The Chance Theater - The Last 5 Years

Jason Robert Brown (Book/Music)

Jason Robert Brown is the Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist of Parade, a musical written with Alfred Uhry and directed by Harold Prince, which premiered at Lincoln Center Theatre in 1998 and won the Drama Desk and New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for Best New Musical. His first musical, Songs for a New World, directed by Daisy Prince, played Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in fall 1995, and has since been seen in more than 50 productions around the US. As a conductor/arranger, his other New York credits are William Finn's A New Brain at Lincoln Center Theatre and Oliver Goldstick's Dinah Was, directed by David Petrarca, at the Gramercy Theater. He composed incidental music for David Lindsay-Abaire's Fuddy Meers, Kenneth Lonergan's The Waverly Gallery and Irish Repertory Theater's Long Day's Journey Into Night. He was musical director of the vocal group The Tonics, conductor and orchestrator of Yoko Ono's musical New York Rock at the WPA Theatre, conductor and arranger of Michael John LaChiusa's The Petrified Prince, directed by Harold Prince, at the Public, and he orchestrated Andrew Lippa's john and jen at Lamb's Theatre. He has conducted and created arrangements for Liza Minelli, Tovah Feldshuh and Laurie Beechman. Brown was born in 1970 in Tarrytown, NY, and he studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. He resides in New York City. [top]

Oanh Nguyen (Director)

In 1999, Oanh co-founded The Chance Theater, where he is currently Artistic Director. His most cherished projects as a director are Undeclared..., Is Pepperoni a Vegetable? and other mysteries of love, The Stroop Report, But I Don’t Feel Grown up, Three Days of Rain (O.C. Register’s Top Ten of 2002 and Best Directors of 2002), Bash, Lee Miller: The Angel and The Fiend (commissioned by and performed at the Getty Museum), The Fantasticks, Lord of the Screen… (O.C. Weekly Nominee - Best New Play), Goodnight Children Everywhere (Nominated for 6 OC Weekly Awards, including Best Production and Best Director), Tape, Closer Than Ever (L.A. Times Critic’s Pick), Porcelain (2006 GLAAD Media Award Nominee - Outstanding L.A. Production, Back Stage West Critic’s Pick, O.C. Register’s Top Ten of 2005), Cabaret (Back Stage West Critic’s Pick) and The Laramie Project (Recipient of 2005 Arts Orange County Grant). Among a number of national commercials, Oanh’s television and film credits include "American Dreams", “Saved by the Bell”, “Hang Time”, “Kenan and Kel”, “Party of Five”, “The Beast”, “Andy Richter Controls the Universe”, "The Closer", "Clockstoppers”, third billing in Jean Jacques Annaud’s “Two Brothers”, and will be appearing in the feature film "All In". He would like to thank his cast and crew for their tremendous talent and hard work and his wonderful wife for their last five years. [top]

Rob Blaney (Musical Director)

Rob loves the music of Jason Robert Brown and is excited to be making his debut at The Chance. He can be heard on the soundtrack of "America’s Sweethearts," accompanying Harry Connick Jr. in "Life Without Dick," and is the composer of the new rock-drama Here I Am awaiting world premiere. Rob currently serves as musical director/vocal coach for the Theatre Department of Concordia University in Irvine and is on the staff of Yorba Linda Friends Church, lending his piano artistry to their worship services. Thanks to Jesus Christ for the gift of music…it’s all for Him. www.RobBlaney.com [top]

John Robinson (Set Designer)

This is John's fifth production with The Chance. He is an architect who has done set design in LA and New York. He most recently designed the sets for The World Goes 'Round, The Laramie Project, Cabaret and Big Love all here at The Chance. He thanks Oanh for the opportunity and Kelly for her support and inspiration. [top]

Jon Langrell (Lighting Designer)

Jon has a B.F.A. in lighting design from Boston University and began his career as the house sound and lighting designer at the well known “Ballroom” cabaret in New York in the late 80's. There he designed for Peggy Lee, Jack Jones, Eartha Kitt, Helen Schneider, Patti Page, Jimmy Webb, Little Anthony, Yma Sumac, Barbra Cook and many more. Jon then landed in Seattle in 1991 and designed productions for Microsoft, Boeing, Major League Baseball, Billionaires and also served as a theater and technical manager of a theater & convention center. In 1997 Jon joined ITEC entertainment in Orlando Florida to serve as the LD for the private imagineering firm. At ITEC Jon worked on ten attractions at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, 5 attractions at Disney’s Epcot, designed lighting for “The Holy Land Experience” theme park and several major retail installations. Jon returned back to Seattle to serve as production manager of the largest arts festival in the country, “Bumbershoot”, for two years. Jon is a member of the United Scenic Artists local 829 and his work and contact information can be seen at JLLD.com. [top]

Dave Mickey (Sound Designer)

Graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in Technical Theatre Design, and is currently an MFA1 in sound design at CalArts. Dave has been a working Sound and Lighting Designer in Southern California since 1996. Design credits include the West Coast Premier of The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer, World Premier of Wicked City Blues and the World Premier of FIG: R.O. at The Chance Theater. [top]

Jim York (Assistant Sound Designer)

Jim is a Lancaster native, currently pursuing a degree in Music at Cal Poly Pomona. Although he still mostly considers himself an engineer, he is very grateful to Dave and those at The Chance for giving him a chance to collaborate and become that much closer to a "real" sound designer. [top]

Sherry Linnell (Costume Designer)

Sherry enjoys both designing costumes and teaching design. She is currently the Resident Designer/Professor of Theatre at Pomona College, where she designs and teaches costume and make-up design. Sherry also works frequently in the Los Angeles area as a free-lance costume designer. She has designed costumes for the International City Theatre, Theatre 40, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Fullerton Civic Light Opera, the Colony Theatre and the Occidental Summer Theatre festival. Her designs for dance have been seen in Southern California and Germany. [top]

Masako Tobaru (Stage Manager, Sound Board Operator)

Masako is so honored to be a part of this production and this company. Last year, Masako designed lighting for The Eight, A Christmas Story, Closer than Ever, and The Rover. She graduated from Concordia University, Irvine with a major in Theater and Communications. Masako would like to thank her family for their support, her friends for their understanding, and The Chance Theater staff for making her a part of this amazing journey. And a special thanks to Oanh for being an amazing mentor and inspiration. [top]

Lewis R. Crouse II (Asst. Stage Manager, Follow Spot Operator)

Lewis would like to thank the Chance Theater for allowing him to be a part of this production. He has been involved in the Southern California live theater scene for many years, both on stage and back stage. Along with his wife Marty, they operate Showcase Benefit Productions, which mounts live musical theater and donates the profits to selected non-profit organizations. It is a profound honor to be associated with this show and creative individuals who share a passion for this art. [top]

Annie Mezzacappa (Prop Master)

Annie is honored to be a Staff and Company Member of The Chance Theater Repertory Company at this defining moment in its collaborative formation. As Development/Outreach Director, she looks forward to promoting support and community awareness for the repertory company's artistic vision, creative goals, educational and outreach programs, and development efforts. Annie has performed in The Chance's productions of Cup of Ha-Ha (sketch comedy artist), Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of "A Christmas Carol"(Mercedes), First Chance Fest - Love's Hollow (Edie), The Angelina Project (Amelia), and will soon be back on stage in It's A Wonderful Life -- the Musical (Mrs. Martini/Mrs. Hatch). Annie has studied acting at UCI and at the SCR Conservatory, and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild. When not on stage or representing The Chance, Annie works as an attorney and free-lance writer. [top]

Kyle Cahill (Guitarist)

Kyle is very excited to be playing his first show at The Chance Theater. He has been studying guitar for over 6 years and is currently attending Musicians Institute, Hollywood, to receive his Associate of Arts Degree in guitar. He is also a musical theater enthusiast and has performed in many shows onstage. Kyle would like to thank the cast, crew and band, especially Mr. Rob Blaney for the opportunity! [top]

Tanae Beyer (Light Board Operator)

This is Tanae’s second production with The Chance Theater. She stage managed A Christmas Story this past November/December and is glad to be back working on a musical she loves with such fun and talented people. Tanae has been doing theater for several years and has previously worked on such shows as Romeo and Juliet, Seussical: the Musical, Ruthless!, Cabaret, and much more at Concordia University, Irvine where she received her B.A. in Communication and Theatre. While there, she also appeared in Joyful Noise, Medea, and Suddenly Last Summer and directed The Last Night of Ballyhoo. Thanks to Masako and Oanh for allowing her to be a part of this production and to the cast for keeping her laughing. [top]

Jerry Motto (Bass)

Jerry has been playing bass guitar now for 16 years and playing musical instruments for even longer. After attending USC and Musicians Institute, Jerry has done a myriad of projects. Some of them include musical theatre (Cinderella, Annie, Godspell, etc), touring and recording band projects (fin, plumbline), solo artist Terron Brooks and orchestral projects (Yorba Linda Friends Church). Jerry also works as designer for an architectural company in Irvine (Visioneering Studios). Jerry lives with his wife Erin of two years in Corona and continually enjoys meeting new people through different projects. [top]

Jocelyn A. Brown (Cathy)

Jocelyn was most recently seen at The Chance in Closer Than Ever (LA Times Critic’s Pick). Previous Chance favorites include portraying Ann in Goodnight Children Everywhere (OC Weekly award for Best Female Lead Performance) and portraying Woman in Bash, as well as directing Big Love, The Cherry Orchard (nominated for Best Direction by the OC Weekly), The Fantasticks, and assisting with Lee Miller: The Angel and The Fiend. Jocelyn earned a double major in Theatre and Biology at UCSD, pursued further studies at UEA in England and SCR, and currently teaches at Mission Viejo High School. As for the past 5 years that Jocelyn’s been with The Chance, she is still thoroughly fulfilled and challenged working alongside artists of such vision, integrity, talent, and drive. (So, the past 5 years are definitely not the last!) Thanks to this inspiring production team, Bob for his playfulness and instincts, and, of course, Kirk for his love. [top]

Bob Simpson (Jamie)

This is Bob’s first production with The Chance Theater, and he is absolutely thrilled to be appearing in this amazing musical. Bob recently appeared in the smash hit Blake…da Musical, which won the 2005 Ovation Award for Best World Premiere Musical. Other roles include Monselet in Red Noses, Boniface in Hotel Paradiso, Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice, and Lodovico in Othello. In addition to receiving his Bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin, he has also been trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the British American Drama Academy. He is also the author of the play, The Trouble with Being Evil, a cult-hit, which has been resurrected on several occasions around the state of Texas. [top]