Autumn Stage Productions was founded in 2004 with the commitment to present a broad range of extraordinary classic theatre. Debuting with the challenging and intense “Happy Days” by Samuel Beckett, ASP captivated audiences and delighted critics. The same actor and director return for the humorous and sublime “Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe” by Jane Wagner. Actor Suzanne Schrag and Director Robin Aronson continue to impress their audience and peers with each project they’ve shared. Their combined experience and dedication serve to pay respect to an audience deserving quality and craft in exchange for their place and time in the theatre. Scenic Design by Lisa Joseph and Technical Direction and Lighting Design by Mark Hopkins set the stage for these productions and lure audiences to suspend their disbelief.
Suzanne Schrag has been working in theater for over 15 years. She holds a graduate certificate in Theatre Arts from UCSC with an emphasis in costume design (1990), and has trained as an actor with Marcia Taylor, Ian McRae (two-year course in Meisner Technique), the New Actors Workshop in NYC and Shakespeare & Company. Suzanne is a long-time member of the popular Santa Cruz improv troupe Um…Gee…Um, and has been performing with the troupe and teaching improv classes since 1994. Suzanne is also a founding member of Friends of Gus theater company, where her roles have included Louise in Haiku (1996), various Tennessee Williams characters in French Quarter Quartet (1997), Ruth in Dance with Me (1998), Helga in Kindertransport (1999), Jessie in ‘night Mother (2000), Lizzie Borden in Blood Relations (2001), Goneril in Lear’s Daughters (2002) and Hannah Jarvis in Arcadia (2003). She also directed Sylvia for FOG in 2000, and designed the costumes for French Quarter Quartet, Dance with Me, Kindertransport, Lear’s Daughters and Arcadia.
In addition to her work with Friends of Gus, Suzanne has acted for many other local-area companies. Favorite roles include numerous characters in numerous shows in Santa Cruz and San Francisco with the Dangerous Neighbors sketch comedy ensemble (1997 – 2002); Viola in Twelfth Night, Polly Peachum in The Threepenny Opera and Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire for Unicorn Theater in Monterey (1997); the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods and Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire at Mountain Community Theater (2001); and Sandra in Beautiful Thing for Monterey Bay Repertory Theatre (2005). She also played a Weird Sister and Gentlewoman in Macbeth (2001) and originated the role of Ducky in the world premier of The Princess and the Pea (2004) at Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Suzanne played Winnie in Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days for Autumn Stage Productions in fall of 2004, and will take on the role of Trudy the bag lady and a host of other characters in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe for Autumn Stage this spring (2006). In 2002, Suzanne received a Santa Cruz Sentinel Gail Rich Award for her contributions to Santa Cruz theater.
Robin Aronson , Ph.D. Director , teaches in the Theatre Department at Cabrillo College and freelances as a director, actor and educator. Robin’s theatre history has been a long, diverse and ever-changing stream of places, people and projects, and she’s most grateful for the friends she has met along the way. Recent directing credits include Crazy For You, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Pajama Game for Kids on Broadway, Happy Days for Autumn Stage, Arcadia for Friends of Gus, and murder mysteries at Chaminade for Hitman Interactive Theatre. Recent acting credits include roles in Laughter on the 23rd Floor and Duende Makes a Housecall. Robin also loves the natural world, especially birds, plants and water.
Lisa Joseph , MFA : Producer and Scenic Design, began working in set construction and scenic design at Cabrillo College in 2000. She has designed sets for 8 10’s@8, Rainmaker, Arcadia and Happy Days. Lisa has studied oil painting and drawing for over twenty years with influence stemming from Iowa to Tokyo and most recently; traditional methods in the Beaux Arts tradition at the Aristides Classical Atelier in Seattle.
Mark Hopkins : Technical Advisor. He has contributed invaluable expertise in areas of Technical Direction and Lighting for scores of local productions. He’s currently working in the Theatre Arts Department at Cabrillo College. Before moving to Santa Cruz he spent eight seasons at the Sacramento Theatre Company. Local credits include set designs for Friends of Gus, ‘night Mother, Sylvia and Lear’s Daughters, Duende Makes a Housecall and 8 10’s@8 and Taken In.
Suzanne Schrag has been working in theater for over 15 years. She holds a graduate certificate in Theatre Arts from UCSC with an emphasis in costume design (1990), and has trained as an actor with Marcia Taylor, Ian McRae (two-year course in Meisner Technique), the New Actors Workshop in NYC and Shakespeare & Company. Suzanne is a long-time member of the popular Santa Cruz improv troupe Um…Gee…Um, and has been performing with the troupe and teaching improv classes since 1994. Suzanne is also a founding member of Friends of Gus theater company, where her roles have included Louise in Haiku (1996), various Tennessee Williams characters in French Quarter Quartet (1997), Ruth in Dance with Me (1998), Helga in Kindertransport (1999), Jessie in ‘night Mother (2000), Lizzie Borden in Blood Relations (2001), Goneril in Lear’s Daughters (2002) and Hannah Jarvis in Arcadia (2003). She also directed Sylvia for FOG in 2000, and designed the costumes for French Quarter Quartet, Dance with Me, Kindertransport, Lear’s Daughters and Arcadia.
In addition to her work with Friends of Gus, Suzanne has acted for many other local-area companies. Favorite roles include numerous characters in numerous shows in Santa Cruz and San Francisco with the Dangerous Neighbors sketch comedy ensemble (1997 – 2002); Viola in Twelfth Night, Polly Peachum in The Threepenny Opera and Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire for Unicorn Theater in Monterey (1997); the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods and Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire at Mountain Community Theater (2001); and Sandra in Beautiful Thing for Monterey Bay Repertory Theatre (2005). She also played a Weird Sister and Gentlewoman in Macbeth (2001) and originated the role of Ducky in the world premier of The Princess and the Pea (2004) at Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Suzanne played Winnie in Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days for Autumn Stage Productions in fall of 2004, and will take on the role of Trudy the bag lady and a host of other characters in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe for Autumn Stage this spring (2006). In 2002, Suzanne received a Santa Cruz Sentinel Gail Rich Award for her contributions to Santa Cruz theater.
Robin Aronson , Ph.D. Director , teaches in the Theatre Department at Cabrillo College and freelances as a director, actor and educator. Robin’s theatre history has been a long, diverse and ever-changing stream of places, people and projects, and she’s most grateful for the friends she has met along the way. Recent directing credits include Crazy For You, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Pajama Game for Kids on Broadway, Happy Days for Autumn Stage, Arcadia for Friends of Gus, and murder mysteries at Chaminade for Hitman Interactive Theatre. Recent acting credits include roles in Laughter on the 23rd Floor and Duende Makes a Housecall. Robin also loves the natural world, especially birds, plants and water.
Lisa Joseph , MFA : Producer and Scenic Design, began working in set construction and scenic design at Cabrillo College in 2000. She has designed sets for 8 10’s@8, Rainmaker, Arcadia and Happy Days. Lisa has studied oil painting and drawing for over twenty years with influence stemming from Iowa to Tokyo and most recently; traditional methods in the Beaux Arts tradition at the Aristides Classical Atelier in Seattle.
Mark Hopkins : Technical Advisor. He has contributed invaluable expertise in areas of Technical Direction and Lighting for scores of local productions. He’s currently working in the Theatre Arts Department at Cabrillo College. Before moving to Santa Cruz he spent eight seasons at the Sacramento Theatre Company. Local credits include set designs for Friends of Gus, ‘night Mother, Sylvia and Lear’s Daughters, Duende Makes a Housecall and 8 10’s@8 and Taken In.
This site was built and maintained by Lindsey Freeman
For best viewing purposes, use a non-Internet Explorer browser such as Firefox
© Autumn Stage Productions, all rights reserved.