Villa Diodati (2008)

MIRA J. SPEKTOR - Composer & Poet - Some quotes from The New York Times: "An interesting composer", "Tonal and attractive", "Graceful music", "A passionate duet", "A sprightly songfest" Welcome to the VILLA DIODATI and its the first fully staged production! This chamber opera with lyrics by Colette Inez, also by Byron, Shelley, Spektor & Wordsworth, has been heard in concerts in NYC, Long Island, with a Meet the Composer Grant in Westchester & in Florida. VILLA DIODATI (Or Mary Shelley Scenes from A life) had two recent readings in the York Theater Reading Series in Saint Peter' Church. Her other Chamber Operas & Musicals include: THE HOUSEWIVES' CANTATA (Lyrics by June Sielgel) produced Off-Bway by the legendary Cheryl Crawford, also in Long lsland, St Paul & Minneapolis;THE PASSION OF LIZZIE BORDEN (libretto by Ruth Whitman) heard in NYC, SUNY in Buffalo, Ottebein College & video taped by Prattt Institute; LADY OF THE CASTLE (Ms Spektor's libretto, based on an Israeli play by Lea Goldberg) produced in NYC & Long Island, in a German Translation in Berlin and in the Barbican Center in London. LADIES OF ROMANCE, a program of her One Act Musicals & Mini-Operas, heard at theThalia and Triad Theaters in NYC and Guild Hall in East Hampton. She has written Chamber Music and many French, German & English Recital & Cabaret Songs; Music Scores for Feature Films and PBS-TV and has recorded for Westminster, Concert Hall, Guilde International du Disque, Original Cast Records, Capstone and AirPlay. She is Producing Artistic Director of THE AVIVA PLAYERS who, since 1975, perform & present Chamber Music and Songs by Women Composers of the12th to 21st Centuries. Born in Europe, a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, her memberships include BMI, Dramatist Guild and League of Professional Theater Women. Her latest book of poems is THE ROAD TO NOVEMBER. Mira , Colette and all of us from the Villa Diodati, wish to thank BookHampton Booksellers for their generous support! Contact: mirajspektor@earthlink.net

Rob was a Theatre Consultant for Home Box Office in New York City from 1985-1989. He received an M.A. from the University of Nebraska and a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon, and directed over forty plays at theatres across the country before returning to New York in 1995.

Since that time, Rob directed a workshop production of Hazelwood Jr. High, his first play, for the Directors Company. The play was then directed by Scott Elliott for the New Group, starring Chloe Sevigny. A scene from the play is published in Smith & Kraus's "Best Stage Scenes 2000." Rob curated Lunatics & Lovers: A Strindberg Salon for the Culture Project, and his adaptation of Miss Julie in Hollywood, which was part of that event, transferred to the 78th Street Theatre Lab. His adaptation of Mary McCarthy's short story, Cruel & Barbarous Treatment, which premiered at the Culture Project, transferred to Israel Horowitz' Gloucester Stage Company in Massachusetts (Ten Best Productions of the Year, The Boston Phoenix.)

Rob directed Staceyann Chin's Border/Clash for the Culture Project, James Armstrong's Foggy Bottom at the Abingdon, Pirandello's The Man With the Flower in His Mouth for Classic Stage Company, Angel Street at the Pearl Theatre, Maria Irene Fornes' Springtime at HERE, the premiere of Eric Bogosian's Griller for Lincoln Center Directors Lab, Kirk Bromley's Syndrome at the Greenwich St. Theatre, and Bromley and Jessica Grace Wing's Lost for the 2003 New York Fringe Festival (Best Musical).

Since receiving a Fellowship from the Drama League in 1995, Rob has enjoyed a continuing relationship with that organization. He has served on the Selection Committees for the Fall Directors Program, the Summer Directors Program, the New Plays Program, and the Drama League Nominating Committee. For the Drama League, he directed Inge's The Boy in the Basement at Westbeth, Max Sparber's Cruelties as part of their New Works Program, Tom Grady's Global Village for their New American Plays Initiative and Sparber's The Older Gentleman as part of the Vital Drama League Alumnifest.

Rob directed Kirk Smith's Deluge at Concordia College, Wasserman's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at the University of Oregon, Hellman's The Children's Hour for Bloomsburg University, Anderson's Bad Seed at Doane College, Guare's Landscape of the Body and Shakepspeare's The Winter's Tale at the University of Nebraska, and Jeff Whitty's Suicide Weather at New York University. At the Blue Barn Theatre in Omaha, he directed Toxic Avenger: The Musical! for which he wrote book and lyrics, and Sparber's Cruelties & Chelsea: From A to B and Back Again.

Rob is Director of New Play Development at Queens Theatre in the Park, where he curates the Immigrant Voices Project, a new play program which develops plays by writers who represent the diverse demographic of New York City. IVP has presented over thirty readings, workshops and full productions including Andy Bragen's Greater Messapia and Qui Nguyen's Trial By Water. At QTP, he has directed many plays including Marry Me A Little with Brent Barrett and Sally Mayes, Angel Street, Over the River and Through the Woods, I Love My Wife, Master Class and Max Sparber's Minstrel Show or The Lynching of William Brown, which he then directed at the Connelly Theatre in Manhattan, the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburg, the Blue Barn Theatre in Nebraska and Theatreworks in Colorado. Also at Theatreworks, Rob directed Kiss Me, Kate with Robert Westenberg and Kim Crosby, and his adaptation of Cole Porter's Nymph Errant (Best Musical, Denver Post).

His play, Karaoke Night at the Suicide Shack, premiered at QTP directed by Dan Fields and Alex Aron. The People Speak, his adaptation of Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove's "Voices of a People's History of the United States" premiered at the Culture Project in September 2006 as part of the Impact Festival. His new musical, Shangri La, based on the sixties girl group, opened at QTP in November. Recently, he directed Suzan-Lori Parks' 365 Days/365 Plays at QTP and the Public Theatre. His new play, West Moon Street, based on a novella by Oscar Wilde, was presented as part of The Acting Company's Salon Series, with Dana Ivey and by the Prospect Theatre Company in New York directed by Davis McCallum. Rob also recently directed Jan Buttram's The President and Her Mistress at the Abingdon Theatre and Minstrel Show or the Lynching of William Brown at New Jersey Repertory Company.

Three productions that Rob has directed, Lost, Syndrome, and Border/Clash, and one that he wrote, Hazelwood Jr. High, were selected to be videotaped for the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Rob is a member of the Dramatists Guild, and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers He is represented by Bruce Ostler at Bret Adams Ltd.

Andis Gjoni was born from artist parents and grew up near the stage of the Albanian National Opera Theater, where his father conducted and his mother played the piano. Successful realizations include sets for musical shows such as “West Side Story� and “Kiss me Kate� at National Opera Theater Albania. Other credits include “Mina� at LaMama Theater, “Uncle Vanya� Sonet Repertory, “Half� Abingdon, “PB&J� Fringe Festival, “The higher education of Khalid Amir� at NY Midtown Festival, other productions include “Miss Juli� by Strindberg, “The Servants� J. Genet, “In the name of the people�, “The Unnamed Star�, “Outside it Snows�, “A stupid and a half� etc. He has participated in many International Theater Festivals in US and Europe and is a guest designer of various New York based companies. His achievements include also solo exhibitions of art works and installations in different countries all over the world.

COSTUME DESIGN NYC: Prospect Theatre Company (The Pursuit of Persephone, The Alchemists, The House of Bernalda Alba, Iron Curtain, The Flood, The Blue Flower, HONOR), Resonance Ensemble (Sherlock:Solo, The Coffee Trees, The Cherry Orchard, Mail Order Bride, La Tempestad, Lower Depths, Time to Burn), Milkcan Theatre Company (Twelfth Night, Ashes, Peace), 78th Street Theatre Lab (Oklahoma Samovar, Bomber's Row), Boomerang Theatre Company (Henry IV, Prelude to A Kiss, Amphitryon, Monster Tales), Oberon Theatre Ensemble (Cockfighters, Of Mice and Men, Measure for Measure), It's Karate Kid the Musical! At La Tea, Love According to Luc at The Greenwich Street Theatre, Fit to Kill at the 42nd Street Stages, Crazy for the Dog at Jean Coctaeu Rep, Follow Me, the Musical for Praise Motion Inc., and Hell House for Les Freres Corbusier EDUCATIONAL, Laguardia High School Opera Department (The Mikado,The Merry Widow, Orpheus in the Underworld, Dido & Aeneus, Orfeo et Eurydice, Alcina), Hofstra University Spring Dance concert 2002-2005, Actor's Studio Drama School 2004 Repertory Season, SUNY Stonybrook (Orfeo et Eurydice) ASSISTANT DESIGN: Producers (1st and 2nd National Tours, Las Vegas), Hairspray (1st National Tour and Toronto), Christmas Carol in Madison Square Garden (2002-2003), Double Feature (New York City Ballet), Saddle Up! (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre), The Nutcracker (San Francisco Ballet), Going to St. Ives (Primery Stages), The Spirit of the Tiger (Six Flags Great Adventure), Doctor Dolittle (National Tour), Waiting for Godot (St. Clements), Company (Cinncinnati Playhouse and Broadway), The Most Happy Fella (New York City Opera), Jenoufa (Glimmerglass Opera), Peter Grimes (The Metropolitian Opera), A Catered Affair (Broadway and The Old Globe) Sidney is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon School of Drama, and winner of the 2005 IT Award for Costume Design.

For Inverse Theater: Me (Ohio); No More Pretending (Ohio);
The Death Of Griffin Hunter (Brick); Three Dollar Bill (Center Stage);
Syndrome (UTC61 Neurofest); Bangers Flopera (NY Fringe, NYMTF); Lost
(NY Fringe, Connelly); Midnight Brainwash Revival (Theatorium). Recent
productions: Cat’s Cradle and Hiroshima, Crucible of Light (UTC61,
Walker Space); Harry Partch’s Delusion of the Fury (Japan Society); John
Jesurun’s Philoktetes (Soho Rep, Kaaitheater -Brussels, Festspielhaus-
Berlin); The Increased Difficulty of Concentration (UTC61 HavelFest, Ohio
Theater); Timothy Reynolds’ Le Lycanthrope (Kraine); Byron and Emily Go
to Work (Dublin Fringe). Other theater artists he has designed for include
Ellen Stewart, Frank Corsaro, Natsu Nakajima, Stuart Sherman, John
Vaccaro, Robert Wilson, and Gian Carlo Menotti.

Jennifer G. Birge (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working on the NYMF again! She was last here in 2006 on the production of THE PAISLEY SISTERS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. Broadway & off-Broadway credits include: BETTY RULES, MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL, PERA PALAS & THE LION KING. National Tours: AIDA, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, and ALVIN AILEY II. Los Angeles credits include: HAPPY DAYS: THE MUSICAL and RED DOG HOWLS, Last year, Jennifer toured Europe with Cirque du Soleil on DELIRIUM. Teaching/University credits include: NYU, Princeton University, University of Central Florida, and Trinity University in San Antonio. Member of AEA since 1996.

Marisol Rosa-Shapiro is a theater director and artistic producer from New York City. She recently made her New York producing debut with Eliza Clark’s Edgewise at the Studio at Cherry Lane Theater, and currently serves as a Producing and Artistic Associate for Prospect Theater Company. During the 2007-2008 season, Marisol served as a Directing and Producing Assistant at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ, where she assisted directors Mary Zimmerman, Daniel Fish, Rebecca Taichman, Producing Director Mara Isaacs and Artistic Director Emily Mann, and helped produce readings and workshops of new plays by Will Power, Steven Dietz, Jose Rivera, Tarell Alvin McCraney and GrooveLily. This June, Marisol made her McCarter Theatre directing debut with Echo in Silence: Things Left Unsaid, part of the McCarter Education Department's Youth Ink! Festival of Short Plays. She served as Producing Artistic Director of Princeton Summer Theater in 2007.

Shane Schnetzler. New York: The Agony and the Agony and The Internationalist both for the Vineyard Theatre.. Bye Bye Birdie! (Roundabout), Do Not Do This Ever Again and Heistman both for the Ice Factory Festival. Goodbye April, Hello May (HERE). Regional: Living Out, Crimes of the Heart, In Morpheus’ Arms. Shane is a recent graduate of The College of Santa Fe with a BFA in Stage Management.

TOM ROWAN is currently the casting consultant for Queens Theatre in the Park. He has also served as Literary Manager for The Ensemble Studio Theatre, Literary Assistant for the Denver Center Theatre Company, and Artistic Director of The Mirror Players. He came to New York in 1998 as a Drama League Directing Fellow, and is a playwright as well as a director. More info is on his website at www.tomrowan.net.

MICHAEL RABINOWITZ is thrilled to be making his casting debut in NYC. He just returned to NY after completing a year's casting apprenticeship at McCarter Theatre Center. At McCarter, Michael assisted in casting: Edward Albee's Me Myself and I, A Seagull in the Hamptons, Tartuffe, A Christmas Carol and various readings and workshops. Michael currently works for Warner Brothers Television Casting.

ELIZABETH CHERRY Off-Broadway: The Fantasticks (Luisa) Sullivan St. Playhouse, Out Of The Ruins (Student/Persephone) Ensemble Studio Theatre. Regional/NY Theatre: Titanic (Kate McGowan) Virginia Musical Theatre, A Christmas Carol (Belle/Fred's wife) Alabama Shakespeare Festival, West Side Story (Maria) Human Race Theatre Company/Dayton Ballet, Redemption (The Nurse)/Robert and Hal (Susan)/Antigone (Antigone) Golden Fleece Opera Company, Carnival (Lili) Rockwell Productions, The Fantasticks (Luisa) Dorset Theatre Festival, Butley (Miss Heaseman) Centenary Stage Company. Film: Two Weeks Notice (Masseuse), The Nanny Diaries (Linda). www.elizabethcherry.com

Mark Campbell just finished a year and a half on the road clad in spandex in the National Tour of Mamma Mia covering and performing as all three fathers. NY credits: From Gershwin to Berlin (Algonquin Theatre), Vincent (Wings Theatre), Berlin (Theatre 315), Twelfth Night (Pulse), King Lear (Hudson Guild), and the Lingoland workshop (York). Favorite region credits include: The Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Harold Hill in the Music Man, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Ravenal in Showboat, and Phantom in Yeston’s Phantom. Love to the world and his family for letting him pursue his passion.

Sal Sabella is pleased to be a part of "Villa Diodati". Most recently, he was seen on the national tour of "Phantom of the Opera" where he covered and performed the title role many times. Other credits include: ShowBoat(Carnegie Hall), Camelot(Northshore Music Theatre), Great Expections: The Musical(Mill Mountain Playhouse), Babes in Toyland(Lincoln Center), Godspell(2001 National tour and cast recording), The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber(National Tour). Along with many other shows and concerts in NYC and regionally. Sal is grateful to be doing what he loves. Many thanks to his family and friends for their support.

Lauren Hauser is excited to be making her NYMF debut! She just returned to the city after playing Cosette in Les Miserables at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. New York credits include the title role in Madame Bovary: the Musical at Theatre 5 (dir. by Elizabeth Falk). Favorite regional credits: Les Miserables (NSMT), Pompeii: the Musical (dir. by Tom Briggs), Pump Boys and Dinettes (Prudie), Hamlet (Ophelia), Into the Woods (Baker's Wife), Ragtime (Evelyn Nesbit), Uncle Vanya (Yelena). International: Frontier Review/ Horseshoe Round-up (Tokyo Disneyland). Lauren holds a BA from the University of Alabama. Proud membership candidate of AEA.

Sarah Arikian is excited to be a part of Villa Diodati. She considers playing the roles of Mother (Ragtime), Polly (The ThreePenny Opera), and Yum-Yum (The Mikado) to have been highly rewarding and instrumental in her development as a vocal performer. Her experience in contemporary opera includes creating the role of Jill in Christian McLeer's contemporary opera SHOT!, and appearing as Rachael Stitcher in Susan Stoderl's opera A.F.R.A.I.D. Sarah has performed regionally in Connecticut, Virginia, Georgia and Florida. Other credits include: Guiletta (Capuleti ed i Montecchi), Papagena (Die Zauberflote), L'Ecureuil (L'enfant et les Sortilleges) and Sesto (Giulio Cesare). Joshua Rosenblum of Opera News Online has praised Sarah for "infusing her sustained notes with passion". She received a BM from Manhattan School of Music and a MA from NYU, both in Vocal Performance. Sarah counts herself lucky to have such supportive family and friends.