RISING SUN PERFORMANCE COMPANY
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The Creative & Production Team 

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Brian Gillespie (Director) is the Artistic Director for Pull Together Productions and his directing credits with the company include: Twelve Nights by Sean Graney, Wonder of the World by David Lindsay-Abaire, and Virus Attacks Heart by Shannon Murdoch (Planet Connections, 2014). He has also directed in New York City for Hamlet Isn’t Dead (Richard III), Primary Stages, Boomerang Theatre Co., Ego Actus, New York Musical Theatre Festival, The Samuel French Short Play Festival, AMIOS, Distilled Theatre Co., The Internationalists, CAPS LOCK Theatre, and Anthem Theatre Co. Brian is a member of Directors Lab Chicago, Directors Lab North, and the League of Independent Theater. He holds an MFA from the University of Washington and was also a 2-day champion on the game show, Jeopardy! briangillespie.com

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Tim Errickson (Playwright)  is the Artistic Director of Boomerang Theatre Company. Previously for Rising Sun, he has directed Donkey (13 Planet Connections Award nominations), Greenlight (NYIT Nomination for Outstanding Short Play) and Sit Still. As a playwright, Tim’s play Endless Summer Nights premiered with Boomerang in September 2010, and was a “Pick of the Week” by nytheatre.com. His other plays include MEGA, Warm Roses, Love and Romance, and The Firebird. Tim has studied playwriting with ESPA, LABbyrinth, including classes and workshops with Heidi Schreck, Kristopher Diaz, Winter Miller, Tanya Barfield, Lucy Thurber and Scott Hudson. Tim has previously developed projects with John Pielmeier, Bill C. Davis and Mike Folie, including the treatment for the feature film script “Places”.

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NJ Agwuna (Assistant Director is one of RSP's Resident Directors & Designers .NJ Agwuna is a freelance director and film PA, hailing from the ‘burb’s of central Maryland. Performing from a young age, NJ found herself drawn more to the directorial and technical side of theatre. In 2009 she pursued her passion for theatre, at Binghamton University, where she majored in Theatre Directing and Cinema. A recent resident of NYC, some of NJ’s credits include To Know One But Myself (Director), Then She Fell (PA), Amazing Spider-Man 2, Alondra was Here (Stage Manager), Bodega Bay (Asst. Stage Manager), Alice In Wonderland (Collaborating Artist/ White Rabbit),Today’s Special, Boardwalk Empire, Elementary, The Following, Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More (Stage Management Sub), and Redhead Randy; Anti-Bullying film, Dracula (Director). In her spare time she coaches auditioning techniques for actors, rehearses with her musical Improv troupe, works on devising new pieces, and assists with casting at various casting agencies. She is thrilled to be a part of this reading series and thanks her friends and family for all of their love and support. www.njagwuna.com

For RSP: Ice Age, Brilliant Traces, Hellcab (2013), Mash Ups, UNDER Rehearsed 

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Akia +, Producer & Founding Artistic Director is an active member of the flourishing Off-Off/Indie & Off Broadway theatre communities having produced, directed, and performed with numerous NYC companies for over 18 years.   She is the Company Manager for the international sensation, Blue Man Group at the Astor Place Theater.   She has received critical praise for her direction of RSP long running hits such as “Hellcab”, “Goodnight Lovin’ Trail” and “The Last Supper”, "Crapshoot"  and "Bug". 

She served as an advisory Board Member for The Paul Butterfield Fund & Society , and is the Company Manager & Producer for The New York Innovative Theatre Awards & Foundation, where she serves on their honorary awards committee as Sub-Committee Chairman and as an At-Large Judge. Past notable credits include working on staff at Horse Trade Theatre Group, serving as General Manager for FRIGID New York’s inaugural year, and returning as Volunteer Coordinator in 2009, and House Manager for subsequent years since. She also served as Production Coordinator for nationally acclaimed Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, overseeing the playwrights unit and INSIGHT 13 production series. 

She is a recipient of the New York Innovative Theatre Awards “Founders Award” for her contributions to the organization and Off Off Broadway Community.  Recently she was awarded the Congeniality Award at the 2014 Planet Connections Theatre Festival for their production of DONKEY. 

Akia has been involved in all aspects of RSP's 75+ events & productions since the company's inception in 2001. 

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Nicole Kuker* (Stage Manager)
Off-Broadway: The Anthem (Culture Project); Bill W. and Dr. Bob (Soho Playhouse); Drop Dead Perfect (Theatre at St Clement's). Regional: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Other Josh Cohen, Oliver! (Paper Mill Playhouse); Rich Girl, Good People, One Slight Hitch, The 39 Steps, Red (George St. Playhouse); It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Bucks County Playhouse).

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Jak Prince + (Set & Light Design) made his stage debut at age 6 playing the elephant king in the first grade play.  Since then he has been involved with theater either as an actor, director, designer and educator.  Prior credits include ”Hotel Suite” (Rising Sun Performance Co-Designer and Technical Director)  ”Space Captain-Captain of Space” (No Tea Productions-Design Team) “The Kentucky Goblin Siege”  (No Tea Productions – scenic design)  “The Last Supper”  Scenic design- Rising Sun Performance Co,)  “Uncle Nicky”  (Lighting design – Theatre on Five), Vital Signs 8 (Lighting – Vital Theatre Co.), Animals R’ Us (Lighting design – P.A.C.T.)  Richard III (Lighting design – Frog & Peach Theatre Co.), “As You Like It” Much Ado About Nothing” (Scenic & Lighting design, Frog & Peach Theatre Co.), N.Y. Innovative Theatre Awards, (Production Stage Manager) “I Married Wyatt Earp” (Prospect Theatre Co-Technical Director) In addition, he is also a certified teacher of theatre and has served high schools in New Jersey as a director and designer.  His students have named him the Who’s Who among America’s Teacher’s three times.  His daughter, Danielle, is an animal trainer in Austin, Texas.

Jak has worked on all RSP productions in some capacity since 2010, begining wtih "The Last Supper". 
Winner of Outstanding Set Design for Donkey at PCTF 

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Oona Tibbetts (Costume Design)
The Firebird will be my first Manhattan credit as a designer. I have experience designing both sets and costumes in regional theatre’s within the Tristate area and off West End theatres in London UK, where I trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Prior to my career as a designer, I worked as a props artisan at the Santa Fe Opera.

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IAN WEHRLE (Sound Designer) is an active composer, actor and collaborator on various music direction and sound design for theater. He can currently be seen: as Jackie Mason at St. Luke's Theatre; premiering his original work: "Gilgamesh: A Musical Epic"; and as the founder of SoundAffectsDesign.com. He is credited at the Food Network, MTV, and FOX and is continually in development of new musicals and television music. He can be reached at ianwehrle@gmail.com

For RSP:  Bug, Fool for Love, Room 128, Ice Age, Brilliant Traces, Hellcab (2013), ERIK 

* Appears Courtesy of Actors Equity Association 
+ indicates Rising Sun Performance Company Ensemble Member 

Rising Sun is a proud member of the following organizations

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  • HOME
  • About Us
    • Resident Ensemble Company
    • Contact Us
    • OUR MANIFESTO
    • BUZZ ABOUT US
    • MULTIMEDIA
    • PRODUCTION HISTORY
    • 2023 GALA
    • 14thYRep-Proud-Calamity
  • ON STAGE
    • F***ED UP FAIRYTALES
    • Elephant LA
  • Support Us
  • Get Involved
    • ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES
    • Ensemble Open Call
    • INTERNSHIPS
    • Ensemble F.A.Q