Mark Gindick, Creator and Solo Performer
Born and raised in New York, Mark Gindick is a professional actor, clown, physical comedian, director, teacher and writer/creator of his own theatrical shows. Wing-Man, his original theatrical piece without one spoken word, won BEST ONE-MAN SHOW in United Solo Theatre Festival, the largest solo festival of its kind in the world. Mark has appeared in major feature films, including the Nora Ephron comedy Julie & Julia with Meryl Streep; on televison, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and was featured in The PBS miniseries CIRCUS; starred Off-Broadway and at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival in the New York Times acclaimed hit The Comedy Trio Happy Hour, Happyhourclowns.com; clowned on circuses such as Ringling Brothers and the Big Apple Circus; taught clowning at SUNY Purchase college as well as other New York City venues. Mark wrote and starred in How To Be A Man at the Palace of Variety on 42nd Street (NYC). Mark’s unique blend of vaudeville, dance, and physical comedy has earned him three Golden Nose Awards.
West Hyler, Director
West is a director and writer living in New York City. Broadway credits include How The Grinch Stole Christmas and Jersey Boys, which he subsequently staged in venues across five continents. New York directing credits include Primary Stages, Ars Nova, York Theater Company, HERE Arts Center and New York Musical Theatre Festival. Regional directing credits include Actors Theater of Louisville, St. Louis Repertory Theater, The Colony Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, The Guthrie Theater, The Old Globe, Great River Shakespeare Festival, and SC Upstate Shakespeare Festival. As the Artistic Director of Mythmakers Theater Company he directed House of Atreus, The Bacchae, A Doll’s House, The Little Prince and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In the world of sawdust West directed Big Apple Circus: Legendarium and will direct the 2015 show, Metamorphoses. He is the American Director of the Martial Arts Spectacular Panda! currently playing at the Palazzo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas as the first Chinese resident show in US history. As a writer his credits include We Declare You A Terrorist (Summer Play Festival), Georama (St. Louis Rep) and the short film A Jake and A Tom. MFA, University of California at San Diego.
Danny Mefford, Choreographer
Broadway: Bridges of Madison County, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Astaire and Lortel Nominations, Best Choreography). Off-Broadway: Fun Home, Good Person of Szechwan, Love’s Labour’s Lost, February House, Melancholy Play, Dance Dance Revolution. Directing: Becoming Liv Ullmann (NY Fringe), Wasted (Ars Nova), and The Maids. Education: MFA in Acting, Brown/Trinity; BS University of Evansville.
Liz Ulmer, Ulmer Theatricals / General Manager
Producing credits include Independents at Soho Playhouse (NY Times Critic’s Pick, Huffington Post’s “Top Shows of 2012”); I Got Fired: The Revenge Musical at the Daegu Opera House/South Korea (as Associate Producer); and Twilight: A Musical Parody Concert at New World Stages. Award-winning productions with the New York Musical Theatre Festival include: The Awakening of Angel DeLuna; Flambé Dreams; I Got Fired: The Revenge Musical; Date of a Lifetime; and Baby Case (as Consulting Producer). Her charity concerts have benefitted Artists Striving to End Poverty and the Human Rights Campaign, among others. Liz is a member of the Off-Broadway Alliance, an AEA actor and a graduate of Ithaca College.
Anne Davison, Dramaturg
Anne is a New York-based freelance dramaturg. In addition to Mark Gindick’s Wing-Man, most recent projects include a new musical adaptation of Love’s Labour’s Lost by Alex Timbers and Michael Friedman, a dance piece inspired by Othello and Jose Limon’s The Moor’s Pavane entitled Mo(or)town/Redux by choreographer Doug Elkins, and a trilogy of plays by the artist John Ranson Phillips. Past projects include Timbers’ and Friedman’s Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Public Theater and Broadway), Elkins’ Fraulein Maria (Joe’s Pub, Lincoln Center, and subsequent North American tour to venues in 17 cities including Jacob’s Pillow, American Dance Festival, and Hartford Stage), Jane Comfort and Company’s Beauty (Jacob’s Pillow, LaMama), Heddatron by Elizabeth Meriwether and Boozy written and directed by Alex Timbers. She was a mentor and script evaluator for the 2012 National Music Theater Conference at The O’Neill Center and is an artistic associate of Obie-award winning theater company Les Freres Corbusier.
Jason Thompson, Projection Designer
Jason H. Thompson has worked on over 50 Productions as a Projection Designer around the world. His credits include the Broadway musical Baby It’s You!, Venice at the Public Theater, Remember Me an international touring show with Parsons Dance Company, Cage Songbook, a 45 minute selection of Cage compositions performed at Carnegie Hall, SF symphony, and New World Symphony in Miami. Jason also did the Crescent City, a new experimental opera directed by Yuval Sharon, Bad Apples a new musical about Abu Ghraib, and The Great Immensity, an exploratory theatrical experience based on interviews by the Civilians about Global Warming. Currently he’s designing projections for Val Kilmer’s one-man show, Citizen Twain. Jason was the head video engineer for a multi-million dollar fund-raising campaign for Stanford University, Leading Matters for which 4K resolution content was projected on 60′ curved walls surrounding the dining room of the event. Jason received an LA Ovation Award, Jesse Award Nomination, LADCC Nomination, and an LA Weekly Theater Award Nomination for his work. In addition to his professional career, he has taught as an adjunct professor at Cal Arts and UCLA. He is a member of USA Local 829. More at Jasonhthompsondesign.com
Ryan Cushman, Animation Designer
Ryan is currently working for Skywalker and has done visual effects for Edge of Tomorrow, directed by Doug Liman and starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, which will be released in 2014. Ryan also worked on the visual effects for the Oz the Great and Powerful and was an animator for the short A Jake and a Tom.
Justin Levine, Musical Director
Justin teaches at Playwrights Horizons Theater School. His credits include: Musical Direction/Orchestration:Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Broadway and The Public) Murder Ballad (MTC), Here Lies Love (The Public, MASS MoCA), RobberBridegroom (Roundabout) Love’s Labors Lost (NYSF, Public), Like Water For Chocolate (Sundance). Justin has worked on concerts/projects for Daniel Breaker, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Michael Cerveris, Liz Swados, Naked Angels, MLMB among others. Writing: Bonfire Night (Book, Music & Lyrics), Tell Me Tomorrow (Music & Lyrics), Jump Jim Crow (Music & Lyrics), Naked Radio (Music & Lyrics), Death by Vaudeville (Co-creator with Salty Brine). www.justinlevineonline.com
Matt Stine, Musical Director
Matt has worked at The Public Theater’s Shakespeare In The Park: Love’s Labour’s Lost (Music Supervisor), and Here Lies Love (Music Editor). On Off-Broadway Matt’s work has graced: Mo(or)town (Baryshnikov Arts Center, Choreographer, Doug Elkins), and Brownsville Bred (59E59). Matt’s regional credits include Resident Sound Designer/Composer for 10 full seasons at The Schoolhouse Theater. Matt Stine and his great company –www.27sound.com– produces pop and hip-hop records for artists such as Metermaids, David Byrne & St. Vincent (Brass Tactics EP), and Styles P.
Mattie Ulrich, Costume Designer
Mattie’s diverse repertoire includes opera, theater, film, musicals, dance, and print. Recent operas include I Due Foscari starring Placido Domingo (Spain, Austria, Los Angeles), Eliogabalo for Gotham Opera performed at the illusive venue “The Box”, In 2006, she was awarded the European Opera Prize with director Thaddeus Strassberger for the opera La Cenerentola (Ireland and Germany). Other credits include Off Broadway: The Cradle and All (Manhattan Theater Club), The Pride (dir. Michael Wilson, The Vineyard Theater), The Starry Messenger starring Mathew Broderick (The New Group) The Pride (dir. Joe Mantello, MCC), Fault Lines (dir. David Schimmer, Naked Angels), Things We Want (director Ethan Hawke, The New Group). Mattie has also designed regionally for The Old Globe, Cincinnati Playhouse in The Park, Goodspeed Musicals, Huntington Theatre Company, Dallas Theater Center, and New York Stage and Film. Film projects include Year of the Fish (Sundance 2007), Sovereignty (multi-festival, award winning short) and Shoplifting Chanel.
Sylvianne Shurman, Costume Designer
Sylvianne is a NYC based costume designer working in theater and film. Upcoming: Blind Angels (Theater for the New City). Recent credits: Sometimes Cloudy, Sometimes Clear (Invisible Dog), Night of Power (Colombia) She is King (Incubator Arts- Other Forces Festival), Colombine’s Paradise Theater (The Kitchen, National Tour), The Lady in Red Converses with Diablo (Arts@Renaissance), Fireface (Carnegie Mellon University), Pretty Pictures are Everything (Incubator Arts –Short Form), Inexperienced Love (NYC Fringe Festival), Secondhand Shakespeare (West Village Musical Theatre Festival), and has worked on a variety of feature films and TV. Education: B.F.A. in Costume Design, Carnegie Mellon University. www.sylvianneshurman.wix.com/design
Stephen Marsh, Set Designer
Stephen has been the production designer on over 10 notable feature films. Relevant to this project are Pee Wee’s Big Top and Runaway Train (for its action rear screen elements). Steve has also been the production designer and art director on over 20 television series and television feature movies-of-the-week, most recently for Hallmark. Steve is especially looking forward to the release of the film Lucky Stiff as it features a story about a play and theater show, where he started his career before heading to Hollywood. Throughout his career, he has served as a set and prop builder, a stage tradesman in London theater (pursuing dreams of Vaudeville one assumes), and an actor. In designing the set and props for Wing-Man , Steve is looking forward to Wing-Man’s challenges in solving the puzzles of the projection screen, which revolve around the use of parts of the screen with the physical comedy stunts and illusions.
Sue Brandt, Lighting Designer / Production Manager
An Assistant Professor of Production Management, as well as Production Manager for the Entertainment Technology Department at New York City College of Technology, CUNY, Susan earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts from California State Polytechnic University Pomona. She is also the Production Manager for Theatreworks; the resident theatre company at New York City College of Technology. She was the Technical Director for USDAN Performing Arts Center in the summer of 2008. She has been lighting modern dance since 1990. She was the resident lighting designer for Rudy Perez from 2001 to 2006, and the resident Lighting and Sound designer for Theatre USC-USA at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2000, 2001and 2005. She also has created the sound designs for LA women’s Shakespeare Festival productions of A Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, and Merchant of Venice. Sue was the Chair of Southern California Section of USITT from 2003 to 2008. Sue Brandt’s current research has begun with preliminary research in developing a networkable and intelligent cue light system.
Lisa Klages, Stage Manager
Lisa is a NYC based Stage Manager who has worked under the stage management teams at Broadway’s Wicked and Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More. A graduate of Pace University with degrees in Psychology and Theater Directing, she began her stage management career with La Mama E.T.C, and has since stage managed and directed numerous productions for La Mama and the Pioneers Go East Collective. Serving as Production Stage Manager of Broadway Sings, Lisa frequently coordinates and manages cabarets for Broadway performers and tours. She stage managed the NYU Musical Theater Writing Lab Showcase at Barrington Stage Company, and it’s revival at 54 Below. Recently, Lisa was on the stage management team for BSC’s New York production of Becoming Dr. Ruth starring Debra Jo Rupp. She is so excited to join the Wing-Man Team! “Like” Lisa Klages-Stage Manager on Facebook to stay connected!
Karim Muasher, Production Associate
Karim received his BFA in Acting from Ithaca College and his MFA in Lecoq Based Actor Created Theater from Naropa University at the London International School of Performing Arts (LISPA), where he trained under Thomas Prattki and Amy Russell. He is the Co-Artistic Director of Animal Engine Theatre Company, where his work has included directing Age of the Android (an immersive Thomas Edison android adventure) and performing in The Vindlevoss Family Circus Spectacular (a mustachioed lady and innocent zombie circus). This spring he embarks on a five state high school tour with his company’s latest show Petunia and Chicken, a two person turn of the century epic prairie love story based on the works of Willa Cather.
Michael Bongar, Producer
Michael is a graduate of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College and is proud to have returned later to teach at his alma mater, There’s No Business Like Clown Business as well as the University of Virginia business school MBA program, The Business of Show. Michael Bongar’s company has successfully taken circus artists and translated them for the little screen for Late Show with David Letterman, serving as a special segment talent consultant for the writers for the past 10 years. Clown Cloud Productions Limited Liability Company is a theatrical production company formed by Michael Bongar, whose company has successfully produced special events and live corporate entertainment for the past 30 years.
Tina Bongar, Producer
Tina is obsessed with the intersection of truth and the construction of illusion. Her ambition to achieve creative perfection is always tempered by a good business sense and the effect of working in a deadline environment. She learned this early on, from her start on her father’s family newspaper, creating sets in a day on television & film sets, and surviving on the streets of Madison Avenue in ad production. A graduate of Hampshire College in Theater Directing, and a former intern at the Yale School of Drama, Tina is also a veteran of art departments of independent features and more. She is a partner in her husband’s special event and live entertainment business..
Paul Binder, Executive Producer
Paul Binder is the founder of the Big Apple Circus. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he graduated from Dartmouth College and earned an M.B.A. at Columbia University. Binder worked at WGBH-TV in Boston (stage-managing for Julia Child’s The French Chef) and as a talent coordinator for Merv Griffin, before heading West and learning juggling with the San Francisco Mime Troupe—where Binder met Michael Christensen. Together, Binder and Christensen traveled through Europe and earned their living by juggling on street corners. Their act landed them on the legendary stage of the Casino de Paris, on French television and, eventually, in the ring of Annie Fratellini’s Nouveau Cirque de Paris. Binder returned to New York with a dream—to create an American circus with the same dedication to theatrical excellence and artistic intimacy that he and Christensen had experienced in Europe. He found the people who would share his dream and implement his vision and, in 1977, the Big Apple Circus was born. Founding Artistic Director of the Big Apple Circus, and a gifted performer, Paul Binder was recently honored by ABC-TV World News with Charles Gibson as “Person of the Week.” In July of 2009 Mr. Binder “stepped out of the ring” but continues to work with the Big Apple Circus as a senior advisor. He is currently in demand as a guest speaker, having spoken and led seminars at Dartmouth College, Harvard University, University of Virginia and Barnard College. Paul has received Honorary Doctorate Degrees in Fine Arts from his alma mater, Dartmouth, Pratt Institute, and Rhode Island College, and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Long Island University. In 2001 he was given the honor of “NYC Living Landmark,” by the New York Landmarks Conservancy.
