Michel Hausmann (Book and Director) is a Venezuelan-born theater director, producer and writer. He is the co-founder and artistic director of Palo de Agua, a leading Venezuelan theater production company. Hausmann's Off Broadway credits include the New York Premiere of Vassily Sigarev's Black Milk at East 13th Theater and the New York premiere of The Color Of Desire, by Pulitzer Prize winning author Nilo Cruz at the Repertorio Español. In Venezuela he directed the world premiere of Los Navegaos, the last play by renowned Venezuelan playwright Isaac Chocrón as well as successful productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Producers that enjoyed an audience of 170,000 spectators. With Moisés Kaufman, he co-directed the Venezuelan premiere of Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde. Michel is finishing an M.F.A in directing at Columbia University under Anne Bogart and Brian Kulick and is currently a New York Theater Workshop emerging artist 2050 Fellow. www.michelhausmann.com
Salomon Lerner (Music and Music Director) is a composer, arranger and music director. In New York, he has worked at various capacities On and Off Broadway; shows include Hands on a Hardbody, Little Miss Sunshine, Yellow Brick Road and El Color del Deseo. He has collaborated with many songwriters, including Amanda Green and William Finn, who hired him as composer-in-residence at the Barrington Stage Company. In his native Venezuela, he has a successful career scoring for film and TV, music directing and producing top-selling pop records. www.salomonlernermusic.com
Len Schiff (Lyrics) is a lyricist, teacher and occasional journalist. An alumnus of The BMI Musical Theater Workshop and NYU's Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program, he is thrilled to be working on The Golem of Havana. His musical Signs of Life (music: Joel Derfner, book: Peter Ullian), ran off-Broadway in 2010 at the Marjorie Deane Theater, and will open at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater this September. Len lives in Queens, NY, with his wife and son, too many board games and a mostly-finished hovercraft.
Edwin Erminy (Set Design) is an architect, scenographer and writer. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Scenography from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. He shares his time between teaching scenic design at the Arts University in Venezuela and at the Academy for the Performing Arts in Trinidad and Tobago. He is a long time collaborator of Palo de Agua, as well as of the leading theater, dance and opera companies in Venezuela, including the Caracas International Theater Festival. In 1999 he co-founded Opera Transatlantica, an international theater collaboration project with the British designer Pamela Howard. His most recent play “Rondó Adafina” will premiere in Caracas later this year. www.operastransatlanticas.blogspot.com
Yuki Nakase (Lighting Design) is a lighting designer for stage, television and special events. After graduating from Japan Women’s College of Physical Education with a degree in dance, she found an interest in light on stage with her working as a dancer, which was followed by a career as a lighting designer for dance companies in Japan and at Nippon Television Network Corporation. Yuki holds an M.F.A. degree in Lighting Design from NYU Tisch Design for Stage and Film. Recent designs include All My Sons (Shubert Theatre), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Schapiro Theatre), Black Milk (East 13th Street Theatre), The Liar (Fifth Floor Theatre), The Corsair (3LD Art & Technology Center), and The Cherry Orchard (Atlas Theatre). Yuki enjoys working and living in NYC. More about Yuki and her work can be seen at http://yukinakase.com.
Yair Szarf (Sound Design) is an expert in all aspects of the Audio Industry. He graduated from Full Sail University in Orlando, FL in 2002. After graduating, he moved to New York where he worked in some of the best production and recording studios in the world, including Sync Sound and Soundtracks. He also was a sound designer and front of house engineer with "Palo de Agua" for plays like Jesus Christ Superstar, Fiddler on the Roof, The Producers and others. After this experience he joined Royal Caribbean, where he ran almost 3000 shows including the broadway musical Hairspray.
Andy Cohen (Sound Design) is excited to work again with Michel and Palo de Agua, having last collaborated with them as sound designer for Black Milk. Andy’s recent projects included Incendiary Agents at the New Ohio Theatre, The Fallen at T. Schreiber Studios, live music and Foley effects for The Shelter’s Lily & Kosmo Live!, Mahalla at the Berkshire Fringe, Breaking the Silence at the Edinburgh Fringe, and the upcoming US tour of The Hungry Hungry Games for Mills Entertainment. Andy holds degrees in music from Oberlin and the Manhattan School of Music. www.andycomusic.com
Christopher Vergara (Costume Design) La Mama Theatre Debut. His recent design credits include Last Dance (York Theater), Danza de Fernando (somedance company); like the eagle (DASH); Madame Butterfly, Kiss Me Kate, La Traviata, Pirates of Penzance (Brevard Music Festival); Harlequinade, Walpurgisnacht, Esmeralda, Majisimas, Paquita (Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo). Broadway assisting credits include The People in the Picture (Roundabout Theater Company) and Freeman of Color (Lincoln Center Theater). As the Costume Coordinator for Les Ballet Trockadero he toured throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. He is an alumnus of The Professional Internship Program of The Juilliard School.
Yair Rosemberg (Palo de Agua - Executive Producer) Yair Rosemberg is a Venezuelan-born theater producer, He is the co-founder and Executive Producer of Palo de Agua, a leading Venezuelan Theater production company. Since Palo de Agua’s foundation in 2003, Rosemberg has produced eight theatre plays, including three musicals and four concerts of world known musicians as well as many corporate events for private clients. Rosemberg´s Off Broadway credits include the New York Premiere of Vassily Sigarev's Black Milk at East 13th Theater. In 2010 Yair oversaw the reopening of The Cesar Rengifo Theater of Petare, in Caracas, Venezuela. In his tenure at Palo de Agua, Rosemberg has been responsible for 175.000 tickets sold In Caracas and other cities of Venezuela. Palo de Agua has produced the highest grossing theatre plays in Venezuela’s history, and are known for fomenting the local performing arts as much as for pushing its limits. Yair recently finished a Global MBA program in Israel at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya.
Tucker Capps (Dramaturg). Tucker Capps is a writer, producer and film director from Portland, Oregon. A graduate of Yale University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, he has published fiction in Best New American Voices and directed documentaries in China, Alaska and rural Kentucky. His first feature-length documentary GOOLD’S GOLD was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature at the Genart Film Festival in New York. He has also produced and written for A&E's INTERVENTION and TIME OF DEATH, the forthcoming documentary series on Showtime. He lives in Los Angeles.
Milteri Tucker (Corepgrapher) Puerto Rican dancer, actress & choreographer. Founder and artistic director of BOMBAZO Dance Co. She has worked for distinguished dance companies and choreographers from Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and United States. She has performed and showcased her work at City Center, Alvin Ailey, Pregones Theater, PRTT among others. Theater Credits include:The Perils Of Chencha" written and directed by Anita Velez Mitchell, YES I YES, written by Acclaimed Spanish writer Yolanda Garcia Serrano , AFRO TANGO, La Negra Mas Bella", "Llamada/ Rally Cry" Lulu en la Habana written by Ntosake Shange, Broadway's Easter Bonnet at the Minskoff Theater. Performed at 2013 Latin Billboards for Don Omar. www.bombazodanceco.com
Jeffrey M. Bender (Fight Choreographer) Jeff has choreographed fights and taught stage combat classes for the last 13 years at high schools, colleges and theater companies around the country. He is primarily an actor and was most recently seen in Fallen Angels at the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ. He has been a company member there for over a decade and has performed in numerous productions. Regionally, he has worked at Lincoln Center Theatre, Arena Stage in DC, Metropolitan Opera, Old Globe in San Diego, Denver Center Theater Company, Seattle Repertory Theatre, The Acting Company, Delaware Theatre Company, to name a few.
Manuel Gonzalez Ruiz (Graphic designer) is a graphic designer and advisor in visual communications strategies. Extensive international experience with expertise in product development, conceptualization and identity. Manuel is a specialist in the areas of editorial design, corporate image, and development of projects of communication for different audiences. He is a member of the Designers Association of Madrid (Dimad). Teacher, director, and theater actor, with sensibility in the development of cultural products. Guest lecturer in different international events. His works have been selected and exposed in the Bienal Iberoamericana of design. www.magoatelier.com
José Miguel Dao (Asistant Director), born in Venezuela in 1988. He began his studies by taking workshops with different specialists in techniques of clown, improvisation, dance, and makeup. After accomplishing his goals in Venezuela he moved to NYC in January 2012. He has been working with Palo de Agua for three years in the projects: Gross Indecency (Venezuela), Black Milk (CSC, NYC), and The Golem of Havana (La Mama, NYC). Currently he is training at the evening conservatory of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.
Micah Joel (Associate Music Director, Bass) has written music, lyrics and book for the original musicals Me and Violet Brooks, Addie and Boots, Like a Fairy Tale and Riffraff, which he directed at Silver Lake Theatre in Everett, Washington. In addition, he has written the play The Churmenya Fiasco. In collaboration with Chandra McClelland, he has written the musicals Lady of Angria, and The Lorelei . Micah is an alum of NYU's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program and is a member of the Dramatists' Guild of America. He is also a freelance photographer and videographer (MicahJoelPhotography.com, XerkMedia.com).
Jeremy Stoller (General Manager) is a freelance dramaturg and producer. Recent: Resident Dramaturg for the Jewish Plays Project's 2013 new play festival at the 14th Street Y in New York. From 2010-2013, he served as Literary Manager at Two River Theater, producing their annual Crossing Borders Festival of new work by Latino writers, providing dramaturgical support for numerous productions and workshops, and overseeing their audience enrichment programs. Other: George Street Playhouse, Philadelphia's First Person Arts, Berkshire Theatre Festival. He received his BA from Drew University.
Leonardo Rodriguez (Illustration) is an artist founder member of the AEC (spanish caricaturists association). He has a Degree of Illustrator in Instituto de Diseño de Caracas in 1992 and a Degree in artwork level VI in Marcorel Ecole Médiavisuel Paris, France in 2003. He collaborates for MAD magazine and Simon&Schuster, NY. He has also worked for Dancing Diablo Studio in the production of Go Wild campaign for the Bronx Zoo, NY. He has a Juan Rulfo Award at the La Maison de l’Amérique latine in Paris and the Pedro León Zapata National Award in Caracas, Venezuela. He has participated in several exhibitions as L'Atelier La Perla (20 ans après ) Château d’Excideuil Perigord Vert, La Dordogne, France in 2012, The Original Art 2011 at the Museum of American Illustration at the Society of Illustrators, NY (2011); Kerpoof! St. John’s University 2011 NY. www.leonardorodriguez.net
Samantha Honeycutt (Stage Manager). Miss Honeycutt is thrilled to be working with this wonderful production and terrific group of artists. She is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a degree in Stage Management. Her credits include Next Fall (Paper Lantern Theatre Company), Gorilla (Scandinavian American Theatre Company), Il Barbiere de Siviglia, and The King and I (Ash Lawn Opera House), Hello, Dolly, Sweet Charity, Kiss Me, Kate, and Legally Blonde (Cape Cod Playhouse), and Fancy Nancy The Musical (Vital Theatre Company).
Columbia Stages (Producer) is the producing arm of the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies of Columbia University School of the Arts. Columbia Stages annually presents a season of graduate actor and director productions as well as a festival of new plays by emerging playwrights.
Palo de Agua (Producer) is an award winning Venezuelan based theater company established in 2003 by Artistic Director Michel Hausmann and Executive Producer Yair Rosemberg. It's credit's include the Venezuelan premiere of Moises Kaufman's Gross Indecency: The Three trials of Oscar Wilde, The Musicals Fiddler on the Roof, The Producers and Jesus Christ Superstar, as well as the world premiere of Isaac Chocron's Los Navegaos. Palo de Agua has also produced in Venezuela Woody Allen's Play it Again, Sam, Neil Simon's God's Favorite and the children's show Raton y Vampiro. At the request of the Sucre Municipal government Palo de Agua heads the renewal and administration of the Cesar Rengifo Theater of Petare in Caracas, at the heart of Latin America's biggest Favela. Palo de Agua has also produced concerts for local and international talents including Academy Award-winner Jorge Drexler and the Grammy-nominated band "Jarabe De Palo." The company has been at the forefront on the fight for cultural independence in Venezuela, and has been in the center of several disputes with the Government of Hugo Chavez. www.palodeagua.com.ve
Theater of the Americas (Producer) is a non for profit theater organization whose mission is to bring to the stage stories from the entire continent and to promote cultural exchanges from all corners of the Americas. www.theateroftheamericas.com
Scheherazade Quiroga (Assistant Producer) is ecstatic to be part of “The Golem of Havana”. Originally from Venezuela, she’s worked as a producer, writer and performer in television, radio and stage. She was a member of Palo de Agua’s original casts of Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Producers in Venezuela. Recent performance credits include Acto Cultural (Mirada International Theatre Festival, Brazil), Civilization! (Planet Connections Festivities, NYC), and Sweeney Todd (Frederick Loewe Theatre, NYC.) Scheherazade holds a Master’s of Music from New York University and a Master of Science in Television Management from Boston University. She’s a proud Communications alumnus and faculty member of UCAB in Caracas. www.ScheherazadeQuiroga.com
Colleen Lacy (Assistant Stage Manager) is in her final year of Columbia University's MFA Stage Management program. Credits include: Production Assistant for A PICTURE OF AUTUMN at The Mint Theater and NO MAN'S LAND (with Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart) at Berkeley Rep. Assistant Stage Manager for SAKHARAM BINDER and JOAN OF ARC: VOICES IN THE FIRE, both with Columbia Stages. Production Stage Manager for STRANDED ON MOTOR PARKWAY (part of FringeNYC '13) and THE CHERRY ORCHARD directed by Tara Ahmadinejad at Columbia University.
Andrew Barlow (percussion) Andrew received a double Masters degree in Percussion Performance and Music Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He also holds Bachelor degrees in Music Education and Percussion Performance from Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, North Carolina. Most recently, Andrew toured the United States, South Korea, and Japan as a Percussionist and the Percussion Manager for the Tony and Emmy Award winning Broadway show Blast!. Barlow has also spent time performing and doing studio recording work with artists such as Kimberley Locke, Diamond Rio, and most recently has worked with Madonna and Kevin Antunes in preparation for the half time show at Super Bowl XLVI. Andrew is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, Percussive Arts Society and a performing artist for Innovative Percussion Inc. and Pearl/Adams Corporation. For more information on Andrew please visit www.barlowpercussion.com.
Jeff Nichols (Clarinet, Tenor, Sax) Jeff Nichols is a freelance woodwind player in New York City, specializing in the saxophone, flute and clarinet. He has performed in a variety of settings, ranging from intimate chamber music to live rock shows. In addition to live performance, Jeff also does recording work, most recently for the emerging Indie/Pop band Snowmine. Jeff has worked on several Broadway shows, most recently "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella" and "The Nance." He has also appeared alongside the Rockettes as a member of the orchestra for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
Lisette Santiago (Percussion). Lisette Santiago is a vocalist and percussionist from Brooklyn, N.Y. A graduate of LaGuardia High School of Music and the Performing Arts and Columbia University, Lisette began singing at an early age and was accepted into the Children’s Metropolitan Company at the age of nine. She later went on to study drum set and hand percussion. Lisette specializes in Afro-Cuban percussion such as batá and congas and has performed and studied with Cuban masters Pancho Quinto, Jose Luis "Chanquito" Quintana and Amelia Pedroso. Lisette is a member of the popular group, BEAT THE DONKEY; led by world-renown percussionist, Cyro Baptista and is working on projects, experimenting with electronics, vocals, percussion, and theremin. Lisette is a Latin Percussion endorsee.
Jeff Schiller (flute, clarinet, alto sax) is a professional musician with degrees in music and film. His extensive knowledge and experience in these two disciplines is his motivation to pursue a career encompassing both. Based in New York City and also known as Houndog, Jeff has enjoyed touring the world with artists such as Gloria Gaynor; appearing in over 100 Broadway shows a year; working as a studio musician for TV, film and in collaboration with other recording artists. His career includes numerous concert performances, from classical to blues, Carnegie Hall to nightclubs. His diverse performing, compositional and arranging styles have been heard over the years in many venues, markets and media. These include Broadway productions, radio, TV and internet jingles, soundtracks of major and independent motion pictures, network and cable TV shows, numerous original recordings and in countless live concert performances. More information about Jeff is available at www.houndogschiller.com