Alia Shawkat as Billie
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Success arrived early for Alia Shawkat. Her career began an the young age of 11 when she landed a role on the ABC Family series “State of Grace.” She currently stars as Maeby Funke on Fox’s Emmy award winning “Arrested Development” (Monday’s 8:00 P.M.) where she portrays a rebellious and mischievous member of a dysfunctional Orange County family trying to adjust to their loss of wealth.
Alia was introduced to show business by appearing in a Calvin Klein catalogue, which immediately attracted the attention of commercial and theatrical agents in Hollywood. She soon landed a role opposite George Clooney in Three Kings. This was followed by a supporting lead in the Ron Perlman movie Trial of Old Drum. |
But it was “State of Grace” that catapulted her into the forefront of young actresses. She has also had guest starring roles on “Jag,” “Without a Trace,” “Boomtown,” and “Presidio Med” and she recently starred opposite Martin Lawrence in Rebound.
Now 16 years old, when she is not filming Alia attends a private school near her home in Rancho Mirage where she is able to continue her studies in English, Physics, Math, Geography and Drama. Her ambition is eventually to attend Yale University studying International Relations.
In her free time, Alia enjoys horseback riding, ice-skating and dancing. She is an accomplished pianist and speaks several languages. She currently splits her time between her home and Rancho Mirage and Los Angeles where she resides with her parents and her two brothers.
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Contact: Lewis Kay/Alisha Mahon, Bragman Nyman Cafarelli, (310) 854-4800
Alex Frost as Achak
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Alex Frost, born in Portland Oregon, took a chance and went in on an open casting call for local director Gus Van Sant’s latest film. He not only made an impression he landed the lead role of ‘Alex’ in the film, which was based on the horrific Columbine shootings. A natural who never studied acting and who had no professional acting experience, made his acting and motion picture debut in “ELEPHANT” (2003) for HBO. Alex received great attention for his starring role as a troubled teen-turned-killer, and the film itself went on to garner a huge buzz when it won the prestigious Palm D’Or award for best film at Cannes in 2003.
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Alex Frost will truly make his presence felt this year with the release of three films. In 2004, Alex first starred in the gritty independent film “THE LOST,” directed by first-time director Chris Sivertson. Alex plays the role of ‘Tim Bess’ the introverted best friend of a psychopath, who four years earlier murdered two young women at a local campground and are now trying to cover it up. Next up, Alex shot the lead role in another independent film “THE STANDARD”, directed by Jordan Albertsen. Alex plays a completely different and albeit lighter character, a high school senior who is deeply in love with his girlfriend with whom he’s been with all through high school. His character comes to a crossroads where he begins to doubt his relationship and hilarity ensues as he grapples with his teenage angst in making his decision. The film will be released later this year. Lastly, Alex shot the lead role opposite Alia Shawkat (“ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT”) in the AFI 35 MM short film, “QUEEN OF CACTUS COVE” directed by the Emmy Award winning director Anna Christopher. The film is a comedic story of a teenaged tomboy (Shawkat) in a small town competing with her best friend (Frost) in a chess championship.
Alex currently lives in Los Angeles and is pursuing acting full-time.
Jill Andre as Evelyn
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Jill Andre is a producer, director and actress. She was co-founder of the Pleiades Theatre Group, a non-profit organization created to develop playwrights (LA). She was also co-founder of the American Renaissance Theater (NYC). Jill was able to travel around the world as a faculty member of the University of Pittsburgh’s Semester At Sea, where she produced and directed workshops during the spring of 1993. In Los Angeles, Ms. Andre directed BODIES UNBOUND, which also played at the Edinburgh Festival.
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Some other productions she directed include COLLECTED STORIES, THREE WEEKS AFTER PARADISE, TRUST, COMINGS AND GOINGS, LAST SUMMER AT BLUEFISH COVE (co-directed with Dorothy Lyman). In New York, some of her directorial work includes BUS STOP, THE LAST SORTIE, NAVAJO MEMOIRS, EASTER WEEKEND, NIGHTGAMES, CHICAGO IMPULSE, and BABY GRAND. One of her most pleasurable experiences was directing Bus Stop at the William Inge Festival in Kansas, in 2003.
As an actress, she appeared on Broadway in such plays as CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, THE TRIP BACK DOWN, SUNRISE AT CAMPOBELLO and THE GREAT WHITE HOPE, as well as many Off-Broadway and regional productions. Some of her many TV and film credits include TWIN FALLS IDAHO, AND THE BAND PLAYED ON, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD III, GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI, LOST IN AMERICA, COLDCASE, THE PRACTICE, NYPD BLUE, 21 JUMP STREET, PICKET FENCES, as well as several soaps.
A very recent highlight was a starring role in a short film, THE MOOR, story by Russell Banks, directed and adapted by Caerthan Banks in which Jill played a woman in her 80’s and flashed back to her 50’s. It was a particularly satisfying experience, as roles like this don’t come along often, and the production process was solid.
Marilyn Rising as Nina
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Born and raised in Texas, her debut into film was as Marjorie May in “GYPSY” starring Bette Midler, directed by the late Emile Ardolino. Other Film Credits include: Tarmac Films’ “THE WOMAN CHASER” costarring with Patrick Warburton (official selection of Sundance & NYC Film Festivals and Audience Award Winner at the SXSW Film Festival); a Contortionist in Steven Spielberg’s “MINORITY REPORT”; appearance in “MRS. SANTA CLAUS” directed by Terry Hughes & choreography by Rob Marshall.
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TV credits include: Series Regular Ruby in Sony Wonder’s “KID SONGS” directed by Bruce Gowers (Amer. Idol); voice of the “Mud Flap Girl” on Comedy Central’s “THE MAN SHOW”; Guest Star appearances on “EXTREME FAKE OVER”, “STEVE HARVEY’S BIG TIME”, “STRONG MEDICINE”, and “MARTIAL LAW”.
Favorite Stage Credits include: Disney ASCAP , originated the role of Clara Kinsey In “DR. SEX - THE MUSICAL” ; Maggie in ”Clothes Pins and Dreams” costarring with Eloise Law & the late Barney Martin; Val in “A CHORUS LINE” starring Bebe Newarth; title role in “Bimbo” directed by Bruce Block; and Sylvia in Connie Steven’s new musical “SCORE” about the Harlem Globetrotters.
Recent Commercials include the much talked about “Fist Girl” in the HARDEE’S/CARL’S JR” ads that were featured on VH1’s Best Week Ever 05’; the “human antenna” in “ALL TEL”- Wireless; “HYUNDAI”; “NINTENDO”; “CAPTAIN MORGAN”; and “SHARP”.
Marilyn holds a BFA in Theater from United States International University -Performing and Visual Arts.
Ryan Freeman as Tom
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Ryan grew up in Boston and studied acting at Boston College, where he also received a finance degree. He moved to LA shortly afterwards where he studied with Michelle Danner at the Larry Moss Studios for two years. From there he moved to New York City, studying acting with Michael Howard for another two years.
Ryan has worked on many independent films and television shows, such as Frasier (for NBC) and as a series regular for Undressed (MTV). Additionally, he has worked extensively in theater throughout New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.
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After wrapping up Queen of Cactus Cove, Ryan recently finished a feature-length independent film called Loveless in Los Angeles.
Linda Porter as Mrs. Wadsworth
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Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Linda began her career at age eight, in radio; at ten, in theatre (the Cleveland Playhouse, Chautauqua Repertory, N.Y., Cain Park Amphitheatre, Karamu Theater, etc.). Television had not yet made its way into the collective consciousness. Rehearsals and performances made a serious dent in her tree-climbing schedule (however, the grid at professional stages was an acceptable substitution, though hell on costumes).
Linda earned a B.A. from Bennington College, Michael Howard: Actors Studio NYC; and an M.A. from Case Western Reserve University, Allan Rich: Actors Workshop L.A. while raising children, including 2 stepchildren. Linda took a long hiatus, returning to work when the youngest began high school. Since the family had relocated to Los Angeles, her first project was “Twins”, followed by guest star, co-star and recurring roles in many sitcoms and E.R., Judging Amy, the X-Files, Murder She Wrote, Gilmore Girls, and many films, of which Tumbleweeds was her favorite (although much applauded and recognized for her Mrs. Crabbleman in “Dude, Where’s My Car?”). Another choice morsel was the evil old woman in the Tenacious D. music video “Vengeance”.
Linda had a marvelous time on “Queen of Cactus Cove” with 3 incredible women: Brenda, Anna and Dominique. Wow!
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Don Potter as Tournament Director
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Don Potter is originally from Philadelphia, PA. He is best known for originating the title role in “SNOOPY!!!”, and for his portrayal of the same character in “YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN.”
Broadway and national tours include Smee in “PETER PAN” starring Cathy Rigby, “ARSENIC AND OLD LACE” with Jean Stapleton and Marion Ross, “
42nd STREET
”, the legendary “MOOSE MURDERS”, and “GYPSY” starring Angela Lansbury. |
Frequent television appearances include “PORT CHARLES”, “UNSOLVED MYSTERIES”, “ALL MY CHILDREN”, and such memorable shows as “THE RED SKELTON HOUR”, “THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW”, and “THE DANNY KAYE SHOW.”
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