Without Tom Paine, the author of Common Sense, and The Rights of Man, there might never have even been an American Revolution. Now, especially during an election period, this outrageous, funny, bawdy, scary, confron-tational, musical play reminds us to reflect on what it means to be an American and what we want our country to be.
The first production of Tom Paine, by Ellen Stewart’s La Mama Company in New York was a major flowering of the ensemble theatre movement in America. Created by and for a group of performers, this “event” with its refreshing and uppity combination of theatrical styles–music hall, naturalism, surrealism, vaudeville, dance, Brecht, Pirandello, spectacle, oratory and circus–is intended to be as probing, irreverent, and rebellious as its central character. The ULV Theatre Department presents to our audiences the best possible theatre we can, but it is also vitally important for us to involve our students in educational experiences that will profoundly impact their lives. In addition to learning all the various theatrical techniques required, to do this production one must become deeply aware of some of the seminal (if marginalized) events and characters in American history. The issues of this play are still challenging to us as responsible American citizens. The director wishes to express his gratitude to all that have been involved in this project. The commitment, hard work, bravery and creativity are an inspiration.
-Steve Kent-

Ted Shell, Costume Designer. As a performer with a southern Shake-speare repertory theatre in Miami, Florida – where he was born and raised, and where he attended the University of Miami – he quite willingly doubled as a costume designer. Over the years, Shell worked for Bob Mackil (designing such things as props for Cher’s TV shows), and Disneyland. He was staff designer for Hanna-Barbera Productions, and for Motown. Fianlly, in 1980, he launched his own company for a simple reason: “I felt I could do better by myself. Also , I like to be involved in the whole project from start to finish, designing to constructing.” Shell has done well over the years. He has designed Michael Jackson’s Victory Tour, contributed to the decline of Western Civilization designing Howard Stern’s Fartman, worked on films like Hook, Batman Returns, Gremlins, The Thing (1981 remake), King Kong, National Lampoon’s European Vacation, Star Trek I, II, and III, The Hotel New Hampshire, and Captain Eo, TV programs like Murphy Brown, Married With Children, Frasier, The Carol Burnett Show, The Charmings, and Mister Belvedere, and stage productions such as the MGM Grand’s Hallelujah Hollywood, the Ice Capades (on and off for the last 15 years), Bette Midler’s No Frills tour, and much more		Ryan Landmann, Lighting Designer, is a senior Theatre major. He has designed lights for Life’s a Dream and Hot L Baltimore among other productions at Pasadena City College and the University of La Verne. “When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose.” --Bob Dylan--
		Tirzah Rodgers, Stage Manager, is the little Hawaiian girl from behind the scenes. She is a freshman of ULV and of the theatre. She says “This whole theatre business has been one huge learning experience!” And she would like to share with you her favorite quote “Smile, it could always be worse.”
		Stacy Bowles is a freshman at ULV, blissfully wallowing in her first collegiate theatrical experience. She enjoys awkward and ab-stract segues. She loves her mother, and pretty much everybody else too!
Chastity Archer is just plain evil with a sweet natured debating banter. Simply put, two worlds collide. Enjoy the show!		Christopher Folden is a Sophomore at ULV. Last year he performed in The World of Carl Sandburg, The Proposal, and Georgij Paro’s production of La Ronde. His favorite quotes are “Never let your guard down when you’re with someone you don’t trust,” and “Speak your mind, even when your voice shakes.”
Ken Britton is currently a freshman at ULV. He comes to us from Oregon where he was actively involved in community theatre. He enjoys working stage lights but decided to audition for Tom Paine. He lives by this quote: “Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” --James Dean--
		Jennifer Holindrake is a senior Psychology major. This is her sixth major produc-tion at ULV. She believes that this cast is representative of the concept of Ensemble. She lives by the quote “Never moon a werewolf.”
Hilary Hahn is making her first appearance on the ULV stage and she says so far she is having a great time!		Samantha Kern graduated from Lawton High School in Oklahoma where she was active in drama and performed in many plays. She likes performing, to give others the chance to escape their problems and enter the world of the stage “Life is a cabaret!”
Casey Kendel is a soon to be ULV student. This is his fourth production here and he is very excited to be working with such a fabulous group of people. He wants to say “Thanks” to his friends and family for all their support.		Obren Milanovic is a junior Theatre major. This is his ninth production at ULV. He wishes to thank Steve for his vision and wisdom. “Steve, you are dope!!!” This is an important play at an important time.
		Belinda Ortegon is a ULV senior. She had an amazing time working with this incredible ensemble. She says that everyone that has been a part of this production is so very talented. She would like to thank Steve Kent. She lives by the quote, “If you can believe, all things are possible to those who believe.”
Sarah Leddy danced in parking lots, on sidewalks, and on stages since she was a kid. She feels blessed to have become a part of a thoughtfully engaged communtity that, as Rumi would say, lets the beauty we love be what we do.
		Amber Salmeron is a freshmen at the ULV. She is a Communications major and has a strong interest in acting. She is proud to be part of the ensemble of Tom Paine. Her favorite quote is “Two roads diverged in a woods, I took the one less traveled, and that has made all the difference.” --Robert Frost--
Tom Moose returns to the ULV Theatre after graduating in Music and Theatre Performance last Spring. He is glad to finally work in a Steve Kent production after three years on the ULV stage. He wants to thank the entire cast and crew for the “rockin’ ride.” Much love and respect for those past and present.
		Princess Sterns is currently a freshman at ULV. During her high school years, she performed in Hair, Once On This Island, The Wiz, Grease and The Spider. She would like to give the audience some advice, “Be creative. Be unique. Be weird. Be imaginative. Be anything BUT NORMAL!!!!”
David Rojas is in his third year here at ULV. He finds this group of people stimulating and deeply expresses his gratitude.His participation is dedicated to those who have lost their lives in “The Battle.” Think Globally, Act Globally!
Jeanette Short is an exchange student from Britain. She has been involved in many productions in England throughout her school life. She has really enjoyed working with everyone in the play. She wants to say that she has learned a lot from everyone and she will remember this school forever.		Hugo Valencia is a sophomore at ULV and Tom Paine is the first play he has taken part in. He is not a Theatre major but enjoys spending time with those who are. He just hopes that he can contribute to the cast and make and outstanding play for the audience to enjoy.
Jeremy Taylor is glad to be a part of such a crazy cast and show. He was raised by a pack of llamas, who cared for him until the tender age of five. Then, he found a home with monkeys. A human family found him at the age of twenty-three, and he now lives with them. He says, “Thanks for the support, fam!!!”		LaVelle Wilson is an alumnus and hungry to be back on the ULV stage. He was always told that there is no reward for easy work, “So, if i stay to the grind, the blessings will continue to come.” He wants to give shouts out to God, his girl-Tracy, and For the Cause.
Wayne Vaughn is a senior Theater/Communications major. This is his third year at ULV. He would like to give thanks to Steve Kent and David Flaten for being his mentors through his few years here. He would also like to thank the stage crew, managers, and most importantly, the crew.		Jessica Wotherspoon just wants to share a quote, “A genuine work of art, no less than a work of nature, will always remain infinite to our reason: it can be contemplated and felt, it affects us, but it cannot be fully comprehended, even less than it is possible to express its essence and its merits in words.”--Goethe--