Rainbow Around the Sun (2009)

is a musician and actor based in Oklahoma City.  In 2000, he co-wrote and starred in Mouthgarden in Progress, an absurdist musical film that won "Best Comedy Feature" at the New York Independent Film and Video Festival.  Since then, he has pursued a music career as a member of The Fellowship Students, winning the 2003 Oklahoma Gazette Woody Award for “Best New Artist.”  He also became a staple of the Oklahoma acting scene, appearing in numerous commercials and on stage, including a critically acclaimed run as the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.  In 2006, Matt recorded the album Rainbow Around the Sun and immediately began adapting it into a feature film. The film version of Rainbow... received its World Premiere at the prestigious SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX in 2008 and its International Premiere at the Athens Film Festival, in Athens Greece.

created the '80s pop musical, KIDS IN AMERICA, which premiered at the Triad Theatre in NYC in 2002 and was produced regionally under the title I WANT MY '80S MUSICAL and starred Matt Brown! He is also wrote book, music and lyrics for the original musical STAR OF THE HEARTLAND and wrote the book for the stage version of Matthew Alvin Brown's RAINBOW AROUND THE SUN.  Tom is a lyricist in the BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop where he is currently collaborating on a new musical. As an actor, Tom's first New York job was in was the Sullivan Street production of THE FANTASTICKS Off-Broadway. Other NY credits include A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Madison Square Garden,  and the original cast of the PARTY Off-Broadway (where he bared it all!) Tom toured as understudy to Donny Osmond and Sam Harris in JOSEPH..., created the role of Jonathan Harker in Frank Wildhorn’s DRACULA and originated the part of Dorian Grey in DORIAN (with Sutton Foster). Tom is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, a member of Actors Equity, and teaches an acting class for singers.  http://www.tomstuart.net.

Nick Demos was the Artistic Director for Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma from 2000-2008. During his time at Lyric, he transitioned the theater from a university campus to two new world -class facilities and from a summer season to a year round company. He directed and choreographed numerous shows, notably the state centennial production of OKLAHOMA!  starring Kelli O’Hara, CHICAGO starring Deborah Gibson, and HELLO, DOLLY!, starring Sally Struthers. Nick is thrilled to work once again with Matt and Tom, as he previously directed KIDS IN AMERICA at the Triad Theatre and the first staged reading of RAINBOW AROUND THE SUN. He has been a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and served on the New Works, Festival and Nominating committees for the National Alliance for Musical Theater (NAMT).  His company, Demos Bizar Entertainment (www.demosbizar.com) produced, VANITIES, A NEW MUSICAL (Pasadena/2nd Stage), MAKE ME A SONG, THE MUSIC OF WILLIAM FINN(London) and MY OLD FRIENDS (Los Angeles). He also was Associate Producer for MAKE ME A SONG,(Off-Broadway-Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations) and the 1st North American tour of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. Demos Bizar Entertainment is also producing MEMPHIS opening October 19th on Broadway at the Shubert Theater. www.nickdemos.net. 

Broadway: GREASE (Betty Rizzo). Other credits include: Act I LittleEdie in GREY GARDENS (Portland Center Stage), A TALE OF TWO CITIES(Asolo Repertory Theatre/Pre-Broadway engagement), Dot/Marie in SUNDAYIN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (Heritage Repertory Theatre), HELLO DOLLY!Starring Michelle Lee (Kansas CityStarlight/Regional Tour), ANNIE GETYOUR GUN and SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (St. Louis Muny), Sister Mary Amnesiain NUNSENSE (Heritage Repertory Theatre). Concerts: Bobby Cronin's"Reach The Sky" Live Recording at the Laurie Beechman. Winner of theinaugural Alan Eisenberg Award for Achievement in Musical Theatre.Proud University of Michigan Graduate and AEA member. Love to my people.

Two years ago Matt Alvin Brown was a guy I hardly knew. But after listening to the "Rainbow" album repeatedly on a cross country drive, and then experiencing a day at the Oklahoma State Fair with Matt (corndogs and funnel-cakes), and a night in his home with a viewing of the "Rainbow" film, I was hooked.  So being a part of this production, is truly a labor of love. Now, for some stuff about me...  I recently toured Asia as the King in CINDERELLA with Lea Salonga.  Prior to that, I played Bill Austin in MAMMA MIA! in Las Vegas for over a year.  Other NYC credits include THE MYSTERY OF ATTRACTION at Worth St. Theatre,  THE FIREBUGS at T.A.C.T., THE WINTER'S TALE at American Globe Theatre and MY EXPATRIATE at Manhattan Theatre Source.  Regional:  Milwaukee Shakespeare, Chicago Shakespeare, Northern Stage, Mill Mountain, Tecumseh!, Children's Theatre Company (MN), Minnesota Shakespeare, Asolo Rep, Artpark, Illusion Theatre.  TV: LAW AND ORDER (SVU and CI), ALL MY CHILDREN, GUIDING LIGHT, and AS THE WORLD TURNS.  I have an MFA from the FSU/ASOLO Conservatory and I'm a proud member of Actors Equity.  Thanks and love as always to my darling Julia.

Jamie Buxton played Debbie in the film RAINBOW AROUND THE SUN and is thrilled to reprise her role onstage with NYMF.  Tours: A CHORUS LINE (Val), HAIR with Adam Lambert.  Regional: HAIRSPRAY (NSMT), 42ND STREET (Peggy Sawyer), OKLAHOMA! (Ado Annie), GYPSY (June), THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Liesl), TOMMY (Sally Simpson), seventeen shows with Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, and HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH with the Fellowship Students. Heartfelt thanks to Matt, Nathan, Nick, Tom, Kevin, and Beau for including her on this wonderful journey. Next up: RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR.  www.jamiebuxton.net

Nathan Siler is a composer and bass player who holds a degree in music composition from Oklahoma City University.  Nathan produced and arranged the album Rainbow Around the Sun, provided additional scoring for the film, and performed in the film and stage versions.  Credits as a music director, orchestrator, and performer include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Hair, and Space Suits and Platform Boots: A Tribute to David Bowie.  He co-founded the OKC rock band The Fellowship Students and has toured the US with bands The Lovely Sparrows and Steve Burns and the Struggle.  He can currently be found playing with the Brooklyn-based band Brothers.

Meghan Buchanan is about to begin her 5th season as the prop and costume engineer for the Ontological Hysteric Theater. Her shows at the OHT include Zomboid, Wake Up Mr. Sleepy Your Unconscious Mind is Dead, Deep Trance Behavior in Potatoland, Astronome: A Night at the Opera, and the upcoming Public Theater production of Idiot Savant. Meghan just finished her 1st season as the prop designer for the Actors Studio at Pace University, and the costume design for the premier of Sine Wave Goodbye. Last summer she was the Prop Master for the Williamstown Theater Festival. She has also worked as prop master for Primary Stages, The Roundabout Underground, 37 Arts, Classic Stage and many others. Meghan was the Prop Master/ Artisan for the 40th Anniversary Concert Production of Hair at the Delacorte Theater, and the Prop Designer for Jollyship the Whizbang at ArsNova. Meghan is very excited to make her way back to the NYMF scene with such an outstanding team.

Credits:Toxic Avenger (New World Stages), Paul Taylor Dance Company, Romantic Poetry (Power House Theater), Carnival (Kennedy Center), Infinitas (Magnifique Productions), Pippin, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Wizard of Oz, My Fair Lady ( 5th Avenue Theater), Marty (Huntington Theater Company), Tell Me On A Sunday (Kennedy Center), Dorian (Denver Center for the Performing Arts), Blue (Roundabout  - Audelco Award), Linda Eder Debut at Carnegie Hall (Carnegie Hall), Finian's Rainbow (Coconut Grove Playhouse/Cleveland Playhouse), Macbeth (New York Shakespeare Festival), RENT (Broadway/First National Company), and The Music of Andrew Lloyd Weber (National Tour). Kurt is married to Shawn McNesby Fischer and has two son’s Scott and Pascal.

Driscoll is thrilled be working with NYMF again! Most recently Driscoll lit SPELLING BEE for The Alpine Theatre Project and THE FANTASTICKS for Jason Alexander at Reprise Theatre Co. Driscoll was the assistant designer on ROCK OF AGES both On and Off-Broadway. For Reprise: FLORA THE RED MENACE, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND Other credits include SILK STOCKINGS at Musical Theatre West, TWILIGHT IN MANCHEGO in the  New York Musical Theatre Festival,  PETE N’ KEELY for Alpine Theatre Project in Montana, SHOWBOAT at Utah Festival Opera, THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS  at the Penobscott Theatre Company. Off-Broadway: I HAVE LOVED STRANGERS at the Ohio Theatre; DEEP RUN at the Puerto Rico Traveling Theatre, ILLUMINATING VERONICA directed by Michael Sexton, and CORONADO at the Manhattan Theatre Sourc. Other credits include THIS BLOODY MESS for the  Lincoln Center Directors Pre-Lab; SWING! and VIOLET at Plano Repertory Theatre in Dallas; DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER at Northern Stage  in Vermont. Driscoll was the 2007-2008 resident lighting designer for the Brown/Trinity Rep. Consortium where he lit FIGARO, THE CURE AT TROY, and ELEKTRA. Driscoll has worked and designed at New York Stage and Film, Williamstown Theatre Fesival, and Utah Festival Opera.  Driscoll holds an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Driscoll wants to thank his new wife Amelia Pedigo-Otto for all of her support! His work can be seen online at  http://www.LoneStarNYC.com

Amy Pedigo-Otto is excited to be a part of NYMF this year with Rainbow Around the Sun! New York design credits include The Importance of Being Earnest, Bus Stop, Big Love, Fool for Love, Lynch Play, Hey You Light Man and The Journals of Fanny Kimble. Her regional credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Alpine Theatre Project in Montana, The Music Man at P-Family Arts and Violet at Plano Repertory Theatre in Texas. She has also designed for several independent films and for Second Ave. Dance Co. in NYC. She is a recent graduate of NYU’s Graduate School of Design for Theater and Film. Thank you to the whole RAtS team for this opportunity to work on this amazing musical. Thanks always to Driscoll, my husband!

Kat has worked on many Broadway productions such as CHICAGO, SPRING AWAKENING, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, and GUYS & DOLLS. Kat has designed various BC/EFA events : BROADWAY BARES, EASTER BONNET and GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITIONS.

Her work can also be seen in BURBERRY print campaigns and L'UOMO VOGUE.

Marquee artwork for AUGUST:OSAGE COUNTY and IN THE HEIGHTS to name a few.

KAT has also had the pleasure of working with Broadway's top actors and actresses for the TONY AWARDS, THE VIEW and many other press events and photo shoots.

KAT is also an accomplished performer and proud member of AEA, SAG and AFTRA

Currently is the lead producer and General Manager of the Critically acclaim series “Celebrity Autobiography: In their Own Words at the Triad Theater that won the 2009 Drama Desk Award for Best Unique Theatrical Experience.  He is in association with Carl Moellenberg on the Broadway productions of Speed the Plow, Hair, and Mary Stuart.  He was the General Manager of the Off Broadway production of “Burleigh Grime$” starring Mark Moses and Wendie Malick at New World Stages in NY.  On stage, produced the weekly comedy series Campaign “04, Unzipped starring Judy Gold at the Zipper Theater in New York, co-produced and general managed the highly successful children’s show “It’s a Magic Al’s World” at Playwrights Horizon’s Peter Sharp Theater, and the critically acclaimed Off Broadway series Singular Sensations with Carol Channing, at the Village Theater in New York City. Fraboni produced the music and the Holiday CD for Fox TV’s Rankin/Bass Christmas Animated Feature, Santa Baby starring the voices of Patti LaBelle, Eartha Kitt, Vanessa Williams, and Gregory Hines.  He was the executive producer for the inaugural season of MLCPA. Fraboni produces corporate rollout shows for Ford, Saab, GM, Chrysler and Delphi’s Roady 2 with Studio Creative out of Detroit and does event planning and production.  He managed and coordinated the national concert tour for two time Tony and Emmy Award winner Bebe Neuwirth and was Associate producer on an the Independent Film, Moving Mike, with St. Jude Pictures that is currently in at festivals.  Currently is the lead producer in association with Daryl Roth on “Vigil”  slated to open September 2009 and Lead producer/General Manager of “From Our Home Town” schedule for September 2009 with 3 other scripts in development.

Jenny Lang  is thrilled to be a part of this amazing production of “Rainbow Around The Sun”.  For the past 10 years, Jenny has been the Production Stage Manager at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, where she has stage managed more than 50 productions.  In addition to her many shows at Lyric, Jenny has stage managed for Los Angeles Opera, Opera Pacific, San Francisco Opera, Florida Grand Opera, New Orleans Opera, Utah Symphony and Opera, Tulsa Opera and the Oklahoma City Philharmonic.  In addition to theatre and opera, Jenny also has extensive experience in the television industry.  Most recently, she was the Talent Coordinator for the 35th Annual People’s Choice Awards.  Other credits include Stage Manager for the 118th Annual Tournament of Roses Opening Ceremonies, Seating Coordinator for the 59th and 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, and Assistant Camera Coordinator for the 79th and 80th Annual Academy Awards.  Jenny is a member of Actors Equity Association and the American Guild of Musical Artists.

wojcik | seay casting is the partnership of Scott Wojcik and Gayle Seay. Using their collective and extensive industry experience, they cast seasons for Riverside Theatre, The Arvada Center and Stages St Louis as well as individual productions at many theatres across the country. They cast and the 2009 tour of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and are working on many developmental projects in NYC which include  “Invisible Life”,“Little Rock”, “Honky!” and “El Diva Del Voodoo”.  www.wscastingonline.com

Katie is a classically trained actress and a trained dancer/singer. With a degree in Classical Acting from LAMDA as well as a Bachelor's degree in Dance from OCU, her resume is a mixture of classical, musical and experimental theatre. She most recently toured the US with performance art/pop group Fischerspooner and will tour Australia and Mexico with them this fall. She has performed in NY and toured with the Rockettes, 42nd Street, (Broadway Revival) and performed in over 25 musical productions. Off and Off Off Broadway productions include the role of Masha in Three Sisters at the Algonquin Theatre and the acclaimed role of Roz G (original monologues written by David Zellnik) in The Four Seasons with The Chase Brock Experience. Katie also starred in the independent film Muah! (release date TBD). She loves collaborating on new and exciting work and is thrilled to be on board with these creative people.

Justin Hall is overjoyed to be working on Rainbow... Having previously worn many hats on stage and off, he is excited to jump into producing and making this the best production NYMF has ever seen. Thanks to Nick and Tom for watching out for me and pushing me in the right direction.

Eric Louie produced KINGDOM as part of The 2006 New York Musical Theatre Festival and has been involved with the development of the piece ever since. The musical has gone to be presented as a part of NAMT's 2007 Festival of New Works and was recently produced by The Old Globe in San Diego, CA and ReVision Theater in Asbury Park, NJ. KINGDOM has been awarded The 2008 Richard Rodgers Award, NYMF's 2006 Most Promising New Musical Award and recieved Best New Musical and Best Book of a Musical awards for the 2008-2009 NJ Theater Season by The Star Ledger. He has produced and developed work for The New York Musical Theatre Festival, The Summer Play Festival, and The New York International Fringe Festival. He assisted Broadway producer Margo Lion on Hairspray and Caroline, or Change. He is currently the assistant to the associate producer and a Van Lier Fellow at The Public Theatre, as well as the Sr. Associate Producer for NYMF. He is also in the midst of finishing his MFA in Theatre Management /Producing from Columbia University on a dean's fellowship. He is thrilled to be working with this amazing group of artists on this kick-ass new musical.

Hugh Hysell is president of HHC MARKETING, an integrated marketing, promotions and services company specializing in entertainment and niche marketing. HHC's clients include over 200 Broadway and Off Broadway shows, TNT Network, The Metropolitan Opera, New York Musical Theatre Festival, FilmandStagejob.com, and BroadwayBox.com. Recent successes include promotional partnerships with Guinness World Records, Starz/Encore, New Jersey Transit, Atkins, Bloomingdale's, AOL, Macy's, Perrier, Continental Airlines, Virgin Airlines, Children's Museum of Manhattan, ABC, Out Magazine, McDonalds, Toys R Us, Bravo, E!, AMC Empire 25, US Postal Service, Perrier, The New Let's Make A Deal, Gray Line Sightseeing, NY Daily News, NY Times, Star Ledger, and Verizon. Hugh is an adjunct professor at Columbia University where he teaches graduate MFA Theatre Management students about Marketing and Promotions for Live Entertainment. He has also lectured at NYU, University of Florida, Out Professionals, and Theatre Resources Unlimited. Hugh is proud to have launched several online medias such as www.HHCevents.com, www.BroadwayInsider.com and www.TheMenEvent.com, all created to better serve his clients.

Wendy Mutz is thrilled to be working on this project with her talented friends!  Wendy is a professional photographer specializing in capturing the passion and excitement of live theatre and concerts. She is based out of Oklahoma City and has shot for NBC/Universal,  Celebrity Attractions, Phoenix Productions and many others.  She is the company photographer for: Oklahoma’s Lyric Theatre, Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre, Oklahoma City University and many more of Oklahoma’s leading professional, community and collegiate theatre companies. Wendy’s photos have been published in Playbill.com,Broadway World.com, Readers Digest and many other national and regional publications.  www.MutzPhotography.com

Joe Trentacosta

springerassociatespr

1501 Broadway, Suit 506, NYC 10036

Office: 212 354 4660