Disney's The Little Mermaid Announces Full Cast
Disney's The Little Mermaid
Announces Full Cast
Gathering in Denver This Summer to Create Theatrical Stage Production
Disney Theatrical Productions (Thomas Schumacher,
Producer) is proud to announce the full cast for the theatrical stage production
of THE LITTLE MERMAID, based on the Disney film and the classic fairy tale by
Hans Christian Andersen. The company features Sierra Boggess as ‘Ariel,’ Sean
Palmer as ‘Prince Eric,’ Norm Lewis as ‘King Triton,’ Tituss Burgess as
‘Sebastian,’ Eddie Korbich as ‘Scuttle,’ Jonathan Freeman as ‘Grimsby,’ Derrick
Baskin as ‘Jetsam,’ Tyler Maynard as ‘Flotsam,’ Cody Hanford and J.J. Singleton
as ‘Flounder,’ and Sherie René Scott as ‘Ursula.’
The company of 35 includes Adrian Bailey, Cathryn Basile, Heidi Blickenstaff,
James Brown III, Robert Creighton, Cicily Daniels, John Treacy Egan, Tim Federle,
Merwin Foard, Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines, Ben Hartley, Meredith Inglesby, Michelle
Lookadoo, Joanne Manning, Alan Mingo, Jr., Zakiya Young Mizen, Betsy Morgan,
Arbender J. Robinson, Bret Shuford, Jason Snow, Chelsea Morgan Stock, Kay
Trinidad, Price Waldman and Daniel J. Watts.
Led by director Francesca Zambello, some of the theatre’s most innovative
artists will gather this summer to create THE LITTLE MERMAID, with a score
featuring the classic songs “Part of Your World,�? “Kiss the Girl�? and the
Academy Award® -winning Best Original Song, “Under the Sea,�? composed by
eight-time Academy Award® winner Alan Menken and his frequent collaborator, the
legendary Howard Ashman. There are 11 new songs by Mr. Menken and lyricist
Glenn Slater. The book for the new musical is by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®
-winning playwright Doug Wright.
THE LITTLE MERMAID will play a seven-week engagement at Ellie Caulkins Opera
House at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts beginning July 26th, 2007,
officially opening on August 23rd, 2007 and playing through September 9th,
2007. Performances begin on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West
46th Street) on November 3rd, 2007 and opens officially on December 6th, 2007.
THE LITTLE MERMAID’s visionary team of artists include Olivier Award winner
Stephen Mear (choreography), George Tsypin (scenic design), Tatiana Noginova
(costume design), Tony Award® winner Natasha Katz (lighting design), John
Shivers (sound design), Angelina Avallone (make-up design) and David Brian Brown
(hair design).
THE LITTLE MERMAID takes place in a magical kingdom beneath the sea, where a
beautiful young mermaid named Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the
world above. But first, she’ll have to defy her father, the king of the sea,
escape the clutches of an evil sea witch and convince a prince that she’s the
girl with the perfect voice.
TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets to the Denver production are currently on sale.
Visit www.denvercenter.org for
more information. Tickets to the Broadway production go on sale on June 10th,
2007. Visit www.DisneyOnBroadway.com
for more information.
ACTOR BIOGRAPHIES:
SIERRA BOGGESS (Ariel). Currently starring as Christine in Phantom Las Vegas,
where she originated the role under the direction of Hal Prince. Other credits:
National Tour of Les Miserables, West Side Story (Maria), World Premiere
"Princesses" (Binky) Goodspeed and 5th Avenue, Seattle. Soloist, Lincoln
Centre's "American Songbook Series: The Lyrics of David Zippel". BFA Millikin
University.
SHERIE RENÉ SCOTT (Ursula). Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC noms,
Drama League honor) Disney's Aida,(Derwent Award, Drama League honor) Tommy (OBC),
Rent, Landscape of the Body (Obie Award, Drama League honor, Lortel nomination),
The Last Five Years, (Drama Desk nom., Drama League honor) Debbie Does Dallas,
Faust, Over and Over (Helen Hayes nom.) With husband Kurt Deutsch co-founded Sh-K-Boom
/ Ghostlight Records (sh-k-boom.com), over 40 albums, five Grammy noms, and a
2006 Drama Desk Award for excellence in theatre.
SEAN PALMER (Prince Eric). Recent: Chip in On The Town directed by Jude Kelly
(English National Opera) Bway: The Apple Tree, Saturday Night Fever (Tony Manero),
Fosse, Dream. Off Bway; A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (Encores!), Paula Vogel's The
Long Christmas Ride Home (Vineyard). Regional: Of Thee I Sing (Paper Mill),
Kiss Me Kate (North Shore) and Tony in Julie Andrew's The Boyfriend (Bay Street/Goodspeed)
Film/TV; Chicago (Miramax), “Grey's Anatomy�? (ABC), “The Reagan's�? (Showtime)
and as Marcus in “Sex and the City.�?
NORM LEWIS (King Triton). Broadway: Les Miserables (Javert), Chicago (Billy
Flynn), Amour, Wild Party, Side Show (Jake), Miss Saigon (John), Tommy.
Off-Broadway: Dessa Rose (Nathan), Drama Desk nom., AUDELCO Award; Two Gentlemen
of Verona (Valentine), Drama League nom.; Captains Courageous (Doc); A New Brain
(Roger). Concerts: Chess (Molokov); Dreamgirls (Curtis); Golden Boy (Eddie) for
Encores!. Regional: Ragtime (Coalhouse), Dreamgirls (Curtis), The Fantasticks
(El Gallo). Film/TV: Preaching to the Choir, Confidences, Mystery Woman,
“Cosby,�? “Strong Medicine,�? “All My Children,�? “As the World Turns.�?
TITUSS BURGESS (Sebastian). Broadway: Jersey Boys, Good Vibrations. Regional:
The Wiz (Cowardly Lion, La Jolla), Soloist, Prague Philharmonic’s tribute to
American composers. Narrator, United Nations tribute to Ennio Morricone.
Featured in Disney World’s Festival of the Lion King and soloist for Disney
Conventions. Television: “The View,�? “The Today Show,�? “Late Night with David
Letterman.�? A native of Athens, Georgia, Tituss received a BA in Music from the
University of Georgia. Solo CD: “Here’s to You.�?
EDDIE KORBICH (Scuttle). Broadway: The Drowsy Chaperone (Drama Desk
nomination), After The Night and the Music, Wicked, Seussical, Carousel, Sweeney
Todd, Singin’ in the Rain. Off-Broadway: Takin’ a Chance on Love (Obie Award);
Assassins; Godspell; The Gifts of the Magi; Eating Raoul; Flora, the Red Menace;
A Little Night Music. TV: “Mary and Rhoda,�? “Law & Order,�? “New York
Undercover,�? “S.V.U.,�? “Wonderland�?, “Out of the Box�?. Cartoon Voices: “Doug�?
and “PB and J Otter�?. Film: Quiz Show, Jennifer 8.
JONATHAN FREEMAN (Grimsby). NYC: Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, 42nd
Street, On the Town, How to Succeed…, She Loves Me (Tony Nom.), Platinum,
Sherlock Holmes (RSC), Finian’s Rainbow (Irish Rep.), Sail Away, (Carnegie
Hall), Of Thee I Sing, Li’l Abner (Encores), A Class Act (MTC), An Empty Plate
(Primary Stages). Film: Aladdin (voice of Jafar), The Hoax, The Ice Storm, The
Associate, A Shock to the System, Forever Lulu. TV: “Law & Order: CI,�?
“Remember WENN,�? “Shining Time Station,�? “American Dragon.�?
DERRICK BASKIN (Jetsam). Currently “Mitch Mahoney�? in …Spelling Bee (Drama Desk
Award). Other credits include Aida (Mereb) and the world premiere of Memphis
(Gator) at the North Shore Music Theatre. He played “Adrian�? in Smokey Joe’s
Cafe at Pioneer Playhouse, “Matthew Henson�? in Ragtime at Weston Playhouse and
“Sundiata�? in Sundiata the Lion King of Mali. Derrick has a BA in Biology from
Hampton University. A New York resident, Derrick calls Yokota AFB, Japan, his
home.
TYLER MAYNARD (Flotsam). New York credits include Altar Boyz (Theater World
Award, Drama Desk Nom, Lucille Lortel Nom), Mamma Mia, Mary Poppins (Valentine),
Miracle Brothers (Vinyard), Bye Bye Birdie (Encores!), workshops of Xanadu, Good
Vibrations, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Disney’s On the Record. Has worked
regionally at KC Starlight, PCLO, NYSAF, and the St. Louis Muny. Film credits
include Todd Solondz's Palindromes, Red Doors. He can be heard on the
recordings of On the Record and Altar Boyz.
CODY HANFORD (Flounder) Disney's The Little Mermaid marks Cody's Broadway debut.
At age 12, Cody is a seasoned stage veteran. Regional theatre credits include:
The Wizard of Oz, Evita, and Fiddler on the Roof. Cody starred opposite Dakota
Fanning in the feature film Hounddog (Sundance Film Festival 2007), and
portrayed Tommy Cash in the 20th Century Fox feature Walk the Line.
J.J. SINGLETON (Flounder). Born in NYC, J.J. Singleton is excited to remain a
part of the Disney family. He made his Broadway debut playing Young Simba in
Disney's The Lion King. J.J. has done benefits for Broadway Cares Equity Fights
AIDS, and volunteers for NYBook Pals and Ronald McDonald House. He has been on
the "Ice Hockey In Harlem" team for six years.
ADRIAN BAILEY (Ensemble, u/s King Triton). Broadway credits include: La Cage Aux
Folles (Jacob), The Lion King, The Wild Party, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, The Who’s
Tommy, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Jelly’s Last Jam, Black & Blue, Legs Diamond, My
One & Only, Sophisticated Ladies and more. Television includes: HBO’s The
Josephine Baker Story and The Fantastiks.
CATHRYN BASILE (Ensemble). Broadway: ... Spelling Bee (u/s Marcy and Rona).
National Tour : Mamma Mia (u/s Sophie and Ali) Other credits include: New York-
Party Come Here (NYMF), Henry, Sweet Henry (York Theatre); Readings- Last Dance,
Slut (Goodspeed). Regional: Guys and Dolls, Annie (MUNY). BFA University of
Michigan Musical Theatre.
HEIDI BLICKENSTAFF (Ensemble / Carlotta, u/s Ursula). Broadway: The Full Monty.
Off-Broadway: [title of show]. NYMF (2005): The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde
(Blanche Barrow). Tours: Full Monty (Vicki Nichols), Jekyll and Hyde, The Who’s
Tommy. Recent Regional: Meet John Doe (Ann Mitchell) Ford's Theatre, Girl in the
Frame (Laney) Goodspeed/Chester, Bat Boy (Meredith) Theatreworks CA.
JAMES BROWN III (Swing / Assistant Dance Captain). Broadway: Original Broadway
Company of The Color Purple (Bobby), Wicked (The Lover), The Producers (O’Houlihan),
Original Broadway Company of The Frogs (Dance Captain), The Lion King (Simba,
Dance Captain). TV/Film: The Producers, “Michael Jackson’s 30th Anniversary,�?
Chapelle’s Show. Education: Brown University (Psychology).
ROBERT CREIGHTON (Ensemble, u/s Scuttle). Broadway: Jackie Mason’s Laughing Room
Only (co-star); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Inventor/Goran u.s.); The Lion King (Timon)
LA/TOR. Leading roles for NYC Opera, Paper Mill, Goodspeed, St. Louis Rep,
Cincinnati Playhouse, TUTS (Houston), Maine State, Drayton Theatre. Graduate of
AADA (NYC), Wilfrid Laurier in his native Canada.
CICILY DANIELS (Ensemble, u/s Ursula). Broadway: All Shook Up (Sylvia u/s), Rent
(Seasons' Soloist, Joanne u/s); National Tour: Caroline or Change (Washing
Machine); Regional: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Muzzy), Once on this Island (Asaka),
Ain't Misbehavin' (Armelia), Into the Woods (Witch); TV : Ugly Betty (Zelda).
Yale University, B.A. Theatre.
JOHN TREACY EGAN (Ensemble / Louis). Broadway: The Producer (Max Bialystock,
Roger DeBris, and Franz Liebkind), Jekyll & Hyde(original cast/ Atlantic
Theatrical Recordings).Off-Broadway: When Pigs Fly!(original cast/RCA
Recordings), Batboy The Musical (original cast). Film & Television: “Law &
Order,�? “As The World Turns,�? “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,�? Jekyll & Hyde,
and The Producers(Universal).
TIM FEDERLE (Ensemble, u/s Scuttle, u/s Flotsam). Broadway: Gypsy starring
Bernadette Peters, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Off-Broadway: Associate
Choreographer of Face the Music at Encores!. First National Tour: Dance Captain
of Spamalot. Premiere: Dance Captain of White Christmas. Regional/Stock:
Goodspeed, Paper Mill, Pittsburgh CLO, Walnut Street. Cast Albums: White
Christmas, Gypsy.
MERWIN FOARD (Ensemble, u/s King Triton, u/s Grimsby) makes The Little Mermaid
lucky #13. Previous Broadway: Sweeney Todd; La Cage…; Assassins; Oklahoma!;
Kiss Me, Kate; 1776; Jekyll and Hyde; Beauty and the Beast; and Les Miserables.
Disney Films: Pocahontas, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The King Of
Thieves, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan and Home On The Range.
BAHIYAH SAYYED GAINES (Ensemble). Broadway credits: Original cast of The Color
Purple (Ensemble and Nettie cover) and principle dancer in Alvin Ailey Dance
Theater, Frankfurt Ballet, Creative Outlet, Complexions, Donald Byrd/The Group
among other guest appearances abroad.
BEN HARTLEY. (Ensemble). Broadway: Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, Fiddler on the
Roof, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. West End and Tours: Cats, Fosse, S.L. Cinderella
& The Carman. NYC & Regional: The Most Happy Fella and Pirates at NYCO, Follies
at Encores! and Hello Dolly at Papermill. Met Opera Ballet and English National
Ballet. Proud BDC faculty.
MEREDITH INGLESBY (Swing). Broadway: Beauty and the Beast (Babette) National
Tour: On the Record (Original Cast Recording) Regional: My Fair Lady (Eliza), A
Chorus Line (Diana Morales), Camelot (Guenevere), Crazy for You (Polly), Chicago
(Roxie Hart), And the World Goes ‘Round. BFA Rollins.
MICHELLE LOOKADOO (Ensemble). Broadway: Mary Poppins (Miss Lark u/s), Beauty
and the Beast (Babette u/s). Regional theatre: Papermill, North Shore, TUTS,
Pioneer, Westchester. Film: Across the Universe (Lucy's friend). Ballet
companies: Richmond Ballet, New Jersey Ballet.
JOANNE MANNING (Swing / Dance Captain). Broadway: The Wedding Singer, Spamalot,
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Frogs, Contact (Girl on the Swing),
Victor/Victoria. National tours: Contact, Guys and Dolls, Music of the Night.
Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Associate Choreographer: The Apple Tree,
Contact (London, Tokyo). Dance Assistant: Double Feature (NYCB). Film/TV:
“Contact�? (PBS), Center Stage, “Tonight Show with Jay Leno.�?
ALAN MINGO, JR. (Ensemble, u/s Sebastian) starred as Seaweed in the 1st national
of Hairspray and Simba in the 1st National and LA companies of The Lion King.
Before joining Rent on Broadway as Tom Collins, Mingo staged, choreographed, and
performed in the Italian version, and performed in the 1st & 2nd national
companies. Regional: The Wiz/LaJolla Playhouse. MFA: UC, Irvine.
ZAKIYA YOUNG MIZEN (Ensemble) gives praise and honor to Jesus. Broadway debut!
Proud AEA member. Regional: The Mikado (Pitti-Sing) and Carousel (Carrie).
Soloist: New Haven Symphony. B.A. in Communication, University of Pittsburgh.
BETSY MORGAN (Swing, u/s Ariel). Broadway: High Fidelity (Original Cast
Recording). New York Theatre: Prairie (Dir. Francesca Zambello); Leap of Faith
(Dir. Taylor Hackford); Memphis (Dir. Chris Ashley); The Fantasticks , 2006
revival (Dir. Tom Jones); Bernarda Alba, Lincoln Center (Dir. Graciela Daniele).
National Tour: Mamma Mia!. BFA from Emerson College.
ARBENDER J. ROBINSON (Ensemble, u/s Prince Eric), from Chicago, is a graduate of
Viterbo University in Lacrosse WI. Broadway: Hairspray. Regional: Five Guys
Named Moe, Smokey Joes Cafe, JC Superstar, Into the Woods, Miss Saigon.
Headliner Vocalist on Royal Caribbean Cruises and vocalist in numerous shows at
Walt Disney World, including the Voice Of Liberty.
BRET SHUFORD (Ensemble, u/s Prince Eric). Broadway: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,
Beauty and the Beast. National Tour: Sound of Music. Regional: Fords Theater,
Maine State Music Theater, North Carolina Theater, Casa Manana, Walnut Street
Theater, Prince Music Theater, Lyric Theater of Oklahoma, Music Theater of
Wichita. Television: Guiding Light, All My Children.
JASON SNOW (Swing). Broadway: Hairspray (Dance Captain) and The Music Man. First
National Tour: Hairspray (Dance Captain), Mamma Mia!, and Footloose (Asst. Dance
Captain). Other credits include: dancing in The Chase Brock Experience (2007);
Broadway Under the Stars (2006).
CHELSEA MORGAN STOCK (Ensemble, u/s Ariel), born and raised in the Bay Area, is
ecstatic to be making her Broadway debut! Regional: A Year With Frog and Toad,
and Kiss Me Kate (Weston Playhouse). Training: BFA in Musical Theater, The
Boston Conservatory ‘07.
KAY TRINIDAD (Ensemble). Broadway debut! Off-Broadway: bare: A Pop Opera, Ninja:
The Musical (workshop). Regional: Making Tracks (San Jose Repertory), King & I,
Bye, Bye Birdie (Casa Manana). Training: NYU.
PRICE WALDMAN (Swing, u/s Grimsby). Broadway: How The Grinch Stole Christmas
(Papa Who), The Lion King. International tours with performance artist Laurie
Anderson in Songs and Stories from Moby Dick. Off-Broadway and regional credits
include quite a bit of Shakespeare, the occasional Christmas Carol as well as a
slew of musicals both known and unknown.
DANIEL J. WATTS (Ensemble) thanks God for this “ORIGINAL�? experience!! Broadway:
The Color Purple; Regional: Jelly’s Last Jam (Alliance Theatre), Stormy Weather
(Prince Music Theatre), Ragtime (HRT), Hello, Dolly! (Hangar Theatre) Miss
Saigon (Seaside Music Theatre). BFA Music Theatre, Elon University.
AUTHORS & CREATIVES’ BIOGRAPHIES:
ALAN MENKEN (Composer) is world renowned as both a stage and film composer. His
stage scores include Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast; currently in
its 13th year on Broadway, the Madison Square Garden stage and NBC film
productions of A Christmas Carol, God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, Real Life
Funnies, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Weird Romance, Der Glöckner Von
Notre Dame and King David. His upcoming stage projects include adaptations of
Sister Act and Leap of Faith. His film work includes the songs and scores to
Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin,
Newsies, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules and Home On the
Range. His latest film musical, Enchanted, will be released later this year.
His songwriting collaborators have included Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, Stephen
Schwartz, Lynn Ahrens, David Zippel, Jack Feldman, David Spencer and, of course,
Glenn Slater. In addition to winning 8 Oscars, he has been nominated 14 times.
He has also won 7 Golden Globe’s, 10 Grammy’s as well as the London Evening
Standard, Olivier, New York Drama Critics and Drama Desk and Outer Critics
Circle Awards. His other achievements include: Billboard’s # 1 album
(Pocahontas) and # 1 single (“A Whole New World�?).
HOWARD ASHMAN (Lyrics) wrote the lyrics for Disney animated films The Little
Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin (three songs). He was a Producer on
The Little Mermaid and Executive Producer on Beauty and the Beast. With composer
Alan Menken, he received two Oscars® and two Golden Globes® for Best Song
(“Beauty and the Beast�? and “Under the Sea�?) and four Grammys®. He received an
Oscar® nomination with Mr. Menken for “Friend Like Me�? from Aladdin. As Author,
Lyricist and Director for the record-breaking stage musical Little Shop of
Horrors, Mr. Ashman received two Outer Critics’ Circle Awards, a New York Drama
Critics Circle Award, a London Evening Standard Award and a Drama Desk Award.
For the film version of Little Shop, he received Best Screenplay nomination from
the Writers Guild and, with Mr. Menken, an Oscar® nomination for Best Song. He
was Author, Lyricist and Director of Smile for which he received a Tony®
nomination for Best Book. His other credits include God Bless You, Mr.
Rosewater; The Confirmation; Artistic Director, WPA Theatre (1976-1982). Born in
Baltimore, Mr. Ashman died at age 40 of complications due to AIDS.
GLENN SLATER (Lyrics) wrote the lyrics for Disney’s animated Western, Home On
The Range, with composer Alan Menken. Glenn’s recent work also includes the
Manhattan Theatre Club’s Obie-Award-winning revue newyorkers (Lucille Lortel,
Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations). His songs have been recorded by
Bonnie Raitt, kd Lang, and Tim McGraw, among others, and his words have given
extra sparkle to the world-renowned Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus
for much of the past decade. Upcoming Broadway projects with composer Menken
include Sister Act, which premiered at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2006, as well
as the musicals The Little Mermaid and Leap of Faith. With composer Stephen
Weiner, his collaborator on newyorkers, he is penning both book and lyrics for
the Broadway-bound adaptation of the Coen Brothers’ film The Hudsucker Proxy.
Glenn is the recipient of the prestigious Kleban Award for Lyrics, the
ASCAP/Richard Rogers New Horizons Award, and the Jonathan Larson Award. He is
an alumnus of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, and a member of both ASCAP and
the Dramatists’ Guild. He lives in New York City with his wife,
composer/lyricist Wendy Leigh Wilf, and sons Benjamin and Daniel.
DOUG WRIGHT (Book) received a 2006 Drama Desk nomination for his book for the
Broadway musical Grey Gardens. In 2004, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, a
Tony Award for Best Play, the Drama Desk Award, a GLAAD Media Award, an Outer
Critics Circle Award, a Drama League Award, and a Lucille Lortel Award for his
play I Am My Own Wife. Earlier in his career, Mr. Wright won an Obie Award for
outstanding achievement in playwriting and the Kesselring Award for Best New
American Play from the National Arts Club for his play Quills. He went on to
write the screenplay adaptation, making his motion picture debut. The film was
named Best Picture by the National Board of Review and nominated for three
Academy Awards. His screenplay was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, and
received the Paul Selvin Award from the Writer’s Guild of America. His stage
work has been produced in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco,
London, Stockholm, Bucharest, Krakow, Dublin, Budapest, Brasov and Viterbo,
among other cities. Titles include: The Stonewater Rapture, Interrogating The
Nude, Watbanaland, Buzzsaw Berkeley and Unwrap Your Candy. For career
achievement, Mr. Wright was recently cited with an award from the American
Academy of Arts and Letters and the Tolerance Prize from the KulturForum Europa.
He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Writer’s Guild of America, East and
the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. Currently, he serves on the
board of the New York Theater Workshop. He lives in New York with his partner,
singer/songwriter David Clement.
FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO (Director) Francesca Zambello has staged productions at major
theaters and opera houses around the world. She takes a special interest in
producing theater and opera for wider audiences. Ms. Zambello has been awarded
the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres and the Russian Federation's medal for
Service to Culture. Other honors for her work include Olivier Awards, Evening
Standard Awards and French Grand Prix des Critiques, Japanese Golden Prize, and
the Helpmann Award. Recent opera projects include the Ring for Washington
National and San Francisco Operas, the world premiere of An American Tragedy,
Cyrano du Bergerac with Placido Domingo, and The Trojans for the Metropolitan
Opera, Carmen for the Royal Opera House and Salome for the Chicago Lyric Opera.
Recent theater projects include Showboat in London, a new musical based on
Rebecca for the Raimund Theater in Vienna, a BBC film of The Little Prince by
Rachel Portman, West Side Story for the floating stage in Bregenz and Porgy and
Bess for the Kennedy Center. She is developing musicals based on Little House
on the Prairie and First Wives Club. A native New Yorker who grew up in Europe,
she attended Moscow University and Colgate University. She makes her home in NYC
and London.
STEPHEN MEAR (Choreographer). Broadway theatre credits include: Mary Poppins.
London Theatre credits include: Mary Poppins (2005 Olivier Award for Best
Choreography with Matthew Bourne), On The Town (Eno), Acorn Antiques, Tonight’s
The Night, Anything Goes (What’s On Stage Award for Best Choreography, 2003
Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production), Singin’ In The Rain (What’s
On Stage Award for Best Choreography, Olivier Award nomination), Soul Train
(Olivier Award nomination), Witches Of Eastwick (Co-Choreographer with Bob
Avian). Regional Theatre: Just So, How To Succeed…, Putting It Together,
Bouncers, Shakers, Honk, Snoopy, Half A Sixpence. Opera: Don Giovanni (Royal
Opera House). Music Videos: “Number One�? (Goldfrapp), “The Importance Of Being
Idle�? (Oasis).
GEORGE TSYPIN (Scenic Design) is a sculptor, architect and designer of opera,
film and video. He won an International Competition of “New and Spontaneous
Ideas for the Theater for Future Generations�? some twenty years ago. Since then
his opera designs have been seen all over the world, including Salzburg
Festival, Opera de Bastille in Paris, Covent Garden in London, La Scala in Milan
and Metropolitan Opera in New York. Mr. Tsypin has worked in all major theaters
in America and in the 90’s, expanded his work to include design for film,
television, concerts as well as exhibitions and installations. The first
personal gallery show of his sculpture took place in 1991 at Twining Gallery in
New York. He created the Planet Earth Gallery, one of the Millennium Projects in
England: a major installation of moving architectural elements, videos and 200
sculptures. George exhibited his work at Venice Biennale in 2002. George studied
architecture in Moscow and theater design in New York and won numerous awards.
He has worked for many years with renowned directors such as Julie Taymor, Peter
Sellars, Francesca Zambello, Jurgen Flimm and Andrey Konchalovsky. He has a
special creative relationship with the conductor Valery Gergiev.
TATIANA NOGINOVA (Costume Design) has designed costumes for War and Peace for
Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Covent Garden as well as Mariinsky Theatre where
she designed costumes for such major opera and ballet productions as The Ring
Cycle, Boris Godunov, Enchantress, Gambler, Lady Macbeth of Mtzensk, Snowmaiden,
Mazepa, Golden Age, La Bayadere. She has designed for Moscow Bolshoi Theatre:
La Turandot and Fiery Angel; Sidney Opera Australia: The Love for Three
Oranges. Tatiana is a graduate of Saint Petersburg school of Theater and Film.
She had been resident set and costume designer at Norilsk State Theater, and she
has been working lately with such renown directors as David Poutney, Andrey
Konchalovsky and Francesca Zambello.
NATASHA KATZ (Lighting Design) Recent Broadway: Tarzan (Tony Award® nomination
2006), Aida (Tony Award® 2000), Beauty and the Beast, 25th Annual Putnam County
Spelling Bee, Sweet Smell of Success, Twelfth Night, Flower Drum Song, Dance of
Death, The Capeman, Barrymore. National Theatre, London: Buried Child.
Opera/dance: Cyrano (Metropolitan Opera), Die Soldatan (NYC Opera), Carnival of
the Animals (NYC Ballet), Tryst (Royal Ballet) and Don Quixote (ABT). Concert
acts: Shirley MacLaine, Ann-Margret, Tommy Tune. Permanent lighting
installations: Niketown NYC and London, the Big Bang (Museum of Natural History
in NYC).
DANNY TROOB (Orchestrator). Bway: The Pajama Game (Tony Award® nomination
2006), Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life, Little Shop Of Horrors, Beauty and The
Beast, Big River (Drama Desk Award 1985) and so many more, both hits and
flops! Film: Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Lion King, Hercules,
Cousin Bette, 101 Dalmations. Recording: Barbara Cook “Tribute,�? Mandy Patinkin
“Experiment�? and “Blackwell sings Bernstein.�? Composed underscore for ABC
television “Annie,�? “Cinderella,�? “Once Upon A Mattress�? and Disney’s smash hit
Little Mermaid 2 (Annie Award nomination 2000). Recent credits: Radio City
Christmas 2006, Metropolitan Opera Farewell to Joseph Volpe, and Jimmy Webb’s
“Centennial Suite.�? Troob’s “January Sonata�? for viola and piano has been
performed by the great virtuoso Paul Neubauer and an “August Sonata�? for tenor
trombone is in the works.
MICHAEL KOSARIN (Music Director/Vocal and Incidental Music Arranger) has worked
steadily on Broadway for twenty-five years, starting as production pianist for
the original Broadway production of Nine in 1982. His music direction and
arranging work on Broadway includes the original productions of Secret Garden,
Grand Hotel, King David, Mayor, A Chorus Line (First International Tour),
Triumph of Love, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
(Berlin, Germany), Little Shop of Horrors, and Can-Can (Encores!). Kosarin was
honored with an Emmy Award last season for his work as music director on the
Menken/Ahrens musical teleplay of “A Christmas Carol�? for Hallmark/NBC, starring
Kelsey Grammer, for which he also wrote the adapted underscore. Other television
projects have included the ABC-TV film of “The Music Man�? starring Matthew
Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth (another music direction Emmy nomination), and
the ABC-TV production of “Once Upon a Mattress,�? starring Tracey Ullman and
Carol Burnett. He has also worked extensively in film, having music directed,
conducted, and arranged vocals for many Walt Disney Feature Animation projects,
including the films Pocahontas, Hercules and Home on the Range, as well as
countless other live action films (most recently, the films Infamous and The
Manchurian Candidate). Kosarin has also produced, conducted, arranged, and was
pianist on many recordings -- perhaps most notably with Carly Simon, with whom
he collaborated on albums such as their gold album My Romance, and, most
recently, with Barbara Cook. Their album Tribute was made following their highly
successful appearance together at Café Carlyle last spring. His work as guest
conductor for symphony orchestras includes appearances with Ms. Cook as well as
with Kristin Chenoweth. Future projects include the Disney film Enchanted (to
be released later this year), and the shows Sister Act and Leap of Faith, both
by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater.
JOHN H. SHIVERS (Sound Design). Broadway Sound Design credits include: Tarzan,
In My Life, Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays, Julia Sweeney’s God said ‘Ha’. He is
also credited as the Associate Sound Designer for Broadway and worldwide
productions of Mary Poppins, The Lion King, The Producers, Hairspray, Elton John
and Tim Rice’s Aida, Titanic, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,
Big, The Who’s Tommy, Guys and Dolls, and The Buddy Holly Story. Other credits
include work on various productions of Ace, Savion Glover, Dionne Warwick and
Gregory Hines. John is married to singer/songwriter Catherine Porter with whom
he has a daughter, Ruby.
ANGELINA AVALLONE (Make-up Design). Broadway: The Color Purple, Sweeney Todd,
The Pajama Game, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Light in the Piazza, Grey Gardens,
Lestat, The Odd Couple, All Shook Up, Lennon, Seascape, Sweet Charity, The
Pillowman, Wonderful Town, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Gypsy, Little Shop of
Horrors, Dance of the Vampires, Dracula the Musical and Julius Caesar.
DAVID BRIAN BROWN (Wig/Hair Design). Broadway: Legally Blonde, Butley, Tarzan,
Wedding Singer, Chita The Dancers Life, The Odd Couple, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,
Fiddler on the Roof, Nine, Gypsy, Flower Drum Song, Sweet Smell of Success, The
Invention Of Love, Aida, The Rainmaker, The Iceman Cometh, Annie Get Your Gun,
Little Me, Chicago, Sideshow, 1776, Steel Pier, Big, Sunset Boulevard, World
Premiere of Whistle Down The Wind. Film credits include: Angels In America (Emmy
nominated ), Too Wong Foo…