They sing…

" …we have no need to hang on to what was…"
Jonathan Henson (Lewis) and Alan Naylor (Ray)

"…deep six the turkey, and dump the nog…"
Alan Naylor (Ray), Jase Parker (Eddie), and Jonathan Henson (Lewis)

"…now it's time…"
Jase Parker (Eddie) and Ben Levine (David)

A sneak peak…

Miriam (the misguided optimist pacifist) with her love Ray (the West Pointer with a Southern whiskey voice) in a shared moment of contemplation.
Alan Naylor (Ray) and Rachel Brook (Miriam)

From the playwright...

We are now 15 days away from opening.  Seven years after I began writing the show.  2 ½ months since we held auditions. 

Our director, Patti Woolsey is an amazing director – and dramaturg; her vision of how to present the show is brilliant.  Greg Watkins is a stellar music director.  The cast – well you’ll just have to see ‘em to believe ‘em.

The show has 18 original songs and an original story inspired by my father and mother.  It examines the complex and often inconsistent beliefs and values held by those most closely affected by war – soldiers sent to fight and those on the home front wanting so desperately to believe in the cause that has taken their loved ones away.  In this ensemble piece, three unlikely couples are brought together because of the military.  Miriam is a pacifist married, as only fate would have it, to Ray an Army officer with a love of Greek mythology, nature…and music. Jeanette, from a wealthy New England family has fallen in love with a sharecropper’s son – now an Army chaplain.  And David – a reporter haunted by a tragedy he witnessed, falls in love with Eddie – who joins the military to prove himself.  

Someone asked me what words I would use to describe the piece.  I like to think audiences will find it provocative, visceral, humorous, entertaining, heartbreaking – and hopeful.

George.-

Jamie Ogden (Jeanette)

Jamie is thrilled to be making her Fringe Festival debut. She was last seen in Treemonisha with The Washington Savoyards. Jamie is a graduate of New York University. NEW YORK/NYU: The Boy Friend (Maisie), The Merry Widow (LoLo, Dance Captain), 110 in the Shade, and The Apple Tree. Other favorite roles include Dorothy in The Wiz, Hedy in How To Succeed..., and Abigail in The Crucible. Many thanks to God, her family, and of course her new husband, Tim.

Jase Parker (Eddie)

WASHINGTON SAVOYARDS: The Mikado (Ko-Ko), Iolanthe (The Lord Chancellor – DC Theatre Scene 2009 Audience Choice Award nomination: “Favorite Actor in a Musical”), Trial by Jury (The Learned Judge), The Pirates of Penzance (Samuel), Babes in Toyland (Roderigo). KENSINGTON ARTS THEATRE: RENT (Angel Dumott Schunard). KEEGAN THEATRE: Man of La Mancha (Anselmo). CAPITAL FRINGE FESTIVAL 2009: Count Dracula's Café (Server). KENNEDY CENTER: Such Sweet Thunder (Dance U/S). IMAGINATION STAGE: Disney's MULAN (Soldier U/S). OPERA: The Old Maid and the Thief (Bob), Cendrillon (Master of Ceremonies), Rigoletto (Chorus), Regina (Chorus). EDUCATION: The Catholic University of America, 2007, Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre, Magna cum Laude.

Alan Naylor (Ray)

Alan is a native of St. Louis, and has performed with major regional companies such as Opera Theatre St. Louis, Union Ave Opera, and The MUNY. Favorite roles include, Papageno(Die Zauberflöte), Jean Valjean(Les Miz), Petruchio(Kiss Me Kate), and Trevor Graydon(Thoroughly Modern Millie). He has sung in many of the great concert halls around the country with reknowned St. Olaf Choir, and was recently called to San Francisco as a finalist for the vocal ensemble Chanticleer. With a Master’s in Vocal Performance from Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor’s from St. Olaf College, Alan is a professional teacher of both voice and piano in the D.C. area. He can be contacted at alanwnaylor@gmail.com

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!

To purchase tickets, please visit www.capitalfringe.org

Ben Levine (David)

Ben is glad to be a part of this performance and part of the Fringe Festival. Armed with a degree in theater arts from Drew University, Ben has been working in the DC metro theater scene for the last 3 years. In addition to his work in plays and musicals, Ben can be seen performing with modern dance company Carla and Company and with vocal band Vox Populi DC A Cappella. When not on stage, Ben may be found backstage. As the Technical Director of the Dance Place theater in Northeast Washington, he has served as Lighting Designer and Stage Manager for many dance companies, including Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Company, NY2Dance, Olive Dance Theatre, and Deborah Riley Dance Projects.

Rachel Brook (Miriam)

She is proud to join the cast of The Poet Warriors for her first Capital Fringe Festival. Recent credits include: Female Voice in the premiere reading of Adam Tendler’s Schlüsslieder in NYC, Maria in West Side Story with RMT (WATCH nomination), Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro) with Palmetto Opera and Westminster Opera Theater, the title role in Savitri with WOT, Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) with the Philharmonic and Operatic Society of Bourgas, Bulgaria, Musetta (La Boheme) with Amalfi Coast Music Festival, and one season as company member with Beechwood Theater Company in Newport, Rhode Island where she specialized in Victorian theatre and improv comedy, which go together surprisingly well. Rachel’s latest gig is as Cantorial Soloist at Temple Beth Ami in Rockville. Thanks to the fabulous PW team, my supportive friends and family, and Matt, my “young, handsome Perseus”.