The Boys Next Door: Cast

Rod Lathim, Dramaturg

Rod has had a long career as a playwright/director/producer of theatre. His award-winning company Access Theatre toured internationally with original works and included such productions as STORM READING. His original play UNFINISHED BUSINESS was staged twice at the Lobero Theatre and most recently he produced and directed Michael Downey’s play THE WAR SHIRT at The Marjorie Luke Theatre, and the documentary film THE WAR SHIRT – A DIALOGUE WITH THE ANCESTORS. He has directed THE BOYS NEXT DOOR for Access Theatre and The Rubicon Theatre featuring Anthony Edwards and Dirk Blocker. He recently appeared as Professor Callahan in the SB Theatre Group’s LEGALLY BLONDE. Rod oversaw the development and renovation of the Marjorie Luke Theatre which celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year. His neon sculptures have been exhibited in Santa Barbara, New York City, Nashville, TN and Palm Springs. www.rodlathim.com.

Michael Nouri

Michael Nouri has an extensive film and television resume. In film, Nouri can next be seen in Hulu’s SWIPED opposite Lily James, as well as the independent film HURRICANNA opposite Mark Duplass. On TV, Michael can recently be seen guest starring in an episode of FBI: MOST WANTED on CBS.

Nouri also recently recurred in Ryan Murphy’s THE WATCHER for Netflix and also recently returned in a recurring role in season 2 of the Sky Italia series DEVILS, based on the novel by Guido Maria Brera and opposite Patrick Dempsey. Nouri recurred in Ryan Murphy’s AMERICAN CRIME STORY: THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE as well as opposite Kevin Costner in YELLOWSTONE.

Other television work includes starring in the Discovery mini-series MANHUNT, recurring on NBC’s THE SLAP, starring opposite Glenn Close in Showtime’s DAMAGES, and guest starring in HEARTBEAT, CHICAGO PD, BLUE BLOODS, and NCIS.

Nouri has starred in many feature films including THE PROPOSAL directed by Anne Fletcher and opposite Sandra Bullock in Steven Spielberg’s THE TERMINAL.

Matt Cook

Matt Cook’s credits include the films CHAMPIONS, THE GREATEST BEER RUN EVER, BEING THE RICARDOS, FILM FEST, and more. He played Lowell on MAN WITH A PLAN for four seasons and has been a Groundlings Main Company member for the past ten years. He’s thrilled to be here tonight for such a special cause.

John Kassir

W. Earl Brown

W Earl Brown was born in Golden Pond, Kentucky. The seeds of his career as an actor and writer were sewn there as he spent his childhood years entertaining all who gathered on his grandparent’s front porch. Earl received his MFA from DePaul University’s Theatre School in 1989.

After graduation, he performed in numerous plays around Chicago, but it was his performance in A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE at the Steppenwolf Theatre that catapulted his career into television and film. Having hit the proverbial glass ceiling by 1993, Earl moved to Los Angeles. Wes Craven was an early supporter, casting him in the box-office smash, SCREAM. Two years later Earl played the breakout role of Warren, Cameron Diaz’s mentally challenged brother, in THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY.

Earl Brown can most recently be seen in the upcoming independent film THE DEAD DON’T HURT starring Viggo Mortensen and in recurring roles such as HBO’s HACKS and Disney+/LucasFilm’s THE MANDALORIAN/THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT. His other releases are Apple+ drama, FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL, Apple+ comedy, HELLO, TOMORROW! Season two of Paramount+ THE MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN, and he plays George Wallace in John Ridley/Regina King’s SHIRLEY.

In addition to his television and film work, Earl also writes music and records with Sacred Cowboys, an LA based Americana band.

Nancy Nufer

NANCY NUFER (Clara) is best known to audiences from her 30+ roles at Ensemble Theatre in addition to multiple productions with Rubicon Theatre. Other local credits include Theater Group at SBCC, Speaking of Stories, PCPA, several productions at Center Stage Theater, assorted improv troupes and one half of the female comedy team: Evening Bags.

Her checkered past includes marketing director (both Ensemble and Rubicon Theatres), promotional director/disc jockey (K-LITE), Cable talk show host (Ch. 17), and Arts/Entertainment editor and Weekend Weather Girl (KEYT).

Devin Scott

Devin Scott is happy to be part of this important event in support of the great work New Beginnings does for our community. Devin has performed as an actor in over 30 productions locally at SBCCTG, the Ensemble Theatre Company, Center Stage, the Rubicon Theatre Company and Speaking of Stories. He has directed and produced over 20 plays in Santa Barbara, Ventura and New York City.

He is a founding member of the Independent Award winning Maverick Players, the Good Company and the Bridge Theatre Company in New York City. Devin attended the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre.

He serves on the Board of the Marjorie Luke Theatre and works as the Philanthropy Manager at Sansum Clinic, now part of Sutter Health.

Chris Butler

Chris Butler has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including recurring roles on The Good Wife, The Good Fight, Designated Survivor, Women of the Movement, Rizzoli & Isles, Longmire, Major Crimes, True Blood, 24 and The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder. Other credits include Rescue Dawn, Play Dead, Gringo Hunter, True Detective, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, Shameless, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Modern Family and a series regular on TNT’s King and Maxwell.

Onstage, Chris made his Broadway debut as Noah in 110 in the Shade and he has received two LA Ovation, NAACP and Garland Awards for his work in Yellowman at The Fountain Theatre and Stick Fly at the Matrix Theatre. Other theater credits include Emmanuel in The Lehman Trilogy (Ensemble Theatre Company), Prospero in The Tempest (Shakespeare Center LA), Othello in Othello and Walter Lee in A Raisin in the Sun (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Biff in Death of a Salesman (South Coast Repertory); McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and the one person show Twilight-Los Angeles: 1992 (Rubicon Theatre Company).

Chris holds an MFA in Theater from UC San Diego and BA in Dramatic Arts from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Felicia Hall

Felicia Hall has been performing professionally for over ten years in theaters throughout California, Utah, and England. She has received several awards and honors, including a Robins Award naming her Talent of the Year, Best Actress Professional Artists Award, Best Female Musical Theatre Artist, an Indy award, multiple Broadway World awards, and recently received a CCART award for her portrayal of Adelaide last summer.

Favorite local acting credits include: Beau Jest, Two Wrongs (Actor Circle), Collected Stories (DramaDogs), Girls Like That, Our Town, Road to Mecca, Wit (SLO Rep), Amelie (Out of the Box), Guys and Dolls, A Comedy of Tenors, Communicating Doors (SB Theatre Group). Felicia holds a degree in acting and has also trained professionally with Pig Iron Theatre Group, Actors From the London Stage, Louis Colaianni, Kristin Linklater, Anne Bogart, and Academy of Method Acting.

She has worked alongside multiple Tony Award winners, including Audra McDonald and Dick Van Dyke. Felicia is the founder of Hall Studio, where she teaches acting, singing, and audition prep to performers of all ages.

She is also the Artistic Director of the local theatre company: Actor Circle.

Hannah-Beth Jackson

California State Senator (ret.)

Bio coming soon

Judge George Eskin (ret.)

Judge George C. Eskin, born in Baltimore, Maryland, graduated from Cumberland’s Fort Hill High School and joined the National Thespian Society, where he earned recognition as best actor in productions such as “Charley’s Aunt.” He attended Swarthmore College and Carnegie Institute of Technology before graduating from UCLA with a Theatre Arts degree in 1960. He later completed his law degree at UCLA in 1965, excelling in the Moot Court Honors Program and serving as President of the Student Bar Association.

Eskin began his legal career as a trial prosecutor in the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and later became Assistant District Attorney. He transitioned to private practice before being appointed Santa Barbara County Assistant District Attorney. He then served as Chief Assistant to Los Angeles City Attorney Burt Pines, where he initiated programs for domestic violence and environmental protection prosecutions.

In 1981, Eskin returned to private practice, focusing on criminal defense and civil litigation. He received multiple awards for his contributions to the criminal justice system, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Santa Barbara Criminal Defense Bar Association.

Appointed to the bench by Governor Gray Davis in 2003, Judge Eskin established a Military Veterans Treatment Court Calendar and served on various judicial committees. After retiring in 2013, he remained active in legal mentorship, community service, and the California High School Mock Trial competition. He also hosted radio programs and engaged in volunteer work.

Throughout his career, Eskin maintained a passion for the arts. While studying at Swarthmore, he starred in the musical “Dot’s Before My Eyes,” catching the attention of New York Times drama critic Louis Funk. This led to an invitation to audition for the role of Tony in the 1957 Broadway production of “West Side Story.” He later transferred to Carnegie Tech, where he was a Drama major, and he earned his bachelor’s degree in the UCLA Department of Theatre Arts, playing significant roles, including the title character in Schiller’s “Don Carlos.” ”

Eskin continued to act in local productions while working as a deputy district attorney in Ventura. Following his move to Santa Barbara in 1975, he served as the public address announcer for the UCSB women’s basketball team for 30 years. His diverse career reflects a lifelong commitment to both law and the performing arts.

Romy Rosemont

Romy stars in Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming comedy series THE PRADEEPS OF PITTSBURGH from producer & director Michael Showalter, written & created by Vijay Patel.

Last season Romy recurred in ABC’s drama 9-1-1, ABC’s mystery-thriller BIG SKY from producer David E Kelley, Netflix’s hit series YOU, and ABC’s drama A MILLION LITTLE THINGS. Prior work includes a Series Regular role in Freeform’s sci-fi drama BEYOND, and recurring parts on HBO’s SILICON VALLEY and ABC’s SCANDAL.

Romy is often recognized for her role on GLEE, playing “Finn’s” (Cory Monteith) mom.

Sam Trammell

Tony Award Nominee Sam Trammell may be most recognized as Sam Merlotte in HBO’s AFI award-winning series True Blood.

Sam spent the beginning of his career in New York where he starred in a number of on and off Broadway plays including “Ah Wilderness’ at Lincoln Center (where he won the Clarence Derwent Award, Theater World Award and was nominated for a Tony Award) “Kit Marlowe” at The Public Theater, “Dealer’s Choice” at the Manhattan Theater Club, “Ancestral Voices” at Lincoln Center, “My Night With Reg” with The New Group, “Rope” with The Drama Dept, “If Memory Serves” at the Promenade Theater, “Our Town” at Williamstown, and “Red Memories” at New York Stage and Film, among others.

Sam’s film and television credits are extensive and include “Homeland”, “This Is Us” and “The Fault in our Stars”. He can be seen in the upcoming limited series “The Gray House” produced by Morgan Freeman and Kevin Costner.

A native of West Virginia and Louisiana Sam graduated from Brown University with a bachelor of Arts in Semiotics. He resides in Los Angeles with his family.