MEET THE PORTERS
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
WILL BLOCK, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Will Block first joined the company with 2017's Pericles and fell in love with the Porters' unique blend of discipline, camaraderie and scrappiness. Subsequent roles for the Porters include Posthumus, Ferdinand, and Romeo.
In his first season for the company, he directed Shakespeare and Fletcher’s late history All is True, or Henry VIII. The production was critically lauded and took home the StageRaw award for Best Direction and Ensemble.
He was previously the founding Artistic Director of Method and Madness, for whom he appeared as the title character in Richard II and directed productions of Henry IV and Macbeth.
Regional acting credits include roles with Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara, Sacramento Theatre Company, A Noise Within, La Mirada Theatre, and the Kingsman Shakespeare Co. TV credits include two whole words on the Season 6 premiere of This is Us.
As a director and producer, Will is deeply committed to creating vibrant, lucid productions that interrogate and illuminate classic texts. He’s honored to be given the opportunity to do so through the Porters, who have always been exemplary in their pursuit of and dedication to excellent work. He looks forward to expanding the company's outreach and creating new education initiatives while honoring and deepening the company's commitment to nurturing artists. www.willblockactordirector.com
Drina Durazo, Managing Director
Drina Durazo is a Los Angeles-based director, designer and producer. She joined the PHG board in 2022. Drina’s contributions to Porters productions have included directing for Breaking Bard (Spirit of the Fringe Award winner), Breaking Bard Redux (Valley Theater Award winner) and A Christmas Carol, The One Man Play (Valley Theater Award nominated). Her design credits include graphic designer for All Is True (or Henry VIII), Di Lady Di, Romeo and Juliet, Pericles, and Breaking Bard. She was also the scenic designer for Romeo and Juliet and projections designer for Di Lady Di. Drina previously served as a member of the Artistic Council and board vice president at The Group Repertory Theatre. There she directed many shows, including two written by PHG Associate Artistic Director Gus Krieger: The Armadillo Necktie (winner of seven Scenie Awards), and an adaptation of George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead. Drina has also directed for the Morgan-Wixson Theatre, Mammoth Lakes Rep. and Woodcraft Rangers. She is an associate member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society.
Gus Krieger, Associate Artistic Director/ Literary Manager
With the Porters (select credits): Richard III (Richard III, Henry VI trilogy), The Porter (Macbeth, also directed), Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing), Guildenstern (Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead), Shylock (The Merchant of Venice – Scenie Award – Best Performance by a Lead Actor), Edgar (King Lear), Sir Walter of Albuquerque (Breaking Bard, also wrote – “Spirit of the Fringe” Award for Best Writing, Valley Theatre Award for Best Play), King John (King John), Theseus (The Two Noble Kinsmen). Regional: Mr. Marmalade with Theatricians, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, and A Christmas Carol: the One Man Play at Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theatre. As playwright: The Armadillo Necktie at The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre (Scenie Awards for Best World Premiere Play and Outstanding Production). BFA, Actors Training, The Hartt School.
On Twitter @MrGusK.
Jono Eiland, Co-Technical Director
Jono first appeared with the Porters as Cerimon in Pericles. He has since performed as The Dauphin in King John, Iachimo in Cymbeline, The Musician and Tailor in The Taming of the Shrew, and Palamon in The Two Noble Kinsmen. Regional credits include roles with Santa Cruz Shakespeare, the Geffen Playhouse, and Baltimore Center Stage. Jono is a founding member of Sojourn Theatre and a graduate of Virginia Tech.
Kate Faye, Communications Manager
Kate first became involved with the Porters when she was cast as Ashie in Gus Krieger’s original play, Deity Clutch. Since then, she has appeared in The Comedy of Errors, Oedipus the Tyrant, The Merchant of Venice, Troilus & Cressida, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Measure for Measure, Cymbeline, and King Lear. It was after Oedipus that Kate received the invitation to become a Resident Artist, which she gratefully accepted. In Los Angeles, she has also performed with companies including The Group Rep and California Shakespeare Company. Prior to living in California, she worked at theatres all over the United States, including The Hampstead Players, The Utah Shakespearean Festival, and The Free Associates Improv Group. Favorite roles include Lainie in Two Rooms, Cinderella in Into The Woods, and Rachel in Reckless.
She prays you, remember the Porters.
FOUNDERS
Jack Leahy, Founder
Jack founded the Porters with Charles Pasternak and Edward Castuera in 2006. Roles with the company include Brutus in Julius Caesar, Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, Buckingham in Richard III, Marcus in Titus Andronicus, Launce in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing, title role in Macbeth, Costard in Love’s Labours Lost, Claudius in Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard, and Sir Hugh Evans in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Jack is currently thriving as a professional cook in Los Angeles, though he threatens to return once more to the Porters’ boards when time allows.
More at www.littlecoyotelbc.com
Thomas Bigley, Associate Artistic Director
Thomas has been with the Porters from the beginning, playing Decius Brutus in their inaugural production of Julius Caesar. Other roles with the company include: Sir Andrew in Twelfth Night, Clarence/Richmond in Richard III, Proteus in Two Gents, Don John in Much Ado, Macduff in Macbeth, Boyet in Loves Labour’s Lost, title role in Richard II, Rosencrantz in Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Raamah in Deity Clutch, Angelo in Comedy of Errors, Creon in Oedipus, Ulysses in Troilus and Cressida, the Duke in Measure for Measure, title role in Timon of Athens, Pistol in Henry V, Leontes in The Winter’s Tale, Hank in Breaking Bard (Valley Theatre Award nomination – Best Ensemble), ensemble in the Henry VI trilogy and Pericles, Chatillon in King John, Stephano in The Tempest, the Queen in Cymbeline, the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, and Wolsey in All is True, or Henry VIII. As a director with the Porters: Hamlet, Oedipus the Tyrant, The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure, King Lear (starring Larry Cedar), Orwellian (starring Larry Cedar), Othello (Valley Theatre Award nomination), the Henry VI trilogy (Valley Theatre Award), King John, and Double Falsehood (co-directed with Alex Parker).
Nick Neidorf, Co-Technical Director, Resident Sound Designer
Nick Neidorf officially joined the Porters in the fall of 2010, after a long informal association with the company. Since then, he has worked primarily behind the scenes as the Porters’ resident composer & sound designer. He has been responsible for the sound design of nearly every Porters production since 2010. Original scores include Troilus and Cressida, King Lear, The Winter’s Tale, Cymbeline, Henry VIII, and, hopefully, many more to come.
Sean Faye, Patron Services Manager
Sean was most recently seen as Buckingham, Campeius, and Griffith in the Porters production of All is True, or Henry VIII. Recent credits include The Jailer in The Two Noble Kinsmen, Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew, The Ultimate Christmas Show—Abridged in Mammoth Lakes, as an understudy in Mr. Burns—A Post Electric Play at Sacred Fools, and the world premiere of Building Madness at the Grove Theater Center. Some favorite roles include Crumpet in The Santaland Diaries, The Vice President in The Apollo of Bellac, and Warwick in the Henry VI Trilogy with the Porters of Hellsgate. In addition to being a Producer and Resident Artist with The Porters of Hellsgate, Sean is an Associate Member of Sacred Fools. So much love to Kate!
Kodi Jackman, Social Media/Marketing Manager
Kodi Jackman is a regional actor who specializes in Shakespeare and classical theater. Recent credits include shows at Ensemble Theatre Company, A Noise Within, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, and Kodi recently appeared in a production of Road to Mecca in SF directed by Timothy Near. With a professional background in marketing and branding strategy, Kodi has spent time working in non-profit theater to build and maintain dedicated and supportive communities and always prioritizes making classical theater accessible to everyone.
More at www.kodijackman.com
Charles Pasternak, Founding Artistic Director
Charles founded the Porters in 2006 and served the company as Artistic Director until 2022. His directing work included Cymbeline (BWW nomination), Pericles (Valley Theatre Award nomination), Henry V, Timon of Athens, The Merry Wives of Windsor (Scenie Award), Troilus and Cressida, The Comedy of Errors, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Richard II, Love’s Labours Lost, Much Ado About Nothing, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Richard III, Twelfth Night, and Julius Caesar. Charles also co-developed and directed Di Lady Di with Charlotte Munson, produced by the Porters for the 2022 Hollywood Fringe (Winner: Best Musical). Select roles with the Porters include: Iago (Valley Theatre Award), Henry V (BWW nomination), Oedipus, Hamlet (Scenie Award), Berowne, and Marc Antony. Regionally, Charles has worked at American Players Theatre, The Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Indiana Repertory Theatre, The Clarence Brown Theatre, The Denver Center, three seasons with The Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, and four seasons with Shakespeare Santa Cruz, among many more. Charles currently serves as Artistic Director of Santa Cruz Shakespeare. He prays you, remember the Porters…
Eddie Castuera, Founder
Edward founded the Porters with Charles Pasternak and Jack Leahy in 2006. Roles with the company include Metellus Cimber/Octavius in Julius Caesar, Feste in Twelfth Night, King Edward in Richard III, Aaron the Moor in Titus Andronicus, Sir Thurio in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Banquo in Macbeth, King Ferdinand in Love’s Labours Lost, Horatio in Hamlet(Scenie Award) and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Menelaus in Troilus and Cressida, and a Senator in Timon of Athens. Edward continues to work in the non-profit sector in Los Angeles, as well continuing to build an impressive resume as a professional DJ.