RIPFest #4

BIOS

Dara Adler (Dancer) has performed with the Paul Taylor Dance Company, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Dances Patrelle, and the Pennsylvania Ballet. Other notable performances include appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center Festival, and the video documentation of the Katherine Dunham technique.

Timothy Albrecht (Choreographer) Film: Pretty Dead Girl (Sundance 2004; Tribeca 2004; Florida 2004 Jury Prize), Intern (Sundance 2000), Camp (Assoc. Choreographer). TV: PBS/ American Masters, F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Rosie O'Donnell Show (Assoc. Choreographer - 4 seasons). Theatre: The Water Coolers (off-bway), Peter Pan (Pioneer Theatre Co.). Corporate: Target, Conde Nast, MAC, Aveda, Broadway Bares.

Masi Asare (Associate Artistic Director) is a singer and composer/lyricist whose work has been presented at the BMI Workshop, Raw Impressions/La MaMa, Dixon Place, and Harvard. Thanks to all the artists for your talent and risk-taking and for letting me be a part of the process.

Clay Asbury (Editor) has worked as a freelance video editor since 1992. He has worked as DP/Editor on several independent music videos. Clay has also taught classes at the Art Institute of Atlanta and the Bay Area Video Coalition. He is an Apple Certified Final Cut Pro Instructor.

Trista Baldwin (Writer) is primarily a playwright. RIPFest #4 marks her second film project and second collaboration with Raw Impressions. Trista’s plays have been produced throughout the U.S. and once in Australia! She is the recipient of a 2004-05 Jerome Fellowship.

Matthew Bautista (Director of PR and Sponsorship) has handled press and sponsorship relations for almost a decade with clients including Gap Inc., Def Filmmaker Festival, Dyson Vacuum, Joe Torre Foundation and MoveOn.org. Matthew thanks Raw Impressions for the invitation to be part of this innovative project.

Jimmy Bennett (Actor) The Nuclear Family (Co-Creator). NY Theater: NYTW, 45 Bleecker, The York, Zipper, Belt, NYFringe, Chekhov, Westside Theatre. Film/Television: The Extended Family (Co-creator - Sundance/Viacom), Free Delivery (Quonset Hut Prod), The Tool (Phisto Ind.), Last Two Men On Earth (Serpe/Spencer LA).

Robin Berla (Producer) has written, produced and directed many national television shows for networks including VH-1, Style, and PBS. She has also produced many short films, including the festival circuit-hopping Tahini and Tears which hails from RIPFest #2.

Jonathan Bernstein (Writer) has written and directed a number of plays and films in the last several years, in addition to serving as supervising director on over a dozen New York productions, including eight on Broadway. He is currently at work finishing a commissioned play entitled If This Isn't Love and collaborating on two original musicals.

Anjali Bhimani (Actor) Broadway: Bombay Dreams, Metamorphoses (Tony Nom. Best Play). Off-Broadway: Portraits, The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci, Metamorphoses. Regional: Romeo and Juliet, The Vagina Monologues, The Odyssey, Arabian Nights, Pentecost, Mirror of the Invisible World. Film: The Medicine Show, TV: Law & Order:SVU. Graduate of Northwestern University.

Daniel Blumberg (Associate Producer) is currently producig a feature film, The Deep and Dreamless Sleep, a groundbreaking digital feature set in modern day New York City. He has advised the independent film production company Intrinsic Value, and played a critical role in the development and completion of their feature film XX/XY directed by Austin Chick and a 2001 Sundance favorite (released by IFC Films).

Chase Brock (Choreographer) Broadway: Wonderful Town (Assistant to the Choreographer, Kathleen Marshall); The Look of Love (Assistant to the Choreographer, Ann Reinking); Susan Stroman's revival of The Music Man. Choreography: Nothing Like a Dame 2004 opening number starring Sutton Foster and Karen Ziemba.

Tesha Buss (Choreographer) First Lady Suite (Transport Group, Drama Desk Nomination for Best Revival), Heat Lightning (Off Broadway), Peter Pan (Trinity Rep. Theatre), Joys of Sex (Fringe), Hot Mamas (Dillon's), LooLa, Nothing Like a Dame

Anna Clyne (Composer) is the recipient of several international awards, including the ASCAP Plus Award 2003. Her work, which includes commissions from leading choreographers, film-makers and video artists, has been premiered in Europe, Japan, the U.S. and Canada. www.annaclyne.com.

Jen Cody (Choreographer) Choreographer: Debbie Does Dallas (Jane Street), Prodigal (York), Summer of 42 (Variety Arts), Workshop of Joe (Lark Theater). Performer: Urinetown, Taboo, Seussical, Beauty and the Beast, Grease, The Wild Party, and Cats.

Scott Ethier (Composer) Composer-in-residence of the Macon Symphony Orchestra; Continental Harmony Commission, American Composers Forum; fellow at Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. Previous Raw Impressions projects include Dreams This Way and the score for Pie Chi (RIPFest #2). Scott’s new song cycle premieres at Carnegie Hall on May 26. www.scottethier.com

Paul Frank (Editor) has edited two features, Assisted Living and State Property, as well as numerous shorts and segments for TV. Assisted Living won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2003 Slamdance Film Festival, the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2003 Gen Art Film Festival and Best Feature at the Woodstock Film Festival.

David Fuhrer (Editor) is proud to a new father. His son Iggy, now eight month's old, shows no signs of wanting to be in show business. He and his wife Violaine are busy teaching him his first words: "community college.” So far he just gurgles and laughs. Otherwise, David is a sometimes actor, director, editor and is president of Production Central.

Andrew Gerle (Composer) is a three-time Rodgers Award winner for The Tutor (book and lyrics by Maryrose Wood). As a classical pianist, he has performed with the Baltimore Symphony, the National Symphony, and on National Public Radio. Songs from his adaptation of Frank Capra's classic film Meet John Doe (with lyricist Eddie Sugarman) will be heard on the upcoming Bound for Broadway concert at Merkin Hall.

Ruth Gerson (Actor) is a singer/songwriter who has appeared on Late Night With Conan O'Brien. She recently returned to acting for a lead in feature film Promised Land from the producers of Italy's famed Pane E Tulipani. She attended NYC's H.S. of the Performing Arts (Drama), B.A.D.A. and Princeton University. www.RuthGerson.com.

John Grady (Actor) Blue Man Group, Sex and the City, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, wrote/directed Watch Her for AMC's Monsterfest, filmmaker with Quickflicks, A Paltry Fine for RIPFest #3.

Chris Grant (Director) has worked in the New York film community for over nine years as a writer/director/producer. Pie Chi (RIPFest #2) has appeared in more than 13 festivals and was 2nd. place winner in the 2004 Showtime Black Filmmaker’s Showcase.

Evan Greenberg (Producer) has produced and directed two short films, two spec commercials, and a feature film in the two years since graduation from NYU's Tisch Film School. Watch out for his latest project, a musical feature film called Sex Farce.

Erin Greenwell (Editor) is a fan of collective work: hashing it out, being creative/prolific and getting it done. She's honored to be a RIPFest editor. Erin founded Smithy Productions, pooling talents from the independent/GLBT artists community under the umbrella of narrative video. Woo-hoo!

Sam Griffin (Producer) is a fashion television producer and former beauty editor. Work currently airing includes Videofashion (E! Entertainment Television) and the documentary series The Designers (Trio Popular Arts Television). Sam also produced and directed (and shot!) the short documentary The Salton Sea, the place to be.

Heather Hawk (Dancer) is a graduate of NYU. She was a dancer with the New York City Ballet and can be seen in the movie of The Nutcracker. Currently she is a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Dances Patrelle.

Craig Hirscheld (Production Manager) is a cum laude graduate of Miami University and gained extensive experience as a Booking Agent/Associate at a production company in NYC where he planned, produced, and publicized events for clients including: Joan Rivers, Tony Bennett, and Gladys Knight.

Scott Ihrig (Producer) has produced nonprofit and professional theatre and large live events for ten years, including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Scott is a graduate of Grinnell College and the University of Minnesota Law School.

Christa Justas (Actor) Broadway: Titanic, Les Miserables. National Tours: Titanic, Les Miserables, Buddy. Regional: PAL JOEY (Prince - Barrymore Award Nominee), Merrily We Roll Along (Guthrie), Take Flight (MTC), O'Neill (St. Petersburg, Russia). Coming Soon: debut CD, the music of Maltby & Shire.

Daedra Kaehler (Producer) This is Daedra's first RIPFest. She regularly produces theater and film projects in and around the New York City area. Her next project is producing and directing at the Gristmill in New Paltz, NY.

Rob Kutner (Writer) is a writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and wrote Pie Chi for RIPFest #2. He is excited to be writing for RIPFest #4 with his wife, Sheryl Zohn.

John Leone (Actor) is from Weymouth, Massachusetts. John has had leading roles on and off Broadway (Darius in Les Mis), in national tours, and in regional theatre. Many television appearances – currently recurring as sports agent Ricky Williams on Showtime’s Soul Food. Film: Macchiavelli Rises, Amy's Rules, Home Front. Most important: wife, actress Leslie Crowe, and son, Jack.

Brian Lohmann (Actor) Host of Lifegame on TNN and a recurring guest star on Ask Rita with Rita Rudner, Brian was a member of the Improbable Theatre's Lifegame Off-Broadway and has performed his solo show Johnny Lonely's Unhappy Hour in Seattle and Australia.

Elizabeth Lucas (Director) In acknowledgement of the unique nature of Elizabeth's first movie musical, Isabella Rico, the Santa Monica Film Festival created a Musical Short category and granted her a Special Achievement Award. Check out her feature-length movie musical projects at www.elizabethlucas.com.

Kyle McCabe (Documentary Producer) shot the documentary for RIPFest #3 and is glad to be back for this go 'round. He's currently a DV director on a BBC produced pilot show for TLC about moving house (though he finds musicals more entertaining).

Patrick Mellen (Co-founder/Actor) is pleased to be making his first on-screen appearance with RIPFest #4. He gives great thanks to all those who have made and continue to make Raw Impressions possible. www.patrickmellen.com

Leda Meredith (Choreographer/Dancer) has made her living as a dancer, actress, choreographer, writer and director for the past 25 years (that's right, no "day job"!). This is her second Raw Impressions foray. www.ledameredith.net.

Brendan Milburn (Composer/Lyricist) came to New York City to write musical theatre, but circumstances have led him to making a living in the smart pop band GrooveLily, touring the U.S. and Canada in a van. www.groovelily.com.

Ethan Mills (DP/Camera) Ethan has been honing his shooting skills primarily in the broadcast television world on all formats from HD to DV. His work can be seen VH1, ABC, Comedy Central and others while representing NYC based Beyond Our Reality Productions.

Thomas Mizer (Lyricist) most recently collaborated on the book for the Fringe Festival hit For the Love of Tiffany. Winner of a National Music Theatre Conference Grant as a lyricist and librettist, Thomas is currently editing his first novel, represented by Dystel Literary Management.

Curtis Moore (Composer) is currently writing songs for Todd Solondz's next film, Palindromes. Also in progress: The Legend of Stagecoach Mary, a bluegrass musical with Thomas Mizer; and Triangle with Joshua Scher and Mr. Mizer (National Music Theatre Conference grant).

Julia Murney (Actor) NY Stage: A. Lippa's The Wild Party, Vagina Monologues, Crimes of the Heart, Time and Again, A Class Act, First Lady Suite, Chess and Funny Girl in concert. TV: Sex and the City, Ed, NYPD Blue, Law & Order. Voiceovers: gobs.

Brian O’Carroll (DP/Camera) works nationally as a DP for films and commercials. He shot The Twenty for RIPFest #3.

Eric O’Connor (DP/Camera) is a documentary producer/shooter/director as well as a film DP. He has recently returned from making a documentary film in China.

Tonya Pinkins (Actor) is currently staring in Caroline, or Change on Broadway for which she has been nominated for a 2004 Tony award. She won the Tony in 1992 for her role in Jelly’s Last Jam and is a recurring character on All My Children. In addition to her theater and television work, Tonya is a filmmaker and director.

David Rodwin (Producing Artistic Director/Composer) likes candles and prisms and bowling. He just got some new bowling shoes. They're black and gold.

Laura Rubin (Actor) graduated on Saturday from the University of Miami. This is her New York film debut and her first RIPFest.

Mark Sanders (Actor) National Tour: Fiddler on the Roof starring Theodore Bikel. Edinburgh Fringe Festival: The Scarlet Letter, Merrily We Roll Along. Favorite Regional: Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Most Happy Fella, Miss Saigon, Funny Girl, Jekyll and Hyde. Pittsburgh CLO's 2003 Julia Deberson Award winner.

Garret Savage (Editor) is in awe of the extraordinary creative talent gathered for RIPFest #4 and is honored to be a part of it. His short film, For Food, is currently on the festival circuit.

Joshua Scher (Writer) Joshua's play Flushed was recently picked up for publication by Baker's Plays and is being made into a film later this summer. He holds an MFA from the Yale School of Drama and currently heads the theater department at Stern College.

Scott Schwartz (Director) is best known for his work in the theater. On Broadway, he directed Golda's Balcony (currently running) and co-directed Jane Eyre with John Caird. His off-Broadway work includes Bat Boy: The Musical, tick, tick... Boom! and Franz Kafka's The Castle.

Kate Shindle (Actor) Film: The Stepford Wives. Broadway and Nat’l tour: Cabaret, Jekyll & Hyde. Kate graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. in Theater and was Miss America in 1998.

Erik Bryan Slavin (Creative Director/Director) teaches filmmaking at NYU and was a Directing Fellow at the American Film Institute. Erik directed The Redeye for RIPFest #1, edited Pie Chi for RIPFest #2, and edited the documentary of RIPFest #3.

Dana Snyder (Actor) is pleased as punch to be a part of this enormous group of talented people in RIPFest. When not playing the ukulele or performing on stage, he can be heard 5 nights a week on Cartoon Networks' Aqua Teen Hunger Force as Master Shake. And oh yeah, he loves his fiancée Christine!

Ted Sperling (Director) Upcoming projects include directing R Shomon by Michael John LaChiusa, music directing Dirty Rotten Scoundrels by David Yazbek and The Light in the Piazza by Adam Guettel, and performing four concerts at Zankel Hall with Audra McDonald.

Joel Spitalnik (Producer) produced A Paltry Fine in RIPFest #3. Recently, he produced the short films Practically Perfect People and Katie Bar the Door. He and David H. Turner founded 1915 Pictures, an innovative production company that will release Javier Perez-Karam's Make Up this summer.

Jocelyn Swigger (Music Director) has a doctorate in piano from the Eastman School of Music. She teaches at Adelphi Univ. and plays in the Pia*ce piano and cello duo and the Main Squeeze All Girl Accordion Orchestra. RIMT #13 cameos in Bo Nanas. www.comics.com.

Shashwati Talukdar (Editor) is an editor and director. Her films have been screened at the Margaret Mead Festival, Mediopolis-Berlin, and the Whitney Biennial. She is completing a Bollywood-Noir feature Eunich Alley and Directed Tahini and Tears for RIPFest #2. Currently she has a fellowship from IFP-New York.

Christopher Tiné (Executive Producer) co-produced RIPFest #1 and Executive Produced RIPFests #2 & 3. Chris works as a TV producer and also produces for the Raw Impressions dance division.

Jay Tobias (Director) has been directing TV dramas such as Homicide: Life on the Street, 10-8, Dawson’s Creek, Chicago Hope, The Agency, and The Invisible Man and every time a gun was fired he’d turn and say “I’d rather be making a musical!”

Matthew Trombetta (Actor) is honored to cross over into RIPFest after performing and directing for Raw Impressions’ RIMT. Most recently, he was seen at MTS in the new musical Sidd and at City Center in NYGASP's Mikado. He is the Artistic Director of the Weathervane Playhouse, an historic summer stock in Ohio. www.matthewtrombetta.com.

Eric van den Brulle (DP/Camera): Original Child Bomb, God in the Machine, Orquestra de la Luz, Tuesday, Exit, Tuesday, Germanija,

Valerie Vigoda (Composer/Lyricist) is an electric violinist/singer/songwriter. She founded the acclaimed band GrooveLily. A former Army lieutenant currently starring in the ongoing Today's Military TV ads; she has toured with Cyndi Lauper and Joe Jackson. www.GrooveLily.com.

Siobhan Walshe (DP/Camera) lives and works out of New York City. She recently won the NextFrame’s 2003-04 Cinematography Award. Siobhan’s work has shown at numerous festivals, including Rotterdam, CinemaTexas and SXSW. Additionally, she works in the TV-documentary industry as a video journalist.

Don Wiggins (Actor) comes to musical theater from a classical and operatic music background. He has sung throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. Don has conducted and directed opera, conducted symphonic concerts and choral programs. This his first film project.

Maryrose Wood (Writer) wrote the book and lyrics for The Tutor, with music by Andrew Gerle. The Tutor is a three-time winner of the Richard Rodgers Award and premieres in NYC later this year. She and Andrew are currently writing Still Life with Cigarette, an original jazz musical and her first young adult novel, Sex Kittens and Horn Dawgs Fall in Love, will be published by Random House. maryrosew@aol.com.

Lisa Yuen (Actor) Broadway: Miss Saigon (Gigi). National Tours: Flower Drum Song (Mei-Li s/b), The Scarlet Pimpernel, Pirates of Penzance (Kate), and the upcoming The King and I. Regional: Baby (Lizzie), West Side Story (Rosalia), Oliver! (Bet), Hello Dolly! (Ermengarde), Annie (Star-to-Be). BA: UCLA.

Sheryl Zohn (Writer) has written and produced for a variety of TV shows, including Comedy Central's Straight Plan for the Gay Man and Showtime's Penn & Teller: Bullshit!. Sheryl flew all the way from Los Angeles to participate in RIPFest #4.