Theater 114: Switchboard Soldiers
Synopsis:
Before women could even vote, Miss Banker led the first corps of women that helped turn the tide of World War I.
Writer
Dana Hall
Dana Hall has been an actor for over two decades. She is also an accomplished and award-winning author, playwright, speaker, and mental health therapist. Her award-winning children's book, Beyond Words, was released in 2020. Her plays have been featured nationally this year at Inkwell Theatre Ca., Drawing Cats Theatre (NYC), Palos Village Players (Chicago), Equity Theatre (NYC), Triangle Rainbow Theatre & Riante Theatre (NYC), The New Deal Deal Creative Arts Center (NY), Dramatic Question Theatre (DQT) (NYC), Scripps Onstage (CA), and 5 & Dime Theater (FL). She is the co-founder and artistic director of This Moment Productions, a virtual theatre company with the mission to increase access and equity in the theatrical arts. She is a member of the Dramatist Guild of America, the International Centre for Women Playwrights, and HonorRoll! DanaHallCreates.com
Dana Hall
Director
Rachel Berney-Needleman
Rachel Berney Needleman is a director and dramaturg for new plays and classical work. As a director: 4 Minutes by DJ Hills (MeetCute LA 2022), Playground-LA (2021-22 Season), Theresa Rebeck’s What We’re Up Against (Pacific Resident Theatre Co-op), Cabaret Noel with Gigi Bermingham (Antaeus Theatre Co. and Skylight Theatre), Five Second Chances by Mattie Brickman (PRT Co-op), Cowgirls by Mildred Lewis (EST-LA), The Space Between (The Braid). Rachel has directed new play readings and workshops at The Blank, EST-LA, Skylight, and Theatricum Botanicum. Her dramaturg credits include Antaeus (Diana of Dobson’s, Cloud 9, Henry IV) and Arizona Theatre Company (At Wit’s End). Rachel is also a co-author of the LA Anti-Racist Theatre Standards.
Rachel Berney-Needleman
Cast:
Tania Verafield
Tania Verafield is a native Angeleno, actress and the granddaughter of blacklisted Abbott & Costello screenwriter Robert Lees. She began her career as a Ford model at age 10. She made her feature film debut in 2005 opposite Christian Bale in "Harsh Times", the directorial debut of David Ayer, screenwriter of Academy Award-winning "Training Day". Since then, she has played opposite Tilda Swinton in foreign thriller "Julia" and appeared in 3 Sundance Film Festival hits - Destin Daniel Cretton's "Short Term 12" (Short Film Grand Jury Prize 2009) & "I Am Not a Hipster" and Justin Chon's "Ms. Purple". Television credits include "24", "Ghost Whisperer", "Standoff", and "Strong Medicine", as well as the award-winning web-series "Namaste, Bitches". Theatre credits include “Anna in the Tropics”, “A Great Wilderness”, "Othello", "For The Love Of (or the roller derby play) (LA); "Lobby Hero", "The Little Dog Laughed" (NY), "Twenty50" (World Premiere at Denver Center for the Performing Arts) & originating the role of Bug in the world premiere of the now published "Treefall" (LA). Tania’s role as Leo’s mom is at the heart of all she does. Thank you to Rachel for this beautiful piece and here’s to brave women ending wars and changing the world.
Tania Verafield
Omari Williams
Omari Williams, a Houston native, graduated from the Baylor University Theatre program with a BFA in Theatre Performance. Some recent audio productions he has been a part of are: Cyber-o and Women and Guns with Premiere the Play Podcast as well as Rede Me This Riddle and The Thing on the Fourble Board with Quiet Please. He is grateful to be recording another audio play with Open Door Playhouse.
Omari Williams
Felipe Figueroa
With a deep passion for storytelling, Felipe has appeared in projects ranging from stage to screen over the past 10 years. Initially a musical theater kid, his favorite stage roles have been Bernardo in West Side Story and Paul in A Chorus Line. LA stage appearances have included, Happy No Year (Hollywood Fringe) and multiple staged readings with Ensemble Studio Theater of which he is a full company member. Television appearances include Transparent, Criminal Minds, Major Crimes and 911: Lone Star. Behind the camera he has directed the stand-up special, Asian American-Eyez'd and a staged reading of Angels in America. He is also part of a writers' group called The Writer's Collective which encourages stories from voices of writers of color and the LGBTQ communities. Graduate of NYU/Tisch School of the Arts.
Felipe Figueroa
JayCee Porter
JayCee Porter graduated from California State University, Northridge with a BA in Theatre and a Minor in Musical Theatre in 2018. She’s been acting since she was 3, with her most recent film credits being Separation (2020), La Voz (2020), and Backyard Camping (2019). As a Soprano, she’s starred as the Beggar Woman/Lucy in Sweeney Todd, Squeaky Fromme in Assassins, and Monteen in Parade. This is her first podcast and she’s so excited to be included in this cast of stellar women.
JayCee Porter
Gina Elaine
Originally from Tennessee, Gina studied at the American Musical Dramatic Academy of Los Angeles. She made her radio acting debut in another Open Door Playhouse show, “BRIDAL WAVE”, directed by Bernadette Armstrong.
Gina Elaine
Special thanks to Carinne Meyrignac for assisting the cast with the French pronunciations.
Sound Production:
Oak House Recording Studio in Pasadena, CA with Sound Engineer David Peters.
