Andy Warhol Was Right (2009)

Daniel S. Acquisto (Music/Orchestrations)

created the music for last year's dance piece Wild About Harry.  He and Sammy Buck created the critically acclaimed Like You Like It and The 7-Year B*tch (both in NYMF) as well as The Frog & The Witch (Vital Theatre Company), and has been commissioned to write a new musical there premiering this Fall.  Other works: Dancing in the Dark, Antigone: The Rock Musical, Tada!, Ten children’s musicals at the Kaufman Center, ATrain Musicals, Raw Impressions.  Daniel has written for film, choirs, and instrumental ensembles and is also a music director, percussionist, arranger, and orchestrator.  MM in Composition: Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.  Member of ASCAP and The Dramatists Guild, Inc.

Sammy Buck (Book)

 wrote the book for the first NYMF dance-musical, Common Grounds (Outstanding New Musical honorable mention). He and Dan Acquisto penned two other NYMF shows, The 7-Year B*tch (Outstanding New Musical, Talkin’ Broadway Summer Festival Citations) and Like You Like It, recently nominated for five Innovative Theatre Awards for The Gallery Players’ 2008 production. Dan and Sammy wrote The Frog and The Witch for Vital Theatre and are currently at work on Vital’s Matthew Takes Mannahatta, which will open in October. Sammy wrote the upcoming feature film Red Hook, blogs for tvland.com, and is an Emmy-winning TV Land Digital team-member. Member: BMI, The Dramatists Guild, Inc. sammybuck.com

Giovanna Sardelli (Director)

Select credits include: Lila Rose Kaplan’s Wildflower, Rajiv Joseph’s plays Animals Out of Paper (Joe A. Callaway Award for Outstanding Director), All This Intimacy (all for Second Stage Uptown), The Leopard and The Fox (Alter Ego), Huck & Holden (Cherry Lane); Absalom by Zoe Kazan (Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival), Lynn Rosen’s Apple Cove (The Lark/TMTP) and Back From The Front; Padriac Lillis’ Two Thirds Home (BrokenWatch); Taking Flight (The Goodman, CTG, San Diego Rep and Sundance Institute Theatre Lab); She was the Staff Repertory Director for The Acting Company for whom she directed The Tempest and spent two seasons as Director of the Shakespeare Sedona Institute. Giovanna received her MFA in Acting from NYU and is a graduate of their Director’s Lab.  At NYU she has directed shows and presentations for the Graduate Acting Program, The Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, the Stella Adler Conservatory, and the Dramatic Writing Program. Giovanna is on the faculty of the Graduate Acting Program and the Department of Dance at NYU. Upcoming: The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez (The Old Globe)

Daryl Gray (Choreographer)

professional debuted as an actor at age 14, was a Broadway cast member in Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ and appeared as a soloist in other shows and with major dance companies, touring worldwide.  His choreography has been seen in dozens of theaters and shows from California to NYC, including at Lincoln Center.  For the concert stage, he has choreographed over 70 works on 5 continents. He has directed and choreographed opera, ice dancing, video, high fashion, industrial and televison shows. His original dance production with singers, “Pirates of Penzance!” voted “Best of the Bay” (San Francisco) has toured internationally and returns to California this Fall.

Darren Lee (Choreographer)

Credits include: Broadway: Associate Choreographer, Pacific Overtures. New York: Bronx Express (Fringe Festival), Stephen Sondheim's 75th Birthday Celebration (New Amsterdam). Regional: The Music Man, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Miss Saigon, (St. Louis MUNY, Paper Mill Playhouse),  Kiss Me Kate, Glimmerglass Opera Festival, Herringbone (La Jolla Playhouse,McCarter Theatre starring BD Wong), Up in The Air (Japan Festival Washington, DC), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Diamond Head Theatre, HI), Chicago (Riverside Theatre, FL), Carnival (UNLV), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Westchester Broadway), Pacific Overtures (North Shore, Cincinnati Playhouse, Atlanta Alliance), Jesus Christ Superstar, Aida, Joseph and the Amazing..., The Fantasticks (MUNY), Guys and Dolls (Trinity University, TX), High School Musical (Lyric Theatre, La Comedia, Casa Manana, High School Musical 2 (Lyric Theatre) Christmas with the Symphony 2007-2009 (Omaha, Symphony). International: Turandot (Tokyo), Copacabana (Japanese Tour), 10,000 Person Show (Tokyo Electric) and many others. As a performer Mr. Lee has appeared in National Commercials, Television, Feature Film and in 10 Broadway shows. Website: www.darrenlee.com

Shea Sullivan (Choreographer)

is a New York City based film, television and theatre choreographer. Selected choreography credits include: the feature film The Big Gay Musical, Dames At Sea (Bay Street Theatre) Pageant (dir Bill Russell), Frog & the Witch (Vital), The Road To Ruin (NYMF ’08), Wild About Harry (NYMF’08), Broadway Bares 18 & 19 (Roseland Ballroom), DanceBreak 08’ (New World Stages),‘09 Easter Bonnet (Nat’l tour presentation), ’08 Gypsy of the Year (Spamalot Company). Regional: Wizard of Oz, The Music Man, Babes in Arms, Anything Goes, Bye Bye Birdie, Thoroughly Modern Millie. Associate Choreographer: Showtime film Bojangles starring Gregory Hines (choreo: Henry LeTang), A Musical Celebration of Broadway (dir: Diane Paulis). Proud member of SSDC and faculty at the Broadway Dance Center, NYC. Shea is the President of SAS Productions, Inc. Upcoming: A Christmas Carol (Ford’s Theatre) and the Broadway bound musical Pageant!  www.SheaSullivan.com. 

Lauren Cluett (Ensemble)

is so proud to appear in her first NYMF show.  Tours: The Producers, Footloose (u/s Rusty, Urleen, Wendy Jo).  Regional: Couer D'alene Summer Theater All Shook Up, La Cage Aux Folles, and Joseph...Dreamcoat.  She attended Point Park University for dance and while there apeared in Dance Spirit magazine.  She has also worked for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion.  All the thanks in the world to my loving and supportive family.

Jeremy Davis (Andy Warhol)

is happy to be a part of ANDY WARHOL WAS RIGHT.  Broadway shows include DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, SOUTH PACIFIC, and, most recently, 9 TO 5.  He's also been seen in tours of THE WHO'S TOMMY and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE.  Jeremy is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan and an AEA member since 1998.  Thanks to Mom, Dad, and Sarah

Trevor Downey (Ensemble)

is so excited to be back with NYMF! Most recently, Trevor made it the Vegas round of So You Think You Can Dance. Favorite credits include Platforms (NYMF '07'), Mr. Mistoffelees in CATS ( Tour plus 3 regional ), West Side Story, La Cage, Sugar, Odyssey Dance Company, DisneyWorld, Cirque Productions, Cirque le Masque, NCL, and will be in Radio City this year in NYC. Trevor thanks is family and friends for their constant love and support. 

Tina Fuentes (Ensemble)

recently returned to the U.S. after teaching at the Institute of Creative Arts in Seoul, South Korea and choreographing their production of Seussical the Musical. Previously, Tina toured with Nickelodeon's Go, Diego Go and Dora the Explorer Live! Regional credits include Grand Night for Singing, Honky Tonk Angels, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story and Tap City. Tina holds a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is thrilled to be making her NYMF debut with Andy Warhol.

Merill Grant (Sherry)

is very excited to be working on this (all dance!!) piece at NYMF!  She began as a ballet dancer training with the Atlanta Ballet but a voice degree lead her to music theatre.  Her solo cabaret "My Shirley Years" returns to the Metropolitan Room  this November 7th and 14th after earning rave reviews at its debut.  She's been a soloist at Avery Fisher Hall with the Little Orchestra Society and danced "Ivy Smith" for the Staten Island Philharmonic's production of "On the Town."  Merrill has originated leads in both NYMF and Fringe Festivals as well as in numerous readings of new musicals.   Some regional credits include leads in West Side Story, The Fantasticks, The Mikado, Wizard of Oz, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, and A Chorus Line.  AEA member currently seeking representation. www.merrillgrant.com

Dexter Jones (Doug)

B'way, Nat'l and Int'l Tour: Black and Blue, A Chorus Line (Richie), 42nd Street (Andy Lee), My One and Only (New Rhythm Boy), Riverdance, Play On!, Sophisticated Ladies and Swinging on A Star. and was nominated for an NAACP Theatre Award for his performance. His television credits include "Loving", "One Life to Live", "All My Children", "Bojangles" (starring Gregory Hines), "The Old Settler" (starring Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen) and PBS Great Performances of "Black and Blue" and "Play On!"

Trisha Kelly (Ensemble)

graduated from the University of Arizona ***** laude with a B.F.A. in dance under the direction of Jory Hancock. After graduation, Kelly studied at the Lou Conte Dance Studio, and apprenticed and performed with River North Dance Chicago, Black Box Productions, StageFactorInc, Oprah, and Francisco Avina. International and tour credits include: Wella's Future Vision Tour, back up dancer for American Idol's Kimberly Locke and Tony award winner Jennifer Holiday, Ballet Jazz de Montreal, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and Oz The Musical starring Dianna DeGarmo. She would like to thank her family and friends for their continual love and support. Namaste.

Erin Moore (Ensemble)

began her dance training in St. Louis, MO. at the Center for Creative Arts and Alexandra Ballet. She has performed in several productions in regional theaters including The MUNY and The Starlight.   She continued her training at the Ailey School/Fordham University and graduated with a B.F.A. in Dance and a minor in Political Science. She then joined Philadanco (The Philadelphia Dance Company). Erin is excited to be participating in the NYMF for the first time.

Alex Sanchez (Senator Wills)

Alex Sanchez is a native Chicagoan who recently moved back to New York after three years in the San Francisco area. Sound confusing? Well, prior to leaving NYC, Alex performed on Broadway in the original cast of The Red Shoes, Carousel(Lincoln Center),Big The Musical,Fosse, Follies(Roundabout Theater),Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Chita Rivera The Dancers Life. Other Broadway shows include Terrance Mcnally's Love,Valor,Compassion, Once Upon A Mattress and Wonderful town. Big thanks to Darren Lee and Melinda Atwood. Love to Wife Lainie and daughters Avelina and Isabela.

Tommy Scrivens (Ensemble)

graduated from The Ohio State University with a BFA in dance performance in 2005. Tommy is a Florida native, where he trained at New Tampa Dance Theatre. He has performed with Columbus Dance Theater, in the United Kingdom tour of Tap Fusion, as a guest artist with BalletMet, Collide, and most recently Parsons Dance. He is currently dancing with dre.dance, Nicholas Andre Dance, MarInspired, and was just featured in the movie The Big Gay Musical movie.

 

Chris Kateff (Projection Designer)

Designs projections and creates artwork for live theater.  Off-Broadway, Chris has designed projections for Wine Lovers (Triad Theater), Die Mommy Die (New World Stages), Esoterica (DR2 Theater), and Platforms--part of the 2007 New York Musical Theater Festival.  He has assisted on several shows including most recently Palace of the End and Walmartopia (Leah Gelpe, designer).  His Broadway assistant design credits include Ring of Fire and Jersey Boys (Michael Clark, designer).  Chris is also an actor and photographer.

Susan Nicholson (Lighting Designer)

In New York City, she has designed The Ortiz Sisters of Mont Haven (Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre), Republic of Poetry and Fire Exit (Medicine Show),  Soaking Wet (WET),  Hedda Gabbler, Vinegar Tom, and Anna K. (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Wild Women of Planet Wongo, Sympathy Jones, River’s End, Ward 9 and the end of season Gala ’07 & ‘08 (New York Musical Festival), Broadway Sings Concert and assisted in the lighting of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and The Who’s Tommy Broadway Benefit.  She lit Chicago at Central Conn. State University.  Regionally, she has design The Producers, The Full Monty, and Funny Girl at the Forestburgh Playhouse, My Fair Lady, A Class Act and Ragtime at Cape Rep, and Shape of Things at Stamford Theatre Works. She has a BA from Purdue University and an MFA from the University of Memphis.

Timothy R. Mackabee (Set Design)

NYC: Mel & El: Show & Tell (Ars Nova), Single Black Female (Duke), Tell Out My Soul & Vrooommm! (SPF),Trout Stanley (Culture Project), Gorilla Man (P.S. 122), Those Who Can, Do (Clubbed Thumb), The King Is Dead (Abingdon), Between Worlds (Blue Heron), Usher, Mello-llama & Armless (Fringe NYC), The House of Bernarda Alba (Prospect)  Dance: Doug Varone’s Alchemy (Joyce), Raw, Beyond The Red (National Tour), & Seed all for Cedar Lake Dance.  Regional: Rough Crossing (Yale Rep), The Story (Philadelphia Theater Co.), Rent, No Child… (Weston Playhouse), Curse Of The Starving Class (U of Rochester.)  Associate/Assistant designer on Broadway for Fela!, Cymbeline, Heartbreak House, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Color Purple, Ring of Fire, ‘night, Mother, Frozen, Losing Louie, Wonderful Town, & Little Women.  Off-Broadway: [title of show.]  Television: The Today Show & Football Night in America.  Film: Margot at the Wedding. BFA: North Carolina School of the Arts, MFA: Yale School of Drama, timothymackabeedesign.com

Kristin Orlando (Production Stage Manager)

Kristin Orlando is thrilled to be a part of NYMF for the first time.  She has worked off-Broadway on A Perfect Wedding at the Bleeker Street 

Theatre.  Other recent productions include multiple shows with Vital Theatre Company and Chelsea Opera. She received her BA in mathematics and theatre from UC Davis, and moved from California last fall to pursue her dream career in theatre.  She is very thankful for the continued support of her family.

Melinda Atwood (Producer)

is the founder and President of the Board of DanceBreak, the premier showcase for new musical theatre choreographers in the country. In 2011, there will be 10 B'way shows choreographed by DanceBreak Alumni. Andy Warhol was Right is the fourth all dance musical that Melinda has produced for NYMF, creating a whole new forum for use of dance in musical theater.

 

DRD Theatricals/Anthony Francavilla (General Manager)

Producing credits: The Living Newspaper (Currently in development) Erotic Broadway at the Triad (starring Brenda Braxton, Nick Smoke, Jennifer Cody and John Selya) The Importance of Marrying Wells (Best Play, Theatre Web), The Fartiste (Outstanding Musical, Fringe NYC 2006), Semi-Permanent (Outstanding Solo-Show, Fringe NYC 2007), Platforms (Outstanding Choreography, NYMF 2007), Fell (FringeNYC 2008; 4-stars, Time Out NY), Half of Plenty (Summer Play Festival) and Wild About Harry (NYMF 2008). Anthony spent one year as Assistant General Manager at Richard Frankel Productions and two years as Operations Manager of Atlantic Theater Company. His professional memberships include the Broadway League, Old Vic/New Voices and MENSA. He was personally awarded the President’s Award for Academic Excellence by President Clinton and President Bush. Anthony was recently admitted to Columbia University’s Theatre Management and Producing MFA program as a Dean’s Fellow. He aspires to take a Virgin Galactic trip to low-earth orbit.

Emily Miller (General Manager )

currently works for the National Corporate Theatre Fund, an association of ten of America’s finest not-for-profit theatres dedicated to increasing the participation of corporations and their employees in support of theatre. Her most recent credits as a free-lance producer include Dreyfus in Rehearsal, Alien the Musical!, Ward 9, Wood, & Sympathy Jones.