Artificial Jungle

The Artificial Jungle by Charles Ludlam
The scene is set in a pet shop on Manhattan's Lower East Side, It is not a well kept shop but rather a family affair with the owners living in the back of the store. Chester and his mother are overly devoted to each other, while wife Roxanne is deeply
unhappy with her lot in life. A 2-bit grifter, looking for a new score, arrives and disturbs the shaky equilibrium. Nonstop hilarity ensues. All the emotions are there in spades-- lust, greed, guilt, double
entendre, silliness, ventriloquism, and, of course... MURDER.
Starring
Kim Breslin, Phillip Korth, Dori Salois, Michelle Estep, Brian Evans, Walter Ruskin
Directed by Robert Salerno
Opens March 25th through April 10th
Dates: Mar 25,26,27 April 1,2,3,8,9,10
Days: Fri & Sat at 8pm/Sunday at 3pm
Tickets: Gen $22/Sen.Mil.Stu.$20/Group $17 (5 or more)
Doors open 30 minutes before curtain

Face Masks Are Required on entrance and at all times while indoors. Display your proof of vaccination card or recent negative Covid test prior to entering. Theater has open seating. Please practice social distancing.

Cast & Crew

KIM BRESLIN (Mrs. Nurdinger) is a comedian from Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. She is a bi-coastal actor with credits including: Norma Hubley in Plaza Suite, Charlotte in Beyond Therapy, Lenny in Crimes of the Heart, and Widow Piper in Babes in Toyland among many others. Breslin has performed in various professional comedy improv groups including: Modern Times, Comedy Sportz, Just Kidding and Activity Book. She also taught improv at the Old Globe Theater. For the last three 24 Hour Experiment competitions, Kim and her writing teams took home the first place trophies. She also penned a comedy screenplay. Kimberly earned her BA degree in Acting from Stockton University in NJ. and a M.Ed. degree from Chestnut Hill College in PA. Breslin lives in South Park and teaches at a local elementary school where she inspires budding artists.

PHILLIP KORTH (Frankie) is an actor, writer, craftsman, and educator. In addition to being the Education Associate at The Theatre School @ North Coast Rep, Phillip also designs and manages props for NCRT. He earned BAs in Acting and Creative Writing from Western Michigan University and his MFA in Acting from the University of Connecticut. His plays have been finalists for the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and for the Bridge Award in Playwriting, awarded by Arts in the Armed Forces. You can read his work at newplayexchange.org. A veteran of the United State Marine Corps, he served two tours of duty in Iraq as a combat engineer.

DORI SALOIS (Roxanne Nurdiger) Dori Salois, has performed in professional theatres as well as film and television in New York, Los Angeles, Massachusetts, Washington D.C. and San Diego. When she first arrived in San Diego, she was nominated as best actress for her work in Agnes of God. Some of her local performances include, Alice, the bossy wife in Clever Little Lies, Ilene, the pliable conflicted co-worker in Rasheeda Speaking, Rhonda Lynne, the southern sex pot in Southern Hospitality, Chris the leader of the gang in Calendar Girls, Vernadette, the down-home country gal in Dixie Swim Club, Rachel a cheerful chatterbox in Reckless, Muriel, a German Dominatrix in Fox in the Fairway, the elegant Maggie in Tribute, and the bitter Mrs. Rowland in Before Breakfast. She is also a published author and playwright. Her novel Mrs. Bennet’s Sentiments was chosen as top fiction pick by People Magazine and her recent play She’s At The Library just completed a successful run at Point Loma Playhouse As the Executive Artistic Director of Vantage Theatre, she is always looking for new plays that have the ‘Aha’ moment.

MICHELLE ESTEP (Mrs. Muncie) Michelle is honored to be a part of the cast of The Artificial Jungle. Michelle’s experience extends back to when she was a child in community theatre. Most recently, her performances include supportive roles in Les Miserables at the Jewish Community Center in La Jolla and The Importance of Being Ernest at the Community Actor’s Theatre playing Miss Prism. She has sung with The Choral Club of San Diego, school and church choirs, and Sisters in Music. She has taken tap dance training for the past 2 years.

BRIAN EVANS (Chester Nurdiger) Brian was last seen at the Point Loma Playhouse in She's at the Library! playing Potter. He has also played Mo in Miss You Like Hell, Henry Higgins in Pygmalion, Mozart in Amadeus, the Baker in Into the Woods, Frank Doel in 84 Charing Cross Road, Frank Wyman in Mack and Mabel, and Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show. He has won Aubrey awards for Asphyxia in Cinderella, Robert in Betrayal, Doc Gibbs in Our Town, and Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher. His first introduction to Charles Ludlam was his San Diego Playbill Award-winning performance as Nicodemus/Lady Enid/Alcazar/Irma Vep in The Mystery of Irma Vep. Brian is a graduate of SDSU with an MFA in Musical Theatre and runs the Theatre Database for San Diego, www.tdb4sd.com.

WALTER RUSKIN (Zachary) is an Actor, Comedian, and owner of Automotive Management Agency. Walter was encouraged to begin acting at a young age, but did not really study the craft until his thirties when he attended Saddleback College and SDSU. Walter is also known for his production work with ‘Lucky to Be in San Diego with Rod Luck’ as well as being a spokesperson for Pacific Nissan. This is Walter's debut performance at PLP, and he is excited to have the privilege of working with such a wonderful cast and Director, Robert Salerno, on this farce of Film Noir. "It is uncanny", said Walter after he read the script, “It’s as if someone captured every crazy family member I have and decided to put them in a play." Character Zachary Slade reminds him of his cousin, Joey from Bloomfield, New Jersey. "Joey is constantly hustling for the big score!" Uncle Gus is represented by character Officer Frankie Spinelli. "My Uncle Gus is a smart guy. He knows everything about anything, except he is clueless of what is going on in reality." You can follow Walter on Instagram: @CancelWalterRuskin

TWYLA ARANT (Producer, A.D.) An LMU Theatre Arts graduate, Twyla had varied production experience with theatre and ballet companies around southern California before starting with Village Church Community Theater in 2005 as Lighting Director. Also appearing on stage as Sarah Whitford in the musical Rented Christmas at VCCT, in 2012 she began producing Summer Theater and Music Camps on the campus in Rancho Santa Fe. From 2016-2021, Twyla was on staff with The Village Church as Director of Drama Ministries and the Producing Director of VCCT; she produced and directed a total of 28 regular season and dinner theatre productions, 10 years of Summer Theater Camps, and spent 17 years lighting shows for VCCT. Since 2019, Twyla has been Lighting Designer for the opera All Is Calm produced annually by Bodhi Tree Concerts in San Diego. The Artificial Jungle marks Twyla’s first production at Point Loma Playhouse.

ROBERT SALERNO, MA, MD, PhD (Director) (Sound Designer) has written screenplays, poetry, and plays, and has directed for stage, screen, and radio. As Director: Eugene Ionesco’sThe Painting ("Billie" Award); Jean Cocteau’s Wedding on The Eiffel Tower (AASD awards: Best Production and Best Direction, "Billie" Award: Outstanding Costume Design); Cadenza: Mozart’s Last Year (World Premiere); Charles Ludlam’s Reverse Psychology and The Ventriloquist’s Wife (multiple AASD award winner), The Color Of Light (World Premiere), The Actor’s Nightmare (AASD award), Marianne MacDonald’s The Ally Way (World Premiere), The School of the World (World Premiere), Li’l Heroes (“Best of The Fest” Award), Tchaikovsky: Child Of Glass (World Premiere,Mexico), Be Here Now: The Journey of Ram Dass (SD Premiere), So Small A Thing (SD Premiere), Rasheeda Speaking (SD Premiere) Jane Doe in The Quiet Room; Joe The Baker (film). As Playwright: Cadenza: Mozart’s Last Year; Orpheus Rox (one of two plays selected as “Critics Pick” for 1999); Tchaikovsky: Child Of Glass, The Holy Man (staged reading), The Painting (Translation). Dr. Salerno served as Artist In Residence at Vantage Theatre from 1996-2013 and has been Artistic Director since 2014. He is currently working on a new play that will be produced later this year.

JANA LEIBO (Costumes, Props, Stage Dressing) Jana’s love of design and fabrication have blended beautifully. Behind the scenes she has been in charge of set construction, and well choreographed set changes and stage crews. Dressing sets and being Master of Props brings so much creative joy. She has also done Hair, Makeup and Costuming. She is currently a design specialist at Home Depot. Favorite shows include Harvey, Murder By The Book, A Pirates Life For Me!, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, Rented Christmas, Little Women, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Amal and the Night Visitors.

JAY MALONEY (Set Design & Construction; Lighting Design). After spending over 20 years in broadcast television, Jay is excited to bring his EMMY Award winning skills to the stage. His work at Point Loma Playhouse has been seen in One Slight Hitch, First Night, Making God Laugh, The Fantasticks, The Meeting, Glorious, and She's at The Library. He sends much love to his Aubrey winning wife Deirdre. Special thanks to PLP for having the drive and courage to make it through these challenging times.

DANIEL AGUAYO (Tech Support) was born and raised in San Diego, CA. He is a senior at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts and is majoring in Digital Media/Film Production. He was mentored by acclaimed film director Thomas Antl. His credits include Jeremy Baker Tries to Live, Cobra's Curse, Fire in the Heart. His future goals are to seek a career in the film industry as an Editor.