Archives

3/26/2008

Los Angeles

From left to right, Drew Wicks (Sen. Robert F. Kennedy), Charles Haigh (Gen. William Westmoreland),  Bill Wolski (Defense Secretary Robert McNamara), and Ian Tanza (President Lyndon Johnson) comprise the cast of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles, adapted and directed by J-Powers, dramatizes the key events leading up to the death of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and, in particular, explores his combative relationship with President Lyndon Johnson in their separate efforts to resolve America’s role in the war in Southeast Asia.  Through actor performances and historical images, the work examines Kennedy’s political evolution following the death of his brother President John F. Kennedy as he leaves his position as Attorney General in the Justice Department and wins political office in his own right as a Senator from New York.  His journey culminates with his decision to run for the Presidency and to redirect the energies of the nation away from foreign war and to focus on crucial domestic issues

 

Charles Haigh (Gen. William Westmoreland / Sen. Eugene McCarthy) Charles is a SAG actor with numerous screen, TV, and stage credits dating back to Little House on the Prairie.  More recently, he played the recurring role of prosecutor Tom Sneddon in the TV reenactment of the Michael Jackson Trial and performed in a Boeing national commercial that has been running for three years.  He also played President Woodrow Wilson in the History Channel production, Presidential Prophecies.  Charles has performed previously for Works in Progress in The Examination of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson…, The Army – McCarthy Hearings 1954, The Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas Hearings, and in the series The 9/11 Commission Report. Charles is also an accomplished writer.  He wrote for Divorce Court many years ago.  He has a published short story called First Solo.  He co-wrote and acted in a feature film that was shot in Poland.  Recently, he wrote a gripping war story called Birthday at Angels Three Zero, which will be published in We Were Crewdogs IV in June 2008 and will be available at www.wewerecrewdogs.com.  He has also recently completed a monumental work of historical fiction titled King of the Bees, which is now available at www.trafford.com.

 

Ian Tanza (Pres. Lyndon Johnson) Ian is an actor who began his professional career in 1974 when he received the American College Theater Festival’s “Best Actor” award.  He has appeared in numerous film, television, and stage productions, including Works in Progress’ “Trial of Lenny Bruce” and “O.J. Simpson Trial.”

 

Drew Wicks (Sen. Robert F. Kennedy) Drew is a professional actor with numerous Los Angeles theatre credits, including “Norman Conquests,” “Blood Wedding,” “Lion in Winter” at Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills.  He has recurring roles on TV’s “Mad Men” and “What About Brian.”  Film credits include “Fallout,” “The Perfect Game,” “Snakes on a Plane,” and “Live!”  This is his first appearance with Works in Progress.

 

Bill Wolski (Sec. Robert McNamara) A native of Cleveland, Bill is a veteran of more than 80 stage plays and musicals, and more than 500 individual performances.  An accomplished tap dancer, singer, and harmonica player, his versatility has allowed him to enjoy lead roles in “42nd Street,” “A Doll’s House,” “Twelfth Night,” “Laughter on the 23rd Floor,”  and David Sedaris’ “The Santaland Diaries,” which earned him the 2004 Best Actor award from the PV Players.  In 2006, he joined with actor Frank Pepito and actress/fiancé Holly Baker-Kreiswirth to form Another Coconut Production, which will produce its fifth production, David Lindsay-Abaire’s absurd comedy, “Wonder of the World,” for San Pedro’s Little Fish Theatre this August.  All three of them were last seen on the Nakano Theatre stage in the 2006 Works in Progress series “The 9/11 Commission Report.”  Bill also enjoys gigging from time to time with Gary Silver, and acoustic blues artist in Orange County, and is looking forward to his and Holly’s October wedding, which will be officiated by Frank.  Just another Coconut production.

J-Powers (Writer-director) While known to many as John Powers at Torrance Cultural Arts Center where he creates and produces various performing arts programs, J-Powers produces the theater series, Works in Progress, for which he has written and directed a number of original stage adaptations of compelling contemporary events.  These include The Examination of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson at the Court at Newton, The Army-McCarthy Hearings, The Watergate Tapes, The Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas Hearings, Trial of Lenny Bruce, Court-Martial of William Calley, McMartin Preschool Trial, and Trial of O.J. Simpson.   In 2006, he adapted and produced 9/11, the world’s only dramatization of The 9/11 Commission Report.  His original drama @HEART was recently produced at Ruskin Group Theatre, Santa Monica, where it was a critical success. He is married to Deborah Green and he is a proud step-dad to their three children Alissa, Spencer, and Cameron.