JOSEPH HARDY (Director) previously directed Nightingale starring Lynn Redgrave at the Manhattan Theatre Club at the New York City Center following his direction of the American premiere of Nightingale at Los Angeles’ Mark Taper Forum and Connecticut’s Hartford Stage. The New York production marks his third collaboration with Ms. Redgrave, which began with the TV movie, “The Seduction of Miss Leona” and continued with MCC’s production of Grace. For many years, Mr. Hardy has worked extensively in theatre, film and television throughout the United States and abroad, from eight years with a production company in Paris to acting as Executive Producer for such iconic television programs as, “General Hospital” and “Knots Landing,” to name a few. A Tony Award Winner for Child’s Play, Mr. Hardy is also the recipient of two Drama Desk Awards and a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. East Coast directing highlights include the original Broadway productions of Gigi and Play It Again, Sam with Woody Allen and Diane Keaton, the revival of Night of the Iguana with Richard Chamberlin and Dorothy McQuire, and the original Off-Broadway production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He is an associate artist of The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and has worked there since 1982. Mr. Hardy currently resides in New York and is Artistic Advisor for the Red Bull Theater.
MERETE MUENTER (Choreographer) is originally from Buffalo, New York. In New York’s Midtown International Theatre Festival 2008, Merete directed and choreographed a new play with music entitled “They Walk Among Us”, for which she won the award for Outstanding Choreography. Her directing Credits include “Sure Thing” and “Variations on the Death of Trotsky” by David Ives, “The Duck Variations” by David Mamet, “Five Flights” by Adam Bock, and “Recent Tragic Events” by Craig Wright. Her choreography credits include “Sherlock Holmes – The Early Years” in the 2007 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), as well as regional productions of “The King and I”, and “It’s A Wonderful Life”. In addition, she was the Assistant Choreographer on the NYU Tisch School of the Arts production of “TOMMY”, directed by Kent Gash and choreographed by Joe Langworth. Merete served as the Assistant Director for the World AIDS Day Gala in Capetown, South Africa, and as the Assistant Director / Female Swing for the European Tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar”, both directed by Baayork Lee. In addition, she was the Resident Director / Dance Captain for the European Tour of “West Side Story”. With the New York Musical Theatre Festival, Merete was the Assistant Producer / Company Manager for “Emerald Man” (2006), “Such Good Friends” (2007), and “Plagued” (2009) all produced by Gray Lady Entertainment, Inc. In the spring of 2010, Merete founded and co-produced “The Broadway Series at Springside Inn” in Auburn, New York. She co-produced three shows in this series, including Donna McKechnie’s one woman show entitled “My Musical Comedy Life”, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, as well as Keith Thompson’s “Kooky Tunes”, and Julie Budd’s “Showstoppers – The Great American Musicals!” Merete is a founding member and co-Artistic Director of Jazz Choreography Enterprises, Inc. She would like to thank Quinn, Paul and Luis for this wonderful opportunity!
MATTHEW MOHR (Choreographer) began his performance career as a company member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company from 1994-2000 He choreographed the 2009 European production of Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show for Tony nominee director Sam Buntrock and joint producers Howard Panter of the Ambassador Theater Group and Michael Brenner for BB Promotion GmbH. The critically acclaimed production of The Rocky Horror Show was presented in 2009 to sold out houses of 2,000 viewers in Berlin, Munich, Vienna, Düsseldorf, Zurich, Trieste and Frankfurt who every night were literally dancing in the aisles. From 1993 to the present, he has performed and collaborated in artistic performance projects with Martha Clarke, Julie Atlas Muz, Glen Rumsey, Charles Atlas, Jim Bidgood, Robert Melee, Magnetic Laboratories, Pink Inc., Irish Modern Dance Theater, and Dance as Ever. His contemporary choreographic works and collaborative performances have been presented at numerous theatrical venues in New York City including PS 122, Judson Church, The Kitchen, Danspace Projects @ St. Mark’s Church, Dance Theater Workshop, La Mama, Theater for the New City, and the Guggenheim Museum.
STEVE RAWLINS (Orchestrations) Los Angeles based composer/arranger/ pianist Steve Rawlins has arranged music for the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, the Olympics and the Super Bowl and numerous artists including: Benny Goodman, Bette Midler and Chaka Kahn. He’s written music for advertisers such as: Kellogg’s, Libby’s, Sears and Coors Beer – for Crystal, Princess and Holland America cruise lines. Rawlins is the author of numerous published music books and has performed at jazz clubs and festivals around the world as well as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.
FRAN MINARIK (Additional orchestrations): Broadway: XANADU (keyboards, rehearsal/audition pianist) IN MY LIFE (Assoc. Conductor, Keyboards); off-Broadway: on-stage pianist for Jackie Hoffman (The J.A.P. Show ): HOW NOW DOW JONES (NY Fringe Festival); Regional; M.D. or Assoc. M.D. for the RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR (CAA); Conductor/Pianist: 1776 (Ford’s Theatre, Washington, D.C.); MY WAY, SMOKEY JOE’S CAFE (Lyric Theatre, Oklahoma City); Original music: MAKING THE BOYS… (documentary of the making of THE BOYS IN THE BAND); WHEN OCEAN MEETS SKY (LOGO); “Tagged” (Barnes and Noble Website); short film THE RUB (James Horvath, dir., w/ Michelle Pawk and Karen Ziemba). Recent: recording of Pamela Winslow’s CHANGE HAPPENS (orchestrator, programmer, performer) and original music and sound design for THE COMPLEAT TAP DANCER, a series of instructional tap DVD’s. He is the president of redcatStudio.
PHIL HALL (Vocal Arrangements) Phil vocally arranged Sophisticated Ellington, a concert of Duke Ellington’s music, which was presented at Carnegie Hall by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. He musical directed (in 1993 and 1994) the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s A Yuletide Celebration. For which he also did extensive musical and choral arranging. He appeared on stage in Paper Mill’s 1989 production of Show Boat, which aired on PBS’ Great Performances series, playing for Julie to sing “Bill.” He appeared in the Mira Sorvino-produced film, “Lisa Picard Is Famous” as a vocal coach/pianist. Phil composed the score for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which was produced at Paper Mill Playhouse, Kansas City Starlight Theatre, North Shore Music and Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera. Phil’s first play with music, Matthew Passion was presented for at the Chernuchin Theatre in New York City, as well as given a staged reading at Cathedral of St. John The Divine.
WENDALL GOINGS (Costume Designer) Mr. Goings is a graduate of The Maryland College of Art and Design with a degree in Fine Art. Over the years he has had the privilege of working with many leading designers varying from assistant to costume maker to wardrobe worker. Self-taught, Mr. Goings designs have been seen across the country and overseas. Projects include: “GREASE”, Scholastic’s “CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG”, “SING ALONG SANTA” (Nat. tours) His designs have also been shown through The Imperial Court of New York and a cache of private clients. He is thrilled to participate in “Burlesque to Broadway” and wishes to thank his partner, Robert for his steadfast support and love. Most recently, Wendall took the post as the wardrobe supervisor on Broadway’s, ROCK OF AGES.
ROBERT GUY and MICHAEL LOUIS (The Fabulous Costume Sparkle Team) Working closely with the amazingly wonderful and talented Wendall Goings, this Iconic Broadway team lovingly and painstakingly placed the thousands of Swarovski crystals on Ms. Lemley's glittering costumes.
MELISSA KING (Designer and creator of Sally Rand Fans) known in the Burlesque world, as Ms. Tickle has been hypnotizing audiences as the pinnacle of style and elegance in modern Burlesque. Her unparallel costuming and props have crowned her queen of gags and gimmicks. Melissa has been a stylalist and designer for many of the living Legends of Burlesque including Julie Atlas Muse for her one woman show “Corpse”, Dirty Martini, Joe Boobs, Rose wood, Miss Saturn, Harvest moon, the Norman Gossney productions’ “Blushing Diamond” and Normans Big Night Out” As well as for Anti Gravity in “Broadway Bares” and Marc Jacob’s infamous Christmas extravaganzas’. Bringing performance art burlesque to London in 1992 with the Famed Azaria Universe and Angela de Castro. And was part of the NY burlesque revival in 1999 with The Bombshell Girls. Continuing in her pioneering spirit was responsible for the creation of the first and only Male Burlesque review the Off-Broadway hit “TickleBomb”s Mantasia”, You can see her and her handy work featured in Magazines Esquire, Italian Vogue, Vanity Fair, Elle, and The Village Voice. Melissa is honored to be working with Quinn Lemley.
LUIS VILLABON (Creative Consultant) has been working in the arts for more than twenty years. His first accomplishment was being selected as one of eight students in the tri-state area to study with Olympia Dukakis’ Whole Theatre in Montclair, NJ. There he was asked to audition for the World Premiere of Dancing With Miracles, which was the Whole Theatre’s last production. Luis was awarded the lead role of Samuel Pearlberger, the true story of a teenaged Holocaust survivor. Luis went on to play Paul in A Chorus Line for director Baayork Lee, who is an original Broadway, cast member and choreographer of the recent revival. Since then, he has played Paul all over the world, from Atlantic City to Paris and most recently at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ. Along the way, Luis has appeared in musicals such as West Side Story (Chino), Peter Pan (starring Cathy Rigby), Jesus Christ Superstar (starring Carl Anderson), Follies, Seussical The Musical (First National Tour), Crazy For You (Wyatt), Evita (Mario, Che understudy) and Twist (Bill Sykes). His favorite non-musical credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck), The Lion In Winter (Prince John), On Golden Pond (Billy Ray) and Cooper Savage (Jeffrey). Luis appeared in the feature film, Julie & Julia, starring Meryl Streep. Luis has also enjoyed a career as a choreographer and an Assistant Director/Choreographer. He has choreographed productions of Annie, Evita, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Little Shop of Horrors, Closer Than Ever, Into the Woods, and was Baayork Lee’s Assistant choreographer for the European Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar and A New Brain. He was also Paula Abdul’s Assistant Choreographer for the New York Premiere of Reefer Madness (starring Michelle Pawk, Kristen Bell and Christian Campbell) and Master of Disguise (Feature Film starring Dana Carvey). Luis was also the Director/Choreographer for the 2008-2009 Italian National Tour of A Chorus Line. In the summer of 2009, Luis was the Director/Choreographer for Ogunquit Playhouse’s critically acclaimed production of A Chorus Line, starring Lorenzo Lamas as Zach. One of Luis’ most rewarding efforts found him directing and choreographing shows at the Helen Hayes Youth Theatre (Seussical the Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Beauty and the Beast, Oklahoma, Once On This Island & Once Upon A Mattress), in the summers of 2009 and 2010. This spring, Luis is assisted Baayork Lee on the Korean National production and the U.S. National Tour of A Chorus Line. Luis is a graduate of the William Esper Studio. He currently resides in New York City.
CAMA LLC (Producer, World-Wide Management) led by President, Paul Horton, engages in strategic brand management for a select group of new and award winning International Artists in The Performing Arts, Theatre, Film, Television and popular music. www.CenturyArtists.com