We’ve assembled a wonderful group of talented artists for our creative team – here’s a look behind the scenes!

Matthew Everett (playwright) is based in Minneapolis and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama. He is the recipient of a Drama-Logue Award for Outstanding Writing for the Theater (Heaven and Home), and a three-time recipient of support from the Minnesota State Arts Board – a 2007 Artist Initiative Grant (for Love’s Prick), a 2002 Career Opportunity Grant (for The Hopes and Fears of All The Years), and a 1999 Theater Arts Fellowship (for Leave [The Surface of the World]). His scripts have been seen on stages throughout Minneapolis with Thirst Theater, Theatre Unbound, the Early Stage, Outward Spiral Theatre Company, Pillsbury House Theater, the Original Theater Company, Bedlam Theater, Independent Feature Project (IFP-North), Ebullient Theater, Powderhorn Writers Festival, Emigrant Theater, the Center for Independent Artists, and the Minnesota Fringe Festival. His work has also been produced in California, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania.

Sarah Howes (playwright) acts as editor and columnist to the Council on Crime and Justice’s Family Keepsake newsletter. The Family Keepsake is an aid to minimize the impact of incarceration on families by publishing pieces of motivation and finding access to economic resources. In addition to her work with The Flower Shop Project, she is also developing a piece to be performed this summer in MN prisons and community centers. She authored CSB/SJU Theater Department’s State Line, a one-act play narrowing the national horror of hospital homophobic policies down to an honest, witty and intimate love story.  Other college writing credits include: The Sunday Paper (film) and Tête-à-tête (film.) She tries to keep busy in the theater world as a playwright, actor and assistant stage manager. She graduated from the College of Saint Benedict with degrees in political science and theater.

Brenna Jones (director) is a founding member of FSP and our Executive Director. Most recently, she directed mint and 9x9x9 for FSP, Seussical at UMM and I Do! I Do! for The Calumet Players in Pipestone, Minnesota. She is also an accomplished playwright – FSP has produced many of her plays, including River of Passion, Dawn’s Inferno, The Coelacanth, Ladies A.I.D and Drowning in Velvet. Brenna has worked for other companies in the Twin Cities, including Mouth of Truth Productions, Big Mime Productions, Eye of the Storm, Outward Spiral, Heritage Theatre Company and Cross Community Players as an actor, playwright, dramaturg, costumer and crew member.

Bryan Gerber (assistant director/choreographer) holds his B.A. in Dance from Minnesota State University – Mankato.  Bryan is Co-Artistic Director of BS Productions, is a company member of Ballet of the Dolls at the Ritz Theater in NE Minneapolis, and serves on the Board of Directors for dance-theater company Off-Leash Area.  He has performed for the MN Opera with Zenon Dance Company, Arena Dances, Off-Leash Area, Jeffrey Peterson Dance, The Flower Shop Project, Christopher Watson Dance Company, Cathy Wright, InKline Dance, Kinetic Evolutions, Sole to Soul Dance Conversion and numerous other companies in the Twin Cities area and beyond.  Bryan was a guest artist and instructor for the University of Wisconsin – River Falls, Minnesota State University – Mankato, Riverland Community College, North Hennepin Community College, Joyce Matheis Dance, Dance Conservatory of Minnesota and The American College Dance Festival.  His choreography has been shown at the Ritz, Bryant-Lake Bowl, Patrick’s Cabaret, Dances at the Lakes and the Hennepin Center for the Arts (Zenon’s Block E program).  He is absolutely thrilled to be working with The Flower Shop Project on 515 and wants to thank everyone who has been involved thus far!  Lots of peace and love!

Eric Mayson (composer) is a composer/performer from Minneapolis. He spends most of his time writing and playing for dancers around town.  You can currently hear his music in Red Eye’s production of Iris.  He is thrilled to be working on this project and is also playing keys and guitar in the band.

SvenErik Olsen (composer) is a Minneapolis-based composer who has enjoyed a fruitful relationship with The Flower Shop Project of the years. His scores and sound design have been heard in River of Passion, 9x9x9, The Fish, the Fruit and the Pet Coffin Maker, Attack of the Atomic Trash Monster‘s Bride and Drowning in Velvet.  He is also founding member of indie popsters The Pundits, freak folkers The Homers and electronic iconoclasts Ostramingo.

Ruth Virkus (costume designer) is treading old stomping grounds, costuming her fourth  show for FSP (seriously, she has some of these actor’s sizes memorized).  She’s wearing a lot of different hats this fall! As well as serving as Literary Manager for 20% Theatre Company, Twin Cities, and in the artistic company for Swandive Theatre, she and her husband Ben Layne recently launched their own theater company, Freshwater Theatre.  Their inaugural show (at the Theatre Garage in November 2010) will be a remount of two 2010 fringe hits: An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein, featuring John T. Zeiler and Lacey Piotter, and Table 12: A Play at a Wedding, which she also wrote.  Also, check out the Haunted Theatre running October 21-31st at the Music Box Theatre- she’s also writing and performing in that!

Philip Hoks (scenic designer) is a scenic and lighting designer for over 40 full-length shows and a versatile theater technician. He has served as a technical director for high school, college, community and professional shows, a stage manager and a member of running crews from lighting to properties. His ability to organize and delegate are matched with his problem-solving abilities. Recently his work has been showcased at Theater in the Round, The Flower Shop Project, The Intergenerational Theater and many more venues.

Bethany Hummel (lighting designer) is a founding member of FSP and our artistic director. Most recently, she performed onstage in “The Necromancer” in Quickies 2009 and “The Pet Coffin Maker” in Quickies 2008, which she also adapted for the stage. Her work as a playwright and actress was also seen in FSP’s River of Passion, Attack of the Atomic Trash Monster’s Bride and Drowning in Velvet. Through the years, she has performed with several theater companies in Minneapolis, including Cheap Theater, J. Jacob J. Schmidt Productions, Big Mime and Mouth of Truth, among others. She has co-written shows with Fredrick Ostrander (Fuming) and Brenna Jones (Dealbreaker).

Stephen R. Moeller (producer) is a founding member of The Flower Shop Project. His previous writing credits include River of Passion, Auld Acquaintance and “The Necromancer” from Quickies 2009, which he also directed. He has produced past FSP shows Attack of the Atomic Trash Monster’s Bride (2006), Dawn’s Inferno (2009).