[NoHo Arts District, CA] – Theater4All is thrilled to announce the cast and creative team for its inaugural production, the world premiere of the mythic drama Crone Creed, at El Portal Theatre, September 30 and runs through October 17.
About Crone Creed
Written by John Epstein, Casey Morgan, and T. Theresa Scarano and directed by award-winning film director Marc Morgenstern (Toronto’s Annex Theatre’s The Master Thief), Crone Creed is a mythic drama spanning centuries, following Vita, a young woman whose life is shattered by religious upheaval and betrayal in medieval Europe. Reborn in the late 1800s American frontier as part of an ancient lineage of mystical women known as the Crones, she discovers her brother has also returned through time as part of a corrupting force known as the Fallen. As their conflict unfolds across eras, Vita must confront questions of power, loyalty, and resistance in a struggle where belief itself shapes reality.
“It is a joy to collaborate with Marc again. He moves effortlessly between stage and film direction, and that dual mastery is a tremendous asset for bringing a multi-era story like Crone Creed to life,” shared founding producing artistic director and co-writer John Epstein. “He has gathered a phenomenal cast for our production at the legendary El Portal Theatre. I cannot wait for audiences – from seasoned patrons to those stepping into a theater for the very first time – to share in this unforgettable centennial celebration.”
El Portal’s 100th Anniversary
In celebration of El Portal Theatre’s 100th anniversary season, Theater4All is partnering with the historic venue on a special accessibility initiative to welcome new and first-time audiences. For select performances of the company’s inaugural production, Crone Creed, the organization will offer over 100 tickets priced at just $19.26 for each show. This pricing honors the year El Portal was founded and reflects a shared commitment to keeping live performance affordable across generations. Additionally, Theater4All will host a dedicated student matinee for Los Angeles high school students on Thursday, October 8.
The Cast
The cast for Crone Creed includes Brennen Amonett (The Last Hail M.A.R.Y., The Babel Manœuvre’s Without Verona Walls) as Noble, Corey Dorris (West End’s UnAlive from the West End!, StarKids’ Tomb Quest) as Wiley, Carolina Hoyos (Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Shane, Woolly Mammoth’s Cóndor (o, no es dictadura)) as Dara, Matt Kirkwood (The Road Theatre Company’s Lady, Fountain Theatre’s Human Interest Story) as Supervisor, Vivianna McCormick (UCLA’s Robert Cohen Theatre’s Completeness, UCLA’s Claire Trevor Theatre’s King Lear) as Vita, April Nixon (Off-Broadway’s Sistas, West End’s Damn Yankees) as Roya, Avery Norris (The Broadwater Main Stage’s Bachelorette, 54 Below’s Women of the Wings) as Tessca, Jacquelyn Ritz (La Jolla Playhouse’s Lempicka, Laguna Playhouse’s Beside Myself) as Reika, and Ben Ubinas (ABC’s “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Off-Broadway’s Hazing U) as Yanni.
The Team
In addition to Epstein, Morgan, Scarano, and Morgenstern, the creative team for the world premiere play of Crone Creed includes set and projection design by Daniel Chapman, costume design by Kaylee Silcocks, puppet design by Daniel Chapman, light design by Eliseo Aragon, sound design by Jonathan Flikkie, music composition by Brandon Moore, prop design by T. Theresa Scarano, and stage management by Vernon Willet.
BIOS
John Epstein (Theater4All Founder and Producing Artist Director/Crone Creed Co-Playwright) is a Los Angeles-based talent agent, producer and entrepreneur. Originally from Connecticut and raised in Weston, Epstein has lived in Los Angeles for the past 16 years. Epstein began his career in entertainment as a talent agent with Global Talent Agency, where he worked for 15 years representing emerging and unrepresented artists across film and television. Throughout his career, he has supported actors, writers, directors and producers in early stages of development, with a focus on independent and emerging work. Alongside his work as an agent, Epstein has developed creative projects across theater and digital media. He produced A Fearing Place, together with Casey Morgan and T. Theresa Scarano, about a group of aging bikers embarking on one final score, framed through the presence of an onstage narrator known as “The Angel.” The production reflects his interest in character-driven storytelling and the intersection of theatrical form and cinematic structure, particularly within the horror genre. He is also the Co-creator of TerrorSalad, a collaborative YouTube-based platform developed with other creatives to support emerging horror writers and filmmakers through short-form genre content and distribution.
Casey Morgan (Theater4All Creative Artistic Consultant/Crone Creed Co-Playwright). My involvement in live theater began as a child when my parents’ interest was passed on to me. Growing up in Los Angeles allowed me to work in film and television as well as theater. As an adult, my time in New Mexico included Technical Director positions and the chance to work with talented artists on stage and backstage. Moving back to California in 1996 began a 26-year career in IATSE Local 44 and with retirement, a renewed interest in theatrical stage performances began. With Theater4All, I hope to spark the spirits in those with a yearning to explore their dreams and hopes through stage performances.
Theresa Scarano (Crone Creed Co-Playwright). Her multi-faceted career of over 35 years spans theatre and dance in varying capacities, including technical direction, prop design, and set design and construction. Theresa has been Stage Manager for California Ballet, Kairos Dancers, and Dancing Images Dance Company. She served as both Scenery Warehouse Manager and Prop Master at San Bernardino Civic Light Opera and was Scenery Rental Manager of Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera (later The Set Company), where she was Director of Operations. Her work includes prop design/construction and set dressing for Theatre 150, Cabrillo Music Theatre, Ensemble Theatre Company, CLO of South Bay Cities, the Welk Resort, Music Academy of the West, Universal Studios (Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure and Grinchmas), Phoenix Rising Productions, Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, Rubicon Theatre Company, Moonlight Stage Productions, AMDA, and Opera Santa Barbara. As the originator of a theatre program at Riverside County Juvenile Hall, Theresa wrote and directed adolescents in various performances, including those for Juvenile Court Judges. “Theatre promotes us to give power to truth, to take risks and to advocate for new and diverse voices. Theatre reminds us that we are not alone. Not only are we sharing space and an experience with the artists who are performing, we are also sharing the experience with fellow audience members.” (quote from the Acting Studio Chicago)
Marc Morgenstern (Director) has been in theatre since he graduated from Theatre Humber and Fight Directors in Canada in 1991. His directorial debut was a children’s theatrical production of Winnie The Pooh, and since then he has directed several theatre productions and touring shows including P.S. Your Cat is Dead, Cuthbert and the Dragon’s Tooth; and writing, directing and acting in the sketch comedy troupe SKITSophrenia and artistic director of the Wonder Kingdom Stage. Marc’s most cherished directing experience was when he mounted his fantasy action play The Master Thief in Toronto’s cherished Annex Theatre. Marc’s directing has also taken him to film, television, online and commercials, where he’s won several writing and directing awards such as the Cannes Lions Finalist (2010) and California Film Awards Grand Prize Winner for Best Commercial (2011). He is honored to be directing Crone Creed for Theater4All and hopes that the audience will love the play as much as he does. Marc is currently based out of Halifax, Canada.
About Theatre4All
Theater4All is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theatrical company dedicated to expanding access to live performance for youth, families, and audiences across Southern California. Founded on the belief that high-quality arts experiences should be accessible to the entire community, the organization works to reduce financial and structural barriers through targeted, subsidized ticket programs, educational outreach, and dedicated student matinees. By championing inclusive, diverse, and engaging stories, Theater4All, founded and led by Producing Artistic Director John Epstein, aims to cultivate the next generation of lifelong theatergoers while enriching the cultural landscape of the region. To learn more or to support Theater4All’s mission, visit theatre4all.org.