Jerry Zaks Director
Jerry Zaks most recently directed Chazz Palminteri’s A BRONX TALE on Broadway as well as the acclaimed City Center Encores! production of STAIRWAY TO PARADISE. He just completed the feature film Who Do You Love, which premiered at this years Toronto Film Festival. He has received four Tony Awards, four Drama Desks, two Outer Critics Circle Awards, an Obie and an NAACP Image Award nomination for his national tour of The Tap Dance Kid. He has directed more than 30 productions in New York, including GUYS AND DOLLS (Tony Award), SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION (Tony Award), LEND ME A TENOR (Tony Award), HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES(Tony Award), A FUNNY THING...FORUM (Tony Award nomination), SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE (Tony Award nomination), ANYTHING GOES (Tony Award nomination), LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (Tony Award, Outstanding Musical Revival), THE FOREIGNER (Obie Award), THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO (Obie Award), THE CANE MUTINY COURT MARSHAL, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, THE CAME WHO CAME TO DINNER, A BAD FRIEND, THE FRONT PAGE, LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR, ASSASSINS (Drama Desk nomination), WENCESLAS SQUARE, SISTER MARY IGNATIUS..., and BEYOND THERAPY. London: THE PHILADELPHIA STORY at the Old Vic, starring Kevin Spacey. Film: the award-winning Marvin’s Room, starring Meryl Streep and Diane Keaton. TV: “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Fraiser,” and “Two and a Half Men.” Mr. Zaks served as resident director at Lincoln Center Theater from 1986-1990 and is a founding member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre. A graduate of Dartmouth with an MFA from Smith, he received the SSDC’s George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre in 1994 and an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Dartmouth in 1999. Since 1990 he has been proudly affiliated with Jujamcyn Theaters.

B.T. McNicholl Bookwriter, Co-Lyricist
BT McNicholl is a BMI Award-winning librettist and lyricist, whose work includes the critically well-received musical THE IT GIRL (published by Samuel French and Hal Leonard Publishing). With composer Stephen Sondheim, he adapted the book of the composer’s A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC for the concert stage. In the world of family entertainment, he is one of the leading creators of highly-rated theatrical entertainment for Busch Gardens and for Disney & Kenneth Feld the hit stage adaptation of WINNIE THE POOH which opened in New York and London is now in its 5th year of an international tour. In his 15 years on Broadway, he is proud to have been on the creative teams of CABARET, SPAMALOT, and the current success BILLY ELLIOT.

Dennis DeYoung Composer, Co-Lyricist
Dennis DeYoung is best known as keyboardist, songwriter and a founding member of the rock group Styx. He was the lead singer and composer of Styx hits; “Lady,” “Come Sail Away,” “Best of Times,” “Mr. Roboto,” “Show Me The Way,” and “Don’t Let It End.” With DeYoung in the group, Styx sold over 30 million records worldwide. He has penned three Number One records and nine top ten singles. His song “Babe,” won the People’s Choice Award for Best New Song. His music has appeared in 15 major motion pictures and more than 25 television shows, ranging from E.R. to South Park. Most recently DeYoung’s album, DENNIS DeYOUNG AND THE MUSIC OF STYX LIVE WITH A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA went platinum in Canada. The companion DVD is triple platinum. His latest release 100 YEARS FROM NOW spawned a Number One hit in Canada. It is scheduled for a 2009 release in the U.S., on Rounder Records. Dennis was featured as Pontius Pilot in the 1993 National Production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. His musical THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME won Chicago’s prestigious Joseph Jefferson award for best musical in 2008.

Joel Slaven Dog Trainer
Owner, Joel Slaven’s Professional Animals, Inc.
Joel Slaven has over thirty years experience working with exotic animals. He began his career in Columbus, Ohio – raising and training exotic animals at the Columbus Zoo for Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus and Host of “Jack Hanna Animal Adventures.” He has been the head animal trainer and show producer for parks such as Cypress Gardens, Silver Springs, Six Flags over Texas and Georgia. He has worked with and trained a variety of exotic animals including: lions, tigers, cougars, primates, camels, birds, reptiles and numerous other small mammals. He was the animal expert for several television shows including Disney’s “Mickey Mouse Club.” His production work includes training animals for “Ace Ventura Pet Detective,” “That Darn Cat,” and “Rain Maker.” In 1997 Joel established Joel Slaven’s Professional Animals, Inc. Today JSPA, Inc. is the largest producer of domestic animals shows in the world, employing 34 trainers and having rescued over 200 cats, 100 dogs, 15 pot-bellied pigs, and numerous ducks, pigeons, rats, skunks, and exotic birds from shelters across the country. With an excellent reputation for quality shows and professional staff, JSPA, Inc. prides itself in providing exceptional care for their animals from adoption through retirement.

Warren Carlyle Choreographer
Warren Carlyle most recently directed and choreographed the highly acclaimed Encores! revival of Finian’s Rainbow which will transfer to Broadway in September 2009. Selected additional New York credits: directed and choreographed A TALE OF TWO CITIES (Broadway), choreographed ON THE TOWN, JUNO, STAIRWAY TO PARADISE (all Encores!); YOU AGAIN (NY Fringe), WORKING (Zipper), THE 24 HOUR MUSICALS: (Public Theater). Regional: MAME (Kennedy Center), THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (Papermill; Goodspeed; Best Choreography, CT Critics Circle Award), THE BAKER'S WIFE (Goodspeed). West End: PAGEANT. London: Sondheim’s MOVING ON. UK national tours of ME AND MY GIRL (director/choreographer; Best Production 2007 Theater Goers Choice Award) and THE GOODBYE GIRL; European tour of SCROOGE. Film/television: DECEPTION starring Hugh Jackman, HOPE AND FAITH, AN EVENING AT THE BOSTON POPS (PBS), and Elton John’s MADE IN ENGLAND video. Resident director and choreographer: JOLSON (London, Toronto), FOSSEE (London), and OKLAHOMA (London). Associate choreographer: THE PRODUCERS (worldwide/film), OKLAHOMA! (Broadway), and CENTER STAGE(film).

Paul Gallo Lighting Designer
Last fall Mr. Gallo designed his 50th Broadway show with the revival of PAL JOEY at Studio 54. In his 29 years on Broadway his designs for musicals include: NEVER GONNA DANCE, MAN OF LAMANCHA, DREAMGIRLS, 42ND STREET, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, THE CIVIL WAR, ON THE TOWN, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, TRIUMPH OF LOVE, TITANIC, BIG, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ, GUYS AND DOLLS, CRAZY FOR YOU, CITY OF ANGELS, ANYTHING GOES, SMILE, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD and TINTYPES. He has also designed many award winning plays on Broadway which include: NOVEMBER, A BRONX TALE, MAURITIUS, LOSING LOUIE, CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL, THREE DAYS OF RAIN, THE CRUCIBLE, 45 SECONDS FROM BROADWAY, THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, EPIC PROPORTIONS, SKYLIGHT, THE TEMPEST, I HATE HAMLET, SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, LEND ME A TENOR, SPOILS OF WAR, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, THE FRONT PAGE, THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, HEARTBREAK HOUSE, BEYOND THERAPY, COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME JIMMY DEAN JIMMY DEAN, GROWN UPS, KINGDOMS, CANDIDA, THE LITTLE FOXES, JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN and PASSIONE. Mr. Gallo is the recipient of eight Tony nominations, ten Drama Desk nominations (winning one), six Outer Critics Awards, two Obie Awards and the 1986 Obie for Sustained Excellence of Lighting Design. He is a graduate of Ithaca College and the Yale School Of Drama. And after all that his proudest achievement is being married to his beautiful wife, Jody, for 22 years and of his two wonderful children, Francesca and Nicholas.

Robert Morgan Costume Designer
Broadway: HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, THE FULL MONTY, IMAGINARY FRIENDS, I’M NOT RAPPAPORT and SHERLOCK’S LAST CASE. O-Broadway: SATURN RETURNS and PRIDE’S CROSSING (Lincoln Center Theater), THE LOVES OF ANATOL (Circle in the Square). Television: “The Skin of Our Teeth” and “A Christmas Carol”, “PBS American Playhouse.” National tours: THE FULL MONTY and HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS. International productions: THE FULL MONTY (West End), THE WINTER’S TALE AND A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Vienna). Regional theaters: Ahmanson Theater, American Conservatory Theater (Resident Designer), American Players Theater, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Old Globe Theater (Associate Artist), Guthrie Theater, Huntington Theater Company, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, McCarter Theater, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Portland Center Stage, Seattle Repertory Theater, Studio Arena Theater, Williamstown Theater Festival. Awards: 10 DramaLogues (L.A. and San Diego), 2 Drama Desk nominations, Outer Critics Circle. Exhibits: Prague, San Diego. Former Director, Boston University’s School for the Arts Theater Division. Mr. Morgan lives in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom with his wife Wendy, an attorney and Chief of Public Protection for the State of Vermont’s Attorney General’s Office.

Heidi Ettinger Scenic Designer
Heidi Ettinger won the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Awards for THE SECRET GARDEN and BIG RIVER, which she also co-produced. She designed and co-produced, with Elizabeth Williams, Ken Ludwig’s comedy MOON OVER BUFFALO that starred Carol Burnett and Philip Bosco. She has designed the sets for KING LEAR, ZHIVAGO, GOOD VIBRATIONS, DRACULA THE MUSICAL, THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER, Disney’s THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME in Germany, SMOKEY JOE’S CAFE, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, TRIUMPH OF LOVE, and MY FAIR LADY.

Mark Hummel Dance Arranger
Mark Hummel has conducted and/or composed dance music for 12 Broadway musicals including the Tony-winning revival of GUYS AND DOLLS and THE BOY FROM OZ starring Hugh Jackman. He is the composer/arranger/supervisor of THE RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR ACROSS AMERICA; has received three Emmy nominations for contributions to “Kennedy Center Honors” and “CBS’ Tribute to Irving Berlin”; has provided arrangements for two Oscar telecasts; and played at the White House with Karen Akers. He provides arrangements for, among others, Bernadette Peters, Liza Minnelli, Shirley MacLaine, Tommy Tune, Marcia Lewis and Julie Wilson.

Danny Troob Orchestrator
His career as a musician includes composing, orchestrating and conducting. Some early credits: PACIFIC OVERTURES, THE BAKER’S WIFE (dance music), BIG RIVER (music supervision – Drama Desk Award winner). Orchestrated the animated features BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN and POCAHONTAS, where he also conducted the score. Wrote the underscore to THE LITTLE MERMAID II (nominated for Annie Award), and the TV musical versions of “Cinderella,” “Annie” and “The Music Man.” Recently orchestrated THE PAJAMA GAME for Broadway and the recording version of GOD BLESS YOU, MR. ROSEWATER — the first Ashman-Menken collaboration. He is the orchestrator of “Shrek” nominated for both Drama Desk Award and Tony Award.