DRUGSTORE ZEN

Jeff Bell is Paul Iver

Jeff's acting experience is quite varied. He has acted in any number of Shakespearian plays, in roles including Hamlet, Henry V, Lear, MacDuff, Richard III and Iago. He worships Mammett, Coward, Coppola, Norman and especially Stoppard.

Jeff has also trained and taught acting in several different acting schools and institutions. He has taught well-reviewed courses on improvisational and experimental acting and writing techniques.

He is a novelist and a screenwriter as well as a newbie film producer. Right now Jeff is working on the screenplays for Defenestrate Films' next two pictures: The Corsair Cafe and The Hate Prize.

Marianna Wood is Becky Wallace

Marianna comes to us from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Boston’s loss is certainly our gain, and we are very happy that Ms. Wood found her way to our little province in the West.

Marianna has proved her acting talents during the filming of Bleaker Street. She lends a depth to the charactor of Becky that we hadn't seen while writing her charactor.

Andrew Gillman is Lenny Bretto

Andrew Gillman is a God! A lesser acting god, to be sure, but a god nonetheless. Andrew came to us from the University of Utah, where he is in the Film and Theater program.

Andrew plays the part of Lenny with an attention to detail that frankly surprised and pleased everyone on the set. His calm exterior and infinite patience with everyone, from cast to crew, feel better whenever he was around.

When you add that to the great performance he gives as Lenny, you can see why Jeff sent the Pope a request for canonization.

Alsu Kurbanova is Nadya Koshechka

Alsu joins us from the far off land of Southern Russia. Alsu is certainly a popular woman on the University of Utah campus. Her friendly manner and polite European sensibilities have touched the hearts of everyone on the set of Bleaker Street.

Alsu's acting talents were certainly put to the test playing the role of Nadya. The two characters couldn't be more dissimilar. Alsu did a great job for us, and we are so very pleased with her performance.

Rosalie Diane Bertrand is Diane MacArthur

Rosalie was a very last minute casting decision and, as it turned out, she was perfect for the part of Diane.

Rosalie brought a certain depth to the character of Diane. We all respect and appreciate her performance, indeed twice as much as she jumped into this project at the last minute. Rosalie is an accomplished actor in her own right. She has been involved in several regional and college productions.

Rosalie is a monkey at work.

Peter Windhofer - Peter Lillienthal

Peter joins our cast from the far off land of Austria. Peter is a student in Dance, Acting and Art at the University of Utah.

Peter's accomplishments as an actor are quite varied. He has been involved in so many aspects of the Theatre, from dancing, singing and acting that it was hard to believe he wanted to help make our little movie.

Peter was also indirectly responsible for a few of the women in our cast saying "yes" when we asked them to act for us. I'm not saying which ones, but, Peter's good looks and sweet demeanor (hot body) were helpful around the set.

Cody Moore - Cody Deft

There wasn't a part in Bleaker Street for anyone who looked like Cody. So we wrote him one. Cody's audition was so much fun that we felt like we'd be passing up a golden opportunity to flesh out the story with someone as unique as Cody.

Cody plays Cody, Bleaker Street's resident misogynist. We had a lot of fun writing this part for Cody, and, all kidding aside, he seemed to have fun playing it.

Cody is an actor, a former exotic dancer and, of course, God's gift to women.

Michael S Robinson - Mr. Jenkins

Mr. Michael S Robinson is not only the Director of our little band of misfits, he is not only the writer of the original stage play, he plays Mr. Jenkins, the crazy, alcoholic, manic depressive, bi-sexual building manger at the Bleaker Street apartment building.

Mike is not only an award-winning actor; he is an accomplished stage director. He graduated from UNC with a degree in Directing. Mike has been involved with several score of plays, acted in movies and TV, and is making his film directorial debut working on a project that is very dear to his heart.

Mike's goofy sense of humor was bonus on the set.

For Immediate Release:

2-24-04

RE: Bleaker Street

Drugstore ZEN Media, in association with Defenestrate Films, has cast its first feature film: Bleaker Street. Most of the actors were very happy to be cast, with the exception of the actor slated to play Paul Iver, who is doing this against his will and better judgment.

The film, The Ghosts Of Bleaker Street, is based on the play Bleaker Street, written by Michael Robinson. Jeff Bell has written the screen adaptation for the play and the final draft was presented to the cast and crew this Saturday.

Principal photography is scheduled to begin on April 2nd.

The production team made the casting decisions and Michael Robinson handled final casting placements. Members of the cast were contacted by telephone.

Principal Cast

Bleaker Street

Diane MacArthur – Rosalie Diane Bertrand

Paul Iver – Jeff Bell

Nadia Koshechka – Alsu Kurbanova

Becky Wallace– Marianna Wood

Lenny Bretto –Andrew Gilman

Peter Lilienthal – Peter Windhofer

Mr. Jenkins – Mike Robinson

Drugstore ZEN would also, at this time, like to announce the retention of Jenny Lund and Jessica Kendall as KEY members of the production staff. Permanent placement of these two very talented women is dependant on their ability to tolerate the current production staff.

Drugstore ZEN Press Office