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It's the first day of Flight School, where they teach birds to fly. Penguin has the soul of an eagle and is ready to live on the wind. But he wasn't built to soar, as the other birds constantly remind him. Penguin's spirit won't be grounded. With some friends of a feather, and a little help on the technical parts, Penguin follows his dreams to flip, flap, fly!
Lauryn Morgan Thomas (Owl) is honored to make her Vital Theater Company debut! Previous credits include: Can Can (Broadway Theatre of Pitman, NJ) Ragtime (Sketch Club Players, NJ) United and Lockhardt (Philadelphia Fringe) Truth & Confessions (Standing Ovations, original cast, PA), Spelling Bee, Nine, Midsummer, and Avenue Q (Univ. of Pittsburgh Stages), and Lightyears Away From You (Univ. of Pittsburgh Stages) which she devised and performed as a solo show. She has also appeared at the Arden Theatre in Philadelphia as part of the Next Generation Cabaret and at Dont Tell Mama in Seths Talent Showcase in New York. BPhil Theatre Arts, University of Pittsburgh. Eternal thanks and love to Thomas Fam and Davis.
Derik Lawson (Pelican) is a NYC based performer. He just finished traveling the world as a lead soloist with Aida Cruises. Some of his favorite regional credits include Radames in Aida, Patrick in Spongebob the Musical, Roger in Grease, and Papa Bear in Shrek. When not performing, Derik loves to play volleyball, read, and eat lots of TACOS! www.deriklawson.com
Erica Lorenzetti (Penguin) Off-Broadway: Frankenstein The Musical (The Players Theatre). NYC/Regional: Curtains (Village Light Opera), Love/Sick (Women's Theatre Co.) , Speed of Light (Road Less Traveled Productions). Shout out to the amazing cast and crew for making this show fly! Thank you to my family, friends, and Matt for the continued love and support! Ericalorenzetti.com
Brandon Kallen (Seagull) Regional Credits include: Mystic Pizza at the Engeman Theater, La Cage at Cygnet, Singin in the Rain with Candlelight Pavilion, Newsies, White Christmas, Mary Poppins and Les Mis with Theatre Royale, Peter Pan and Ragtime with Performance Riverside, and Anne of Green Gables with The Chance Theatre. Brandon graduated with a degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in music from California Lutheran University, and would like to thank his family and friends for all of their support.
Hannah McGrath (Owl) Regional: The Walnut Street Theatre, The Media Theatre (upcoming), North Country Center for the Arts (NH). Proud Northwestern University grad. Love & thanks to her incredible friends and family! Instagram: @hannahlmcgrath HannahMcGrath.com
David Mallamud (Composer) David Mallamud's music has been performed in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to The Kennedy Center and was recently heard Off-Broadway in the parody, Twilight: The Musical (New World Stages, directed by Gabriel Barre). He is currently working with playwright Philip Dawkins on the stage adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book, The Sneetches for The Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis a violin concerto with Mike Mills (from R.E.M.) for Robert McDuffie and a CD of his music with The Albany Symphonys Dogs of Desire. Other theater credits include: Bill Nelsons All-Male Revue (Barrington Stages, directed by Bill Finn), The Strange Affair of Doctor Crippen (Theatre Building Chicago), and Man in the Iron Mask (Winner of Scene It, The Jerry Orbach Theater). Symphonic credits include performances by The Harrisburg Symphony, The Albany Symphony, The New World Symphony, and The Westchester Philharmonic. He has also co-orchestrated a number of shows with Kim Scharnberg for director Vincent Marini at The Flat Rock Playhouse. Education: B.M. Eastman, M.M. Juilliard, M.F.A. NYU/Tisch Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program. www.davidmallamud.com
Joshua H. Cohen (Lyrics) Joshua's honors include a Jonathan Larson Grant, the Anna Zornio Children's Theatre Playwriting Award (lyrics, Keep On Walkin'), the Chameleon Theatre Circle New Play Award for musical Ordinary Island (music/lyrics), and a MAC Award nomination for his cult cabaret hit The Sacrifice of Love (a.k.a. the waxing song). New York has recently seen his play The Thirteenth Commandment (Libra Theater Company, 7 NY Innovative Theater Award nominations, 2 wins) and musical Tamar of the River (Prospect Theatre Company, 2 Drama Desk nominations, world premiere recording from Yellow Sound Label). Other work developed or produced by Emerging Artists Theater, Active Theater, Oberon Theater Ensemble, Jewish Ensemble Theater, Secret Theater, New American, many others. Member, Dramatists Guild 2008-10 Fellow, American Lyric Theatre's Composer-Librettist Development Program August 2012 CAP21 Writers Residency. BA: Amherst College, MFA: NYU-GMTWP. www.JoshuaHCohen.com http://www.JoshuaHCohen.com
Cara Lustik (Book) has written the book for Twinkle Tames a Dragon the Musical and Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas the Musical. She has over 15 years in the entertainment, branding and licensing industries. Previously, she worked with HIT Entertainment for its preschool properties including Thomas the Tank Engine. Cara has worked with Production, Home Entertainment, Creative, Live Events, Broadcast and Digital teams on live events and stage productions, new characters, and digital initiatives. http://www.lustikink.com
Clint Hromsco (Director) Off-Broadway: Flight School the Musical (Original Cast Recording). National Tours: Jekyll & Hyde, Wizard of Oz, and Nickelodeons Storytime Live! NYC: Abortion by Eugene O'Neill, The Secret Garden, Yosef A New Musical. Select regional credits include: Spamalot, 42nd Street, 9 to 5, Chicago, Shrek, How to Succeed, All Shook Up, 25th AnnualSpelling Bee, Damn Yankees, A Chorus Line, Sister Act. TV/Film: Don Lingle on Mysteries at the Museum (Travel Channel), Airplane Repot (Discovery Channel), Subramanyam for Sale (featured dancer), Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Girls (HBO), White Collar (USA), 666 Park Avenue (ABC). Clint has also been featured in several regional and international commercials. BFA: Ithaca College. Thanks to Mom, Dad, Jeremy, Laura, Jonathan, Luke and Jeffrey for all of their love and support.
Kyle Dixon (Set Designer) A Kentucky native and graduate of Morehead State University, Kyle Dixon has been a freelance scenic artist/designer in New York for over eight years. From stage to showrooms, he has worked across Manhattan, as well at various theatres in the Southeast. Recent favorite designs include Angelina Ballerina, The Musical (Off-Broadway, Toronto, Nation Tour), Growing Up 70's, starring Barry Williams, a.k.a. Greg Brady (Off-Broadway), Aspern Papers (Off-Broadway), South Pacific, Shakespeare and Love (directed by Jane McCullough) The Crucible, Zombie Prom, Twelfth Night, and Bat Boy. His scenic artwork may be seen across the country, from the stage of The Lost Colony on Roanoke Island, NC to the Bellagio Conservatory in Las Vegas. www.kyledixondesigns.com
Lita Judge (Author) is the award-winning author and illustrator of sixteen fiction and nonfiction picture books including Good Morning to Me (Simon & Schuster, 2015), Born in the Wild (Roaring Brook, 2014), Flight School (S&S, 2014) and the beloved classic Red Sled (S&S, 2011). Her books have been included on the Kirkus Best Books of the Year List and have received numerous awards including the Sterling North Award, the Jane Addams Honor, ALA Notable, the International Literacy Association Children's Book Award and Michigan Notable Book. Birds of all kinds have long inspired her stories. As a child she spent every summer in Wisconsin with her Ornithologist grandparents, living in a house filled with Eagles, Hawks and Owls. Now she lives with her husband, two cats and a little green parrot named Beatrix Potter in Peterborough, New Hampshire. http://www.LitaJudge.net
Amanda Jenks (Costume Designer) s an NYIT-Award nominated freelance costume designer for theatre, film, television, and dance based in New York City and a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Currently, she is the assistant costume designer for the Bob Crowley-designed musical An American in Paris currently nominated for 12 Tony's including Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical now running at Broadway's Palace Theater after it's sold-out run at the Thtre du Chtelet in Paris. She's also an assistant costume designer on the School of Rock (costume design by Anna Louizos). www.amandajenks.com www.amandajenks.com