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SHOOTING STAR – A Revealing New Musical
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| CAST (click photos for larger images) |
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KAROLE FOREMAN
(mr. Sue)
Theatre: A Little Night Music (San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Nomination), Stupid Fucking Bird (Cygnet Theatre); Haunted House Party (Getty Villa); Porgy & Bess, Sweeney Todd, Intimate Apparel (Ensemble Theatre Company), Fences (NAACP Nomination) (PCPA & ICT), Wedding Band (Stage Raw Nomination)(Antaeus), Next to Normal (OC Weekly Award) (Cal Rep), Difficulty of Crossing A Field & Queenie Pie (Long Beach Opera), Caroline or Change (PCPA), Parade, Jelly’s Last Jam (Suzi Bass Award) (Mark Taper & Alliance Theatre, Atlanta), and Mama Mia! (Vegas). Karole worked with the L.A.Women’s Shakespeare Co., Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and in numerous regional theaters across the country. TV: Good Trouble, NCIS, Brooklyn 99, HTGAWM, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Rebel, GLOW, Kingdom, Training Day, Young & the Restless, Stitchers, Jane the Virgin, Adam Ruins Everything, Switched at Birth, Rizzoli & Isles, Murder in the First, Pretty Little Liars, Grey’s Anatomy, Bones, Medium, Law & Order, Bold and the Beautiful. Film: I'll Be Next Door for Christmas, 42, Rebirth, and Buddy Solitaire. www.karoleforeman.com
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RYAN KANFER
(Go-Go Dancer, Ensemble)
Ryan Kanfer was recently seen in "Odd Mom Out" and the Bullets Over Broadway First National Tour. He is so excited to be a part of his first new musical. Thanks to all involved, especially Michael Donovan. Instagram: @rykanf.
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GARRETT MARSHALL
(Butch O’Neal)
Garrett is thrilled to be part of this production. He is a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts and has been seen around Southern California in 1776 as Edward Rutledge (Cabrillo Music Theater), Billy Nolan in Carrie (La Mirada theater), The Beast in Beauty and the Beast (Musical Theater West) Timmy in Hand to God (San Diego Rep), Kristoff in Frozen! Live at the Hyperion (California Adventure) Freddie Trumper in Chess (CVRep) as well as as performing in various improv troupes and burlesque companies. Garrett would like to thank his mother, agents, friends and family for their tireless support, Batman for teaching him never to quit, and you for supporting the arts.
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DAVEY MILLER
(The Fan, Go-Go Dancer, Ensemble)
Davey Miller is thrilled to be getting his ass back on stage! Favorite roles include Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing, Alex in The Little Dog Laughed, Dennis in Rock of Ages, Bud Frump in How to Succeed and featured ensemble roles in Young Frankenstein, My Fair Lady, Pirates of Penzance, Nice Work if You Can Get It, The Wild Party and La Cage aux Folles. Big thanks to Michael Donovan and Richie Ferris for helping to get him back in the game and of course, this wonderful cast, crew and creative team for such a fun process creating this show. And to gay porn (and musical theatre!) for never leaving him. PCPA Class of 2016. What you seek is seeking you – Rumi. @presidentofunitedstatesoflove
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NATHAN MOHEBBI
(Jesse Apollo)
Film/TV Credits: "Sideswiped"(YoutubeRed) "Masters of Sex (Showtime)", "Ellen More or Less (NBC)", "Chasing Life (ABC Family)", Child of God (dir. James Franco), Neighbors (Universal Studios). LA Theatre Credits: A Splintered Soul (International City Theatre), The Boy From Oz (Celebration Theatre), Funny Girl (3DTheatricals), Wolves (Celebration Theatre), Die Mommie Die! (Celebration Theatre), The Taming of The Shrew (Fringe), Dog Sees God (Sherry Theatre). He is repped by Ran Frazier at Authentic Management.
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TAUBERT NADALINI
(Taylor Trent)
After training at USC and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Taubert now calls Los Angeles and New York home. Recent credits include the highly acclaimed, HBO-produced pilot “Sterling,” which premiered at SXSW this year (role Sam), “Deviants” (a pilot for Showtime), Bright Star (Musical Theatre West), Jonah: A Musical Detour (Williamstown), Cabaret (Crested Butte Mountain Theatre), The Fantasticks (CBMT), Metamorphoses (Theatre 68), Alpha Dogs (Skylight), Romeo and Juliet (USC), and Hit the Wall, a new musical by Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go’s. Taubert also currently appears as Hans in Frozen (Hyperion Theatre, dir. Liesl Tommy). Many thanks to Heidi Rotbart Management, Connor Ankrum & Associates, his family, and Heidi Crane for their support. taubertnadalini.com | @taubertnadalini
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BETTIS RICHARDSON
(Tiger Black)
Bettis made his Broadway debut with the original cast of Bring It On: The Musical. In that debut, he was gifted the opportunity of working alongside some the amazing creative team that brought you the hit musicals Hamilton and In The Heights (Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alex Lacamoire, and Andy Blankenbuehler). Most recently he participated in the first ever Live musical promotional commercial for the popular movie The Greatest Showman. Before taking the stage, his first television appearance was as a season two - Top 32 finalist on the hit competition show "American Idol". In addition, he's had the pleasure of playing small roles and making appearances in many other music videos, movies, video games, and television shows. Fascinating tidbits... he was previously trained in martial arts and is an ex-competitive cheerleader. Other interesting hobbies include songwriting, music composing / editing, and teaching dance and tumbling between performing opportunities
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CHRISTOPHER ROBERT SMITH
(Martin Lords, Ensemble)
Really happy to be part of this unique and fun show. Favorite theater credits include Dr. Jake Housman in the national tour of the Dirty Dancing. Pilate and Jesus Christ superstar. Javert in Les Miz and friends. The Pirate King and Pirates of Penzance. Television credits include: Big bang theory, mad men, young in the restless and the Ellen show. This was also a men’s health center for Model for two years. Thank you for your support and God bless! IMDb Christopher Robert Smith @chrissmithtraining
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CARSON ROBINETTE
(JR Andrews)
Carson Robinette is thrilled to be joining the cast of Shooting Star! A soon-to-be graduate of UCLA's Ray Bolger Musical Theater Program, Carson has spent the last four years immersing himself in the LA theatre scene, and is honored to be a part of this brand new work. Most recently, he originated the role of Conrad in the world premiere of Rebel Genius at UCLA. Some favorites include Melchior in Spring Awakening (play), Howie and Solomon in Speech & Debate, and Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Big hugs to his parents, MT 2019, and Michael Donovan Casting. Go Bruins!
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MICHAEL SCOTT HARRIS
(James Grant)
Michael Scott Harris is thrilled to be continuing with Shooting Star after playing James in the West Coast reading last fall. Other recent performances include The Sound of Music (Capt. von Trapp) and Peter Pan (Capt. Hook) with the Anchorage Concert Assn., South Pacific (Emile de Becque) with the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Candlelight Pavilion, and Mary Poppins (George Banks) with Cabrillo Music Theatre (now 5 Star Theatricals). Before moving to L.A., Michael traveled the country with the Broadway National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera (Piangi). During his time in New York, Michael stared off Broadway as a lead with the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players performing such classics as The Pirates of Penzance (Frederic), The Mikado (Nanki-Poo), H.M.S. Pinafore (Ralph), among many others. For more info visit: www.michaelscottharris.com
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| PRODUCTION STAFF (click photos for larger images) |
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MICHAEL BELLO
(Director)
is a Cuban-American director of musical theater based in New York. He most recently served as the resident Associate Director on Broadway's Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, directed by Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, and will return for its upcoming national tour. He has directed new musicals across the country including We Are The Tigers' recent off-Broadway production at Theater 80 and its premiere at The Hudson Backstage (3 LA Ovation nominations). Other Directing: Letters to the President in The Great Hall at Cooper Union, Between the Sea and Sky (NYMF, Best Musical and Direction winner), Errol & Fidel (NYMF, Best Musical and Direction noms), Hello Again (Boston's IRNE nom), In the Heights (NY Innovative Theater Award nom), Next to Normal (NY Innovative Theater Award nom) and others. Assisting: Summer (dir. Des McAnuff, La Jolla Playhouse), Doctor Zhivago (dir. Des McAnuff, Broadway Theatre), A Little More Alive (dir. Sheryl Kaller, Kansas City Rep) Fly By Night (dir. Bill Fennelly, Dallas Theater Center) and others. BFA Emerson College. www.MichaelBello.com
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JIM COONEY
(Choreographer)
Jim is NYC-based with an international body of work encompassing theater, television, concerts, and events. This is his second collaboration with director Michael Bello, having choreographed
Between the Sea and Sky (Best Musical winner, Best
Choreography nomination) for the New York Musical Festival. Other NYC work includes
Here Be Dragons at Vineyard Theatre, Nothing But Trash at Theater for the New City (IT Award nomination for Best Choreography), and Broadway Bares (seasons 23-26) directed by Jerry Mitchell. For TV, he choreographed “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” featuring Kristin Chenoweth, “The Today Show” featuring Little Richard, and both seasons of “The Glee Project” for Oxygen’s Upfronts. Additional featured choreography credits are Sweet Charity directed by Michael Rupert, The Accused at Tropicana (Casino Show of the Year Award), and Tableaux for Holland America Line. Next, he’s choreographing and associate directing A Chorus Line for Transcendence Theatre Company. More at JimCooney.me.
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MICHAEL DONOVAN, CSA
(Co-Producer, Casting Director)
Michael is the recipient of 8 Artios awards, presented by the Casting Society of America for Outstanding Achievement in casting. He has cast shows produced at the Ahmanson Theatre, Hollywood Bowl, Pasadena Playhouse, the Kirk Douglas Theatre, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Geffen Playhouse, International City Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, the Getty Villa, the Ricardo Montalban Theatre, the Theatre at Boston Court, the 24th St. Theatre, San Francisco Symphony, Arizona Theatre Company, both the Palazzo Theatre and Paris Theatre in Las Vegas, the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival and more. His credits also include numerous films, over 1,000 commercials, and multiple TV series. Michael, who also teaches at UCLA, is President of the Foundation for New American Musicals, and serves on the Board for Camp Bravo.
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FLORIAN KLEIN
(Concept, Book)
Florian was born in the Southern part of Germany, where the hills are alive with the sound of music. In the mid-90s, he started working in the entertainment industry as an actor, singer, dancer, public speaker, and TV host. Florian came to New York in 2002 to further his acting education. After finishing a four-year program at New York’s renowned HB Studio, he moved to Hollywood in 2006 to become a movie star. In 2012, he became a star in a different universe – a decision he never regretted, because it sparked the idea to write
SHOOTING STAR - his first musical. Becoming award-winning adult film performer Hans Berlin also gave Florian a voice to educate about Safer-Sex options and break HIV Stigma #UequalsU (Something that is very close to Florian’s heart, as he contracted the virus in 2001, long before he started working in the industry).
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GREGORY NABOURS
(Musical Director)
Gregory Nabours is a Los Angeles-based composer/lyricist and music director. He is the Music Director and co-creator of the popular Unauthorized Musical Parody series at Rockwell Table and Stage, and the Resident Composer and a founding member of Coeurage Theatre Company. Since releasing his first award-winning musical The Trouble With Words in 2011, Gregory's music has been featured across the country, including a concert of his music at the Kennedy Center for ASCAP's Broadway: Today and Tomorrow series. He's the composer for Marilyn! The New Musical, which recently debuted at Paris Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip and is currently set to travel to the east coast. His work on a long list of theatrical productions has earned him three Ovation Awards, an LA Drama Critics’ Circle Award, an LA Weekly Award, and an NAACP Award. Thank you to my patient husband, Ryan, and to all the creatives who inspire me to continue down this path. An even bigger thank you to this team from New York and Germany for letting some Angelinos crash the party!
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ERIK RANSOM
(Lyrics)
Erik is an award-winning, internationally produced playwright, lyricist and composer based out of New York. Erik’s magnum opus, GRINDR The Opera, won London’s 2019 Off West End Award for Best New Musical, and has been produced across the U.S. Other works include: Coming: A Rock Musical of Biblical Proportions and More Than All the World, a musical retelling of Marlowe’s Edward II. Additionally, Erik starred in and wrote songs for the film, Happy Yummy Chicken featuring Taryn Manning, and served as lead comedy writer for “The Celebrity Roast of Michael Musto,” presented by Rosie O’Donnell and hosted by Bruce Vilanch.
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RACQUEL LEHRMAN THEATRE PLANNERS
(Producer, General Manager)
Racquel is the founder and managing director of Theatre Planners, her own theatre production firm which has been serving the Los Angeles theatre scene for over fifteen years. She graduated from NYU-Tisch School of the Arts and lived in NY for many years producing theatre. Theatre Planners has since developed into a very busy and successful outlet for actors, writers, producers and theatre companies. Doing everything from producing, consulting, marketing and more, Racquel loves to make productions a reality and help to keep the theatre scene in LA alive and strong. Racquel is also the owner of The Lounge Theatres and The Lounge Studio and manages The Zephyr Theatre. To learn more about Racquel and Theatre Planners, go to www.theatreplanners.com
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ANGELA WENDT
(Costume Designer)
Angela Wendt designs costumes for Theater, Film, TV, Opera and Dance. She is the original Costume Designer of the groundbreaking Broadway Musical
RENT, for which she received the Hewes Design Award, Drama Logue Award, and a Drama Desk and a Dora Mover Award Nomination. Angela just recently reinvented her work for RENT Live on FOX. Other theater projects (excerpt): The North American Premiere of The Count of Monte Cristo (Pioneer Theatre), Up in the Air, directed by Amon Miyamoto at the Kennedy Center, the World Premiere of The Remarkable Rooming House by Tennessee Williams (Soho Repertory Theatre), The Underpants by Steve Martin (Classic Stage Company, NYC), The Distance from Here by Neil Labute (MCC Theatre Company), Singin’ in the Rain, directed by Ray Roderick at Goodspeed Opera (Connecticut Critics’ Circle Award for the costumes). Feature films excerpt: Return to Montauk, directed by Volker Schlöndorf, featuring Stellan Skarsgård. Me and Kaminski, directed by Wolfgang Becker; Hannah Arendt, directed by Margarethe von Trotta. Angela is more than excited to design the costumes for the first production of Shooting Star.
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THOMAS ZAUFKE
(Composer)
Thomas is one of today’s most successful German composers and has been writing music for stage, film, as well as television. His work can be heard in theaters all across Europe, including Berlin’s most contemporary opera house, the Neuköllner Oper (Babytalk,
Letterland, Grimm and many more). Thomas also writes songs and chansons for European artists and German TV galas, like Die Goldene Kamera, Germany’s Oscars. Thomas Zaufke resides in Berlin, Germany.
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