by Heather B. Rule

This is the first of many Rogue 2015 performer articles we will be posting over the next 2 weeks until Rogue opens. After it opens, you will also find many Rogue show reviews. To learn more about this year’s event check out our Rogue 2015 preview article, and check out our Rogue Performer event page to learn about more of the performers this year.

Getting back into acting after a 15-year absence was nothing like riding a bike. For me it was more like riding your bike off a steep hill after not riding a bike for 15 years in the dark. I performed in the Good Company Players’ production of The Comedy of Errors in the fall of 2014. Forever the overachiever it wasn’t enough to get back to Community Theater, I had to do Shakespeare on top of it. In the beginning of my run I discovered Rogue Festival was gearing up for another year. I had seen a Rogue play four years ago with a friend. The play was a one woman act about the brothels of Nevada. I enjoyed watching the writer-director-actor slip from one charter to another. This inspired me, but I didn’t have the courage just yet to take on Rogue.

Still riding the high of being cast, I created Fallen with the idea that it would be performed at the Rogue Festival 2015. My husband Kevin Rule, who is an assistant coach for the Reedley College women’s basketball team, encouraged me to follow my heart and take the leap.

Heather Rule

It is during that performance of The Comedy of Errors that I met fellow actor, Charles Montoya. He is a local actor making his Rogue Festival debut. He started his theater career at Bullard High School, where he was in numerous productions. Montoya also owns two production companies, Real Stream and Charlie in the Box. Real Stream is a YouTube based production company that can be found on the YouTube channel, RealStreamPlaylist. Charlie in the Box is his production company that is based around events, parties, weddings, quinceaneras, and more.

Charles was the one to step up after my other actors had to abandon Fallen due to scheduling issues. This also meant I would have to step into the spot light as well.

I will be playing Naomi Gingold. She is one of the many young women who work at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Naomi is a young Jewish woman living at home with her family in Manhattan during the industrial age.

Seth Froumkin, played by Charles Montoya, is one of the floor managers who works along side Naomi at the factory. Seth is a Russian immigrant who embraces the American dream of supporting his family, making an honest living and a future for himself.

Fallen is a tale of old romantic courtship based around the tragedy at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory that occurred on March 25, 1911. 146 garment workers lost their lives that day due to a neglectful working environment. Newspaper articles describe the efforts of the workers to save their own lives only to be met with grievous ends. This sweet performance illustrates the days leading up to that catastrophe for one young man and woman.

You can follow the journey of Fallen on Facebook as well as the Rogue Festival’s website, just use #fallenrogue. Also for your consideration check out www.gofundme.com/road2rogueHBR.

Info on performance of Fallen at Rogue:
WHEN
February 27 – March 7, 2015
Performance Dates
Friday, February 27, 9:30pm
Saturday, February 28, 6:30pm
Sunday, March 1, 3:30pm
Thursday, March 5, 9:30pm
Saturday, March 7, 3:30pm

WHERE
Mia Cuppa Caffe’ | 620 E. Olive Ave. Fresno, CA. 93728

TICKETS
$7 | Buy your presale ticket on roguefestival.ticketleap.com/fallen/
Tickets may also be purchased at the door using cash, credit cards, and debit cards (w/credit logo).