Knaptid Cast Biographies
Brendan Shanahan is a native of
Spokane, Washington. after much prodding from his mother (a former
collegiate actress) he started his acting career at the University of
Montana in 1996. 'She always bugged me to audition for the high school
plays, but luckily I had the convenient excuse of being in three sports
during the year--sorry Mom, I have practice.' He went to Montana and
walked on the Cross Country and Track& Field teams in the fall of
93'. After a brief hiatus from school, he reenrolled and found a home
in the Drama/Dance program. By the time he graduated with a BFA in
Acting, he had had such roles as: Sideway in Our Country's Good, Brian
in Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor, and Percival in George
Bernard Shaw's Misalliance. Along with stage plays, he was an original
member of ÔThe Shop Comedy Improv,' and entertained thousands
over a
two year span.
After graduation he toured with The Montana Repertory Theatre Company's
production of It's a wonderful life. He played the character Harry
Bailey from New York to Los Angeles.
Just before moving from Montana he was cast as Simon in Hannibal
Picture's The Flying Dutchman,' starring Eric Roberts, Rod Steiger, and
Catherine Ozenberg.
Brendan moved to Los Angeles in January of 2001. In May he accepted a
job in development in the Feature division of Wolf Films, the
television juggernaut of Law&Order. He's no stranger to being
behind the scenes, he was a stage hand in Washington and Montana long
before he acted on stage.
For two weeks out of the summer, Brendan goes back to Montana for the
Missoula, Colony, where playwrights gather to work on and showcase
their new plays. He's done staged readings in new works by such
notables as Marsha Norman, Roger Heddon and various plays by James
McLure.
Patrick Walrath has a BFA in
acting from the University of Montana. He has acted in 'As Bee's in
Honey Drown' and 'Wit' at the Spokane Community Theatre. MCT in
Missoula cast him in 'I Hate Hamlet.' This is Patrick's first movie.
Dennis Glen O'Loughlin was born on December 2, 1918. He's been a
independent miner for over 26 years. His exciting biographical account
of World War II will be published shortly. He has been known to all his
friends in the mountains for many many years as two gun.
T. J. Charlson has a BFA in acting from UNC Greensbrough, an MFA in
directing from Western Illinois University, and is now program manager
for the MCT Community Theatre in Missoula.
Natasha McInnes's is a model. This is her first movie.
Alsyha Oravetz studied writing at the California University of
Pennsylvania where she appeared in a number of plays. She moved to
Missoula intending to be involved in the writing program, but ended up
in the BFA acting program instead. Immediately after working on Knaptid
Ms. Oravetz was cast as a prostitute in the play The Screens at The
University of Montana.
Sean Curran stunned audiences when he played the foreigner in the play
by that name at Hellgate High School. He was admitted to the acting
program at the University of Montana but was kicked out. This bad-boy
golfer is also in The Screens.
Heidi Meyer a finalist in the 2003 Miss South Dakota Pageant, brings a
wide array of experience to Knaptid. Miss Meyer graduated in May 2004
from August Stanner College with a BA English and Theatre. She has
appeared in Little Shop of Horrors, Charlie's Aunt, and the Glass
Menagerie. She has a number of plays including Witness, Princess for a
day, Adapting Family secrets. She has been an active participant
for years in the Montana Reps Colony.
Ann C. Johnson was born and raised in New Orleans. She now makes
Missoula her home. As a graduate of the University of Montana's Drama
Dance department in both drama and dance, she is a mailman by day and
actress by night.
Jason Lathop acted in college. He always wanted to play a detective.
Brian Payton works in Missoula.
David Curran graduated from the MFA Creative Writing program in
Missoula, Montana. He was editor in chief of UM's the famed literary
magazine Cutbank when he sold a story to Wiseguy director David Burke.
He produced and directed the haunting young-adult anti-drunk-driving
short The Mailbox. This is his first feature film.
