newFangled theatReR

newFangled theatReR is an ever-evolving ensemble theatre company dedicated to the production of affordable, audience-centric and provocative theatrical events. Over the past three years newFangled theatReR has been a work in progress, making theatre happen whenever and wherever possible. In that time, this group of twelve individuals has united through a series of projects and artistic endeavors. In March 2006, we decided to commit to a collective partnership where our artistic craft can be fostered. newfangled events include Harm's Way (March 2007 @ FRIGID New York; winner of Audience Choice Award), a TACK of an American Conscience (November 2006 @ The Kraine Theater), the AmerikAN trip, tik (April 2004 in Boston, October 2005 @ The Red Room and August ’06 @ The Kraine Theatre), the Carnevil of Lies (in conjunction with The Blank Collective), and Up On A-Farm (@ The Secret Community Garden-LES) ____________________________________________________________ __________________________Founding Members: ____________________________________________________________ __________________________ Ashleigh Beyer, Megan E. Carter, Esra Cizmeci, David Kane, Howard Klein, Megan Raye Manzi, Seth Reich, johnmichael rossi, Niluka Samarasekera, Seth Soloway, Justin Sturges, Jason F. Williams ____________________________________________________________ __________________________Active Members: ____________________________________________________________ ________________________ johnmichael rossi, is the artistic director of newFangled theatReR, has written, directed and produced newFangled’s premiere productions of Up On-A Farm, the AmerikAn trip, tik (Boston ’04, Red Room ’05, Krain Theatre ’06), a TACK of an American Conscience (November '06 @ The Kraine Theater) and directed Mac Wellman's Harm's Way (March '07 @ FRIGID New York; winner of Audience Choice Award). In May 2006, he took part in the Istanbul International Theatre Festival where he served as Assistant Director/Stage Manager on New York Ensemble Theatre's Beware of Dog. He received his MFA in Directing from CUNY Brooklyn College and he holds a BA in Playwriting/Directing from Emerson College. Directing credits include: The Burial at Thebes, Sincerity Forever, The Loman Family Picnic, The CarnEvil of Lies, The Zoo Story, Assassins, Holler Song and A Murder of Crows and POPAGANDA. His play, a TACK of an American Conscience was the recipient of the 2002 Rod Parker Playwriting Fellowship and was subsequently produced by Emerson Stage. Other writing credits include: Operation Ajax and The Country Behind The Curtain (Prospect Theater Lost & Found festival); the ORGASM play (produced at the Harry Warren Theater). Cameo acting credits include Deco in Local Subjectivities and Global Visions in Conflict (dir. Helen E. Richardson), Gone In 60 Secs (dir. Rose Bonczek), Ashleigh Beyer’s The Lost Project and Astrov in Dave Kane's Uncle Vanya scene study. Upcoming writing projects of note include Gentle Fuck Nation, the Amerikings, One More Feast and the development of Tiyatro Global, an international theatre project based in NYC. ____________________________________________________________ _________________________Ashleigh Beyer, a founding member, comes from the broken dream tradition of wanting to turn herself from an actor into an improvisational surrealist. she has been an actor in the past and graduated with her newFangled peers from emerson with a bfa in acting. however, thus far it seems, she has gotten her kicks out of believing in magic, in directing, in writing, and in sod farms. god and otherwise. ____________________________________________________________ __________________________ Esra Cizmeci, a founding member, is currently pursuing her MFA in Acting at CUNY Brooklyn College. A native of Turkey, Esra recently appeared in the Istanbul International Theatre Festival where she played the Young Woman in New York Ensemble Theatre's Beware of Dog. She originated the role in the 2005 NY International Fringe Festival. She also originated the roles of First Lady and Doris in the October ‘05 and August ’06 productions of the AmerikAn trip, tik. Recent roles include Elida in Local Subjectivities and Global Visions in Conflict and The Woman in Brecht's The Informer. Upcoming projects include Renee in Why We Have A Body at Brooklyn College and the development of Tiyatro Global, an international theatre festival in Turkey. ____________________________________________________________ __________________________Howard Klein, a founding member, loves being a part of newFangled Theatrer with such a talented ensemble. Howard is the Production Manager and Lighting Designer for the world-renowned dance troupe, GALUMPHA. Some favorite credits include The Lincoln Center Institute, NYU Tisch School for the Arts and The Cider Mill Playhouse. Howard is a proud alumnus of Binghamton University. www.galumpha.com ____________________________________________________________ __________________________Megan Raye Manzi, a founding member, holds a BA in Theatre Studies from Emerson College and has appeared in a varietu pf productions in the Boston circuit. Recent New York credits include Picasso at the Lapine Agile (Sackett Group), Déjà vu Punked (RVM Playwrights Lab) and Not Enough Princesses (The Looking Glass Theatre). and She designed the make-up for the August production of the AmerikAn trip, tik and appeared in early workshops of the play as Suzie-Bee. She also designed the make-up for johnmichael’s thesis production, The Burial At Thebes. ____________________________________________________________ __________________________Seth Reich, a founding member, is always pleased to work with this company of characters. Most recently he appeared as Constance in the August ’06 production of the AmerkAn trip, tik a character that evolved from his appearance as Tiresias in the October ’05 production. Other credits include Beware of Dog in the Istanbul Theater Festival in Turkey, Highway Ulysses and Richard II (American Repertory Theatre), Henry V (Commonwealth Shakespeare), Paris in Troilus and Cressida (Publick Theatre), Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Julius Caesar (Shakespeare NOW!), and Iago in Othello (Swan Stage Co.). He has a B.A. from Emerson College. Favorite collegiate roles include the five male characters in The Blue Room, Peter in The Zoo Story, and the title role in Thomas of Woodstock. ____________________________________________________________ __________________________Niluka Samarasekera, a founding member, born in Sri Lanka and raised in Hong Kong, Niluka ventured to the United States to pursue her higher education. She received her BA in 2000 for Theatre, Art History and Studio Arts from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri and a MFA in Scenic Design from Brooklyn College in 2003. She designed both the October ’05 and August ’06 production of the AmerikAn trip, tik. Niluka has been the residential set designer for the last five years at the Henry Street Settlement Abrons Art Centre, where some of her recent designs include, Antigone (2006), The Subway One Acts (2006), The Red Sneaks (2005), and Ash Girl (2004). She also served as Production Designer and Technical Director for Arts Connection’s Broadway Junior series where she designed and managed Once on This Island (2006) and Aladdin (2006) this past spring. As a free lancer she has also designed On the Verge (2006), A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur (2005), and All in the Timing (2004) as a guest designer for Brooklyn College Theatre Department. Niluka also works as a free lance lighting designer, carpenter and scenic painter, and stage technician for such institutions as Brooklyn Centre for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Centre Institute and Spaeth Design’s Christmas windows for Saks, Lord and Taylor and Macy’s. Niluka is thrilled to be part of such an esteemed company as newFangled theatReR, whom she hopes to share many adventures with. ____________________________________________________________ __________________________Justin Sturges, a founding member, has lit theater, dance, circus, and spectacle in New York, London, Istanbul, and Vermont. ____________________________________________________________ __________________________Jason F. Williams, a founding member, appeared as Kristopher and Jacko in both incarnations of the AmerikAn trip, tik in October ’05 and August ’06. He also served as Sound Designer for the August production. He performed in the Istanbul International Theater Festival as the Young Man in New York Ensemble Theatre's Beware of Dog. Jason is currently involved in MCC's development of Joe Iconis' new musical The Black Suits and has appeared in Joe Iconis’ Things To Ruin. He also appeared in Ashleigh Beyer's The Lost Project. He holds a BFA in Acting from Emerson College. Favorite roles include: Booth (Assassins), Jerry (The Zoo Story), Hendon (Finding the Sun), Cheshire Cat (Alice! dir. Melia Bensussen) and Jesus H. Christ (Sincerity Forever). ____________________________________________________________ __________________________