Beside Myself

WORLD PREMIERE OF BESIDE MYSELF
BY PAUL SLADE SMITH
OPENS SEASON 44 AT NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE
Written by Paul Slade Smith
Directed by David Ellenstein
September 10 – October 5, 2025

Solana Beach, Calif. -- North Coast Repertory Theatre kicks off Season 44 with the world premiere of the brilliantly inventive comedy BESIDE MYSELF, a witty, surreal exploration of modern anxiety and identity.

Step into a world where modern anxiety meets magical possibility, as a revolutionary medical procedure creates an unexpected double dose of identity crisis. This sparkling new comedy follows two versions of one woman, trapped in a single body, as they wrestle for control with hilarious and profound results.

From Paul Slade Smith, the clever mind behind The Angel Next Door, The Outsider, and Unnecessary Farce, comes a comedic exploration that promises to challenge audiences while keeping them laughing. Smith's signature blend of intelligent humor and theatrical innovation shines in this latest work, offering both entertainment and insight into the complexities of the human psyche.

BESIDE MYSELF is directed by North Coast Rep's Artistic Director David Ellenstein, who brings his acclaimed vision to this exciting world premiere production.

The Cast: Tom Daugherty*, Erin Noel Grennan*, Matthew Henerson*, Jacquelyn Ritz*, Alanna J. Smith*, and Christopher M. Williams*. Creative: Marty Burnett (Scenic Design), Matt Novotny (Light Design), Alina Bokovikova (Costume Design), Aaron Rumley (Sound Design), Michael Wogulis (Props Design) and Peter Herman (Hair & Wig Design). Shannon Humiston* will Stage Manage and Victoria Hua is Production Assistant.

*The actor or stage manager appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.

BESIDE MYSELF previews begin on Wednesday, September 10. Opening Night is set for September 13 at 8 pm. The play runs through Sunday, October 5, with performances on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 pm and Sundays at 7 pm. A talkback session with the director and cast is scheduled for Sept 19th.

BIOS:

PAUL SLADE SMITH (Playwright) is the author of four plays. The Angel Next Door, which had its world premiere at North Coast Rep in 2023, has since been published by Dramatists Play Service and received eighteen productions and counting. His plays The Outsider and Unnecessary Farce have also appeared on this stage. He’s beside himself to have Beside Myself join them. As an actor, Paul recently appeared in the title role of The Remarkable Mr. Holmes at Laguna Playhouse. His acting credits include the original Broadway casts of Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the Lincoln Center revival of My Fair Lady. Following its Broadway run, Paul starred as Willy Wonka in the Australian premiere of Charlie... With each play, Paul is increasingly indebted to the insights and contributions of his insanely talented wife, Erin Noel Grennan. Endless thanks to North Coast Rep, especially David, and to this patient and generous cast.

DAVID ELLENSTEIN (Director) Born into a theatrical family; David has worked in theatres across the country. He currently serves as Artistic Director of North Coast Rep and the Artistic Director of Laguna Playhouse. A veteran of over 250 theatrical productions, other theatres include: Coconut Grove Playhouse, Papermill Playhouse, Portland Stage. Renaissance Theatre, Actor’s Theatre of Phoenix, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Laguna Playhouse, Southwest Shakespeare Company, AJTC, Meadow Brook Theatre, Portland Rep and Gaslamp Quarter Theatre. Winner of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award for “2018 Director of the Year Award.”

THOMAS EDWARD DAUGHERTY* (Colin & others) is thrilled to return to North Coast Rep in a second Paul Slade Smith world premiere after appearing in The Angel Next Door here and at Laguna Playhouse.  Other San Diego Theatre: Quinn Carney in The Ferryman at New Village Arts Theatre. Other theatre: National Tours (Ragtime, Showboat); Kennedy Center (Bounce); Goodman Theatre (All’s Well That Ends Well, Bounce); Chicago Shakespeare (As You Like It, The Winter’s Tale, Troilus & Cressida); Drury Lane Oakbrook (1776, The Foreigner, A Chorus Line, Big); Marriott Lincolnshire (Houdini, the Musical); Apple Tree Theatre (Old Wicked Songs, The Dying Gaul); New American Theatre (Picasso at the Lapin Agile); Montana’s Shakespeare in the Parks (Macbeth, The Country Wife). Training: BFA Musical Theatre, University of Michigan--Go Blue!  Tom’s day-job:  Employment law attorney at Klinedinst PC. Much love and many thanks to Jacquelyn Ritz, Nick, Zach, and Caroline for making this possible.

MATTHEW HENERSON* (Karl and others) At North Coast Rep: Theo in The Underpants. In San Diego: Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof for SD Musical Theatre; Goldberg in Birthday Party and Fluellen in Henry V for New Fortune; Zimmer in Brooklyn Boy, the Prosecutor in Romance, Albany in King Lear and Horatio in Hamlet for the San Diego Rep; and The Carpenter in Good Person of Szechwan for the La Jolla Playhouse. Regional work includes the Ahmanson, American Conservatory Theatre, American Shakespeare Center, A Noise Within, Deaf West, Ensemble Theatre, Independent Shakespeare, the Mark Taper Forum, Northern Stage, San Jose Repertory, South Coast Repertory, and Shakespeare Festivals in Arizona, Colorado, Marin, San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Utah. Film: “A Christmas Carol,” “Mars Needs Moms,” and “Jungle Book” for Disney. Television: “The Bernie Mac Show,” “Hung,” “The Fosters,” “One Day at a Time, and recurring as Special Agent Carl Laughlin on “NCIS: Origins.”

ERIN NOEL GRENNAN* (Gemma) happily returns to North Coast Repertory after appearing in The Angel Next Door and Incident At Our Lady… Regional: Theatre People at Westport Playhouse (Connecticut Critics Circle award), The Outsider at Paper Mill Playhouse (Broadway World award); Reckless at Cincinnati Playhouse; Unnecessary Farce, Wit at Boarshead Theatre; Timon of Athens at Chicago Shakespeare; A Moon for the Misbegotten (Jeff award nom), Blithe Spirit, Taming of the Shrew at First Folio; A Christmas Carol at Geva; A Flea in Her Ear, The Foreigner, The Man Who Came To Dinner at Drury Lane; Noises Off at Totem Playhouse; Making God Laugh, Miracle On South Division at TATC; King O’ The Moon at Mercury; eight seasons with Peninsula Players, two seasons with Gaiety Theatre, Ireland. TV/Film: “The Other Two,” “Dr. Death,” “Bull,” “Law & Order,” “SVU,” “Blue Bloods,” “FBI,” “Chicago Med,” “Chicago Fire,” the upcoming film, “Thoughts & Prayers", and umpteen commercials. For the tall guy, always. erinnoelgrennan.com.

JACQUELYN RITZ* (Dr. Thatcher and others) Is delighted to return to North Coast Repertory where she last appeared as the title character in Annabella in July.  Other NCR credits include Bloomsday, How the Other Half Loves, Chapter Two, and Fallen Angels, among others.  This spring she played Clytemnestra in Diversionary Theatre's Merry Me.  Other local regional credits include The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, a 2024 Craig Noel nominee for Outstanding New Musical (Lamb’s Players) and the Baroness in La Jolla Playhouse’s Lempicka directed by Rachel Chavkin.  Regionally she has performed at the Kennedy Center in Stephen Sondheim’s Bounce (directed by Harold Prince), the Goodman Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Northlight Theatre and many others.  She is the voice of Madame Blueberry (and others) in VeggieTales. AEA and SAG/AFTRA.  More info at www.JacquelynRitz.com

ALANNA J. SMITH* (Sylvie and others) is thrilled to return to Southern California after her performance as Hodel opposite Jason Alexander in Fiddler On The Roof (La Mirada). TV/Film appearances include “Love Afloat” (Amazon), “Chang Can Dunk” (Disney+), “FBI: Most Wanted” (CBS), “Power Book II: Ghost” (Starz). Select theatre credits include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Young Frankenstein, Noises Off, The Importance of Being Earnest (Walnut Street), A Comedy of Tenors, Smoke & Mirrors (FST). www.alannajsmith.me @alannajsmith

CHRISTOPHER M. WILLIAMS* (Jerry and others) is a union actor and stage manager, director, producer, fight choreographer, designer, and instructor. Over the past twenty years, he has directed, stage managed or performed in nearly forty productions at North Coast Repertory Theatre. He spent time as Associate Artistic Director and Casting Director of NCRT following his duties as founding Artistic Director of Oceanside Theatre Company. Select credits include playing Nathan Rothschild in the original cast of the Off-Broadway production of Rothschild & Sons, opposite Robert Cuccioli; Hamlet On Trial with comedy legend Billy Connolly (Theatre League); The Drawer Boy and A Moon for the Misbegotten (AZ Theatre Company); Noises Off (Idaho Shakespeare Festival); Angels In America: Part I & II, Noises Off and Lobby Hero (Actors Theatre); Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oliver!, West Side Story, A Funny Thing…Forum (Southwest Shakespeare Company). Christopher served as producer, casting director, on-set acting coach, and post-art coordinator for the WWII feature “Walking With the Enemy,” starring Sir Ben Kingsley and Jonas Armstrong.

SHANNON HUMISTON* (Stage Manager) is excited to be making her North Coast Rep debut with Beside Myself. She is a Kansas City native who now calls San Diego home. Select credits include Merry Me, Head Over Heels, Eighty-Sixed (Diversionary Theatre), Stroll Thru Shushan (San Diego REP), The Garden (La Jolla Playhouse), Hairspray (Kansas City Starlight Theatre), King Lear (Saratoga Shakespeare Company), and Avenue Q (Nebraska Repertory Theatre). When she is not at the theatre, she can be found working with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance as an entertainment manager for their many seasonal and special events. She would like to thank her parents, brother, her partner, and the Frentrops for all their support and always encouraging her to chase her dreams.