CREW

Festival Directors

Joshua William Gelb (Director, American Dreams) is a New York City based playwright and director. Most recently he directed and co-wrote Tully (In No Particular Order) which was performed this past September at the New York Musical Theater Festival. He has also conceived, adapted and directed the first New York production of The Black Crook since 1896; produced by his theatre company, Room5001. His fairy-tale comedy, Something More Pleasant, was last seen in Fringe NYC 2006, where it was distinguished by AM New York as a "top choice" of the Festival. His other plays, including The Tragedie of Bour IV, The More Learned Fool, What Makes The Offense, Water Music, Lulu.com and Beginning with Infinity have been workshopped and produced at such venues as the 2005 hotINK Festival, The Manhattan Theatre Source, Primary Stages, The Producer's Club, New Dramatists, and Room5001 Theatre's "Incomplete Works." Directing credits include Man of La Mancha in Concert (w/ The Staten Island Philharmonic), Platitudes (The Producer's Club), The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (The Hartford Children's Theatre), Leonce Und Lena (Room5001), Three Mystery Plays From The York Pageant Cycle (NYU), The Odyssey (...no theatre company), and Plautus' Truculentus (...no theatre company). Gelb is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Playwrights Horizons Theater School.

Deena Selenow (Director, American Psyche) Directing credits include: Request Stop, Special Offer, Witness, Virtual Reality, Rhinoceros, Apocawhat?!, 365 Plays/365 Days, Chess'd! (2007 Village Voice Choice). Assistant directing credits include: The Bacchae (NYC and The National Theatre of Poland in Warsaw), 7 Against Thebes (NYTW), Drums on the Dam (U.S. premier). BFA: NYU/Tisch School of the Arts, Directing and Experimental Theatre. In August, Deena was commissioned by The Gene Frankel Theater to write and co-create a drag performance piece, Cockettes in Wonderland, for NYC’s Summer of Love Festival 07. She is a co-founder of Ad Nauseam Lyceum, an art collective that curates exhibitions of emerging visual, performance and new media artists in New York. She is also one half of the duo FIFTHhorse, whose original window installation, nice ass, Alice., can be seen in December 2007 as part of the chashama Windows Programs, a hallmark public art initiative, enlivening vacant storefronts with multi-disciplinary performances and visual installations. Deena was the recipient of a 2006 Baryshnikov Arts Center Fellowship.
 

Kerry Whigham (Director, American Culture) is a Drama League Directing Fellow and spent his last summer at the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, New York, directing three plays, including The Ugly One by Marius von Mayenburg and The Argument by Gregory S. Moss. He has also spent two summers at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, directing both the Apprentice and Non-Equity companies. He was recently commissioned to create a play about the American Revolution for Syracuse Stage Company with writer Josh Halloway. He is a member of the Drama League's Assistant Directors Program and of the 2006 Lincoln Center Directors Lab. In 2005, Kerry worked with three-time Obie-award winning playwright Adrienne Kennedy to develop her newest play, an adaptation of Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary, for which he directed the world-premiere workshop. He also assisted writer Douglas Carter Beane on the Broadway production of Xanadu and is currently assisting James Lapine on the workshop of The Nightingale, written by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater. Other favorite projects include Six Degrees of Separation, Chaucer in Rome, Never Swim Alone, House/Humans, and The Blue Room. He is spending his time now working with several writers to develop plays about Mormonism, American history, folk tales and Israel/Palestine. Education: NYU.

Reading Series Directors

Michael Melamedoff's (Director, Assimilation) stage credits include the NY and LA premieres of Benjamin Kessler's Blue States, Christopher Shinn's Other People, and the critically acclaimed production of Howard Walters' Extra Virgin for the New York International Fringe Festival. Workshops include Studio 42's production of Layna Fisher's Truncated and Sam Riley's The Back Home Set. Mr. Melamedoff has also directed staged literary readings of Julia Dahl's Pity From The Stars and Alessandro Barrico's An Iliad (Central Park Summerstage). He holds a BFA in film from NYU.

Patricia Montesi, (Director, Attitudes towards Race) holds a BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts where she concentrated in Directing, creating pieces of performance art, and earning a minor in Sociology. Directing credits include R.A.W. ('Cause I'm a Woman) by Diana Son, Una Carroña by Erik Ehn, The Well of Horniness by Holly Hughes, and Shadow of a Man by Cherrie Moraga. Most recently she directed the reading and production of Lena Moy-Borgen's original play The Family Abortionist at Manhattan Repertory Theatre, as well as the staged reading of her original play Food at The Flea Theater. Other credits: Second New York production of Edward Albee's Three Tall Women (Producer), Dalton Trumbo's Johnny Got His Gun (Co-Producer; FringeNYC 2005), The Public Theater's 50th Anniversary Celebration (Asst. to the Producer; City Center), Bring 'Em Home Benefit Concert (P.A.; Hammerstein Ballroom). Patty is a proud member of Soldier's Angels. As always, this 'work' is for Jen: www.playward.com

 
Jesse Edward Rosbrow (Director, Pharmapsychology): Directing credits include: the New York premiere of Vaclav Havel's Audience, Unveiling, Protest (John Housman Studio Theater); What Where by Samuel Beckett (The Ensemble Studio Theatre); Dick 2 (a.k.a. Richard II) and 6:1 (Theatre of the Expendable). Producing credits include: The Ocean Is Big And The Sky Is Blue, The Tragedy of John, and Dick 2 (a.k.a. Richard II) (Theatre of the Expendable); Hello, My Name Is... (Living Image Arts, Theatre Row's Lion Theatre). Acting credits include: The Slack Shack (www.zenforfree.net). Student: BA from Vassar College, where he studied Drama (mostly directing) and Classics (mostly dead guys). Jesse is the Artistic Director of Theatre of the Expendable.

Designers

Melissa Daghini (Costume Designer, American Dreams) holds a BFA from NYU, Tisch School of the Arts. Recent productions include Troilus and Cressida (Slightly Askew Prod.), Arcadia (QED Prod.), Alice squared (Theatre Ink), Vassa Zheleznova
(Horizon Theatre Rep) and Dear Dad, Confessions of a GoGo Dancer (Six figures Theatre Company's Artists of Tomorrow Festival) Antigone and Mad Forest (QED Productions) and Henry V (Gorillla Rep).


Jesse Hathaway (Set Designer, Festival)

Thomas Murphy (Sound Designer, American Culture) spent last summer as a composer and sound designer in the Hangar Theatre Lab Company, designing eight plays. Favorite play credits include The Argument by Gregory S. Moss and Language of Angels by Naomi Iizuka. He is involved in performance art, most recently creating the piece Dark Blue for NYU percussionist and performer Matthew Donello. Other collaborations include music for The Crystal Cave by Tory Peterson and sound-score for Jenny Pennaz Dance Works Untitled. Thomas is passionate about working on new plays, and recently assisted Ryan Rumery on the world premiere of Kathryn Walat's Bleeding Kansas.

Hollie Nadel (Costume Designer, American Culture) is excited to be working with Quo Vadimus for the first time. Some of Hollie's Costume Design credits include Broadway Bares:Myth Behavior- Icarus Number (Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids), Suburban Peepshow (Nosedive Productions), Snowing at Delphi, Loose Knit and Romeo and Juliet (Stella Adler Studio of Acting), The Blue Room (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Grease and Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Ithaca College). In addition, she has been an assistant designer on various productions at Williamstown Theatre Festival and for several shows at the Irish Repertory Theatre including Defender of the Faith, Gaslight and most recently Sive. She received her BFA in Theatre Production Design at Ithaca College (2006). She would like to thank her family and friends for their continuous love and support.

Courtland Premo (Technical Director, Festival)

Laine Rettmer (Costume Designer, American Psyche) is a NYC-based director, composer, choreographer and fashion designer. Her work has been seen at various venues throughout New York, including The Gene Frankel Theater, The Kitchen and at NYU. She is the other half of the multi disciplinary arts duo FIFTHhorse, whose original window installation, nice ass, alice., can be seen in chashama's 37th street art space for the first two weeks of December. Her clothing line, (L)arson, is due to be shown in Tokyo's fashion week in 2009. BFA: NYU.

Nick Tochelli Sound Designer/Fight Choreographer, American Psyche) Some favorite regional credits include stage manager of Barbra's Wedding, Dames at Sea, Absurd Person Singular, and Mercy of a Storm (Bristol Valley Theater. Naples, NY), Tea at Five, and Little Women (Blackfriars Theater. Rochester, NY). Sound Design: Barbra's Wedding, and Nevermore (Bristol Valley Theater), The Laramie Project, Eastern Standard, and Dearly Departed (SUNY-Fredonia). Nick is a graduate of SUNY-Fredonia where he studied stage management, sound design, and acting.  This is his first theater experience in New York City.

Christina Watanabe (Lighting Designer, Festival) The ID America Festival marks Christina's New York debut after recently graduating from the University of Florida. She holds a BFA in Lighting Design as well as a BA in Marketing. This past summer, she was awarded a fellowship that gave her the opportunity to work at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in Connecticut where she was privy to a plethora of new works and rising talent. Past design credits include Waiting for Godot (Honorable Mention and Collaboration in Design - KCACTF Region IV), The Road to Nirvana, The Bacchae, The Threepenny Opera, as well as several dance showcases. For more information about her work, please visit http://www.StarryEyedLighting.com.


Stage Managers & Assistant Directors

Chris Bowser(Stage Manager, American Culture) is a second year student at Playwrights Horizons Theatre School at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He is focusing on directing and designing for the stage. Credits at PHTS include: Sideshow (SM), Polaroid Stories (Lighting Design), & M. Butterfly (ASM). He also was involved in the world premier of Crossing Over: The Vietnam Stories (based on the book by Richard Currey) this summer (SM, AD, Lighting Designer) in Huntsville, Alabama, where he grew up. Chris started his own theatre company in 2001, Everest Theater, and has since directed and produced twenty productions including tick...tick...BOOM! and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Thanks to Kerry for the opportunity!


Gregory Engbrecht (Assistant Director/Stage Manager,American Dreams) just celebrated his 1 year anniversary in NYC and he's thankful to be through it! He has worked both as a stage manager and an actor. Stage management credits include Calamity Carolers of Doom and assistant stage manager for The Great Conjurer, both Off-off Broadway. He performed twice with Theatre of the Expendable. He would like to thank Mrs. H for getting him into this whole mess and the cast and crew of America Dreams for a great experience.

David Mendizabal (Assistant Director,American Culture) Directing credits include Polaroid Stories, 365University, Fur, Inside the Belly of the Beast. As a costume designer, David has worked as an assistant for Emilio Sosa on Ohio State Murders at TFANA, The Misanthrope at NYTW, Turandot: The Rumble for the Ring, and Romeo and Juliet at the Public. He has also designed numerous student productions at NYU's Playwrights Horizons Theatre School. David is a recent graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, PHTS. Thanks to Kerry for this opportunity!


Nick Tochelli Stage Manager, American Psyche) Some favorite regional credits include stage manager of Barbra's Wedding, Dames at Sea, Absurd Person Singular, and Mercy of a Storm (Bristol Valley Theater. Naples, NY), Tea at Five, and Little Women (Blackfriars Theater. Rochester, NY). Sound Design: Barbra's Wedding, and Nevermore (Bristol Valley Theater), The Laramie Project, Eastern Standard, and Dearly Departed (SUNY-Fredonia). Nick is a graduate of SUNY-Fredonia where he studied stage management, sound design, and acting.  This is his first theater experience in New York City.

 

Staff

Michael Height (General Manager, Festival) believes he has the greatest job on the planet as the Assistant Company Manager on Broadway's The Lion King. He was previously the Assistant Producer of the Off-Broadway musical Altar Boyz and the interactive Awesome 80's Prom. He has produced workshops of several shows including David McGee's Apocowhat?! and the new musical Tully (In No Particular Order). He just completed a full production of Tully for the New York Musical Theatre Festival and will be presenting David McGee's Nucular Holocaust early next year.

 
 

 

 

  


 The ID America Festival is a production of Quo Vadimus Arts.