Meet the Issues Cast!
NOAH ROTHMAN (”ZEKE”)
Raised in Hunterdon County in Western New Jersey, Noah has been in theater productions since he was 7 years old. By the time he was 18 he had performed in over 30 high school and repertory theater group productions. Noah trained and studied performance in such institutions as The American Academy of Performing Arts and NYU’s Stone Street Studios and attended Drew University where he received the prestigious Presidential
Scholarship in performing arts. In 2002, he went to work for WABC in New York City and soon became a research analyst and producer for The John Batchelor Show on ABC Radio Networks. In 2003 he created, produced, and hosted a well received comedy-talk show, The Freakin’ Radio Show on WSNR. In 2004, he revived the concept to host and produce The Spence and Noah Show on WNSW. In 2004, Noah interned with The Opie and Anthony Show on XM Satellite Radio where he worked with several nationally recognized comic talents and became a regular character on the program. By 2006, Noah decided to take up performing again, appearing in the online series The Scene, where he played the recurring character “Slipknot” and added his voice to the animated series pilot. He is very excited to take on the role of Zeke in the much-anticipated series, Issues.
Noah’s Issues:
Favorite Role to Date: Anatoly in Chess. “Less about the character and more about the production, which was the most memorable.”
Geeky Interests: Wii Golf, web applications and computer stuff
Word Association: Laughter? Chalk. Clerk? First job. Cartoon: Mega Man, the Animated Series
LOUISE FLORY (”MACK”)
Originally from the Midwest, Louise Flory spent a year in the UK getting her Masters in Theatre before settling in NYC. Recent film projects include the short Skazka Skazka from the award-winning Studio Rever Motion Picture Company, and the feature Close to Midnight (2008 RHIFF Best of the Fest). Louise was most recently seen on stage as Vail in Krista Knight’s Spoken Insects which was directed by Alex Torra. She will also be appearing as Amanda in Point of You Productions’ Sunset Motel: Family Values in October 2008 at the Sanford Meisner Theatre. Her most exciting experience with superpowers came when she sweet-talked the police out of an arrest after being caught on the top of what remains of the Berlin Wall (sorry Mom and Dad! It was a dare… but yes, those pieces of the Wall are real! -Louise). Read more about the lady behind Comic Relief’s voice of reason at www.louiseflory.com.
Louise’s Issues:
Geeky Interests: “I love crosswords but I’m horrible”
Recent Comic Book Reading: Y: The Last Man
One Fictional Character She Can’t Relate To: Cruella DeVille in 101 Dalmations
KEVIN SEBASTIAN (”JACKSON”)
The man behind Comic Relief’s resident Supreme Overlord, Kevin Sebastian, has been logging some serious time on the stage and behind the camera. Here are just some of the select credits from Kevin’s resume: Theatre – NYC: Dark of the Moon (John), The Eight: Reindeer Monologues (Comet), Waiting for the Bus (American Globe Theatre Best Actor Award), a 3-pack of Off and Off-Off Broadway Shakespeare at the American Theatre of Actors. Regional & Tours: A Few Good Men (Sam Weinberg) at Cortland Rep, Omnium Gatherum (Khalid), Valhalla (James Avery), West Side Story (Action), Tartuffe (Orgon), Dracula (Van Helsing), National Theatre for Children Natl. tour, Legend of Sleepy Hollow Regional tour, London’s Modern Eyes Theatre Company workshops, and the “Best Theatre of NJ” production of Ragtime at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (Tateh). Film & Television - Killswitch at Cannes Film Festival and Seattle’s Science Fiction Short Film Fest, Flatland Film Festival’s The Cyclist , Goyband, Sunday Times, Chad Lowe’s Beautiful Ohio. From Kevin: Love always to my wonderful family, Jenelle, Scott and the Issues crew, and the libraries of comic book knowledge have gotten me wherever it is that I am today. Contact: kevsebastian[at]gmail[dot]com
Kevin’s Issues:
Geeky Interests: “I have over 1,200 comic books. Seriously. I also have a thing with categorizing things (shrug).”
Fictional Character He Can Relate To: “I’ve felt a kinship with Peter Pan, feeling like the boy that could never grow up. I’m also enjoying Peter Petrelli on Heroes for his ever-present need to get involve and save a situation.”
Word Association: Laughter? Utter bliss. Cartoon? Saturday Fanatic? religious and violence, fun, huh? ☺
DANIEL HALDEN (”LESLIE”)
No stranger to the web, Daniel has appeared in the web series Heaven (pilot), Viralcom (Warner Bros. web series) and Ryder’s Reel. He is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and a geek. He is a big fan of cheesy disaster movies. Daniel has also starred in a smattering of indie films and theatre, both in New York and regionally. Check out www.danielhalden.com for more information. It might rock your socks off.
Daniel’s Issues:
Geeky Interests: “Dude…Star Wars times a billion, Harry Potter, LOST, The West Wing (does that count?), baseball stats…”
Fictional Character He Most Relates To: “Luke Skywalker, because I too have a green lightsaber…seriously though, adventure, fighting evil, believing in the Force…”
Word Association: Laughter? Hillary Clinton’s “cackle”…yikes…ouch. Clerk? Rainn Wilson from “Juno”, even though I didn’t see it. Fanatic? The Philly Phanatic.
KATIE RITZ (”MADELINE”)
Katie’s acting resume may not be as ‘expansive’ as others in this cast, but she has no issues in that regard…she is here now and loving every minute of it. The Pittsburgh born portrayer of Madeline moved to the Plainsboro/Princeton area of New Jersey, and attended high school mere minutes from Comic Relief, the Issues filming locale. Throughout her school years, she performed in numerous skits, shows, and plays. Although Katie had some interest in studying acting in college, she chose a different path down the road of academia. After graduating college cum laude, her interest in acting resurfaced. The Jersey City resident’s major acting credit to date is the starring role in the new Revscope Pictures Production, Silent - her character is the only speaking role in an otherwise silent film. Silent is nearly completed, and will premiere at the Reel New Jersey Film Festival in September. Her continuing dream is to become a beloved character in a television series.
Katie’s Issues
Word Association: Laughter?…Always Clerk?…Ummm….Helpful??
Favorite Cartoon: Fraggle Rock (especially Red! ☺ )
Geeky Interests: Katie is a voracious bibliophile, often reading two or three novels at the same time.
Fictional Character She Can Relate To: Jo March (Little Women) – she is fiercely loyal to her family, a non-conformist, and an intelligent dreamer!
AUTUMN WEISZ (”BOBBY”)
Autumn has studied professionally in both LA and New York City, and holds an MFA from the University of Texas. Her list of credits includes TransAmerica, starring Felicity Huffman, and the acclaimed HBO film Something the Lord Made, featuring Alan Rickman and Kira Sedgewick Autumn has also appeared in the film Fire Island, which was produced in 2008 as an off-off-Broadway play. In addition to her film credits, Autumn has been involved in television and theatre. Her full resume is available on her website, www.autumnweisz.com.
Autumn can also add singing to her list of talents, and has sung the National Anthem at Camden Yards. In her spare time, she enjoys hitting karaoke bars as often as possible. Autumn’s philosophy on tackling Bobby? “Who needs a f@!#$ing monologue – let’s do this!”
Autumn’s Issues:
Favorite role to date: Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”. “Talk about stretching as an actor!”
One Fictional Character She Can’t Relate To: Captain Ahab
Secret Skills: White water rafting, karaoke and “some damn fine Rock ‘n’ Roll singing!”
TOM HANLEY (”JARED”)
Tom Hanley is 26 years-old and hails from Middletown, NJ. He has been acting since the age of 1 and has worked in film, radio, television, and new media. He possesses a Masters Degree in Communication and currently works in broadcasting and film. In addition he has trained in the martial arts since the age of 7 and is a 6th degree black belt in Karate. His heroes include Optimus Prime, Hulk Hogan and Ronald Reagan. Furthermore he is deadly with Link on Super Smash Bros. and would love to take any of you on over Nintendo Wi Fi if you have the guts. His friend code is 1289-7880-6620. A fan of comic books and off-color humor, Tom is very excited about taking on the role of Jared in Issues.
Tom’s Issues:
Geeky Interests: Anime and Transformers
Favorite Fictional Character: Frank Miller’s God**mn Batman!!
Word association: Laughter? Joke. Clerk? Quick Stop. Fanatic? Al Gore.
SARAH CROCE (”JANE”)
Awe-filled observers of Sarah’s rugby prowess have respectfully called her a “9 pound gorilla on the field.” Her super powers include cuddle-punching kittens and prehensile dreadlocks. A graduate from the University at Albany with a major in theatre, this blue eyed phenomenon is best known for her roles in the films Girl Talk and Now They Know About My Madness. Sarah has been on the stage, having appeared in such productions as The Wonderful World of Science and Art Installation. She has also done some commercial work, most notably for presidential candidate Barack Obama (”Obama in 30 Seconds”) She is currently producing and writing a web series of her own and psyched to be a part of the “Issues” cast.
Sarah’s Issues:
Fictional Character She Most Relates To: “Due to the lack of options with strong female characters, I’m going with Roland from Stephen King’s Dark Tower series.”
Favorite Role to Date: “Most recently I played a woman named Genevieve who slips deeper into madness. She winds up killing her boss and best friends. Need I say more?”
Word association: Clerk? Apron. Cartoon? Bugs Bunny. Fanatic? Britney Spears.
SEAN BEATTIE (”ENNIS”)
Sean graduated from DeSales University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in TV/Film Production. While at DeSales, he studied writing under John Fitzpatrick, a writer for the Nickelodeon show “The Wild Thornberry’s”, and studied acting under Anne Lewis, a supporting actor from the hit film “Girl, Interrupted”. He prides himself in his geeky pursuit (including an unabashed love for anything Ninja Turtles) and find nothing to be ashamed of with this. Sean enjoy pina coladas, getting caught in the rain and has the unique ability to hyperextend his knees. He will fight anyone who speaks ill of Pink Floyd.
(The webmonkey feels obligated to point out that this is not Sean’s real picture…or is it?)
Sean’s Issues:
Geek Interests:: Comics, gaming, RPG’s (tabletop, though the grenade launcher is fun, too), I read scifi, love watching bad (and I mean bad) movies, and is proud to have a limitless reservoir of useless knowledge.
Guilty Pleasure: “My favorite guilty pleasure is really bad movies. I will watch anything that’s just so bad it’s good. Oh, and I own the first two Ninja Turtles movies on DVD. Go ninja, go ninja go!”
Fictional Character He Most Relates To: Cheshire Cat, for sure. Blends into the background, with nothing more than a smile. Starts trouble without being noticed all that often. Oh, and I drive that Red Queen up a f*&kin’ wall.
JOANNE COLAN (”GWEN”)
Joanne’s Issues:
Favorite Part Played in the Past: Sandy in Grease (a UK and Fance tour). “I love her prude shyness that evolves into a sexy vamp.”
Geeky Interests: I host www.rocketboom.com, which qualifies for all around geekiness. However, when male fans of the show meet me, they tell me I don’t fit “geek” the way they do.
One Fictional Character You Can Never Relate To: “Erm…drawing a blank…I was going to say that big fish from the 70’s…but on second thought, I think Jaws and I have a lot in common.”