Aron Accurso is excited to be Music Directing with “Raw Impressions” for the first time. Since his graduation from St. Olaf College last May, Aron has been working as a music director in NYC and in regional theatres including the Forestburgh Playhouse and the Shawnee Playhouse. He also loves to compose and perform.

Jake Alrich has been waffling between opera and music theatre for too long. He recently created the role of Pete in Tim Childs' musical, "American Song". Other roles include: Carl-Magnus; Joe ("The Most Happy Fella"); Collatinus ("Rape of Lucretia"); Ottone ("L'incoronazione di Poppea"). Roommates include: Eli Bolin (RIMT #2 composer); Michael Moricz (RIMT #3 composer).

Yvonne Anderson - Soloist - Three Mo' Tenors concert (California), Mimi - La Bohème (Shaker Mountain Festival), Pitti-Sing - The Mikado, Yvonne - Naughty Marietta, Mrs. Pearce - My Fair Lady (Light Opera of Oklahoma). Ensemble - Sweeney Todd (New York Philharmonic), Ensemble -The Frogs (Nonesuch).

Barbara Benary is a composer, performer and ethnomusicologist, and Artistic Director of Gamelan Son of Lion, a new music repertory ensemble based in NYC. She has written theatre and dance scores for New York Shakespeare Festival, LaMaMa E.T.C. and numerous other companies.

Robert Terrell Bledsoe has written chamber music, songs to texts by Melville, Dickens, and others, and a one-act opera based on Kotzebue's play, The Stranger. Work in progress includes The London Merchant, based on George Lillo's play.

Joe Cassidy B’way/New York: Appeared as Rutledge in 1776 and Ravenal in Show Boat, Young Scrooge in MSG's A Christmas Carol, Enocres! Bloomer Girl. Regional: Seward in Dracula, the Musical (La Jolla Playhouse). Denver Center, TUTS, Casa Manana, Ford's Theater, AMTF, and Hartford Theater Works. Joe is delighted to be a part of RIMT.

Culver Casson has appeared Off Broadway: "Jessica Gatewood" in SPLENDORA, Off Off Broadway: "Norma Aho" in THE CRY PITCH CARROLLS at HERE and a plethora of leads in regional music theatre; most recently, her critically acclaimed cabaret show ISLAND MAGIC at Judy's and Don't Tell Mama.

Composer Andy Cohen has written music or designed sound for a variety of off- and off-off-Broadway plays and musicals in and around the NYC area. His credits include shows in such venues as Lincoln Center, Theater for the New City, La Mama, Etc., Expanded Arts, the Producer's Club, and the Fringe Festival, where he was awarded the "Outstanding Music Director" Excellence Award for his work in the 2000 festival. Upcoming projects include composing music for a show in the Ohio Theater and a national tour with his show from the 2001 Fringe Festival, "Preview of Murder." Thanks to everyone at RIMT for making this all happen!

Barry Drogin <www.notnicemusic.com> has created solo scenas, dramatic song cycles, one-act operas and dance-theatre pieces. An “authority on contemporary opera and music theatre” (21st Century Music), he’s written for NewMusicBox and runs the C-OPERA listserv and NewOp website <www.newop.org>.

Will Erat is a recent graduate of Northwestern University. Will has appeared in a variety of regional theaters and recently appeared Off Broadway and toured nationally with the millennial revival of Godspell.

Peter Foley received the Richard Rodgers Award, the Stephen Sondheim Award and the Jonathan Larson Foundation Award for his music and lyrics to "The Hidden Sky," produced by Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia. Since then: TV scores. Onward and upward.

Renee Hoffman holds a BM from UC Santa Barbara and MM from the New England Conservatory in Vocal Performance. Originally a native Californian, Renee is living in NYC pursuing a full time career in classical music - concert, recital and opera...and if any other opportunities arise for her to get on stage and make lots of noise she'll take it. Her roles include, Manon, Pamina, Elvira, and Musetta just to name a few. This is her second performance with RIMT and she is sooooooo thrilled to be back!

Ari Kreith is the Founder/Artistic Director of Theatre Zoe (1993-1999). She is loving her first year in NY, where she has been privileged to direct her own adaptation of Three Sisters, attend the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, co-produce the Gallery New Work Fest, and collaborate on an original music theater piece with the amazing Benjamin Morss.

David Lefkowich, a recent graduate of Northwestern University, is proud to be working with RIMT. He has performed with regional theatre companies such as NYS Theatre Institute in the new musical "The Snow Queen" as well as "Brigadoon" with Park Playhouse of Albany, NY.

Daniel Frederick Levin is happy to be conspiring once again with the organizers of RIMT #4, having written music for a piece in RIMT #3 with playwright Dyron Holmes. Daniel's musical and dramatic works have been performed at Yale University (1998), Dance Place (Washington, D.C., 2000), Tisch Dance (NYC, 2001) and at Dixon Place's 2nd Festival for New Musical Theatre Works (NYC, 2001). He and composer Jonathan Portera, both second year MFA students at the Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, are currently writing a musical set in the Warsaw Ghetto during the years before the 1943 uprising.

Michael Maiello is a senior reporter at Forbes Magazine and an aspiring playwright and novelist whose plays have been produced on both coasts. With his wife Jessica and friend Querido, he is a founding member of Superstring Productions.

Douglas Maxwell received his bachelor's degree in composition from the University of Florida, and currently works in children's publishing while moonlighting as a pianist for hire. He most enjoys performing new classical and musical theatre works and collaborating with other composers and musicians.

Patrick Mellen was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. His professional credits include appearances at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville and Lincoln Center. He gives great thanks to all who made and continue to make RIMT possible.

Marie Louise Miller is excited to be working with such an intense group of talented artists. Most recently, she’s worked with Craig Lucas on productions such as Stranger, and The Singing Forest, written by C. Lucas, and collaborated on Saved or Destroyed by Harry Kondoleon. This spring she and Craig will launch a new play at the Atlantic Theater. Additionally, she has collaborated with playwright Lucy Thurber at the Rattlestick Theater, and various playwrights at New Dramatists. She has directed as far away as Berlin, Germany and London, England. She is a member of the Royal Court International session, The Drama League, Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, and Women’s Project & Productions. She holds an MFA from Northwestern University.

Mark Montague is excited to join RIMT. He has performed with NYGASP, Cleveland Opera, Signature Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Genesius Guild, appeared on TV, Radio and toured Nationally. Mark and his wife, actress Jennifer Montague, have a sweet 2 year old daughter.

Alejandro Morales' plays include the silent concerto, sebastian, and sweaty palms. A member playwright at New Dramatists, his work has been presented at South Coast Repertory, INTAR, Mabou Mines, and later this spring at New York Theater Workshop and The Public.

Steve Moramarco is a writer, actor, and musician. Recently, he co-authored a book, "Italian Pride," (published by Kensington Books) with his father. He will be appearing as the Logician in Ionesco's Rhinoceros at Center Stage April 3-7.

Composer/guitarist/rapper Gene Pritsker has written over one hundred fifty compositions, including chamber operas, orchestral and chamber works, songs for hip-hop and rock ensembles, etc. All his compositions employ an eclectic spectrum of styles and are influenced by his studies of various musical cultures.

Soprano Elizabeth Racster’s opera & musical theater credits include: Despina, Mozart’s “Cosi fan Tutte”; Barbarina, Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro”; Taumann, Humperdinck’s “Hansel und Gretel”; Julia, Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Gondoliers”; Kim McAfee, “ByeBye Birdie” and more. Liz is excited to be making her RIMT debut!

Andrew Recinos, Composer A native of Vienna, Virginia, and a graduate of the Indiana University School of Music, Andrew Recinos has provided original music and sound design for numerous Off-Off-Broadway plays. In addition, his chamber works have been premiered throughout the United States.

Christine Reimer, mezzo-soprano, has performed a wide variety of operatic and musical theater roles through-out the U.S. and in Europe, including Rosina in Barber of Seville, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, the title role in Carmen, Marian in Music Man and Edith in Pirates of Penzance.

David Rodwin is currently writing and composing the one-man music theatre pieces, MONKS & SLUTS & STATESMEN (Oh, My!) as well as RAGING LOVE. See www.jadelake.com for details. He's also thinking of getting another pair of leather pants, but what color?

Myrna Schloss is a composer, video artist, writer, musicologist and teacher. She has had numerous performances of her works throughout the U.S.A., Canada, and Europe, In addition to purely musical pieces, Ms. Schloss' works often incorporate visual and theatrical elements.

Thaddeus Strassberger, a graduate of the Cooper Union, has been designing scenery and lighting for opera and has recently made the leap into directing. He recently completed a year working at Teatro alla Scala in Milano as a Fulbright Fellow, and has served as an interpreter and assistant for both La Scala and Teatro di San Carlo in Naples. This RIMT production marks his debut as a writer.

Rachel Sheinkin’s recent work includes Blood Drive, music by Joel Derfner (Bridewell Theater, London), and Doctor of Last Resort (Clubbed Thumb, NYC). She is writing a musical, Serenade, with composer Nils Olaf Dolven (developmental reading sponsored by Norwegian Consulate, NY)

Scott Sussman is pleased to be making his first appearance with RIMT and working again with many of his Northwestern University peers. NY Credits: Jeffrey, The Ritz, Saving Anne, The Happy Prince, Sweet Valley High. National Tours: The Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe. Regional: Joseph..., Night Music, Spiderwoman, and West Side Story. Scott is represented by The Luedtke Agency.

Lucy Thurber is the author of five plays, Where We’re Born, Ashville, Innocence Is A Sin, Killers and Other Family and Stay. She was the recipient of the 2000/2001 Manhattan Theatre Club playwriting fellowship. Her play Killers and other Family was produced at Rattlestick Theater in 2001. Lucy has been a finalist in The Prince Grace Award and The Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference. She has had readings and workshops at Manhattan Theatre Club, The New Group, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Rattlestick Productions, Perseverance Theatre, SOHO Rep and The Echo Theater in Los Angeles. Her ten-minute play Dinner is published in a collection called, Not So Sweet, 16 plays from SOHO Rep’s 10-minute play festival.

Ed Weissman has written for the stage, TV and radio. His current musical, “Buried Treasure,” about the pirate Anne Bonny, has been workshopped in Toronto and New York. He is a long-time member of the BMI workshop and has degrees from Middlebury College and UNC-Chapel Hill.