Year: 2009-2010

Julia Meinwald

Julia Meinwald is a composer for musicals, film, and the occasional computer game score. Julia’s musicals with collaborator Gordon Leary include Pregnancy Pact (2012 premiere production at the Weston Playhouse, 2011 NAMT conference and Yale Institute for Musical Theatre selection), I Love You, Anita Bryant (2015 workshop production at Philadelphia’s UARTS, 2014 OutLoud reading with Ars Nova), Galaxy Comics (2014 United Airlines in-flight programming), and Disappeared (2009 Lincoln Center Directors Lab). They are currently developing a show called Reb + VoDKa + Me as part of the Civilians’ R&D group. You can hear Julia’s music in the score to short films featuring Josh Gad (The Losers), Matt Walsh (Breast Picture) and Mary Louise Parker (Wing Woman.) Julia was a participant in the New Dramatists Composer Librettist Development Program, a Dramatists Guild fellow, a resident artist with American Lyric Theatre, an Uncharted resident writer at Ars Nova, and a member of the Civilians R&D group. She holds a BA in Music from Yale University and an MFA from NYU’s GMTWP.

UPCOMING WORKS

Reb+VoDKa+Me: Music by Julia Meinwald, Lyrics by Gordon Leary, Director Benjamin Kamine
Something Blue: Music by Julia Meinwald, Lyrics by Gordon Leary, Director Ethan Heart

CREDITS

I Love You Anita Bryant : Music by Julia Meinwald, Lyrics by Gordon Leary, Directors Benjamin Kamine, Portia Krieger

(Concert Production at UARTS 2015, Ars Nova Uncharted Residency 2013-2014, Musical Theatre Factory 4×15 series 2014, developmental workshop at The Flea 2013, Weston Writer’s Retreat 2013, Two Rivers Writers Retreat 2013)

 

Pregnancy Pact : Music by Julia Meinwald, Book and Lyrics by Gordon Leary, Directors Mark Brokaw, Joe Calarco

(Premiere Production on Weston Playhouse Mainstage Summer 2012, NAMT selection 2011, YIMT selection 2011, Weston Playhouse New Musical Award 2011)

 

Galaxy Comics: Music by Julia Meinwald, Lyrics by Gordon Leary, Director Kevin McMullen

(United Airlines in-flight programming 2014, Sarasota Film Festival 2013, New York Television Festival Award 2012)

 

Jack Perry Is Alive (And Dating!): Music by Julia Meinwald, Book and Lyrics by Harrison Rivers and Daniella Shoshan, Director Pirronne Yousefzadeh

(NYFM next link selection 2011, Ars Nova ANT fest 2009)

 

One Man Show : Music by Julia Meinwald, Lyrics by Gordon Leary, Book by John Heginbothom

(Joe’s Pub 2010, DanceNow Festival at Dance Theatre Workshop 2009)

 

Disappeared: Music by Julia Meinwald, Book and Lyrics by Gordon Leary, Director Jeremy Kronenberg

(Lincoln Center Directors Lab 2009, Prospect Theatre Company Dark Nights 2008)

 

Le Fou: Music by Julia Meinwald, Book by Bekah Brunstetter, Lyrics by Rob Shapiro, Director Alice Reagan

(New Georges workshop 2009)

Website: http://www.juliameinwald.com/
Twitter: @JuliaEve
Facebook: Facebook
Instagram: Instagram

Gordon Leary

Gordon Leary is a Brooklyn-based bookwriter and lyricist. His musicals include Pregnancy Pact (2012 Weston Playhouse premiere; 2011 NAMT Festival; 2011 Yale Institute for Music Theatre), I Love You, Anita Bryant (2014 Ars Nova OutLoud Reading Series; 2015 Polyphone Festival, University of the Arts), Cheer Wars (2015 York Theatre Company; 2009 Richard Rodgers Award) and Across the River (2009 Daegu International Musical Festival; 2013 Seoul Musical Festival.) Gordon was an inaugural member of Ars Nova’s Uncharted writers group. BA: Vassar College. MFA: NYU/Tisch Musical Theatre Writing Program.

UPCOMING WORKS

Something Blue (music by Julia Meinwald)

CREDITS

Pregnancy Pact (music by Julia Meinwald)
I Love You, Anita Bryant (music by Julia Meinwald)
Cheer Wars (music by Karlan Judd)
Across the River (music by Hyun Rim Kim)

Website: http://omfgordon.com/

Michael Kooman

Michael Kooman has received (with his collaborator Christopher Dimond) the 2013 Fred Ebb Award, a 2010 Jonathan Larson Grant and are the first recipients of the Lorenz Hart Award.

Their musicals include The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes (O’Neill Music Theater Conference, Village Theater), Orphie & the Book of Heroes (The Kennedy Center), Judge Jackie Justice (Pittsburgh CLO), Dani Girl (Exit, Pursued by a Bear; licensed by Samuel French).

His debut album, Out of our Heads, featuring an all-star lineup of Broadway performers, is now available on iTunes.

UPCOMING WORKS

The Enlightenment of Percival Von Schmootz (Canadian Music Theater Project)

CREDITS

The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes (O’Neill Music Theater Conference, The Village Theatre, Goodspeed New Works Festival)

Orphie and the Book of Heroes (The Kennedy Center)

Judge Jackie Justice (Pittsburgh CLO)

Dani Girl

Junior Claus (Orlando Repertory Theatre, Singapore Rep.)

Website: http://www.koomandimond.com/
Twitter: koomandimond
Facebook: Facebook

Hannah Kohl

Hannah is a New York-based composer, lyricist and bookwriter.

She was the Creative Producing Associate for the US Development of ROCKY and Script Supervisor for the German and Broadway premieres, has planned Broadway opening nights and galas, translates works from German and Spanish, and was the founding artistic director of a children’s theater in Mexico. She leads workshops in musical theater writing around the world.

As a papercutting artist, Hannah was profiled in The New Yorker magazine. She is represented by Writers House as an author and illustrator.

MFA, Musical Theatre Writing Program, NYU. Member, Johnny Mercer Writers Colony.

UPCOMING WORKS

Hansel & Gretl & Heidi & Günter, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (in development) Music by Will Aronson, Lyrics by Daniel Maté

The Theater at Night (Storybook)
Author and Illustrator (Upcoming)

Great Classical Composers for Kids: 50 Hands On Activities 
Bright Ring Publishing (Upcoming, 2015)

CREDITS

The Houdini Box (Book & Lyrics)
Based on the book THE HOUDINI BOX written and illustrated by Brian Selznick, and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
World Premiere: The Chicago Children’s Theater (2012)
Review by Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

The Lights and Leonardo Da Vinci (Book & Lyrics)
Music by Matteo Martis

Cake! (Book, Music & Lyrics with Molly McQuilkin)

Tora Bora (Music)
Book & Lyrics with Eric Price

The Blackbird (Book, Music, and Lyrics)

Gardenia (Book, Music, and Lyrics)

Website: http://www.hannahkohl.com/
Twitter: @1000TinySnips

Christopher Dimond

Christopher Dimond is best known for his work with composer Michael Kooman, with whom he has won the Fred Ebb Award, a Jonathan Larson Grant, the Lorenz Hart Award, and the KC/ACTF Musical Theatre Award. Additionally, Chris has been awarded the Harold Adamson Award, a NYFA Fellowship, and a Sloan Screenwriting Fellowship.

His work has been developed and produced at The Kennedy Center, 5th Avenue Theatre, American Conservatory Theatre, the Flea Theatre, the Hangar Theatre, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Chris and Michael’s first album is available on iTunes. Learn more at www.koomandimond.com

UPCOMING WORKS

The Enlightenment of Percival Von Schmootz

CREDITS

Dani Girl
The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes
Judge Jackie Justice
Orphie & the Book of Heroes
Golden Gate
Junior Claus 
Homemade Fusion
Confessions of an 8th Grade Nobody
Burying Barbie
The Blasphemy of Bees

Website: http://www.koomandimond.com/
Twitter: koomandimond
Facebook: Facebook

Larry Pontius

Pontius’s produced stage work includes an Off-Broadway production of Umbrella by Alchemy Theatre Company of Manhattan; Fallout by Working Man’s Clothes Productions and The Lunar Adventures of Dar and Matey by Stolen Chair Theater, followed up with Dar and Matey’s Christmas SpectaculARGH at the The Brick Theatre in Brooklyn.

He received his MFA in Playwriting from the University of Texas at Austin.   He studied at Dell’Arte, The International School of Physical Theater, and received the Nicholas Meyer Scholarship for Playwrighting from the University of Iowa, where he received a BA with Honors. He currently lives in LA.

UPCOMING WORKS

He is currently working on a play about the messy and volatile collaboration between Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler, which resulted in the classic adaptation of Double Indemnity. Following that, a dark comedy about the true story of Carl Tanzler, who fell in love with a woman… and wouldn’t let go of her even after she died… going so far as to steal her from her tomb…

CREDITS

Quitter (Comedy) Playwrights Union Festival of New Work, Reading, 2013; Skylab Festival of New Work, staged reading, 2013

Albedo (Drama) Semi-Finalist, Eugene O’Neill National Playwright Conference, 2013

Analogue (Drama) Playwrights Union Festival of New Work, Reading, 2012

Dar and Matey’s Christmas SpectaculARGH (Comedy) Brick Theatre, Fight Fest, New York, Robert Ross Parker, dir, 2010

On The Night of Anthony’s 30th Birthday Party, Again (Comedy) Production, Manhattan Theatre Source, Megan Demarest, dir
Reading, New Dramatists, Michael Barakiva, dir. 2007
Reading, Unbound, 2006

Umbrella (Drama) Production, Alchemy Theatre, Padraic Lillis, 2008, Off Broadway; Reading, Alchemy Theatre, Padraic Lillis, dir., 2006, New York; Production, New Works Festival, UT at Austin, Corey Atkins, dir., 2005; Workshop, University of Texas at Austin, Gary Garrison, dir., 2004

Their Master’s Voice (Short Comedy) Vision Fest 2008, LiveWire Theatre, Chicago

A Thousand Yard Stare (Drama) Reading, Writer’s Forum, Manhattan Theatre Source, 2008; Reading, Soho Think Tank, New York City, 2007

Fallout (Short Comedy) BingeFest 2008, Working Man’s Clothes Productions, Nelson Eusebio III, dir.

The Lunar Adventures of Dar and Matey (Comedy) Production, Pirates, Patriots, Patricides, Stolen Chair Theatre, NYC, Emily Otto, dir, 2008

Thrown Out (Short Comedy) Production, Manhattan Theatre Source, Spontaneous Combustion, 2006

Boom Vang (Comedy) Honorable Mention, Stage 3 Theatre’s Festival of New Plays; Working Man’s Clothes Productions Reading, New York, NY, 2005; Cold Cuts Series, Ten Grand and A Burger Productions, NY, 2005; Monday Night Reading Series, University of Texas at Austin, 2005

Underground (One-Act Comedy) Semi-Finalist, First Stage, 9th Annual One-Act Contest, 2005

Running Out of Time (A Ten Minute Play) Regional Finalist ACTF Ten-Minute Play Contest, 2005

Bitchin Devil Horns (short comedy) Production, Manhattan Theatre Source, Spontaneous Combustion, 2004

On Sunday Morning (short play) Production, Sketchbook 2004, Collaboraction, Chicago, IL

Website: http://lpontius.com/
Twitter: @LPontius.com

Erica Lipez

Erica Lipez is a playwright and TV writer based in New York City and Los Angeles. She attended Harvard University and received her MFA from Tisch School of the Arts Department of Dramatic Writing at New York University (2009). Her recent New York and regional stage credits include readings and workshops of her full-length plays: Bottled Up (The Public Theatre, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Furious Theatre Company/Naked Angels); The Tutors (Williamstown Theatre Festival, Theatre Row); and Fingers (Babel Theatre Project). Lipez’s productions include Recess(Yale Summer Cabaret); Aquifer (Theater Masters at Rattlestick); Bully to You (Williamstown Theatre Festival, Art.Party.Theatre.Company, INTAR Theatre); and a musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol (Foothills Theatre). She is a recipient of a 2009/2010 Dramatists Guild Fellowship, a 2009 Kennedy Center MFA Playwrights’ Workshop and is a member of the 2009 Theater Masters’ National MFA Playwrights’ Festival. Lipez recently served as a staff writer on the Fox television series Lone Star and is currently a story editor on the hit USA television show Suits.

Edgar Mendoza

Edgar Mendoza was awarded the Kennedy Center’s inaugural Paul Stephen Lim Asian-American Playwriting Award for his play Blue Note Run. The prize included a Lark Play Development Center residency at New York Stage & Film during the summer of 2010. In addition, Blue Note Run was a semi finalist for the 2010 Eugene O’ Neill National Playwrights Conference. Edgar was also a 2009-2010 Dramatists Guild Fellow,where he began developing his play, A World On Display. He recently won a Love of Learning Award from the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and will travel to Saint Louis, Missouri to further his research for A World On Display.

His other plays, Old Man Nature; Dead Love Triangle; Amnestia; Like, Tito Roy; Lion Plaza and All The Earth have received staged readings and workshop productions in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and San Jose. Edgar graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, with an M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing, where he was a two-time recipient of the Shubert Foundation Fellowship.

His screenplay, The Unifying Theory, was awarded the $10,000 prize in the 2008 Alfred P. Sloan Screenwriting Competition, and he also won the opportunity to attend the American Film Institute-Sloan Film Summit in Hollywood.

Prior to graduate school, he received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. Edgar served as a constituent representative for United States Senator Barbara Boxer, and as district representative for California State Senator Liz Figueroa.

Edgar is a new resident member of the Ma-Yi Writers Lab, a member of the Leviathan Lab, and Dramatists Guild of America, Inc.

Website: http://edgarlancemendoza.com/