound, and built some amazing sets as the master carpenter. He’s delighted to be back on the main stage as an actor after a very long hiatus.

Abigail is thrilled to return to Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, having last appeared here in CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY. Abigail has also acted with Manhattan Theatre Club, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, California Shakespeare Festival, Dorset Theatre Festival, New Georges, Women’s Project, and Payomet Performing Arts Center on Cape Cod, among others. TV and Film includes Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Witness, Mercy, Childless, Odd Mom Out, Sex and the City, Law & Order, NYPD Blue, Days of Our Lives. She has her MFA from NYU Graduate Acting Program. She has been coming to the Vineyard since she was a kid, and dedicates this show to her baby daughter, Becky. www.AbigailRoseSolomon.com Twitter @AbigailRSolomon. Instagram @AbigailRoseSolomon

David was a member of the acting company at Trinity Repertory Company, in Providence, RI for seven years, where he was directed by Adrian Hall, Philip Minor, David Wheeler, and Richard Jenkins. His roles there included Orin Mannon, MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA, by Eugene O’Neill, Matt, THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE & BOO, by Christopher Durang, Williamson, GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, by David Mamet, Valère, TARTUFFE, by Molière, Garry Lejeune, NOISES OFF, by Michael Frayn, and Ludovico Marsili, GALILEO, by Bertolt Brecht. His other regional theatre credits include the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (SEASON’S GREETINGS, by Alan Ayckborn), the American Repertory Theatre (THE BOYS NEXT DOOR, by Tom Griffin), Charlotte Rep (A FEW GOOD MEN, by Aaron Sorkin), and Yale Repertory Theatre (UNDERGROUND). This is his third appearance at Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, having played Harold in VISITORS, by Barney Norris, and Alan Watts in Larry Mollin’s HIGH TIME. Mr. Stephens conceived and tours a one-man recitation of Stephen Vincent Benét’s short story THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER.