Joel Hammer* (DR. TOBY SEALY) Mr. Hammer has worked as both an actor and director for Dobama Theatre for the past 25 years. As former Artistic Director, he helped transition the theatre from its space on Coventry Road to its current home here on Lee Road. Most recently at Dobama he appeared as Tommy in THE NIGHT ALIVE, Bob Jones in THE REALISTIC JONESES. In September 2009, Mr. Hammer opened the new theatre space with Eric Coble’s TEN MORE MINUTES FROM CLEVELAND. Mr. Hammer has a BFA from The Ohio State University. He served his theatre apprenticeship at Actors Theatre of Louisville. After a brief stay at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Mr. Hammer moved home to Cleveland where he worked at The Cleveland Play House under the leadership of Richard Oberlin. After directing COYOTE UGLY and FULL HOOK-UP for CPT, Mr. Hammer made his Dobama directorial debut with John Patrick Shanley’s SAVAGE IN LIMBO. Mr. Hammer helped lead the theatre to professional status with its first professional production, SIGHT UNSEEN by Donald Margulies. In 1998, Mr. Hammer directed Dobama’s award-winning production of Tony Kushner’s ANGELS IN AMERICA. As a writer, Mr. Hammer’s play THE KING OF CARPETS was produced by The Jewish Repertory Theatre of New York and his plays EVERY OTHER JUMP and MADE IN AMERICA were produced at Dobama. Mr. Hammer has directed extensively at Dobama and at other local theatres. Some of his favorites include THOM PAIN, THE GOAT or WHO IS SYLVIA?, HUMBLE BOY, MARVIN’S ROOM, ALL MY SONS, A STEADY RAIN, andTHE SUM OF US. He has appeared onstage and has garnered critical acclaim for his performances in THE PILLOWMAN, A NUMBER, BLACKBIRD, EARS ON A BEATLE, CHERRY DOCS, THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD, and THE SEAFARER. Recently at Dobama Mr. Hammer has directed 4000 MILES and THE BIG MEAL as well as written and starred in his world premiere of MADE IN AMERICA. .
*members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States