Me the People: The Trump America Musical Sets Off-Broadway Closing Date

DAVID RIGANO (Assistant Director) has a long history working with Nancy Holson. He stage managed News in Revue at Queens Theatre in the Park and Can I Really Date a Guy Who Wears a Yarmulke at Theatre Row and The Knitting Factory (both directed by Jay Falzone). He has directed Nutcracker! the Musical in workshops and its initial production at Westchester Sandbox Theatre, and is also the director of the interactive comedies Wild Women of Planet Wongo and Housewives of Secaucus. David wrote music and/or lyrics for Facing East, The Holy Cows of Credence South Dakota, and You Heard It Here (New York Winterfest award winner, Best Musical Score), and is the creator of the hit cabaret series “I Ought to Behave” and other Naughty Songs and The Ides of March Extravaganza. His song “What Makes a Diva” (written with Paul Rigano) has been performed by Internet sensation Christina Bianco in venues all over the world and has over 100,000 views on YouTube. Follow David on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube: @RiganoSongbook.

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ARI ROSSEN (Associate Music Director) is a New York-based actor, pianist and filmmaker, committed to telling stories that include laughter whenever possible. Ari’s recent debut indie, Sound/Vision, won Best Short Film at East Lansing Film Festival, and has screened at 15 festivals worldwide, including ITVFest (in partnership with major networks like HBO, Bravo and Oxygen); SOHO International Film Festival in New York and San Jose International Short Film Festival. TV/Film/New Media credits include Sound/Vision (Lead / Dir. Jeremiah Kipp); Principal roles in CollegeHumor viral videos; and Guest Stars on the hit webseries Missed Connections Live (Best Comedy Series: LA WebFest & StayTunedTV). Theatre credits include principal roles in Off-Broadway, regional theatre and national tours of The Wizard of Oz and Anne of Green Gables. Ari has also appeared in many regional, national & international commercials for major corporations. As a writer/producer, Ari is currently developing a number of projects, including Behind The Cereal, a humorous and poignant webseries inspired by VH1’s popular ‘90s series Behind The Music, which chronicled the rise and fall of our most beloved musical artists. Ari is a member of both AEA and SAG-AFTRA, and a proud alum of Northwestern University. Mazeltov, Team ME THE PEOPLE! More: arirossen.com.

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DANA ROBBINS (Stage Manager) is excited to be involved with Me The People. She is also currently house manager for The Gene Frankel Theatre and Production Stage Manager for The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company in Manhattan. She would like to thank her parents for believing in her and Max for being there always and forever.

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MAX KILSHEIMER (Assistant Stage Manager/ Prop Artist) is excited to be a part of the Me the People production. Also works at The Gene Frankel Theatre and The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company. She moved here from Orlando, Florida and has been doing theater production since she was a 8. She wants to thank her mother for bringing her into to world of theater, and Dana for her courage.

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SHANNON EPSTEIN (Lighting & Sound Design) Shannon is the current technical director and head designer of many off Broadway shows including the MAC award winning show of the year Spamilton.  Shannon has been the technical director of the legendary Triad Theatre for the past 6 years and has worked and designed many acclaimed shows  including My Son The Waiter– A Jewish Tragedy, Celebrity Autobiography and Disaster The Musical.  Some of the artist that Shannon has produced shows for include Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, Zendaya, Danny Aiello, Richard Bellzer, Joy Behar and Susie Essman to name a few.  Shannon has recently joined the video production team of the Public Theatre for their show Party People. Most recently Shannon has joined the brand new production of “A Wall Apart” as sound designer with Lord Graham Russel from Air Supply.

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STEPHEN SMITH (Costume Designer). Having worked with Falzone and Holson before, Stephen has the pleasure to add another show to his costuming experience. This being as unique as some of his past favorites such as: Autumn Moon (a werewolf rock opera), and series of musical comedies revolving around two larger-than-life Italian chefs called the Calamari Sisters. Stephen thanks his partners and friends for their support; especially Jay, Josh and Drew.

KATHY PECEVICH (Wig Designer) is a performing and wig design veteran of News in Revue and Ludwig Live also written by Nancy Holson. Thrilled to be able to help Me the People come to life.

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ROBIN CARUS CASTING (Casting) Tours: The Octonauts and the Deep Sea Volcano Adventure, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Spank! The 50 Shades Parody,  Family Life Theatre, TheatreworksUSA (200 national tours) Regional: The State Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Sarah, Plain and Tall (O’Neill), FX’s Archer Live Off-Broadway: Planet Connections’ Playwrights For A Cause (5 seasons), Safe, I Know What Boys Want,  The Accidental Caregiver, Culture Shock 1911-1922, Woman at the Funerals Pete the Girl, Aesop’s Fables, The Last Castrato, Like You Like It (also 54 Below/NYMF/NAMT Musical Mondays), The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks, Seussical, Max & Ruby, Henry & Mudge, Cam Jansen, Walk Two Moons, Junie B. Jones, Sarah, Plain and Tall, Romeo and Juliet  Recordings: Artists For The Arts: With A Little Help From My Friends, Like You Like It (Broadway Records) Film: Then What Happens, Killing the Fiddler, Love True,Weathering, Running With Sharks, The King’s Pawn,  Disgrace,  Elvis,  ROVER: OR Beyond the Venusian Future and the Return of the Next Level, No Vagrancy,  Breaking the Chain,  Tiger,  Underwear  Television: James McNeill Whistler and the Case For Beauty (PBS).

WAYNE P. ZINK (Producer) Theater production is something Wayne is passionate about. Investment credits include: Broadway: Waitress, The Front Page, Hello, Dolly!, The Play That Goes Wrong, 1984, and next year’s Escape to Margaritaville. Off-Broadway: Curvy Widow. Regional Producer Highlights include: (Guthrie Theater) My Fair Lady, Pericles, The Parchman Hour, (Minnesota Opera) The Magic Flute, The Shining, (Mill City Summer Opera) Sweeney Todd, (Dark and Stormy Productions) The Norwegians, (7th House Theater) The Great Work, Rhinoceros, The Passage, which is a 2017 NAMT  Festival selection. Entrepreneur Wayne Zink created Endangered Species Chocolate, currently the number one brand of chocolate in the natural organic category. He founded Hardaway Connections, which was one of the largest public relations firms in the Southwest; ZIRH Skin Nutrition, launched in Barney’s New York and bought by Shiseido. Wayne was also the Executive Vice-President of External Communications for Hoosier Refreshment, a Pepsi-Cola distribution company, for 20 years. Wayne is currently the Chairman of My Sister SBC, a for-profit Minnesota Benefit Corporation dedicated to raising funds to fight Sex Trafficking.
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CHRISTOPHER SCHOUT  (Producer) Christopher is happy to be a part of this production which allows
us a chance to vent our frustrations through humor. Investment and production credits include: Broadway: Waitress, The Front Page, Hello, Dolly!, The Play That Goes Wrong, 1984, and next year’s Escape to Margaritaville. Off-Broadway: Curvy Widow. Regional Producer Highlights include: (Guthrie Theater) The Parchman Hour, (Minnesota Opera) The Shining, (Mill City Summer Opera) Sweeney Todd, María de Buenos Aires (Dark and Stormy Productions) The Norwegians, (7th House Theater)
The Great Work, Rhinoceros, The Passage, which is a 2017 NAMT Festival selection. Thank you to Wayne.

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MARC L. BAILIN, Esq. (Producer), is a New York and California licensed attorney concentrating in the practice of entertainment,, corporate and real estate law.  Marc. practices in the area of transactional entertainment law, representing producers and the production of theatrical, television, and motion picture projects at all levels. Mr Bailin’s live-stage work as production counsel or counsel to a producer/financier include Prime Time Prophet; The News In Revue; Bush Wars; BKLYN:The Musical; Nutcracker!: The Musical;  Gigi; Eclipsed; Dear Evan Hansen; The Glass Menagerie and others. Off-Off-Broadway production credits include Can I Really Date A Guy Who Wears A Yarmilka and Nutcracker!: The Musical.  Marc is proud to join Jim Russek and Morton Wolkowitz in presenting this much needed jab at the most regressive narcissistic president in recent (and not so recent) memory.  MORE HERE
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MORTON WOLKOWITZ (Producer) An original producer of the long running off-Broadway sensation STOMP, Mr. Wolkowitz was associate producer of The Unexpected Man, with Aileen Atkins and Alan Bates and over his long association with the director Joe Brancato, was producer of Drop Dead Perfect, Miracle On South Division Street, Tryst, From Door to Door, One Shot, One Kill. Mr. Wolkowitz will contribute any profits from Me The People to Democrats running to take back the Congress in 2018.

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KEITH SHERMAN & ASSOCIATES (Press Representative) is the communications firm for a diverse range of entertainment, arts, lifestyles and international brands. It has represented hundreds of Broadway, Off-Broadway and touring productions, films, television broadcasts, music projects and major events globally. The firm represented The New York Times for a decade, and the Tony Awards for 18 years. ksa-pr.com

AMANDA BOHAN MARKETING (Advertising/Marketing/Social Media). Led by Amanda Bohan, ABM is a full-service advertising & marketing firm specializing in theatre, arts & culture, with expertise in marketing & promotions, traditional & online advertising, social media, and creative services. ABMAgency.com

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PERRY STREET THEATRICALS (General Managers) David Elliott, Martin Platt and Lorna Isaac are award winning, independent theatrical producers and general managers. Their company in New York City offers a full-breadth of GM and Consulting services for plays and musicals and/or act as Executive Producers for other Producers. Perry Street provides targeted strategies to help producers decide how, when, and if to go forward with theatrical projects. We have solid relationships with marketing and advertising agencies, press reps, production and company management, casting directors and theatre owners both here in NYC and in London.

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