RUSSELL - Andrew Ziegler
DANNIE - Lainey Martin
REVEREND MARSH - Stephen Alan Carver
BARNES - Danielle Sanchez
MIKE - Christopher Dong
GIL / BROWN - Chelsea Boucher
JAKE - Ethan Everhart
ZADOK - Joanne Koehler
JULIA - Allyson Hackworth
THE SHERIFF - Jeremiah Walter
MRS. MARSH - Merry Dankanich
NEWS ANCHOR - Soren Narnia

STAGE MANAGER - Madalyn Rilling
SOUND DESIGN - Ethan Everhart
NET SHED CONSTRUCTION - Joe O’Rear
CREATURE EFFECTS - Chelsea Boucher & Ethan Everhart
INTIMACY CHOREOGRAPHY - Alex Campbell
DIRECTED BY - Ethan Everhart

SPECIAL THANKS - Judy Pearring & The Next Us, Dylan and Beth Mosley, Springs Ensemble Theatre, Millibo Art Theatre, Richard Sebastian-Coleman, Colton Pratt, Megan & Joe O’Rear, Jean Johannes, Mallory Everhart

Cosmic horror as a genre had a bit of a resurgence in the last few years. With seemingly endless wars, impossibly large hoards and growing wealth inequality, and increasingly common destructive climate events, maybe we’re more used to the idea of incomprehensibly large threats than we used to be. This show, though, is mostly about a different element of cosmic horror, one which is present in many of the original stories: the feeling of being an outsider, feeling like an alien in a place that used to be familiar. Much of Russell Marsh’s experience (wanting to escape from his hometown, feeling ostracized because of his identity, coming into conflict with his family’s religious beliefs) is far too common, even if some of the specifics are thankfully not, and because of this, we hope you’re able to find something familiar in Russell’s search for answers and in his search for the meaning in his bloodline and his past.

Andrew Ziegler (Russell) is back for his 3rd time working with Counterweight Theatre Lab, and he is excited to be working with them again. In his free time, Ziegler plays music, writes poetry, and practices martial arts. He’s looking forward to audiences seeing this dynamic cast bring this show to life.

Lainey Martin (Dannie) is thrilled to return to Counterweight Theatre Lab! You may have seen her in the last show, A Collection of Things We Forgot to Say, or over the past two summers in Campfire Theater’s An American Night’s Dream and Promise of the Garden. She can also be spotted in some local short films and on cast at the Colorado Renaissance Festival. She is always grateful to be performing again, especially with such lovely people!

Stephen Alan Carver (Reverend Marsh) is in his first show in Colorado Springs since moving here during the pandemic in 2020, after working as a performer and director in Southern California for 30+ years. Favorite roles include: Prospero in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Algernon in Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, Georges in the musical La Cage Aux Folles, and Dracula in…wait for it…Dracula, among numerous others. Many thanks to his family here in the Springs as well as Ethan for the opportunity of performing once again.

Danielle Sanchez (Barnes) graduated from UCCS with a BA in Visual and Performing Arts back in 2020, and she is elated to be back doing what she loves most in the world–creating with her fellow artists. Her main area of focus is backstage work, including: directing, stage managing, and dramaturgy. Throughout her work backstage, she has favored working in props over all other areas. This is her first role not with an academic institution. Her notable acting roles include: Maria in Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 and Masha in The Seagull (both with PPSC). She would like to strongly thank the audience for coming to the show, without whom we would not get the chance to see theatre work toward a sense of normalcy after the pandemic.

Christopher Dong (Mike) is a full-time Space Operations Officer in the United States Space Force and sometimes actor. That is all.

Chelsea Mitchell (Gil / Brown) dedicates this to A & V, the very best sea monsters.

Joanne Koehler (Zadok), a member of the Star Bar Players, has been performing in Colorado Springs for the past six years. With Counterweight, she has appeared most recently in Bride, Groom, Sunday, Forever and Dream By Day, and pre-pandemic in Antigone, The Last Temptation of Christ, and The Scottish Play (you’re welcome, Beth). Offstage, she enjoys relaxing at home with her two teenage daughters and four cats. Llamas are particularly cool.

Allyson Hackworth (Julia) is a local artist of many mediums. You may recognize them most recently from The Wolves, Life Sucks, or Vote! Allyson would like to thank their friends, family, and wonderful partner for all the support they have given. Finally, Allyson would like to extend the warmest thanks to the audience that continues to support local artists. You are so cool, give yourself a pat on the back and keep coming out. If you want to talk to Allyson after the show feel free to introduce yourself, they would love to meet you.

Jeremiah Walter (The Sheriff) is appreciative to be back at Counterweight, where he has previously appeared as Adrian/Francisco/Ariel in The Tempest and Dale in Bride, Groom, Sunday, Forever. He is on the Board of Directors at Springs Ensemble Theatre, where he has appeared onstage in One Flea Spare (Kabe), Holly Jolly Holy Sh!t (Officer Garrison), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (Jake Dowitt), Fatherhood Up Close (Hopper), and the Holiday Play Festival (Gerry). You may have also seen him at other theatres in the area, including Theatreworks (Dirty Bob in Lumberjacks in Love, Jake Wallace in Girl of the Golden West, Various Miners in Ludlow 1914) and the Millibo Art Theatre (Edvard Munch in Screaming Ed and the Nihilist, Officer/Ensemble in Mother Courage and Her Children, Jeremiah in Tall Tall Tales, Senator Bill Cutter in A Moderate Proposal, Adam in Retake Cake). He has created music and sound design for many productions, including The Tempest at Counterweight and his Henry Award-nominated work on Elephant Man at SET. He is also a playwright, producer, and director who hates writing in the third person and very much loves his amazing wife Darla Slee.

Merry Dankanich (Mrs. Marsh) is a longtime resident of Colorado Springs, but new to the theatre community. By day she is a children’s science writer and editor. When not writing, she enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her family. She appeared in The Acting Lesson while taking a theatre class at PPSC and is excited to be part of the Counterweight cast!

Madalyn Rilling (Stage Manager) is excited to be involved behind the scenes with Counterweight Theatre Lab. Recent onstage credits with Counterweight include Prospero in The Tempest and almost everyone in King Lear. She has also acted with First Company and Springs Ensemble Theatre. Madalyn loves community theater and hopes you do too.

Music used in the show

“Prowler” - Bohren & der Club of Gore
”Red Rock Riviera” - British Sea Power
”La Mer” - Charles Trenet
"I Samuel 15:23” - The Mountain Goats
”Never Were the Way She Was” - Colin Stetson & Sarah Neufeld
”Typhoon” - Mr. Jukes
”Lord I just can’t keep from crying” - Colin Stetson & Shara Nova