JERRY & TOM CAST
DENNIS COCKRUM (Tom) has performed at regional theatres across the country. Favorite roles include: Doc Gibbs in OUR TOWN at Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago; Mr. Sutton in LINCOLN PARK ZOO at GeVa Theatre, Rochester, N.Y.; Mozart in AMADEUS at Snowmass Rep., Snowmass, CO. David Fleischer in OLD BUSINESS at Coconut Theatre, Chicago. J. Edgar Hoover in WORSE THAN MURDER at Ventura Court Theatre in L.A.; and Guildenstern in ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD at the Court Theatre in Chicago, for which he received the Joseph Jefferson Citation for performance. Some of his film and television credits include: INHERIT THE WIND, NYPD BLUE, JAG, THE WEST WING, DADDY DAY CARE, MURDER BY NUMBER and PAPARAZZI.
BOB RUSCH (Jerry) has performed in a variety of short films and other independent projects since arriving in Los Angeles in 2000. Before moving to L.A., Bob, spent four years in Chicago, where he was a member of the world famous "Trap Door Theatre". He performed in numerous plays, including the critically acclaimed, BLOOD ON THE CAT'S NECK, THE BOYS OF THE PEGGY AUGUST CLUB and DAD'S HAM. Also while in Chicago, Bob worked as a member of the innaugaural ensemble project at the "Steppenwolf Theatre", and for Crawford Hose Company’s world premiere of, ANOTHER TRICKY DAY, and Circle Theatre’s production of SALOME. Bob also has a B.A. in theatre arts from S.U.N.Y. College at Buffalo.
ERIC JOHNSON (Other Characters) recently moved to L.A. from Chicago, where he was seen on many stages including Steppenwolf (Kirilin in "The Duel), Lifeline (Poole in "Strange Case: Jekyll & Hyde") and Trap Door Theatre (Presley in "The Pitchfork Disney"). He received a Joseph Jefferson citation for his work in "Lebensraum", also at Trap Door. He has appeared in the indie films "Kwik Stop" and "2 Wks, 1 Yr", the television show "Cupid", and commercials for Midas and the Milwaukee Bucks. He recently appeared in "False Positive" playing Vincent Murphy at the Elephant Theatre Lab.
CREW
RICK CLEVELAND (Writer) is a writer and Co-Executive Producer on HBO’s SIX FEET UNDER. He won an Emmy Award, a Writer’s Guild Award and a Humanitas Award for his writing on THE WEST WING. He earned his MFA from the University of Iowa’s Playwrights Workshop. His feature film (based on the play), JERRY AND TOM was an official selection at the Sundance and Toronto Film Festivals. Rick is also a commentator for NPR’s "All Things Considered."
DAVE FLOREK (Director) has directed I NEVER SANG FOR MY FATHER, VIKINGS, EARLY ONE EVENING AT THE RAINBOW BAR AND GRILLE, DESERT WOLF and DOWN ALONG THE BRAZOS. As an actor, he has performed on Broadway, off-broadway and throughout the country. He has worked on many feature films, made for tv movies, and guest starred on numerous shows including SEINFELD, NYPD BLUE, BOSTON PUBLIC, and CROSSING JORDAN. Dave was a series regular on GRACE UNDER FIRE, recurred on FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR and is currently shooting NED'S DECLASSIFIED SCHOOL SURVIVAL GUIDE for Nickelodeon. He is a member of Interact Theatre Company where he’s been in productions of THE ROOT, SPLITSVILLE, JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK, SECOND STORY MAN, GUYS AND DOLLS and OUR TOWN among others.
TREE FARNSWORTH (Stage Manager) began her training with the Theatre school at DePaul University Chicago. Her credits include stage management for A GIRLS GUIDE TO CHAOS; house manager forTHIS IS NOT A PIPE DREAM and Looking Glass Theatres production of HERE AFTER. She has also worked for Steppenwolf Theatre and Remains Theater companies in Chicago.
DERRICK McDANIEL (Lighting Design) began his acting apprenticeship in 1990 at Theater East in Studio City, CA. This is where he honed the craft of stage lighting. Derrick’s lighting credits include PURLIE VICTORIOUS at the University of California Dominguez,WORSE THAN MURDER at the Ventura Court Theater; THE GODFATHER WORKOUT for Theater East in 1998, 2000 and 2001 and at the HBO Aspen Comedy Festival, EUBIE WELLER'S LAST RITES at the Stella Adler Theater, AMONG THE THUGS at the Odyssey Theater, andTHE QUIET ROOM and BLOCKAGE at the Whitefire Theater; as well as many others. The NoHo Awards committee has nominated Derrick three times for his lighting and stage managing work. He also recently received a nomination from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle for the creative lighting of AMONG THE THUGS.