SCOTT FARIS has directed Chicago, The Musical, in sixteen countries around the world in over a dozen languages plus tours in the US and the UK. He directed Bette Midler’s latest show, The Showgirl Must Go On, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and Walking With Dinosaurs, The Arena Spectacular, on tour in the US and the UK. He started his career as an actor performing in musicals, among them A Chorus Line. He learned his directing skills by working as a production stage manager for some of the top directors on Broadway on several Tony Award winning productions. Also in Las Vegas, he directed “EFX!” starring Michael Crawford and was part of the production team that created the amazing Siegfried & Roy at the Mirage. He directed the national tour of Sweet Charity starring Molly Ringwald and later , of Trading Spaces fame.
DAVID O'BRIEN'S most recent directing credits include: Associate Director of the National Tour of GREASE starring Taylor Hicks. In May, David had the pleasure of co-directing, along with Scott Faris, the Opening Ceremonies for the World FIFA Conference at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas. David has also worked as the Production Stage Manager for several Broadway shows including: GREASE!, THE PAJAMA GAME starring Harry Connick, Jr., SWEET CHARITY starring Christina Applegate, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF starring Alfred Molina, NOISES OFF (Patti LuPone /Peter Gallagher), STONES IN HIS POCKETS, Neil Simon’s THE DINNER PARTY (Henry Winkler/John Ritter), and CATS. On the road, David’s credits include CATS, CHICAGO (Cellblock Tour) and as the show stage manager for Bette Midler’s DIVINE MISS MILLENNIUM tour.
CHRISTIAN DYAS has been a musician, composer and music director for Blue Man Productions since 1997. He originally played zither in Blue Man Group’s Production of Tubes and went on to co-write and compose Blue Man Group’s first album, Audio, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Album in 1999. The album went on to go gold. He co-wrote and arranged material on Blue Man Group’s follow-up album, The Complex, which featured vocal performances by Dave Matthews, Gavin Rossdale and Tracy Bonham. Chris performed live with Blue Man Group at the Grammy’s in 2000, as well as five performances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Chris has also written music for the CGI movie, Space Chimps, as well as for the Barry Levinson television production, The Jury. Chris has founded and performed with a number of bands, among them: Orangutang which released two records on Image Records; Trona, a Boston indie rock band which released two albums on Road Runner; and The Ray Corvair Trio, which specialized in ‘60’s surf, spy and strip music. Chris founded and is currently performing with The Lingering Doubts, a Lower East Side based acoustic trio.
Brooklyn-based pianist and composer PAUL LESCHEN was nominated for a Drama Desk for Outstanding Music for his first musical, Twist: Please Sir, May I Have Some More. He is the co-creator and composer of the cult musical "Bedbugs!!!" which ran to glowing reviews at the 2008 New York Musical Theatre Festival. Paul is a collaborator and pianist for the international superstars Scissor Sisters– his co-arrangement of Comfortably Numb still receives copious airplay at gay bars from to Greensboro to Gdansk. Paul is also house pianist and composer for Murray Hill, Hedda Lettuce, and is official Bingo organist for Linda Simpson. You can email him at pianistpaul@gmail.com, and go check out his rock band at theneonkingdom.com.
Marc Janowitz (Production design)
MARC JANOWITZ'S work has been experienced worldwide in theatre, on television & in numerous performance venues. He has received several awards for his work including “Lighting Director of the Year” in 2004 by Live Design magazine and “Design of the Year” in 2000. Marc’s diverse experience ranges from theatre to performance art to concerts & events. He currently collaborates with concert & touring artists including Flight of the Conchords, My Morning Jacket, Street Drum Corps, Matisyahu, & Fischerspooner. His NYC credits include Forbidden B’way, Bridge Club Productions (resident designer), Theatre by the Blind and numerous productions on Theatre Row. In Las Vegas, Marc’s list of credits include Wayne Brady – Makin it Up, Blue Man Group Live at the Venetian & Blue Man Group – Live at Luxor. For 10 years he collaborated on the lighting and production design for Blue Man Group on nearly all of their projects and special events.
CHASE TYLER (Producer, Costume Designer) is a partner in The Work Room Productions and was the Senior Producer for Blue Man Productions from 2002-2007. He is currently the Executive Producer of The Ride, a new entertainment property launching in New York City in June 2010. Chase is also a costume designer and member of United Scenic Artists 829. Chase’s costume work has been represented on Broadway in the [title of show] at the Lyceum Theatre and on Off-Broadway: Blue Man Group: Rewired; Bash’d: A Gay Rap Opera; Five Women with the Same Dress; [title of show] (Vineyard). Other credits include The Morning Show, Pure Polyester, Blue Man Group (Vegas, Berlin, Oberhausen, Tokyo, London, Orlando and Amsterdam). Film and television work include the feature film Satan Hates You, Thrillavision and The Coaches Show.
Danielle Breitenbach (Assistant Costume Designer)
LISA WISELY is the Producer of the critically acclaimed feature film Automatons and the soon to be released film Satan Hates You. Lisa is a Business Manager for several film companies and her previous experience includes creating Blue Man Group’s merchandising company and serving as the online content producer for all Blue Man Group projects. Lisa is a partner in The Work Room Productions as well as Green Room Promotions, a merchandise company with a commitment to the sourcing and development of green products.
DANIELLE BREITENBACH design credits include Grease and West Side Story for the Park Street Playhouse, Imperia Saves the World and The Bird Machine for Concrete Temple and Assistant Costume Designer, The Ride. She is currently the Assistant Costume Designer at Chase Tyler Design. Danielle graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a BFA in Fashion Design.
Brian Sette (Prop Master)
BRIAN SETTE has been building and painting things in his own imaginary landscape since he was in diapers, so when life provided the opportunity to make props for his first production he needed little coaxing to jump into the deep end. Brian holds a degree and painting from Syracuse University and actually does something with it, on this stage and in the occasional fine art exhibition.
Susan Nicholson (Associate Lighting Designer)
SUSAN NICHOLSON has designed The Ortiz Sisters of Mont Haven (Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre), Republic of Poetry and Fire Exit (Medicine Show), Soaking Wet (WET), Hedda Gabbler, Vinegar Tom, and Anna K. (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Wild Women of Planet Wongo, Sympathy Jones, River’s End, Ward 9 and the end of season Gala ’07 & ‘08 (New York Musical Festival), Broadway Sings Concert and assisted in the lighting of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and The Who’s Tommy Broadway Benefit. She lit Chicago at Central Conn. State University. Regionally, she has design The Producers, The Full Monty, and Funny Girl at the Forestburgh Playhouse, My Fair Lady, A Class Act and Ragtime at Cape Rep, and Shape of Things at Stamford Theatre Works. She has a BA from Purdue University and an MFA from the University of Memphis.
Hope Rose Kelly * (Stage Manager)
HOPE ROSE KELLY has just finished spending her sixth summer season at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA. At S&Co she has been Production Stage Manager for Twelfth Night, Othello, and The Ladies Man - to name a few - and heads the Stage Management Department. Other regional credits include The Public Theatre in Maine, New Repertory Theatre, McCarter Theatre, George Street Playhouse, and Hangar Theatre. Hope holds an M.A. from the University of Toronto and a B.A. from Ithaca College. She is a member of the Actors' Equity Association and serves as Co-Secretary on the Board of the Stage Managers' Association. On a personal note, Hope is an Anglophile, amateur Sherlockian, and tea fiend!
Ariel Francoeur (Assistant Stage Manager)
ARIEL FRANCOEUR is thrilled to be working on her first musical, even if the songs run through her head all day! Ariel is an actor, director, and stage manager with a BA in Theatre from the University of Southern Maine. Most recently, she appeared as "Hermia" and "Snug" in this summer's acclaimed outdoor production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, with the Fenix Theatre Company, and as "Amanda" in the new web series "The Little Apple". Favorite directing credits include Machinal, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Lysistrata, and Wharf Rats, all in Portland, Maine. This December she makes her NYC directing debut with Turtle Beach at The Looking Glass Theater's Writer/Director Forum.
JOYCE CHITTICK recently choreographed the 2009 FIFA conference in the Bahamas, restaged the national tour of ‘Grease’, originated the role of Mary Delgado in the Las Vegas production of ‘Jersey Boys’ and fulfilled the life long dream of performing with Spinal Tap at the Beacon Theater. An Astaire Award winner and veteran of 10 Broadway shows since she was 17, Joyce has originated numerous roles, most recently, Mae the ‘Steam Heat’ girl in Roundabout Theater’s Production of ‘The Pajama Game’. Off-Bway she has performed in Martha Clarke’s ‘Belle Epoche’ at Lincoln Center, Andrew Lippa’s ‘The Wild Party’ at MTC and Tony Kushner’s adaptation of ‘A Dybbuk’ at The Public Theater. She has taught and coached many, including Brooke Shields, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rosie O’Donnell, to name a few.
Amber Stone (Associate Choreographer)
AMBER STONE is tickled to reunite with her long time collegues, Joyce and David on a Moisty the Snowman Saves Christmas, NYMF adventure! Broadway: Grease; Pajama Game; Babes in Arms (Encores!). Off Broadway: Two Gentlemen of Verona. National Tours: Grease; The Boyfriend; Beauty and the Beast. World premeires: Backwards In High Heels (Ginger Rogers); Elaborate Lives-Legend of Aida.
ADAM ADELMAN is excited to be part of the New York Musical Theater Festival for the first time. He comes straight from the Ogunquit Playhouse where he served as Wardrobe Supervisor for their production of A Chorus Line. A graduate of Syracuse University, Adam has worked on many shows and is excited to add this show to the list. He would like to thank his family and friends, as well as Chase and Lisa for giving him this opportunity.
JAKE LEMMENES is thrilled once again to partake in the NYMF experience. NYC credits: Stage Manager for Going Down Swingin’ (NYMF ’07), Production Manager/Lighting Designer for Twist: The Musical (Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Score and winner of Best Music, Book, and Lyrics Midtown International Theatre Festival ’07), and Stage Manager for Restricted (the Studio). International Credits: Production Manager/Lighting Designer forAftershocks (National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts in Christchurch, New Zealand). Regional: Lighting/Scenic Designer for Singing for Life: A Broadway Care's Benefit (The Freed Center for the Performing Arts, Ohio). Jake holds a B.F.A in International Theatre Production from Ohio Northern University.
*Equity Approved Code. These Actors and Stage Manager(s) are appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.