THE LAST ASTRONAUT
The Last Astronaut
The Last Astronaut
A Los Angeles Tragicomedy
Written by: Raúl Ramón Bencomo
Directed by: Christopher J. Salazar
Raúl Ramón Bencomo (Ray/playwright) has been hanging in there for 27 years. Originally from New Orleans, he split time in college between Auburn and Tulane University where he graduated with a degree in Political Science. Best known for getting asked to leave from the school that took him in after hurricane Katrina, and taking the LSAT, getting into law school and never going. He began taking one night a week acting classes 3 years ago at ACT; acting for the first time since second grade. Since then, his work includes: To Sleep and Dream (Theater Rhino); Andronicus (Coeurage) Orphans (Kentwood players); To Kill A Mockingbird, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and upcoming in Titus Andronicus (Theatricum Botanicum), and As You Like It (Culver City Shakes). This is his first endeavor as a playwright.
Megan Therese Rippey* (Wendy) is a Baltimore-born actor with a multidisciplinary BA from St. Mary’s College of MD in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, as well as an MFA in Acting from the California Institute of the Arts. Recent local theatre credits include “The Dryway: a merfolk opera” at Son of Semele, “Prometheus Bound” at the Getty Villa, “Rose Queen” with the Ensemble Shakespeare Theater in Pasadena, and “Henry VI Trilogy” with the Porters of Hellsgate at the Whitmore-Lindley Theatre Center (Queen Margaret understudy, four performances). This is her first Hollywood Fringe show. http://meganrippey.com
Dee Freeman* (The Director) A former Marine, Dee was Barbara Demarco in “Shear Madness” at the Kennedy Center. She’s been nominated twice for the NAACP Image award. (She didn’t win, some other skank won…both times) She’s guest starred on some of the best and worst t.v. shows on the air…X-Files, Dexter, Shameless, Cold Case, and Crossing Jordan. She just completed a film “Marielle” and a pilot “Urban Teach Now.” Her short “The Great Snake Escape” starring Dee and her daughter Amber, is currently on the festival circuit. It tells you what to do if your snake escapes.
Amelia Brain (Ash) recently relocated from New York, where she performed original plays as a member of Wednesday Repertory. She has appeared in numerous films, most recently Lionsgate’s DIRTY GRANDPA and Joe Pernice’s CHASING YESTERDAY (opening in New York June 3.) She trained at the Lee Strasberg Institute and received her B.F.A from NYU Tisch. Currently she is co-writing a script with her writing partner. Grateful to Raúl, Chris, and the cast for a rewarding experience creating something entirely new.
Steven Peacock Jacoby* (Romeo) Born and raised in NYC, Steven is a SAG-AFTRA & AEA actor trained at The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and has bicoastal professional credits that includes Off/ Off-Off Broadway productions such as “The Dutchman”, “Othello” and “Black Out” and the Black Hollywood & Urban World Film Festival film “Love Goggles” and in the Toronto Film Festival film “Game Day”. He is very happy to be apart of the Hollywood Fringe Festival.
Reagan Ducasse* (us The Director) an LA native, is getting back to theater again after spending years working for the LAPD in the crime scene photo unit. And in television police productions as a forensic sketch artist. Those productions include, Southland, Law and Order: Los Angeles, Shameless and Wicked City.
Originally a song and dance woman in musical theater, I’m proud of the theater scene in Los Angeles, and feel privileged and happy to appear in this production. Thanks to Raul Bencomo and Dee Freeman for this opportunity.
*members of AEA
