New and Improving Program

CAST

Nathan…………….......David Helms

Abby………….......…….Faye Austin

Linda ......……….……..Dayna S. Fries

Hector………..…………Joel Frapart

Turk....…….…..……….Carter Frost

Piper ......….......…….Taylor Teal

Lindsay/Beth/Rosemary....…….

Hannah Bell

Karen/Sophia………..Caroline Norton

Ted........…………..Tomer Braff

CREW

Director…………………Sara Herrera

Stage Manager…… Angela Aguilera

Production Manager………Jason Leyva

Set Design…………………Jason Leyva

Sound Design ………Zach Leyva

Light Design……………Penny Gaucin

Costume Design………Cast & Crew

Producers ………………

Jason Leyva &

Marla Fleischmann Owen

Associate Producers………

Arts Fort Worth

PLAYWRIGHT

Janae Hatchett is a playwright and actor from Lubbock, Texas. Before moving to Dallas, she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre at Angelo State University, where she fell in love with playwriting. Her plays have been selected by Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs, Camp Death Productions, Theatre Too, and Union. When she’s not writing plays, she’s playing board games, reading, and walking her cats.

DIRECTOR

Sara Herrera is an artist, choreographer, and performer with over 17 years of experience. Currently the Education Director and Dance Instructor for Artes de la Rosa’s Artes Academy, her work has been showcased at the Capital Fringe Festival (DC), Asheville Fringe Festival (NC), Sapperlot Festival, Italy, Arts on Site (NYC), and the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage commissioned by Agora Dance (DC). She debuted her solo work “A View from My Backyard” in her hometown at this year’s Fort Worth Fringe Festival.

BIOS

Carter Frost (Turk) was born and raised in Texas by a Marine veteran and a Professor of English and World Literature. He moved to Fort Worth 20 years ago to study stage and acting, eventually starring in stage productions of Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker, Steven Dietz's Dracula, Ted Tally's Terra Nova and a host of Shakespearean productions like Love's Labour’s Lost, Henry V, Henry VIII, As You Like It, Double Falsehood, Coriolanus and Macbeth. On screen he has starred in Post Traumatic and A Good Man. Carter is delighted to work with the cast, crew and writer of the original production of New and Improving and hopes to work with everyone involved again very soon.

Taylor Teal (Piper) is excitedly making their return to the stage as Piper. Spending their youth developing their craft at Creative Arts Theatre & School in Arlington, Taylor was able to star in various productions over the next decade before continuing their theatrical education at Tarrant County College. Taylor proudly starred as Prince Winifred in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, Velma Von Tussle in HAIRSPRAY, & Luciana in THE COMEDY OF ERRORS while attending. After working in other fields for a few years, Taylor is more than ready to perform once again.

Caroline Norton (Karen/Sophia) is thrilled to make her post-grad debut in New and Improving! A Fort Worth native, Caroline received her BFA in Acting from TCU (Go Frogs!) where she appeared in Shakespeare’s Pericles (Thaisa). Caroline has also performed at Hip Pocket Theatre in Arcadia Darling (Tinker Bell) and Seven Sinatra Veronicas (Veronica Sloth). Thanks to all of her loved ones!

Hannah Bell (Lindsay/Beth/Rosemary) is a Texas native returned to the home stages after the opportunity to direct, perform, and build educational theater programming for youth in Germany, Utah, China, and California. Her favorite credits include directing Into the Woods (KMC Onstage) and performing in The Little Mermaid, Tarzan (Chongqing Fantasy Performing Arts) , A Streetcar Named Desire, and Young Frankenstein (KMC Onstage). Since her return she has performed in Damn Yankees, Hayfever (Tarrant Actors Regional Theatre), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Theatre Arlington), Blithe Spirit (Graham Regional Theatre), and various virtual productions. Recently, she had the privilege of directing Old Enough to Kill for the Original Works Series and is genuinely thrilled to be back in Texas.

Tomer Braff (Ted) is an aspiring actor with a lifelong passion for media and entertainment. He has had an eclectic career, starting in Richardson High School with the communications magnet course, immersing himself in filmmaking before studying at UTD. Dual majoring in Computer Science and Game Design, he created a board game, "Circular Reasoning", that was professionally published, and after college started working in software development before moving into game development at Naughty Dog. During this time he worked on voice acting, improv, and acting classes to expand his horizons and hopes to achieve more in the future.

Jason Leyva (Production Manager/Producer) Owner and operator of the award winning production company L.I.P. Service, Jason has returned to the Fort Worth area to pick up the reins as Production Manager for Arts Fort Worth. After serving as the Technical Director for the Firehouse Theatre and Artisan Center Theatre along with partnering with various DFW companies including 3 Cords, Resolute Theatre Company & Theatre of North Texas, he is excited to continue the theatrical traditions here at the Arts Center. Learn more about Jason at his website www.jasonleyva.com #itsallabouttheart

Angela Aguilera (Stage Manager) has been working as a stage manager since 2016. She has worked on a wide variety of productions that have provided her with expertise in new play development, devised theatre (original works), site-specific theatre, online theatre, and dance. The Original Works Series has been a wonderful experience to work on and she is eager to be more involved in DFW productions.

Penny Gaucin (Light Design and Op). She is native to Fort Worth and studied Theatre Technology at UNT. She is also currently working on “New and Improving” performed at Arts Fort Worth. Penny is in production as the makeup artist and BTS photographer on the film “Don’t Say Murder.”

SPECIAL THANKS

Costa Caglage, Tim Fetters, Bryan Douglas, and Branson White

A PROGRAM OF ARTS FORT WORTH

Arts Fort Worth is here to support artists, celebrate artistic expression and engage the community. We are thrilled to present our first Original Works Series Productions – New and Improving and Dig. We are revitalizing tradition with these productions presented by our first resident company since The Fort Worth Theatre operated at the W.E. Scott Theatre in the late 70’s.

Led by Arts Fort Worth Production Manager Jason Leyva, we are excited to bring this collaboration of professional artists along with community players together in artistic ventures to enhance and elevate our cultural events at the Arts Center.

Karen Wiley, President of the Arts Council of Fort Worth said, “The arts in Fort Worth continue to thrive on its rich traditions. New and exciting initiatives that provide opportunities for our performing artists are always welcome and doing so with the revival of the beloved Fort Worth Theatre makes it all the more special.”

Thank you for joining us for this performance and for supporting our arts community.

Marla Fleischmann Owen

Director, Arts Fort Worth

This program is made possible through the generous support of the Fifth Avenue Foundation

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS