THEATRE ONE
AKT UP ENTERPRISES & UNITED SOLO
PRESENT:
JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL: A SOLO FLIGHT
Adapted for the stage and performed by Andrew Thacher
Based on the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
Produced by AKT Up Enterprises
Directed by Paul Millet
Sound Design by Drew Dalzell
Costume Design by Christine Cover Ferro
Promotional Art and Original Paintings by Shelby Tweten
Marketing Graphics by James Castle Stevens
Documentary footage and trailers by Earnest “Nesto” Rhea
Promotional Photos by Eric Keitel
In Loving Memory:
Eric & Susan Thacher
Janet Younger
Special Thanks to:
Christina Harvey, PhD, for education and advice on bird flight
CDR Paul Koch, USN (ret.), for consultation on aerodynamics and flight maneuvers
Scott Coyne and Michael McCarthy for accent coaching
The Rosengarten Family for their generous hospitality and undying support of this NY production
Original Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBq8Wu458Ms
Original Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz0oEiO2HJ0
Show Instagram: jls_soloflight
BIOS
Andrew Thacher (Performer / Producer / Adapter) got his start in Tokyo, Japan, working in English-teaching television, radio and voiceovers for NHK Educational Corporation. A desire to push his limits led him back to the States where he worked on stage and on camera in Seattle and Portland before accepting a performer contract at Walt Disney World. Two years later, he and his wife Kelly relocated to New York so that Andrew could pursue theater. But it was opportunities in television that eventually blossomed, inspiring him to relocate to Los Angeles. Amidst his work in film and television, Andrew began tinkering with Richard Bach’s acclaimed novella Jonathan Livingston Seagull, performing Part 1 as a staged reading for the first time in 2009. A full production eluded him however, but after more than a decade of false starts, he is thrilled to bring A Solo Flight to life at last. Andrew is incredibly grateful to the members of his all-star Production and Creative team, including Paul Millet, who was his first and only choice for Director. Thanks and love always to Kelly, who makes it all worthwhile, and to Jeff, for his brilliant expertise and loving heart. And finally, eternal thanks to Melinda Kellogg and Richard Bach for their support of this production. Find Andrew at: https://facebook.com/AKTUpProd and Instagram: AndrewThacher
Paul Millet (Director) is the artistic director of Unbound Productions where he co-created Wicked Lit, History Litand Mystery Lit. Paul has directed 19 world premieres with Unbound under all three banners. Outside of Unbound he has directed multiple productions and readings at venues all over the greater Los Angeles area including The Road Theatre, Theatre 40, The Blank Theatre, The Chance Theater, High Street Arts Center,and many others. He had the pleasure and privilege of directing Andy Thacher in the Wicked Lit production of The Doll in 2014 as well as multiple readings and development projects since then. He is beyond thrilled to be working with Andy on JLS: A Solo Flight. Paul also enjoys a successful career as a television editor and is a proud member of SDC, TCG and the Motion Picture Editors Guild.
Kelly Anne Eston-Thacher (Anne Eston) (Producer) founded AKT Up Enterprises with her husband Andrew when they produced their first film, a comedy short that she wrote. Anne returned to her creative home of fiction writing in recent years and is currently working on two novels of magical realism. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing, teaches workshops for the International Women’s Writing Guild, and dedicates her services as a professional mentor to helping women writers of all ages. She is delighted to help bring this story vividly to life in A Solo Flight. Find out more about Anne and her work at www.writeranne.net.
Christine Cover Ferro (costume design) has worn many hats in many costume departments since moving to Los Angeles in 2003. Her designs for theatre have graced stages all throughout Los Angeles and Ventura County, most recently working with Rogue Machine, The Fountain Theatre (LA Stage Alliance Ovation nomination for Between Riverside and Crazy, 2019), Pacific Resident Theatre (Stage Raw Awards nomination for The Rhinoceros, 2017), and Unbound Productions (LA Stage Alliance Ovation win for Wicked Lit, 2015). She joined IATSE Local 892 in 2012, and television credits include assistant costume design for the Academy Awards, Cosmos: Possible Worlds for NatGeo, Encore! for Disney +, and Promised Land for ABC. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Macalester College and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Design from Brandeis University.
Drew Dalzell (Sound Designer) has designed sound in venues as varied as Disney Cruise Lines’ Wonder for the world premiere of Toy Story: The Musical to world and West Coast premieres at regional theatres such as South Coast Repertory, The Laguna Playhouse, The Colony, and the Rubicon. As a young designer, he received the 1998 USITT ClearCom Sound Achievement Award. Since then, he has been nominated for Ovation, LA Weekly, Garland, LADCC, and NAACP Awards, winning multiple times. Drew’s Immersive Design work includes Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, Stranger Things: The Drive Into and League of Legends Arcane with Secret Cinema, and multiple seasons of Wicked Lit with Unbound productions where he is also the Creative Director. His television work can be heard in the dialog recording and editing for Ruroni Kenshin, Batman Beyond, Detentions, and Justice League. Drew Dalzell is the owner and Principal Design at Diablo Sound, Inc. He received his MFA in Theatrical Sound Design from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, and his subsequent accomplishments and unique skill set have created a demand for him as a lecturer. He has taught specialized classes in sound design at California Institute of the Arts, the University of California Los Angeles, University of California Irvine and Santa Monica Community College; he has also lectured at Yale University, The University of Missouri Kansas City, North Carolina School for the Arts, Purdue University, Pomona College, and The University of Cincinnati. Find him at: www.diablosound.com
Shelby Tweten (Key Art Creator) Shelby came into this world emerged in art. When she was only a few weeks old, her mother started bringing her to art class, where she slept quietly under an easel while art students created around her. Growing up, she was creatively multifaceted excelling in music, writing and performing. But it wasn’t until she tried fluid art for the first time that she really felt she found her true passion and expression of her soul…capturing the complexities of color, nature, movement, and emotion. Find her art on Instagram @twetennpainten
James Castle Stevens (Marketing Graphics) In his off hours James directs theatre in and around Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, but his day job skills are what he was able to apply to this production. He is an Addy-Award winning graphic designer and has a history of creative and marketing direction, and these days can be found at AAA Flag & Banner directing their creative and marketing. Go figure. James is proud to support this unique world premiere production of Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Solo Flight, and believes in its continued success. Cheers, Andy.
Earnest “Nesto” Rhea (Documentary Filmmaker) is an emerging writer/director and editor with roots as a graphic artist and animator. His visual style and creative eye heavily contribute to the look of his film and music video projects. The passion he has for capturing ‘candid moments’ is what has led him to creating his company Epic House Cinema and producing various behind-the-scenes promo videos and mini-documentaries. He is known for writing and directing the short film “The Script” starring Jesse Spencer (CBS’s “Chicago Fire”; Fox’s “House M.D.”) and Jennifer Morrison (“House M.D.”; ABC’S “Once Upon a Time”), as well as directing “Forever No More”, written and starring Nkechi Okoro (Showrunner, The CW’s “All American”). Nesto has plans to adapt “The Script” as a feature film along with other projects currently in development. Find him at: https://www.youtube.com/user/happylittlebrownman and Instagram: nestorhea
