RIPFest #6

Bios

Becca Ayers (Performer) has, recently, been seen in "The Audience" and "joy". She was in "Sarah, Plain and Tall" at the Lucille Lortel, and regional work includes "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" (Rep. Theatre of St. Louis) and "Children of Eden" (Ford's Theatre) She lives with her talented sister, Heather. www.beccaayers.com

Tanya Barfield (Writer) wrote the book for the Theatreworks/USA musical, "Civil War: The First Black Regiment." She served as Dramaturg on the Broadway-bound musical, "The Color Purple," at the Alliance Theater. This summer she will workshop her play, "Blue Door," at New York Stage & Film and the Sundance Theater Lab.

Mark Beattie (Director of Photography) recently arrived in New York from the Pacific Northwest via Washington DC. He has worked on several productions, including "The Graffiti Artist" which premiered at the Berlinale in 2004, and has shot several short films of his own.

Jimmy Bennett (Performer) is the co-creator and co-star of the Off-Broadway "cult classic," "The Nuclear Family" as well as "The Extended Family" for the Sundance Film Channel/ Viacom. He can also be seen on Court TV's "The Smoking Gun", "Free Delivery" (summer release), and is currently happy at work on an "untitled." Jimmy co-starred with Julia Murney in Ripfest #4's "Say You Do" and co-wrote the hit mini-melon-musical "AfLOAT" for RIMT 16.

Jeff Blumenkrantz (Composer) Broadway: "Urban Cowboy" (Best Score Tony® nomination). Off Broadway: "The Audience." Regional: "Woman with Pocketbook," "Precious Little Jewel." Recordings: "I Won't Mind" (Audra McDonald), "Lament" (Megan Mullally). Commissions: Carnegie Hall, Guggenheim Works and Process. Member: BMI Workshop, Dramatists Guild Musical Theatre Fellowship Program. Graduate: Northwestern University. www.jeffblumenkrantz.com

Nora Brennan (Casting Associate) Recently cast the "The Audience," (3 drama desk noms) and "Requiem for William" for the Transport Group. Other credits: "West Side Story" at La Scala Opera House. Independent films: "Last Run," "Waldorf Salad," a series of ads for MoveOn.org directed by Errol Morris. TV pilots: "Studio 2B-TV" & "Time Zone."

Joe Cassidy (Performer) Broadway: “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, “1776”, “Show Boat”, “Les Miserables”, “A Christmas Carol” at Madison Square Garden. Off-Broadway “Listen To My Heart”, Encores!, Joe’s Pub. Regional: The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, Casa Manana, Denver Center, Ford’s Theatre, TheatreWorks, North Carolina Theatre, TUTS, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Gilles Chiasson (Composer) is happy to back writing music with David Hilder and RAW Impressions after creating "Maps" for RIMT #13. He also wrote book, music and lyrics for "FISHWRAP, a living newspaper revue", and "chrysalis, a musical play". His song, "Hands Holding Hands", will be featured on the CD "In Good Company" due out on LML Records in July of 2005. Love to Sherri.

Douglas G. Davis (Editor) began in feature development for Brillstein-Grey and Cotty Chubb. Returning east, Doug directed live comedy shows for comedians like Howie Mandel and Kevin Pollack. Next came projects for MTV, PBS, Warner Brothers, and Nickelodeon. Doug spent 2004 with John Kerry as the producer for the documentary "Inside the Bubble."

Thursday Farrar (Performer) B’way: “AIDA” (Aida), “Parade,” “Once Upon a Mattress”“. Off-B’way: “Under the Bridge”, “Li’l Abner, St. Louis Woman”, “Golden Boy”(Encores!), “Hallelujah Baby!” (Georgina) York Theater.Tours: “Les Miserables” (Fantine), Carousel. Regional: “Merrily We Roll Along “(Kennedy Center), “Harmony” (LaJolla) Drama Logue recipient. TV: “All my Children”.Film: “Basketball Diaries”.

Rachel Fershleiser (Production Assistant) has worked in theatre and publishing and is now pursuing a career in arts journalism. She’s also a nanny, Housing Works volunteer, and movie-making neophyte, honored to lose her film virginity to the fantastic folks at RIPfest #6.

Eamon Foley (Performer) age 11, was last seen on Broadway in "Assassins" directed by Joe Mantello, and in "Gypsy" directed by Sam Mendes. Other New York stage credits include Carson in "The Audience", directed by Jack Cummings III, and Timmy in the wrokshop "Timmy the Great" directed and choreographed by Savion Glover. At age 8 he danced in a Sesame Street Video with Paula Abdul, but did not sleep with her. He was recently filmed in a sitcom pilot called "Taylor Made."

Dan Fields (Director) produced and directed the first U.S. revival of Arthur Miller's "The Man Who Had All the Luck" (L.A. Times Top 10 Productions of 2000). His production of Glen Berger's "The Wooden Breeks" was nominated for L.A. Weekly's Production of the Year and Best Direction. Fields recently directed Morgan Fairchild in the national tour of "The Graduate."

Jenny Giering (Composer) Awards & Honors: 2003 Clifton Artist in Residence at Harvard, 2001 Klinsky Prize/Second Stage, 2000 Larson and Loewe Awards, 2002 Dramatist Guild Fellowship. Current projects: "Caraboo" (book by Marsha Norman, lyrics by Beth Blatt), "The Mistress Cycle" (with Beth Blatt). Upcoming: "Songs From An Unmade Bed" (lyrics by Mark Campbell) at NYTW, May 2005.

John Given (Composer) has contributed music to more than two dozen films and television series, winning an Emmy for Disney's Aladdin series. Recent projects include Kathryn Busby's short film “My Purple Fur Coat”, assistant coaching Sam's little league team, and getting Ben ready for kindergarten in the fall. www.johngiven.com

Ruth Gottschall (Performer) Broadway (Select): The Music Man, A Funny Thing...Forum, The Goodbye Girl, Liza - Stepping Out, Cabaret and Laughing Room Only. Off-Broadway: First Lady Suite. Film: Everyone Says I Love You. TV: Law & Order, Law & Order: CI, Beverly Hills 90210, Magnificent 7, Annie, and Sondheim at Carnegie Hall.

Evan Greenberg (Editor) is very excited to be joining RipFest #6 -Movie Musicals. He recently moved from New York to Los Angeles where he is attempting to get his second feature film produced.

Jeff Greenwald (Musician) is a professional studio drummer. Jeff holds an MA in ethnomusicology and writes about drums in popular music. He studied with jazz drummers Mike Clark and Winard Harper and with West African Master Drummer Godwin Agbele. Jeff last performed with Raw Impressions on RIPFest #4.

Joy Gregory's (Writer) musical "The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World" (with composer Gunnar Madsen) premiered in Los Angeles in 2003 where it won an Ovation award for Best New Musical. It has since been produced by Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago where she is an ensemble member. Joy currently writes for the CBS-TV series Joan of Arcadia.

Steven Hack (Performer) - Broadway: "Cats" (orig. cast), "A Chorus Line". "Paint Your Wagon" (Geffen Playhouse), "Counsellor-At-Law" (Off-Broadway & Interact Theatre Co.). Plays at Interact: dozens, including "Willie's Son" (Ovation & A.D.A. Award noms). Film: "S.W.A.T.", "Master of Disguise", "Intolerable Cruelty", "Carolina". Television: "Scrubs", "The West Wing", "NYPD Blue", "Everybody Loves Raymond", "Seinfeld", many others.

Jessica Hendricks (Choreographer) graduated from the University of Colorado with a BFA in Dance. Her choreography has been presented in England, Germany, Korea, Costa Rica and throughout the United States. Her credits include industrials and commercials for Reebok, Warner Brothers, Universal Studios, Toys R Us, Volkswagon and Godiva. Jessica most recently worked on the Broadway European tour of “Hair.”

Jessica Hernandez (Editor) has been editing for close to two years. She started out cutting trailers for HBO Films and has since edited various projects both in film and television. Jessica has just finished editing her first feature documentary, Tierra Y Libertad, for Scott Hamilton Kennedy.

David Hilder‘s (Writer) writing includes "I Have Something to Tell You" (composer, Gihieh Lee, RIMT 17); "Maps" (composer, Gilles Chiasson, Dixon Place & RIMT 13); "Leave the Room" (Finalist, Lark Theatre’s Playwrights Week and Abingdon’s Wolk Award); "Bay Orchard High" (Expanded Arts, Cullen/Dumas Productions); "Dinner Party!" (EST, Smatterfest); "One for the Books" (EST); and the short film "Final Dis/Cord."

Alan Jay House (Assistant Producer) has worn many hats in Hollywood and beyond, and after 25 years in “the biz”, he has producer, actor, vocalist, musician and writer credits under his belt. His latest foray into gorilla musical filmmaking seamlessly combines his vast experience and interests with his love for everything artistic.

Michael Hunsaker (Performer) is thrilled to be working with RIMT again. Michael is a graduate of Florida State University's Musical Theatre program. Nat'l tours: "Ragtime", "Chess". Off-Broadway (orig. cast): Derek Walcott's "The Odyssey", "Listen to My Heart: The Songs of David Friedman". TV: "Ed", "Sex and the City", "All My Children", "As the World Turns".

Deborah N. Hurwitz (Composer) Broadway: Assistant Conductor, "Miss Saigon," Keyboard I/II for "Jekyll & Hyde," "Tommy," "Aspects of Love." Associate Music Director, "Mamma Mia!" First U.S. Tour. Film: Composer, "Choices," "The Reader," "The Redeye" (from RIP Fest #1), horror feature "HPE." TV: Composer, "Highlander: The Raven," "The Guiding Light." Arranger/Orchestrator, CNN, Discovery Channel, "Sesame Street." Records: Vocal Director, "Elmopalooza!" (1999 Grammy Winner). Artists: Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan, Sinead O'Connor, Sarah Brightman, Marc Shaiman.

Morgan James (Performer) was seen most recently as Nadina in "The Chocolate Soldier" with Musicals Tonight. She played Mabel in "Pirates of Penzance" with Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Arizona Theatre Company. Last summer Ms. James played Bessie Two in the premiere of "River's End" at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center. Third place winner at the 2005 Lotte Lenya Competition for singers. Training: The Juilliard School.

Dan Kay's (Director) first feature film "Way Off Broadway" was released theatrically earlier this year by Small Planet Pictures. It will be premiering on the IFC channel in the Fall of 2005. "Way Off Broadway" won numerous awards on the festival circuit including the Grand Jury Prize Best Feature Westchester Film Festival and the Audience Choice Award Best Feature Stony Brook Film Festival.

Jodie Langel (Performer)Broadway: Les Miserables (Cosette), Broadway tours: Martin Guerre (Bertrande), Joseph ... Dreamcoat (Narrator), CATS (Grizabella) . Regional: Evita (Eva), Funny Girl (Fanny) , Chess/ Paper Mill Playhouse, Eugene O Neill Theater Conference, and West-Coast Premiere of The Thing about Men. Soloist: President Clinton, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Colorado Springs Symphony, Mets/Yankees Subway Series, and re-opening of the American Stock Exchange.

Erik Liberman (Performer) Upcoming films: “Just My Luck,” “Kinetoscope.” TV: “Angel,” “Get Real,” PBS’ Emmy-winning musical drama, “Sneakers.” Theatre: “Mabou Mines Dollhouse” (Obie Winner); “Clockwork Orange” (LADCC, LA Weekly Awards); “Final Tour” with Sally Field, dir. Moises Kaufman; “Sundance Cabaret” with Carol Burnett; “Reefer Madness!” (LADCC, Ovation, Garland Awards), Ann Reinking's "Broadway 2002." 2005 Lotte Lenya Singing Competition winner.

Joe Locarro (Director) is founder of Suspension Productions East, a production/post studio in NYC. Recent directing credits: 2 productions of the musical "Ragtime", the TV pilot, "Studio 2B-TV," RIMT 16, and DP on RIPFest 5. Other credits: Director of TV pilot, "Time Zone" and was 2nd unit dir/DP for the History Channel pilot, "Patent Warriors." Joe was in 6 Broadway shows and 3 dance companies.

Shauna Markey (Performer) Broadway/National Tours: “Wizard of Oz” starring Mickey Rooney, Joanne Worley, Eartha Kitt (Dorothy U/S), Maggie/Connie – “A Chorus Line” (European/Canadian Tours), “Peter Pan” (w/ Cathy Rigby) - Casa Manana. Shauna is member of the LA Musical Theatre Guild and is currently making her living doing Voice-Overs and Commercials.

Susan Marshall (Choreographer) has, since 1985, created more than twenty-seven dance works in collaboration with the dancers of Susan Marshall & Company. Marshall directed “Les Enfants Terribles” in collaboration with Philip Glass, and has created dances for the Lyon Opera Ballet and Frankfurt Ballet, among others. A 2000 recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, Marshall and her collaborators and company members have received ten New York Dance and Performance Awards (BESSIES).

Benjamin Meyer's (Director) short films have screened at festivals on six continents, and won awards on three. Roman Polanski awarded his latest short, "What Are You Having?", the Grand Prix du Court-Metrage at Deauville. That short is currently in broadcast rotation on the IFC. For a complete bio, go to www.appliedcinema.com.

Brendan Milburn (Lyricist) plays in a band called GrooveLily and collaborates on new musical theatre. Recent credits: “Striking 12” (Prince Music Theatre, Old Globe, Theatreworks/Palo Alto, and Off-Broadway November 2005), “Wheelhouse” (Theatreworks New Works Festival), and “Say You Do” (Ripfest #4).

Nathan Milford (Director of Photography) started out studying to work as a theatrical director, moved to New York and fell in love with the process of film production. He is currently employed as a repair technician for film and video cameras. This is his second RIPfest.

Tracy Miller (Performer) currently on Broadway playing the sexually precocious, geeky teenager, Penny Pingleton in Hairspray. Previously, Tracy played a vampire in Broadway’s Dracula, sung as Disney Princesses, hosted entertainment shows and toured as a vocalist with Julio Iglesias, but her real dream is to one day win The Amazing Race.

Kevyn Morrow (Performer) 2004 Olivier Nomination-Best Actor in a Musical-"Ragtime” Coalhouse-London, 2005 Helen Hayes Nomination-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical-"Tambourines to Glory/Buddy-DC. Broadway: "A Chorus Line"-Richie, "Dream"-featured, "Scarlett Pimpernel"- Mercier, "Dreamgirls"-C.C.White, "Smokey Joes Cafe". Television: "Hope and Faith"-recurring, "Ed"-recurring,"Murphy Brown"-guest, "Coach"-guest.

David Perlman (Performer) is thrilled to perform in his first RIPFest after having appeared in RIMT #10 and #15. European/National Tours: "Hair" (Woof); "Schoolhouse Rock Live" (Joe). Regional: "Tommy" (Cousin Kevin); "The Fantasticks" (Matt). NY: Musicals Tonight, York Theatre. TV: "Law and Order." Thanks to Mom and Dad!

Matt Prager (Writer) has written on "South Park" and "The Remake of Valley of the Dolls" (Fox Studios/dir. Betty Thomas) among other projects and reads tarot cards professionally in his spare time.

Kenna Ramsey (Performer) Kenna’s credits include: Radio #1 in “Caroline or change”, Joanne in the Broadway company of “Rent”, The Acid Queen in “The Who’s Tommy”, and “The Lion King”. Her TV & film credits include: Cecily in Tom Hanks’“That thing you Do”, and the voice of Sasha in Nickelodeon’s animated film “Globe Hunters”.

David Rodwin (Producing Artistic Director) is afraid of fish. It's true. He also owns his own bowling shoes. He likes to fly kites to boot. He's fond of soup generally speaking. Cheese too. He used to write compose and perform one man operas (The cool kind. Not the boring kind.) And now he's a TV writer looking for his next job. (www.jadelake.com). Thanks to everyone who's given their time, energy and heart to RIPFest extraordinary.

Michael Roth (Composer) – Theatre, film, opera, dance, chamber projects include: Brooklyn Boy (Broadway), St. Ives, Sabina, The Persians, People Be Heard, Talking Heads, Dinner With Friends (off-Broadway). Collaborations with Randy Newman (Faust, three songbooks), Mac Wellman, Anne Bogart, Tom Stoppard (Indian Ink, Invention of Love, US premieres), Culture Clash, Garry Marshall (Happy Days musical), numerous productions at South Coast Repertory and La Jolla Playhouse. Opera Their Thought and Back Again available via Rothmusik@aol.com.

A native of California, Rhona Rubio (Script Supervisor) is an avid moviegoer who has been fortunate enough to grow up in one of the world’s great cities for film: Hollywood. Rhona has completed over 100 credit hours in script supervising for both features and commercials. She has worked on 7 short films in the 8 months since her training ended, and continues to build on that experience with enthusiasm.

Christopher Shinn's (Writer) plays have been produced at the Royal Court, Playwrights Horizons, Vineyard Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, and South Coast Rep, among others. He has received a Guggenheim Fellowship, an NEA/TCG Theatre Residency Grant, and an Ovid Foundation grant. He is presently writing an original musical with David H. Turner.

David Simpatico (Writer) has been presented at theatres including NYC Town Hall, Williamstown Theatre Festival, EST, the NY Shakespeare Festival, the New York Theatre Workshop, English National Opera, the Boston Conservatory of Music and Franklin Furnace. Jonathan Larson Award for “The Screams Of Kitty Genovese.” Commissioned by the Disney Company to adapt the animated musical “Alice in Wonderland.”

Jacques C. Smith (Performer), originally from Chicago, was featured in HBO's series "Oz" for two seasons. Other TV credits include "CSI: Miami", "ER", Law & Order", "The Division", & PBS's Emmy winning "American Masters". Broadway: "Rent". Regional: Paper Mill Playhouse, South Coast Repertory Theater, Pasadena Playhouse, & Coconut Grove Playhouse among others. Princeton University (B.A.) and UCSD (M.F.A.).

Amy & David Southerland (Music Directors) are Founding Directors of AWOL Theatre Project, Inc., a not-for-profit organization committed to supporting emerging music theatre writers (www.AWOLproject.org). MD credits include recent readings of Beth Blatt & Jenny Giering's “The Mistress Cycle” with Rebecca Luker and Mary Bond Davis (dir. Joe Calarco) and “Slut” with Hunter Foster and Annie Golden (dir. Gordon Greenberg), as well as the NYC premiere of A.R. Gurney's “Strictly Academic” at Primary Stages (dir. Paul Benedict) and three RIMT events.

Lou Lou Taylor (Assistant Producer) is a transplanted thespian from NYC. She has performed in numerous theatres throughout the city, acted in more than fifteen indie flicks, music videos and soaps. While in Los Angeles, Lou Lou recently finished producing and directing a commercial for T.J. Maxx. She is presently under development with her personally scripted children’s book.

Michael P. Tedford (Director of Photography) is a 2004 graduate of the Film Production Program at the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television. He originally started out studying Multimedia Design at a small college in his hometown of Eugene, Oregon. He now works professionally as a Cinematographer and Lighting Director.

Steve Totland's (Writer) plays have been produced in Chicago at Steppenwolf Theatre and Lifeline Theatre, and in Los Angeles by The Virginia Avenue Project. His play “Swimming” was a finalist in the Denver Center Theatre's USWest New Play Competition. His newest play, “Home Sick for Rain,” was commissioned by The Lincoln Center Director's Project (West).

Valerie Vigod, (Lyricist) electric violinist/singer/songwriter, is the founder of GrooveLily, the acclaimed band whose concert musical "Striking 12" (2004 Bay Area Theatre Critics' Circle Award, co-writer Rachel Sheinkin) will premiere Off-Broadway this holiday season. A former Army lieutenant, she has toured with Cyndi Lauper, Joe Jackson, and more. Visit her: www.GrooveLily.com