Jack Perry is Alive (and Dating)  (2011)

Harrison David Rivers (Book Writer & Lyricist)

Harrison David Rivers’ play When Last We Flew received the 2011 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Off Off Broadway Play and the 2010 FringeNYC Excellence in Playwriting Award (2010 Sundance Theater Lab/NYTW/Lincoln Center Directors’ Lab/NYTW/Freedom Train). Other plays include look upon our lowliness (The Movement Theater Company), lydie, or (s)he who looks inside, awakes(Williamstown Theatre Festival FreeWrite/New Dramatists), the bandaged place (NYTW/Dartmouth), And She Said, He Said, I Said Yes(Joe’s Pub/HERE) and we are misquoted texts, made right when you say us (Be Company/3LD Art & Technology Center). His short plays have been produced at the Atlantic Theater, Atlantic Stage 2, Second Stage, Joe’s Pub and the American Airlines Theater on Broadway. Harrison was a 2010-11 Van Lier Fellow (New Dramatists) and a 2009-10 Emerging Artist of Color Fellow (NYTW). He is currently a semi-finalist for the P73 Playwriting Fellowship. Harrison holds an MFA in Playwriting from Columbia University.

Daniella Shoshan (Book Writer & Lyricist)

Daniella Shoshan is a New York (formerly of New Jersey) playwright. Recent projects include: An Improvised Explosive Device: an MTV war story (FringeNYC 2011); Pluck & Tenacity (winner, Samuel French OOB Festival 2011); Yes We Can (Down Payment Productions, Walkerspace); Ya Heard Me (SFOOB 2010); They Call Him Young Lou (MFA Thesis Productions, The Cherry Pit). MFA: Columbia University, 2010; BFA: NYU, 2006. She has been mentored by Kia Corthron and Stephen Adly Guirgis. She bakes crazy delicious cookies.

Julia Meinwald (Composer)

JULIA MEINWALD's music for theatre has been heard at the York Theatre (NEO5), the Cherry Lane Theatre (Edgewise), Barrington Stages (Bill Finn Presents Ridiculously Talented Composers and Lyricists That You’ve Probably Never Heard of But Should), Goodspeed Opera House (Shelter), and the Hangar Theatre (The Adventures of Haarlem Berlin.) She was a 2009-2010 Dramatists Guild fellow, where she developed Pregnancy Pact with her collaborator Gordon Leary. Pregnancy Pact received the 2011 Weston Playhouse New Musical Award and enjoyed two sold out concerts at Ars Nova. The show was also selected for the Yale Institute of Musical Theatre, where it received a workshop in New Haven under the direction of Mark Brokaw, and then for the 2011 NAMT conference.  Julia's one-act musical, Disappeared, also with Gordon Leary, was produced at Prospect Theatre Company and received a workshop as part of the Lincoln Center Director's Lab. She is also developing a musical called Le Fou with lyricist Rob Shapiro and playwright Bekah Brunstetter.  You can hear Julia’s music on the internet sitcom Inconvenient Molly as well as in the score to short films featuring Josh Gad (The Losers), Matt Walsh (Breast Picture) and Mary Louise Parker (Wing Woman.) Her dance show commission from Mark Morris dancer John Heginbothom premiered at Joe's Pub in 2010.  Julia's full-orchestra score for the computer game The Judgment of Quintus was recorded by the Davenport Pops, and the game is expected for release in 2012.  A proud participant in the New Dramatists 2008 Composer Librettist Development Program, Julia was also a resident artist with American Lyric Theatre.  She received her BA in music from Yale University and her MFA from NYU Tisch's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. www.juliameinwald.com

Pirronne Yousefzadeh (Director)

Pirronne Yousefzadeh's work has been seen at The Public/Joe's Pub, Playwrights Horizons (Samuel French Festival), Soho Rep, Ars Nova (2009 & 2010 ANT Fest), HERE Arts Center, The Woodshed Collective (The Tenant), Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Cherry Pit, Atlantic Theater School, Collective: Unconscious, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Milwaukee Rep, Power Plant Productions, Walnut Street Theatre, and Hangar Theatre, where she was a 2006 Drama League Directing Fellow. Pirronne received her M.F.A. in Directing from Columbia University, where she was a Shubert Presidential Fellow and Matthews Fellow. She studied with Anne Bogart, Robert Woodruff, and Brian Kulick, and directed Big Love, Fool for Love, and many devised pieces. Pirronne trained at Shakespeare's Globe in London, and graduated with a B.A. in Theatre and English Literature from Washington University. She is an Emerging Artist Fellow at New York Theatre Workshop, member of the 2011 Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, affiliated artist at New Georges and member of The Jam, member of the Old Vic New Voices Network, and an alumna of the Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab, Drama League Directors Project, and Resident Director Program at Ensemble Studio Theatre. Pirronne was invited to participate as a director in a collaboration class at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, taught by Oskar Eustis and Rinne Groff. She recently joined the faculty at Bard High School Early College, and is a directing mentor at Fordham University and a teaching artist at Two River Theater Company. Pirronne continues to train in Suzuki and Viewpoints with SITI Company. www.pirronne.com

Justin Huebener (Line Producer/General Manager)

Justin is a New York based producer and general manager. Justin graduated cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis with majors in Drama and Dance and was the recipient of the John G. Jutkowitz Award for Outstanding Achievement in Performing Arts. Previous NYMF production experience includes The History of War, The Great Unknown and Travlin’. Justin previously appeared in the national tour of CATS and has worked with theatres such as Stages St. Louis, The MUNY and Theatre at the Center. When he is not “putting things together” Justin is a marketing and asset management professional in the real estate group of a leading global alternative asset management and financial services company.

Jack Perry (Jack)

Jack Perry is thrilled to be making his debut at NYMF with Jack Perry is Alive (and Dating). Previous credits include Jack Perry is Alive (and Dating) at Ars Nova, Blue Balloon at The New York Theatre Workshop, and FELL at the New York International Fringe Festival. You can see Jack in the upcoming Italian feature film Il Giorno in Piu, out in December, and the short film Milk and Strawberries, out in January 2012. You can also catch him on episodes of 30 Rock and Ugly Betty.  Jack completed a BA degree in Theatre Arts from Penn State University.

Charles Baskerville (Logan/Julio/Milan's BF/Mark)

Charles is thrilled to be making his NYMF debut in JACK PERRY IS ALIVE (AND DATING)! Previous credits include the national tours of Avenue Q (Gary Coleman) and Jesus Christ Superstar. Workshops/Readings: Caligula Maximus (Calistus & Others), Punk! the Musical (Reggie), and Frank Wildhorn's Havana. Many thanks to Michael Cassara Casting, the Luedtke Agency, and to my friends and family for their never ending love and support in all things!

 

Melissa Joyner (Val/The Waitress)

A graduate of The New School with her MFA, Joyner's NY theatre credits include: Melissa in He Said, She Said, I Said, Yes (The Public), Jermaine in Generation Graffitti (Playwrights Horizons), Angela Metcalf in Fell (NY Fringe Festival), Anna in Old Times (59 East 59th), Sparkle in Body Shots (The Atlantic), Portia in Street Lights, A Musical (NY Musical Theatre Festival). Regional Credits include: Kanika Weaver in Permanent Collection (Human Race Theatre), Erzulie in Once on this Island (Northwest), Lady in Orange in For Colored Girls...(The Ring Theatre). Television: "Damages", "The Morning Show". Film: Three Blind Mice, Carrie II. www.Melissa-Joyner.com.

Jake Loewenthal (Tad/Milan/The Cabbie)

Jake Loewenthal NYMF: Open the Dark Door, I Got Fired: A Revenge Musical, and A Puppet Music Thing. Other New York credits: BUNKED!(Fringe NYC – Best Production of a Musical 2010) and Viral Video (Manhattan Rep). Other credits include The Williamstown Theatre Festival Late Night Cabaretand 508 in the WTF Workshop. B.A. in Theatre, Fordham University. 

Josh Sauerman (Henry/Joe/Smoothie Guy/Ben)

Josh is a graduate of the MFA acting program at Columbia University.  Favorite roles at Columbia include Prospero in The Tempest, Piero/Leo in Big Love, and Trofimov in The Cherry Orchard.  New York credits include Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (CSC), Malvolio in Twelfth Night (CSC), Candide in Candide Americana (NY Fringe/Rabbit Hole), and the actor playing Bill Viola in What Happened to Bill Viola (Ars Nova ANT Fest).  Favorite regional roles include Leo Frank in the Philadelphia premiere of Parade (Villanova), and Howard in Death of a Salesman (Chautauqua).  Thank you to the brilliant cast and crew of Jack Perry, and particularly Pirronne for yet another truly enjoyable collaboration.

Remy Kurs (Music Director)

NYMF: Once Upon a Time in New Jersey (2010). Other NY credits as music director and/or orchestrator include I Married Wyatt Earp, The Hidden Sky, The Dome, Onward, Map Quest (Prospect Theater Co.), The Morning After the Night Before (FringeNYC), Rocket Science (reading, Playwrights Horizons). Beyond NY, Remy’s orchestrations were heard this year in Iron Curtain at the Village Theatre in Washington.

Clare Cook (Choreographer)

Clare Cook's work has been seen at HERE Arts Center, Ars Nova (2009 & 2010 ANT Fest), New York Fringe Festival, Berkshire Fringe Festival, Philly Fringe, Planet Connections (Best Choreography Award), the Bohemian National Hall and JCC Manhattan with Opera Slavica, and at NYU (Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program), Columbia University, and The New School for Drama. Her work ranges from contemporary dance, experimental theater, musical theater, opera, film and everywhere in between. As a dancer, Clare has performed in venues such as Dance Theater Workshop, St. Mark's Church, Joyce Soho, La Mama, Duo Theater, and Webster Hall among other venues with choreographers Carlos A. Cruz Velazquez, ChristinaNoel Reaves, Yin Yue, and expandance/Rachel Wynne. She is originally from Louisiana, where she performed extensively with the Cangelosi Dance Project and presented work at the Manship Theater, LSU Union Theater, and Heymann Performing Arts Center. In Summer 2010, Clare joined the Louisiana State University as guest faculty, teaching modern dance in the Department of Theater. She holds an M.F.A. in dance from NYU-Tisch where she is now on faculty teaching pilates and she is also a teaching artist with the Metropolitan Opera Guild. For more info visit www.claremcook.com

Dara Malina (Assistant Director)

Dara Malina is a Brooklyn based director with a passion for physical theatre, new plays, and silent performance. She is thrilled to be working with Pirronne Yousefzadeh on their second project together! Dara has worked with Women’s Project, TEAM, La MaMa ETC and Performance Lab 115. She is the Artistic Director of her theatre company, inverted hermit. Recent projects include:  Les boudoirs des deux femmes—an original performance art piece (chashama; Bushwick SITE Fest), Plight of the Apothecary (BAX) and Barnaby by Liza Birkenmeier (Winner Best Show, BoCoCa Arts Festival),Monster Literature series by Daniel John Kelly (Brooklyn Lyceum/Irondale), and Associate on The Money Show (HERE Arts Center). She graduated with a BA in Drama from Washington University in St. Louis where she received the John G. Jutkowitz Prize in the Performing Arts. Next, she will be collaborating with Caitlin Saylor Stephens on I LOVE DEAD THINGS. For more visit: www.daramalina.com and www.invertedhermit.wordpress.com

Matt Brogan (Scenic & Graphic Designer)

Matt Brogan is a consultant with Cosler Theatre Design and an active designer for stage and print. Matt was recently named one of NYTheatre.com's "People of the Year 2010." Recent credits include: Balm in Gilead (T Schreiber Studio, IT Award Nom), An IED (Fringe NYC 2011), Galaxy Comics (Film), Lone Star / Laundry and Bourbon (Left Hip Productions). Matt was previously assistant to Tony award-winning David Gallo, credits include: Gem of the Ocean (B'way), Bare (Off-B'way), The Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus (Nat'l Tour). As a consultant, Matt is responsible for the planning, design, and equipment specification at major performing arts centers, schools and universities. Matt is a graduate of Colgate University and plays guitar with 'Blue Kid'. www.mbrogan.com

Mike Inwood (Lighting Designer)

Mike Inwood is a freelance lighting designer based in New York City. Past NYMF productions include Mo Faya! (2009) and Step (2007). His recent work has been seen at HERE Arts Centre, Ars Nova’s ANT FEST, Ensemble Studio Theatre, PS122, The Brick, The Ontological Hysteric Theatre and St Mark’s Church, as well as productions with Nice People Theatre (Philadelphia) and the Utah Festival Opera. Internationally, his work has been seen at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Scotland), the Firehall Arts Centre and Scotiabank Dance Centre (Vancouver, Canada), L’Agora de la Danse (Montreal, Canada) and Chapter Arts Centre (Cardiff, Wales). As part of the artistic collective The Mad Ones, he designed Samuel and Alasdair: A Personal History of the Robot War (winner of multiple New York Innovative Theatre Awards, including Outstanding Production of a Play). Mike holds a MFA from the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. www.mikeinwood.com

 

Amy Pedigo-Otto (Costume Designer)

Amy Pedigo-Otto is so thrilled to be a part of NYMF for her second year! She last designed A Rainbow Around the Sun, and Lighter: the Musical in 2009! As a freelancing designer in NYC her designs have been seen at Ars Nova, NYMF, Stella Adler Studios, St. John's Chappell Players, Columbia Stages, Hudson Guild Project, Sarah Lawrence College, APAP Dance Showcase, Estrogenius Dance Festival and 2nd Ave. Dance Co. Regionally she has worked for Summer Repertory Theatre, Alpine Theatre Project, Curtain Call Theatre, Plano Repertory Theatre and NYSF. She has assisted and shopped for Broadway, Regional, Off-Broadway, Film and T.V. She has her masters from NYU. Thanks always to her sweet husband, Driscoll!

Eben Hoffer (Sound Designer)

Eben Hoffer is an actor and sound designer from Portland, OR. Since relocating to Brooklyn in 2010, he has worked for The Kitchen, Dance Theater Workshop, The Chocolate Factory, Palissimo, Williams College, Magic Futurebox, SITI Company, Target Margin Theater, The Civilians, Lincoln Center Theater, and others. His band, Urban Growth Boundary, ispretty cool. His company, Dead Copycats, is opening its inaugural production Ghost In The Machine at Theater For The New City on October 13. He loves his family. tumblr.urbangrowthboundary.com

Liz Elise Richards (Stage Manager)

Liz Elise Richards is excited to be making her NYMF debut. Most recently, Liz was the manager for the East Village Theater Festival and Lipshtick at Dixon Place. She also managed the critically-acclaimed Balm in Gilead (T. Schreiber Studio) and The All-American Genderf*ck Cabaret (Paradise Factory). Other favorite credits:  The Changing Room, Joking Apart, Fifth of July, The Real Thing, Twelfth Night (all with T. Schreiber Studio), Lizzie Borden (2010 Drama Desk nominee) and Children At Play (both with The Living Theater). www.lizeliserichards.com.

Sunny Naughton (Social Media Coordinator)

Sunny Naughton is thrilled to be apart of the social media team for “Jack Perry is Alive (and Dating)” - a show in which new media plays a huge part.  Studying Media and Journalism at The New School, Ms. Naughton also works for Camp Broadway as their Program Coordinator and Social Media Correspondent.  A former perform her self, Sunny was seen in the National Tour of ‘Annie’ as the Orphan Swing and Child Wrangler.  Ms. Naughton is thrilled to be apart of her first NYMF show, combining two of her favorite interests, theatre and social networking!

Zachary Laks (Associate General Manager)

Zachary Laks is a theater arts enthusiast originally from Deerfield, IL with an undergraduate degree in Theater Management from Ithaca College. Zach works at 59E59 Theaters as the Assistant to the Executive Producer. Zach has held numerous positions at a variety of performing arts organizations around the country, most notably at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Center, Santa Fe Opera, and The Goodman Theater. "Go with what you know."