Vanguardian
Productions

Marilee Talkington  (Artistic Director) - Talkington is an Actor, Writer, Director and Producer.  She is currently working on her new piece ATTRITION which will be performed in San Francisco in October 2007.  Recently she directed the New York premier of her play The Rape Poems at the Red Room in New York, and has been seen performing  at the Ensemble Sutdio Theater in Sloan, Youngblood and Director in Residence new works.  In 2006 she wrote and performed the world premier of TRUCE at the New York International Fringe Festival,  which  was also seen at The Marsh in San Francisco.  TRUCE was directed by Princess Grace Award Nominee Justin Quinn Pelegano.  Talkington also wrote and directed the world premier of SUGARVILLE:  a little death which was seen at the Player's  Theater in New York City, and was the Assistant Director of the highly acclaimed production of Sarah Kane's CRAVE which had it's world premier in New York City this past spring.   Favorite acting credits include Elektra (Elektra, ACT),  Mrs. Cratchit (Christmas Carol, ACT Mainstage), Abadonna (Master and Margarita, ACT),  Godspell (Center REP) and Alchemy (Daughter of the Floods).  She is the founder of Vanguardian Productions (formerly Tearany Theatre) and holds an M.F.A. in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater where she received the A.C.T. Carol Channing Trouper Award for Leadership and Excellence in the theatrical craft. Talkington  has been developing an experimental type of theater that focuses on combining profound storytelling with visceral and sense oriented sets.  Her original works include The Rape Poems, based on Frances Driscoll's Rape Poems (produced  in San Francisco and the 2002 Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Daughter of the Floods (produced in San Francisco), SUGARVILLE: a little death (produced in New York City), and TRUCE (performed in New York City and San Francisco).  Marilee is also a contributing writer for the Kennedy Center's 'Opening Stages' online magazine for artists with disabilities. 

(Director/Writer) is the co-artistic director of Bosley Theatrical Productions, and is currenly a Director in Residence at Ensemble Studio Theatre, where is also Associate Producing their annual One-Act Marathon.  Most recently he wrote and directed his world premiere play The Last Day  (E.S.T., New York Times Pick of the Week). As well as the world premiere of a new Adam Rapp play (E.S.T.).  In 2006, Pelegano directed the world premiere of TRUCE (NY Int'l Fringe Fest) and helmed BTP’s celebrated production of Sarah Kane’s Crave (Back Stage Magazine Critic’s Pick) in 2006. He is also the author/director of VICARIOUS (BTP, 2005 NY Int'l Fringe Fest). Other plays and performance monologues include AWAKE (Firsthand Theatre Project), Stoning the Baby (Heideman Award Finalist, Actors Theatre of Louisville), Carry the Five (developed w/ Heidi Armbruster), and Too Chicken (Emile E. Camerer Award for Outstanding Monologue). He is a 2007 Princess Grace Award Nominee, and has directed countless pieces at E.S.T. in the past season.  He studied playwriting with Edward Alan Baker and Arthur Giron at Sarah Lawrence College and with Robert Montgomery at The New School. Mr. Pelegano also served as a contributing writer for Trigger Magazine and the A&E Channel/Electric Artists tattoo website, INKEDblog. He is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America, Inc. and holds a BA from Columbia University.

(Set and Lighting Designer)  A proud native of Guelph Ontario Canada, Andrew is thankful for his family, friends and mentors that have provided invaluable guidance and encouragement. Selected credits include: Set design Professional Skepticism by James Rasheed (Abingdon Theatre, NYC), Lighting design The Passion of Winnie, composed by Bongani Ndodana-Breen, libretto by Warren Wilensky (Isabel Bader Theatre, Toronto), Set and lighting design The Polished Hoe by Colin Taylor in collaboration with Alison Sealy Smith (Harbourfront Centre, Toronto and Frank Collymore Hall, Bridgetown Barbados), Set and lighting design for Truce by Marilee Talkington (NY Fringe Festival, NYC), Set and lighting design for Crave by Sarah Kane (Centre Stage, NYC), Lighting design for Lion in the Streets by Judith Thompson (Abingdon Theatre, NYC), Lighting design, Québecité composed by D.D. Jackson, libretto by George Elliott Clarke (River Run Centre, Guelph), Andrew is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with an MFA in Design for Stage and Film.

STACEY JENSON

Stacey Jenson has been acting since the age of four, when she was hand selected by her Pre-School teacher to play Snow White in the class' parent's night presentation.  She fell in love with storytelling and from that moment on passionately pursued every opportunity to act - from staging plays in friend's backyards, to acting in church, community, and school productions - her love of collaboration and realizing a vision with a group of like-minded artist forms the foundation of her life.  She attended the University of Utah's Actor Training Program with Kenneth Washington from which she earned her B.F.A., and then earned her M.F.A. from The American Conservatory Theatre's graduate acting program in Spring 2004.  During her career, she's acted with touring Greek Theatre Festivals, Shakespeare Festivals, Fringe Festivals as well as in large Equity houses; she's appeared with established theatre companies as well as with brand new bands of revolutionaries.  Whether it's classical or contemporary, experimental or traditional, stage or screen, she's game.

(Costume Designer)  John Can C. owned an exclusive fashion/sportswear design office in Istanbul for seven years.  Since moving to New York eight years ago, he has been costume designing as well as designing his own lingerie line.  His NY credits include costume construction for Broadway shows as well as prestigious dance companies, including The Martha Graham Company.  Most recently he was the costume designer for Sugarville: a little death and Sodom's Wife. 

(Film/Video Editor)  is currently studying Film and Television at the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.  He writes, directs and edits both video and sound and has worked on several short films, including his own.  He also designs and operates the website www.filmsanity.com where he co-writes reviews for new theatrical releases.  David served as film editor for Sugarville: a little death, and will be contributing to the multi-media portion of TRUCE in Summer 2006.

(Photographer) Tami Jean is a Brooklyn-based photographer who specializes in capturing the human spirit.  Portraits, event photography, weddings, and stylized head shots make up the majority of her assignments.  Her ability to connect with her subjects and put them at ease has resulted in many satisfied clients, and many new friends.  www.luminouspictures.com