A History of the Hunger Artists ...
Founded in 1996 by a group of longtime friends, The Hunger Artists Theatre Company is the first Orange County-based alternative theater to grow out of Orange Coast College's Repertory Theater. While at Coast, the future members of The Hunger Artists honed their craft as actors, directors, playwrights and technicians, while developing the hip, smart, irreverent attitude and subversive theatrical sensibility that would later earn them notice as one of the county's most adventurous and unpredictable small theater companies.

One of the highlights of the OCC years was the very first Madame Guignol's Macabre Theatre. Inspired by a lavishly illustrated history of the French theater of terror and fear, four playwright/directors set out to recreate the gruesome thrills of le Grand Guignol. The results were so memorably bloody and entertaining that a few years later, when future company member Damon Hill suggested starting a Halloween tradition in Orange County, the Grand Guignol formula was revisited: Kathleen Kaefer's spectral Madame Guignol returned to tease and taunt audiences at the Costa Mesa Studio Gallery who'd turned out to see a show that was billed as "a play in five unspeakable acts." Performed by a company that did not even have a name yet, Madame Guignol's Macabre Theatre was a monster hit, playing to sold-out houses and critical accolades.

In the months that followed, the growing company struggled to establish its identity and determine its leadership. Shannon C.M. Flynn was named Artistic Director, Kelly Flynn took on the responsibilities of Managing Director and the group was named The Hunger Artists Theatre Company in short order. The company's name comes from the short story by Franz Kafka in which a performer starves himself, much to the amusement of the crowd; he continues to do so even when the crowd stops coming. The name was chosen to reflect the company's literary emphasis and the philosophy that "we'll keep putting up plays even if no one shows up."

Fortunately, that philosophy hasn't been put to the test too often. Following the company's first show produced under its new name, an evening of short plays entitled Work in Progress, The Hunger Artists left the Costa Mesa Studio Gallery to establish their own theater in a second floor office on the outskirts of Santa Ana's Artists' Village. Their first season in Santa Ana was tremendously successful, highlighted by sold-out performances of the all-male production of The Importance of Being Earnest, named Best Ensemble Performance of 1998 by the OC Weekly, and the critically lauded production of Kafka's The Metamorphosis, winner of the OC Weekly's 1998 Best Male Performance for Mark Coyan.

The following year saw such popular productions as Madame Guignol's Macabre Theatre: Carnival of the Damned, White Trash Privit Lives, winner of the OC Weekly's 1999 Best Female Performance for Kimberly Fisher, and Adam Martin's esoteric adaptation of Kafka's In The Penal Colony. In May of 1999, Shannon Flynn stepped down as Artistic Director of the company in order to pursue her MFA at the Yale School of Drama and was succeeded by Timothy C. Todd. Jody Reeves took over as Managing Director for the departing Kelly Flynn.

Under Todd's direction, the company's 2000 season was highlighted by a celebrated production of Clifford Odets' Rocket to the Moon and an all-female version of the Steinbeck classic Of Mice and Women, adapted and directed by Melissa Petro, who became the company's Artistic Director in 2001; with Jami McCoy as Managing Director.

The 2001 season got off to a blazing start with a blistering production of Sam Shepard's Fool For Love starring Mark Coyan and Kimberly Fisher, both of whom were recognized in the Orange County Register's Best of 2001 for their performances. The season also featured Adam Martin's hilarious sketch comedy play, The Big Table, highlighted by the unforgettable "Waiting for Godzilla," Petro's romantic thriller Voyeur and the company's first production of The Lutz Radio Christmas Show of 1947, which has since become an annual holiday event.

The 2002 season started off with a critically acclaimed production of Neil LaBute's bash: the latter-day plays and was followed by an evening of original short plays, The Couch Potato Festival and a much-lauded production of William Shakespeare's Hamlet starring Mark Coyan in the title role. It was during the run of Hamlet that The Hunger Artists, having outgrown their small space in Santa Ana, initiated their move to a new location in Fullerton. They inaugurated their new space with the world premiere of Johnna Adams' Cockfighters; Mark Coyan and Kimberly Fisher were named Best of 2002 by the Orange County Register for their performances in the play, as well as for their performances in Hamlet.

The 2003 season got off to a strong start. The company's seventh annual Halloween show, Madame Guignol's Funhouse, written and directed by Melissa Petro was its most successful Guignol production to date. With the introduction of a powerful new nemesis for Kimberly M. Fisher's mysterious Madame, Funhouse set the stage for the following year's exploration of Guignol's origins, Once Upon a Time ...

In February, The Hunger Atists presented a new production of Tom Strelich's painfully funny examination of truth, justice and corporate culture, BAFO. Directed by critically acclaimed Orange County director Sharyn Case, BAFO featured an all-star cast including Paul Castellano, Vivian Vanderwerd and Jay Michael Fraley in their company debuts, as well as Company regulars Mark Palkoner, Mark Coyan and Alex Dorman.

March brought a spare and haunting production of William Shakespeare's bloody masterpiece, Macbeth, to The Hunger Artists' stage, with Mark Coyan and Kimberly M. Fisher leading a powerhouse ensemble of actors. Macbeth featured the company debuts of Kevin Adkins, CJ, Ethan Rodgers, Amber Scott, Kelly Quigley and Malcolm Womack. as well as a critically lauded star turn by Mark Palkoner as Macduff, which earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2004 OC Weekly Awards.

In May of 2003, The Hunger Artists Theatre Company presented the Orange County premiere of Harry Kondoleon’s Obie Award-winning pitch black comedy of middle class mores, The Houseguests, directed by Deanna Keefe. The Houseguests featured company Artistic Director Melissa Petro and Managing Director Jami McCoy, along with Ethan Rodgers and Chris Fowler.

Also in May, as part of a new effort to incorporate local theaters into the Festival, The Hunger Artists Theatre Company was honored to participate in Fullerton College’s annual Director’s Festival. The world premiere production of New York playwright Jason Lindner’s “Falling In” starring Mark Coyan and Kimberly M. Fisher generated tremendously positive word of mouth and went on to be named one of the “Best in Fest.”

The Hunger Artists Theatre Company’s first musical production, Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, was the company’s biggest critical and financial success. Due to overwhelming popular demand, the production’s initial four-week run was extended for two additional weeks. Shannon C.M. Flynn was named Best Director, Mark Palkoner was recognized for Best Musical Performance and the play was named Best Musical Production of the Year at the 2003 OC Weekly Awards.

The company followed this success with the Orange County premiere of Sarah Kane’s compelling and challenging masterpiece Crave, directed by Todd Kulcyzk. This piece, featuring taut ensemble work by Mark Coyan, Catherine Drummond, Kristina Leach and Mark Palkoner (nominated Best Ensemble at the 2003 OC Weekly Awards), marked a new level of artistic achievement for the company, earning rave reviews in the OC Weekly and the Orange County Register.

The Hunger Artists broke new ground with its eighth annual Halloween extravaganza, Madame Guignol’s Macabre Theatre: Once Upon a Time. Kimberly M. Fisher returned for her fifth season as Orange County’s beloved mistress of misrule in a production that not only finally revealed the origin of the sexy and mysterious Madame Guignol (or did it?), but also featured five world premiere adaptations of Grimm’s fairy tales by playwrights from around the country. The sold-out Halloween event was the most successful Guignol ever, and set the stage for this year’s ghoulishly decadent and delicious romp, Madame Guignol’s Macabre Theatre: Hellhouse.

In November, Kelly Flynn was named Artistic Director and Margaret O’Hora was named Managing Director. Flynn and O’Hora had previously worked together for two seasons as Artistic Associate and Management Associate of the Ensemble Company for the Performing Arts, otherwise known as the Summer Cabaret at Yale. Joining Flynn and O’Hora were Production Manager Jill Johnson, General Manger/Literary Manager Kimberly M. Fisher, Associate Managing Director Katie Chidester, Company Historian Jami McCoy and Webmaster Darcy Hogan

Also, in November, in keeping with its tradition of encouraging the growth of fledging theatre companies, The Hunger Artists opened its doors to Another Round Theater Company’s production of John Osborne’s seminal work Look Back in Anger. Starring Sean Hesketh, Martin Winslow and Angela Lopez, Look Back in Anger also featured strong performances by Jessica Beane and Ethan Rodgers.

December brought the third annual production of The Lutz Radio Christmas Show, directed by Mark Palkoner. Julie Ackerman, Darcy Hogan and Palkoner returned to reprise their roles as Donna Dixon, Avery Grant and Mr. Knowledge, respectively. They were joined by Katie Chidester as Mrs. Knowledge, Sean Hesketh as Johnny and Ethan Rodgers as Bill Broxton.

The 2004 Season opened with a contemporary adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s comic masterpiece, The Inspector General. Adapted and directed by Artistic Director Kelly Flynn, The Attorney General featured an outstanding ensemble cast in top form, including a 2003 OC Weekly award-winning turn by Jessica Beane for Best Supporting Actress for her hilariously fearless performance as the sexually repressed religiously fanatical Commissioner of Schools.

Following last year’s critically successful production of BAFO, noted Orange County director Sharyn Case returned in February to The Hunger Artists to direct Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer Prize-winner, How I Learned to Drive. Featuring a riveting performance by Jay Michael Fraley as the predatory Uncle Peck, How I Learned to Drive also featured the company debut of Jessica Aldridge as Lil Bit. Karen Harris, Larry F. Scott, and Jenn Carnett rounded out the cast as the Greek Chorus.

Longtime company member Kimberly M. Fisher made her directorial debut in March with Casey Kurtti’s hilarious and touching coming-of-age story, Catholic School Girls. Featuring outstanding ensemble work by Kelly Albano, CJ, Darcy Hogan and Britt Marder, Catholic School Girls enjoyed the best opening weekend of the season thus far.

The Hunger Artists were pleased to welcome back award-winning Orange County playwright Kristina Leach, whose chilling adaptation of Rumplestiltskin, “RiptN2,” was a highlight of Madame Guignol’s Macabre Theatre: Once Upon a Time. Leach’s The Medea Project was a compelling modern adaptation of the Greek tragedy directed by Glendele Way-Agle. Starring Simone Nelson, Scott Manuel Johnson, Jack Millis, Jason Lythgoe and Damon Hill, the piece garnered critical accolades and was named Best New Play of 2004 by the OC Weekly.

In June, the company presented its latest experiment in bare knuckled creativity: 24 Hour Theater. Using prompts submitted by the audience through the company’s website, five writers – Emily Brauer, Kelly Flynn, Darcy Hogan, Jill Johnson and Brandon Kasper -- with the assistance of a dedicated team of actors and directors - wrote, rehearsed and performed five plays over the course of 24 hours. The show was a success, and it promised to become a new tradition at the theater.

Summer brought the company’s second musical production, Stephen Sondheim's chilling journey through the American heart of darkness, Assassins. Directed by Shannon C.M. Flynn, with Musical Direction and accompaniment by P. Matthew Park the production earned rave reviews and played for a sold-out six-week run. The design team included B.C. Keller (sound), Mark Matzkanin (lights), David Scaglione (set) and Dan Urlie (costumes). Susy Davis returned as choreographer. The 2004 OC Weekly Award-winning ensemble featured the company debuts of Christopher Spencer, Richard DeVicariis, Heather Leanna and Jeremy Gable, as well as returning company members Karen Merrill, Mark Palkoner, Melissa Petro, Amber Scott and Shawnna Wishman.

Assassins was followed by the West Coast premiere of Jason Lindner's Kafkaesque one-man show The Gog/Magog Project. Featuring Jeremy Gable as doomed performance artist Alexander Gog, this critically-acclaimed show received a 2004 OC Weekly Theater Award nomination for Best Production, and received a special award for Gable for Best Solo Performance.

In September, Artistic Director Kelly Flynn remounted his celebrated all-male production of The Importance of Being Earnest for the first annual Orange County Theater Festival. The production featured a cast of Orange County favorites led by Mark Coyan, who received a 2004 OC Weekly Award nomination for Best Lead Actor.

With its ninth incarnation of the annual Halloween bloodfest Madame Guignol’s Macabre Theatre: Hellhouse, The Hunger Artists pushed the limits of controversy. A spoof of Christian fundamentalist "hellhouses,” the six world premiere one-acts featured witchcraft, wizardry, abortions, deception and the secret ingredients of fast food hamburgers (not for the faint of heart). The production was co-directed by Kelly Flynn and Kimberly M. Fisher, who not only stepped into the role of Madame Guignol for the sixth time but also wrote one of the pieces.

In November, five writers were once again locked in the theater overnight for the second installment of 24 Hour Theater. One day later, there were five world premieres, all set in a temple in Greece, and one play that would never see the light of day (or would it?).

Emily Brauer, whose hilarious one-acts were seen in the first 24 Hour Theater and Madame Guignol’s Macabre Theatre: Hellhouse, showed off more of her quirky sensibility with the world premiere of her full-length comic journey through the endearingly cheesy byways of the heartland, Searching For Americana. Directed by Associate Managing Director Katie Chidester, the production starred company members Amber Scott and Leonard Joseph Dunham, with a set designed by Gene P. Rogers.

"The Last Chance Fest,” a two-night “celebration” of overproduced plays, proved the perfect capper to the 2004 season. Grease!, Steel Magnolias and the works of Neil Simon were all deliciously skewered in this late-night offering, sure to become an annual tradition.

The 2005 season got off to an unforgettable start as Shannon C.M. Flynn presented a modern take on William Shakespeare's Othello starring Scott Manuel Johnson as the Moor, Mark Coyan as Iago and Jessica Beane as Desdemona. The show played for an extended five-week run and received massive acclaim from critics and audiences alike. The production also included company members Richard DeVicariis Chey Kennedy and Mark Palkoner. Terri Mowrey made her company debut as Emilia, and was nominated for an 2005 O.C. Weekly Theater Award for Best Supporting Actress. Chrissie Munich delivered a stunning lighting design.

Following its successful production of bash: latterday plays in 2002, The Hunger Artists returned to the dark world of Neil LaBute in February, presenting the Southern California premiere of his 9/11 drama, The Mercy Seat. Directed by Managing Director Margaret O'Hora, the production featured stellar performances by Chey Kennedy and Katherine Prenovost.

In April, Darcy Hogan presented the world premiere of her powerful drama The Land Southward. Based on real events, Hogan's play explored the US government’s nuclear testing program in Nevada and its effect on the Mormon "downwinders" who were affected by the fallout. The production was critically acclaimed and Hogan's script, which won the 2005 O.C. Weekly Theater Award for Best New Play, is currently being sought after by theaters across the U.S. and the U.K.

Peter Weiss's Tony Award-winning play Marat/Sade was given a facelift in May, when Jeremy Gable and director Glendele Way-Agle presented a new "translaptation" of the revolutionary piece entitled Marat.Sade. Boasting a terrific ensemble cast, the production played to sold-out crowds and critical acclaim. Christopher Spencer won a 2005 O.C. Weekly Theater Award for Best Supporting Actor, and the production was nominated for Best Ensemble and Best New Play.

As summer began, Emily Brauer-Rogers was named Company Manager and Christopher Spencer and Jeremy Gable were given the newly created positions of Publicity Director and Associate Literary Manager, respectively. Subsequently, Gable and Literary Manager Kimberly M. Fisher created a Saturday play-reading series for The Hunger Artists, which started with a reading of Will Eno's The Flu Season.

In July, The Hunger Artists produced their most successful show yet: John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Directed by Shannon C.M. Flynn and music direction by P. Matthew Park, with returning designers B.C. Keller, Mark Matzkanin and David Scaglione, and starring Scott Westra and Terri Mowrey, the gender-blending rock musical - which turned the theater into a rock club - wowed critics and audiences alike during its extended six-week run, breaking box-office and attendance records, and was nominated for a 2005 O.C. Weekly Theater Award for Best Musical.

July also brought about the third installment of 24 Hour Theater. Making liberal use of the Hogwarts setting and scored to AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long,” five world premiere one-acts were written, rehearsed and performed in 24 hours. The night also included a very formal reading of Christopher Spencer's infamous "The Play That Won't See the Light of Day,” deemed too outrageous for the previous 24 Hour Theater.

The Hunger Artists welcomed Five Point Productions into the theater in August as they presented Mike Burgess's bicentennial comedy Love Hurts. This prequel to the popular Orange County production Loaded featured ninjas, water guns and a gang of Foxy Female Freedom Fighters. The production starred Hunger Artists company members Chey Kennedy, Jason Lythgoe, Mark Palkoner, Brey Barrett and Sammi Smith.

In September, Production Manager Jill Johnson showcased the best in Orange County's writers, directors and actors with Dead Letter Office, a short festival of original monologues and scenes inspired by the brief and somewhat sketchy information found on the back of old, canceled postcards (dating from 1910 to 1979). Seventeen pieces were presented over two weekends.

The Hunger Artists presented the tenth anniversary of Madame Guignol, entitled Guignol X, in October. To celebrate a decade of laughs, screams and blood, ten pieces from past Guignol shows were chosen and presented with a sixteen-person cast - including Kimberly M. Fisher's seventh consecutive turn as Madame Guignol - an impressive set design by Erik Furuheim, lighting by Shawn Fiddler and of course, The Wheel of Misfortune!

In November, Kimberly M. Fisher and Bekah McLean presented their adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel Little Women. Company members Jessica Topliff and Darcy Lythgoe, as well as Melanie Gable and Devri Richmond having made their company debuts, assumed the roles of the most famous sisters in literary history. Company members Brey Barrett, Jeremy Gable, Scott Keister and Mark Palkoner also made up the cast, with Senovia Han and Joan Meissenburg having made their company debuts.

December brought about another "Last Chance Fest". This year's skewerings included an all-too-faithful rendition of "Our Town", an amalgamation of the most popular Christmas plays and "The Jeremy Project", a piece of "metatheatre" listing all of the ways to torture company member Jeremy Gable.

What better way to start off the 2006 season than with Shakespeare and porn? Kelly Flynn's inventive retelling of "Twelfth Night" - set in the 1970's adult film industry - received great acclaim from both critics and audience members.  It featured lighting/set design by Aga Kunska, costumes by Jill Johnson, Joy Bice's third consecutive turn as sound designer and an impressive cast of 17.
 
The Orange County premiere of Sarah Kane's final play "4.48 Psychosis" opened in February. Jessica Topliff starred in Kane's beautiful, haunting piece, which was staged by Jeremy Gable - in his directorial debut - as a stark, minimal one-woman show. Christina L. Munich and Christina Acero returned to design lights and sound, respectively.

April brought Lanie Robertson's "The Insanity of Mary Girard". This powerful and disturbing piece, set in an 18th Century mental institution, was directed by Jill Johnson who also served as sound designer. The lighting design was provided by Mark Matzkanin. Christina Acero returned to the Hunger stage in the title role, accompanied by company members Susy Davis, Richard deVicariis, Darcy Lythgoe and Amber Scott, as well as James Grant, Kimberly M. Mitchell and Ethan Rodgers.

Also in April, in honor of National Poetry Month, the Hunger Artists hosted a three-night festival of poetry readings called "Poetry Aloud". Ten company members recited an assortment of their favorite poems. From classics such as e.e. cummings and Robert Frost, to musicians like Henry Rollins and Jewel, to original pieces, to rhymes about Klingons and The Fonz.

In celebration of the 10th Anniversary Season, The Hunger Artists presented the world premiere of "The Pledge Drive: Ruminations On The Hunger Artist" by Jason Lindner ("The Gog/Magog Project") in May. Shannon CM Flynn helmed the series of bizarre, humorous and thought-provoking monologues that featured penny-spitting mummies, poodle-killing bears, overjoyed newscasts, faulty Rube Goldberg machines, tap-dancing minstrelsy and sexual perversion.
 
Glendele Way-Agle directed the West Coast Premiere of Len Jenkin's surreal masterpiece "Careless Love" in June. A high-speed trip through an unusual dreamscape, the audience was transported to pineapple fields, Christian Video shoots, cheap hotel lounges, strange shacks and a tiki lounge. Lighting designer Joy Bice, sound designer Christina Acero, costume designer Margaret McGurr and a fierce 12-person ensemble brought this beautiful play to life.

This summer, the Hunger Artists had an unusual visitor: Mack the Knife! This most criminal of criminals was the focus of Kurt Weill's & Bertolt Brecht's classic musical comedy "The Threepenny Opera". Shannon CM Flynn & Artistic Director Kelly Flynn directed the production and P. Matthew Park was the musical director for the show, which starred Jason Lythgoe as the notorious Mack. Company members Christina Acero, Richard DeVicariis, Jeremy Gable, Scott Keister, Jessica Lynch and Kimberly K. Mitchell also contributed to the cast. David Scaglione designed the inventive set, Brenda Scaglione supplied the multiple costumes, Shawn Fiddler provided the lighting design and Susy Davis choreographed.

In September, ambitious new company Theatre Out rented out the Hunger Artists theater for their debut production - the West Coast premiere of Stephen Dolginoff's "Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story". Starring Lee Kociela and Jason Lythgoe as Leopold and Loeb, respectively, this dark two-man musical was directed by Artistic Director Jack Millis.

Also in September, the Hunger Artists hosted its fifth installment of 24 Hour Theater, subtitled "The Writers Strike Back". Given a haberdashery, an ophiologist, a Naked Juice and a ringing bell to work with, five writers spent the night at the theatre pounding out plays (along with a mystery writer in an undisclosed location). 24 hours and several plot twists later, six world premieres were staged.

Just in time for Halloween, the Hunger Artists presented "The Woman in Black". A true ghost play, the show has been a long-running hit in London's West End. The show proved popular in Orange County as well, and was a perfect treat for the holiday. Glendele Way-Agle brought this fun, chilling play to the Hunger Artists stage. Ellis Lavere Davis and Jason Lythgoe starred as the pair of actors bringing this haunting tale to life.

November saw the world premiere of "Hard Core: Women's Reflections On Iraq". This powerful work - based on discussions and interviews with real women involved with the conflict in Iraq - was conceived by Kelly Flynn, edited by Margaret O'Hora & Co-Managing Director Emily Brauer-Rogers, and directed by Rogers. A cast of nine, including company members Amber Scott and Katie Chidester, portrayed the group of mothers, wives and soldiers.

To end the 2006 season, The Hunger Artists gave birth to another world premiere: "The Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Pageant". Based on Bobby Henderon's religious Internet phenomenon, this riotous comedy was penned by Jeremy Gable and directed by Katie Chidester. Using only Internet marketing, the show was a huge success, thanks in part to a dedicated troupe of 11 actors who played midgets, pirates, children, Kansas school board members and strippers.

Also helping to close out our season was our new late-night show, "The Orange County Underground Burlesque Society". Conceived by and starring Associate Literary Manager Melanie Gable, the two-night performance featured six women singing, dancing and stripping in costumes resembling Snow White, Little Bo Peep, Red Riding Hood and Alice. A Hollywood-themed show is planned for January 19th and 20th.

The Hunger Artists headed into the 2007 season with some major changes. Artistic Director Kelly Flynn stepped down after three terrific years running the theatre. He handed the title to Jeremy Gable, who in turn handed his Literary Manager title to Glendele Way-Agle.

The 2007 season - titled "The Year of Love Corrupted" - began in January with a new staging of William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing". Literary Manager Glendele Way-Agle took the witty comedy and set it in the high-stakes world of 1960's Vegas, where the Mafia ruled the town, and the Rat Pack ruled the stage. Ellis LaVere Davis and Amber Scott starred as the sparring lovers Benedick and Beatrice.

February will introduce Orange County to Patrick Marber's "Closer". Orange County Underground Burlesque Society founder Melanie Gable will helm this witty, biting play, which was turned into an Oscar-nominated film in 2004. Sean Hesketh, Jay Lewis, Shaundelle Rodriguez and Jessica Topliff star as the mid-1990's English lovers whose words are as flimsy and hurtful as their actions. The production opens February 23rd.