by Marie Jones
Directed by Michael Birdwell
1st place in Tennessee Theatre Association/American Association of Community Theatre Festival;
Best Production
Award for Technical Excellence
Mass Congeniality Award
Best Actor - Patrick Mannle
"STONES" advanced to the South Eastern Theatre Conference, Greensboro, North Carolina, March 2005 representing Tennessee.
THE CAST:
Steven W. Gwilt is a regular in the DCBS series, and several other stages. He holds a degree in Theatre from Winona Stage University, and an M.A. and an Ed.S. from Tennessee Technological University. He directed the first Drama Center Backstage production 12 years ago, and has either directed or acted (sometimes both) in 22 of the subsequent productions. He has performed with The Tennessee Stage Company & East Tennessee Shakespeare in the Park; The Backdoor Playhouse; The Wesley Arena Theatre; Cookeville Summer Theatre; Kudzu Ballet; and directed for Cookeville Children's Theatre and Out on a Limb Productions. He was most recently seen as a grizzled cigar-chomping Puck in the inaugural Dogwood Shakespeare in the Park production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Patrick Mannle is again playing another angry Irish man. He holds a B.A. in Theatre performance from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. A hearty heaping helping of gratitude for the talents of Steve & Brian. Thanks to Chad , Liv, Brandon , Ryan, and the City of Cookeville . Love to his family for the support. Super love to Katie and a “chip chip cherio” to Beth & Lain.
Brian Thompson is a native of Manchester , TN , but has lived in Cookeville for 18 years. He works at the Builder’s Supply Co. block plant and is a general contractor. He has previously been seen as “Juror #7” in Twelve Angry Men, and “Elwood P. Dowd” in Harvey , both productions of Cookeville ’s Wesley Foundation Arena Theatre. He also played “Limping Man” in last season’s Drama Center Backstage production of Fuddy Meers and “Steve” in A Streetcar Named Desire at TTU’s Backdoor Playhouse. He has had much fun, but not much sleep, working with this talented and witty cast and director. Brian would like to send his love to his two biggest fans: wife Beth, (who has no choice, due to marriage); and son Lain, (who has no choice, because he’s four.)
