“Wonder Closet"
Book by Kelly Dobitz, music by Yui Kitamura, and lyrics by Molly McQue
Directed by Cara Picone
Music Direction by Mark T Evans
Synopsis: Laurence A. Lacy, a naturalist explorer, sets off in the 1890's to find a rare mythological creature, the Nark Schwab, in order to prove that his father was not insane. With him, he brings a horny Scottish Captain, an emotionally disturbed assistant, an old man, and his fiancée/cousin. Together, they meet the people of the Wahagocky Islands and learn to change their ways of thinking forevermore.
【LAURENCE】 Cameron Reese is a classically and comedically trained actor and writer based in New York. His most recent credit is Sebastian in Twelfth Night. Other favorite roles include Bobby Strong in Urinetown and Prince Charming in Snow White: The Mirror’s Revenge. Cameron received his BFA in Drama from NYU Tisch, where he studied at Playwrights Horizons Theater School, The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and the Stella Adler Studio. He is also an experienced improviser, having worked with BATS and The Magnet Theater. He is excited to be developing new musical theater, a field in which he also participates as a book writer - having written a number of shows including Mea Culpa and Ships: The Musical Trilogy.
【LYDIA】 Taylor Congdon is an actor based in New York City. New York: Hudson Guild Theatre; Regional: PA Shakespeare Festival, Arden Theatre Company, People’s Light & Theatre Company, Classic Theatre of Maryland, and Centenary Stage Company. She just shot an indie film "Drum Bum" out on Amazon Prime in late 2021. You can also see her as Cathleen in "Long Day's Journey Into Night" at Bridge Street Theatre this November. Taylor holds a B.A. in Theatre from DeSales University. www.taylorcongdon.com
【CAPTAIN MAGOON】RJ Christian is a recent graduate of NYU Steinhardt with a BM in vocal Performance. They are a verified TikTok creator and provided music and lyrics to the Ratatouille TikTok Musical benefit concert. He has served as Composer/Lyricist in five different productions including The Link, Mea Culpa, On a Wing and a Chair, Airlock: The Musical, and RedBeard as well as MD on The Wives of Henry the Eighth (Bossy Collective) and Wildfire: Before the Bloom (No Exit Theatre Collective) RJ was a finalist for Taylor Louderman’s Write Out Loud song competition with his song “Up There” As an actor, some of his favorite roles have been Donkey (Shrek the Musical), Callahan (Legally Blonde), and Beast (Beauty and the Beast). RJ was also a cast member of the 2018 and 2019 NYU Reality Show.
【LUMLEY】Zaq Latino is thrilled to be joining this production! They recently made their off-off Broadway debut at the Chain Theater as Corey in Anthony Fusco's Stoned to the Wall. Past regional credits include Holiday Inn (Walnut Street Theater); the development workshops of Shelter (Philadelphia Plays and Players); and the Who's Tommy (Theater Horizons Norristown). They are also a member of the ensemble in Lyndsey Chance and Michelle Lugo's Will Wilson Saves the World, being performed as an AEA 29-hour reading mid-October. As a composer of contemporary classical music, Zaq has had pieces performed by JACK Quartet, Divertimento Ensemble, and pianist, Andrey Telkov. Zaq would like to thank their family, cats, and Patrick for their continual love and support. Instagram: @zaqlatino
【PHILIPPE】Tanner Sands is excited to join the cast of Wonder Closet. Some of his favorite roles include Scrooge in Scrooge No More (Busch Gardens) and Freddy in My Fair Lady (Performance Now). It is amazing to be back performing in live theater and helping to create new work. He couldn't be happier!
【HEETOO】Charlie has a strong theater background as he was a music theater teacher for 21 years. He has played Fredrick in Pirates of Penzance and Ko-Ko in the Mikado as well as Harry the Horse in Guys and Dolls. He has performed in the chorus for Oklahoma, Gypsy, and My Fair Lady. His directing credits include Aida, School House Rocks, Honk, Annie and Willie Wonka. He has been the vocal director for a new musical Song of Solomon, and was music director for West Side Story and The Wizard of Oz. His family includes 5 kids and 2 Golden Retrievers along with many cats. Charlie is excited to play the role of Heetoo for Wonder Closet.
【MEETOO】Elaine Baez is glad to be a part of this reading of Wonder Closet, as we continue to breathe life into the arts. Previous to this project, her notable performances include Off-Broadway productions with The Imbible Presents: A Spirited History of Drinking and Christmas Carol Cocktails, as well as Going Once! Laughing Twice! at St. Luke's Theatre. Other projects include, zoom reading of Indispensable with the Resonance Ensemble and Harbored with En Garde Arts at the River to River Festival as dance ensemble. She looks forward to the theatre returning to its former glory.
【BETH】Multi-talented artist Yiran Chen graduated from the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre. As a young actor Yiran was described as “highly intellegent and talented” by her acting mentor also known as the reputable Juilliard faculty Eve Shapiro. Prior to her theatrical training she was a classically trained violinst. She earned her Masters degree at Manhattan School of Music. Yiran came from China at age of 16 for her musical education at Oberlin Conservatory of Music. During her four-year study she was offered full scholarship and graduated in 2016 as the winner of the Senior Concerto Competition. Her artistic background includes acting, singing, violin, dance, and martial arts.
【KEVIN】Anthony Castellano (Kevin) is an NYC based actor/singer/director. Some of his favorite roles were Sister Hubert in Nunsense Amen!, The Preacher in Bonnie and Clyde and Helmuth Rode in Taking Sides. Anthony would like to thank the cast and creative team for this wonderful opportunity.
【HILDA】Alexa works as a professional actress, singer and dancer. Off-Off-Broadway: Cabaret ( Frl.Kost ), The Underpants (Gertrude Deuter), To Be Or Not To Be ( Maria Tura), The Musical Comedy Murders Of 1940 ( Nikki ), Bedroom Farce (Susannah),The Vagina Monologues ( Hair), Regional: La Cage Aux Folles (Mme Dindon), TV: Fosse/Verdon (Gerde), Film: In The Heights (Dancer).She also sings in her own Polka Pop Band @bbandthepolkahaus and teaches her own Dance Fitness Classes. www.alexapolller.com / @alexa_poller
【OLD MAN/ENSEMBLE】Teddy Grey is an actor/singer/songwriter who graduated from Hofstra University in 2020, majoring in Mass Media Studies, Drama, and Musical Theatre. His new double concept album, The Great Failed Romances of the Twentieth Century, is out now via Mother West Records. He wrote, directed, and starred in the 2019 YouTube cult movie “Garfeld: the Musical (A Garfield Parody), and currently plays Jimmy on the popular YouTube kids series “The Ellie Sparkles Show.” Past credits include: Johnny in American Idiot (Masquerade Musical Theatre), Elyot Chase in Private Lives (Hofstra), Narrator/Mysterious Man (Hofstra), and George Hastings (She Stoops to Conquer). Thanks to the cast and crew!
【NARK SCHWAB/ENSEMBLE】Rrita Toka is an actress and singer from Kosovo. She is a recent graduate of The Stella Adler Conservatory, where she was seen in productions of The Women (Mary Haines) and Beautiful Bodies (Claire). Previously, she completed her BFA in Musical Theatre at Manhattanville College on full scholarship. She is the recipient of the Sr. Josephine Morgan Award and Arlene Kaplan Award.
【ENSEMBLE】Madison N. Figueroa is a recent graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NY. She is so excited to apart of her first professional theatrical performance in Wonder Closet as apart of the Ensemble. Madison would like to thank her friends and family for being an amazing support system and pushing her to be her best. She can’t wait to see what comes next in her journey as a performer.
【ENSEMBLE】Seira Hibino was born and raised in Osaka, Japan, where she started up a glee club at her high school with her love and passion to perform. She was trained in acting, singing and dancing at Broadway Theater Workshop in Takarazuka. Seira joyfully moved to New York City to pursue her career as a Musical Theater actress in 2019 when she was awarded a scholarship to train at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA). When not performing, she enjoys cooking, biking and reading Japanese comics (manga).
【LYRICIST】Molly McQuilkin (lyrics)
Molly is a Graduate of The Musical Theatre Writing at NYU. Along with Wonder Closet, Molly wrote the book and lyrics for FOUR at NYU. She is currently the house manager at The Stephen Sondheim Theatre.
【DIRECTOR】Cara Picone is an NYC-based director, actor, and vocal teacher. She is thrilled to be working with Yui Kitamura again, after having directed Pushing Daisy at the Secret Theater for MuSE’s Sounds of Arts Festival. Other directing credits include productions of Othello, Cinderella, and The King and I. Cara calls musical theater home, and has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from NYU. Favorite performance credits include productions of Ragtime, Camelot, and Sweeney Todd. When she isn’t performing or directing, she teaches private voice lessons. Many thanks to the cast and creative team, and all who came to support this wonderful new work!
【MUSIC DIRECTOR】Mark T Evans is a composer and music director from Long Island and Philadelphia. He is a music director, staff accompanist, and occasional instructor at NYU’s New Studio on Broadway and The Dalton School, the latter having commissioned him to write the scores for new musicals Macbeth and Ahab Triumphant. Since May of 2020, Mark has also been the Music Supervisor of The 24 Hour Play Company, having facilitated every aspect of the music performances for the Company's Viral Musical Monologues. Mark is so excited to serve as MD on this delightful show, for which he originated the role of Captain Magoon when he was a classmate of the amazing writers at the Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program.