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Creative Team |
ALBERT TAPPER (Composer) -- is a writer, composer and lyricist having written two Off-Broadway musicals. He wrote his first musical while still in college. Since then he has written special material for regional productions and has produced two albums of his own songs. Mr. Tapper composed the ballet, "The Seduction of Bethsheeba" whose premiere performance at Mechanics Hall was presented by the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra. His first musical was DAVID, performed at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. in 1992. Mr. Tapper has also created and written six books on humor published by Andrews McMeel and Company. The books are titled: "A Guy Goes Into A Bar"; "A Guy Goes Into A Psychiatrist's Office"; "A Minister, A Priest And A Rabbi"; "Sports"; "Four Score and Seven", a political book; and "AWOL" (A Week Of Laughs). He is currently at work on a new musical comedy about Brooklyn getting another major league baseball franchise called THE BROOKLYN BAMMERS. Mr. Tapper is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and a member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers and Publishers). |
JAMES RACHEFF (Book and Lyrics) -- wrote the adaptation of the original Guy Bolton/P.G. Wodehouse book for David Merrick's Broadway production of Gershwin's OH, KAY! His musical HOUDINI (book and co-lyrics) was most recently performed at the Lincolnshire Marriott in greater Chicago, and before that on the mainstage at Goodspeed Opera House. ABYSSINIA (lyrics and co-book) has been produced at Goodspeed, Arena Stage, Cleveland Play House, and North Shore Music Theatre. VOYAGE OF THE GHOST SHIP (book and co-lyrics) was commissioned by Disney and is currently playing onboard the Disney Cruise Line ships MAGIC and WONDER. James is a member of A.S.C.A.P. and The Dramatists Guild. |
JOHN RUOCCO (Director/Choreographer) -- Directing and choreography credits include THE ROTHKO ROOM (EST Marathon 2000), GLIMMER, GLIMMER, AND SHINE by Warren Leight (Penguin Rep), Mark St. Germain and Randy Cours' new musical THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE (New Harmony Project and Playwright's Horizons), AVENUE X (Merrimack Rep), LITTLE KIT and APPELAMANDO'S DREAMS (Vineyard Theater), THE MUSIC MAN (Sundance Theater Institute), Liz Tuccillo's FAIR FIGHT: A MEAN LITTLE DANCE (Aspen Comedy Arts Festival) New York Stage and Flim, Naked Angels), a national tour of Rogers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA with the Joffrey II, the 25th Anniversary Production of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN (Charles Playhouse), as well as several productions with the Juilliard School, Ensemble Studio Theater, New York Stage and Film and the All Season's Theater Group. He co-conceived, directed, and choreographed THESE JOURNEY'S OF HOURS: THE MUSIC OF DAVID BUCKNAM for NYU with composer Debra Abramson. Choreography credits include Quincy Long's THE LIVELY LAD (NYSAF), the Off-Off- Broadway hit VIVA LAS VEGAS, MOJO for the Atlantic Theater Company, and Michael Mayer's productions of HUNDREDS OF HATS (WPA) and A HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN FILM (The Juilliard School). He teaches musical theater performance and dance at Playwrights Horizons Theater School, an undergraduate studio at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. John is a Drama League Directing Fellow and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. |
AUGUST ERIKSMOEN (Music Director/Vocal Arrangements/Orchestrations) -- has music directed all over the United States. Some touring and regional credits include: HELLO DOLLY! (National Tour), FORBIDDEN BROADWAY (Just about everywhere). As a writer, August has written hundreds of vocal arrangements and orchestrations for bands, shows, and recordings. Credits include The Hartford Symphony Orchestra, The Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, THE HONKY TONK ANGELS, ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE, and EMMY award winning recording artist Carl Anderson. |
ROB ODORISIO (Set Designer) -- New York credits: AN EMPTY PLATE IN THE CAFÉ DU GRAND BOEUF at Primary Stages (Drama Desk nomination), THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T SAY PAST MIDNIGHT, FAMILY SECRETS, INSIDE OUT, PLUNGE at Playwrights Horizons, Alan Ball's FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS at Manhattan Class Company, as well as work for the WPA, The Second Stage, Circle Repertory, Jewish Repertory, Theater Works/USA, The Juilliard School, Soho Repertory, The Vineyard Theatre, and Naked Angels. Regionally his designs have been seen at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Dallas Theatre Center, George Street Playhouse, Hartford Stage Company, Missouri Repertory Theatre, Playmakers Repertory Theatre, Studio Arena Theatre, Sundance Theatre Institute, Syracuse Stage, and the Walnut Street Theatre… just to name a few! Rob is currently a set designer for "The Guiding Light" and has been an art director for Eric Bogosian's film "Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll", and several after-school specials. Thank you John! |
CURTIS HAY (Costume Design) -- This is his fifth collaboration with director John Ruocco: Little Kit and Appelamando's Dreams (Vineyard Thatre/TPAC as part of their "Making Books Sing" series for children); These Journeys of Hours (NYU/Playwrights Horizons); and the New York premier of Warren Leight's Glimmer, Glimmer and Shine (Penguin Rep). His designs have been seen on the concert stages of Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and L'Orchestre National of Lyon, France. Curtis is also owner of "Jack of Hearts Vintage Clothing," furnishing antique clothing and accessories to the design trade. In memory of Susan Varner. |
ANNELIES GENTILE (Production Hair Stylist) -- Eight years of theatrical hair artistry in the state of North Carolina and on the road have brought Annelies to Broadway and beyond. Having had designed four consecutive seasons of shows at North Carolina Theatre, she is quite happy and grateful to bring a little of the South to NYC. She has traveled on productions with the "King and I" and "Sunset Boulevard" as well as recently holding the assistant wig superviosor position on Broadway with "Annie Get Your Gun". Many thanks to those who have supported her throughout her journey. Special thanks to William Jones and Michele Weathers of the North Carolina Theatre, David Brian Brown and her wonderful family back home in Raleigh, N.C. |
JOHN-PAUL SZCZEPANSKI (Lighting Design) -- John-Paul designed Appelamando's Dream at T.P.A.C., Ain Gordon's Obie winning Wally's Ghost at Soho Rep and the Cherry Lane alternative productions of The Golem, The Refreshmant of the Spirit and Aunt Pieces. Regional: Love, Valour, Compassion at the Studio Theatre Washington, Falsettos at the Hangar, The Importance of Being Ernest at Two Rivers Theatre. Tours: The current production of Annie and last seasons tour of BIG the Musical. He also designed Three Penny Opera for II Piccolo Teatro Dell' Opera at the Kurt Weill Fest in Bitterfeld Germany. John-Paul is a graduate of the S.U.N.Y. At Purchase design program. |
ROBERT KAPLOWITZ (Sound Design) -- Designs and engineering work have been heard everywhere from Broadway to the Czech Republic. He is the first Sound Designer for the O'Neill Center's National Playwright's Conference, under artistic director Jim Houghten. Recent designs include The Alchemist and Hurricane for Barry Edelstein (CSC), Love's Fire for Jonathan Rosenberg and Shoot the Piano Player for Rick Corely (BTF), The Golem, for Hayley Finn (Cherry Lane), and Blue Window for Julia Gibson (Atlantic Studios). He designed the sound system for Michael Mayer's Uncle Vanya and his work can be heard in the TONY Winning Contact, on which he served as the associate. |
RENEE RIMLAND (Production Stage Manager) -- Favorite projects include: Broadway: JEKYLL&HYDE, FOSSE, CABARET, STEEL PIER. National Tours: SAVION! FOOTNOTES, LES MISERABLES, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNOCOLOR DREAMCOAT, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, EVITA, BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, and BYE, BYE BIRDIE. Off-Broadway: I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE. Many thanks to my family for their unwavering love and support. |
GREGORY VICTOR (Stage Manager) -- Broadway: Footloose (Stage Mgr.), Neil Simon at the Neil Simon (Broadway Cares/EFA benefit). Tours: Footloose (Asst. Stage Mgr.), Barry Manilow's "Copacabana" (Prod. Asst.), Cats (Prod. Asst.), The Joffrey Ballet (Asst. to the artistic dir.). An experienced director, he is currently developing new projects for the stage. Gregory has B.A. and M.A. Degrees in History, and thanks Roger for the opportunity and Renée for the guidance. |
CINDI RUSH C.S.A. (Casting) -- Cindi Rush is a member of the Casting Society of America. Recent Credits in New York: ICE ISLAND (Melting Pot), A CHILD'S GARDEN (Melting Pot), THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T SAY PAST MIDNIGHT (Promenade), RETRIBUTION (Lamb's) AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN (Lortel Theatre), PORTIA COUGHLIN (Actor's Studio), URINETOWN (Off-Broadway), THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL, LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON, OUTLAWS, KEVORKIAN CAFÉ, Musical Theatre Works New Reading Series, "Handmaid's Tale" BBC Radio drama, "Peter and the Wolf" Sesame Street Home Video, "David", "The Prom Queen". Regional: Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center, Dallas Theatre Center, Trinity Rep, Penguin Rep, Acting Company, Pittsburgh Public. |
ROGER ALAN GINDI (General Manager) -- is currently represented by August Wilson's JITNEY, winner of this year's Drama Desk Award for Best Play. Recently, he produced SHAKESPEARE'S R&J, which ran for over a year Off-Broadway and was General Manager of THE GATHERING starring Theodore Bikel. He managed the original productions of Dan Goggin's smash hit musical, NUNSENSE as well as NUNSENSE 2 and NUNSENSE JAMBOREE. He also managed Dan Butler's one-man play, THE ONLY THING WORSE YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME starring Mr. Butler, followed by Greg Louganis, and Martin Charnin's revue, LOOSE LIPS. On Broadway, Mr. Gindi produced Abraham Tetenbaum's CRAZY HE CALLS ME, and was the General Manager of Alan Ayckbourn's A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS, OUR COUNTRY'S GOOD and MIXED EMOTIONS. Other noteworthy productions include David Mamet's controversial hit play, OLEANNA, Larry Kramer's THE DESTINY OF ME, Joe Pintauro's RAFT OF THE MEDUSA and the musical, A CHANGE IN THE HEIR. |
BACK TO BACK PRODUCTIONS (Producer) -- is a theatrical partnership formed by a group of veteran theater goers who saw the lack of new original American musical shows and decided to do something about it. The group works on developing two musicals simultaneously, thus the name Back to Back. The producers hope that the formation of this company will encourage new composers, lyricists and book writers to keep the American musical alive and kicking. |
PETER PRESS (Executive Producer) -- is a native New Yorker who has combined the careers of artist, actor and writer into theatrical production. IMPERFECT CHEMISTRY is his third collaboration with Albert Tapper, having co-produced the acclaimed musical, WHAT'S A NICE COUNTRY LIKE YOU, DOING IN A STATE LIKE THIS? And has co-written a series of books of jokes under the Joe King Label published by Andrews McMeel. Mr. Press is also the Managing Director of Back to Back Productions.
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