Sunday, April 24, 2011

Who's Who? - The Cast!

Ready to meet our fantastic cast?

The Cast

NATHAN TURNER (Dr. Horrible / Billy)
Nathan Turner is a graduate of the UCSD Theater Dept. As one of the founding members of Interrobang Ltd. he regularly does internet sketch comedy shorts.

Along those lines, he has appeared in comedy shorts with Those Aren’t Muskets and currently, Agents of Cracked. Nathan has taught Movement, Stage Combat, Shakespeare, and Audition Technique across San Diego in hopes that someone will give him an honorary doctorate.

In the mean time you may have seen him in one of these: “Pagan Play” Moving Parts Theatre, “King Lear” Vanguard Theater, “The Misanthrope” “Macbeth” UCSD Theatre, “Wozzeck” “Il Trovatore” San Diego Opera, “Romeo & Juliet” “The Merchant of Venice” Coronado Playhouse…so on so forth, ad infinitum. He would like to take this time to thank his cat, but at the moment it’s Friday and he is forced to grapple with the timeless conundrum, “Which seat can I take?”

www.interrobangltd.com

JANE LUI (Penny)
A singer/songwriter, Jane is classically trained in piano and voice. Having toured US East & West coasts, Canada, Sydney (AU), London (UK). Her cultural and musical influences have produced a sound that has critics eliciting such names as Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple, Cat Power, and Rufus Wainwright. She has opened for performers such as Vienna Teng, Jay Nash, Jim Bianco, Kate Earl, Tom Brousseau and Jason Mraz.

She recently developed a following through YouTube, where she produces music with post-production videos to show her work as an arranger and multi-instrumentalist. In 2009 she was featured as YouTube's Unsigned Pick with over 1.5 Million views. Her second record, Barkentine, was Best Recording Nominee in the San Diego Music Awards 2008. Over $11,600 was raised directly from fans to fund her most recently released album, Goodnight Company. This is her first time acting, and is really excited to share her geeky-Whedon-Fan side.

janelui.com

MICHAEL MINTO (Captain Hammer / Bad Horse Trio)

Michael Minto is returning from a long hiatus in theater, his last role being Toddy from Take Me Out at Fullerton College in 2008, Where he also performed as John Proctor in The Crucible. He performs improv regularly with Sunday Co. at NCT in SD, FOOSH at UCSD, and is currently is a student at Groundlings in LA with Kelsi Roberts (see bio please please) . He has been involved with many short film projects including Zombieman and Another Time. He is also an avid sketch writer/ performer. He loves animals, and it is likely that he’s stopped you jogging so that he could pet your dog. He is immensely grateful for being a part of this awesome team and wondrous creation. Michael’s phone number was not permitted here in this program (Call me Joss). Michael would like to extol on his mother, for showing him what it is to sing.

SUSAN HAMMONS (Doris / Ensemble)
As a major geeky Whedonist from way back, Susan Hammons is beyond excited to be appearing in a project dreamed up by Joss and family. In her words: “Buffy changed my life.” But this is supposed to be a bio, so . . . Susan has worked with many San Diego Theatres, including Lamb’s Players, Asian American Rep, the Old Globe, and La Jolla Playhouse.

Favorite shows include: Parasite Drag and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (ion theatre), Dear Miss Breed (Chinese Pirate Productions, Asian Story Theatre and San Diego Public Library), plus award-winning productions of Falsettos (Diversionary Theatre) and A Little Night Music (Cygnet Theatre). Susan is a graduate of SDSU’s MFA in Musical Theatre program and a member of the Actors Alliance of San Diego. Thanks to Keith and the kids for their loving support. “You must be the change you want to see in the world. – Gandhi

ZACK WOLFE (Moist / Ensemble)
Zackary Scot Wolfe, twenty- two years old, has been acting and singing around San Diego, California since a very young age, traveling shows playing numerous different roles from San Diego up to Los Angeles. After high school he did a good amount of traveling around the world from Argentina to Chile, England to Amsterdamn, and Uganda, Africa throughout his travels he was able to perform, and learn about all different cultures, and life styles through art.

Now-a-days, Zack has been sharpening his skills, auditioning, and doing shows. Since he has been back to the U.S. Recent credits include: J.P. Finch (How To Succeed…),Robbie Hart (The Wedding Singer), Mark Cohen in RENT, and Adam in Children of Eden. Special thanks too, Evan D’Angeles, The Sushi Club, and of course Pizza Time.

ADINA SILVA (Fan / Ensemble)
Adina is so very excited to be a part of Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog, Live! An alumni of AMDA, she has spent the last 10 years performing all over Southern California.

Favorite theatre credits: Peter in Peter Pan - SVCAC; Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes - GCC; Chava in Fiddler on the Roof - Starlight Musical Theatre; Princess Anita in Pirates Dinner Adventure – California Dinner Entertainment. Recording credits: Princess Moonlight in Evernight (Little Fox Productions); Ghost of Christmas Past in Hack and Slash Christmas Special, The Musical!. Other credits: Disneyland, and Universal Studios. Adina would like to thank the production team for giving her this lovely opportunity. She dedicates this performance to her most awesome husband.

MICHAEL NIETO (Mayor / Bad Horse Trio / Ensemble)
Mike Nieto is delighted to be performing in this production. He has performed for improv and traditional theatre troupes in LA, San Diego, and New Zealand. Locally he has performed with the Scripps Ranch Theatre, the Compass theatre, the Asian Story Theatre, SOHO, Sea World, and The Theatre Inc. Television credits include "The Fugitive Chronicles" on A/E.

Stage combat choreography credits include: Romeo and Juliet (LB Shakespeare), Troillus and Cressida (Compass Theatre), and Jaguraina (SOHO). Some of Mikes favorite performances include: Cyrano (Cyrano de Bergerac), Feste (Twelfth Night), Nick (Over the River and Through the Woods), Dracula (Dracula), Mercutio (Romeo and Juliet), and coaching the talented FOOSH improv team at UCSD. Mike is also a juggler, a former sea turtle biologist, plays the banjo, and earned his BS from UC San Diego.

http://fooshimprov.tumblr.com

CLAIRE KAPLAN (Reporter / Ensemble)
Claire Kaplan is a recent graduate of UCSD. Some favorite roles there include Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing), April Green (Hot L Baltimore), and Marie (Woyzceck). She was a member of the Long Beach Shakespeare Company for five years.

Roles include: Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Miranda (The Tempest), and The Courtesan/Aemelia (A Comedy of Errors). She is a founding member of Moving Parts Theatre Company, which premiered the original show Pagan Play at the LA Fringe Festival.

More recently, she helped found Hungry River Theatre Company, which just wrapped Cowboy Mouth at the Fringe. She is also a member of the sketch group Interrobang. This is her first musical since playing Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown in high school. Claire is a huge Dr. Horrible and Firefly fan, and cannot believe her luck.

www.interrobangltd.com

THOMAS LOKENSGARD (Max / Bad Horse Trio / Ensemble)
Thomas Lokensgard is thrilled to be participating in Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Live.

He was recently in the ensemble of San Diego Lyric Opera's production of The Gondoliers, as well as opera productions at San Diego State University, including Mr. Gobineau in Gian-Carlo Menotti’s The Medium and the title role in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado. He has also studied piano, organ, and trumpet.

He is currently a music major at San Diego State University, where he is also a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies, as well as a member of Student NATS.







The Band!


Korrie Paliotto (Conductor / Keyboard)
Korrie Paliotto is a music director, composer/lyricist, and vocal coach living in San Diego, California. She has music directed at the Coronado Playhouse, Onstage Playhouse, and San Diego State University where she is currently working on her Masters of Fine Art in Musical Theatre. As a teaching artist, she has worked in children’s outreach programs at the San Diego Opera, San Diego Junior Theatre, and Pacific Children’s Theatre which she co-founded in 2006 and for which she wrote the score and lyrics for two original children’s musicals.

In addition to her directorial work, Miss Paliotto writes cabaret songs for musical theatre performers looking to showcase new music, and she has recorded an album of jazz-folk songs, entitled Illumine.

www.korriepaliotto.com



More band members to come...







In the coming weeks we'll have new video blogs! We'll watch our creative team visualize our production design, and talk to some of our performers!

Till next time!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Who's Who? - Our Creative Team





We've got a heck of a creative team backing up this show.
Curious? Take a look!


ANDY LOWE (Executive Producer/Director/Stage Adaptation) was a winner of the California Young Playwrights Contest in 1994, where his play The Cultural Hyphen was praised and endorsed by playwrights David Henry Hwang and Edward Albee.
In 1995, he Co-founded the San Diego Asian American Repertory Theatre where he was the company's Producing Artistic Director. For ten years ('95-'05) he brought life to over thirty-five full stage productions, and countless staged readings. In 2001 Andy helped inaugurate San Diego's first Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month Festival ('01-'03). For his work he received an official mayoral commendation, and was recognized as one of the "Top 30 most influential Asian Americans Under the age of 30" (Political Circus Magazine '01).
After receiving a grant from the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program through the California State Library, Andy, with the Asian Story Theatre, developed Dear Miss Breed(’07) at the Lyceum Theatre, based on the award winning book by Joanne Oppenheim. Andy is currently employed with the La Jolla Playhouse where he serves as the Theatre in Residence Program Coordinator, and continues to independently develop theatrical projects through his own Chinese Pirate Productions brand.
(Directing credits include; Trying to find Chinatown ('98), Cleveland Raining ('99), F.O.B ('01), The Goddess Of Flowers ('02), Fentor ('03), Dear Miss Breed ('07), UCSD AATF 3, 4, 5 ('08-'10), Letters to a Student Revolutionary ('10), This Girl I Used to Know ('10). Dr.Horrible's Sing Along Blog -LIVE- will be Andy's first NON Asian American Production in 20 years...

DENNIS-MICHAEL BROUSSARD (Associate Producer/Silk Road Productions) a New Orleans transplant, Dennis Michael founded Silk Road Productions to create exciting and dynamic events with elegance, attitude, and style. He has created a multitude of acclaimed special events and fundraisers for numerous nonprofit organizations. Earned his MBA from the University of San Diego and a Master of Pacific International Affairs from the IR/PS program at UCSD.
He was given the Asian Business Association Community Service Award, and has received several City of San Diego Special Commendation for Community Service Awards, California Legislature Assembly Recognitions for Community Service, and Congressional Recognition for Community Service Awards. He was also chosen as one of the COX Communications Asian Pacific American Heritage Outstanding Individuals and one of SDNN's Eight Great Young Asian-Pacific American Community Leaders.

BRIAN HAMMOND (Musical Director) Brian's performance credits include roles at the San Diego Rep, Sea World, Legoland and Starlight, as well as touring nationally and internationally with VEE Entertainment's Dragontales Live!.
He has musical directed numerous productions, received the 2008 Aubrey Award for Best Musical Direction, and has held teaching positions with the Coronado School of the Arts and Young Audiences of San Diego. He is currently a Teaching Artist for the La Jolla Playhouse and the Old Globe.



DAVID F. WEINER (Scenic Designer) is happy to work with Andy Lowe after their last collaboration with Dear Miss Breed.
He has received critical praise for his countless designs for numerous local theatres including Sledgehammer Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, and Mo'Olelo, where his design for Cowboy vs. Samurai won him a Patte Award in 2007.
David is also a regular designer with the Tony award winning La Jolla Playhouse where he designed the 2005 production of Zhivago the Musical, An Evening with Billy Crystal and His Special Guest David Steinberg and Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays which he also designed on Broadway, and the international tour.



CHRIS RYNNE (Lighting Design) is an award-winning and nationally recognized lighting designer and associate lighting designer of opera, broadway musicals, regional theatre productions, industrials, and museum installations.  He has designed several shows for The Old Globe including The Last Romance, Boeing-Boeing, I Do! I Do!, Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre Opening Gala, The Price, Sight Unseen, The American Plan, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Two Trains Running, Lincolnesque (San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award), Pig Farm, Trying, Vincent in Brixton (San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award), The Lady with All the Answers, The Food Chain, Two Sisters and a Piano, Blue/Orange, Time Flies, Knowing Cairo, Beyond Therapy, The Santaland Diaries and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!  Mr. Rynne has also designed productions for the Old Globe/USD Professional Actor Training Program including The Winter’s Tale, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, All in the Timing, The Winter’s Tale, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Macbeth and Getting Married.  His other credits include San Diego Opera, South Coast Repertory Theatre, Madison Opera, Pasadena Playhouse, San Diego Repertory Theatre, Cygnet Theatre Company, North Coast Repertory Theatre, Houston Grand Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Diversionary Theatre and Starlight Theatre.

 Paul Peterson (Sound Designer) has designed over 90 productions at The Old Globe, including Plaid Tidings – A Special Holiday Edition of Forever Plaid, Welcome to Arroyo's, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Broadway Bound, The Last Romance, Boeing-Boeing, Alive and Well, Lost in Yonkers, I Do! I Do!, The Savannah Disputation, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Cornelia, The Price, Kingdom, Six Degrees of Separation, Since Africa, The Women, Sight Unseen, The Pleasure of His Company, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Bell, Book and Candle, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Two Trains Running, Hold Please, Restoration Comedy, Pig Farm, The Sisters Rosensweig, Trying, Moonlight and Magnolias, Vincent in Brixton, I Just Stopped By to See the Man, Lucky Duck, The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow, Blue/Orange, Time Flies, Pentecost, Compleat Female Stage Beauty, The Boswell Sisters and Crumbs from the Table of Joy. His regional credits include designs for Milwaukee Repertory Theater, San Jose Repertory Theatre, CENTERSTAGE, La Jolla Playhouse, Sledgehammer Theatre (Associate Artist), Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company, The Wilma Theater, L.A. Theatre Works, San Diego Repertory Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, North Coast Repertory Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, Malashock Dance, University of San Diego, San Diego State University and Freud Playhouse at UCLA. Mr. Peterson received his B.F.A. in Drama with an emphasis in Technical Design from San Diego State University.

JANNIFER MAH (Costume Design) has previously worked with Andy Lowe and Chinese Pirate Productions for 2007's Dear Miss Breed at the Lyceum theater. She has also designed costumes for North Coast Repertory Theatre, The Theatre School @ NCRT, Asian American Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Stage Company, SD City College, and UCSD. She holds a BA in Theatre from UC San Diego.






KAREN LI (choreographer) Karen Li is an undergraduate at UC San Diego. She will graduate in the spring with a double major in Theatre and Dance, emphasizing in playwriting and contemporary dance. Karen is a ballroom dance instructor as well as a championship level competitor, and is the assistant coach of the nationally ranked UC San Diego Dancesport Team.
She appeared on Dancing with the Stars as a competitor on the collegiate showdown segment. She has recently been appointed as Artistic Director of Nomads Theatre Company. Credits: winterWorks '11 (UCSD), Cowboys: The American Hero (Patricia Rincon Dance Collective), Asian American Theatre Festival '09, '10 (UCSD), Highly Sprung '08 (UCSD). 

TAREENA D. WIMBISH (Stage Manager) is a recipient of The San Diego Fellowship and a graduate of UC, San Diego's MFA Stage Management program. She's just returned from the 2nd National Tour of The 39 Steps with Windwood Productions as their Production Stage Manager & Company Manager. International: Multiple Shows (Kunst Kultur Quartier in Nuremberg, Germany). Other Tours: Encore!! (Chamber Theatre) & The Phantom Tollbooth (Denver School of the Arts). Some Regional: The 39 Steps (La Jolla Playhouse), Kingdom (Old Globe), A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre), Canker blossom (Pig Iron) and Night Sky (Mo`olelo). She is forever thankful for the eternal love & support of Supernova, her family in Denver and best friends throughout the world. “Sometimes all you have to do is laugh. . . “










Next time- we'll talk about our cast!