"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
MIKE PINNEY (Executive Producer and General Manager) 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
Questions about the show -- contact Mike at MGPinney at gmail dot com
Questions about the show -- contact Mike at MGPinney at gmail dot com
JONO HILL (Composer/Sound Designer) 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 wrote the original music for Linda Manning's recent production of Bite the Apple. Jono studied at The Juilliard School and Yale University. JonoHillMusic.com
NATHAN W. SCHEUER (Lighting Designer) is a lighting and projection designer of theatre, dance, opera, and concerts. His work has been seen across the U.S. as well as Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia. Nathan received his B.F.A. from the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University and was the recipient of the 2012 Gilbert V. Hemsley Jr. Internship in Lighting. He is a proud member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829. Design Credits/Clients Include: Mandy Patinkin, Selena Gomez, Alice Cooper, The Muny, Travis Wall’s Shaping Sound, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Soul Arts Productions, Barak Ballet, Broadway in Chicago, Los Angeles Ballet, New York City Ballet, San Francisco Opera, Paris Opera Ballet (Lincoln Center Festival), Center Theatre Group, The Joyce, Spectrum Dance, Atlantic Theater Company. NWScheuerDesign.com
STEPHANIE L. CARLIN (Audio Engineer) Stephanie is a composer, performer, writer, producer and music arranger. She graduated Summa Cum Laude at Berklee College of Music with a degree in Contemporary Writing and Production with a minor in Musical Theatre Writing. Stephanie has composed music and lyrics for numerous musical theatre productions, including Children of the Decree (2016), Big, Loud (2020), and undecided (2020). Her songs were featured at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in The 2016 SLP Concert and The 2019 Songwriting Workshop with Ben Bonnema and Joe Iconis. Additionally as a writer, Stephanie has written articles for the Berklee Groove, an online publication site dedicated to providing incoming music producers and performers with interviews, advice, and reviews of concerts and albums. Currently, she is a composer in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. She is always willing to discover and write new music, bringing it to as many people as possible.
MARIE INCONTRERA (Social Media and Advertising) Marie Incontrera is the CEO and Founder of Incontrera Consulting, a thought leadership consulting agency; author; creative professional; and producer. She works with thought leaders on leveraging their online presence through social media, podcasts, and TEDx and other speaking opportunities. Incontrera Consulting’s social media clients have included national best-selling business authors, coaches, contributors to high-profile publications, medical professionals, wellness experts, podcast hosts, a popular science-based gaming app, political candidates, orchestras, and more. Her speaker clients have booked TEDx conferences across the country (She has a 100% success rate getting her clients placed!) Her media clients have been booked on popular podcasts and radio stations such as The World’s Most Amazing People, Entrepreneur On Fire, The Coaching Habit, The Daily Helping, and more. Marie is the author of the Amazon best-sellers, Social Your Book Launch and Spread Your Idea. She is the host of the Coffee With Entrepreneurs podcast and the From The Wings podcast. She has spoken at TEDxSevilleSq and TEDxBeaconStreet. Marie has been the organizer of TEDxBayRidgeWomen. Incontrera.com
VICTORIA A. GELLING (Stage Manager) is a stage manager/creative based in Manhattan, passionate about creating art that serves as an enemy to hopelessness. Victoria typically works with The Juilliard School, but has had the pleasure of collaborating with a number of other companies in the greater New York Area such as Rattlestick, Red Bull Theater, Circle In The Square Theater School, New York Stage and Film, Long Wharf Theatre, Bard SummerScape, Spicy Witch Productions @ The Flea, Barrington Stage Company and Norwalk Symphony. She is currently pursuing a master’s in expressive arts therapy. Some of her musings can be found on thoughtspirals.com.