Veronica Klaus as BETTY GOOD
Paraphrasing Voltaire, theatremania.com says, "If Veronica Klaus didn't exist; we'd have to invent her". Her most recent project was co-producing and starring in "Songs of the Scarlet Temple" a benefit for EQCA. Veronica is currently preparing for a live CD recording this November and a February 2005 premiere of "Family Jewels--The Making of Veronica Klaus" with co-writer/director Jeffery Hartgraves for Steinbeck Presents. In addition to writing her column, Vis-a-V, for Gloss Magazine, her music has recently earned a SF BAY GUARDIAN "Best Chanteuse" distinction in their annual "Best of the Bay" edition, an SFWEEKLY Whammy Award for "Best R&B/Blues", a Cable Car Award "Entertainer of the Year" and New York's Theatermania.com SiegelColumn Award for "Best Cabaret Show Performed in a Theater." Regarding her role in The Elk Hotel, Ms. Klaus states, "Betty was wonderful to play...she's meaty, you know?"

John Hull as PETE GOOD
John started his acting career seven years ago with the sole intention of only doing Voice Over, but quickly discovered the joy of making independent films. He likes the energy that comes from working on small budget projects. The Elk Hotel has been one of those enjoyable experiences. Working with two generous actors, Nancy Dobbs Owen and Veronica Klaus, John said was a pleasure. As was working with the directors Daniel P. Bates and Skye Thorstenson, whose vision was exciting to be a part of. John is represented by STARS THE AGENCY.

Mara Luthane as JUNIE WILDE
Mara was Raised in Pittsburgh, PA, only to leave all those devine pizzas and teeming rivers at age of 19 for the idyllic land of Santa Cruz. Upon graduating UCSC with a degree in Film, Luthane studied the Meisner Method for two years with Ian McRae before relocating to San Francisco, aiming to pursue acting professionally. Landing an agent, countless plays, industrials, commercials, and films soon followed and a mere five years later, Mara still feels those inexplicable first-love thrills when embarking on new projects. Talking about The Elk Hotel, Mara states, "From audition to production, this has been a wonderfully dizzying, craft strengthening endeavor, as all artists involved have brought their myriad talents to the table...no holds barred!" Ms. Luthane is represented by STARS THE AGENCY and she currently lives and performs out of San Francisco.

Andy Freeman as EDDIE
Mr. Freeman is a professional actor currently based in San Francisco. He has been acting more than half of his life and although his character in The Elk Hotel is battling his inner demons, Andy is presently trouble-free and lives a peaceful existence feeding squirrels organic nuts from his window and doing yoga naked in his sun room out of his apartment in Twin Peaks. Andy is represented by BOOM

Nancy Dobbs Owen as EILEEN
Originally trained as a ballet dancer, Ms. Owen danced leading roles with ballet companies all over the country. She appeared in the ballet chorus and as Meg in the San Francisco production of The Phantom of the Opera. A Broadway "triple threat", she works in all areas of performance; singing, dancing and acting, both on stage and film. Additional local theater appearances include AMTSJ, ODC Theater and independent productions at Theater Artaud and the Cable Car Theater. She has shot over 15 independent films and is an active commercial actress and print model. She is a member of Bookpals, and records for both Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic and Books Aloud. She is represented by JE Talent

Angela Stubbe as SILVIE
Born 1969 in Germany, Sylvie came to San Francisco in 1997. She has studied method acting with Rob Reece. She is a self-employed interior painter and faux painter. Talking about The Elk Hotel, she states, "I like acting for the fun of it and the Elk Hotel is definitely the most fun and unusual project I've ever been in so far. I love the unique way this film is made and I would always work for the Styptic guys again."

Dan Higgins as DIRTY DAN
Dan was born in Orange Texas, on Dec 4, 1951. He has lived in Texas, Alabama, New Mexico and Nevada. He came to San Francisco in 2000 and is a self-employed faux painter-muralist. Regarding his experience as an actor, Mr. Higgins states, "I discovered a love of acting in Las Vegas at the age of 47. I spent 2 years with Carl Butto at the Off Broadway Actors Workshop. Carl Butto taught me things about literature, life, people and myself. I have tried to apply these things in my life and in this film. I gotta go now. See you at The Elk Hotel."

Lee Vogt as BIG JOHN
Lee's been acting in Bay Area independent films for the past four years, now working on his twentieth project. The range of his roles continues to expand, from priests to householders, from the criminally insane to guardian angels. Lee received formal stage training at Boston University and has studied with Jean Shelton, Rob Reese, Billie Shepard, and David Juda. Lee is represented by LOOK TALENT.

Laurie Bushman as DIVA
Ms. Bushman has been entertaining folks in one way or another for a pretty long time now. You may remember her from "The Valencia Rose" where she started out as a lil' baby stand-up comedian. More recently you may have seen her on stage at Trannyshack, Theater Rhinoceros or with her improv group, The Pointless Sisters. Look for her as La Mujer Consulado in the upcoming film, "Solo Dios Sabe", starring Alice Braga and Diego Luna.

Sharon Mahoney as DOLL #1

William Martin as MARKY
Regarding his role in The Elk Hotel, Mr. Martin states, "As for Marky, he is one of my favorite roles I have ever played. I love how he forgets he is covered in track marks and abscesses and continues to move up and down stairways and halls flirting and looking for love and connection, and more heroin."

Brandon W. Nash as MR. HEAD and AUNT PATTY
(aka Nash, Brandy Alexander, Chici Darlin, Surfball) Born in the middle of the previous century, he grew up on a farm in Sunshine, Maryland. He has a serial comedy called "Further Adventures of Chici Darlin" that airs on SF public access cable 29, and is currently working on a performance art series entitled "Seeing Voices."

Mark Henry Samuel as DOCTOR BOB
Mark Henry Samuel studied at the Bennett Theatre Lab under Phil Bennett. Since then he has been in many productions around the San Francisco Bay Area. Recently he has played Pop/Bob in the San Francisco Fringe Festival Production of Corned Beef, JP Morgan in the Silent Sepia short “Tesla” by Eric Lenning, and as the Homicidal Pro Bowler Mack in Josh Hoover’s “Splitting the Difference.” Presently he is very excited in about the collaboration with directors Skye Thorstenson and Daniel Bates in his role as Doctor Bob.

Michael Ehrenberg as AGENT X
Mr. Ehrenberg has been appearing in independent films in the bay area for the last several years, including AFTER THE WINK (2003). One source of Michael's passion for acting comes from the affinity for exploring the complexity of human behavior alone and in relation to others, including his own layered personality. A Texas Native, Michael has lived in the Bay Area for over a decade and is represented by the LOOK TALENT AGENCY.

Edisol W Dotson as AGENT Y
Mr. Dotson has appeared in several film projects, playing roles ranging from Hamlet to Rosenkrantz to a schizophrenic antidepressant addict. As a stage actor he has performed as Reuben and Potiphar in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", the Professor and the Wizard in "The Wizard of Oz," and the title role in "Woyzeck" (the play, not the opera). His other stage credits include Christopher Wren in "The Mousetrap," various character roles in "Auntie Mame", and chorus roles in "Carousel," "Little Me," "Mack & Mabel," "Can Can," and "Patience." His mug is currently running in an international Microsoft ad. He is also a published writer of fiction and nonfiction.

Adam Palermo as HANDSOME MAN
"I went for a walk in the desert last week. Surrounded by mirrors. Reflecting different faces. Fractions. forms. Shamanistic klown. Crowned healer. Diva in smeared lipstick. Crying little boy. Smothered in asphalt. Roasting under the sun. Tears of regret sliding down cheekbones. Laughter painting me pink. I search. I reach inside to uncover. Buried voices. Discarded jewels. I use performance as a vehicle for self discovery. Performance uses me. I am working toward accepting my light. Welcoming serenity into my world of shards. Emotion binds us together. Emotion tears us apart. By embracing this wheel of transformation, I strive to uncover the stillness in my voice."

Alaska Sala as BEAUTIFUL WOMAN

Linda-Ruth Cardozo as ACTRESS 1
Ms. Cardozo recently made her independent film debut as "Terry" in JP Allen's GAMBLING, which is being shown at the Telluride Film Festival. She lives in San Francisco doing commercial, film, video, print and industrial work, and has achieved some notoriety as a Bay Area stage actress. She was recently seen in Rebecca Gilman's dark GLORY OF LIVING (Jeanette) at SF Playhouse, directed by Bill English, and set off sparks portraying Barbara Hutton, Woolworth heiress, as she passed a sultry evening with a young James Dean, in Sue Peters' PIECE OF YOU, directed By Felecial Faulkner. Other companies Linda-Ruth has enjoyed working with are Cutting Ball, Shakespeare at Stinson, Paducah Mining Company, Guerrilla Shakespeare, The Cole Street Players, San Francisco Fringe Festival and various others.

Diane Jourdan as SINGING WOMAN