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The Company

Davis Robinson (Director) is founder and artistic director of Beau Jest, a group he is proud to be associated with for the past 30+ years of collaboration as an actor/director. He frequently directs at the Theater at Monmouth in Maine and for Bowdoin College, where he is a professor of theater. He has directed Shakespeare, Chekov, three Tennessee Williams world premieres, opera, new works, and original projects, and has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and commercials. He also teaches physical theater and devising each summer at the Celebration Barn Theater in South Paris, Maine, where he studied with Tony Montanaro. Davis trained with Jacques Lecoq in Paris, France, and is author of "A Practical Guide to Ensemble Devising" and "The Physical Comedy Handbook".

Jeff Blanchette earned a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Arts from Castleton University in 2015. The following year, he played Nicky/Trekkie Monster/Bad Idea Bear in the Ocean State Theatre Company's production of Avenue Q. The show was named Best Musical (2016) by BroadwayWorld.com, with Jeff being nominated as Best Actor. Last year, he co-created the Award-Nominated cabaret I Love...What's His Name?, and Down With Love: A Cabaret with Rachel Hanauer. Also in 2017, he was an ensemble and band member in The Buddy Holly Story at the Hackmatack Playhouse in Maine. Last holiday season, he performed in A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play, at The Arctic Playhouse and appeared there in An Evening With Christopher Durang. Currently, he's appearing with Ryan Landry and the Gold Dust Orphans in Brokelahomo Sundays at Fisherman Hall in Provincetown, MA. He's very excited to be joining Beau Jest, and would like to thank his family and friends for their unwavering love and support!

Jay Bragan is thrilled to return to Beau Jest after many years. Previously, he performed in several Beau Jest productions, including Motion Sickness, The Cardiff Giant, and Krazy Kat. After receiving a BFA in Acting at Emerson College, Jay worked on the stage crew in NYC for Blue Man Group for several years, while performing in various theater companies. He continued his training at Trinity Rep. Conservatory (now Brown/Trinity Consortium) for three years, receiving a Master's degree. He performed in several plays on Trinity's mainstage, including A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan, and Wit. He also played two seasons in Trinity Rep. Summer Shakespeare project; playing Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Marc Antony in Julius Caesar, Banquo in Macbeth, and Tranio in The Taming of the Shrew. Jay performed several plays at 2nd Story Theater in Warren, RI, including the role of Cornelius in The Matchmaker and Captain Lombard in And Then There Were None. Jay has been teaching Drama and English at Portsmouth Abbey School for the past 19 years where he has directed over 50 plays.

Lauren Hallal has been a member of Beau Jest since 1992, first appearing in The Cardiff Giant. Also with Beau Jest, she has appeared in Motion Sickness, The Last Resort, 8 1/2 and as Mrs. Kwakk Wakk in Krazy Kat. Lauren also appeared as the Gypsy in Beau Jest's version of Tennessee Williams' Ten Blocks On the Camino Real, which they performed at Charlestown Working Theatre and also in Provincetown's Tennessee Williams' Theater Festival. Lauren is certified in the Alexander Technique, which she teaches as part of the affiliated faculty at Emerson Theater Program, is an assistant teacher at the Alexander Technique Training Center and enjoys teaching in her private practice. Lauren is grateful to be performing in Larry Coen's play. We miss you so much, Larry.

Kathleen Lewis has worked with Beau Jest in the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theatre Festival premiere of Ten Blocks on the Camino Real and American Gothic and the Beau Jest original Apartment 4D. She received her BA at Bowdoin College and has most recently performed with Trinacria Theatre Company in their original production La Storia di Colapesce, Flat Earth Theatre in Tales of a 4th Grade Lesbo, and Radium Girls, and Boston Public Works Theater Company in Citizens of the Empire. She's thankful to be working with this zany group of creatives.

Robin JaVonne Smith Robin made her Beau Jest debut in Samurai 7.0. Other Beau Jest shows include American Gothic, Ten Blocks on the Camino Real, Apt. 4D, and Wild Williams. In addition, she has worked with Ryan Landry's Gold Dust Orphans (also a company member), Theatre on Fire, Actors' Shakespeare Project, Fort Point Theatre Channel, Bad Habit Productions, and SpeakEasy Stage Company. Robin is a graduate of Bowdoin College and studied at the British American Drama Academy in London. She is extremely honored to be part of the Beau Jest family.

Lisa Tucker* is proud to be a founding member of Beau Jest, and has co-created and appeared in all their shows. She created the title roles in their award-winning productions of Krazy Kat and The Remarkable Rooming-house of Madame Lemonde. She also was a part of Beau Jest Junior with fellow Beau Jester Lauren Hallal. She received her BFA in theatre from Emerson College, and also studied at Boston University College of Fine Arts. Other area credits include Boston Playwrights' Theatre, Plays in Place, Next Door Theater, Aim Stage, Centastage, Fort Point Theatre Channel, New Century Theatre, Foothills Theatre, Stoneham Theater, Shear Madness, Lyric Stage, Tempest Productions, Wheelock Family Theatre, Durham Center Stage, Threshold Theatre, City Stage, and several appearances at the Boston Theater Marathon, as well as voice over, commercial and industrial work.

* Member, Actor's Equity

Designers, Musicians and Technicians

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Libby Marcus (Puppet Designer) has designed and built puppets and masks for theaters though out the northeast including productions with Beau Jest, The Theater at Monmouth, Maine; Second Stage, NYC; The George Street Playhouse, NJ; The Nora Theater, Emerson Stage, Chamber Theater Productions, and The Boston Museum of Science. Her work can be seen at www.libbymarcus.com. She lives in Portland, Maine where she teaches and designs, most recently as an adjunct instructor at Central Maine Community College.

Larry Coen* first appeared with Beau Jest in 1994 as Offissa Pupp in Krazy Kat. He also performed in the Beau Jest productions of 8 1/2, War of the Worlds, The Last Resort, Motion Sickness, My Name is Leslie, Dost Pity Me, Withpett?, Samurai 7.0, Outward Bound, The Remarkable Rooming-House of Mme. LeMonde, Ten Blocks on the Camino Real, and Wild Williams. Larry also is the playwright of Journey to the Center of the Stage, produced by Beau Jest in 2018 after Larry's unexpected passing in January of that year. Larry was the recipient of three Elliot Norton Awards from the Boston Theater Critics' Association: in 2007 "Outstanding Actor" for his performances as Laura in The Plexiglass Menagerie and Santa in Silent Night of the Lambs (Gold Dust Orphans), Gandalf in Miss Witherspoon (Lyric Stage Co.), Biondello in Taming of the Shrew (Commonwealth Shakespeare), and Vin in Samurai 7.0 (Beau Jest Moving Theatre); in 2009 as a member of the "Outstanding Ensemble" for The Seafarer (SpeakEasy Stage Co.); and in 2010 as "Outstanding Director" for Phantom of the Oprah (Gold Dust Orphans). With David Crane he wrote the play Epic Proportions, which had a Broadway production, directed by Jerry Zaks, starring Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Tudyk. His play 9 Circles of the Inferno was commissioned by Emerson College for the 2010 Opening of the Paramount Theater Center. Larry was also the Artistic Director of the Elliot Norton Award-winning City Stage Co. of Boston, which provides free arts education programs and performances for low-income urban youth and families. He was truly a Master Stagecrafter, and will be loved and missed always by his Beau Jest family.

Elyse Garfinkel* ** was one of the founding members of Beau Jest. She studied corporeal mime at the South Carolina School of the Arts and earned a bachelor's degree in theater from Emerson College, where she also served as her class president. Elyse co-wrote and performed in Beau Jest's In Concert, Ubu Roi, Motion Sickness, A Mall and Some Visitors, 8 1/2, Krazy Kat (in her inimitable turn as Ignatz Mouse), War of the Worlds, Outward Bound, My Name is Leslie, and Samurai 7.0, and was a co-creator of The Last Resort. She also performed with Wheelock Family Theater and the Gold Dust Orphans in Boston, and Sprouts Children's Theater in Charleston, SC. Her film work includes stunt and double work on PARADISE with Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, MERMAIDS with Cher, and THE ADDAMS FAMILY with Anjelica Houston and Raul Julia. In her own words: "In 1984 Davis Robinson, one of my instructors at Emerson, said to me, 'I want to start a company that goes from small to big' - the rest is history. I've always been a working actor, from Boston to L.A. to New York. I never wanted to be rich and famous, just to make a difference. I also need to say to one of my greatest supporters, who gave me everything in life, I mean everything - Father, I dedicate this to you: Philip Garfinkel 1931-2005. You are missed. To my dearest Wendy and Irene... there are no words. Let the show begin!!!!" Lyse passed away in August of 2019 after a long battle with cancer. The world will never be the same without her firecracker light. Her Beau Jest family will love and miss her forever.

* Member, Actor's Equity
** Member, SAG-AFTRA

Alumni

Here's to all the actors, designers, musicians and technicians who have made Beau Jest possible.

Actors

Musicians/Composers

Designers/Associate Directors/Stage Managers

Books by Davis Robinson

The Physical Comedy Handbook

A Practical Guide to Ensemble Devising