Rio

Mitch Magonet is a self-taught musician based in Montreal. With a degree in Industrial Relations from McGill University, Mitch became a composer, producer, lyricist and author whose credits include Disney’s “High School Musical – Sing It”, “Cirque du Soleil”, “Queer as Folk”, Disney's "Tarzan – the video game”, Ubisoft's "Speed Devils" and “CBC Curling”. Fascinated by the intricate rhythms, music and characters of Rio,  Mitch began an eight year journey of discovery about this violent, yet beautiful city. After learning about the tragedy of the 'Candelaria Massacre' where many homeless street-kids were brutally murdered at the church by the police, Mitch, and his collaborator Joey Miller felt that there was an important story to be told. Within six months, they composed a crop of exhilerating songs that explored this fragile and powerful world. Workshopped at Mirvish Productions in Toronto and Catholic University in Washington, 'RIO' is ready to move from the Sambadrome to the stage.

Joey Miller has studied Musical Theatre in Toronto and New York as a member of Lehman Engel's B.M.I. Theater Writer's Workshops. The musical "That Scatterbrain Booky" (Y.P.T.) for which he wrote book, music and lyrics won the 1991 Dora Award for Outstanding New Musical. Other musicals he has collaborated on are: "Outrageous" (w/Brad Fraser) - CanStage - 2000 Dora nomination, "The Growing Season" & "….the Mummy's Revenge" (w/James Saar), "Eight To The Bar" and "Flying" (w/Stephen Witkin - Caesar's Palace Atlantic City), "Prince And The Pauper" - (w/Leslie Arden) - Winner of a 1989 Dora Award for Outstanding New Production - National Arts Centre Ottawa, "A Gift To Last - The musical" and "War Brides" (both with Grahame Woods), "Joy" (w/Maja Ardal - Workman Arts) and "Capone" and "The Boys" (w/Frank Peppiatt) and "Never Trouble Trouble" (w/Michael Miller)- Dora Nomination. He has also written for t.v., recordings, industrials and film.

Scott Faris has directed "Chicago, The Musical", in sixteen countries around the world in over a dozen languages plus tours in the US and the UK.  He directed Bette Midler’s latest show, "The Showgirl Must Go On", at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and "Walking With Dinosaurs", The Arena Spectacular, on tour in the US and the UK.  Scott most recently directed William Shatner on Broadway in his one man show "Shatner's World - We Just Live In It". He started his career as an actor performing in musicals, among them "A Chorus Line". He learned his directing skills by working as a production stage manager for some of the top directors on Broadway on several Tony Award winning productions.  Also in Las Vegas, he directed “EFX!” starring Michael Crawford and was part of the production team that created the amazing Siegfried & Roy at the Mirage.  He directed the national tour of "Sweet Charity" starring Molly Ringwald and later, of "Trading Spaces" fame.

Currently Jack is a Creative Consultant on three Broadway musicals in development. Most recently Jack was Play Development Director at the Old Globe  where he worked closely with the executive producer, Lou Spisto in planning the Globe's seasons. Among the productions were Matthew Lopez' "The Whipping Man", Duncan Sheik’s "Whisper House", Leslie Bricusse’s "Sammy" and the Broadway bound musicals "The First Wives Club" and "Robin and the 7 Hoods". Prior to that, Jack was the Creative Director for the National Arts Management Company. During NY at that time he was involved in the productions of "Chicago", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Seussical", "Wonderful Town", "Sweet Charity" and "This is Our Youth" from the initial development phases through to opening nights. Jack started out in casting and was the casting associate for the feature films "Nighthawks", "King of Comedy", "Author! Author!", "Yentl", "Once Upon a Time in America" and "The Last Temptation of Christ".

Pinny Gniwisch is one of the founders of ICE.com as well as a guru of Internet marketing. He frequently lectures worldwide at International Internet conferences on a myriad of topics relating to Internet marketing. Additionally, he is the youngest board member at Shop.org, and an adjunct professor at McGill University, as well as Rutgers Center for Leadership Development. Pinny is now trying his hand in the theatre world through the exciting production of "RIO" the musical.

Kate Dunn has honed her expertise through impressive experience in various mediums including the following.  Dance: Royal Ballet Company, Sydney Dance Company, Chunky Move, Bangarra Dance Theatre. Musicals: "Contact", "On Your Toes" and "Chicago". Films: "The Phantom of the Opera", "Beyond the Sea". Associate choreographer: "Dirty Dancing", "Billy Elliot".

Charity Wicks, a frequent music director and pianist for new works, was recently traveling the country with the National Tour with “Billy Elliot” as a conductor/keyboard player, and was the conductor/keyboard player for “Spring Awakening” on Broadway, as well as the Associate Music Director for the First National Tour. She’s played for “Wicked” and “In The Heights”, and frequently music directs final projects for NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program. Charity recently was the music director a new opera with the Polish roots band, the Warsaw Village Band in Vancouver, BC, and was the associate conductor of the world premier of Stephen Schwartz's opera, Séance on a Wet Afternoon. Charity holds B.M. and M.M. degrees from Temple University and D.M.A from The Manhattan School of Music.

Eve is excited to be working on her 5th NYMF season. Previous NYMF credits include "Jerusalem Syndrome", "Judas and Me", "Nighttime Traffic", "Outlaws", "My History of Marriage", and "Tut". She is also the General Manager of NYMF shows "Trouble", "RIO", and an Associate on "Arnie the Doughnut". Current projects include "Unplugged In" at Theatre Row, "Scheme of the Super Bulies", and the Off-Broadway production of "Bronte". 

Jason is originally from northern Virginia. A proud graduate of Emory University, Jason now makes New York City his home. Recent casting credits include "Myths & Hymns" (Prospect), "Dancing at Lunacy", "Blood", and "Bad Evidence" (the cell), "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" (The Hive), and numerous readings for Prospect Theater Company, New York Theatre Barn, The Hive, and The Pack. Commercially, Jason has worked at Donna DeSeta Casting, Godlove + Company, Background Inc, Foreground Inc, Strickman-Ripps Casting, and Broadcasters on numerous on-camera commercials, webseries, print campaigns, and other on-camera projects, from Kiefer Sutherland’s webseries "The Confession" to a commercial for Ford Explorer and a promo for the Oprah Winfrey Network. When not casting, Jason is the Creative Development Associate and an Executive Producer of NYTB in the D-Lounge for New York Theatre Barn, and is a new member of the New York Musical Theater Festival’s Reading Committee and Packawallop Productions’ artists collective, The Pack, and is a proud member of The Hive Theater Company. Recent producing credits include "I Married Wyatt Earp" (Prospect Theater Co./NY Theatre Barn), "Dancing at Lunacy", "Blood" (the cell), "Bandage: A Fight Play" (The Brick), "Male Matriarch" (FringeNYC), "Another Place" (The Anthropologists at HERE), "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" (The Hive), and "Bad Evidence" (the cell). Jason was an assistant to lead producer Ken Davenport on the Broadway revival of "Godspell".

Colin McGurk is a scenic designer and visual artist in New York City. He is chiefly focused on a visionary approach to art and design, and is equally fascinated by both the golden ratio and Discordianism. He received his MFA from UC San Diego. Credits include  "Joe Turner's Come and Gone", "The Seagull", and "The House of Bernarda Alba". Colin received his BA in Theatre from Lehigh University in 2006 and returned as a design apprentice in 2007. He has exhibited his fine art in the US and Italy, and his scenic design for "The House of Bernarda Alba" was exhibited at the Prague Quadrennial 2011, an international scenogrophy conference.