Ego Actus will present Shelter Inn Place by Henry Feldman, directed by Joan Kane at Theatre Row opening September 18 and running to October 4.
synopsis
A Category-3 hurricane is heading toward the Pelican Bay Bed and Breakfast, but the real storm is brewing inside. With a shelter-in-place order in effect, people-pleasing Frank must navigate a father who’s lost the will to live, a guest who doesn’t want to be bothered, and his love-struck son determined to get Frank back with his ex-wife. Shelter Inn Place is a family comedy about starting over, accepting your family, and finding your way to happiness, even when there’s nowhere else to go.
casting notice
casting committee: Robin Carus, casting director, Joan Kane, director, Henry Feldman, playwright, and Bruce A Kraemer, producer
AI casting graphics by Robin Carus
the cast
The cast of Shelter Inn Place will feature Mike Roche*, Martin Revere*, Alyssas Simon, Aaron Lamm, and Haley Zale*.
*Equity Member appearing with permission of Actors’ Equity Association without benefit of an Equity contract in this Off-Off Broadway production.
the staff
- director Joan Kane†
- casting director Robin Carus, csa
- set designer Evan Frank
- costume designer Cat Fisher
- lighting designer Bruce A! Kraemer
- sound designer Ian Wehrle
- prop designer Max Kilsheimer
- stage manager Dana Robbins
- house manager JJ Seibert
- master electrician Andrew LaPointe
- electrician ???
- scenic painter ???
- carpenters ???
- press agent Jonathan Slaff
†member of the Society of Directors and Choreographers
cast bios
Mike Roche* (Frank Bennett) has been seen in Meltdown, In Uniform, and Origin all directed by Joan Kane, Arthur Miller’s The Hook for Brave New World Rep directed by Claire Beckman, adapted by Ron Hutchinson, Night Over Taos at INTAR directed by Estelle Parsons, Doubt directed by Peter Jensen at the Gloria Maddox Theatre, The Father, a reading with Al Pacino and Jessica Chastain at The Actors Studio, Room Service at The Actors Studio directed by Arthur Storch, A Clockwork Orange and Fahrenheit 451 both at 59E59, EST, and Edinburgh directed by Joe Tantalo, Billy the Kid at the Flea Theater directed by Jim Simpson, cul–de–sac by John Cariani for Unquowa Rep, Member: Godlight Theatre Company, 2010 Drama Desk Award, AEA, SAG-AFTRA. Special Thanks to Joan, Bruce, Henry, Robin and Holly O’Brien www.MikeRoche.net
Martin Revere* (George Bennett) (he/him, proud septuagenarian) has been riding the winds of a full-time actor’s life since 1964, and what a journey it’s been! Over the years, he’s graced the stage in Oliver!, The Me Nobody Knows, A Thousand Clowns, The Impossible Years, and Lovers, and spent a lively decade as a lead with the ensemble company The Gingerbread Players and Jack. Recent seasons have found him in Stag & Lion’s Arsenic and Old Lace and Richard III, and at Theater for the New City in Diva Therapy, where he stole hearts, and a few boas, as Carloz with a Z, a geriatric Liza Minnelli impersonator under the inspired direction of Joan Kane. Martin holds a Ph.D. in Theater from NYU’s School of the Arts. He extends heartfelt thanks to Claire Tyers of Stag & Lion, John Seidl, and Beverly Johnson for their unwavering faith in his craft. This season, Martin returns to the stage in a brand-new work set amid a hurricane, proving that after six decades in the business, he’s still more than ready to weather any storm: MartinRevereActor@gmail.com
Alyssa Simon (Heidi Murphy) is thrilled to work with Ego Actus again. Thank you, Joan, Bruce, and Robin, for the opportunity. Her first production with the company was Adele’s Way as Rebecca, written by Dennis Porter direted by Joan Kane and performed at the Broadway Bound Festival. She has worked Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway with many companies, such as Untitled Theatre Co. #61, Gemini CollisionWorks, Metropolitan Playhouse, Morningside Theatre Co. and The Brick, as well as regionally, in the UK, the Caribbean and Argentina. She is also the voice of Lt. Frall in the chart-topping sci-fi comedy podcast Life With Althaar. Her next project is a lead role in the psychological thriller film 3E, written and directed by Geordy Skolnik.
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Aaron Lamm (Sam Bennett) is beyond thrilled to be part of this production. Recent New York theatre credits include Stupid F**king Bird at the Secret Theatre, on Off Brosdway proidcution of Fear and Misery in the Third Reich at the Riverside Theatre, and The Divine Dating Game at the Players Theatre. Aaron graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the Boston University School of Theatre, in 2025 and is pleased to have reached a whole year of living in New York City. Endless love to mom and dad, and all his friends and family for their continued support. ig: @aaronjaylamm
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Haley Zale* (Mildred Bennett) is known for her television roles on Nurse Jackie and Girls5Eva. She started her stage career at 16 and was on the board of directors of Spotlight Theatre by 18. Haley won the Best Supporting Actress City Pulse Award for her role as Gillian in Ravenscroft in Lansing, Michigan. She studied at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, then was cast in the inaugural season of the Chenango River Theatre in upstate NY. Haley loves storytelling and is overjoyed to be back on stage! She is also a boxing referee and judge. Instagram: @haleyzale
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staff bios
Henry Feldman (playwright) was originally interested in theatrical acting, then found he enjoyed the challenge of writing comedic plays for small casts and small stages. Shelter Inn Place is his response to the constant repetition of that phrase during the plethora of Gulf Coast hurricanes that were part of his 40 years in Houston. Henry wishes to thank his wife, Nadine, who, as a writer, enjoys their time together discussing imaginary characters; his father, who provided so much material for this play; and his mom, who put up with his father and set a bar so low that even becoming a playwright made her proud.
Joan Kane SDC (director) is the founding Artistic Director of Ego Actus. She performed her one-woman play, Almost 13 in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, getting a five-star review. Joan has directed Sycorax at HERE, Play Nice! at 59e59 theaters, I Know What Boys Want at Theatre Row, Six Characters in Search of an Author in Oslo, Norway and Kafka’s Belinda in Prague. She also directed both Safe and what do you mean at 59e59 theaters and in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, getting four-star reviews for each. Joan was awarded Best Director in the 2016 United Solo Festival. She was named one of the 2011 People of the Year in honor of her contributions to the New York theatre scene and inducted into the Indie Theatre Hall of Fame by nytheatre.com. Joan has also directed plays and readings at the Lark, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Urban Stages, Workshop Theater, the Samuel French Short Play Festival, the Actors Studio, the Broadway Bound festival, and many others. She graduated from the High School of Performing Arts, studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse, and has an MFA in Directing from The New School and an MS in Museum Education from Bank Street College. Joan is a member of the playwright/directors unit of the Actors Studio, the Episcopal Actors Guild, the League of Independent Theatre, the Dramatists Guild, New York Women In Film and Television, and the Society of Stage Directors & Choreographers.
Robin Carus, CSA (casting director) Select Regional & Off-Broadway: Songs of Light & Joy for Provincetown Playhouse, Beau for Theatre 154, Ceremonies in Dark Old Men for Theatre at St. Clement’s, Pay the Writer for Signature Theatre, and The Remarkable Mister Holmes forNorth Coast Rep. Select Film: Elijah Able, Urban Ed, Green Flake. Webby, Hermes, Davey, and Telly Award winner for Project Sing Out! For almost 10 years, she was the Casting Director for TheatreworksUSA, where she cast over 200 national tours and countless works in development, as well as their Off-Broadway series at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, including the revival of Seussical. This is her 4th Ego Actus production. Casting Society of America.
Evan Frank (set designer) (he/him) is an award-winning scenic and video designer. In a decade-long career, he’s designed over a hundred shows, including forty world premieres. This is his third show with Ego Actus after Meltdown and Diva Therapy. Recent scenic designs include A Christmas Carol at the Wick Theatre and a new immersive piece, The Haven. Recent video designs include According to Howard at The York Theatre Company and How to Put on a Sock in LaJolla Playhouse’s WOW festival. Upcoming work includes Antigone in Analysis at LaMama and Children of Eden at the Ocala Civic Theater. MFA, CMU EFrankDesign.com
Cat Fisher (costume designer) has designed costumes for nearly 200 shows for theater, dance, film, and television. is a member of the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, a New York State Council for the Arts award recipient, and has been recognized with several costume awards. Her work has been seen at Theater for the New City many times; at 59e59th; the NYC Fringe & International Festivals; She has IMDb credits for both acting and design, and is a founding member of Honest Accomplice Theatre. So happy to be working with Joan & Bruce, for the gazillionth time! Always a pleasure!
Bruce A! Kraemer (lighting designer) is the producer of all Ego Actus shows. He has done lighting design for Roundabout Theatre and Soho Rep and has designed shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Ensemble Studio Theatre, 59e59 Theaters, HERE, the NYC Fringe, Theatre Row, and many others. Bruce also does TV and event lighting, audio, technical direction, stage management, production intercom, and RF coordination. He has done one or another of those for the Summer and Winter Olympics, the Paralympics, the World Cup, two Papal visits, three Superbowls, the Commonwealth Games, the Goodwill Games, six Tony Awards, the Grammys, three Video Music Awards, the WNBA All Star Game, the NBA All Star game, the NBA Draft, four NFL Drafts, the MLB Draft, ten Christmas Tree Lightings at Rockefeller Center, on Broadway, off Broadway, off off Broadway, for dance, fashion shows, art installations and hundreds of corporate events.
Ian Wehrle (sound designer) is a composer and collaborator for various music direction and sound design for theater. Recent credits include: The Hiphop Nutcracker, The Screwtape Letters and Titanic at Surflight Theater; Sunday in the Park with George for Axelrod; The Buddy Holly Story tour, Monica Piper’s Not That Jewish at New World Stages, A Room Of My Own and Hellman V. McCarthy for Abingdon Theatre Co. et al. at Columbia Stages & NYFA; Credits at Food Network, FOX, MTV, and PBS. www.soundaffectsdesign.com
Max Kilsheimer (prop designer & assistant stage manager) is excited to be working with Ego Actus again. They have been doing theater in some shape or form since a very young age and are amazed that they can do theater in NYC. Max worked on Ego Actus productions Time Stands Still and Rememberance, both at Theater for the New City. They have also done lighting electrics for industrial events for Caffeine Media. Much love to my mother, who introduced them to the love of theatre and encouraged them to move to NYC. It wouldn’t be possible to live here and do this without the love and support of my wife, Dana.
(graphic designer)
Dana Vincent-Robbins (stage manager) is excited to return to Ego Actus for whom she was stage manager for One Woman in the United Solo Theatre Festival and Time Stands Still at Theater for the New City. She has been a stage manager in NYC and Orlando for many years. Dana was also the house manager at the Davenport Theatre. Some of her favorite shows include Me The People, Cabaret, Bent, Into the Woods, Jesus Hopped the A Train, and The Samuel Beckett Festival. She would like to thank her parents for believing in her and Max for being there always and forever.
Jonathan Slaff and Associates (press representative) has been an independent press agent since 1988. Clients have included Theater for the New City, La MaMa, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, New Federal Theatre, Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre, Negro Ensemble Company, The Drilling Company, Workshop Theatre Company, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, The American Place Theatre, The Glines, Ubu Rep, and various independent filmmakers. His clients have received 17 Obies, three Bessies, Lucille Lortel, Theater World, and Outer Critics Circle Awards. Success stories include, while press agent of La MaMa, the launch of Blue Man Group. Please see www.jsnyc.com
Ego Actus (production company) is Latin for “My Way.” In 2009, Joan Kane and Bruce A! Kraemer created an independent theatre company dedicated to doing art for art’s sake. Each artist brings his or her own way of creating to our shows and we unify them into a collective “my way.” Joan directs and Bruce designs, they both produce. Shows that we have presented to date have been in New York, Europe, and Canada, plus a show in Philadelphia and another in Washington DC. Our off-Broadway shows have included Play Nice! at 59e59 theaters, I Know What Boys Want at Theatre Row and Sycorax, Cyber Queen of Qamara at HERE. Ego Actus presented both Safe, what do you mean, and Almost 13 in the East to Edinburgh Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. We brought both Kafka’s Belinda and The Telegram to the Prague Fringe festival, and we sent The Metamorphosis to Prague and Budapest. We have produced 35 festival shows in 15 different festivals including the Edinburgh, New York, Prague, Capitol, Ottawa, and Edmonton Fringes, the United Solo Festival at Theatre Row and FringeArts in Philadelphia, plus several others in New York City. Ego Actus shows have been nominated for 61 awards, winning 21. We have had three plays average 83 or better on Show Score, and two of those became Trending Shows. Ego Actus has also done 29 stand-alone shows, including Equity productions at Theatre Row, HERE, Theater for a New City, Urban Stages, and the WorkShop Theater. Our reading series have included Off the Page, seven scripts read to live audiences at TornPage, Survival is Insufficient, 10 scripts seen on Zoom, and at Episcopal Actors Guild Stories of Climate Change twice, Dramatic Voices and Women’s Drama. Another recent reading series was our La MaMa Umbria Playing Reading Series, 14 full length plays presented in three days at the La MaMa rehearsal space on Great Jones Street. Ego Actus is derives its not-for-profit status from Producer Hub.
