A political fixer, all around handy man, who knows how to get money for his friends in office and knows how to use cash to fix elections or plant stories.  But, the parade has passed him by and his last hurrah is establishing a foundation so young people learn "the way democracy should really work", his way.  Matty never made many enemies in his life, he is used to getting things done with a smile, a friendly story, and a mutual understanding that when he hands out money his patron in Congress expects loyalty.

The irony of Matty is that for all the years he was handing out cash to help buy or influence elections, he never thought there was anything wrong with this.  He never questioned where the money came from or never accounted for how it got spent.  His only accounting was did his candidate win or lose.   In his prime, he lived a charmed life, because he was viewed as many as close to the center of power not from a decision point of view but as an access point of view.   Matty did not know anything about policy but he knew the ward politicians, the precinct bosses, and the captains.  He knew somebody who knew somebody important in every major city in the country.  But, now in his twilight years, Matty’s skills are not useful in a digital age.  So he sits in an office and waits for the occasional call where somebody from someplace still needs him.   Rather than feel sorry for himself, Matty wakes up every day thinking he is on top of the world and is still playing in the big leagues.

Matty is played by Bill Hurlbut, an experienced actor with credits that include drama, comedy, musicals, and the classics. He is a frequent performer at Silver Spring Stage and received an Excellence in Acting award at this year’s Eastern States Theatre Association one-act festival. Bill has trained in New York City at HB Studios and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater from Miami University and a Master of Arts in theater from Ohio State University.

 A brash, take on the world, we can do anything, who needs experience "consultant" who has an underdeveloped moral compass and an overdeveloped sense of himself.  Willy never knew a job he couldn’t do if the consulting fee was high enough.  He has been in business with Jerry for a couple of years and managed to do a few small consulting jobs but his business has never really grown and he has not joined the ranks of successful consultants.

He has been around long enough to know the right words and how to put them together, but you are not sure if he knows what they mean.  He can not help himself from selling something, his skills and abilities to anyone he meets.   When it comes to presenting his company’s capabilities, he is always on. 

Malcom Stokes is thrilled to make his Eagle Wings Theater Company debut as Willy Hightower in The Marty Matthews Foundation. This is his return to the stage after a three year hiatus focusing on his film career, and his first in the D.C. area. 

Malcom hails from El Paso, Texas and trained in theatre arts and vocal performance at New Mexico State University. He has enjoyed both lead and supporting roles in both stage and film productions. Malcom hopes this to be the first of many productions to be a part of in the DC/Maryland area.

Malcom would like to thank his mom and brother for always supporting him in his career.

A partner with Willy, more reflective, but ultimately willing to follow Willy's lead, even against his own better judgement.  To the extent that the team of Willy and Jerry has a conscience, Jerry is the conscience.  Jerry usually goes along with Willy but often questions his decisions and judgements. 

A little older than Willy with a little more experience, yet he often defers to Willy’s self confidant demeanor.  In one crucial decision, his conscience leads to a break with Willy, and he goes his own way.  But conscience does not pay the rent and Jerry’s second thoughts bring him back to Willy’s ways.

Jerry is played by Adrian Vigil, who studied drama at the Honors Acting Conservatory at the Theatre Lab School of Dramatic Acts.  His credits include playing Bobby in the North of Providence, Little Charles Aiken in August: Osage County, as well as many staged readings. 

A lobbyist "powerbroker" who knows the political game and is willing to  pay to get her client's way. When Margo enters the room, you know it.  She seems to have the genetic ability to determine if she is more important than you and if she is, you listen to her, period.   If she is not, she knows how to make somebody feel very very important.  

Margo knows how to swim with the sharks and survive, she builds a large client base by getting her clients results, whatever it takes.  She is outgoing, charming when she needs to be, and impatient with small talk if it does not suit her needs.

Carol Calhoun joins the cast after playing several roles in community theater with the Rude Mechanicals, the Chevy Chase Players, the Wooster (Ohio) Community Theater, and the Alexandria Parks School Theater in London. 

An old buddy of Matty, in his twilight, relegated to picking up a little cash to set up a little meeting..  When he was big in the political game, everybody who was anybody knew Mikey.  When Mikey called you, you took the call because he would be delivering really good news or really bad news.  You knew that his word  was the word of the political boss who he spoke for. 

Like Matty, Mikey lived high in the good old days when “cash” flowed like water but his time has passed and he is barely scraping by.  At best, with a small fee for service here and there. 

Mike is played by Jack Wassell, a talented actor who has played many different roles in community theater in the DC area.