Biographies

DIRECTOR:Farrokh Asadi

Farrokh Asadi, founder of Epic Players, is professor and chair of biology department at Harold Washington College, Chicago. Farrokh’s experience with epic theater started in 1968 with Bahram Beyzaie’s Four Boxes (production was banned by the government) and then in 1970, when he directed Bertolt Brecht’s A Man’s a Man.The work of Brecht became very important to him because of the writer’s political, social and anti-war commentary as well as his epic style, which is rooted in three centuries old Iranian traditional theater.Farrokh’s passion in directing Brecht’s plays then continued with the Vision of Simone Machard (1973, Iran), The Beggar (1975, Iran), He Who Says Yes, He Who Says No (1976, Iran), Fear and Misery in the Third Reich (1984, Iran), the Exception and the Rule (1974, Iran and 2005, Chicago), and the Informer (2005, Chicago).Farrokh has staged other playwrights as well including Gholamhossain Saedi’s Hand over Hand (1969, Iran), Checkhov’s Suicide (1969, Iran), Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People (1971, Iran), Eugene O’Neill’s In the Zone (1972, Iran), Mohsen Yalfani’s Teachers (1976, Iran), and Bahram Beyzaie’s Four Boxes (1993, Columbia, SC). As a scientist, Farrokh sees theater a type of methodical critical thinking that can empower its audience with the knowledge that every individual can effect change on the world in which he/she lives.In many ways, he believes, science and arts have one common intention:to investigate and make sense of life while making it easier to live.In his belief Science Age Theater aims to transform the stage to a social scientific laboratory, where the genealogy of events and actions could be treated down to their socioeconomic origins.

Farrokh feels a strong bond with this play, as his own attempts to produce the Four Boxes in the past were intercepted by an extremist Iranian establishment.In 1968, while attending Tehran University, Farrokh approached Beyzaie for his assistance and support to stage and direct the Four Boxes. To his surprise and admiration, Beyzaie took a serious risk by agreeing to direct a group of inexperienced but interested students, and rehearsals began the next day.However, after about three months of hard work, the SAVAK, Iran’s secret police at that time, did not allow the staging of the play to proceed.To make matters worse, a few months later, Abbas Danesh Behzad, one of the cast members of the cancelled production, was murdered by the SAVAK during a resistance fight in Siahkal, North of Iran.

PRODUCTION DESIGNER:Ario Mashayekhi

Ario Mashayekhi works professionally as a painter, sculptor and actor. In theater, Ario began as a set designer in the early1980’s and later began acting as well. In his visual art, Ario illustrates universal human conditions from pain and sorrow and isolation to the struggle to survive and the will to go beyond to promote the beauty and richness of life and the attainment of love. Through the years his artwork has been displayed in many individual & group shows and various publications, and has been honored by several awards. Ario holds a BFA from University of Illinois at Chicago.

Ario (playing Black in Four Boxes) has appeared in numerous independent films, video and stage productions. His theater work includes co-writing & acting in Haji goes to USA, a satirical play (in both Persian and English). In 1992 he was the co-founder of the Iranian theater group “Group 4+” which worked on The Successor, a play by Iranian playwright Gholamhossein Saeedi (in Persian with simultaneous English audio re-enactment), produced by the D’last Corp, for which Ario did the stage design as well as being one of the actors; Ario also designed the stage for the play Behind the Curtains, written by Ezzat Goushegeer, produced by the D’last Corp. Other acting credits include the video production of the play The Longing, directed by Robert Hostetter, produced by Matt Hoffman HMS; and the play Rashomon, directed by Kristina Schramm, Lincoln Square Theatre. For more information, please visit: www.ario.cc

STAGE PERFORMER: Jae K. Renfrow

(Playing Scarecrow in Four Boxes) graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor's in English and Allied Arts and another in Performing Arts. He moved to Chicago where he started working with Lincoln Square Theatre. His credits with them include multiple roles in The Martian Chronicles and the part of Bone in The Dust Eaters. He is very excited and honored to be involved with this production and would like to thank every person that helped him get to this point. He would also like to dedicate his performance to his brother Andrew, who is proudly emerging from a few boxes of his own.

STAGE PERFORMER: Jeff Jones

(Playing Yellow in Four Boxes) of Oak Park. Jeff studied theatre at Indiana University Northwest where he received two Irene Ryan nominations for his roles of Joe Keller in “All My Son’s” and Gardner Church in “Painting Churches”. Jeff was last seen as Larry in the premier of “Love In The Middle Ages” at Village Players as well as Marty, Teddy and Tony in “The Full Monty”, Abner in Princess Donkeyhead at New World Rep. Mr. March “Little Women” with Theatre Hikes as well as Ben Rogers, Muff Potter and the Welshman in Theatre Hikes production “The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer”, Woodcutter in “Rashomon” at Lincoln Square Theatre, Larry in Sheil Parks production of  “Inspecting Carol”, Steve in KevinFlecton Co. Theatre Productions “Chows Chinese” excerpt at Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins Festival XVIII which happened to be his Chicago Directorial and Playwright debut.  Some of Jeff’s favorite roles include Homenedes “A Flea In Her Ear”, Father O’Rielly “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up” and Dogberry “Much Ado About Nothing”.  Jeff is thrilled to work with Ario and be a part of Epic Players and he would like to thank the universe and everyone who supports him in this world and the cast for their support and this out standing opportunity.

STAGE PERFORMER: Miguel Nunez

(Playing Red in Four Boxes) is an Actor and Director originally from Miami Beach, who grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, where he started his Theatre career. He studied theatre at the IUDET, the Venezuela National Theatre University, receiving a degree in Theatre, Major in acting, Minoring in Theatrehi story.
For over three years Miguel was a member of the New World Players ensemble in Goshen, Indiana, where he also worked as a casting director. Since his move to Chicago he has worked with different companies such as RedMoon Theatre, Venture Theatre, KFC productions. He is part of the Salsation! Theatre Company touring ensemble. He will be soon seen in "Twelve Hungry Men" with Chicago Fusion Theatre. As a director Miguel has directed shows like The Swan, The Stronger, Henry V, In a Time Of War, NachtKabarett. He is right now in the process of launching his very own theatre group, Hoist Theatre Ensemble, soon, in a theatre near you!! Look for him!."

STAGEE PERFORMER: Nick Freed

(Paying Green in Four Boxes)is very excited to be working on this production with Epic Players. Nick was most recently seen in Filament Theatre Ensemble's Sleepy Hollow and Chicago dell'Arte's production of A Commedia Christmas Carol and Murder, Murder, Murder! His other Chicago credits include Dr. Seward in Dracula at The Building Stage and Hymen in NachtKabarett at Gorilla Tango with Painted Lady Productions. Nick wishes to thank his family and friends for their undying support.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR:Ezzat Goushegir

Ezzat Goushegir received her Bachelor degree in Playwriting and Dramatic Literature from College of Dramatic Arts in Tehran, Iran. She immigrated to the United States in 1986 where she received her M.F.A from University of Iowa Theater Department.She is a talented playwright, director, author, film critic and a poet. Ezzat’s plays have been produced by a variety of theater companies including Maryam’s Pregnancy, which won her a Richard Maibaum award and Behind the Curtains, which was recipient at a Norman Felton award. Among her many activities, she is a regular contributor to literary journals, and her writing has appeared in publications in Iran, France, Germany, and Canada. She is currently teaching playwriting at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. For more information, please visit:

www.ezzatgoushegir.com

MUSICAL DIRECTOR:Kiu Haghighi

Kiu Haghighi is known as a santour virtuoso in concert halls around the world.Kiu began his lifetime study of the santour at the age of ten.As a teenager he performed on the radio station of Mashad, Iran and the National Iranian Radio in Tehran, Iran.At nineteen he was invited to join the Iranian Ministry of Education and Art.There he performed as the featured soloist in the Academy Orchestra and performed regularly on National Iranian Television.Kiu was an instructor at the Ministry of Education and Art until 1965 when he left Iran for study architecture at the Cleveland Engineering Institute in the United States.

Kiu’s musical career in North America has included numerous performances throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico in colleges, Universities and concert halls.He has remained faithful to a desire to share classical Iranian music with western audiences. Kiu accompanies his santour with a drum called the tombak, which has been the principal percussion instrument of Iranian classical music for centuries, and the Daf, consisting of a skin membrane stretched over a frame. Kiu is committed to sharing his music with international audiences as a means to build cultural bridges. Funded in part by the Illinois Arts Council, Kiu has recorded three CDs of his compositions and improvisations.

The instruments that will be played in this production are (1) the Persian Santur, a hammered dulcimer with 72 strings, which will be played with a pair of curved mallets made of walnut wood.The resultant melodies are similar to the music of the harp, harpsichord, or piano; (2) the Persian Domback, the chief percussion instrument of Persian classical music; and (3) Persian Naqareh, also percussion instrument, which will be played in pairs. For more information, please visit: www.kiuhaghighi.com

MULTI MEDIA DIRECTOR:Mehrnaz Saeed-Vafa

Mehrnaz Saeed-Vafa has received her MFA degree in film from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1987, and she is a full-time faculty member in the department of Film & Video, Columbia College at Chicago since 1989.Mehrnaz has made a number of short films that have screened in various festivals: "The Silent Majority," "Ruins Within," and her award-winning documentary "A Tajik Woman." (Jury grand prize at the 20th Annual Festival of Illinois Film & Video Artists in 1995). She has been the Artistic Consultant of the Festival of Films from Iran at the Gene Siskel Film Center Chicago since 1989. Mehrnaz has written and lectured extensively on Iranian cinema, and her book on Abbas Kiarostami co-written with Jonathan Rosenbaum was published by the University of Illinois Press in March 2003.

STAGE MANAGER: Gail Livesay Renfrow

Gail graduated from the Department of Theatre & Dance at Western Kentucky University in May of 2006 and moved to Chicago in January of 2007. She has worked on many different kind of productions, from the two-men-on-a-bench production of The Zoo Story, to an 80-person cast and crew production of the musical Ragtime. Gail has experience working with both first-time student directors as well as with critically-acclaimed directors such as D. J. Salisbury and Tony Award-winner John Doyle. In addition, she has worked on small, private performances of contemporary drama, improvisational, and clown productions. Gail can read and conduct music, sew, and design video. She loves theatre, and she has experience in some carpentry, costuming, and Gail literally wrote the manual for house management at Western Kentucky University.

ACTING COACH:Hayedeh Torabi

Hayedeh Torabi studied play writing, drama, and acting in Iran (Tehran) Germany (Frankfurt am Main & Berlin), and Toronto (Ph.D. guest student, U of T). In Europe, she directed plays by Bertolt Brecht, Samuel Beckett, and Heiner Müller in the avant-garde theatre scene. She finally founded her own theatre group in Frankfurt am Main (Theater Tandiss, 1987) and directed plays by Iranian playwrights, as well as her own plays, in both German and Persian languages in different European countries and in Toronto. Since then, she has had a few productions here in English (Beckett’s Catastrophe, Robert Gill Theatre) and her own play, Medea Blues (in the 1999 Toronto SummerWorks Festival and the MoonWater Theatre Festival) and in Persian languages. Her most recent productions were in Germany: “Fairy tales from 1001 Nights“and “The Good Woman from Babylon“(2007, Hannover, in German).

CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY CONSULTANTS:

Simin Hemmati Rasmuusen, an active member of Iranian community’s cultural organizations is a graduate of MashahadUniversity in Iran. She has done graduate work at the University of Sorbonne, Paris, France and post graduate work at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. In her professional career she has held various positions in higher education institutions. Simin is a cultural activist and member of many cultural organizations in the city. She works closely with City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Oriental Institute, Chicago, SymphonyCenter, GeneSiskelFilmCenter and Chicago Humanities Festival among others. As a Board member of Iran House of Greater Chicago, a Cultural and Community Service Organization, she is a liaison to the broader community to educate and enhance the understanding of Iranian Culture and heritage and acts as a resource person for events related to Iranian culture in the greater Chicago area. In addition to her work with the Iran House of Greater Chicago, she has been a leading Cultural Community Consultant and works with publishers, multi cultural and educational organizations to enhance the public understanding of Iran and Iranian culture. Simin also volunteers her time in numerous ways to spread, enrich and improve the awareness of Iranian culture and the Persian heritage through her personal and professional involvement with the community at large.

Bijan Bayzaee:

The playwright’s younger brother, has been enthusiastically involved in cultural, educational, and inter-faith organizations as well as community services to promote awareness and appreciation of the Persian culture.He has been, since 1991, an active participant in variety of cultural organizations in Illinois including the Iran House of Greater Chicago, Association of the Friends of Persian Culture, Skokie Festival of Cultures, Nima Cultural Association, and Northbrook Community Relations Commission.Bijan holds a B.A. in sociology and an M.A. in Modern European History with emphasis on the 19th Century Intellectual History of the Middle East from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Outside of his professional activities, Bijan assists authors in the field of Persian literature, historiography, and biography with the editing of their works for publication.

PUBLICITY & MARKETING CONSULTANT: Hamid Akbari

Hamid Akbari is Chairperson of the Department of Management and Marketing and Associate Professor of Management at Northeastern Illinois University, where he has taught since 1986. He received his Ph.D. from the Ohio State University with his major in Management and his minor in Political Theory. He has a MBA and an MA in political science from University of Toledo. He is a co-founder of About Iran, a non-profit group dedicated to the defense and promotion of human rights and democracy in Iran. He is the past Executive Director of the International Society for Iranian Studies. He is co-author/co-editor of two books on Iran related topics and author of several articles on Iran. He has organized and publicized more than 150 programs, including major international conferences, concerts and other public programs.

PRODUCTION CREW:

Tatiana Trainina was born in Kiev, Ukraine (former USSR). Tatiana has been involved in theater since her childhood. Tatiana's mother worked as a film and theater costume designer. Tatiana often visited her at work and sometimes participated in extras. Even though she did not choose theater as her profession, Tatiana continued to be actively and passionately involved in theater as a volunteer. After immigrating to the United States, Tatiana finished Theater Directing and Management program (in 1995), and since 2005 she is an active member of the Epic Players.

Shahin Hemmatzadeh:

Shahin was born in Tabriz in an art-dedicated family. She holds a BA in Persian literature from Tabriz Azad University. Inspired by her siblings, she began learning music by Naghareh a drum-like Iranian instrument. Later in high school, she extended her music activity with learning Kamancheh (a bowed spike fiddle) and singing under supervision of great masters.
After graduation from university, she persued her childhood passion of doll making. She succeeded to establish the first doll-making teaching institute in East Azarbayjan.
And then her book in soft animal and puppet making published in fall 2003. Shahin came to USA in December 2006 to continue her study in fashion and design major.

Ali Asadi is currently a certified personal trainer and boxing instructor at Bally Total Fitness, but he has held a passion for the performing arts from an early age that can be attributed to growing up with such a creative and talented father.He is also pursuing a Masters Degree in Education at DePaul University, and plans on teaching English Literature at our Chicago Public High Schools.This will be Ali’s second theatrical performance, as he made his debut in The Epic Players’ 2005 production of The Exception and The Rule, and The Informer.Ali is extremely excited and grateful to be appearing in a traditional Iranian play, but even more so for getting another chance to work under his gifted father.

Asal Monfared is a chemical engineering graduate from Iran, and is currently pursuing a major in Pre-Pharmacy at Harold Washington College.She plans to complete her Doctorate Program in Pharmacy at University of Illinois at Chicago.Asal is a talented singer and key-board player. Asal has been appeared in Epic Players 2006 production of Bertolt Brecht’s Exception & the Rules, and Informer.

Kousha Moaveni Nejad is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Illinois Institute of Technology and his research interests include Wireless Ad-hoc Networks, Computational Geometry, Algorithm design, and Optimization. Kousha is presently working as a project engineer at CNH America LLC.

Christy Garvey grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she participated in community acting classes and performed in several plays during her teenage years.She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture with a minor in Business.After graduation, Christy moved to Chicago to pursue a career in Architecture.While working at middle sized architecture firm in downtown, she has returned to her love of acting by taking classes at Act-1 acting school.This is Christy’s first theatrical performance within Epic Players.

Rosa Elena Garcia is a Mexican/American actress/artist born and raised in Chicago. She started acting in high school and immediately knew that this is what she had a passion for. However, life led her to a different path and she joined the Armed Forces at the age of 18. She served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps. During her short lived career in the military she was fortunate enough to travel and observe different cultures and customs. Her last year in the military was served in Iraq during the beginning of the war. She was honorable discharged in 2004. After being discharged she began studying full time at Chicago State University, where she still continues her academic studies. Currently she works for the Veterans Affairs Hospital and continues to commit herself to her one true passion, acting.

Lester Palmiano was born and raised throughout the north side of Chicago. His first experience in theater, as well as acting, was with the Epic Players in the production of The Exception and the Rule and The Informer. Currently, his role in theater, involves helping out in various fund raising events, but his outlooks are to write scripts and to film when things are settled down in his life. He received an A.S. in Harold Washington College (2006) and is currently working on a B.S. in Biochemistry in UIC. A majority of his time is dedicated to opening a tea lounge, Loose-Leaf Lounge (www.LooseLeafLounge.com) in late spring 2008 and DJing during the weekends.

Rachel Dalton is a Roosevelt University graduate with a BS in psychology.Rachel is currently attending DePaul for a graduate degree in International Public Management and she is also a student at DePaul’ Act One. Her theater experiences includes Epic players’ production of Bertolt Brecht’s Exception & the Rule and informer and some during herhigh school years.

Oladimeji Ogunbayo graduated from Harold Washington with an associate in science with honors, currently attends UIC where he is pursing a degree in Biochemistry. His theater experience includes Epic players’ production of Bertolt Brecht’s Exception & the Rule and informer. A dedicated photographer, he was recently received an editors choice Awards, and was nominated amateur photographer of the year. His work “Hope” also recently secured a spot in the Hall of fame of the International Society of Photographers. He is a fan of the arts, classical music and enjoys driving, biking, fishing and cooking.

Jessica Lawson is a native of Columbia, Missouri. She has been acting since the age of 8. After her work with the Epic Players in Chicago, she moved to New York City to complete her bachelor's degree. She is currently working toward a self-created degree in 'Borderless Journalism' through the City University of New York Baccalaureate program. Jessica hopes to work internationally where she will blur the lines between traditional media and cultural boundaries. In her free time she loves biking, going to concerts, and exploring the unknown.

Nazi Saremi is a first year student from Iran studying fine art at Harold Washington College. She has been exposed to and explored the world of fine art since she was eight years old. Nazi enjoys working with various mediums, but she specializes in oil paintings. Nazi hopes to pursue a future career goal of opening her own gallery and featuring her work depicting & exposing the female culture in Iran.

Mina Ghahremani is a young Persian dancer, who was born and raised in Germany (Frankfurt and Hanover), and she is specialized in the classical oriental dance, as well as in fusions of oriental and modern/experimental dance for over 4 years now. Besides speaking German and Farsi, Mina learned English as a child due to the 3 years she lived in Toronto back then. She has taught the classical oriental dance as a form of therapy for one year before she moved to Chicago. Some of Mina’s most significant and successful performances and experiences were in film and theater, in which she had roles as a dancer and actress. Since she worked in theater, her interest for mixing dance with theater has grown. Her latest performance in a German movie called “Chiko” will be coming in the German movies theaters on April, 2008.

Mahsa Dehleh Hosseinzadeh: Mahsa was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1981. In 2005 she earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. In addition to science, Mahsa has also a deep passion for art. When she was in school, she started to play flute and keyboard, and also performed in theatrical plays. In May 2008, she won the first place HWC Idol award for her dance performance. Her specific areas of interest in dramatic art are decoration and costume design. She is also talented in music and creative dance.

Amin Abedi

Amin is holding a B.A. in Graphic Design and a Master degree in Animation from the University of Tehran Art Institute. His desire to create and bring art in front of the eyes of others in a way they can relate has been fulfilled through graphic design. Amin’s works are created using the standard professional graphic design software. He is continuously learning new and exciting ways to utilize the software and design original works. Amin strives to maintain a level of class and elegance without sacrificing the artistic creativity in his design. Hobbies and interests include playing tambour, traveling, and men’s athletics. As a proud member of the Epic Players, Amin has video taped company’s 2006 Production of Bertolt Brecht’s Exception & The Rule and Informer. For more information please visit: http://www.aabedi.com

Azadeh Mokhlessi

Azadeh is holding a Master degree in English Literature from the University of Tehran, and she was the translator for a number of multimedia productions such as “the Spirit of Egypt” and “Persian Art & Handcraft”. Azadeh’s authentic hobby is photography and her unique blend of style comes from a broad range of photographic experience. she has photographed the Epic Players 2006 Production of Bertolt Brecht’s Exception & The Rule and Informer. Azadeh is comfortable and relaxed in both the studio and on stage, possessing the uncanny ability to be creative even under pressure. In addition, she is a great make up artist.