THE PARSON'S NOSE COMPANY
Lance Davis
LANCE DAVIS (PNT Co-founder, Director Radio Theater Project) U. of Notre Dame, McKnight Fellow, MFA U.of Minnesota) Tyrone Guthrie Theater ( 1970-75,’77) On Broadway (Once in a Lifetime, On the Waterfront), Off Broadway (Mary Barnes, Class Enemy), Long Wharf, Arena Stage, Folger, Seattle Rep, Royal Alex, Alliance Theater, Hartford Stage, GeVa, Baltimore CenterStage, Santa Fe Festival, Arizona, Geffen, LA Shakespeare, and Pasadena Playhouse. Directors: Michael Langham, Dan Sullivan, Jose Quintero, Adrian Hall, Tomas McAnna, Arvin Brown, Tom Moore, Mark Lamos, Ben Donenberg,, Stan Wojowodski, Ed Payson Call. TV: Twin Peaks, Roseanne, Hogan Family, Tales from the Crypt, Picket Fences, Murphy Brown, Wayans Brothers, and others. Film: Award-winning Anna, Heart, and Barton Fink. With wife, actress/director Mary Chalon, co-founded Parson’s Nose in May 2000, where he has adapted all their classic scripts over 26 years.
Mary Chalon
MARY CHALON PNT Co-Founder; board member, director and actress. Director: Moliere’s “The Imaginary Invalid”, “School for Wives”. Actress: many shows and podcasts including “The Madwoman of Chaillot”, “The Inspector General”, ”The Mi$er”, “A Touch of Dickens” and “Twelfth Night”. Director of “PNT Women’s Project”, introducing contemporary women playwrights to PNT audiences. English immigrant, now U.S. citizen. Many productions throughout the U.S. Kennedy Center, Charles Playhouse, Virginia Stage, Portland Stage, Manhattan Theatre Club, Frankel Studio, Merrimack Theatre, American Stage Company, Stage 1, Suffolk Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Geffen Playhouse, and Long Beach International City Theatre. TV credits: “The Cavanaughs”, “Blind Faith, “Neon Empire”, “Twin Peaks”, “Texas”, and “As the World Turns”. Teacher: American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Certified "Stillpoint" Spiritual Director. Most thankful for daughter Jemma, son-in-law British sound engineer Dave Bennett, and their beautiful baby daughter Emma Freddie Bennett
Barry Gordon
BARRY GORDON Co-Artistic Director PNT; began his professional life at age three; as a child singer and actor. At six; Barry recorded “Nuttin’ for Christmas;” still listed as one of the top ten best-selling Christmas records of all time. When he was thirteen; Barry’s Broadway debut in Herb Gardner’s A Thousand Clowns earned him a Tony nomination for the role of Nick; a role he reprised in the film version. Barry has performed in films and television for over sixty years; with a list of credits too numerous to mention here. In 1988; Barry became the longest-serving president of the Screen Actors Guild; holding the office for over seven years. He’s a proud member of the Parson’s Nose company and a past President of its board. With the company; his favorite roles have been Shylock in The Merchant of Venice; Jaques in As You Like It; and Alfred Doolittle in Pygmalion.
Jill Rogosheske
JILL ROGOSHESKE has enjoyed a career including Broadway and Regional theatres; television and film. She has played a variety of roles from Pippi Longstocking to Marian the Librarian to Trudi the Icelandic waitress; as well as Polly Peachum; Guinevere and Maria. She has sung both a Torch Song Trilogy and a Tonka Toy dump truck. Her roles have taken her from New York to Los Angeles; Phoenix to Florida; Minneapolis to Chicago and Vancouver to Paris. Locally; she has performed at the Geffen; Santa Monica and Pasadena Playhouses; Alex; Tiffany; Interact and Norris Theatres. Jill has been happily associated with Parsons Nose for the last 21 years. She married well and is the proud mother of two fine sons.
James Calvert
JAMES CALVERT has been in scores of plays and readings at Parson's Nose: Our American Cousin; The Mi$er; The Merchant of Venice; The Algonquin Roundtable; The Middle Class Gentleman; The Marriage Proposal; Cendrillon; Scapin; A Midsummer Night's Dream; The Imaginary Invalid; School for Wives; Twelfth Night; and The Perilous Streets of Pasadena; to name but a few. An alumnus of South Pasadena High School; Mr. Calvert has appeared in productions all over the Southland; with Opera Santa Barbara; Interact Theatre Company; the Pasadena Playhouse; etc. Mr. Calvert has also enjoyed a long career as an actor on television; starring in two series (Deadly Games; and Superboy); and guest starring on dozens of other shows. James began his acting career at the ripe old age of 11; appearing with his brother as Willy and Wally Whittendale on The Jeffersons. He was then the freckle-faced kid in all those 80s shows: Eight is Enough; CHiPs; Who's the Boss?; to name but a few. In addition to acting and writing; he is an eager traveler; having spent time in Europe; South East Asia; South America; and Polynesia; to name but a few. Even with all his appearances in classic works by such writers as Shakespeare; Moliere; Goldoni; etc.; Mr. Calvert is complimented most often on his portrayal of a lizard.
MARISA CHANDLER grew up in Pasadena and attended Westridge School. She then went on to graduate from Harvard University with a concentration in English and American Literature and Language. While in Boston she also created the “caramel macchiato” for Starbucks. Some favorite roles include Laurey in Oklahoma!, Marian in The Music Man, Maria in West Side Story, Maria in The Sound of Music and Natalya Stepanovna in Chekov’s The Marriage Proposal. Marisa just recently appeared at PNT with her a cappella group, The Harvard Yardbirds, made up of mostly Harvard graduates in the LA area. She lives in the quaint town of Montrose, and in her spare time she enjoys swimming, knitting, reading and being a mother to twins Max and Pearl. Marisa is honored to have been a Parsons Nose company member for many years and is looking forward to many more!
Marisa Chandler
Ivar Brogger
IVAR BROGGER has been a part of Parson’s Nose since its inception. He has directed a number of productions over the years and acted in others. He has seen Parson’s Nose change, adapt, and grow but never lose sight of its simple but profound mission; to bring classic works to audiences of all ages in an imaginative, energetic and unpretentious way. He has acted in 6 Broadway productions, the longest being 2 years playing Mr. Lyons in the musical “Blood Brothers”. He has done 12 Off B’way shows, including 6 at the Hudson Guild Theater, 3 at the Mirror Rep, with Geraldine Page and F. Murray Abraham. Numerous Regional Theater shows, including 4 years at the Guthrie Theater where he had the unforgettable pleasure of sharing a dressing room with Mr. Davis the whole time. He has guest starred in over 130 TV shows. last year as a very lenient Judge in “Monster: The Jeffrey Dhamer Story” and as a Minister whose Christmas homily is constantly interrupted by a talking Bear in Seth MacFarland’s TV prequel to his movie TED. He counts “Jersey Boys” (Clint Eastwood Dir.) ”Dreamgirls” (Bill Condon dir.)and “Rules Don’t Apply” (Warren Beatty dir) among his film credits.
Heather Taylor
HEATHER TAYLOR is thrilled to be a part of the Parson's Nose Company! Shows here include: Mark Twain & Friends, Our American Cousin, Servant Of Two Masters and Merchant Of Venice. Selected Theater: Young Eva/Ed's Mother in And Then They Came For Me.(Ovation Nomination -Featured Actress, Ovation Award- Best Production) ,The Little Foxes, The Grapes of Wrath. Film Credits include: When Negatives Collide(Selection Cannes Film Festival - Short Film Corner, Indi Fest- Award of Merit, LA Shorts Fest among others) Murder In The Cat House (Official Selection- Hollywood Comedy Short and London Comedy Shorts Fest.)
Gary Lamb
GARY LAMB Co-Artistic Director PNT; back after having played 8 roles including Gyp Decarlo in “Jersey Boys” (Anchorage, Alaska) and directing “Much Ado About Nothiing” (Alliance, Ohio). Gary started this year by getting certified as a pickleball coach and is now teaching at several locations throughout the San Fernando Valley. (Give the gift of pickleball this Holiday Season!) Part of the Parson’s Nose family for more than 10 years as an actor in many plays including “The Mi$er” and “Twelfth Night”. He directed Greg White’s “Mark Twain and Friends: A River Journey”, and literally “created” the tech aspects of the PNT space with Paul, Ralph, and Jake Perri. He’s especially proud of the successful musical he created at PNT with Barry Gordon - “The History of the American Musical Theatre in 90 Minutes or Less!”
Laurine Price
LAURINE PRICE is an accomplished performer who has graced the Parson's Nose stage in numerous productions, bringing depth and energy to a wide range of characters. Her work at PNT includes memorable roles in both classical adaptations and contemporary explorations. Beyond the theatre, Laurine has a notable presence in film and television, where her versatility and talent continue to shine. She is a dedicated company member, committed to the troupe's mission of making classic literature accessible and engaging for all.
John Rafter Lee
John Rafter Lee: In addition to the roles he has played at Parson’s Nose John Rafter Lee has acted in productions at the Mark Taper Forum, A Noise Within, The Globe Theatres in San Diego and played Nathaniel Hawthorne in the Road Theatre’s An American Romance. Outside Southern California he has been seen on the stages of all of Seattle’s major theatres as well as Tacoma Actors Guild and the New Mexico Rep. His voice can be heard in MTV’s Aeon Flux, as Trevor Goodchild, the most evil man in the world: in HBO’s Spawn, as Jason Wynn, the most evil man in the world and in Jet Li's The Black Mask he dubbed the voice of The Commander, the most evil man in the world. He has recorded about a thousand audiobooks.
Cristina Carlisi
Cristina Carlisi: Theatre –”Martha” (Best Solo Play 2018, portraying Martha Graham), Burn This, The Rivals, Juno and the Paycock (LACDCC Best Actress), Reckless, Heathen Valley, Lady-Like (Drama Logue Award Best Actress), House of Blue Leaves, Shivaree (Drama Logue Award Best Actress), Seascape, The Immigrant, Trojan Women, Eastern Standard, Tamara, A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Parson’s Nose- A Christmas Carol, Our American Cousin, The Pied Piper, The Boor, Twelfth Night. Film- All About Steve, The Soul Collector, Jersey Rose, Hear No Evil, ELI (Comic-Con Best Short). Television Guest Stars- Bones, Supernatural, Rizzoli & Isles, Criminal Minds, CSI, Glee, Six Feet Under, Reasonable Doubts, Ugly Betty, Charmed, The Division, Chicago Hope, NYPD Blue, Providence, Civil Wars, Picket Fences Web Series- The Virtual End, Luke 11:17 -Webby Award Winning Series. Producer- Interact Theatre - Cherry Orchard (LADCC Best Play) Director- Road Theatre- Turbulence, Happenstance, Common Ground V
John Harnagel
JOHN HARNAGEL has been seen at the Pasadena Playhouse, The Carmel Performing Arts Festival, The Mark Taper Forum, Shakespeare Festival/LA, The Hollywood Fringe Festival, The Syracuse Stage Company, the New York Shakespeare Festival, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Negro Ensemble Company, The Westside Theatre, The Seattle Rep, The Empty Space, Black Arts West, The Group Theater of Seattle, and the Yale Repertory Theater. He is a company member with Parsons Nose, having appeared in Our American Cousin, Mark Twain, A River Journey, Androcles and the Lion, Rose of the Rancho, Pied Piper, Servant of Two Masters, The Miser, Comedy of Errors, School for Wives, Rip Van Winkle, The Imaginary Invalid, and their inaugural production of Twelfth Night. TV and film credits include Frost/Nixon, Big Love, Desperate Housewives, Star Trek Enterprise, Medium, Lyon’s Den, Miracles, Malcolm in the Middle, Everybody Loves Raymond, Golden Girls, X-Files, etc. John has an MFA from the Yale School of Drama.
Paul Perri
PAUL PERRI Broadway: Burn This, A View From the Bridge, Macbeth, The Bacchae, L.A. Theatre: God’s Man In Texas, L.A. Philharmonic, True West, Hitler’s Head, Ivanov, Golden Boy, Hurlyburly, Councellor-At-Law, Day and Nights Within, Much Ado About Nothing and Love’s Labours Lost. Regional Theatre: Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Denver Center Theatre, Yale Repertory, Cohoes Music Hall. Film: Chaos, The Insider, Hellraiser IV, Freeway, Live Nude Girls, Gathering Evidence, Demolition Man, Memoirs of An Invisible Man, Delta Force II, Manhunter. Television: Battlestar Gallactica, Killer Instinct, CSI New York, Smallville, Dark Angel, Twilight Zone, NYPD Blue and many more. Paul also teaches and directs at AMDA. Beautiful wife: Mary Michele Miner. Wonderful children: Giacomo and Justine.
Giacomo Perri
JAKE PERRI PNT Stage Manager for all PNT events since 2017, including Amapola Players, Harvard Yardbirds, Octech, New Plays Series, and Women’s Projects. Previous Stage Manager experience includes “God’s Man In Texas” at the Sierra Madre Playhouse. He is also the Road Manager for Fin’s Mellow Company, a modern rock band in Los Angeles. Jake plays saxophone and bass guitar. Jake was the coordinating genius behind the Pasadena startup company “Miso” and their Flippy Project.
Dave Bennett
Dave is a re-recording mixer and sound editor whose career spans film, television, and live sound. On the live side, he's worked as a monitor engineer for artists including The Pretenders, Royal Blood, and Arctic Monkeys. In post-production, his credits include sound editing and mixing for Surviving R. Kelly Part III: The Final Chapter, Survivor, The Real World Homecoming, and Like Mother, Like Daughter?, alongside feature work on Desert Angel and Courage in the Face of Cruelty, both currently in production. Dave brings a sharp ear and hard-won craft across every format — from arena stages to the mix room.