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Active Staff
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Nathaniel Shaw, Artistic Director Nathaniel Shaw is the founder and Artistic Director of The Active Theater. For the company he has Directed the World Premiere of Bridgeboy, and the MITF Nominated World Premiere of Body Language. Under his leadership the company has collaborated with artists such as Tony Nominees Marcia Milgrom Dodge and Xanthe Elbrick, Jeremy Dobrish, Christian Campbell, Michael McGlone, Samantha Buck, and Marc Robin. Active has produced in collaboration with Greg Schaffert, Craig Haffner, and Karl Held, and will be working in the fall of 2011 with Bud Martin. His regional credits include the Direction of Hair at the Mount Washington Valley Theater Company, which garnered 13 NHTA Nominations, including Best Direction and Best Choreography. Also for Mount Washington he Directed and Choreographed Hairspray and DamnYankees, and Directed A Chorus Line. His choreography has been seen at the Broadway Palm Theater in Mesa, Arizona in Fiddler on the Roof and Babes in Toyland, as well as in the film Perception by Daedalus Productions. This fall he will be the Associate Director of the Off-Broadway comedy Any Given Monday at 59E59. In early 2012, Nathaniel will be Directing the first NYC revival of Richard Greenbeg's The Violet Hour for The Active Theater. Visit www.NathanielShaw.net for more. |
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John Simmons, Executive Director |
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Sarah Shahinian, Associate Artistic Director
Sarah is thrilled to be a part of the exciting new company! Credits include Les Misérables (Eponine - Houston TUTS), Little Women ("Jo" - Syracuse Stage), OKLAHOMA! (“Ado Annie” – Revival National Tour & Fulton Opera House), Picnic at Hanging Rock (Lincoln Center & The O’Neill Theater Center), Married Alive! and Magnetic North (Act 2 Playhouse), Oedipus at Colonus (Handcart Ensemble), Stephen Schwartz’s Snapshots (“Susie”). TV: Guiding Light (CBS), The Band (NYTVF). As a director, Sarah has assisted Bud Martin, Gabriel Barre, and Scott C. Embler on several projects in NYC and Philadelaphia. In 2005, Sarah started her own website design company, Saranya Designs, which includes this very website! She is also an animal lover and NYU Tisch graduate. www.sarahshahinian.com. |
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Virginia Logan, Director of Development/Front of House Virginia Logan is really excited to be a part of the Active Theater family! Originally from Arizona, she completed her MFA in Acting and Movement at The Ohio State University last spring before moving to this strange and wonderful city. She has studied with Marshall W. Mason (Acting), Victoria Holloway (Directing), Jeanine Thompson (Laban and Mime), John Giffin (Creating New Work), and Anne Bogart and the SITI Company (Suzuki, Viewpoints, Composition). Here in New York, she has been seen as Olga in Chekhov’s The Three Sisters and as a dancer in Look Away, an original piece based on the life of Franz Kafka, both at Columbia University. Other roles she has enjoyed the heck out of include Andromache in Charles Mee’s Trojan Women 2.0, Karen Wright in The Children’s Hour, and Her in her one-woman show Shafted: Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Other Love Stories. www.virginialogan.weebly.com |
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Ben Bartolone, Company Manager/Secretary |
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Rhyn McLemore, Director of Publicity & Special Events Rhyn McLemore is thrilled to be joining such an incredible group of artists. She was recently seen as Bell in the Active Theater's premiere of Bridgeboy. NY credits: The Last Scene (NY Public), Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible, and the title role in the NY revival of Violet, the musical (both at The Gallery Players). Favorite regional credits include: A Streetcar Named Desire (Stella) and Our Town (Emily) - WV Public; The Crucible (Abigail) and The Comedy of Errors - NC Shakespeare Festival; Ragtime (Mother) and Hair (Jeanie) - Weathervane Theater; Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Belle) and Grease (Rizzo) - Beef and Boards; and The Fantasticks (Luisa) - The Spoleto Festival. Rhyn is a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. |
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David Tracy, Director of Marketing David Tracy most recently starred in the Workshop of Vamped!, a new musical for Left Hip Productions. He appeared in the Philadelphia Fringe/Live Arts Festival production of Getting Your Life and has been seen in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Music of the Night touring Germany, Italy, and Austria (performing at the famed Vienna Opera House). He has appeared in Sweeney Todd, The Music Man, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Puck), The Judas Kiss (Robbie), Evita (Magaldi), The Velveteen Rabbit (The Little Boy), She Loves Me (Kodaly), The Rocky Horror Show (Frank N. Furter) and spent two seasons with The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival appearing in Richard III, Twelfth Night, Winnie the Pooh, and The Festival Greenshow. David graduated from DeSales University with a B.A. in Theater and a minor in Marketing. His thrilled to be a part of The Active Theater and put both of these skill sets to use with such an amazing team of artists! Visit him at DavidTracy.net |
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Diamando Stratakos, Director of Artist Development Diamando Stratakos is an actor, director, writer, producer, and teacher. Prior to joining the Active Theater team, she was Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Left Hip Productions. With Left Hip Productions, she was responsible for the production of over 150 ten-minute plays involving over 700 NYC artists. She is excited to use this experience to help expand the Artist Development within The Active Theater. Diamando received her BFA in Acting from Syracuse University, and has subsequently studied at T. Schreiber Studio and Primary Stages. She has worked with The Kitchen Theater and The Hangar Theater (both in Ithaca, NY), The Syracuse Stage (Syracuse, NY), Theatro Argo (Athens, Greece), as well as all over NYC. |
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David Ojala, Technical Director David Ojala is very excited to be on the front lines during the start up of the Active Theatre Company acting as technical director. Emigrating to New York from sunny Arizona; David trained as an actor at Arizona State University with Marshall W. Mason and was active with the Prism Theatre company serving as technical Director for three years. Most recently he was seen as Joey in Florida Studio Theatre's The Lieutenent of Inishmore, and Favorite roles include Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Buff in Suburbia, Steve in The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told. Thanks to all who have made this dream a reality. |
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Raissa Dorff, Advisory Staff
Raissa Dorff is thrilled to be a founding member and the Associate Artistic Director for The Active Theater Company. Raissa received her Bachelor’s Degree in Voice with a concentration in Acting at The Catholic University of America. NYC credits include Martha in La Voix Humaine at Wings Theater and Mary in Serenading Louie at the Stella Adler Blackbox Theater. Others: Agnes Gooch in the National Tour of MAME with Morgan Brittany, lead singer and the Actress in Enter the Guardsman on board the QE11, lead singer in IN THE MOOD LIVE ( National Tour), Christine (Phantom) and Amalia (She Loves Me). Raissa has taught acting and dramatic song interpretation for five years at the Washington Opera Institute for Young Singers and has taught acting and public speaking privately and on board the QE11. Favorite accomplishment? Dining with the (then) “soon to be” President of the United States!! (youtube – LunchWithBarack) |
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Heather Lee Harper, Advisory Staff Heather Lee Harper is humbled and elated to bring The Active Theater to life. Favorite Regional credits: Dial M for Murder (Margot), The Tempest (Miranda), Sexual Perversity in Chicago (Deborah), Tomas and the Library Lady (Library Lady), A Clockwork Orange (Ensemble of 10), and Wait Until Dark (Susy). Here in NYC, Ms. Harper has had the pleasure of working with End Times Productions and Blue Roses Productions. A graduate from Arizona State University (BA Theatre Arts) where she studied under Marshall W. Mason and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Hollywood, Ms. Harper is a proud member of the EMC Program. |
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Craig Napoliello, Advisory Staff New York Scenic Design Credits (selected): Bridgeboy, Two Rooms & Romance Romance, The Active Theatre, Interchagne, Intellectuals and “Central Park West Visitor”, WorkShop Theatre Company, Barrier Island. Arpeggio, and Providence MTWorks, Sexual Heling, Rattapallax Productions, My Expatriate, Manhattan Theatre Source, The Lodger, Flower Production, The Germans In Paris, Verse Theater Manhattan,. Associate Scenic Designer credits Return of the Prodigal, Mint Theater Company, I-Land, Ma-Yi Theater Company. MFA from the University of Iowa. www.napoliellodesign.com |
Board Members
Gareth Lake (president) Gareth lives and works in Manhattan, but originally hails from the UK. He has lived in London, Tokyo and New York as his financial career has taken him around the world. He is an Investment Banker for Citi where he helps to originate US and International business for the capital markets team. He has a first class degree in History from Cambridge University. Although the last drama that he participated in was at college, he retains a strong interest in watching and supporting the Arts. |
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Daniel Jablonski Dan Jablonski resides in Southampton after 5 years of urban life in Manhattan. After obtaining a Computer Science degree from Emory University in Atlanta, GA Dan spent over a decade in highly entrepreneurial environments in the IT Services space. It is that same "startup" nature of The Active Theater company which prompted him to sign on as a member of the board. Dan carries a strong belief in helping those with creative minds generate success inside of the organizations they create. |
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Rashad V. Chambers Rashad V. Chambers is the Founder and President of Esquire Entertainment. Rashad manages a diverse roster of artists who currently work in theatre, television, and film. As a producer, Mr. Chambers served as the executive producer for True to the Heart, an independent romantic comedy, which won four awards at the Long Island International Film Expo. In addition, his short film, Click, was an official selection at the Hollywood Black Film Festival and the Pan African Film Festival. Finally, he is currently developing a new musical, The Concubine, with Saheem Ali and Jonathan Batiste. Rashad attended Morehouse College where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. Mr. Chambers also earned his JD and MBA degrees from The Ohio State University. |
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James Long James Long is the President of LongProjects, LLC. Among his many client collaborations, Mr. Long serves as the Executive Producer for U.S. News & World Report’s series of public-policy debates with senior White House officials, members of Congress and leading experts. Mr. Long brings more than twenty years experience in marketing, communications, and brand management for some of the nation’s foremost corporations, publishers and arts institutions, including executive positions at Weider Publications, The Atlantic Monthly, and Esquire Magazine’s video and press division. His experience also includes production stage management for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington, D.C. A native of Pulaski, Tennessee, Mr. Long graduated cum laude from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he was an early member of the university’s resident professional theater, The Clarence Brown Company, with more than thirty productions to his credit. |
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Tony Powe Tony is no stranger to the entertainment industry - his stage though is in the world of hospitality. His portfolio includes Alias Restaurant, Barramundi Bar and the new cocktail lounge and speakeasy 2nd Floor On Clinton - all on the LES in NY. In addition to "directing" in these places he's also launching a web-based neighborhood loyalty card, the Zipcard, and part-owns a prehistoric cave in the UK which, amongst other things, is becoming known for its annual Shakespeare productions. |
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Active Collaborators
Directors
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Jeremy Dobrish, director RECENT OFF BROADWAY: SIGNS OF LIFE (Amas), JUDAS AND ME (NYMF), SPAIN (MCC), ELECTION DAY (Second Stage). REGIONAL: Barrington Stage, Goodspeed, Hangar, North Shore, NY Stage and Film, Old Globe, O’Neill, Village. Jeremy is the Co-Artistic Director of Midtown Direct Rep, has served as an Artistic Associate at Second Stage, and was the Artistic Director of adobe theatre company for 13 years. He lives in Maplewood with his wife Beth and daughters Clea and Quinn. www.jeremydobrish.com |
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Glory Kadigan, director Ms. Kadigan has served as the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity's Executive Director for two seasons. She is an alum of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, The Labyrinth Theater Company's Master Class, and is an associate member of the SSDC. She has been the recipient of the Meritorious Achievement Award in Direction from the Kennedy Center A.C.T.F. Among her directing credits are: Always Family (The Kirk Theatre at Theatre Row), The Picture of Dorian Gray (Robert Moss Theatre), Two Rooms (Active Theatre Company at The Workshop Theatre), North of Providence (Altered Stages), Serenading Louie (Stella Adler Black Box) Anomal (ATA-Off Broadway), Avalon (Looking Glass Theatre), The Tempest, Measure For Measure, The Snow Queen, Foursome (HERE), Evening with Family (The Brick), Jack or the Submission, Golem Stories (Chashama), and the Maternal Instinct (Workshop Theatre). Regional Credits Include: The Glass Menagerie, Pippin, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Uncommon Women and Others, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man in The Moon, Marigolds, and Ten Little Indians. |
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Marcia Milgrom Dodge, director Marcia Milgrom Dodge directed and choreographed the acclaimed Kennedy Center/Broadway revival of Ragtime (2010 Tony Award Nomination for Best Director of a Musical, Drama Desk Award nominations for Direction & Choreography, an Astaire Award nomination for Choreography and the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Direction of a Resident Musical.) Her work as a director & choreographer has been seen throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain and South Korea. New York productions include Venus Flytrap by Anthony Dodge (Active Theater), Seussical The Musical (Theatreworks USA, Lortel Award nomination for Choreography), Cookin’; Radio Gals; Closer Than Ever; Romance In Hard Times (The Public); The Music Man (NY City Opera.) Regional: Sacramento Music Circus, Maltz Jupiter (Anything Goes, Carbonell Award for Choreography), Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Bay Street Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Lyric Stage, Goodspeed, Huntington and Arena Stage. Exciting collaborations with Julie Andrews, Stephen Sondheim, Rupert Holmes, Robert Falls & John Logan and Des McAnuff. Television: Sesame Street and AMC'S Remember Wenn. For more on Marcia and Tony, visit www.marciamilgromdodge.com. |
Playwrights
Anthony Dodge, playwright Anthony Dodge's femme noir mystery play Venus Flytrap received it's world premiere production at The Active Theater. He wrote his first play with his partner-in-crime onstage and off, Marcia Milgrom Dodge. Sherlock Holmes & The West End Horror premiered at Bay Street Theatre, received an Edgar nomination from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Play and has been produced at such prestigious theaters as Sarasota's Asolo Rep Theatre and the Pioneer Theatre Company in Salt Lake City. Tony wrote the libretto for HATS! and the book for Look Homeward Honky Tonk Angel with songs by Grammy-winner Larry Gatlin, which premiered at Lyric Stage in Dallas. Dodge and Gatlin collaborated again on Quanah, a musical about the last Comanche chief, presented at Pace University. Tony has also written an original play called Free Burt Lancaster! about the real Birdman of Alcatraz and is currently developing a new musical with and about pop artist Lesley Gore. Tony is a long-time member of Actor’s Equity, the Screen Actor’s Guild, AFTRA and the Dramatists Guild. Originally from Detroit, Tony and Marcia have been married since 1980 and reside in NYC with their beautiful daughter, Natasha. |
William Donnelly, playwright William Donnelly served as resident playwright for the Massachusetts-based Industrial Theatre from 1997 to 2008. His plays have been produced by Portland Stage Company, Berkshire Theatre Festival, The Active Theatre Company, Act II Playhouse, The Public Theatre (Lewiston, ME), Unicorn Theatre, Theater Alliance, Mad Cat, Sacred Fools Theatre, Mill 6 Collaborative, and Rough & Tumble among others. A number of his short plays have appeared as part of the annual Boston Theatre Marathon. In 2005, he was awarded a Playwriting/New Theatre Works grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. He has twice been named a Clauder Competition Finalist. Magnetic North was awarded the grand prize in 2006. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild. |
Matthew Keuter, playwright Matthew Keuter’s works for the stage have been produced in AK, AZ, CA, NY and London. His writing has been published in journals throughout the country and twice nominated to the Pushcart Prize. The Short Imposition of Living, a book of poetry, is available from Rain Mountain Press, NYC. He directed the inaugural production of The Active Theater Company in 2009, and his play BRIDGEBOY was the first New Work Commissioned by the Active Theater in 2010. |
Designers
Bobby Pearce, costume design Bobby Pearce was nominated for a Tony Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Broadway's TABOO. Most recently his work could be seen in the new musical SUMMER OF LOVE at The Ogunquit Playhouse. Design highlights include FALLING FOR EVE at the York Theatre, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES (NYC, Albany, Cincinnati, Long Beach, San Jose, and Sacramento). SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED (Las Vegas); THE SYRINGA TREE (New York/London); THE RED DOG HOWLS (El Portal/LA); L'INCORONAZIONE DE POPPEA (Wolf Trap Opera/DC); Liza Minnelli's appearance on “Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary Celebration”; and THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW (Halloween 1999-2001). He designed the film LET IT SNOW starring Bernadette Peters, Chita Rivera's tour CHITA & ALL THAT JAZZ and BEHIND THE BEAT starring Vicki Sue Robinson. Bobby designs THE BIG GAY SKETCH SHOW for the LOGO Channel. He has designed costumes for numerous celebrities including Bea Arthur, Bebe Neuwirth, Faith Prince, Larry Gatlin, Madeline Kahn, Elizabeth Ashley, Cyd Charisse, Glenn Close, Leslie Uggams, Laurie Beechman, Tracy Ullman, Marla Maples and Gwen Verdon as well as International Ice Dance Champions - Maia and Alex Shibutani. www.bobbypearce.com |
Paul Miller, lighting design Broadway: Legally Blonde, Freshly Squeezed, Laughing Room Only; Of Thee I Sing, Music in the Air, Lost In The Stars and Where’s Charlie (Encores). Off-Broadway: Lucky Guy, Vanities - the Musical, Waiting for Godot, Addicted and Balancing Act. Regionally: Center Repertory of Walnuct Creek, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Pasadena Playhouse, Baystreet Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, Goodspeed Musicals and Paper Mill Playhouse. International: West End, China, Asia, La Scala. Tours: Shrek, Storytime Live, Wizard of Oz, Sweeney Todd, Legally Blonde, Nunsense, Scooby Doo. Television: Camelot (Live from Lincoln Center), Clairol on Broadway (A&E), This American Life, A Celtic Christmas Sojourn, Broadway Under the Stars, The Holiday Spectacular from Bryant Park, Broadway Bares, Gypsy of the Year, Broadway Backwards, and the internationally televised "New Year’s Eve Celebration in Times Square". |
Jacob Subotnick, sound design Jacob Subotnick is delighted to be a part of The Active Theater. Selected NY theatre credits: Sound Designer for The Picture of Dorian Gray (adapted by Glory Kadigan), Active Theatre's Two Rooms, Romance/Romance, and Magnetic North, the Culture Project's The People Speak, TokenCollective's Nesting, the Gallery Players’ Inhale, Father Mike, and In the Shadow of the Lighthouse, and Sound Engineer for the national tour of Jane Comfort and Company's dance-theatre piece An American Rendition. He was also the Sound Designer for the short films “Nel Reinu” and "Date”. Jacob Received his BM from NYU. www.jacobsubotnick.com |
Actors
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Christian Campbell, actor Best known for his roles in the films Trick and Reefer Madness, Christian has had a career that has spanned more than 20 years and seen him performing around the world in stage, film and television. He feels blessed to not have had to serve coffee or beer since since he was 19. He also feels blessed to be married to America Olivo... (Campbell now mwah hahahahah!). |
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Wayne T. Carr, actor Wayne just moved to NY from the midwest, and is excited about becoming a collaborator of Active Theatre. Recent credits include; Gentrifusion (Red Fern), Funk it up (Joe's Pub), Hector in "Troilus and Cressida" and Adriana in "Bomb-itty of Errors" (Hudson Valley Shakespeare). He has performed regionally at; Goodman Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Indiana Repertory, American Players Theatre, Fulton Opera, Illinois Shakepeare and a few others. He has an MFA in Acting from Penn State. And, a Bachelors in Directing from Frostburg State University. |
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Michael Andrew Daly, actor Michael is proud to be joining such a brilliantly talented group of artists. Hailing from Salisbury, MD, Michael moved to NYC after getting his undergrad training at Elon University. Past favorite productions include, Pirates! at Papermill Playhouse, Oklahoma! at Fulton Opera House, Ragtime and Jekyll and Hyde, both at North Carolina Theatre, Tom Jones, The Music Man, Return to the Forbidden Planet, and most recently Body Language with the Active Theatre, where he received a Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Midtown International Theatre Festival. Much love to Mom and Dad. |
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Jason Emanuel, actor Jason is very excited to be an Active Collaborater. Since being cast in the Inaugural Production of "Two Rooms", he has gone on to work with Active again on their production of "Venus Flytrap". He brings with him classical/contemporary work from the stage in both Canada and NY, as well as professional Film/TV projects where he has played lead, guest star and supporting roles. He believes deeply in the theater and the ability it has to move, evoke, and inspire one to think, change, and affect the world through the telling of stories. He thanks Nathaniel and the rest of the Active team for their creative collaboration and looks forward to the continued growth of The Active Theater. |
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Jose Luaces, actor Jose Luaces is Super Duper Proud to be a member of such a talented group of artists. Jose graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre. Jose was recently spotted as a dancing dog at Madison Square Garden in 101 Dalmatian’s. Last year he travelled to Beijing to Workshop Race For Love with Lynne Taylor- Corbett. He will be reprising his role at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer under the new title Reel to Real. Regionally He has been seen at Actor’s Playhouse, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Orlando Shakespeare Festival, Seaside Music Theatre, Caldwell Theatre, and Theatre by the Sea. Favorite roles include Juan in Altar Boys, Arpad in She Loves Me, Chino in West Side Story and Aladdin in Disney’s Aladdin. Thank you mami y papi. www.JoseLuaces.com |
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Mary Jo Mecca, actor Mary Jo was recently seen as Lynn in the Active Theater’s Premiere of Bridgeboy. Other Credits include: Tess, 2010 NYMF, The Rink, Casa Manana Sweeny Todd, Guthrie Little House on the Prairie, Westport Playhouse A Christmas Carol, Interact Theater Death of A Salesman, Sganarelle, The Jealous Husband, As Bees in Honey Drown, Alabama Shakespeare Man of La Mancha, Goodspeed Amour, Seven Angels Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Alley Theater Jekyll & Hyde, Odyssey Theater Stand-up Shakespeare, Pasadena Playhouse Jerry Herman’s Showtune, Connecticut Rep-Into the Woods, Coconut Grove Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Walnut Street JC Superstar, Hermosa Beach Playhouse Bingo!, ITC Honk!, Westbeth Theater Jonathan Larsen’s Blocks, Utah Music Theater Funny Girl, Seaside Steven Schwartz’s Snapshots, MTG Passion, Nine, Lucky Stiff. Film: Holes Television: Law & Order, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Frasier, Guiding Light, Oh Baby! www.maryjomecca.com |
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Amy Miller Brennan, actor Amy Miller Brennan is proud to be part of The Active Theater. Amy is also the founder of Rizing Stars Children’s Theatre Camp. As a performer, favorite roles include Ariel in Footloose, Amalia in She Loves Me, Faith in Respect a Musical Journey of Women, and leading roles in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Putting it Together. Amy received her MFA from Actors Studio Drama School at New School University and her BA in Musical Theatre from Birmingham Southern College. Oh….and James: WAR EAGLE! Proud member of Actors Equity. |
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Abby C. Mueller, actor Abby Mueller recently finished Lincoln Center’s successful run of A Minister’s Wife at the Mitzi Newhouse Theater (standby Candida/Prossy). Also in New York: Romance/Romance (Josefine), The Active Theater; Regional credits include Les Misérables (Fantine), Fulton Theatre; The Three Musketeers (Constance), Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Pippin (Catherine), Utah Shakespeare Festival; My Fair Lady (Eliza), Lancaster Symphony; The Marvelous Wonderettes (Missy), Mason Street Warehouse; Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Milly), Drury Lane Oakbrook; Brigadoon (Fiona), Into the Woods (Cinderella), and Guys and Dolls (Sarah Brown), Marriott Theatre. |
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Jason Watson, actor Jason Watson is in awe of such a talented and driven group of emerging artists. Being somewhere on the ground floor of an amazing company like The Active Theater is a rare and exciting opportunity. Hailing from both Colorado and Arizona, Jason has used NYC as a home base for the past ten years while performing and traveling all over the world. Most recently, Jason returns to us from a sunny summer spent at Laguna Playhouse paying tribute to Old Blue Eyes in "My Way". Some favorite roles include Chess (Anatoly), West Side Story (Tony), JCS (Judas), Evita (Che), Forever Plaid (Jinx), and the title role(s) in Jekyll & Hyde. Photography is also a great passion of Jason's and he's honored to have the distinction of Company Photographer. "We have so many amazing moments ahead of us. I promise to try and capture as many of them as possible." Remember... Be Active! www.jasonwatson.net & www.watsonphotonyc.com |
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Stephanie Youell Binetti, actor Stephanie Youell Binetti is thrilled to be a part of the Active Theater from its inception. She has also served on the staff of the Playgroup Theater in Westchester County. Theatrical credits include: Curtains (Broadway; Nikki u/s); Mamma Mia! (National Tour; Sophie u/s); Christine Colgate in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Cape Playhouse); Lina Lamont in Singin’ in the Rain (St. Louis MUNY); Amneris in Aida (Westchester Broadway); Jellylorum in Cats (Houston TUTS); Woman 2 in Putting it Together (Syracuse Stage); Laurey in Oklahoma! (Fulton Opera House); Pitti-Sing in The Hot Mikado (Westchester Broadway and Fulton); Fruma Sarah in Fiddler on the Roof (Pittsburgh CLO); Dorothy in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Westchester Broadway). She has been a soloist with the Tokyo, Cincinnati, Seattle, and Portland symphonies. TV appearances include Late Night With Conan O'Brien and PBS Pops. Stephanie graduated with a BFA in Musical Theater from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). |
Other
| Kerri J. Lynch, stage manager Kerri Lynch a Stage Manager is glad to be working with the Active and loves it. Her favorite New York productions include Shine!, Bridgeboy, Sweeney Todd. Favorite Regional productions include Rent, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, November, 39 Steps, Rounding Third, Ever So Humble a new play by Tim Pinckney at the Hangar Theatre. A Closer walk with Patsy Cline, Steel Magnolias, This Wonderful Life, Santaland Diaries, The Bomb-itty of Errors, Marisol, Picasso at the Lapine Agile, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. ADNF |
Greg Schaffert, producer Greg Schaffert is a creative producer with 30 + years experience working in every facet of the theatre. His mission is to develop stories with collaborating partners that reveal truths about humanity and inspire audiences. Projects in Development include: David Henry Hwang, Kevin So and Kevin Merritt’s GREAT WALL; Ryan Cunningham and Josh Salzmann’s NEXT THING YOU KNOW; William Donnelly’s plays: MAGNETIC NORTH; NO WAKE; ASH and his new musical PAINTED ALICE with composer Michael Mahler. Greg has collaborated with Charles Grodin on several original plays. He has developed new works with writers/composers Craig Carnelia, Mark St. Germain, Randy Courts, Walter Marks, Kent Gash, Scott Alan, Kate Weatherhead, Leslie Becker and Michael Hunsaker. Greg has worked with director/writer/professor David H. Bell his entire career developing many new musicals including three new works at The American Musical Theatre Project at Northwestern University. In addition, he has produced several benefits with David including the DIFFA/Academy of Motion Pictures’ Tribute to Edith Head and the Benefit for the Theatre Collection for the Museum of the City New York at Carnegie Hall. Greg has worked in development with Nancy Nagel Gibbs (partner, 321 Theatrical Management) for the past twelve years. Their association dates back to 1975. |