All Fall Down (2009)

Selda Sahin (Music/Lyrics) is a graduate of New York University and a current member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop advanced class. In addition to her work with Greg on All Fall Down, with collaborator Carl Danielsen she is writing the lyrics to an adaptation of the novel, Persuasion. This month, they had a reading produced by Musical Mondays. They are also working on a new musical, Pittsburgh. Her songs have been presented at BMI Smokers, the Zipper Theatre as well as various bars in New York City. In addition to writing, she spent more than two years assisting Lonny Price on a number of shows including the Broadway productions of Urban Cowboy and Master Harold. . .and the boys as well as regional and concert productions of Candide, Can-Can and Sunday in the Park With George. She also assisted Price on the Emmy Award winning Lincoln Center production of Stephen Sondheim's Passion (with Audra McDonald, Patti Lupone and Michael Cerveris). Among other projects, she directed a production of Unlock'd (2004 Richard Rodgers award winner, 2007 NYMF Best of Fest winner) at NYU.

is a graduate of New York University’s Department of Dramatic Writing (BFA, ’03) and Musical Theatre Writing Program (MFA, ’05).  A 2008 Semi-Finalist for the Disney Fellowship in Feature Film, Greg is currently developing his play The Gift Exchange into a screenplay.  In May of this year, The Gift Exchange will make its European premiere at the Keller Theatre in Germany following a May 2007 run in New York.  His new musical All Fall Down, written with Selda Sahin, was a finalist for last year’s Eugene O’Neill National Music Theatre Conference.  The musical is based on his play All Fall Down which was produced at the NYU Festival of New Works in 2002.  Other past productions include The Eastern Standard Time Series (Manhattan Theatre Source, 2003), Tea (Manhattan Theatre Source, 2006), and Revival (FRIGID New York Festival, 2007).  The latter received an Audience Favorite Award.  His one-act musical with composer Lee Huff, Preservation, was given a reading at NYU in 2004.  His original musical The Gifted, also with Huff, was read at NYU in 2005 and is being revised for future production.

LONNY PRICE just finished shooting his first feature film, MASTER HAROLD…and the boys, starring Freddie Highmore and Ving Rhames.  He directed Gabriel Byrne in the PBS Live From Lincoln Center broadcast of CAMELOT (also starring Christopher Lloyd, Stacy Keach and Fran Drescher). For Great Performances, Leonard Bernstein’s CANDIDE (starring Kristin Chenoweth and Patti LuPone), as well as Stephen Sondheim’s SWEENEY TODD (with Ms. LuPone and George Hearn), for which he won the Emmy. His production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s PASSION (starring Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald and Michael Cerveris) won an Emmy as well. Other television credits include his filming of the acclaimed Broadway revival of COMPANY, for which he received an Emmy nomination. 

On Broadway, Lonny directed Audra McDonald in 110 IN THE SHADE for the Roundabout Theatre Company, Danny Glover in Athol Fugard’s “MASTER HAROLD"…AND THE BOYS, Joan Rivers in SALLY MARR AND HER ESCORTS (which he co-wrote with Ms Rivers and Erin Sanders), Jenn Colella in URBAN COWBOY, and himself in A CLASS ACT, for which he also co-wrote the book (with Linda Kline) and was nominated for a Tony Award.

Favorites among his off-Broadway work include VISITING MR. GREEN starring Eli Wallach, Jules Feiffer’s GROWN UPS, and Mary Pat Gleason’s STOPPING TRAFFIC for the Vineyard Theatre. He made his opera directing debut at the Houston Grand Opera directing Audra McDonald in Pulenc’s LA VOIX HUMAINE and Michael John LaChiusa’s SEND.

Matt Cowart has worked with Lonny Price on over 10 productions in the last three yeas, including: Broadway: Three Generations at the Kennedy Center [Co-director of Bye Bye Birdie], Camelot with the New York Philharmonic starring Gabriel Byrne, Christopher Lloyd and Fran Drescher, which was broadcast on PBS, Live from Lincoln Center [Associate Director]; My Favorite Things, a Rodgers and Hammerstein revue starring Shirley Jones [Associate Director]; Beautiful Girls, a new Stephen Sondheim revue [Associate Director]; the Broadway revival of 110 in the Shade starring Audra McDonald [Assistant Director]; and Kiki Baby, a new musical he directed at the Eugene O'Neill Music Theater Conference; Matt isthe Co-Artistic Director of MUDasMAN productions with collaborator, Isaac Klein. With MUDasMAN, Matt has directed Appalling Revelations: The Trials of Niles Kindley, dreamscape, Lacy Hoodoo, and co-directed the prophecy of isaiah. Recent directing credits include: Dream Machines, a new musical he co-wrote and directed; the world premiere ofWe Three [Clark Studio Theater, Lincoln Center], the critically acclaimed Salacious Uncle Baldrick [NYC Fringe], and [sic] by Melissa James Gibson [78th Street Theater Lab]. Matt was a 2004/2005 Kenan Directing Fellow at the Lincoln Center Institute, is an alumnus of the 2005 Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, and a member of the Society for Stage Directors and Choreographers. Matt graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2004 with his degree in directing. 

Josh Rhodes's choreography credits include BROADWAY: THREE GENERATIONS at the Kennedy Center, WORKING at the Old Globe, BARNUM at the Asolo Rep(Sarasota Theatre Award), and the Maltz Jupiter, 1776 at the Papermill Playhouse, BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO at the Ogunquit Playhouse, CHESS, and DREAMGIRLS at the North Carolina Theatre, BONNIE & CLYDE at NYMF, HIGH SPIRITS at the York, ALL SINGING ALL DANCING and BROADWAY BY THE YEAR-1954 at Town Hall, and numerous opening numbers for Broadway Care’s GYPSY OF THE YEAR, EASTER BONNET COMPETION, and BROADWAY BARES. Josh was the assistant choreographer for the Broadway, West End, and national touring productions of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, and he was the associate choreographer for the workshop of AMERICAN IDIOT. His performance credits on Broadway include: Fosse, Bells are Ringing, Sweet Smell of Success, Urban Cowboy, Man of La Mancha, The Boy From Oz, and Chicago. 

Jenn Colella has starred on Broadway in High Fidelity and Urban Cowboy (Outer Critics Circle Award nomination, Outstanding Leading Actress). Off-Broadway, she played the title role in Beebo Brinker Chronicles (Lily Tomlin-producer). Other Off-Broadway credits include the improvisation show Don’t Quit Your Night Job, and Slut.  Favorite regional credits: Georgie Bukatinsky, The Full Monty (Paper Mill-with Elaine Stritch), Annie Oakley, Annie Get Your Gun (PCLO), Cleo, The Times, They Are A-Changin’ (Old Globe), Peter Pan, Peter Pan (Sondheim PAC), Daisy Hilton, Sideshow (Kennedy Center). Television: “Can You Tell,” “Cashmere Mafia,” “Rescue Me.”  Film: Lay It Down For Good, Uncertainty (with Joseph Gordon-Levitt).  Before journeying to NYC in 2003, she was a stand up comedienne at the world famous Laugh Factory and at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles.  Jenn holds an MFA in Acting from UC Irvine.  

This one’s for Jeny and Lonny.  

Casey Predovic has recently returned from work shopping and performing Jesse McKinley’s new play THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING in the role of Bill Dunder for the Lake George Theatre Lab. Casey is a 2009 graduate of The University of North Carolina School of the Arts where he appeared as; Richard in AH WILDERNESS, Tig in Balm in Gilead, Madame in THE MAIDS, and Finch in HOME OF THE BRAVE.  In New York City, Casey played the role of Chris in VIOLENT CHILD for the Ensemble Studio Theatre Octoberfest.  He has also appeared in multiple seasons at the Monomoy Theatre on Cape Cod as; Scapino in SCAPINO!, Puck in A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, Malcolm in MACBETH,  Barnaby in THE MATCHMAKER and Oscy in THE SUMMER OF ’42, to name a few. 

Broadway:  Dwayne Rhodes in “9 to 5, the Musical”, Bobby Strong in “Urinetown, the Musical!”.  1st national tour:  Bobby strong in “Urinetown”.  Off- Broadway:  The original company of “Tick, Tick…Boom!”,  “I Love you, Your Perfect, Now Change”, “Don’t Quit your Night Job”, “The Last Starfighter”, and the New York premier of “Cock and Bull Story”.  Regional: Steve Jobs in “Nerds// A Musical” at the Philadelphia Theater Company, Paul Bertolet in “Carnival” at the Paper Mill Playhouse, Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar” at Sacramento Music Circus, Jerry Lukowski in “The Full Monty” at The Gateway Playhouse and Eddie in “King of the Moon” at The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.  TV/Film: “As the World Turns” (recurring), “All My Children”, “Law and Order” and “P.S. I love you”.  Love to Vanessa, Hud and Sloane!  Check out www.charliepollock.com.

MARY TESTA: Broadway:   Guys and Dolls,   Xanadu (Drama Desk nomination), Chicago, 42nd Street (Tony nomination), Marie Christine, On the Town (Tony nomination) …Forum, The Rink, Marilyn, Barnum. Off-Broadway: Regrets Only, See What I Wanna See (Drama Desk & Drama League nominations), First Lady Suite (Drama Desk nomination), String of Pearls (Drama Desk nomination), The Vagina Monologues, From Above (Obie), others.  Film:Eat, Pray, Love, The Bounty,  Four Single Fathers, Stay, Sleepers,  others. Television: Electric Company, Life on Mars, Cashmere Mafia, Sex and the City, Whoopi, others.

Raul Abrego is a set designer for Opera, Theatre and Television and has designed for the Juilliard Opera Center and the Spoleto Opera Festival in Italy.  Recent credits include Art Direction for America’s Next Top Model  Cycle 10 and the television pilot CS Chai. Raul will be designing Post No Bills a play by Mando Alvarado for the Rattlestick Theatre Company. 

Dream Machines- Open Dream Ensemble- Kaboom-NYFringe- 7 Days- (feature film) Those Guys That Girl Film Production; Launch of MUDasMAN- MUDasMan Productions; Baby With The Bathwater- GroundUP Productions; Kikibaby- (workshop) Primary Stages-Lonny Price; Adventures of Ezra Jack Keats- Weston Playhouse. A Graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts. 

John Burkland (Lighting Designer) New York: Lincoln Center Institute, Jazz at Lincoln Center, DR2,  La Mama E.T.C., Sonnet Repertory, HB Playwrights Studio, Guggenheim Arts and Process, The Blue Heron Arts Center  NYC Fringe, and The Summer Play Festival. Regional: Papermill Playhouse, Studio Theater, Studio Theater 2ND Stage, Theater Alliance, Luna Stage, Long Acre Lea, MetroStage, Rorschach Theater, The John F. Kennedy Center, The Bay Theater, Williamstown Theater Festival, The Actors Theater of Atlanta, Bellingham Theater Guild, Andrea Dance, Big Apple Circus to Go, and the Dance Gallery among others. Education: North Carolina School of the Arts

David Dabbon is a Composer/Music Director/Arranger.  He assisted on Roundabout Theatre Company’s Second Workshop of Tin Pan Alley Rag. David has worked at Pittsburgh CLO as part of the music staff for the past three summer seasons.  He was arranger and conductor for the Richard Rogers Award ceremony, honoring Shirley Jones.   He was arranger for the annual Gene Kelly Awards in 2008 and 2009.   He wason the staff at Goodspeed Opera House for their revival of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. From 2006 to 2008, he was on the faculty at Pittsburgh Musical Theater, teaching music and tap classes to students interested in the arts. He holds a Master’s in Choral Conducting from Carnegie Mellon a Bachelor’s from the Hartt School of Music. Currently, David Dabbon is teaching Sight Singing for Actors, at Pace University and Montclair State University’s Music Theatre Programs. He is the composer of the new musical American Family[Festival Winner], which he wrote with his collaborator Tom Bruett.

www.dabbonbruett.com.

Michael Alifanz (Stage Manager).  Recent credits: Summer Shorts 3 (59 E 59), Broadway Backwards 4 (American Airlines Theater), The 24-Hour Plays on Broadway (American Airlines), Artfuckers (DR2), the 24-Hour Musicals (Blender Theater, Joe’s Pub), The Last Starfighter (NYMF), and Daughter of a Cuban Revolutionary (DR2).  Other credits includeKissing Fidel (by Eduardo Machado), points of departure, and Tight Embrace, all with INTAR Theatre. Michael was the PA for The American Plan (MTC, Friedman Theater).  He earned his MFA in Stage Management from Columbia University. 

Joanna Lynne Staub (Sound Designer) has served as a Sound Designer at Ensemble Studio Theatre, NYSF/The Public Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, BAM, Lincoln Center Directors Lab, Hangar Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, White Plains Performing Arts Center, National Black Theatre Festival, NYMF, SPF, and NYC Fringe Festival.  She has Assistant Designed the Broadway shows Exit the King, The Seagull, and August: Osage County.  Her audio engineering credits include on Broadway:  Desire Under the Elms, Les Miserables (‘06 revival), Is He Dead?; National Tours:  Pippin (Goodspeed Musicals), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Saturday Night Fever, and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular.  She is a graduate of Ithaca College and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Michael Cassara, CSA (Casting Director) has cast over 35 new musicals in NYMF since the festival’s inception in 2004, and has served as the Resident Casting Director for the festival since 2007.  Recent regional theatre: Old Globe, Olney, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, and more. Other recent credits include Bus Stop (dir. Austin Pendelton), the films Clear Blue Tuesday and Alienated, and 11 shows in this year’s NYMF.  Member, Casting Society of America.  Please visithttp://www.michaelcassara.net