Restless Beat Trailer & Cast
Restless Beat is a story of rivalry and relationships. A story of old versus new, of learning how to let the past go so you can embrace the possibilities in your future.
It’s a story about drum players and how they use the drums to find courage within themselves to overcome challenges in their past (and present).
Dialogue is interspersed with songs that communicate emotion – hope, anguish, shame, and so on. In Restless Beat, these emotions are communicated using large drums (taiko drums) – and, of course, the movement of the body.
The energy of the drums is raw and powerful, and I wanted to harness that – along with dramatic movement – to communicate emotion and tell a story.
Restless Beat is the story…
We need your help! See how you can be part of “Restless Beat” RIGHT NOW (click here)!
Come and see us at the Fringe Festival!
Saturday 8/6/2016 5:30 PM
Sunday 8/7/2016 8:30 PM
Monday 8/8/2016 10:00 PM
Friday 8/12/2016 5:30 PM
Saturday 8/13/2016 7:00 PM
CAST & CREW
Christopher Hager (Grant) is new to the Minneapolis area with “Restless Beat” being his first Fringe Festival production. He began acting in Mason City, Iowa and moved to New York where he studied at the Acting Studio. After being featured in A Sketch About New York, the SyFy network’s show The Internet Ruined My Life, and the film Hello Again, he returned to the Midwest to continue acting and be closer to loved ones. Growing up he was active in music performing in Jazz ensembles and area bands playing guitar, saxophone, piano, percussion and vocals. His enthusiasm for music continues in “Restless Beat,” allowing him to combine his passions in life.
Brynn Berryhill (Maya) graduated from Bethel University with a B.A. in Elementary Education and a minor in Theatre. Since her discovery of theatre at age 10, she has done many childrens’ theatre productions and has been a core member of the drama ministry at Roseville Covenant Church. Her hobbies outside of theatre are quite eclectic, including many different styles of dance (swing,tap, Vietnamese lion, Armenian, etc), crafting, guitar playing, singing, parkour, and skill toys (poi, juggling, etc). IN her ‘day job’ she is a non-traditional school teacher, working at charter schools and specializing in arts and gaming. She has enjoyed taiko drumming immensely and hopes you enjoy the show!
Restless Beat will be Sam Aanestad’s (Dietrich) 22nd production. Recent credits include a major supporting role as Steve in Cabin Fever; Clifford Anderson in Deathtrap; and Antipholus of Syracuse in A Comedy of Errors. Sam has also performed in the Minnesota Renaissance Festival with the improvisational commedia dell’arte troupe I’Arroganti. He is a Theatre Arts graduate from the University of Northern Colorado, and is glad to be a resident here in Minnesota since December of 2014. He enjoys practicing varieties of dance such as Ballroom and Jazz, hiking and of course playing drums (of all kinds).
Kezia Germ (Allie) is excited to be participating in her fourth Fringe Festival! Kezia was most recently seen in The Thermos Bottle by Ghoulish Delights in the 2015 Twin Cities Horror Festival, and as Maria McCormack in The Sound of Footloose with Snickt! Bamf! Thwip! at last year’s Fringe Festival. Kezia spends her summers working as an instructor at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater’s Kidstar Musical Theater Camp for children ages 5 through 7, and hopes to someday teach drama to children. She just completed her freshman year at the University of Minnesota Twin-Cities, where she studies Theater Arts.
Benjamin Mayo (Charlie & Taro) is an aspiring artist and musician. Growing up in southern Minnesota, Ben was involved in theater, choir, and speech. He is a self-taught musician playing instruments including the guitar, ukulele and mandolin. Ben has performed in various productions in high school and children’s theaters. He is very excited to take a part in this production because it gives him a chance to get back into acting – not to mention another instrument to learn!
Brett Diethert (Director of Music) came to the planet with a full compliment of emotional and energetic expressions. After completing his Master’s degree in Human Development, he became an instructor in the Martial Arts, studied the art of story-telling with the followers of Joseph Campbell, then went on to teach himself guitar. Expanding his expressive arena, he studied Taiko (Japanese drumming) with a local group and eventually landed on Sado Island, Japan, where he practiced with the apprentices to the group Kodo, learning many traditional Taiko rhythms. He is the author of several percussion pieces, and has experienced the thrill of his songs from center stage. He seems to have a gift for finding the right people in his life at just the right time.
Tracey Cramer-Kelly (Writer, Director & Producer) has published six romance novels/novellas (three of which are Indie Award finalists) and one audio book. Her writing draws from her experience as an Army Reserve paramedic and exposure to helicopter medevac (she obtained her helicopter pilot license in 2001). Her work increasingly fuses story, music and video/drama. She has released her own musical cover arrangements and produced several music videos, playing multiple roles including director, actor and video editor. She is an avid motorcyclist and owns a motorcycle accessories business (Leader Motorcycle Accessories). Her hobbies include music, Taiko drumming and outdoor activities of all kinds. She lives in small-town Minnesota with her husband and two young children.
