The Cast & Crew
Jeff Daniels' (Reuben Soady/Writer/Director) motion picture credits include THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO, SOMETHING WILD, DUMB AND DUMBER, SPEED, FLY AWAY HOME, GETTYSBURG, PLEASANTVILLE, MY FAVORITE MARTIAN, 101 DALMATIANS, HEARTBURN, MARIE, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, ARACHNOPHOBIA, THE BUTCHER'S WIFE and most recently, IT'S THE RAGE, THE CROSSING and CHEATERS.
Daniels, distinguished stage work includes the Broadway, off- Broadway and Mark Taper Forum Productions of Lanford Wilson's FIFTH OF JULY (Drama Desk Nomination, Best Supporting Actor), JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN at the Circle Repertory Company (Obie Award), THREE SISTERS at the Manhattan Theatre Club, the critically acclaimed revival of LEMON SKY at Second Stage (Drama Desk Nomination), A.R. Gurney's THE GOLDEN AGE with Irene Worth and the Broadway production of Lanford Wilson's REDWOOD CURTAIN which transferred to New York from San Diego's old Globe Theatre.
For television, Daniels reprised both his roles in FIFTH OF JULY with Richard Thomas for PBS and REDWOOD CURTAIN for Hallmark Hall Of Fame. Other television credits include: INVASION OF PRIVACY with Valerie Harper, Christopher Durang's THE VISIT, directed by Alan Arkin, Robert Altman's production of THE CAINE MUTINY COURT MARTIAL and Lee Grant's production of NO PLACE LIKE HOME with Christine Lahti.
In addition to writing the stage version of ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT, Daniels has written the following plays: SHOE MAN, THE VAST DIFFERENCE, THY KINGDOM'S COMING, APARTMENT 3A, THE TROPICAL PICKLE and BOOM TOWN, all for the Purple Rose Theatre Company. ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT, THE VAST DIFFERENCE, APARTMENT 3A and BOOM TOWN will be published in June, 2000 by Dramatists Play Service.
Veteran character actor Harve Presnell's (Albert Soady) diverse list of motion picture credits include SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, FARGO, FACE/OFF, PATCH ADAMS, THE CHAMBER, THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD, PAINT YOUR WAGON and the forthcoming FAMILY MAN with Nicolas Cage and Robert Redford's THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE. For eight years, Presnell was Daddy Warbucks in the Broadway Production of ANNIE. He is perhaps best known, however, as the title character's husband Johnny in the Broadway and film adaptation of Meredith Wilson's THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN.
As an Associate Artist of the Purple Rose Theatre Company, Joey Albright (Remnar Soady) portrayed Remnar Soady in the original stage production of ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT. He also has played starring roles in the Company's original production of Jeff Daniels' APARTMENT 3A and the World Premiere of Lanford Wilson's BOOK OF DAYS, which won the Best New American Play Award at the 1999 Humana Festival. A graduate of Ohio State University, Albright worked on stage in Florida with the Vinnette Caroll Repertory Company and the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival before joining the Purple Rose.
Randall Godwin (Ranger Tom) joined the Purple Rose Theatre Company in 1992, portraying Sporty Shankleferd III in Daniels' THE TROPICAL PICKLE. His credits at the PRTC include APARTMENT 3A, THE HOT L BALTIMORE, THE SPRING COMEDY FESTIVAL, MARCUS IS WALKING and BOOK OF DAYS. In addition, Godwin has appeared in productions at the Fourth Street Playhouse, The Detroit Times Improv Company, Meadowbrook Theatre (A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM), the Attic Theatre, The Performance Network and Actors Alliance Theatre. Film credits include: THE LOST TREASURE OF SAWTOOTH ISLAND, POSTMARK PARADISE and POLISH WEDDING. Godwin recently made his directorial debut at the Purple Rose with the George F. Walker comedy CRIMINAL GENIUS (Best Comedy, 1999, Ann Arbor News).
Oklahoma native Kimberly Norris Guerrero (Wolf Moon Dance Soady) most recently appeared on television in the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of LOOKING FOR LOST BIRD. She guest starred on SEINFELD, NORTHERN EXPOSURE and appeared in a recurring role on AS THE WORLD TURNS. Guerrero's credits also include NATURALLY NATIVE (the first feature to be completely financed by a Native American tribe) and the telefilm GERONIMO. CALLING OUT SHADOWS, her first screenplay, was selected for the 1999 Sundance Film Institute's Writer's Lab. A graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles, Guerrero recently costarred as Shelby in STEEL MAGNOLIAS at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Wayne David Parker (Jimmer Negamanee/Stunt Coordinator) received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor from the Detroit Free Press for his portrayal of Jimmer in the original PRTC production of ESCANABA. A veteran of over 200 stage productions, he has worked for the past eight years at the Purple Rose. His first role with the Company, in the play THE TROPICAL PICKLE, was written specifically for him by Jeff Daniels. Parker also appeared in Daniels' THE VAST DIFFERENCE, THY KINGDOMIS COMING and Lanford Wilson's BOOK OF DAYS. Throughout the 1980s, he was a primary fixture at Detroit's Attic Theatre, where he won critical acclaim for his work in BLEACHER BUMS, BLOODY BESS, TAMER OF HORSES, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and CODA (Best Supporting Actor Nomination, Detroit Free Press. In 1995, Parker was honored for his body of work by the Free Press with the James Kisick Award. An accomplished fight coordinator, he has served as the voice of the Ford Motor Company for more than a decade.
Jeff Daniels (Writer/Director/Reuben Soady) biography appears in "About The Cast".
BOB BROWN (Executive Producer, Producer, Managing Partner)
Mr. Brown entered the feature film business in 1998 as Executive Producer for Purple Rose Films first feature, Escanaba in da Moonlight. He also produced the Purple Rose Films documentary on the making of Escanaba in da Moonlight entitled A Picture from Home - The Journey through Escanaba in da Moonlight - the Movie. With 23 years of business experience, Mr. Brown has acted as Managing General Partner, General Partner and Associate Partner in creating, developing and selling start up ventures using private investor funding. Bob has been active in franchise development in Blockbuster Video and Boston Market as well as the creation, operation and sale of several other business opportunities including performing arts instruction, a golf course resort and "work place" child care centers. Bob is an Albion College graduate where he received his BA degree in Economics and Management. He received his Chartered Life Underwriter and Charter Financial Consultant designations from the American College.
TOM SPIROFF
As President of Bakula Productions, Inc., Tom Spiroff (Producer) oversees acquisition, development and the production of a variety of motion picture and television projects with partner Scott Bakula. Spiroff grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, and earned a BFA degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Immediately following graduation, he founded the Detroit-based theatrical company Stage Right Productions. In 1982, Spiroff relocated to New York to pursue an acting career. His credits include Off-Broadway productions of GREASE, ROMEO AND JULIET, WAITING FOR GODOT and THE ZOO STORY. Under the auspices of Bakula Productions, Inc., Spiroff produced the CBS series MR. & MRS. SMITH and most recently served as Executive Producer of the telefilm, THE BACHELOR'S BABY.
Rich Brauer (Director Of Photography) is President of Brauer Productions, Inc., an independent film and production company he founded in 1977. Today, the company is the leading multimedia imaging service provider in Northern Michigan. Brauer Productions' clients include Daimler Chrysler Corporation, Subway Sandwiches, MTV, EDS, Discovery Channel, Consumers Energy Corp., and Harcourt- Brace Publishing, among many additional regional and local companies. In 1998, Brauer Productions recorded Tim Allen's voice for TOY STORY 2. Brauer recently produced the independent feature THE LOST TREASURE OF SAWTOOTH ISLAND (Unified Film Organization) and the family film, SLEEPING BEAR (Koen Distribution).
Christopher Carothers (Productions Designer) met Jeff Daniels on the set of the independent film, CHASING SLEEP. A Detroit theatre veteran, Carothers is Scenic Designer at Detroit's Jewish Ensemble and Plowshares Theatre Companies. The World Premiere of THE CARE GIVER, TAKING SIDES, UNEXPECTED TENDERNESS and THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK number among his credits at the JET. At the Plowshares Theatre Company, he designed the sets for THE TRIAL OF ONE SHORTSIDE WOMAN VS. MAMMY LOUISE AND SAFTEETA MAE, BOURBON AT THE BORDER, SALA CINDERELLA and HARRIET TUBMAN LOVED SOMEBODY. Carothers has also worked at The American Place Theatre in New York,'The Vaudeville Express Melodrama in Bakersfield, California, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and The St. Louis Black Rep. For West End Studios, he designs commercial spots for, among others, General Motors/Chevrolet and the Ford Motor Company. He also assisted the art director on the Academy Award Nominated short subject short, THE INVESTIGATOR. Carothers holds an MFA in Scenography from Wayne State University in Detroit. In 1997, The Detroit News cited his work for the college's Hilberry Repertory Theatre Production of A TAMING OF THE SHREW as Best Design Of The Year.
Detroit native and long time legendary sax man Alto Reed (Music)is a high profile member of Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band. His solos on "Turn The Page", "Horizontal Bop" and "Down On Main Street" are among the most recognizable in rock In, roll history. Last year, Reed released COOL BREEZE, a solo album of smooth jazz saxophone melodies on his own Harmonie Park International label.
Scarlett Jade (Costume Designer) designed costumes for DETROIT ROCK CITY and the independent features THE LAST BIG ATTRACTION, STARDUST and LET'S KILL ALL THE LAWYERS. Beginning her career in the Detroit theatre scene, her credits also include the MTV specials PUFF DADDY IN DETROIT, KISS IN DETROIT, a Detroit Tigers special presentation for WKBD-TV and numerous commercials for the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Edison, Ford Motor Company, Michigan Lotto and Jeep. Jade designs her own line of clothing (Wild Wolf Wear) and maintains a costume inventory of more than 2,000 pieces of unique vintage wear.
