The Most Ridiculous Thing You Ever Hoid (2010)

ANDY SEILER (lyricist, co-writer) wrote about film and entertainment for USA TODAY for many years. He’s also written for The Home News-Tribune and The Courier News in New Jersey. He’s written songs with Jim Beckerman for 30 years. He currently lives in Washington D.C.

JIM BECKERMAN (composer, lyricist, co-writer), writes about arts and entertainment for The Record newspaper in New Jersey. He has also written for The New York Times, Film Comment, and many other publications. As a keyboardist, he’s played with such bands as The VooDudes, The Hammers, The Noisy Neighbors and Nine Below Zero; his own solo album, “Born to Boogie,” came out in 2000. He now lives in South Amboy, N.J.

FREDERICK WEMYSS (co-writer) is a short story writer and Marx Bros. fan who can often be found reading his work in and around Huntington, NY, where he works as a bookseller. 

DONALD BRENNER (SSDC) directed the Off-Broadway production of Emmy Award Winner Sherman Yellen's DECEMBER FOOLS at Abingdon Theatre Company and A TALE OF TWO CITIES at the Mint Theatre Company. He directed the Lincoln Center production of ALI BABA, an original adaptation utilizing middle-eastern musicians, dance and storytelling and the world premiere of BEYOND GRAVITY by Ruth Wolff at New Jersey Repertory Company. 

New York Theatre: Harold Prince's Lovemusik (Broadway), An Evening of Kurt Weill (Lincoln Center), Minnie's Boys, The Calamity of Kat Kat and Willie, Mabou Mines Dollhouse (Off-Broadway). North American Tour: Fiddler on the Roof opposite Topol, Harvey Fierstein and Theodore Bikel. Regional: Merrily We Roll Along (Helen Hayes Award), Reefer Madness! (Ovation, Garland Awards). Workshops: Jason Robert Brown’s 13, The Final Tour with Sally Field, Sundance Cabaret with Carol Burnett, The Year is 1950 helmed by Frank Galati, John Kander and Ann Reinking. Film: Falling Star, Brother, Kinetoscope.

The Fantasticks! (Long Wharf Theatre); Under Milk Wood, Threepenny Opera (Williamstown); Peter Pan & Wendy (A.R.T.); Charlotte's Web (TheatreWorks USA). Film credits include: Keeping the Faith dir. Edward Norton; Jack dir. Francis Ford Coppola. Jonathan has a BA in Theater Arts & Art History from Drew University. HONK HONK!

New York: Desert Sunrise (Theater for the New City) Tony N' Tina's Wedding (AI) Authenticating Eileen (Tin Lily). Regional: The Balkan Women (Bristol Riverside) I Hate Hamlet (Cortland Rep) Dealer's Choice (Walnut St. Theater) Arithmetickles (ArtsECHO). TV: Law & Order, One Life To Live. Founder/Producer of STuFF FiLMS sketch comedy group and member of Red Tie Mafia Improv.

Liliane Klein is delighted to join Ridiculous!Career highlights include the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle award nomination for her portrayal of Helen the Bay Area premiere of Fat Pig as well as Elliot Norton and IRNE award nominations for the New England premiere; national tours of Titanic, the Musical and Scrooge the Musical; multiple productions off-Broadway and regionally with Musicals Tonight!, La Mama E.T.C., Imua! Theatre Company, CT Free Shakespeare, Foothills Theatre Company, and the Ivoryton Playhouse; Terry the Turtle in Kid Fitness on PBS; and the vocal tracks for Mama Rose on Stage-Stars Karaoke CD of Gypsy. Thanks to Mamama, Mommy, Daddy, Sophie, Muesli, and Matt :) www.angelfire.com/folk/lilianeklein

Credits include Wicked, Les Miserables, Sweeney Todd, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Baby, A Chorus Line. BFA from The Boston Conservatory.

Broadway: The Little Mermaid (Ariel u/s, Swing), Erotic Broadway (The Triad), Miss Pell is Missing (Louise Pell, Midtown theatre fest). Tours: Sweet Charity, Beauty and the Beast, My Fair Lady. Regional: Beehive (Wanda), A Wonderful Life (Violet), Cats (Rumpleteazer) and several others.

Warren Freeman makes his NYMF debut with this Ridiculous show. Favorite credits: My Fair Lady National Tour, Bye Bye Birdie at Encores!, Me and My Girl, Goodspeed; Fame, North Shore; Mame, North Carolina Theatre; A Chorus Line, Gateway.

New York: Screen Play The Flea, Higher Education of Khalid Amir MITF, Stoop On Orchard Street (& nat'l tour), Lighter musical reading, The York. One man show, Made For Each Other, Planet Connections (nominated for Outstanding Actor – Solo Show).

A veteran of New Jersey/New York Rock and Juke joints, Dave has been playing in bands including The Cucumbers, The VooDudes with Jim Beckerman  and currently with Barbecue Bob and the Spareribs.

David S. Cohen, PSM, is excited to be working on this project with so many talented artists. David has worked for many companies in NYC and across the nation, such as: The Juilliard School, Chelsea Opera, Artscape, Holland America Cruise Lines, Georgia Shakespeare, FoodPlay and more. Many thanks to the cast and crew, for all their hard work during this process. 

David is so thrilled to be working on his first NYMF show, and his first lighting design in New York City.  He fell in love with all things Marx Brothers when he designed the set and lighting for ANOTHER original Marx Brothers musical called Its Top Secret!, which ran for six weeks in Los Angeles this summer.  He is a recent transplant to NYC from Los Angeles, and studied design and production at York University in Toronto, Canada.  Currently, his scenic and lighting design can be seen onstage in LA with Elevator, a new production receiving critical acclaim, and hoping to transfer to Off-Broadway next season.  www.elevatortheplay.com

Neal J. Freeman is a director, producer, and writer based in Brooklyn.  He serves as Executive Director of The Gallery Players where he recently directed Top of the Heap (NYMF 2007) in a production nominated for a NY Innovative Theater Award for Outstanding Musical Production.  Neal is a member of the SDC and The Lincoln Center Directors Lab, and an Associate Artist with the Cornell University Department of Theatre, Film, and Dance.  MFA Directing, Brooklyn College.  www.moatedgrange.com

Stanley L. Ralph III: has been working in theater for the past 10 years. He has been blessed that his profession has taken him to wonderful places, such as London, Africa and China. He has studied at North Carolina A&T, UNCG and the University of Illinois. Ralph went to undergrad for Acting and graduate school for Stage Management.  He hopes to soon go back to gradschool for a MFA in Directing. Ralph's career has gotten a great jump start and he hopes to continue on this path.