About Exit, Pursued by a Bear

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Angela relocated to the Roanoke area from St. Louis, MO where she was involved in numerous productions, either on-stage, costuming, running sound or stage managing. Since arriving, she has been actively involved in the local theatre scene, working with both Attic Productions and Showtimers. Angela enjoys hiking with her two pups and supporting her kids’ various  activities.

Stevie Holcomb has been active in the Roanoke area theatre scene all her life. Onstage and off, she has appeared in over 40 productions at over 10 theatres. Theatre is collaborative, supportive, and friendly - she believes we all come together to create live art, regardless of if we are audience members or directors or handing out programs. There is no room for egos, and the best theatre is created amongst kind individuals working hard so both audiences and crew alike benefit from true love for the theatre.

Gene Marrano has appeared in dozens of plays over the past decade or so at a number of local playhouses. A journalist by trade, he’s excited to be involved with The Bear, viewing it “not as competition, but as a complement to other live theatre venues, offering more opportunities for actors – both experienced and new -  directors and others who work backstage.”

Sean Neff is rarely on the stage, but instead he often lights it up. He started doing lighting tech work while a student at Virginia Tech, and more recently he has done lighting designs for shows at Attic Productions and Showtimers. He was also on the board of directors at Showtimers for five years.

Les Epstein is a poet, playwright, opera librettist and educator.  His work has appeared in journals in the United States, Philippines, India, Canada, Ireland and the UK.  He is the author of Sleep Cinematic: a Golem’s Quartet, Lorenzo by the Ghost Light, Teddy Orloff and the Three Onions, and Kip Divided. As a playwright, his work has been staged at theaters in Maine, West Virginia, Missouri and NYC.  He contributed libretti for two operas, Barefoot (1997 premiere) and Miss Lucy (2011 premiere). In addition to work with theater, opera and ballet companies from North Carolina to New York City, he spent ten seasons as Education Director and Production Coordinator for Opera/Columbus and another seven as Executive Director for the Children’s Theater of Winston-Salem, before settling in as a teacher with Community High School (Roanoke) for which he has staged more than forty productions. 

LYLE BLAKE SMYTHERS, a native Roanoker, is back after 44 years in the Washington, D.C., area, where he did theater both professional and community, including acting, running a light board, running a follow spot, serving as propmaster, dresser, set painter, assistant director, and being on play selection and director selection committees.. Local stage work includes acting at Showtimers, Attic Productions; and Commerce Street Theatre in Lynchburg.

David has been involved in theatre in the region for over 20 years. He was one of the founding members of Hops & Barley Productions in the New River Valley in the early 2000s. He has been on the board of directors for Showtimers and held the positions of President and Vice President. He has acted in productions at Showtimers, Summer Musical Enterprise, Playmakers, Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre, Virginia Tech and Hollins University. He has directed 9 full length plays. He as also done lighting design, sound design and set design for numerous productions. When not involved in theatre, David likes to spend his time riding motorcycles, brewing beer and caving. David works professionally as an Electronic Design Engineer.