NTTW

MEET THE ACTORS

Photo by Julia Gerace

Janye Anderson & Paula Coco

JANYE ANDERSON- is the creator of the character Jessie Mae, and is a co-owner (along with Paula) of Jessie Mae and Pearl Greeting Cards. Through this medium, she is able to utilize her skills as both an actor and a graphic designer. Janye studies acting under Cathryn Hartt and Reno Ventrui. In addition, she holds a degree in Interior Design, and has owned her own Design Firm in Dallas, where she currently resides with her husband, daughter, three dogs and two cats.

PAULA COCO- Paula has worked as a stand-up comedian for 14 years in New York and the surrounding metropolitan areas. She has won various awards and recognition for her work. She founded and directed The West Hartford Improv Troupe, The WHIT, from 1999 to 2004, taught classes in both Improv and Stand-up at New England Academy of Theatre, and has directed several productions. In addition to Nipples To The Wind, Paula has written other plays, including Mattie Silks and Frankincense & Mirth. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, son, mother, and Lucy the Cat-who graciously allows humans to live with her.

MEET THE DIRECTOR

Photo by Jim Jatcko

Reno Venturi, Director
Director/Actor/Vocalist/Acting Coach, has directed award wining shows such as Gypsy, Cabaret, Nuts and Brighton Beach Memoirs, to name a few and has performed in such shows as Man of La Mancha , The Fantasticks, and The Diaries of Adam and Eve, including productions in California, Missouri, Boston, Maine and New York. In addition to Reno’s stage credits he has many acting & directing credits including national commercials, TV, films and Indie project films at the Sundance Film Festival. He’s taught for High Desert Talent Agency, Sacred Heart University, New England Academy of Theatre (NEAT), as well as schools and colleges in CA.. Reno has directed for the Short & NEAT One-Act Play Festival and has produced it since 2000. He is currently the Artistic Managing Director of the New England Academy of Theatre .

Photo by Jim Jatcko

Kat O'Sullivan

Stage Manager, is pleased to be working with such an exciting and fun-loving group of people, and is very happy to work another show under the direction of Reno. Her experience in theatre has included several years as co-founder of a local community theatre organization, Mastermind Productions, as well as a recent internship at Long Wharf Theatre. She is looking forward to a future in professional theatre or film.

And she would very much like to have dinner with Jessie Mae and Pearl one day.