Gross Old Man
bios
Whit Flint
UNCLE JOHNNY / Writer
MFA in theatre directing - University of Essex's East 15 (UK). He additionally studied in Moscow at the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS). Formed Riot Act in East London 1025 and serves as Artistic Director. Former Young Vic Directors Programme member and invitee director for Toneelgroep Amsterdam. Directing / writing credits: Science Fiction, the Chekhovian adaptations Bad Person (Platonov), Mopey Wrecks (Three Sisters), Poor Bastard (Ivanov), The Misbegotten Hope of the Dirty Bird* (The Seagull) as well as Blindness and Periphery of Sight (based off of Sophocles), Ibsen's An Enemy of the People and The League of Youth, and his Shakespearean interpretations Høüses and Dóttir. Directed the US regional premiere of Annie Baker's The Aliens, Anatomy of Arithmetic, Bloke, Lunatic (based off Stoker's Dracula) and Coverage, a newsroom retelling of Julius Caesar. He has directed at the Arcola Theatre and Southwark Playhouse in London.
As an actor he was last seen as Oedipus in Riot Act's Blindness and Periphery of Sight. Additional credits: The Aliens, Three Sisters, An Enemy of the People, Anatomy of Arithmetic (UK prod), True West, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Measure for Measure, Hamlet. His film and TV work include: Jurassic Park, Glee, Raising Hope, Dreamworld, The Perfect 46 and Star Wars: Clone Wars.
Natalie Battistone
SOPHIE
Natalie is an actor from NYC + an original member of Krymov Lab NYC; a resident company at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. OFF-BROADWAY: EUGENE ONEGIN IN OUR OWN WORDS (La MaMa, UTR/BRIC), LOVE STORIES (La MaMa.) REGIONAL: O.P.C. (American Repertory Theater, World Premiere); WOLF PLAY, HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING*, EURYDICE, DIDO OF IDAHO*, HAND TO GOD, THE TRESTLE AT POPELICK CREEK, VENUS IN FUR (The Spot, *Western Premieres); HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE (The Royall Tyler Theater); BRIDE*WIDOW*HAG, HEROIN/E (KEEP US QUIET) (A.R.T. Institute); FUNERAL (Krymov Lab); HAMLET, THE WINTER'S TALE (Sun Valley Shakespeare Festival.) FILM: Sweet Deliverance at the Edge of Town. MFA: Harvard/ART + Moscow Art Theatre School | nataliebattistone.com | @semelee
![[GOM] Anthony Gaskins Bio.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a4ea5c_9989e324d58b4d26a75724e1663c3926~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_209,h_313,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/a4ea5c_9989e324d58b4d26a75724e1663c3926~mv2.jpg)
Anthony Gaskins
MICHAEL
Anthony was last seen Off-Broadway as Thomas Hodge in the world premiere, Honky, at Urban Stages, in which he received an Adelco nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Play. Other theater credits include, Brother Jacob in the New York Theater Workshop debut, Fetch Clay, Make Man, written by Will Power and Directed by Des McAnuff, and Michael in the Here Arts Center World Premiere, You Are Dead. You Are Here. Additionally, Anthony has performed professionally both in the US and abroad in roles like Don Juan at the Moscow Art Theater in “Little Tragedies”. Hamlet in “Hamlet Machine” directed by Marcus Stern, Leontes in William Shakespeare's “Winters Tale”, and he won a NYC Independent Theater Award for his performance in “For Black Boys Who Consider Homicide When The Streets Are Too Much”.
Anthony is a graduate of the American Repertory Theater, Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University.
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Emily Hope Vazquez
ELENA
Emily (she/her) is thrilled to be making her Los Angeles theatre debut as Elena with Riot Act's production of Gross Old Man. Emily is a graduate of The Stella Adler Studio of Acting and grew up between New York City and Connecticut before deciding to move to LA in 2017. Since then, she's acted and produced in numerous films across the U.S. that have screened at festivals domestically and abroad. Most notably producing with short film Yes, Daddy, which premiered at the Mammoth Film Festival and screened at both HollyShorts and Salute Your Shorts. You can catch her in the upcoming short film In My Blood in October 2024, where naturally, she'll be covered in it.
Akul Dang
WAFFLES
Akul is a multidisciplinary artist living in Los Angeles.
![[GOM] Janellen Steininger Headshot.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a4ea5c_149e1b64befa4d7ab10439c195481f22~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_207,h_311,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/a4ea5c_149e1b64befa4d7ab10439c195481f22~mv2.jpg)
Janellen Steininger
MAMA
Janellen Steininger (She/Her) Most recently: Abolitionist Biscuits At Lower Depth Theatre and Native Gardens At Coachella Valley Rep. Other: Uncle Vanya With New American Theatre and its precursor, The Wood Demon, at The Mark Taper Forum. At Taper, Too: A Flaw In The Ointment. Also: The Old Globe, East/West Players, International City Theatre, La Theatreworks, Getty Villa, Odyssey Theatre, Fountain Theatre, Sacred Fools, Evidence Room, Antaeus Company, as a founding member. Film and TV include: Sleeper Cell, Roseanne, Strong Medicine, Playing With Beethoven. Voice Over: games, animation, Radio, TV and English dubbing for international films and series. www.JanellenSteininger.com
![[GOM] John Atkins Headshot.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a4ea5c_5817c224efdc488284efa72777539ea9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_220,h_330,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/a4ea5c_5817c224efdc488284efa72777539ea9~mv2.jpg)
John Atkins
ALEXANDER
John works regularly in film and television including the movie Bombshell, and on television in Penny Dreadful (as both actor and singer), Family Time, Facing Evil and Betrayed. Prior to pivoting to acting, John was an opera singer for over 30 years, performing principal roles at the LA Opera and leading companies around the country. He can also be seen in commercials for Abbot Labs, Blue Cross, Athene, and Seedlip.
Rory James Leech
Director
From the United Kingdom now based in Los Angeles. Founding artistic director of Misfit Toys Collective. Recently directed the premiere of Fear of Kathy Acker. Currently an Associate Producer at Center for New Performance and a 2023 Producers Academy Fellow with Beth Morrison Projects. He has formerly produced podcasts with Lemonada Media, including the award winning investigative journalism podcast Believe Her, and experimental theater with Rec Room Arts, joining the core artistic team at just sixteen years old. As a theater director, his credits include The Death of Walt Disney, FAUSTPILLED, The Twenty-Seven Club, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Seinfeld Live. Producing, acting, and creative credits include: Cloud Tectonics, Here Be Sirens, Roberto Zucco, Scene with Cranes, Woyzeck, Hansel and Gretel, Crucible, The Royale, Springs Awakening, Bald Soprano, Gatsby, 20202021, Ragtime, Next to Normal, The Acts of Afra, Contrition Pageant, He is an alumni of California Institute of the Arts and HSPVA, and was awarded as an Arts Activist by Dramatists Guild of America. @roryjamesleech
![[GOM] Heather Friedman Headshot.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a4ea5c_4379e524ca334164aef9331e923ba253~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_215,h_322,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/a4ea5c_4379e524ca334164aef9331e923ba253~mv2.jpg)
Heather Friedman
Stage Manager
Heather Friedman (Stage Manager) is a stage manager, vocal coach, and actor from right here in LA. Select stage management credits include: Fear of Kathy Acker (Illusion Magic Lounge), Faust: A Digital Fairytale (CalArts), Pretty Filthy (CalArts Coffeehouse), and The Great Gatsby (CalArts). Education includes California State University Northridge (BA Theatre) and California Institute of the Arts (MFA Acting). Fitzmaurice Voicework certification candidate. Special thanks to her parents, Sebastian Schug, all her mentors, and her dog, Jake. @heather_kat heatherfriedman.com
further SEASON info /// visit Riot Act on Instagram @riotacttheatre + Facebook /riotacttheatre
