DESIRE CAUGHT BY THE TAIL

Scott R. Sheppard is an Obie award-winning theater artist and a Founding Co-Director of the Philadelphia-based theater company Lightning Rod Special (2019 Barrymore Award for Evolving Theatre Company). Recent credits: Writer of Blood Meal for Theater in Quarantine (NY Times Critics’ Pick); Lead Writer/Performer in Lightning Rod Special’s The Appointment at New York Theatre Workshop’s Next Door Series (Best of 2019 Time Out NY, NY Mag, NY Times Critics’ Pick). He was also the co-creator and performer of Underground Railroad Game, which he toured to 10 cities in 5 countries earning an Edinburgh Fringe First Award, Edinburgh Stage Award and was named by the NYTimes as one of the 25 Best Plays of the past 25 Years. Scott graduated from Pig Iron’s School for Advanced Performance Training and has collaborated on several works with Pig Iron. Scott was an Independence Foundation Fellow, a Guild Hall Resident Artist, a Bric Lab Resident, and is currently a member of Page 73’s Interstate 73 Writer’s Group.

Melanye Finister is a 30 year member of the Philadelphia theater community. In 1991 she joined the resident acting company at People’s Light & Theatre where she appeared in over 30 productions. Some recent favorites include Shakespeare In Love, Our Town, Skeleton Crew (2018 Barrymore Outstanding Lead Performance), All My Sons and Fences. In 2018 Melanye joined the Hothouse company at the Wilma Theater where she appeared in Don Juan Comes Home From Iraq, When the Rain Stops Falling, Dionysus Was Such A Nice Man, There, and Is God Is.  Melanye holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University. She is a 2018 Lunt-Fontanne Fellow and a Board Member for New Normal Rep.

Fernando Gonzalez is a Brooklyn-based actor/deviser, science enthusiast, ne'er-do-well, rascal, scamp, and synonym fan! Credits include: "Skinnamarink" (Next Door/New York Theatre Workshop), "Minor Character" (UTR/The Public Theater), "Red Emma & the Mad Monk" (The Tank), “Play On!” (Classic Stage Company), "Omega Kids" (NLTP), sundry works at Soho Rep, MCC, The Drama League, & New Dramatists, along with a smattering of audio & web projects. He also translated & adapted "Bohemian Lights" for Live Source's production at HERE Arts Center. BFA from NYU Tisch/Playwrights Horizons. Follow him @uniqueid... if you've a strong stomach for puns. fernando-gonzalez.com

Lee Minora is a writer, performer, and theater-maker living in Philadelphia. Her 4th-wall-smashing solo shows, Cheeks and White Feminist, have been presented at Ars Nova, The Wilma Theater, Edinburgh Fringe, London’s Sick of the Fringe, Philly Fringe, Z-Space, Good Good Comedy and UMS’s No Saftey Net. As a creator/performer she has worked with The Berserker Residents, It’s So Learning, Applied Mechanics Vainglorious, Theater in Quarantine, Blood Meal (New York Times Critics Pick) and Lightning Rod Special, The Appointment (Best of Theater 2019: New York Times,Time Out New York and New York Magazine). As an actor she’s been seen in over 20 productions. She is a Barrymore nominee, a Haas Finalist and the two time recipient of The Jilline Ringle Performance Grant. She is a performer and co-writer of Nosejob.

Matteo Scammell is a multi-disciplinary, Barrymore award-winning artist based in Philadelphia. He is a current company member of The Wilma Theater’s ensemble, HotHouse. Matteo is a 7 year company member of Obie Award-winning experimental theater company New Paradise Laboratories, contributing to 4 original works as a deviser/performer: 27, The Adults, O Monsters, Hello Blackout!. Matteo was co-writer, vocalist, and guitar player with Red 40 & The Last Groovement (Ars Nova, FringeArts). Other Credits: Pig Iron Theatre Company: Gentlemen Volunteers (performer); George & Co.’s Holden (co-creator/performer); Wilma Theater, Arden Theatre, PTC, Walnut St. Theater, Theatre Horizon, Theatre Exile, EgoPo. University of the Arts alumnus. Matteo is the recipient of the 2020 Independence Fellowship.