John Mercurio, Composer/Author
Most recently, John's musical Academy won the award for Best Musical at the Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF). Before that, Academy completed its sold-out run at the New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF), where it received the NYMF Awards for Excellence in Music and Honorable Mention for Excellence in lyrics, Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Direction (John Carrafa) It It also received the DIMF Award, which honored the show with a production at the Daegu International Musical Theatre Festival in South Korea this summer. Last December, John was awarded the ASCAP Foundation Cole Porter Award for music and lyrics for his work on Academy. Before NYMF, Academy was developed at workshop at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre funded by a MacArthur grant. The show will return to the Maltz this December for a full production partially funded by a grant from the NEA.
John is also the recipient of an award from the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation and a Commendation Award from the Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Musical Theater Foundation.
In 2008 his new musical Myth was developed at the O'Neill Music Theater Conference, where John received The Georgia Holof Lyricist Award for his work. John is one of a handful of artists to be chosen to attend the ONeill twice, having been there in 1998 with his musical A Tailors Tale.
With collaborator Tajlei Levis, he wrote Glimpses of the Moon (soon to be published by Samuel French) which played in the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel in New York. Glimpses premiered this October at MetroStage in Virginia. Also with Ms. Levis, he wrote the music for A Time to Be Born, based on the novel by Dawn Powell, which played at the Lucille Lortel theatre as part of the New York Fringe Festival.
John wrote the score and co-wrote the book to Diva Diaries (with co-writer Andrew Kato) which ran for three months at the Lakeshore Theatre in Chicago. Before that, it played at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Other works include: The Riverhaven Book Club (the Lyric Theatre, Florida), 1001 Nights, (workshop at the George Street Theatre) and Arturos Window. He received degrees from the Eastman School of Music and NYU and was a member of the BMI Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop. Born and raised in South Florida, John is thrilled to be working with this wonderful company. http://www.johnmercurio.com
Andrew Kato, Conceiver/Developer is the Artistic Director of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, South Floridas largest award-winning regional theatre. He has been Coordinating Producer on the Tony Awards for the last six years (winner of three Emmy Awards). He has produced many Broadway concerts including Chess in Concert starring Josh Groban; the Twentieth Anniversary Concert of Dreamgirls; and the Tenth Anniversary Concert Version of Into the Woods among others. He was an Associate on the Broadway productions of Jelly's Last Jam, Angels in America and the off-Broadway productions of Bomb-itty of Errors and Cryptogram and has conceived, developed and/or directed many new musicals including Switch!, 801 Nights, Street Songs/Madhattan and Diva Diaries.
Joshua Rhodes, Choreographer credits include BROADWAY: THREE GENERATIONS at the Kennedy Center, SONDHEIM: THE BIRTHDAY CONCERT for Lincoln Center and PBS, WORKING at the Old Globe, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Patti LuPone at Ravinia, BARNUM and, TINTYPES at the Maltz Jupiter, 1776 at the Papermill Playhouse, THEYRE PLAYING OUR SONG starring Jason Alexander at Reprise, BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO at the Ogunquit Playhouse, CHESS, THE FULL MONTY, and DREAMGIRLS at the North Carolina Theatre, BONNIE & CLYDE at NYMF, HIGH SPIRITS at the York, BEAUTIFUL GIRLS at the Manhattan School of Music, ALL SINGING ALL DANCING, LEGENDS!, and BROADWAY BY THE YEAR-1954 at Town Hall. Josh directed this years production of Broadway Bares in New York. His performance credits on Broadway include: Fosse, Bells are Ringing, Sweet Smell of Success, Urban Cowboy, Man of La Mancha, The Boy from Oz, and Chicago.
Alexander Rovang, Music Director is so excited to get another shot at Academy with this fabulous cast! A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory, Mr.Rovang has worked internationally as a coach, conductor, and arranger in both musical theatre and opera. Recent credits include the Chinese Tour of Fame, Sawdust Palace with Susan Marshall & Co., and Monkey: Journey to the West at the Spoleto Festival (USA). A native Nebraskan, and lifelong fan of Garrison Keillor, he someday hopes to get a real job like his mother (a cardiologist) or completely throw in the towel and race motorcycles like his dad. Much love to his newest family member, George! www.luckbedamned.biz
Michael Schweikardt, Set Design
for Maltz Jupiter Theater: Master Class, Barnum, Lost In Yonkers and Anything Goes. The world premier of the new Duncan Sheik musical Whisper House at San Diegos Old Globe Theatre. Several musicals by Joe Iconis: Bloodsong Of Love at Ars Nova, ReWrite, A Musical Comedy Triple Feature at Urban Stages, The Black Suits at The Public Theater, The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks for Theatreworks U.S.A. at The Lucille Lortel Theater and Things To Ruin at both The Zipper Factory and Second Stage. Recent credits include ELLA a musical about jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald which is appearing in cities all across the country, the critically acclaimed productions of 1776, Big River, Camelot and Annie Get Your Gun for Goodspeed Musicals, Oklahoma! starring Kelli OHara and Will Chase celebrating The Oklahoma State centennial, the American premiers of Frank McGuinness Gates Of Gold and The Bird Sanctuary and National and International Tours of James Taylors ONE MAN BAND. Online portfolio:
www.msportfolio.com
Grant Yeager, Lighting Designer
Michelle Eden Humphrey, Costume Coordinator
Recent Credits: Caesar and Cleopatra (Clurman Theater at Theatre Row), ReWrite (Urban Stages), Things to Ruin (Second Stage & The Zipper Factory), The Black Suits (SPF The Public Theater) and Lit and Messy and Not At All Ashamed (written by Joe Iconis). She has a designed many productions for New York University such as Candide, King David, Violet, Floyd Collins, Urinetown, The Merry Widow, A Little Night Music, Parade, A New Brain, and new works: Ill Be Damned, Like You Like It, Blood and Other Humours, Odin and 29. Additional theater credits include 42nd Street, Man of La Mancha, Nunsense, California Suite (Plays in the Park), The Univited, Let Him Sleep (Brea Theater League), and The NJ Renaissance Festival. Assistant Costume Designer for Una Calle sin Salida (Film by LMF Productions). Michelle was a costume designer for Knotts Berry Farm Theme park for several years and costumed many stage performances such as Tales from the Crypt and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. She has worked as a celebrity dresser and worked on Madonnas Girlie Tour. Michelle is on the board of directors for Theatreworks USA.
Aaron Rhyne, Projection Designer designs include Jerry Springer: The Opera (Carnegie Hall, The Sydney Opera House). OFF BROADWAY: Graceland (Lincoln Center), Colin Quinn: Long Story Short (Bleecker Street), Spirit Control (MTC), Taylor Macs The Lilys Revenge (HERE), Dutchman (Cherry Lane), Circumcise Me (Bleecker Street), The JAP Show (Actors Temple), Topsy Turvy Mouse (Cherry Lane), Flags (59E59), and Monica Bill Barnes Suddenly Summer Somewhere (St. Marks Church). REGIONAL: Frank Wildhorns Bonnie and Clyde (La Jolla Playhouse, Asolo Rep), Duncan Sheiks Whisper House (The Old Globe), Working (The Old Globe, Asolo Rep, Broadway in Chicago), Welcome to Arroyos (Old Globe), The Civil War (Fords Theatre), The Last Five Years (Asolo Rep). He has done extensive video work with Caden Mansons Big Art Group and has toured with them through Europe and the U.S. Additionally, Mr. Rhyne directs music videos, commercials, and performance projects for television. www.aaronrhyne.com
Keith Kohrs, Sound Designer was born and raised in upstate New York, where he studied music and recording, and performed with various musical and theatrical groups. He received a degree in Live Sound and Recording technology from the Rockland Institute of Recording in New York. Upon moving to Florida in 1989, he started a sound and lighting rental company and continued his journey in the music industry. He has worked on local theater productions, including Tommy with Shiloh Productions, Jesus Christ Superstar with MJM Entertainment, and many others in conjunction with the Lyric Theatre in Stuart, as well as here at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. He designed the sound for Deathtrap, Same Time, Next Year, The Boy Friend, Smokey Joes Caf, The Full Monty, Master Class, Noises Off, Sleuth, Barnum, Beehive, Evita, Fanny Brice: The Real Funny Girl, Lost in Yonkers, La Cage aux Folles, Tintypes and most recently Anything Goes.
Sima Bressler, Props Master
Bob Cline, Casting Agent has been the New York Casting director for past 3 or 4 seasons for The Maltz Jupiter Theatre. In New York, Bob works as a Director, Casting Director, and he is a Professor at Pace University, in Manhattan; where he is a proud faculty member in charge of the Senior BFA Musical Theatre majors. Bob has helped to populate over 60 national tours, hundreds of regional theatre productions, film, TV, and commercials.
Clayton Phillips, Production Stage Manager has worked as a Production Supervisor, Production Stage Manager, Director, Producer, Artistic Director and Managing Director as well as an occasional actor. As a stage manager and supervisor he has worked on 5 Tony Award winning Broadway Shows: Starlight Express, Jerome Robbins Broadway, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Candide and Parade. During Kiss of the Spider Woman Clayton became Harold Princes assistant and directed companies in Japan and Argentina as well as assisting him on Candide and Parade. In addition to Broadway credits he has done 4 National tours and 3 Off-Broadway productions. As Managing Director he worked with The York Theatre Company and New York Gay Mens Chorus. Served as Artistic Director for Theatre Three in Long Island New York and The Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth New Hampshire, where he was recognized by the New Hampshire Theatre Awards for excellence and won two Best Musical Awards. Produced the NETworks national tour of The Full Monty and associate director for the Cameron MacIntosh / NETworks production of Oliver! Directing credits include: Slow Dance With a Hot Pick-Up by John Pielmeier (won NH Theatre Award for best direction and best original work), Show Boat (nominated for a National Theatre Award), Oliver!, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Of Mice and Men, The Music Man, Our Town, Falsettos, Dirty Blonde, Gypsy, Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and Empire (nominated for LA Ovation Award for Best new Musical). Clayton is thrilled to be here at this amazing theatre.
Nikki Lint, Assistant Stage Manager is thrilled to be working at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre again this season. She worked on all five shows last season as either a dresser or stage hand. Nikki was a Production Assistant on the 1st National Tour of Mary Poppins. She has stage managed several shows in Chicago and New York with Second City, Forbidden Broadway, Seanachai, and American Girl Theatre, among others. Proud member of AEA.
Martine Perry, Production Assistant is very excited to be working on her first show at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. A native of West Palm Beach Martine earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Florida State University. She has appeared in several productions at the Lake Worth Playhouse including Company, Rumors, Hello Dolly, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Pippin, A View From the Bridge, and The Crucible. Martine has also worked as an Assistant Stage Manager and Stage Manager on several community theatre productions including Once on this Island, Lend Me a Tenor, Fiddler on the Roof, and Present Laughter.
Phil Watson, Projection Assistant
Michael Cassara, CSA, Casting Director
Michael Cassara casts theatre and film in New York City. Recent regional theatre: The Old Globe, Olney, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Gulfshore Playhouse and more. Other recent credits include Fat Camp (anticipated to open on Broadway in 2011), the off-Broadway run of Falling For Eve at the York Theatre, Lillian Hellman's rarely-seen Another Part of the Forest for the Peccadillo Theatre Company and the films Clear Blue Tuesday and Alienated. Michael is the resident casting director for the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) where he has cast over 40 new musicals since its inception in 2004. Michael is a native Clevelander and a member of the Casting Society of America. Please visit http://www.michaelcassara.net.
Barry Rawdon, Website Designer
Barry is the President/Founder of the South Florida based website design and development company Silicon Coast. He provides effective solutions for businesses and organizations of all sizes to have a successful presence on the Internet.
Silicon Coast offers the complete package of professional website design and development services; including managed hosting and Internet marketing.
Silicon Coast is based in South Florida and regularly serves clients in the cities of: West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Stuart, and Port St. Lucie. However, we have also provided website design and development solutions across the United States and around the world. Distance is not an issue in the digital age, we can work with clients anywhere.