"The journey I've gone on with each of the playwrights and performers has been full of surprising twists and turns," explains Cryer. "When you dig deep, like we have, each unveiling of more information re-routes the piece. It's a very exciting process that requires great courage and flexibility. Not everyone is up for the task. These five are and we've had a wonderful time developing these shows together. Needless to say working with my son, Jonny, as he makes his maiden voyage into this kind of theatre is another dream come true."
Gretchen Cryer, Director
Gretchen Cryer, Director
GRETCHEN CRYER (Director) is most well-known for writing the book and lyrics and starring in I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road (with music by Nancy Ford), which won the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Musical, Best Actress, and a Grammy nomination for the album. Gretchen has written numerous other shows with Nancy Ford: Now Is the Time for All Good Men (Lortel Theatre), The Last Sweet Days of Isaac (Obie Award –Best Musical, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), Shelter (Golden Theatre), Hang On to the Good Times (Manhattan Theatre Club), Eleanor (Williamstown), The American Girls Revue (American Girl Place – Chicago, New York, Los Angeles), Circle of Friends(American Girl Place – Chicago and New York,) and Anne of Green Gables (Theaterworks USA). Cryer and Ford’s new musical, Still Getting My Act Together, premiered at the Laguna Playhouse in 2015. Gretchen has also won acclaim for her course, “Creating Your Own Solo Performance.” She has directed and developed dozens of solo performance pieces that have evolved into fully realized works, seen on stages throughout New York City. Gretchen is on the Dramatists Guild Council and is President Emeritus of the Dramatists Guild Fund. GretchenCryer.com
JONO HILL (Sound Designer - Perfect Love) is a composer and studio musician based in New York.
He has appeared and recorded with Macklemore, ODESZA, K.Flay, the Seattle Symphony, and performed on dozens of film and video game scores including The Greatest Showman, The Last Stand, I Love You Beth Cooper, Bunraku, Halo: Reach, and Destiny: Rise of Iron.
Most recently, he co-wrote the song 'Aint Gonna Die Tonight' with Macklemore, the opening track on Gemini, which was featured in Lego:Ninjago and was the theme of the 2017 MLB World Series. He draws on his experience in a wide array of genres to craft distinctive and immersive scores for films and video games. His first feature film score, As Far As The Eye Can See, premiered at the Montreal Film Festival, won Best Texas Film at the Lonestar Film Festival, and is now streaming on Amazon Prime. Jono studied at The Juilliard School and Yale University. JonoHillMusic.com
He has appeared and recorded with Macklemore, ODESZA, K.Flay, the Seattle Symphony, and performed on dozens of film and video game scores including The Greatest Showman, The Last Stand, I Love You Beth Cooper, Bunraku, Halo: Reach, and Destiny: Rise of Iron.
Most recently, he co-wrote the song 'Aint Gonna Die Tonight' with Macklemore, the opening track on Gemini, which was featured in Lego:Ninjago and was the theme of the 2017 MLB World Series. He draws on his experience in a wide array of genres to craft distinctive and immersive scores for films and video games. His first feature film score, As Far As The Eye Can See, premiered at the Montreal Film Festival, won Best Texas Film at the Lonestar Film Festival, and is now streaming on Amazon Prime. Jono studied at The Juilliard School and Yale University. JonoHillMusic.com
MIKE PINNEY (Executive Producer) was the Producing Director of The Invisible Theatre, which, along with his partners Linda Manning and Douglas Wagner, produced original works in NYC throughout the 1990’s. He subsequently worked for Richard Frankel Productions. Mike has worked in almost any role you can imagine in the theater; backstage to onstage, to front of house, to producer. He is thrilled to be able to put all of that experience to good use for True Stories. Mike is a graduate of Trinity Rep. Conservatory and is currently a commercial real estate broker in Manhattan. GettingtoLease.com
AMY SAPP (Press) graduated from the University of Florida before moving immediately to Manhattan, where she began her career in editorial and social media. She spent two years managing her own social media and editorial clientele, including a Grammy Award winner and celebrity stylists, before joining NBCUniversal's e-commerce initiative as the Social Media Associate & Community Manager. She also serves as the Late Night Programming Associate and an Original Producer for Feinstein’s/54 Below. She has been profiled in Forbes for her concert work. Her concerts have included 54 Sings Heathers with Ingrid Michaelson and Will Chase and a cabaret adaptation of 1776. Amy’s past writing on travel, theatrical, and political news has been published with NBCUniversal, Good Morning America, ABC News, and Theatre Development Fund. Twitter and Instagram: @amyesapp. amyesapp.com