MET: ‘The LifeSpan of a Fact’ Debut through October 30

This will be Mayland Ensemble Theatre (MET)’s first mainstage production of the 2022-2023 season and the first to be hosted on the Beth Williams & Bob Herbertson Stage inside the Robin Drummond MainStage Theatre at MET! MET promises to deliver on this special 25th anniversary season with courageous, thought-provoking shows that inspire a passion for the arts and connect patrons to community. The Lifespan of a Fact explores that truths we accept, journalistic integrity, and the lengths we are willing to go to tell a good story.

From Show Director Gené Fouché:

The playwrights took minor liberties when basing a play on the book of the same title, just as the writers of that book took creative license with the exchange that happened as they fact-checked the essay on which The Lifespan of a Fact (the book) was written. This seems fair since John D’Agata’s beautiful essay certainly has its share of small inaccuracies. Without them, this production would never have come to exist.

Theatre is timely. Yes, good plays withstand the passing of time, but theatre as an art form has always held up the mirror to society. None of us has escaped the “fact wars” as they have played out in politics, the media, and our family dinners, sometimes creating chasms that seem too vast to be mended. It’s exhausting. Why, then, would we want to bring up this debate on our stage to open our 25th season?

Simply put, it’s a MET play! It’s witty, provocative, biting, and timely. MET certainly doesn’t shy away from political issues, but this play raises the debate without taking sides while staying away from politics altogether. It’s the perfect play for this moment in time. It has the ability to do what great plays do; evoke a conversation! And isn’t that what we all need right now?

SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 30

Performance will begin promptly at 8PM, run approximately 90 minutes in length, and will be performed without an intermission. For mature audiences and contains a trigger warning regarding grief and loss of life.

Play written by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell, and Gordon Farrell.

Based on the book by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal.

Sean Byrne as Jim Fingal

Laura Stark as Emily Penrose

Jack Evans as John D’Agata

Willem Rogers as Understudy/Jim

Director Gené Fouché

Stage Manager Melynda Burdette

Stage Manager Olivia Pietanza

Assistant Director Zack Callis

Scenic Designer Eric Berninghausen

Lighting Designer Will Heyser-Paone

Sound Designer Tom Majarov

Projection Design David DiFalco

Props Designer Jennifer Pagano

Costume Designer Rachel Smith

Sean Byrne (Jim Fingal) is an actor and director. Select credits include: A Christmas Carol, Curse of the Starving Class, The Pillowman, Let the Right One In, Winnie the Pooh (Maryland Ensemble Theatre); Noises Off, Chicago, Arsenic and Old Lace, Willy Wonka the Musical (Other Voices Theatre); Hindle Wakes (Endangered Species Theatre Project) Twelfth Night A Musical Remix (DC Capital Fringe) as well as a few TV and film roles. He holds a B.A. in Theatre and Journalism from James Madison University. Thanks to family and friends for their support.

Jack Evans (John D’Agata) is a MET company member. Theatre credits include Norm in Meteor Shower, Jim Tyrone in A Moon for the Misbegotten, Eddie in A View from the Bridge, and The Creature in MET’s original adaptation of Frankenstein. Jack would like to remember his dear friend and acting teacher, Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize recipient and Academy Award nominee Jason Miller.

Willam Rogers (Understudy Jim) is a graduate of Towson University with a BFA in Acting. He has been acting for quite a long time and has appeared in roles such as Jason in Wit, Mike in A Lie of the Mind, and Mr. Samsa in Metamorphosis. Apart from acting, Willem is an avid soccer fan, likes to (poorly) rock climb, and play DnD. He is beyond excited for the opportunity to work with the MET.

Laura Stark (Emily Penrose) is a proud MET company member and a former member of The Comedy Pigs. A Shenandoah Conservatory graduate, her credits include Inebriated History; Giggle Giggle Quack; No Virginia; The Ultimate Christmas Show; Pride & Prejudice; Superior Donuts; Rapture, Blister, Burn; End Days; The 50th Anniversary of Oklahoma; Fiddler On The Roof; Into the Woods; Once Upon A Mattress and The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee. Laura currently teaches improvisation at MET, FCC and to corporations throughout the country.

Gené Fouché (Director) is an Associate Artistic Director with MET, where she also serves as Director of MET’s Ensemble School. MET directing credits include: The Revolutionists, Sweat, Superior Donuts, The 39 Steps, Killer Joe, Something Brilliant Will Come to Us, Skin Deep, The 25th Annual…Spelling Bee, Family Holiday, The 5th of July among others. Regionally she has directed for Landless Theatre , Fun Company, McDaniel College and Tell Baby Productions. Gené is the department chair of Theatre Arts at McDaniel College.

Eric Berninghausen (Scenic Designer) designs and teaches theatre. He received his BS from Skidmore College and his MFA in Scenic Design from Boston University. He developed a wide range of skills working as a theatre artist in New York City designing shows, building props and painting sets. He worked on and off Broadway for theatre companies such as Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, Signature Theater, Dixon Place, Performance Space 122 and The Public Theater. Eric would like to thank to Leslie Strongwater for being awesome.

Zack Callis (Assistant Director) is ecstatic to be working on his first professional production with MET! He graduated from McDaniel College in 2021 with a degree in theatre arts. Past directorial credits include Speech & Debate (McDaniel College) and Fire

Exit (McDaniel College). @zackcallis

David DiFalco (Projections Designer) is very excited to blend his professional career in the digital arts/video with his love and passion for theatre by being the projection designer for The Lifespan of a Fact. David has spent the last 13 years working in Network TV, Feature Films, and Various Sports Organizations all around the country. His love for working in the theatre dates back to High School with his most recent credits being in set design.

Cody James (Technical Director/ Dramaturg) is a local theatre maker specializing in writing, directing and designing engaging theatrical experiences with groups local to Washington, Frederick and Jefferson Counties. Cody received their MA in Drama and Theatre Studies at NUI Galway in 2020 and is the Technical Director at Maryland Ensemble Theatre. Cody is also a founding member of Red Hill Theatre Group.

Tom Majarov (Sound Designer) is a Sound Designer, Actor, Comedy Pigs Alumni and has been a MET company member since it’s founding. Favorite shows include: Detroit ‘67, Lysistrata, “The Scottish Play”, and 39 Steps. Tom has also taken the MET stage as the Prince of Verona in Romeo and Juliet, King Duncan in “The Scottish Play”, various roles in Lysistrata, Duke Orsino in Twelfth Night, and the Doctor of Philosophy in The Arsonists.

Jennifer Pagano (Props Designer) graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. She spent two years on the National Tour of Faustina: Messenger of Divine Mercy with Saint Luke Productions. She is a company member – most recently seen in The Rainbow Fish Musical, Meteor Shower, The Revolutionists and Giggle Giggle Quack! She is a teaching artist with MET and TJ High School.

Original Production Information

THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT was originally produced on Broadway by Jeffrey Richards, Norman & Deanna Twain, Will Trice, Barbara H. Freitag, Suzanne Grant, Gold/Ross Productions, Jamie deRoy, Jennifer Manocherian, Barbara Manocherian, ManGol Productions, Carl Moellenberg/Wendy Federman, Ken Greiner, Van Kaplan, Dominick LaRuffa Jr., Marc David Levine, WitzEnd Productions, Eric Falkenstein/Moreland Mott, Caiola Productions, Remmel T. Dickinson, & Jayne Baron Sherman