Callen's Theater Page

Actor, director, playwright, 1974-2007.
Member, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1983-7, 1991-2007
Member, Broom Street Theater Board of Directors, Madison, WI, 1984-7 & 2005-2007
Member, Off-Broadway Theater, Denver, CO, 1988-9
Extra, Father Dowling Murder Mysteries, Denver, CO, 1989
Member, Playwrights Ink, Madison, WI, 1993-4
Member, Peer review panel, Wisconsin Arts Board for Artistic Program Support II grants, Madison, WI, 1994
Founder, Gemini Productions, Madison, WI, 1995
Lyricist on The Wall, used in the playGoodbye, My Brother, Madison, WI 1996
Member, Mercury Players, Madison, WI, 1996-9
Award of Merit from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin for Talking Spirits, 1999
Co-founder, Proud Theater, Madison, WI, 1999
Invited speaker (on writing in general), Dignity, Madison, WI, 1999
Artistic Director, Proud Theater, Madison, WI 1999-2004
Adult Mentor, Proud Theater, Madison, WI 1999-2007
Invited speaker (The Evolution of Gay Theater), Frontiers, Madison, WI, 1999
Group award for Proud Theater as OutReach's Organization of the Year, 2002
Interviewed for City Confidential, 2003
Award from the American Association of State and Local History for Talking Spirits I-IV, 2003
Invited speaker (Talking about Talking Spirits), South Central Chapter of the Wisconsin Genealogical Society, 2003
Invited speaker, (Reconstructing Harry, about my play Radical Harry), Frontiers, Madison, WI, 2005
On committee that put together The Most Beautiful Jew in the World, a retrospective of the life and work of Joel Gersmann; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2005
Artistic Director, Broom Street Theater, 2005-2007
Theater columnist, Our Lives magazine, Madison, WI, 2007

Click on the photos below to view larger images.

Appeared in the following:
Mr. Witherspoon in Arsenic and Old Lace, by Joseph Kesselring; Shullsburg, Wisconsin High School, Shullsburg, WI, 1974
Tweedledum in Alice in Wonderland, by Ann Coulter Martens; Shullsburg, Wisconsin High School, Shullsburg, WI, 1975
Sam Clement and Joachim DeCwell in Might, by Bryn Magnus; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1983
George Patton, et. al., in Bombs Away, Enola Gay, by Joel Gersmann; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1983
Walter A. Child and Nathan Riley in The Mensch Effect, adapted by Anne Biberman; Kanopy Dance Theater, Madison, WI, 1983
Unnamed characters in two untitled videos by Bryn Magnus, Madison, WI, 1983
Simon Peter, et. al., in The Jesus Gang, by Joel Gersmann; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1984
Clara Morrison, et. al., in Light My Fire, by Joel Gersmann; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1984

The program cover for Light My Fire. I'm playing Robbie Krieger in the lower left of the Doors album cover takeoff

Joe Chip in Ubik, by Joel Gersmann; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1984
He in The Loveliest Afternoon of the Year, by John Guarre; UW-Madison, Madison, WI, 1984
Red Cochran, et. al., in Packer Glory, by Tracy Will; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1984
Lt. Belson and Ricco in The Black Albatross, by Mark Peters; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1985
Father, et. al., in Life Rhythms, by Erin Sanders; Underdog Productions, Madison, WI, 1985
Blaise Wacherstyle in Natural Hostages, by Bryn Magnus; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1985
Hickory Blish, et. al., in The Phantom of Shopppko, by Joel Gersmann; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1985
Gayeff in The Cherry Orchard, by Anton Chekov; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1986
Dave Miller in Play with a Tiger, by Doris Lessing; UW-Madison, Madison, WI, 1986
The Old Man in The Chairs, by Eugene Ionesco; UW-Madison, Madison, WI, 1986
Frederick Wolf in The Hangwoman, by Joel Gersmann; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1986
Mr. Brownstein and a doctor in Wings, by Arthur Kopit; UW-Madison, Madison, WI, 1986
Andy in The Wayside Motor Inn, by A. R. Gurney; Strollers Theater, Madison, WI, 1987
Brian in The Shadow Box, by Michael Cristoffer; UW-Madison, Madison, WI, 1987
Sir Richard Ratcliff in Richard III, by William Shakespeare; independent production at St. John's Cathedral, Denver, CO, 1987
MacDuff, et. al., in MacBeth, by William Shakespeare; Second Stage Theater, Denver, CO, 1988
Lomov in A Marriage Proposal, by Anton Chekov; Metro State College Players, Denver, CO, 1988
Bernie Litko in Sexual Perversity in Chicago, by David Mamet; Metro State College Players, Denver, CO, 1988
Harold and a butler in Gorey Stories, adapted by Stephan Curran; Muddy's Off-Broadway Theater, Denver, CO, 1988
John Mackey in Veronica's Room, by Ira Levin; Muddy's Off-Broadway Theater, Denver, CO, 1988
Scooper in Bosoms and Neglect, by John Guarre; Off-Broadway Theater, Denver, CO, 1988
Person in Echoes, by R. Nash; Off-Broadway Theater, Denver, CO, 1989
Drug dealer (extra) and Restaurant patron (extra) in Father Dowling Murder Mysteries for Viacom, Denver, CO, 1989
Col. Dawn (and later Lt. Cutler after another actor became ill) in The White House Murder Case, by Jules Feiffer; Heatley's Teahouse, Denver, CO, 1989
Russ in Gunplays (play two), by Brian Quinette; Changing Scene, Denver, CO, 1989
Mr. M in Gunplays (play three), by Brian Quinette; Changing Scene, Denver, CO, 1989
Gary in Honk!, by Jay Derrah; Changing Scene, Denver, CO, 1989-90
Art Sitcom, et. al., in The Sitcom Family, by Marty Mulhern; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1991
J. R. in Jerker, or the Helping Hand, by Robert Chesley; independent production at Kanopy Dancer Theater, Madison, WI, 1991
Laertes, et. al., in Hamlet: The Mini-Series, Part One, by William Shakespeare; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1992
Laertes, et. al, in Hamlet: The Mini-Series, Part Two, by William Shakespeare; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1992
St. Brendan in Bon Voyage, Brendan, by Marty Mulhern; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI (with two performances at IrishFest, Milwaukee, WI), 1992
Jake Harmon, et. al., in Sexy Priests, by Joel Gersmann; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1993
Buck Mulligan in Buck Mulligan's Revenge, by Marty Mulhern; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1995
Interviewed for a documentary about Broom Street Theater (never produced), by Dan Levin, 1993 & 1995
Dr. Pancoast, et. al., in The Abortionist, by Joel Gersmann; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1995

Me as Dr. Alys Bixby Griff in The Abortionist

The Cat in the Hat in Dr. Suess, I Presume, by John Sable; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1996
Chorus Member in Tap, by John Sable; Mercury Players, Madison, WI 1996
Dad in Meet the Folks, by Buck Hakes; Mercury Players, Madison, WI, 1996
Father Ben Trester in The Savior of the Universe, by Gip Hoppe; Mercury Players, Madison, WI, 1996
Vershinin in The Three Sisters, by Anton Chekov; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1997

Holding a gun in front of fellow actor Joe Wiener in The Three Sisters, an all-male violent version of the classic Chekov tale

God, Satan, et. al., in Tales for the Millennium, by Brian Wild; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1997
Alan Harris in White People, by J. T. Rogers; Mercury Players, Madison, WI, 1997
Rob's Friend (cameo appearance) in Yoshi's Heroes, by Rob Matsushita; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1998
Multiple characters in Miracle Play, by Callen Harty; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1998
Reagan Caine, et. al., in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Dying, by Brian Wild; Broom Street Theater, 1998

Me (seated) as Reagan Caine in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Dying

Boss in Instrument Demo Disk for Nicolet Instruments, Madison, WI, 1998
Multiple characters in Make My Day: The Clint Eastwood Story, by Joel Gersmann; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1998
Abuser in police training video on same-sex domestic violence, Wisconsin Bureau of Training and Standards; Madison, WI, 2000
Au in Sex Kittens from Mars, by Brian Wild; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2000
Treville, et. al., in The Three Musketeers, adapted by Joel Gersmann; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2000
Voiceovers in Tales for a New Millennium, by Brian Wild; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2002
George, et. al., in The Dumb Ass, by Brian Wild; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2002
Leo in 667: The Number of the Neighbor of the Beast, by Brian Wild; Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2005
Michael Resnick in Funnel, by Ethan Mutz; Broom Street Theatter, Madison, WI, 2007.

Directed the following (if no author listed I wrote them):
Natural Hostages, by Bryn Magnus, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1985 (co-directed with Bryn Magnus)
Echoes, by R. Nash, Off-Broadway Theater, Denver, CO, 1989 (assistant director)
Titanic, by Christopher Durang, Off-Broadway Theater, Denver, CO, 1989 (assistant director)
Dream Quest, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1993
The Adventures of Ultrah-Man, Broom Street Theater and Brave Hearts Theater, Madison, WI, 1994
Mystery Play, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1995
The Legend of Pinkbeard: Pirate of Men, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1996
History Giants Theater 3000 (one-act), Mercury Players, Madison, WI, 1996
Muffy the Bitch, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1997
Miracle Play, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1998
Gay Like Me, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1998
Bent, by Martin Sherman, Mercury Players, Madison, WI, 1999
Pictures at an Exhibition, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1999

The poster from Pictures at an Exhibition

Talking Spirits (monologues and one-acts), Forest Hill Cemetery, for Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI, 1999
The Color of Dust, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2000
Talking Spirits II (monologues and one-acts), Forest Hill Cemetery, for Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI, 2000
The Last Thief, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2001
Chemistry, by the youth of Proud Theater, Proud Theater at M.A.G.I.C. Picnic, Madison, WI, 2001
Talking Spirits III (monologues and one-acts), Forest Hill Cemetery, for Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI, 2001
Chemistry, Reaching for You, and The Gauntlet, by the youth of Proud Theater, Proud Theater at Gay-Straight Alliance Lock-In, Middleton, WI, 2001
Count Fagula, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2001
The Gauntlet, by the youth of Proud Theater, Proud Theater at Teens Like Us Talent Show, Madison, WI, 2001
Judge, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2002
A Mural of Us, an evening of performance by the youth of Proud Theater, Proud Theater, Frederic March Play Circle, Madison, WI, 2002

Michael on stage in A Mural of Us, the first year-end performance by Proud Theater

Talking Spirits IV (monologues and one-acts), Forest Hill Cemetery, for Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI, 2002

This is a picture of Marcy Weiland as a Blue Star mother in the fourth year of Talking Spirits, an award-winning annual living history cemetery tour sponsored by the Wisconsin Veterans museum. Marcy is one of the best actors with whom I have ever worked.

Silent Play, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2003
We Can See Queerly Now, an evening of performance by the youth of Proud Theater, Proud Theater, Frederic March Play Circle, Madison, WI, 2003
Talking Spirits V (monologues and one-acts), Forest Hill Cemetery, for Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI, 2003
Bi Bi Miss American Pie, and Queer Is, by the youth of Proud Theater, Proud Theater at Frontiers Men's Group, Madison, WI, 2004
Several narrative pieces by the youth of Proud Theater, Proud Theater at Wisconsin Rainbow Families Spring Conference, Madison, WI, 2004
You Can't Be Gay and Generations, by the youth of Proud Theater, Proud Theater at Madison Senior Center, Madison, WI, 2004
Morality Play, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2004
Talking Spirits VI (monologues and one-acts), Forest Hill Cemetery, for Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI, 2004
Radical Harry, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2005
A Wake, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2006
Debs in Prison, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2007

Wrote the following:

Working on my first play, Dream Quest. The guy with me is the technician, Brian Burke.

Dream Quest, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1993
The Adventures of Ultrah-Man, Broom Street Theater and Brave Hearts Theater, Madison, WI, 1994
Mystery Play, Broom Street Theater, 1995
The Legend of Pinkbeard: Pirate of Men (musical, with music by Brian Wild), Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1996
History Giants Theater 3000 (one-act), Mercury Players, Madison, WI, 1996
Muffy the Bitch, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1997
Miracle Play, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1998
Gay Like Me, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1998
Pictures at an Exhibition, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 1999
Talking Spirits (monologues and one-acts), Forest Hill Cemetery, for Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI, 1999
The Color of Dust, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2000
Talking Spirits II (monologues and one-acts), Forest Hill Cemetery, for Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI, 2000
The Last Thief, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2001
Talking Spirits III (monologues and one-acts), Forest Hill Cemetery, for Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI, 2001
Count Fagula, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2001

My partner Brian as the title character of Count Fagula

Judge, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2002
Talking Spirits IV (monologues and one-acts), Forest Hill Cemetery, for Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI, 2002
Silent Play (written with the cast), Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2003
Talking Spirits V (monologues and one-acts), Forest Hill Cemetery, for Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI, 2003
The Altar Boy, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2004
Morality Play, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2004

The Juventus scene from Morality Play

Talking Spirits VI (monologues and one-acts), Forest Hill Cemetery, for Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI, 2004
Radical Harry, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2005
A Wake, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2006
Debs in Prison, Broom Street Theater, Madison, WI, 2007

Some theatrical resources and links

Broom Street Theater--Madison's experimental theater
MadStage: Theater in (& around) Madison--Complete listings of current & future local productions, and more
playwrights on the web--Links to web pages of playwrights
The Playwriting Seminars--A very thorough and well done on-line seminar for learning about playwriting

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