Ward 9 (2008)

This will be Matt's his second foray into the NYMF.  Last year he was seen as the fight double for the renegade Jesus clone super-soldier in JC2K (YouTube it!).  He has also toured internationally with Cirque du Soleil's Quidam as The Target and appears on the video release.  His New York credits include A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden (the Tumbling Granny), Radio City, New York City Opera, The Met, and Off B-way in Funny Feet.  Regionally he has performed at The Kennedy Center (Carnival! '07), Goodspeed, The Ford's, The Alliance, TUTS, Great Lakes, and the North Shore.  Films; The Producers, Nanny Diaries, and Wigstock the Movie (back up dancer for Lipsynka).  His favorite roles are White Faced Clown in Barnum and Protean in Forum.   Matt also has developed an act for aerial straps.

Alexander trained with the Boston School of Ballet and the School of American Ballet. He was a member of the Joffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and Twyla Tharp Dance. Mr. Brady was part of the original Broadway cast of Movin' Out as well as The Times They Are A Changin' both choreographed and directed by Tharp. He has also danced with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Dances Patrelle, and most recently, with the Mark Morris Dance Group in Romeo and Juliet. Film credits include Across the Universe and Julie and Julia.

Kate just recently moved to New York from Southern California and is so excited to be a part of this show! Thank you to Matt and everyone involved with Ward 9! Regional roles include: Eliza in My Fair Lady, Marian Peroo in The Music Man, Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, Maria in The Sound of Music, Fiona in Brigadoon, and Dot in Sunday in the Park with George. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine (magna c. laude '01) and holds a post-graduate degree in acting from the Oxford School of Drama. Proud member of Actor's Equity. www.KateChadwick.com

Trey is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he grew up competing in diving and gymnastics, in the latter he won the 1990 U.S. National Championships and placed 6th at The World Championships for Sport Acrobatics.  Under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy, he received a BFA from the Juilliard School. Dance companies to his credits include The Icelandic National Ballet (Reykjavik, Iceland), Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, Alwin Nikolais Dance Theatre, Glimmerglass Opera, The Metropolitan Opera Company, New York City Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre, Mark Dendy Dance Theatre, Buglisi/Foreman Dance and Antigravity, Inc. For several years Trey has also been choreographic assistant to Lila York and Lynne Hockney Taylor, creating ballets for the San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, The Royal Birmingham Ballet and the Juilliard School. Film credits include The Watchers, Helena and American Primative.  Trey made his Broadway debut in Movin' Out, choreographed by Twyla Tharp with the music of Billy Joel. Other Broadway and regional credits include Barnum, Candide, Damn Yankees, The Most Happy Fella and The Pirates Of Penzance. Currently, Trey is the Associate Choreographer for the new musical Angels and will be choreographing the opera Lucia for Opera Louisiane.

David recently danced in West Side Story at the Tuts Theater in Houston, in Damn Yankees at the North Shore Music Theater in Boston and in Grease at the Starlight Theater in Kansas City. He has danced for the Jeffrey Ensemble. As a member of Momix, he performed at the Joyce Theater and toured nationally and internationally. He has worked with Eglesky Ballet and Rebecca Kelly Ballet. He has recently performed with the Chase Brock Experience at the Fire Island Dance Festival, Gypsy of the Year, and at Dance New Amsterdam. He choreographed West Side Story for the Westhill School and also choreographed and produced an original piece, "Sid in the City" at the New Dance Group in New York City. He also choreographed We Were Always Coming Back, a new rock ballet for CW Post's spring concert at Symphony Space. In September he will perform a new work at the CW Post faculty concert. Dave holds a BFA in Dance from Joffrey Ballet School/New School University.

Tiffany is extremely grateful to be a part of Matt's original work! A Florida State BFA Music Theatre Graduate, she has done the national tours of All Shook Up, Smokey Joe's Cafe, and Fame. Favorite regional credits include Kiss Me Kate at Papermill Playhouse, Hairspray and Aida at Maine State Music Theatre, and Once On This Island at Seaside Music Theater. Her most memorable perfoming experience was dancing as a back-up dancer for the French singer Mylene Farmer in Paris in 2006. In 2009 Tiffany will join the national tour of Mary Poppins. "I'm just blessed to actually be doing what I love. Love and light to all!!!

Kelly is thrilled to channel the essence and artistry of Sylvia Plath through this innovative new work!  A native of WI with a degree in psychology from UW-Madison, Kelly has danced in the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall for the last five years.  Past credits include Mame (Kennedy Center), The Producers (Pioneer Theater), Tommy (PCLO), Camelot (Atlanta TOTS tour), Cats (Marriott Theatre Lincolnshire), Fame (Switzerland) and Tokyo Disney Sea.  Her favorite job this year was touring the Hawaiian Islands while performing on NCL's Pride of America with her husband, Adam. Proud member of Actors Equity.  Thanks to my supportive family, Adam, Matt and Mark for this wonderful opportunity!

Travis received his BFA in Dance from the Boston Conservatory where he was privileged to work with such greats as Yuriko, Murray Louis, Luis Fuente and Jennifer Scanlon. Regional credits include Swing! The Musical at the Country Playhouse and Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Arvada Center. Travis will also be appearing in the upcoming film Clear Blue Tuesday with choreography by Chase Brock. In NYC he is a guest dancer with the Metropolitan Opera and will be returning in November to work on Mark Morris' Orfeo ed Euridice and Daniel Pelzig's La Sonnambula. Travis is a proud member of AEA and AGMA.

Sal has played major roles in the original casts of three shows for Hal Prince: Magaldi in Evita, Bismark in On The Twentieth Century and Pirelli in Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (for which he can be seen on the DVD with Angela Lansbury & George Hearn).  For director Trevor Nunn, Sal was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award and won the Boston Theatre Critic Award as Gus/Growltiger in Cats and appeared opposite Glenn Close in Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles and on Broadway.  He received the Helen Hayes Award for Cameron Mackintosh’s production of The Fix at the Signature Theatre in DC, the St. Louis Theatre Critics Award for his performance as The Phantom in Ken Hill’s The Phantom Of The Opera, and played Herr Schultz in the Broadway and First National companies of Sam Mendes & Rob Marshall’s Tony Award-winning production of Cabaret.  He also appeared in the original Broadway casts of Something’s Afoot, Welcome to the Club and the original workshop of Elton John’s Aida.
Last season Sal appeared as Andrew Carnes opposite Shirley Jones in Oklahoma! at Pittburgh's CLO. He has appeared opposite Faith Prince in Guys & Dolls, Norm Lewis in The Fantasticks, stood by for both Yul Bryner and Rudolph Nureyev in The King and I, and played Pangloss in Papermill Playhouse’s Candide.
He has appeared on multiple episodes of “Law and Order”, and is soon to be seen on the TV series pilot “The Unusuals”.  He can also be seen in the feature films Stepmom and the soon-to-be-released The Narrows directed by Francoise Velle opposite Kevin Zegers /Sophia Bush & Vincent D'Onofrio among others.  Recently Sal did a presentation in New York of a new play: The Crooked Man and appeared in a new musical workshop of Cuba Libre directed by Graciela Daniele.  Visit: www.salmistretta.com

As an actor John has performed in the original cast of Rug Rat Live, Grease, Joseph, Funny Girl, Guys and Dolls and Pippin. As a choreographer he has choreographed for the soon-to-be off Broadway hit Pink Elephants featuring ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money" star Candice Cane. His work was been seen at Broadway Bares #15,16 ,17 and 18 in collaboration with Dennis Jones for Jerry Mitchell. Currently, the house choreographer for Live! with Regis and Kelly, His other television credits include work for ABC, CBS, and NBC promos featuring high profile artist such as Queen Latifah, Little Richard, and Ben Vereen. John is the creator of the NYSC/All Shook Up and Sweet Charity Broadway Workout.  His abilities have also taken him to work with the likes of Nike and Warner Bros. He is the writer of a new musical comedy entitled Lbs. It is a funny but real look at being full sized in a half sized world. John puts back his performance hat for Matt because he thinks Matt is a genius and couldn't pass up working with someone as talented and creative as Matt. www.johnniep.com

"Annie" is thrilled to be making her NYMF debut in WARD 9. A native of Chicago, she trained at Gus Giordano and was a member of Northstage Theater Company. Upon moving to the east coast, she attended the S.U.N.Y Purchase Conservatory and has since then received extensive training in dance, theater and voice all over New York City. She was a founding member of House of the Roses Dance Company under the direction of Jeff Shade, doing the ordinary with extraordinary love. Most recently, she assisted director/choreographer Scott Thompson with Broadway Ballroom for Princess Cruise Line. Theatrical credits include: Jack Frost (Jack), Cats (Bombalurina), Sweet Charity (Rosie), Christopher (Lady in Waiting), Oklahoma! (Dream Laurey), Cabaret (Fritzie), Bye Bye Birdie (Sad Girl), You're A Good Man Charlie Brown (Lucy), The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Tango Dancer), Showboat. Off-Broadway: The Tempest (American Globe), Clara's Christmas Dreams (Stage Right Prod.) and The Devil Is An Ass. She thanks God for all the blessings in her life (PHIL 4:13).

Michael holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theater from New World School of The Arts in Miami, Fl.  He recently made his New York debut, performing with the New York Philharmonic in the production of Camelot at Lincoln Center.  Other past credits include: A Chorus Line, Cats, and Tokyo Disney.  He is thrilled to be a part of WARD 9, and hopes it will receive the praise it deserves. Proud member of Equity.

In 2007, Matt received the NYMF Award for Best choreography for his work in Platforms starring Ted Levy (Jelly's Last Jam) and Deborah Yates (Contact). Matt is the resident choreographer for the New England Tour of Circus Smirkus. Matt is also a resident co-producer for the Broadway choreographic showcase Dancebreak in which he was also a choreographer in 2004. In 2006, Matt's choreography debuted at the Tony-Award winning Alley Theatre in Scott Schwartz's production of Much Ado About Nothing.

On Broadway, Matt interned for and assisted Jerry Mitchell on the revival of Gypsy. Matt's choreography has also appeared at Lincoln Center, Irish Reparatory Theatre, La Mama, The Rubicon Theatre, and the Stamford Center for the Arts. Matt's is currently re-staging his choreography for the MetroStage and Geva Theatre productions of Paul Scott Goodman's Rooms (NYMF '05) directed by Scott Schwartz and starring Natascia Diaz and Doug Kreeger. Matt also holds the title of "Big Piano Choreographer" at FAO Schwarz Toy Store in New York City where he continually recreates and reinvents the world famous piano dancing scene from the hit film Big. Matt holds a BFA in choreography from UC Irvine. Praise God for all the blessings! Visit: www.MattWilliamsChoreographer.com

Greg is an historian, a dramaturg, and a stage manager. As an acting student at New York University, he studied at the Circle in the Square Theatre School. He first studied dance while working at the Joffrey Ballet as assistant to choreographer Gerald Arpino. Gregory received a BA in History from St. Edward's University (Austin, Texas) and an MA in History from San Francisco State University. On Broadway and on tour he has stage managed; Movin' Out, Footloose, Swing!, The Music Man, A Chorus Line, Aida, Jay Johnson: The Two & Only, and Monty Python's Spamalot. He was also the dramaturg for the Twyla Tharp/Billy Joel musical Movin' Out, as well a casting associate for both the Broadway and National Touring productions of the show. In addition to his work with choreographer Matt Williams, Gregory is also an artistic associate for Rasta Thomas' dance company, The Bad Boys of Dance. Gregory is currently working on a research project on behalf of the Jerome Robbins Foundation. The end result will be a published reference Catalogue detailing the entirety of Mr. Robbins' creative output.

Mark is thrilled to be working with Matt Williams again. Last year in this same festival, Mark directed Gemini - The Musical which won a best actor award for Linda Hart.
For Disney Theatricals, he directed the world premiere of Aida - School Edition at North Shore Music Theatre. Other musicals include the midwest premiere of Zombies from the Beyond, the first licensed production of the new Irving Berlin musical I Love A Piano! (Best Director: Arizona Theatre Award), TheatreMemphis' season-opening productions of Hello, Dolly! and A Little Night Music, regional productions of The Pajama Game, Camelot and The Last 5 Years. Plays: The Heidi Chonicles (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), regional productions of The Cripple of Inishmaan, The Complete History of America-Abridged, Scapin, and the original productions of Jitter, Heroes, Big Kids, and Don't Ask (Winner Best Director - NY Fringe Festival 2006). He is an associate artist with Florida's Seaside Rep. where he has staged True West, The Complete Works of Williams Shakespeare-Abridged, The Underpants, and their currently-running production of David Lindsay-Abaire's Fuddy Meers.
Mark serves as an Associate Producer of DanceBreak. He is a founding member of the First Look Theatre Company, Outrageous Fortune Theatre Workshop (formerly Circle Rep.), and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation's Artists' Action Committee advisory panel. His assisting credits include: the Broadway Revival of The Women (directed by Scott Elliott-SSDC Observership recipient), the Broadway production of An Almost Holy Picture (Kevin Bacon's coach), The Castle (directed by Scott Schwartz), The House of Mirth (directed by Giles Havergal at A.C.T.) NBC's Will & Grace (directed by James Burrows-SSDC TV Observership recipient), and was nominated for the Mike Ockrent Fellowship in Musical Theatre for Stephen Sondheim's musical Bounce.
In a past life, Mark worked in New York and Los Angeles as an actor, musician and Broadway usher. He also served as the Managing Director of what became the largest and most lucrative AIDS fundraising event in the world: the Boston-New York AIDS Rides presented by Tanqueray. NYU Tisch graduate. Alumni of the Commercial Theatre Institute's 14-week Producers Training Intensive. Member SSDC. Visit: www.MarkRobinson.net.
Trivia: He spent his 24th birthday attending the first preview of Carrie - The Musical.

Beethoven (1770-1827) was a German virtuoso pianist widely considered to be one of the most respected and influential composers of all time, and a crucial figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western classical music.

After studying with Joseph Haydn - and under the influence of Wolfgang Mozart - he quickly gained a reputation as a virtuoso pianist and innovative composer. His prolific output includes nine concertos, countless ballets, chamber compositions, choral works, violin sonatas, operas, piano sonatas, works for solo voices and orchestra, and the completion of nine symphonies (including Symphony No. 5 in C Minor - which begins with the world's most recognized 4 musical notes).

Beethoven's hearing gradually deteriorated beginning in his twenties, yet he continued to compose masterpieces, and to conduct and perform, even after he was completely deaf. After he lost custody of his nephew during a prolonged court battle, he went into a decline that led to his death on March 26, 1827 during a thunderstorm.

Emily Miller has worked for the producers of Wicked, Hairspray, Spelling Bee, The Wedding Singer, Urinetown, Cry-Baby, and Ever After. As a freelance producer, Ms. Miller's most recent credits include the premiere staging of Wood at the Gene Frankel Theatre and now at NYMF and Sympathy Jones starring Kate Shindle at the 2007 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Mr. Pierce operates a NYC-based design studio specializing in the production design of Broadway, touring, and international stage productions. With his team of artists, Edward provides first-class development and management of designs.  Notable collaborations include the Tony Award-winning musical Wicked with Eugene Lee (Broadway, US Tour, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Tokyo, Stuttgart, Melbourne), The Pirate Queen, Elton John's Aida, Ragtime, Cabaret, Noise/Funk and The Tempest.  Mr. Pierce also provides designs for large-scale events, most recently Pope Benedict XVI's Mass at Yankee Stadium in NYC. www.edwardpierce.com

In New York City, Susan has designed The Ortiz Sisters of Mont Haven (Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre), Republic of Poetry and Fire Exit (Medicine Show), Hedda Gabbler, Vinegar Tom, and Anna K. (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Wild Women of Planet Wongo, Sympathy Jones, River's End and the end of season Gala (New York Musical Festival), Broadway Sings concert and assisted in the lighting of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Broadway Benefit. She has spent six summers at the Forestburgh Playhouse designing The Producers, The Full Monty, and Funny Girl. Also regionally she has designed for Cape Rep, lighting The Full Monty, Blithe Spirit and Ragtime and Shape of Things at Stamford Theatre Works. She has a BA from Purdue University and an MFA from the University of Memphis.

Chris 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.  Chris is also an actor and photographer. 

Michelle is glad to be back in New York after spending the past 2 seasons stage managing over 25 ballets for Houston Ballet. Favorites include The Merry Widow, Don Quixote, Madame Butterfly, Cinderella, Petite Mort, Gershwin's The Core, Jerome Robbins' The Concert, and A Doll's House. New York credits: The Lion King, Bridge and Tunnel, Jumpers, Dance of the Vampires, Hairspray (1st National Tour), Lone Star Love, Minimum Wage, Broadway Under The Stars, and World AIDS Day benefit concerts of Children of Eden and The Secret Garden. Thanks to family and friends for the never ending support and encouragement of my shenanigans.

Jennifer is honored to be assisting her husband and to be part of such a great team of professionals working on Ward 9. A recently retired soloist from the New York City Ballet, Jennifer performed for the last 18 years at Lincoln Center and around the world. While dancing featured roles in many of George Balanchine's greatest ballets, she has also had the privilege of personally working with such great choreographers as Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, and Christopher Wheeldon. Passionate about being a positive role model and encouraging young people, Jennifer has now set her sights on becoming the best ballet teacher she can be. Thankful to God for dreams coming true.

Chris studied dance at the University of California, Riverside. In his time there, his choreography was showcased by the faculty in many performances. Christopher then performed in regional theatre throughout Southern California, being featured in shows such as 42nd St., A Chorus Line, Anything Goes, and My Fair Lady. In 2005 he moved to New York City. He was a 2nd tenor in the inaugural season of the New York City Master Chorale. He then performed with, "NYC's Dance Makers" founded by former members of American Dance Machine. Then seen as a principal dancer in the DSMR project. His choreography has most recently been seen in the New York Jazz Choreography Project, and the Steps on Broadway Performance Lab, which received rave reviews. He is thrilled to serve as Matt Willams' asst. choreographer at New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Off-Broadway: Altar Boyz, The Awesome 80s Prom, Perfect Harmony. National Tour: Stephen Schwartz's Captain Louie. New York: The Wild Party (The Culture Project), Capture Now (workshop), Glimpses Of The Moon (The Oak Room). Other credits include: Jihad: The Musical (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), The Concert for Mother Earth (featuring: Joan Osborne, The Bacon Brothers, Jen Chapin, and Eddie Money). Carlos is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and a proud member of Actor's Equity.

Paul Hardt, along with Stuart Howard and Amy Schechter, have cast hundreds of shows over the past 25 years in the USA, Canada and Great Britain. They are currently represented by the Pulitzer-Prize-winning August: Osage County an the upcoming Broadway Revival of West Side Story. Among their past favorites: Broadway: Gypsy (Tyne Daly), Chicago (Bebe Neuwirth, Anne Reinking), Sly Fox (Richard Dreyfuss), Fortune's Fool (Alan Bates, Frank Langella) and the original La Cage Aux Folles. Off-Broadway: I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change and The Normal Heart. For the NYMF, Paul cast Have A Nice Life, which won an award for Best Ensemble Cast, and Gemini - The Musical which won an award for Outstanding Performance.

Kevin P. Mcanarney (KPM ASSOCIATES) has a varied background in public relations, casting and management. Kevin has handled major concerts on Broadway; international dance attractions and special events at the Metropolitan Opera House, NY State Theater, Carnegie Hall and others including two Katharine Hepburn tributes as well as the first NYC Academy Awards benefit. He did national press for: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL for four years and helped to open Mystere, in Las Vegas; tours of the Bolshoi Ballet, Red Army Song and Dance Ensemble to only name a few. For six years, he represented the DRAMA DESK AWARDS. He was honored to be the B'way press rep for Love! Valour! Compassion! (the first show ever to win the 5 top New York Theatre Awards in one season including the Tony, Outer Critics Circle, New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Obie Awards).
KPM Associates was the Broadway press agent for Dame Edna: the royal tour; Some other NYC clients include: A R Gurney's Sylvia; Children's Defense League; Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Alisa Alonzo); Theater Hall of Fame, Julio Bocca and Ballet Argentino, National Dance Week; Madrid's Ballet Ullate; the musical john and jen; Moiseyev Dance Company, American Ballet Theatre, Moisés Kaufman and the award-winning hits Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde and The Laramie Project as well as 10 seasons representing Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College.  He handles Career Transitions for Dancers, Les Ballets Grandiva, CTFD Galas, Gateway Playhouse, Alchemy Theatre Company and many others.
Mr. McAnarney managed the Cape Cod Melody Tent; Beacon Theatre, and a 13-city tour of the musical Camelot starring Rock Hudson. He was also a union treasurer and box office manager. He was a member of the organizing of Broadway Cares and helped write the mission statement; as well as an organizing member of B'WAY (Better Wellness And You), the Wellness Committee for the theatre industry. Kevin is serving his eleventh term as an elected member of the Board of Governors of ATPAM (Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers). He was appointed to the Broadway Alliance committee for two years.  And for the past six seasons been a TONY Awards voter. Contact: KPMAssociates@aol.com