Producer

Kevin Meoak* (Producer) is pleased to be working with ANMT again. He currently serves as the Managing Director of LOFT ensemble in Downtown Los Angeles and was an Associate Producer on the award sweeping Louis and Keely Live at the Sahara at the Matrix. Kevin also produced the 2008 LA Weekly Awards. He has appeared as an actor in over 40 stage productions, most recently at LOFT ensemble as Malcolm in Macbeth. Other notable roles in Los Angeles include The Herald in Marat/Sade at the Knighstbridge (Backstage Garland Nomination), Philip Atwood in Still Photos at the Celebration, and Demetrius in A Midsummer Nights’ Dream at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. Kevin is pleased to be producing LoveSick at the 2012 New York International Fringe Festival, an original play that ran for three months last year at LOFT ensemble. He would like to thank Eric and Alan for trusting him with their baby, Josh for working with his ridiculous producer demands, Scott and Elise for putting it all together, the cast and crew for bringing such talent and professionalism, and Cori for being so amazing.

Writers

Eric Dodson (Book & Lyrics) is tremendously excited about his first full-length staged production of his work which was developed from a 15-minute musical he wrote with his composer and friend Alan. How did that happen? He began writing at UCLA over thirty-two years ago, producing and directing his own plays and musicals for a teen theatre troupe in his home town of Pacific Palisades. He put his writing on hold, getting a research job with CBS in NYC, and subsequently distribution and operations for Disney Television and KCBS-TV in LA where he continues to work today. He re-discovered his writing passion after joining ANMT in 2009 which has led to this summer production. He is also currently writing book and lyrics for a gay re-envisioning of "The Parent Trap" for the Celebration Theatre, for which he has received an NAMT grant.
Alan Ross Fleishman (Music) After starting his career as an award winning classical pianist and music major at Duke University and a Duke Ellington Scholar in jazz studies at The Eastman School of Music, Alan moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film scoring and music composition. His first exposure to musical theater was as associate music director for Sondheim’s The Frogs at the Odyssey Theater in 1982. He then continued his musical education studying film scoring at UCLA with the great David Raksin, Walter Scharf, and Don Rey, and songwriting with Marty Panzer. In 1999, Alan was selected for the prestigious ASCAP Film Scoring Scholarship. He also scored several feature films, numerous short films for television and even a season of webisodes for an internet based reality show. In 2008 Alan collaborated with the legendary songwriter Arthur Hamilton (Cry Me A River) and multi Grammy winning producer Kenny O’Brien to write and produce a song for the Obama campaign which has received well over 500,000 views on YouTube and counting. Alan joined the Academy for New Musical Theatre in 2009 where he met his collaborator Eric Dodson. A Ring in Brooklyn began as a 15-minute musical written as their final project for their core curriculum year, and is now their first full-length musical together.

Cast

Jordan Kai Burnett* (Jenn) is psyched to be back as Jenn, after appearing in the STAGES workshop of The Ring last summer at ANMT. She is a recent transplant to Los Angeles from the Big Apple. Most recently, Jordan was seen in the world premiere of Hello! My Baby in the role of Frances Gold at the Rubicon Theatre. National Tour: Seussical (Cat in the Hat, Dir. Marcia Milgrom-Dodge) New York: Side Show (Violet Hilton, American Theater of Actors), King Island Christmas (workshop), and Granola! The Musical (NY International Fringe Festival). Favorite roles include Dog Sees God (Van’s Sister), On the Town (Hildy), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Titania) The Philadelphia Story (Liz Imbrie), Hello Again (The Nurse), Hair (Crissy), Lippa’s The Wild Party (Kate). She also premiered her solo show Classy/Trashy at Rockwell: Table & Stage in Los Feliz. Jordan holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Emerson College and is a proud member of Actors Equity Association. She is also a TV/Theater puppeteer and student of The Groundlings. For more fun and shenanigans check out www.JordanKaiBurnett.com and Twitter: JKaiB.
Johnny Cannizzaro (Ronny) Being Born in Bensonhurst, A Ring in Brooklyn holds a special place in Johnny’s heart. Recent LA theatre credits include new musicals such as Wartime Romance & Canvas Falcons as well as productions of Miss Saigon, Guys and Dolls and Into the Woods. Since graduating the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Johnny has been in pursuit of work in T.V/Film recently appearing in General Hospital and The Young & the Restless. Johnny has also played Charlie Chaplin in several projects & is currently in development of a show created around his own vaudeville hobo character Geppetto. This, in addition to two screenplays keep this Brooklynite busy. Thank you to the entire production team and cast of this unique and special show he is grateful & excited to be a part of! Check out more @ www.johnnycannizzaro.com
Anna Hanson (Tracy) is thrilled to be a part of this production and to work with ANMT for the first time! She was raised in Boulder, CO and moved to Philadelphia directly after high school to pursue a degree in musical theatre at The University of the Arts. After a year and a half there, Anna moved to New York to work professionally. While in New York, she was seen on Guiding Light and in the world premiere of DiMaggio, The Man Behind the Myth (off-Broadway). Anna also played leading roles in multiple off-off Broadway shows, regional theatres, and independent films, as well as appearing in Law & Order: SVU and As The World Turns. Since moving to LA almost two years ago, she was the resident “hot chick” on Lopez Tonight for their comedy sketches, was in Hoboken to Hollywood at the Edgemar, and has shot a number of commercials and independent films. Favorite roles include Marcy in Spelling Bee at Boulder’s Dinner Theatre and Carla in Nine at The Arvada Center. Huge thanks to her wonderful friends and family for all of their love and support… she wouldn’t be here without you! Visit www.annahanson.com for all of her latest projects.
Mike Irizarry* (Gordy) last appeared in ANMT’s staged concert readings of In the Mind of Olympians and Windjammers at the Colony Theater. Mike was also featured in the Colony’s acclaimed production of Grand Hotel. Born and raised in NYC, previous roles include Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance, Che in multiple productions of Evita, Lamar in Godspell, and Simon Zealots in Jesus Christ Superstar. He also appeared in the original Off-Off Broadway cast of Charles Strouse’s Nightingale. In addition to his theatrical work, Mike also has appeared as lead vocalist and keyboardist for a variety of musical groups in the NY area. He has also headlined in LA at Europa and in NYC at Don't Tell Mama’s, Rose’s Turn and The Duplex cabaret. Mike is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association.
Mark Shunock* (Smitty) A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada, he was recently seen playing Rudy in The Temperamentals for the Blank Theatre Co., Saul in As Is for The New American Theatre Co. and Pauly D in the smash hit Jersey Shoresical. Mark spent two years on tour as Timon in Disney’s The Lion King, for which he earned a Helen Hayes Nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He helped create The Awesome 80’s Prom, now in it’s 7th year Off-B’way. Favorite regional theatres include the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, The Westport Country Playhouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Houston’s Theatre Under The Stars. Always for mom & dad, his new wife Cheryl, and their two labs Perry and Max. Twitter: @MarkShunock
Matt Valle (Tommy) studied theater at Columbia College Chicago, voice at NIU, and improv/sketch at Second City Chicago. He played Joey for three years in Tony and Tina’s Wedding Chicago. Soon after he was cast in his first short film Random Seating. Matt’s Hollywood career started with roles in two pilots: Off Mulholland and Felt Up. Laertes in Hamlet Shut-Up and Rene Henderson/Squeezit in the world premiere stage adaptation Forbidden Zone: Live in the 6th Dimension at Sacred Fools Theater, where he is a company member. Matt’s most recent, and first feature film role, was in Odd Brodsky. Currently writing/producing/acting with Kitty Bow Tie Productions creating ongoing viral content. www.Kittybowtie.com “It’s my passion to be a part of new works. What a wonderful gift ANMT is.” YDL
Gabrielle Wagner (Gina) was most recently seen on Mad Men and Wilfred. She was an Ovation Nominee 2009 for her role in the world premier of critically and publicly acclaimed DIVORCE! the musical and received a Garland Award nom for Best Lead in a Musical as Polly Peachum in The Threepenny Opera at the Odyssey. She can also be seen in film Stonerville with the late Leslie Nielsen, and short film Monstrum. Other ANMT credits include the 15 Minute Musicals of 2010, Rosabella in the concert version of The Most Happy Fella, various myriad readings, and bookwriter for iWish in the 15 Minute Musicals of 2012. She is thrilled to be originating the role of Gina and thanks Eric and Alan for writing such a beautiful character with vulnerability, depth, sass and vocal range! Thanks also to the entire gang at ANMT and mostly to her amazing hubby and sons for allowing her to continue living the dream!!! www.gabriellewagner.com

Creative Crew

Joshua Finkel* (Director/Choreographer) has had a blast bringing his the new production to life. Last summer, Joshua directed the new musical Tsarina at the Grove Theater in Upland, and then at the Noho Arts Center he directed and co-created a new one woman show version of Maury Yeston’s December Songs and also choreographed Love Bytes co-written by Glee’s vocal coach, Roger Love and Ann Atomic’s lead singer,Ann McNamee. Among his latest projects, Joshua starred in and choreographed the webisode series Dating in the Middle Ages and additionally starred in the short film Huckleberry Dreams opposite Emmy and Tony award winner Robert Morse. Additional Directing/Choreographic Credits include Into The Woods (Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks); An Evening with the Seoul Pops (Lead Male Vocalist and Choreographer), Maccabeat (Theater League Festival of New Musicals); Les Miserables at Hamilton High’s Music Academy Magnet and the Hollywood Bowl assisting Richard Jay Alexander; Hollywood Revisited (International and Ongoing); The Spitfire Grill (Actors' Co-op, Ovation Nomination); Falsettoland (Phoenix Theater, SF), Songs for a New World (The Plush Room, SF Premiere); 29Lives (The Lex Theater, Hollywood); The Passion and the Pain (Guildford School of Acting, London.). A seasoned Broadway, television, film and voice-over actor, Joshua is a proud member of the Musical Theater Guild in Los Angeles and has starred on Broadway and in London as Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman opposite Chita Rivera and Vanessa Williams and as Thenardier "the Master of the House", in Les Miserables. Joshua’s voice can be heard on the Original Cast Recordings of Kiss of the Spider Woman and Bark! as Ben and monthly as the voice of Artscene Visual Radio on www.artscenecal.com . On Film and Television Joshua has starred opposite Bruce Willis, Marcia Cross, Kathleen Quinlan, Kalista Flockhart, and Jill Clayburgh to name a few and had the privilege of creating the Live Action Reference Footage as Prince Eric in Disney’s animated classic The Little Mermaid. Joshua co-created and directed the developmental repertory company the Academy Repertory Company (ARC) and currently runs the Performers' Workshop, the three-tiered musical actors' training program at the Academy for New Musical Theatre in North Hollywood. Additionally he teaches the musical theater emphasis and acting at California Lutheran University and has created curriculum for AMDA Los Angeles, The Music Center’s Spotlight Awards, Youth Artists Ensemble in Thousand Oaks and The Actors Centre in London. Joshua travels the world teaching his 11 master classes to actors and public speakers of all ages and levels via his private studio the Creative Combustion Acting Studio. For complete info on Joshua Finkel: www.joshuafinkel.com
Ross Kalling (Music Director) is an award winning musical director and pianist. He received Dramalogue awards for his musical direction of FATE’s productions of Marat/Sade and Threepenny Opera, and was also pianist/M.D. for the revival of Liz Swados' Nightclub Cantata at the Odyssey Theatre. Ross was Musical Director at the prestigious Beverly Hills Playhouse for fifteen years, working with actors such as Doris Roberts, Penny Fuller and Jeffrey Tambor; and such directors as Gene Reynolds and the late Milton Katselas. He was also founding Director of Music Curriculum at the Academy for New Musical Theatre. He can be seen performing around town in various cabaret or jazz venues, or with his classical piano trio, trioCAYENNE.
Scott Guy (Executive Producer) Under Scott’s tenure, the Academy has developed over 50 musicals for producers across the country, and over 100 independent musicals by ANMT writers. Scott’s current and recent writing projects include: Musical version of Pirates of the Caribbean for Disney; script consultant for a musical by Placido Domingo, Jr., book/lyrics of Manson’s Girls for UC/Irvine; Master Smee’s Finishing School for Gentlemen Pirates and Ladies is Welcome Too with music by Jacques Offenbach; and Hunger at 2009 Stages Festival in Chicago, with music by 2009 Richard Rodgers composer Karlan Judd. Television credits: Six Emmy nominations, and over 100 produced television scripts for Warner Bros., FOX-TV, Disney, Discovery Channel, PBS, etc. www.scottguy.biz.
Elise Dewsberry* (Dramaturg) is currently the Artistic Director of ANMT, and has been involved in the development of new works as an actor, director, and dramaturge for over 25 years. Most recent performances: The Angel of Painted Post; Now and Then a Hero at the Stages Festival; Red v. Blue, ANMT’s 2008 15 Minute Musicals; Spellcasters at the Secret Rose; and Queen Mab’s Alarmingly Mandatory Bridal Shower at the Noho Arts Centre. Most recent directing: Love Bytes; ANMT’s 2006, 2009, and 2011 15 Minute Musicals; At Home In Mitford; and The Water. Elise is ecstatically married to cellist Stephen Green, and they are the proud parents of social activist Rebecca Rose.
Vanessa Nelson (Stage Manager) is happy to be working on her first production with The Academy for New Musical Theatre. After almost seven years away from the creative side of theatre, she became a member of LOFT ensemble, located in downtown Los Angeles, last September and has since performed in Macbeth (Assassin 1/Doctor) and operated lights/sound for What Happened in Mayville 2? She is currently writing her first full-length play for LOFT ensemble. She would like to thank all of the wonderful people working on this beautiful show for their faith and support.
Kim Overton (Costume Designer) Sincerest thanks to Josh for bringing her on board. She thanks the ANMT production team; Kevin, Scott, Elise, Eric and Alan and the versatile cast for sharing their many gifts and talents. 2012 credits: Barefoot in the Park at Actor’s Co-Op; Drowsey Chaperone, Amadeus, Blithe Spirit and How to Succeed in Business at APU, Tsarina at The Grove; A Chorus Line and Hairspray at Hamilton Music Academy. Coming up: Merrily We Roll Along and The Seagull (set in Steampunk costumes) at APU Warehouse. Previous work at Actor’s Co-Op; Elephant Stageworks; Open Fist; Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland, Grove, Glendale Centre Theatre, LACC, USC Film, UCLA Film, AFI Film. Contact info: kocostumes@gmail.com or visit www.kocostumes.com. She is grateful to be loved and supported by friends and family, especially husband Jim and daughter Ryan Amanda.
Michael Hoffman (Scenic Design) is the owner of VONHOFFMAN ENTERTAINMENT. He has been a part of the theater world since his early years in high school. Michael specializes in dance lighting design and works with a number of dance studios, colleges and companies including, Unity Dance Ensemble and Culture Shock,. He has received recognition most recently from the Inland Theater League for his work as Lighting and Video designer for 13. Other shows that Michael has received recognition for include Traffic, Les Miserables, Footloose, Virtuosity, Odd Couple, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Ten Little Indians.
Coby Chasman Beck (Lighting Design) Notable designs: Mad Women, Mutant Olive, Cologne, (Katselas Theatre Company / Skylight Theater), Becoming Norman, Praying Small, Boomermania! (NoHo ACE), Los Angeles Tap Festival ’08 & ‘09 (Debbie Allen Dance Co.), Giving Back Arts and Music to Education: Press Conference (Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger), Street Angel Diaries, Shabbat Alive!, Lighting Direction for national tours including Spectrum Dance Theater: The Theater of Needless Talents and Interrupted Narratives/War choreography by Donald Byrd. Seattle Theater Group & Spectrum Dance Theater: Icono-Clan (Choreography by Merce Cunningham, Gus Solomons Jr, & Donald Byrd). Additional work with The Guthrie Theater, 5th Avenue Theater, Death of a Salesman (2012 Broadway Revival). Mr. Chasman-Beck served as the Resident Lighting Director for Donald Byrd’s Spectrum Dance Theater from 2008 – 2010 and is a proud IATSE ACT member.
Alex Holmes* (Sound Design) is a proud member of actors equity. When Alex is not at the sound board he has his fare share stage time. His most recent musical was an original production called Reality Check. Some of his other credits include, Skip from Glory Days; The Courier in 1776; Pippin in Pippin; Jack from Into the Woods and Renfield in Dracula, just to name a few. Alex has a masters degree in performance from UNLV. Thanks to ANMT for this great opportunity.
Storie Blake (ASM/Props Design) just graduated from California Lutheran University with her BA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in performance. She has been working in properties for four years, designing for shows such as Into the Woods, Pericles, the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Jekyll and Hyde. She has also been performing since a very young age performing as The Narrator in Joseph, Lucinda in Into the Woods, Charlotta in The Cherry Orchard, and Rosa Gonzales in Summer and Smoke. She looks forward to a profession in performance as well as design She is very excited to be working on this beautiful, hilarious show and with ANMT.
Bryan Blaskie (Keyboard) is a songwriter and composer from Columbus, OH. He studied music composition and piano at Denison University. In addition to writing, Bryan has been music director for shows like Edges and Cabaret Sauvignon! Currently he performs with the lounge act Torch Note, and is writing a new song cycle that ANMT will probably tell you about in the future.
Michael L. Solomon (Drums) originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a Duquesne University graduate with a degree in music performance. After moving to Los Angeles, Michael played the National Tour of Cats and was the drummer for The Crystal Cathedral Hour of Power Orchestra, playing on syndicated TV to millions of viewers! In his versatile career, he has performed with Jose Carreras and Shirley Jones. His LA theatre credits include several productions of Menopause, The Musical. Michael is the original drummer for the award winning production of Louis and Keely, Live at the Sahara. He continues to perform extensively throughout California and is happy to join this exciting, new production of A Ring in Brooklyn.