JOHNNIE HOBBS, JR. (Simon) is honored to be returning to the Arden after his debut in last Blue Door. Celebrating his 29th year, Mr. Hobbs is a tenured associate professor at the Ira Brind School of Theatre Arts at The University of the Arts. He is also the Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Academic Achievement Program and the advisor to the African Diaspora Collective. The Legacy of Love Foundation–Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (Philadelphia Chapter) recently honored Mr. Hobbs for his contribution in Arts & Culture. The three-time Barrymore nominee has played roles in many Freedom Theatre productions including Black Nativity, Black Picture Show, Simply Heavenly with Melba Moore and Zooman and the Sign with Virginia Capers (LA Premier). August Wilson works include: Fences, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Two Trains Running, and King Hedley II. He has traveled to China and Japan through Philadelphia’s Sister City Program. Noteworthy film and television credits: Star Stuff, The In-Crowd, Twelve Monkeys, Snipes, Up Close and Personal, The Wire, Rocky Balboa with Sylvester Stalone and Cover directed by Bill Duke. Mr. Hobbs also distinguished himself in a tour-de-force performance of Paul Robeson by Phillip Hayes Dean directed by Walter Dallas.

JAMES IJAMES (John) is thrilled to be back on the Arden stage. Regional credits: An Empty Plate at the Café du Grand Boeuf, James and the Giant Peach, Romeo and Juliet, Superior Donuts (Arden), Grey Gardens, Ruined (PTC), PROM (New Paradise Laboratories), The Threshing Floor (Mauckingbird Theatre Company), One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Gossamer (PLTC), and Ponies (Gloucester Stage Company). James received a Barrymore Award for Supporting Actor in a Play for Superior Donuts with the Arden Theatre Company. He was also the 2011 recipient of the F. Otto Haas Emerging Artist Award. Next up: Shipwrecked at People’s Light and Angels in America at The Wilma. Much love to the entire Arden family.

CODY NICKELL (Caleb) couldn’t be more thrilled about sharing the Arcadia Stage with these two gentlemen. Philadelphia: Arden, Crime and Punishment. Wilma Theatre, Outrage, The Understudy. NYC: The Cherry Lane, The New York Fringe, The Mac Wellman Festival, The Kraine Theater, and numerous workshops at The Lark, Lincoln Center Theater, Ars Nova and Epic Theater to name a few. Regional: Woolly Mammoth (Helen Hayes Nomination, Clybourne Park), The Shakespeare Theatre, The Folger Theatre (Helen Hayes nomination, Arcadia), Portland Center Stage, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, San Jose Rep, Playmakers Rep, Capital Rep, Two River Theater, Stamford Theater Works (Connecticut Critics Circle Award), Barrington Stage. TV and FILM: That 70’s Show, Celebrity Death Match, All My Children, Guiding Light, The Conan O’Brien Show and the film Dorian Blues. Cody is a graduate of The Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. As always, for Kate. www.codynickell.com

MATTHEW LOPEZ (Playwright) His play, The Whipping Man has, in recent years, become one of the more regularly-produced new American plays. Most recently, it was seen in New York in an acclaimed, sold-out run at Manhattan Theatre Club in a production directed by Doug Hughes and starring Andre Braugher. For this production, Matthew won the John Gassner Playwrighting Award by the Outer Critics Circle. The play premiered in 2006 at Luna Stage in Montclair, NJ and was subsequently produced at Penumbra Theatre Company, Barrington Stage and The Old Globe prior to arriving in New York in 2011. The Old Globe in San Diego presented the world premiere production of Somewhere, directed by Giovanna Sardelli. It had previously been seen in a workshop production at Summer Play Festival in 2008 under the title Tio Pepe. Matthew holds new play commissions from Roundabout Theatre Company and The Old Globe, where he is also Artist-in-Residence. Other plays include Reverberation and Zoey’s Perfect Wedding. He is currently adapting a musical version of the film Mad Hot Ballroom, to be directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.

MATT PFEIFFER (Director) is thrilled to return to the Arden. Previous Arden credits include directing A Moon for the Misbegotten, Romeo and Juliet and Go, Dog. Go!. Matt serves as the Associate Artistic Director of Theatre Exile where he’s directed Barrymore nominated productions of Shining City, American Buffalo, Glengarry Glen Ross, Bug and The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Other credits include: Walnut Street, Two River Theatre, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Lantern Theatre, 1812 Productions, Flashpoint Theatre, Brat Productions, and 15 seasons with the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. Matt is a six-time Barrymore nominee and recipient of the F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Theatre Artist. Thanks to Terry, Amy, and the entire Arden staff. Special thanks to this amazing group of collaborators. Love to Kim.

DAVID P. GORDON (Scenic Designer) This production marks David’s 26th design for the Arden. Having designed almost 300 productions for theatre and opera, his work has also been seen in Philadelphia at the Wilma Theater, Philadelphia Theatre Co., Walnut St. Theatre, and many others. Other recent credits include designs in NY for The Public Theater, Theatre for a New Audience, Classic Stage Co., Juilliard Opera and Lincoln Center, as well as regionally for Long Wharf, Williamstown, Old Globe, Goodspeed, Huntington, McCarter, LA Opera, Kennedy Center, Arizona Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and Berkshire and Sarasota Operas. He has received three Barrymore Awards and 11 nominations for Outstanding Scenic Design, as well as IRNE and Connecticut Critics Circle Award nominations, and the 2003 Elliot Norton Award. David is a professor of Set Design at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts.

ALISON ROBERTS (Costume Designer) is in her twelfth season as Arden’s Costume Supervisor. She has a BA in Theatre Arts from Rowan University and an MFA in Costume Design and Technology from Illinois State University. In addition to her staff position, she has designed costumes for numerous Arden productions. Last season, she designed A Moon for the Misbegotten, and Superior Donuts. Previously this season, she designed August: Osage County. You can also see her freelance design work with The Constitution Center, Theatre Exile, and Theatre Horizon.

THOM WEAVER (Lighting Designer) For the Arden: The Flea and the Professor, The Threepenny Opera, Romeo and Juliet, Blue Door, My Name Is Asher Lev. In the area: Wilma, People’s Light, Lantern, Delaware Theatre Company, InterAct, Azuka, Curtis Opera, New Paradise Laboratories, Theatre Exile, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, and Flashpoint Theatre Company, where he is Artistic Director. Other credits include: Theatre J, Two River Theatre, Cal Shakes, Children’s Theatre Company, Virginia Stage, Roundhouse, CENTERSTAGE, Folger Theater, Cincinnati Playhouse, Hangar, Syracuse Stage, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Signature Theater Company, Lincoln Center Festival, Spoleto, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, and Yale Rep, among others. 6-time Barrymore Award nominee, Helen Hayes nominee, and winner of the 2007 AUDELCO Award. Education: Carnegie Mellon and Yale.

CHRISTOPHER COLUCCI (Sound Designer) makes sound and music as a theater artist, composer and guitarist. Christopher’s work was last heard at the Arden in the 2009 production of Rabbit Hole, for which he received a Barrymore nomination in the Outstanding Original Music category. In 2011, he won the Barrymore award for Outstanding Original Music and Sound Design for In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play at the Wilma.  Upcoming productions this season include Charlotte’s Web at the Arden; The Curse of the Starving Class and Angels in America at the Wilma; Of Mice and Men at Peoples Light; How i Learned to Drive with Theatre Horizon; Noel Coward’s Private Lives at the Lantern; and The Mousetrap at the Walnut. Thanks again to the amazing Production staff and artists at the Arden.