Maccabeat!...the Hanukkah Musical (2007)

Harvey Shield has been a musician and songwriter since the early 1960s, when he was drummer and singer in the British band Episode Six, forerunner of rock icons Deep Purple. The band performed in "beat clubs all over England, Germany and on TV shows such as the legendary "Ready, Steady, Go"

In the 1970s, Harvey emigrated to the US, eventually settling in Los Angeles, where he became a solo recording artist on Atlantic Records. His ballad "The Way I Feel Tonight" became an international hit for the Bay City Rollers.

In the 1980s, Harvey began writing for the musical theater and with Richard Jarboe created HAMELIN, which went from a store-front theater in LA's Silverlake district to off-Broadway's Circle in the Square in New York City.

His recording and performing career continues as a member of The Mighty Echoes, an award-winning a capella quartet which specializes in the doo-wop sound of the '50s and '60s. Shield lives with his wife and daughter in a historic Victorian home near downtown Los Angeles.

Richard Jarboe is a writer, composer and investor from New Jersey. His produced theatricals works include REMNANTS and THERE GOES THE JUDGE. He also created HAMELIN with Harvey Shield.

As a ballet composer. Jarboe was commissioned to write "Buffalo Bill's Saloon" for the Colorado Ballet. As composer-in-residence for the Roxey Ballet in New Jersey, he has added many works, including "La Balienne Blanche," a work exposing the pitfalls of gang dynaimcs; "1604" about the history of science and religion; "Artillery Man" dealing with Vietnam; and "The Veil" about a woman in Afghanistan.

Jarboe continues to write visionary poetry. His current project is "OK Richie and the Jammers." In the past, he has worked for the United Nations, setting music and lyrics to a project pertaining to Norman Rockwell's "Four Freedoms." Read his work at www.poemhunter.com.

Chayim Ben Za'ev has worked in all aspects of musical theater-- from producing and writing to performing and cleaning up the theater after the show-- for more than thirty years. His most successful production, however, was his bar-mitzvah in the 60s, when he actually got some money (and fountain pens). He was a founding member of the rock group GUNS N CHAROSES and the boy band NEW YIDS ON THE BLOCK. He is currently researching the Eastern European roots of rock and roll thanks to a grant from the Neil Diamond Institute for Cantorial Pretense at Bar Ilan University in Tel Aviv.

Jeremy is a composer who played for the band "The Hot Tramps" for
their New York tour and has done Ghost writting for the hit VH1 TV
show Flavors of Love. He also has interned with Film Composer Gary
Chang (Breakfast Club) and he does scoring himself. He is now
teaching English in Korea and will shortly be involved in bands on the
west coast.

Bernie Amster is a long time patron of the arts in his adopted Arizona. A successful investor, he hopes to bring MACCABEAT! to theaters, day schools and JCCs all over the world.

Elisabeth Bayer is currently the Business Manager of The New Group. As Business Manager of The Splinter Group, she worked on projects such as CHRISTINE JORGENSEN REVEALS (Drama Desk Award), APPARITION, CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY, GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! and NYMF 2006.

Branden Huldeen is a double graduate of NYU where he was the Associate Production Manager. For the past 7 years, Branden has been part of the New Plays for Young Audiences Series at the NYU as designer and Associate Producer. Last fall, he was the Associate Producer of KINGDOM (Audience Favorite Award) at NYMF. Recently, Branden was the Line Producer for Ian August's MISSING CELIA ROSE for the SPF at the Beckett Theatre. By day, Branden works at TDF and, by night, as a House Manager at the Vineyard Theatre. Branden is also an Associate Company Member of Dalliance Theater. www.dalliancetheater.org. He is also the founder of Big H Theatrical Ventures. For Tiger.

Jessica Redish is a New York-based director/choreographer and is excited to be revisiting information to which she paid no attention in Hebrew school. She recently finished working on IN THE BUBBLE with Michael Greif at the American Music Theatre Project. NY: OEDIPUS FOR KIDS! at NYMF 2006, MOVING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK, a new musical revue by Michael Mahler at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, RAW IMPRESSIONS #21 at the Flea Theatre. Regional: AND THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND at the Arizona Broadway Theatre (Ari"Zoni" nomination--Outstanding Choreography), OKLAHOMA!(Festival 56)and FALSETTOS at Northwestern University, where she recently taught the Music Theatre Curriculum. Jessica has assisted at Paper Mill Playhouse on HELLO,DOLLY! and at various other regional theatres. www.JessicaRedish.com

Daniel Feyer thanks Jessica and Mark for the chance to get in on the hot NYMF action. Off-Broadway: Evil Dead: The Musical, Captain Louie. Off-Off: Many new musicals with Prospect Theater Company (Iron Curtain, The Pursuit of Persephone, The Alchemists, Illyria, Tock Tick); Fleet Week and Dreamhouse at other fests; three RIMT events and Best of RIMT. Drama Desk nom. (with Peter Mills) for Persephone’s orchestrations. Eight seasons at Vermont’s Weston Playhouse (King & I, Frog & Toad, Smokey Joe’s, Saturday Night and more); assorted regional gigs at Baltimore’s CenterStage, LI’s Gateway, Jersey’s Shakespeare, NoCal’s Willows, etc. Dan is a Manhattan resident, San Francisco native (shout out to Temple Beth Sholom), and Princeton graduate.

Recent credits include The Molly Maguires (Pre-Broadway workshop, dir. Sheryl Kaller, mus. dir. John McDaniel), Clear Blue Tuesday (feature film, dir. Elizabeth Lucas), The Gig (benefit concert and cast recording), Breaking In (internet series), If This Hat Could Talk (national tour, dir. George Faison), Stephen Schwartz's Captain Louie (national tour), and countless readings and workshops. Regional credits include Goodspeed Musicals, the Paper Mill Playhouse, the Kitchen Theatre Company and the Hinton Battle Theatre Laboratory. Michael Cassara Casting is the resident casting office of the 2007 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). Upcoming: 11 shows in this year’s NYMF and the inaugural 2007-2008 season of the Stephen Sondheim Center for the Arts in Fairfield, Iowa! For more information, please visit www.michaelcassara.net.

For 23 years, Yuhasz designed theatrical productions in the Bay Area as well as industrial shows for Levi Strauss, IBM, Dole and PG&E, among others. She worked for Theater Now West, serving as assistant producer for the world premier of LABOR DAY starring Carroll O'Connor and the musical MEN ARE FROM MARS, WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS. She managed talent for the NBC sitcom "The Mommies."

Maiko Chii has recently designed the Scenery for The Mistakes Madeline Made (Yale Repertory Theatre), Hamlet (Yale University Theatre), The Boss in the satin Kimono(Yale Cabaret),and Costumes for Titus Andronicus, The Lacy Project (1156 New Theatre). Her New York Design credits include, The Fist (Theatre for the New City and Frederick Loewe Theatre); Luna (The producers Club); Zooman and the Sign (Frederick Loewe Theatre); and Top Girls (Instant theatre). Maiko was awarded the 2007 Donald and Zorca Orenslager Fellowship Award in Design from Yale School of drama, and the 2003 Charles Elson Award In design from Hunter College.

recent credits include: Kiss and Makeup and Horatio for the NY International Fringe Festival, You Can't Take It With You at T. Schrieber Studio, New Lions Theatre Company's production of Measure for Measure and at the 52nd Street Project. She has assisted on shows at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, The Public Theater's Under the Radar Festival and at the T. Schrieber Studio. I want to thank everyone involved in this production for making it such an enjoyable experience and all of my love and thanks to my family and friends for their never ending support. And special thanks to Melanie Hodgett for her contribution to this show.

NY stage debut! Regional: The Last Five Years, Sisters of Swing, Grease, Loving Repeating, Inherit the Wind, David Bell and Craig Carnelia's The Good War. Film: 3 Words About New York, Hell's Gate. Upcoming: World Premiere of Grafton City Blues. Proud Northwestern graduate. Love and thanks to my family, friends and Antonette. www.jeremy-cohen.com

is excited to participate in the New York Musical Theater Festival. He recently appeared as Stephen in Jon Marans’ Old Wicked Songs (Fulton Theater). New York: Glass Jaw (Barrow Group), Henry V (La Tea), and Les Artistes (52nd Street Theater Project) among others. Regional: Fiddler on the Roof (Gateway Playhouse), Last Night of Ballyhoo (What Exit?), Carousel (Media Theater), and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Nebraska Rep) among many others. Upcoming: Tuesdays with Morrie (Ivoryton Playhouse) with Alan Oppenheimer. TV: All My Children. Jonas is an instructor at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Training: William Esper Studio. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, MFA. Member of Actor’s Equity. Thanks to Tim, Jodie, Ron, and the cast and crew of Maccabeat!

Kevin is thrilled to be a part of the NY Musical Theatre Festival for the first time. Other NY credits include Whorty/Thomas in Twist at the Kraine Theatre and Chris in Daniella Uses Dirty Words at the Abingdon Theatre Company. Some regional credits include A Chorus Line at Northern Stage, Disney’s High School Musical and the regional premiere of Hairspray at North Shore Music Theatre . Kevin is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and a proud member of AEA.

NY Debut! A 2007 graduate of Northwestern's Theatre, Music Theatre, and English Programs favorite credits include Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Wagon Wheel Theatre) and at NU: AMTP's In the Bubble (dir. Michael Greif), Pippin, The Wild Party, and three Waa-Mu Shows. Love and thanks to incredible family, friends, and Dina. Next up: National Tour of RENT.

Regional: Bottom in Midsummer (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), Singin’ In The Rain (Carousel Theatre), Windy City (Walnut Street), The Irish (Fulton Theatre), Twelfth Night (Orlando Shakespeare), Macbeth in Macbeth (Southwest Shakespeare), Merry Wives and The Tempest (Nebraska Shakespeare), several seasons at Milwaukee Repertory. NY: The Importance of Being Earnest (Westside Rep), The London Cuckolds (Protean Theatre), and Speed-The-Plow (Alchemy Theatre).

Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, Mitch is making his Jewish boy debut. Mozzle! National Tour: RENT, Altar Boyz. Regional/Theatre: Smokey Joe’s Café, Footloose, Godspell, Sockdology, Common Ground (workshop). “If you pile up enough tomorrows, you’ll find you’ve collected nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays.â€� Thanks to my fam for all their support. Proud member of Actor’s Equity.

Ryan Dunkin is very happy to join the cast of Maccabeat, and to take part in the NYMF. Off-Broadway: Good News (Beef) Drat the Cat (Doctor) as well as the staged reading of the new Broadway musical SHREK. Other credits include: Forever Plaid, The Buddy Holly Story and the National Tour of The Full Monty. Thanks to IAA, Family. Proud AEA member.

Preston Ellis (Apollonius) is very excited to be part of Maccabeat! Preston's NYC credits include 365 Plays/365 Days, Totally Electric, and Hootin' and Hollerin'. Regional credits include Altar Boyz at Phoenix Theatre, Full Monty at West Virginia Public Theatre, and West Side Story at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Preston is a proud native of New Orleans and encourages YOU to visit! GGS 4 life!

Mark's Broadway, International & National Tour credits include: The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Grand Hotel, Jelly's Last Jam and yes, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Mark recently created the role of the King in Disney's Twice Charmed, and sings on the original cast recording. He most recently appeared in Arkansas Reps Born Yesterday, and can be seen from time to time on Law and Order, on the tube. Peace & L'chaim!

A recent graduate of Northwestern University, Rachel is thrilled to be making her New York debut in Maccabeat! Chicago credits include: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Drury Lane Theatre), and Grease (Marriott). Thanks to Jess and all my friends and family for their continuous love and support.

Broadway: Coram Boy. Regional: A Funny Thing…Forum, Most Happy Fella, Annie Get Your Gun, Pirates of Penzance, Lil’ Abner, Fiddler on the Roof, Victor/Victoria, Oklahoma!, Joseph…Dreamcoat, Into The Woods, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Measure for Measure. Opera: Madama Butterfly, La Bohéme, Don Giovanni, Little Women, Ballad of Baby Doe. Zachjames.com

Liz Kimball is honored to feel the Maccabeat with such an amazing
group of artists. Regional: Amber in Hairspray (Weston Playhouse), A
Christmas Carol (McCarter), The World Goes 'Round (ABT), A Funny
Thing Happened… (Marriott), and Victoria in Cats (Surflight). BS,
Northwestern University, 2006. Thanks to everyone at SCAW, Jess, and
her phenomenal family and friends. Namaste.

Nikka is thrilled to join the cast of “Maccabeat!,� which marks her second appearance in the NY Musical Theatre Festival. Off-Broadway: Seussical (Birdgirl #1, Lucille Lortel Theatre). Other NYC: Broadway Bares 17, Camille (NYMF ’05), Beautiful (Emily, NYFringe). Regional: Tommy (Bay Street Theatre), Carnival (Paper Mill Playhouse), Chicago (Fiddlehead Theatre), Nine (Carla, The Chance Theatre). Television: “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.� BFA from The Boston Conservatory. Love and thanks to family and friends for their constant support and encouragement. Proud member of AEA.

An Otterbein College graduate from Cambridge, Ohio is elighted to be part of this year’s NYMTF festivities! Credits include: How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (Broadway), 25th Anniversary of Cats (National Tour.) She would like to thank Stewart Talent, Michael Cassara, and her incredible family and friends!

Credits include: Cherry Orchard, Homebody/Kabul (Steppenwolf Theatre); Sunday in the Park w/George (Ravinia Festival); Fiddler on the Roof (Drury Lane, IL). Other favorites are Loving Repeating, Little Shop of Horrors, West Side Story, Assassins. Thanks to Jess, The Krasny Office, my family and friends, and of course, Jesus (I'm a goy!).