CAST AND CREATIVES
BROADCAST
Book & Lyrics by Nathan Christensen
Music by Scott Murphy
Directed by Joe Calarco
Music Direction by Kenneth Gartman
THE NOTEWORTHY LIFE OF HOWARD BARNES
Book & Lyrics by Christopher Dimond
Music by Michael Kooman
Directed by Gabriel Barre
Music Direction by Ray Fellman
GODDESS
Book, Lyrics, & Music by Mkhululi Z. Mabija & Michael Thurber
Directed by Saheem Ali
Music Direction by John DiPinto
Composer in Residence: Samuel Willmott
CREATIVE BIOS
JOE CALARCO’S (Director) previous directing engagements at the O’Neill include: Sarah, Plain and Tall; In Transit; Picnic at Hanging Rock; The Shadow Sparrow, and The Toymaker. His Off-Broadway credits include, The Memory Show, The Burnt Part Boys, Floyd and Clea, Under the Western Sky, Boy, In Transit (Drama Desk nomination), In The Absence of Spring (playwright/director), Bury the Dead, and Shakespeare’s R&J (adaptor/director). His regional theater work includes The Boy Detective Fails, The Light in the Piazza, The Last Five Years, Elegies, M. Butterfly, Lincolnesque, The Glass Menagerie, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (book writer/director),Walter Cronkite is Dead (playwright/director), God of Carnage, Assassins, Urinetown, Side Show, Nijinsky’s Last Dance, Nest, and A Measure of Cruelty (playwright). He is the recipient of 4 Helen Hayes Awards, 2 Barrymore Awards, the Lucille Lortel Award, and is an Executive Board member of SDC. He is co-artistic director of Breaking Bread Theatre. joecalarco.blogspot.com
KENNETH GARTMAN – Theatre: Inner Voices III: Arlington (Off-Broadway); Bryan Putnam’s The ToyMaker (Eugene O’Neill Musical Theater Conference, 2012); Zapata! The Musical (NYMF2012) and subsequent cast recording; Once Removed, a new musical with music by Graham Russell of Air Supply; Show Choir! the Musical (NYMF2010); The ToyMaker (NYMF2009) and subsequent cast recording; Trouble in Shameland (FringeNYC) and subsequent cast recording. Cabaret/Concerts: Rev. Yolanda’s Old Time Gospel Hour, Joshing Around, Unity Benefit Concerts, Concerts for City Greens, Cabaret Cares, The Salon Open Mic(Host/Co-Host), A Ballsy Christmas Open Mic (Host). Singer/Performer: Kenneth Gartman…Not Like the Other Cavemen (cabaret debut), National Tour of The Music Man; Side by Side by Sondheim; Simply Sondheim LIVE! (BBC Broadcast); and A New York Songbook: Way Off Broadway. For more information, visit www.KennethGartman.com
GABRIEL BARRE (Director) is an internationally acclaimed director having just returned from Seoul, Korea where he directed the world premiere of the Frank Wildhorn musical Tears of Heaven. In Prague, Czech Republic, he directed another original musical, Carmen, now in its third sold-out year; as well as a hit revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. His credits in the United States include the New York productions of The Wild Party by Andrew Lippa (nominated for 13 Drama Desk Awards and 5 Outer Critics Circle awards, both including Best Director and for which he won the Calloway Award); Summer of ?42; Stars in Your Eyes; Honky-Tonk Highway; john & jen; and Almost, Maine. He directed the US and Canadian tour of Pippin; as well as the national tour of Rodger and Hammerstein?s Cinderella, starring Eartha Kitt. His regional theatre credits include Private Lives at Seattle Repertory Theatre; Tom Jones; Camelot; and the world premiere productions of Memphis, at the North Shore Music Theatre in Boston and at Theatreworks in California; Sweeney Todd; Finian?s Rainbow; Houdini; and many other new musicals at the Goodspeed Opera House; Stand By Your Man at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville; Hay Fever and Pericles at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey; Little Shop of Horrors and Flower Drum Song at the American Musical Theatre of San Jose; as well as Tommy; Hair; and Love?s Labours Lost at the Connecticut Repertory Theatre. As an actor, he has been nominated for a Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical and appears often in film and on TV.
RAY FELLMAN (Music Director) resides in NYC and Bloomington, Indiana where he is Professor of Musical Theatre at Indiana University. Works developed at the O’Neill include Buddy’s Tavern; Blood Drive; Iron Curtain; and String. Other music directing credits include Stephen Schwartz’s Captain Louie (Little Schubert Theater); The Tutor (59 E 59); Reluctant Pilgrim (NYMTF); and 22 Caliber Mouth, directed by Diane Paulis (Premieres, Ohio Theater). He has conducted numerous workshop readings with Lance Horne/Winter Miller; Howard Marren/Judy Sanger; Joel Derfner/Rachel Sheinkin; Ilene Reid/Michael Heitzman; and Kim Oler/Allison Hubbard; performing in such venues as The York Theatre; New York Theatre Workshop; Dramatists Guild; The Zipper; The Hudson Guild; and Joe's Pub. Ray is a regular conductor at the Fulton Theatre (Lancaster, PA) and Teatro Nacional Sucre (Quito, Ecuador); was music director for the 2007 MAC Awards at B.B. King’s; and received the Backstage Magazine Bistro Award for musical direction of “The After Party,” hosted weekly by Brandon Cutrell (Laurie Beechman Theatre). Concert and Cabaret experience includes Feinstein’s; The Algonquin; Jazz At Lincoln Center; Joe’s Pub; Birdland; Metropolitan Room; Duplex Cabaret Theatre with Liz McCartney; Susie Mosher; Anne Runolfsson; Lauren Molina; and Cole Escola. Voice coaching: Tribeca Film Festival Selection Greetings from Tim Buckley (2013) starring Penn Badgley. Upcoming projects include workshop readings of Carner and Gregor's Island Songs and a production of Old Wicked Songs (Jewish Theatre of Bloomington).
SAHEEM ALI Directing credits: Farhad (Inner Voices), Vital Signs (Riant Theatre), Marisol (Barnard College), The Wild Party (Columbia University), Romeo & Juliet (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company), Spring Awakening (Northeastern University). Assistant Directing: Broadway – A Free Man of Color (LCT); Off-Broadway – Angels in America (Signature NYC); Other – Giant (Signature Arlington, VA); Romania, Kiss Me (Play Company), The Miser (American Repertory Theatre), The Ballroom (Theatre de la Jeune Lune), Wintertime (Guthrie). Awards – Shubert Fellow, New York Theatre Workshop Directing Fellow, SDCF Gielgud Directing Fellow. MFA in Directing, Columbia University.
JOHN DIPINTO is a musician, singer, songwriter, actor, musical director and arranger. He has worked extensively in the NY theatre and cabaret scenes. In 2011 he was musical director for I'm Getting My Act Together And Taking it On The Road as part of the York Theatre’s' MUFTI series. He was also musical director and arranger for NYMF 2010’s production of Trav’lin’, a new musical featuring the songs of composer J.C. Johnson. He has conducted on Broadway (Footloose) and Off-Broadway (Langston In Harle;, Altar Boyz). Other Broadway credits: [title of show]; Laughing Room Only; Victor/Victoria. Off-Broadway: Summer Of '42; Nor‘mal; Streakin'!; The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin; A Man Of No Importance.
John is also active in New York’s cabaret scene as a pianist and singer. He and his vocal-duo partner Mary Foster Conklin have performed their shows Maybe It’s Because Of Love and Down For Double at various venues to rave reviews. As an actor John has appeared in the New York revivals of Oil City Symphony and The Good Doctor; and regionally in Pump Boys And Dinettes; Smoke On The Mountai; King Mackerel And The Blues Are Running; Billy Bishop Goes To War; and A Day In Hollywood/A Night In The Ukraine.
John is currently an Adjunct Professor at New Jersey City University, and works as a musical director for NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program. He has composed original music for the University of Pennsylvania’s Mask & Wig shows, as well as an eclectic variety of vocal and instrumental music. He is currently compiling songs for his first CD.
CHRIS MCCARRELL is having his first stay at the O'Neill Center this summer! Regional credits include Next to Normal (Gabe); Sweeney Todd (Anthony); Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Male Soloist); Pippin (Lewis;) and Oliver (Dodger). Chris was recently seen at Baldwin Wallace University in Follies (Young Ben); Rent (Mark); Myths and Hymns (Icarus); Titanic (Ismay); and The Wild Party (Phil). Chris is a proud graduate of Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. Special thanks to Paulette and Stone Manners Salners. All his love to his mother and father, CP, Vicky, and Czarnota.
Wesley Taylor is thrilled to be back at the O'Neill. Broadway: Original "Franz" in Rock of Ages (Theatre World Award/Outer Critics Circle nom); Original "Lucas" in The Addams Family. A lot of regional theatre, including Michael "Mouse" Tolliver in the world premiere of Tales of the City at the American Conservatory Theater. TV/film: Two seasons as "Bobby" in the Spielberg-produced NBC drama, "Smash;" commercials, soaps, live television performances, the upcoming film Lucky Stiff. Countless voiceover and industrials. Co-Creator/Star of BillyGreen.tv and itcouldbeworse.tv. Training: Univ. of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA, Drama). Upcoming: The Shape She Makes at ART and Little Miss Sunshine at Second Stage. Twitter: @WesTayTay
JARED ZIRILLI is proud to make his O’Neill debut! Most recently finished playing Lt. Sam Weinberg in Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men at the Alley Theatre in Houston, TX, as well as a NY industry reading ofBullets over Broadway with Susan Stroman and Woody Allen. NY– Lysistrata Jones (OBC), Fat Camp – Off-Broadway (Dodger Theatricals), Jacob in Twilight: The Musical (New World Stages) and originated the role of Beto in BARE industry reading. Tours- Wicked (Fiyero Cover). Regional leads in: Equity Premiere of Rent, DC Premiere of Altar Boyz, Light in the Piazza (Maine State), Aida (Drury Lane Theatre). TV: “PAN AM” and “Blue Bloods.” Upcoming- LMNOP (Goodspeed Opera House) and the Queen Rock musical We Will Rock You. Thanks to H/H, the O’Neill and Joe! For Mom, Ray and Justin, Grampa. Dedicated to Dad.
Tours: American Idiot, 1st National (Swing), Flat Stanley (Flat Stanley), A Year With Frog and Toad (Snail). NYC: Urinetown, Hudson Guild Theatre (Bobby Strong), LMNOP Developmental Lab, Breaking Bread Productions (Nate Warren). Regional/Other: The Who's TOMMY (Tommy), Hairspray (Link), Grey Gardens (Joe Kennedy, Jr.), Joseph... (Levi), Puccini’s La bohème (Schaunard), A Funny Thing...Forum (Capt. Gloriosus), Sweeney Todd. Love and thanks to Joe, The Mine, and my dear family and friends. www.tommymcdowell.com
JONATHAN HADLEY spent five wonderful years playing “Bob Crewe” on the National Tour of Jersey Boys. Before that he was seen on Broadway in Jersey Boys and A Class Act and Off-Broadway in Finian’s Rainbow, Theda Bara…, and Kuni-Leml. Tours: Into the Woods, Joseph…., Fiddler On The Roof, Forbidden Broadway (Australia). Regional: Dirty Blonde, Amadeus, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Call Me Madam, Yiddle With a Fiddle (Boston Herald Award). TV/Film: “Another World,” “Sex in the City,” “Mourning Hope.” BFA from UNCSA, MFA in Directing from Brooklyn College.
THERESA MCCARTHY: has originated roles in innovative works on and off-Broadway including Titanic; Floyd Collins; Queen of the Mist; and Saturn Returns. She is a featured vocalist on those soundtracks and on the Nonesuch recordings Bright Eyed Joy: the Songs of Ricky Ian Gordon; Stephen Sondheim's The Frogs/Evening Primrose; and Audra McDonald's debut recording Way Back to Paradise. She appeared at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center and recorded for Naxos Bernstein Mass with the Baltimore City Orchestra. She has been on faculty at NYU Playwrights Horizons Theater School where she has taught acting, Viewpoints training, and vocal music, and directed new musical works for the program.
FARAH ALVIN has appeared on Broadway in Nine; The Look of Love; Saturday Night Fever; Grease!; and A Christmas Carol. Off-Broadway credits include The Last Smoker In America (cast album); The Marvelous Wonderettes (Drama Desk Nomination, cast album); I Love You Because (cast album); If You Give A Mouse A Cookie...; Kuni-Leml. Also in New York, Date of a Lifetime (NYMF Outstanding Actress Award); The Tenth Floor (Talkin' Broadway Best Actress Citation); and multiple appearances at The Town Hall. Recent regional credits include the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's Sycamore Trees as Ginnie (Signature Theater, Helen Hayes Award); Funny Girl as Fanny (Gretna Theatre); [title of show] as Heidi (Theatreworks Silicon Valley); Pirates of Penzance as Mabel (Huntington Theatre), and Ragtime as Mother (White Plains PAC). Farah is also a singer/songwriter. Her debut album someday is available on cdbaby.com. Please visit www.FarahAlvin.com for more.
WHITNEY BASHOR: Off Broadway: The Fantasticks. Regional: Dallas Theatre Center, Berkeley Rep, Goodspeed, Signature Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company. Tours: Whistle Down the Wind, Happy Days. Film: Off the Black. TV: “Boardwalk Empire,” “Love Monkey,” “All My Children.” Education: U of Michigan: BFA Musical Theatre.
HUNTER FOSTER: Broadway: Hands on a Hardbody, Million Dollar Quartet, The Producers, Little Shop of Horrors (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics noms.), Urinetown (Outer Critics nom.), Les Miserables, Grease, Footloose, King David. Off-Broadway: Borrowed Dust, Burning, Ordinary Days, Happiness (Drama Desk nom.), Frankenstein, Dust, Modern Orthodox, Urinetown (Lortel nom.). Regional: Hands on a Hardbody (La Jolla), Little Miss Sunshine (La Jolla), Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Signature Theater, Helen Hayes nom.), The Government Inspector (Guthrie), Mister Roberts(Kennedy Center) Children of Eden (Paper Mill), Moon Over Buffalo and Lend Me a Tenor (Cape Playhouse), Martin Guerre (Guthrie). Foster wrote the books for the musicals Summer of ’42, Bonnie and Clyde: A Folktale and The Hollow. He recurs as Scotty Simms on the ABC Family show “Bunheads.”
Kate recently received a 2013 Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in The Other Josh Cohen, which ran at the SoHo Playhouse last fall. She is the co-creator/writer/director/star of "Submissions Only," a comedic web series about auditioning for theater in New York (www.submissionsonly.com). Broadway credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Legally Blonde. Aside from ...Josh Cohen, Kate's Off-Broadway credits include Ordinary Days; Sarah, Plain and Tall; and Tatjana in Color. Regionally, Kate has performed at the Dallas Theater Center (highlight: Sally Bowles in Cabaret), Paper Mill Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House, Skylight Opera Theatre and St. Michael's Playhouse. She is currently writing a children's book for Penguin with "Submissions Only" co-creator Andrew Keenan-Bolger.
JAMES JUDY is thrilled to be back at the O'Neill Center where he workshopped The Gig way back in the 90's! His Broadway credits include Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Into The Woods. Off-Broadway: Tin Pan Alley Rag - Roundabout, Fiorello - City Center Encores!, and The Gig - MTC and La Boheme at the NYSF. TV credits include Boardwalk Empire " and "Cosby." National Tours: Deaf West's Big River and South Pacific. Extensive regional credits including A Christmas Story at Kansas City Repertory. Much love and gratitude to Kathy and Sweetpea!
SARA GETTELFINGER: Most recently appeared as "Morticia" in the first national tour of The Addams Family . BROADWAY: "Dona Athene" in John Guare's A Free Man of Color at Lincoln Center; Suessical the Musical; The Boys from Syracuse; "Carla" in Nine with Antonio Banderas; "Jolene Oakes" in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels opposite John Lithgow; as well as the first national tours of Fosse and 101 Dalmatians ("Cruella De Vil"). Other NYC area credits include: "April" in Company (Helen Hayes); "Fastrada" in Pippin (Papermill Playhouse); Tenderloin and Carnival at City Center ENCORES!; Anything Goes at Lincoln Center; and "Little Edie Beale" in the world premier of Grey Gardens at Playwrights Horizons. In 2009, Sara starred as "Fastrada" in the Deaf West production of Pippin at L.A.'s Mark Taper Forum. Television: “The Big C;” “Georgetown;” “Guiding Light;” “Ed;” and “Without a Trace.” Film: 10 to Midnight; Sex in the City; Forbidden Love. In 2006 Sara was signed to DECCA/Universal Records with the classical-crossover trio “Three Graces.” Their self-titled debut album was released in stores/online in March 2008,reaching the top 10 on the Billboard/Crossover Charts, followed by a worldwide, critically acclaimed concert tour.
PRICE WALDMAN is pleased to return to the O’Neill for a third consecutive summer. He recently completed the premier of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at The Old Globe and Hartford Stage. On Broadway he has appeared in The Little Mermaid, The Grinch, and The Lion King. He has performed at McCarter Theater, Theater for a New Audience, Red Bull Theater, The York Theater, BAM (Next Wave Festival), Goodspeed Musicals, Weston Playhouse, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Sundance Theater Lab (both in Utah and at White Oak), California Shakespeare Festival, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Repertory Theater of St. Louis, American Music Theater of San Jose, Theaterworks in Palo Alto. His film work includes Across the Universe. Trained at University of Delaware Professional Theater Training Program.Undergraduate degree from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music. He lives in Brooklyn with his wonderful children Jasper, Grace and Sylvia and his amazing wife Rebecca.
NATALIE CHARLE ELLIS is excited to be making her debut here at the O'Neill! This past year you may have seen her in the Off-Broadway hit production of Forbidden Broadway; Alive and Kicking! Broadway: TBA. Other credits: Rated P for Parenthood (Off-Broadway/Westside Theatre); 9-5 the Musical (First National Tour); My Life is a Musical (SoHo Playhouse); Hurricane the Musical (NYMF); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie); Into the Woods (Cinderella); Chicago (Roxie).
HARRIS DORAN is happy to return to the O'Neill where he's been seen in Red Eye Of Love (NMTC); Cousins Grimm, and Easterhouse (CPC). Theater includes: Love Jerry (NYMF Best Actor Award); Hair (Actors Fund); It Must Be Him; Reading Under The Influence; Cabaret (Pittsburgh Public Theatre); Amadeus; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (opp. Joe Piscopo); Whore Of Sheridan Square (NYIT Nom); A Midsummer Night's Dream; Oliver (Ovation Award Nom). Film + TV includes: Junction (LIFE Best Supporting Actor Award); My Best Day (Sundance); Coach Of The Year; Sebastian; '79 Parts; Sea Is All I Know (w/ Melissa Leo); "Person Of Interest;" "Black Donnellys;" "Malcolm In The Middle,” "Any Day Now." Harris is a writer on the musicals Bleeding Love (NAMT) and Salvage. Training: Juilliard. www.harrisdoran.com
Little Red Riding Hood in Shakespeare in the Park's Into the Woods last summer. Broadway: Muriel in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Kate/Lucy in Avenue Q, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Off- Broadway/original cast recordings: Joanne in Vanities (Second Stage), Nazirah in The Road to Qatar (York Theater). She also toured in the first nat'l companies of Spelling Bee and Tommy Tune's Dr. Doolittle. This past fall Sarah was Annelle in the 25th Anniversary reading of Steel Magnolias at the Lucille Lortel. She spent the winter in LA working on Disney's “Lab Rats” and voiceovers as hysterical chipmunks and talking cats.
Favorite roles include Floyd (Floyd Collins), Magaldi (Evita), Jinx (Forever Plaid). NY Readings: Reporting Live (NYMF), Walk On The Wild Side (York Theatre), Caroline & George (NYU), and David Copperfield. He has sung works of new composers in concerts at the Laurie Beechman, Don't Tell Mama, and JACK. On screen, he appears in the short film Requited, which was a finalist for the 39th Annual Student Academy Awards, and recent winner of the Wyoming Short Film Contest. He is a graduate Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama. Thanks to K&D, Wolf Talent Group, and to la mejor familia del mundo!
VERONICA J. KUEHN has been seen at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Picnic at Hanging Rock (Fanny). Broadway/National Tours include: Mamma Mia at the Winter Garden Theater (Ali/Sophie u/s), Xanadu at the Helen Hayes Theater (swing/Kira u/s) and the Xanadu 1st National Tour (Euterpe, Kira u/s). BFA in Music Theatre from the Boston Conservatory. Veronica is a two-time soloist with the Boston Pops Symphony Orchestra, and a current cast member of Off-Broadway's Avenue Q (Kate Monster/Lucy).
OLLI HAASKIVI is thrilled and honored to be back at the O'Neill after playing Capek in The Toymaker last summer. NY Theatre: developmental productions of Rocket Boys (Universal Pictures); Sleeping Beauty Wakes (NAMT); Triassic Parq (FringeNYC); Who's Your Baghdaddy? Or How I Started The Iraq War (Joe's Pub); Bernice Bobs Her Hair (Irish Rep); The Truman Show (BMI Workshop); and many others. Other regional: Dorset Theatre Festival, Florida Studio Theatre, TheatreZone. Television: "Unforgettable." Film: Galaxy Comics; The Five Noble Truths; and the short Fifty Grades of Shay, which he co-wrote with Nick Choksi and Alice Dutton. B.F.A.: University of Michigan. Special thanks to the whole O'Neill team, especially Gabe and Alan.
LARRY POWELL was most recently seen as David in Ruby Place Nest on the Ground at Signature Theatre (Directed by Reginald L. Douglas). Other New York credits include Dutchman, directed by Stephen McKinley Henderson (LABrynth Theatre Co); Brokeology (Lincoln Center Theatre); Steve Urkel in Sad Secret (Sex) Life of Steve Urkel; The Flower Thief; Four (Fire This Time Festival); Sakharam Binder (Three Legged Dog); Dido, Or The Queen Of Carthage (Opposite Billy Porter; Directed by Ed Iskandar). Regional credits include The Brothers Size (Everyman Theatre, 2012 Best Play of Baltimore); Marcus; Or The Secret of Sweet (City Theatre; Directed by Robert O’Hara); Brokeology (Kansas City Rep); The Task (Quantum Theatre); 365/365 (Sonya Winton/Jonathan Kidd Prod); and Bronzeville at The Robey Theatre Company, for which he received a NAACP Theatre Award Nomination. Larry holds a BFA in Acting from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama (Roth-Levine Acting Award).
Off-Broadway: Urban Stages: Langston in Harlem (Junior Addict); Apollo Theatre: Jazz A La Carte. Tours: Mary Poppins; A Christmas Story: The Musical; Cats (Mungojerrie). Regional favorites: Merry-Go-Round Playhouse: Hairspray (Seaweed); Hangar Theatre: Rent (Angel); Baltimore Centerstage: The Wiz; Human Race Theatre Company: 8-Track: The Sounds of the 70's (Tenor/Dance Captain); Reagle Music Theatre:Hello, Dolly! Video: The Broadway Warm-Up. Commercials: Joe's Crab Shack & Daffy's. TV Land Awards w/ Liza Minnelli. BFA Ithaca College. Thanks to God, family, Saheem, DDO & DAH!
Selected works and theaters include Lucky Guy on Broadway, The Brother/Sister Plays at the Public Theater (Obie Award/ Drama League Nom.) The Brothers Size at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, Ireland; Mr. Fox: A Rumination at Signature Theatre (Drama League Nomination); Measure For Measure (NYSF); Two Gentlemen Of Verona (NY Shakespeare Festival); John Houseman’s The Acting Company; Arena Stage; McCarter Theater; Berkeley Repertory Theater; Kennedy Center; La Jolla Playhouse; Long Wharf Theater; Cincinnati Playhouse; Cleveland Playhouse; Great Lakes Theater Festival. TV: “Army Wives;” “Rescue Me;” “The Sopranos;” “Law & Order;” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent;” “Third Watch;” “100 Centre Street.” Film: Preaching To The Choir (dir. Charles Randolph-Wright); It Runs in the Family (dir. Fred Schepisi); Grace & Glorie (dir: Arthur A. Seidelman); Sweet And Lowdown (dir. Woody Allen)
KIMBERLY HÉBERT GREGORY most recently appeared in By the Way, Meet Vera Stark at Geffen Playhouse. She joined Sanaa Lathan as the only original cast members from the play’s original New York run at the Second Stage Theatre who performed in the Los Angeles premiere at the Geffen. Kimberly's performance of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark at Second Stage Theatre garnered much acclaim including nominations for 2012 Drama Desk for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play and a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress. Kimberly’s most notable New York theatrical credits include: The Public Theatre’s highly acclaimed production of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s, The Brother/Sister Plays, where she played Aunt Elegua and Shun, Hartford Stage’s productions of Antony and Cleopatra (Starring Kate Mulgrew) and Gee’s Bend, The McCarter Theatre’s production of The Brother/Sister Plays and Tough Titty by Oni Faida Lampley at The Magic Theatre. Other credits include a notable one-woman piece entitled Evangeline Elsewhere at the 1st National NY Irish Theatre Festival, and the National Tour of the Broadway hit The Lion King. Kimberly has had the pleasure of performing on some of the country’s greatest regional stages, such as The Goodman Theatre (Amen Corner), Steppenwolf Theatre (Nickel and Dimed), Victory Gardens Theatre (Waiting to be Invited) and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre (Julius Caesar). Film/TV credits include: Red Hook Summer, I Think I Love My Wife, “Private Practice,” “Gossip Girl” and “Law and Order.” Kimberly coaches workshops and private sessions and is a committed teaching artist.
Britney couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this Goddess adventure with such an incredible group of people! A native of Ann Arbor, MI, her New York credits include Karen O’s Stop The Virgins (Dir. Adam Rapp) and most recently Brush Up Your Shakespeare (Dir. Mark Lamos) at the 92nd St. Y. Regional credits include Dreamgirls (Co-production Fulton Opera House/Maine State Music Theater), Dreamgirls (Marriott Lincolnshire Theater), Into the Woods (Co-production Baltimore Centerstage/Westport Country Playhouse), Tarzan, State Fair, Hairspray, Big River, All Shook Up (Wagon Wheel Theater). The University of Michigan (BFA Musical Theatre): Ragtime, Into the Woods, See Rock City (And Other Destinations), The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Ella Minnow Pea, Under Milk Wood, AVPM/AVPS/AVPSY (Basement Arts UM/Starkid Productions). Many thanks beyond belief go to Saheem, Mike, Mkhululi, Mom, Dad, Al and my Harden-Curtis family!
Karan is thrilled to join the 2013 summer season at The O’Neill with Goddess. Other work includes NY Theatre: Macbeth, Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death…(Classical Theatre of Harlem); TV/Film: “Law and Order: CI,” “Army Wives,” “Drop Dead Diva,” “The Wronged Man,” The Hunger Games, Parental Guidance, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Madea Goes to Jail and the upcoming A Friggin’ Christmas Miracle; Regional Theatre: Hartford Stage, Arena Stage, Goodman Theatre, Alliance Theatre, True Colors Theatre, Portland Center Stage. Thank you to the O’Neill National Music Theater Conference, Rashad, Saheem, Mkululi, Michael, and the beautifully gifted cast and creative team of Goddess!
FOREST VANDYKE is an actor and singer from Austin, Texas. His career began as a member and soloist for The American Boychoir for two years, during which time he toured Germany debuting a new operetta and record, followed by a performance at Carnegie Hall. Most recently, he performed in the new musicals Keepers at Studio 54 and Torch at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, and completed the workshop and First National Tour of the new musical Click Clack Moo (Dir. John Rando). Some of his other favorite productions include 21 (Dir. Jerry Dixon); Crush (Comp. Stew and Heidi Rodewald); and Pericles, Julius Ceasar, and The Comedy of Errors at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, as well as many others. Forest is beyond excited and feels extremely blessed to be a part of this wonderful production of Goddess and this extremely talented, creative family!
SHALEAH ADKISSON is thrilled to make her O'Neill NMTC debut! Credits: Broadway/Nat'l Tour: Hair; Off-Broadway: Rent; Regional: Beehive: The 60s Musical; Ain't Misbehavin’; Grease; Nunsense; & Children of Eden. Many thanks to JB Inc. and to Saheem, Michael & Mkhululi for allowing me to help share this story again. JToro, Mom, Dad, Kels: Love you forever!
ALLISON BLACKWELL is a Philadelphia native who made her Broadway debut in Tony Award winning revival The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess starring Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis and David Alan Grier. She has also been seen in such musicals as The Lion King, Caroline or Change, Nunsense, The Sound of Music, Dreamgirls, Ragtime, Les Miserables, and A Little Night Music. She is the 2008 winner for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Dotty Moffett and the Washing Machine in Caroline, or Change (San Francisco Bay Area Critics Circle Award). Allison has performed many symphony concerts throughout America including Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall. M.M. The Boston Conservatory B.A. Spelman College.
CEDRIC CANNON is equally at home on the operatic, musical theater and concert stages. Since his professional concert debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, he has appeared with The Israel Kibbutz Orchestra, The Filarmonica De Montevideo, The Illinois Philharmonic, The Dayton Philharmonic, The Polish Radio Orchestra, Santa Rosa, Savannah, Spring?eld, Eastern Connecticut, Saskatoon, and the Reykjavik Symphonies. He has sung with the Metropolitan, New York City, Houston Grand, Edmonton, Carolina, Amarillo, Grand Rapids, Oakland and Frankfurt Opera companies and as a soloist at Carnegie Hall. Broadway: Sir Sagramore in Camelot with Robert Goulet . Off-Broadway: Billy Bounce in Leroy Jenkin’s Three Willies, Hamilton Lightfoot/Menuki in In Dahomey, The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance and Pish-Tush in The Mikado with NYGAS, G-D in Paul Dick’s Moses My Love. Internationally: Old Deuteronomy in Cats Hamburg Company and Husky Miller in Carmen Jones, Porgy and Crown in Porgy and Bess throughout Europe, South America and Asia. National Tours of Man of La Mancha, Camelot, Porgy and Bess, Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado. Cedric’s ?lm and television credits include Moon and Sun, Old 37, EvilAlive, “Know your Logic,” “Jon Benjamin Has a Van,” “Raw Nerve,” “Cosby,” “All My Children,” “Another World,” “As the World Turns,” and “OZ.”