A comedic audio drama about found families, role-playing games, dungeons, and (occasionally) dragons.
The Ordinary Epic is a professionally acted, lushly sound designed, and gorgeously orchestrated tale of reluctant fantasy heroes (and the people who play them). A 2020 BBC Audio Drama Awards finalist for "Best Podcast or Online Audio Drama," the AV Club called The Ordinary Epic "one of the cheeriest debuts of spring," with "a sweeping soundscape and beautiful musical design." Listen to the entire first season on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy podcasts.
CHARACTERS
Athena/Others
Voiced by Caitlin Gjerdrum
Working from home, and living alone, ATHENA sometimes feels like an ancillary character in her own life, but as the Game Master and creator of this fantasy world, she is everywhere, and a part of everything.
Daniel/Merrick
Voiced by Michael Hisamoto
The youngest member of this group, DANIEL is shy to a fault and afraid to advocate for what he wants. It is only in playing MERRICK, a half-elven ne’er-do-well and con man, that he feels socially capable and free to explore certain stifled aspects of himself.
Dominic/Caelus
Voiced by Eliott Purcell
High intelligence, low charisma: DOMINIC is the group's unofficial rules lawyer, and they have chosen to love him despite this. He plays CAELUS, an elven wizard whose vast knowledge is a powerful asset.
Emo/Thack
Voiced by Rachel Belleman
Impassioned and sometimes a little mercurial, EMO is always happy to opine on almost anything at all. Though she is always heard, Emo is not always taken seriously, which is not a problem shared by her character THACK, a formidable half-orc barbarian.
Marcus/Benedict
Voiced by Brandon G. Green
The group's most recent addition, MARCUS is easy going and rolls with the punches, though he sometimes tends to overcommit himself. In the game, he plays BENEDICT, a naïve healer who is eager to learn about a strange but fascinating world that is entirely new to him.
CAST
Rachel Belleman
Emo/Thack
Rachel Belleman is thrilled to be a part of The Ordinary Epic! Outside of the DnD multiverse, she a New York-based singer and actor. Boston credits: Twelfth Night (Lyric Stage/Actors' Shakespeare Project), 1776 (New Repertory Theatre), Broadway Jukebox (Brown Box Theatre Project), Stuart Little (Wheelock Family Theatre), Antigone (Flat Earth Theatre), Exit the King (Actors' Shakespeare Project), Bridges of Madison County (SpeakEasy Stage), Finish Line (Boston Theatre Company), Love's Labour's Lost (Commonwealth Shakespeare Co), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (CSC2). She holds a BA in Musical Theatre from James Madison University, and would like to thank this team of artists for their continued collaboration. rachelbelleman.com
Caitlin Gjerdrum
Athena/Others
Caitlin Gjerdrum is a California-grown, Boston-based actor specializing in new works. She has workshopped many a new musical with the likes of Charles Randolph Wright, Nona Hendryx, Peter Eldridge, and members of The New Opera & Musical Theatre Initiative. She teaches musical theatre writing & performance in the Berklee Musical Theatre Summer Intensive, and, as a performer, tends to focus on projects that are political, visceral, independent, and absurd(ist) (ish?) in nature. Thanks for supporting The Ordinary Epic on this anything-but-ordinary journey!
Brandon G. Green
Marcus/Benedict
Brandon G. Green is a creative and educator from Selma, AL, currently residing in Boston, MA. Recent credits include The Scottsboro Boys with SpeakEasy Stage (IRNE Winner/Elliot Norton Nom - Best Ensemble), Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play (Lyric Stage), and An Octoroon (Company One/Arts Emerson) for which he was the recipient of the 2016 Eliot Norton Award for Best Actor. Other area credits include work with 3050 Music Group, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Brand New Classic, Huntington Theatre Company, Nora/Underground Railway, and Cape Rep Theatre. When not performing, Brandon teaches the Suzuki Method of Actor Training at Brandeis University and is a teaching artist with Daniel Beaty's IDream Project. He can be seen this summer playing Benvolio in Commonwealth Shakespeare's production of Romeo & Juliet. Brandon is beyond grateful for, and to be a part of, The Ordinary Epic team.
Michael Hisamoto
Daniel/Merrick
Michael Hisamoto is a Boston-based actor, playwright, educator, and director. Recent acting credits include Stage Kiss, Fast Company, Hold These Truths, Virginia Woolf’s Orlando (Lyric Stage), Charlotte’s Web (Wheelock Family Theatre), Yellow Face (The Office of War Information), The Ordinary Epic (Crose to Home Productions), and The Important Thing About Earthquakes (Watertown Children’s Theatre). Upcoming productions: King of Shadows (Flat Earth Theatre), Pacific Overtures (Lyric Stage). A strong proponent of new work, Michael has developed and workshopped over 50 new plays for companies like The Huntington Theatre Company, The Williamstown Theatre Festival, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, HowlRound, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, CompanyOne, SpeakEasy Stage, Plays in Place, Rhombus Writers Collective, Lesley, MIT, Harvard, Fresh Ink Theatre Company, Boston University, and more. In addition to his acting work, Michael was a Playwriting Resident at the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival, and has directed or assisted on numerous productions across Boston, and briefly led a children’s theatre troupe in Southern California, where he was also recognized for his work as a youth in the theatre by the California State Assembly and Senate. Michael believes in educating the next generation of artists, teaching and having taught at multiple institutions, and happily offers career consultation free of charge to young artists of color. Michael is a graduate of The Orange County School of the Arts and Boston University. michaelhisamoto.com
Eliott Purcell
Dominic/Caelus
Eliott Purcell is delighted to be a part of the campaign! Recent credits: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (IRNE Nom Outstanding Actor); Hand to God (Elliot Norton Nom Outstanding Actor); appropriate (SpeakEasy Stage Company); Our Town (Huntington Theatre Company); Old Money, King Lear, Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Romeo and Juliet (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company); Laura and Meet Me in St. Louis (Greater Boston Stage Company); A Measure of Normalcy (Gloucester Stage); and The Weird (Off the Grid). NYC credit: Jews on First (Piece of Tish Productions). Upcoming: Helen (Newton Theatre Company).
CREW
Brandon M. Crose
Creator & Writer
Brandon M. Crose is a playwright, nonfiction author, and audio dramatist. His short, usually comedic theatrical works have appeared at various theatre festivals all over the world, and he cut his teeth writing for audio on the Second Shift Podcast, where he first worked with Technical Producer Brad Smith and Composer (Eps 1-5) Tiven Weinstock. A million vibrant thanks to the entire cast and crew of The Ordinary Epic, without whom this passion project never would have seen the light of day. brandoncrose.com | Twitter: @brandoncrose
Jordan Stillman
Executive Producer
Jordan Stillman is a Boston-based writer, editor, and producer. She's a co-organizer of the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo, founding member of the Robot Camp comics collective, and enjoys hot cups of tea, cats, and singing loudly. jordanstillman.com
Brad Smith
Technical Producer
Brad Smith is an actor, voice actor, musician, and IRNE and My Theater Award nominated sound designer. He is delighted to be working with Brandon Crose again, having first collaborated way back in 2006 on Second Shift, where he played Jareth and did sound design and post-production. In real life he talks to computers and changes diapers. Occasionally, he sleeps.
Matthew Lightbound
Sound Designer
Matt is a Sound Designer in the video game industry, currently working at Deep Silver Dambuster Studios and previously at Frontier Developments working on titles such as Planet Coaster and Jurassic World Evolution, with previous experience on other geek-slanted audio dramas for the Malifaux podcast The Aethervox. He is also no stranger to busting out the D20s with a long-running dwarf D&D character that can only speak to rocks. When away from his microphones and sample libraries he's often found flying tiny spaceships in the tabletop game X-Wing. mattlightbound.com
Stephanie LeBolt
Director
Stephanie LeBolt is a director, choreographer, producer, and artist administrator based in Chicago, IL. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Directing at DePaul University. Recent credits include Martha's (b)Rainstorm (Fresh Ink Theatre/Boston Public Library), Franklin (Boston Playwrights' Theatre), Melancholy Play: A Chamber Musical (Umbrella Center for the Arts), La Llorona and That Time the House Burned Down (Fresh Ink Theatre). Other local credits include work with the Huntington Theatre Company, Stoneham Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, Bad Habit Productions, Solas Nua in Boston, the Boston Theatre Marathon, and the One Minute Play Festival. She is a recipient of the Mayor's Opportunity Fund award and a graduate of the University of Virginia.
Tiven Weinstock
Composer (Episodes 1-5)
Tiven Weinstock is thrilled to be scoring The Ordinary Epic, having previously worked with Brandon on the Second Shift Podcast. He has been composing and producing original concert and film music for over 20 years. When not composing, Tiven can be found chasing his two daughters or helping colleges and hospitals improve their digital presence.
Bradley Jordan
Composer (Episode 6) & Music Editor
Bradley Jordan is a film, television, and game music composer based in Chichester, U.K. He has been writing diverse and professional scores for a wide range of applications for 6 years, working alongside award-winning composer Guy Michelmore. Through his work for Guy, Bradley has worked for companies such as Marvel, Dreamworks, DQ Entertainment, and many more. Most recently working on Robozuna, an animated children’s TV show for ITV and Netflix. In his spare time he likes to play video games, perform in his function band, and play D&D with his friends. bradleyjordancomposer.com
Hailey Thurrott
Graphic Artist
Hailey Thurrott is an illustrator and comics artist currently based in Connecticut. She enjoys creating rich and expressive digital paintings and stories with elements of the supernatural, tournament arcs and the undying power of friendship and love. If she's not working on art, you can usually find her flipping through botanical books or grinding to fight a boss. haileythurrott.com | Twitter: @ROBOGART
Sangjun Lee
Visual Designer
Sangjun Lee is a designer and photographer based in Boston, MA. He enjoys creating thoughtful visual experiences surrounding the stories that color our lives. In his free time, he likes to play video games, watch the NBA, and antagonize his cat. Instagram: @thesangjunlee