All BNW company members live in the borough of Brooklyn. * Members of actors equity association. The union of professional actors and stage managers. CYNTHIA BABAK* (Founding member/ Playwright / Actor) Brave New World: "To Kill a Mockingbird", "The Importance of Being Earnest" Cynthia is one half of the writing and performing team Babes in the Woods with Michael Huston. Their first collaboration was Pig Tales - three short plays about restaurants, produced in 1991 at The West Bank Cafe. Their ongoing, ever mutating comedy show, Babes in the Woods, was first produced in 1992, also at the West Bank Cafe. Since then the show has played in a variety of formats at spaces such as PSNBC @HERE, NY Stage & Film @ Vassar, The Knitting Factory, One Dream Theatre, HERE, Surf Reality, Solo Arts, MCC, New Georges, and more. Outside of her work with Babes in the Woods, Cynthia most recently appeared in Garth Wingfield's Dating Games, at the Theatre Row Studio Theatre. She is a member of New York City based, Writers Group. In NYC she has appeared Robert Wilson's The Golden Windows, a four person chamber piece at BAM, and originated lots of kooky roles in venues such as Underground Soap @ Cucaracha Theatre. She performed Educating Rita and The Adding Machine in Regional Theatre, and appears in the independent films Dogs by Eve Annenberg, and June Roses by Christine Noschese. ALICE BARRETT MITCHELL* (Actor / Managing Director / Stage Manager) Brave New World: "Fahrenheit 451" (Alice) Alice played psychic private investigator Frankie Frame on daytime television's Another World. Her prime time credits include: New Amsterdam, Convictions, Miracles, The District and The Profiler. She appeared on Broadway with Alan Alda in Neil Simon's" Jake's Women". This year she will be seen in the feature film "Choke", opposite Sam Rockwell. Alice became the managing director of BNW in January 2007 and the Stage Manager of its Play Reading Salon Series. EZRA BARNES* (Actor / Director) Brave New World: Ezra played Walt Whitman in "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" Atticus in "To Kill A Mockingbird." and appeared in "Fahrenheit 451." Off Broadway: Far & Wide (Mint), Richard II (Pearl). Performances at many regional theaters (Hartford Stage, Paper Mill Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse, Pioneer Theater, Denver Center Theatre Company and others). Shakespeare on the Sound in Norwalk, CT: Founding Artistic Director, directed Macbeth, Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Merchant of Venice. Played Prospero, Leontes, Chorus (Henry V), Friar Laurence, Hortensio, Aguecheek, Benedick. Film (the upcoming “Joshua”) and television (“Law & Order”, etc.). Co-Founder and Festival Producer, Westerly, Rhode Island’s Shakespeare in the Park festival. Graduate of Amherst College and the National Theatre Conservatory. Brooklyn resident, where he lives with his family and runs the Young Actors Workshop. TARA BAST* (Actor) Brave New World: "Fahrenheit 451" (Helen) Tara’s film and TV credits include a leading role in “World Without Waves”, last year’s winner of the Santa Fe Film Festival available at www.worldwithoutwaves.com, ”Law and Order”, “SVU”, “Criminal Intent” and “Third Watch”. Stage credits include more than 50 plays including leading roles in the premiers of “Miss Golden Dreams”, Joyce Carol Oates’play about the life of Marilyn Monroe, Jeremy Dobrish's Off-Broadway production “Notions in Motion” and “Ampersand”. CLAIRE BECKMAN* (Founder / Producing Artistic Director / Actor / Director / Playwright) Brave New World:" Fahrenheit 451" (Mildred) "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" (Adaptor/Director), "The Great White Hope" (Ellie), "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Jean Louise/Director), "The Importance of Being Earnest" (Gwendolyn) Off Broadway credits include “The Torchbearers” at Drama Dept., “Snakebit” for Naked Angels, the title role in “Bella Belle of Byelorussia” directed by Christopher Ashley at the WPA, “The Last Empress” at Lincoln Center and Kevin Kline’s “Hamlet” at The Public. Regional credits include leading roles at Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Asolo Theatre, Philadelphia Drama Guild, Capital Rep, GeVa, Syracuse Stage, The Pittsburgh Public Theatre, The Meadowbook Theatre and several Shakespeare Festivals including Lady Macbeth at Shakespeare on the Sound. Films includes “The Tollbooth,” the award winning “The Wormhole,” “Revolution #9”, “Pollock”, “Fallout”, “The Door in the Floor” starring Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger and "The Thing About My Folks" starring Peter Falk and Paul Reiser. Television credits include: “Law and Order”, "Law and Order Criminal Intent", “All My Children” (Silver Kane), “As the World Turns” (Sabrina Hughes.) and many commercials. Claire received her B.F.A in Drama from Carnegie-Mellon University and studied at The National Theatre of Great Britain with Sir Anthony Hopkins and in New York with Suzanne Shepherd. Claire is the Founder and director of “The Dreama Players” and has taught Drama to children in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Claire and her family live in Brooklyn. ROYSTON COPPENGER (Founding Member / Dramaturg / Director / Playwright) Brave New World Directing Credits: "Fahrenheit 451", "The Great White Hope", "The Importance of Being Earnest". International credits include: his all-female adaptation of "King Lear", directed by Travis Preston, performed at the Frictions Festival in Dijon, France; directing his own adaptation of O'Neill's "Mourning Becomes Electra" at the Teatro do Barraca in Lisbon; and conceiving and directing "Am Anfang War das Teater," an original movement theater piece, for the Teatro Palino in Baden, Switzerland. At HERE/NYC, Royston has been instrumental in the creation of several new theater pieces, including his original play Hopper, his own adaptation of Jim Thompson's "The Killer Inside Me," and "Moses," about New York builder Robert Moses. Also at HERE he directed the world premieres of "The Fox" by Carne Ross in 2001 and Stevan Arbona's "Saturn's Children" in 1997. Mr. Coppenger's award-winning translation of "Roberto Zucco" by Bernard-Marie Koltès was produced by New York's Cucaracha Theater in 1995. Mr. Coppenger has taught courses in theater, film and popular culture at Harvard, Carnegie-Mellon and New York University. He holds a Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama, and is currently Associate Professor of Drama at Hofstra University. Royston lives in Brooklyn. DAVID FRUTKOFF* (Actor) Brave New World:" Fahrenheit 451" (Aristotle) "The Great White Hope" (Goldie) presented at Celebrate Brooklyn! David appeared in over 20 shows while living in Chicago, including Death of a Salesman (Goodman Theatre, directed Robert Falls and starring Brian Dennehy), Travesties, The Misanthrope, and Once in a Lifetime (Court Theatre), Merry Wives of Windsor (Chicago Shakespeare), Assassins (Apple Tree Theatre), Company (Pegasus Players), Our Town and Smash (Bailiwick), as well as performing at the renowned Ravinia Festival in the concert version of Sweeeny Todd (starring George Hearne and Patti Lupone, directed by Lonny Price) and the workshop of Doll (by Scott Frankel and Michael Korie). David received his BA at Harvard College and his acting training at the Circle in the Square Theater School. Lured into Manhattan by day, David is currently on the faculty at the Grace Institute. KARL GREENBERG (Founding Member / Playwright / Actor / Musician) Brave New World: "Fahrenheit 451", "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Boo Radley) Karl has appeared at Don’t Tell Mama, Stand-Up NY, Roses Turn; The Village Gate, The Improv and 5&10 No Exaggeration, among others. Regional credits include "Moby Dick," "Fifth of July," "Can Can," "Rebbeca" and "The City." Stock includes "Cabaret," "Kiss me Kate" and "The Fantastics." Karl received his MFA from Brooklyn College and is a member of the writers group at the 78th Street Theatre Lab. He trained as an actor with Michael Howard and James Price. He also does industrials and is a contributing writer for Brooklyn Rail. His play "For Real" had its world premiere at The Flying Bridge Community Arts in 2002 and will be remounted at the 78th Street Theatre Lab in the fall of 2003. Karl and his family live in Brooklyn. AMY ILIAS (Founder / Board member / Associate-Artistic Director / Designer ) Brave New World: Set Design for "The Great White Hope," "To Kill a Mockingbird", "The Importance of Being Earnest." Amy is the Art Director at ABC Carpet & Home. She has worked as a designer and consultant in the home furnishings industry for many years, and is a liscensed designer for Sasaki and Rosenthal. Other clients include Target, Crate & Barrel and KaravanHome. She is on the Board of Directors of the ABC Home and Planet Foundation, abchomeandplanet.org. She has designed scenery and costumes for The Dreama Players and The Neighborhood Theatre for Kids. She graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University and has been a proud Brooklyn resident since the1980's. CHRIS LINDSAY-ABAIRE* (Actor) Brave New World: Numerous salons. Chris has performed in New York at LaMaMa ETC, HERE, Dance Theater Workshop, FEZ and Vital Theater Company, among others, and regionally at the Fulton Opera House and Fleetwood Stage. TV: “Law & Order: SVU”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”, “Ghost Stories” and NY soaps. Film: “Sunshine”, “Growing Pains”, “Valentine’s Day”, The King of the Magicians” and “Static”, which have been shown at the Boston International, New York International, Orinda International, ZoieFest, and Cleveland International Film Festivals, among others. This is Chris’ third Brave New World Salon Series season and she’s thrilled to be a part of it. JOHN EDMOND MORGAN* (Founder / Associate-Artistic Director / Actor / Director / Fight Choreographer) Brave New World: "Fahrenheit 451 (Montag) "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" (MTA conductor) "The Great White Hope" (Fred/Coates/Ensemble), "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Bob Ewell), "The Importance of Being Earnest" (Algernon). New York stage includes: "I Vermin" "The Last Empress" at Lincoln Center, "Love’s Labour’s Lost" at The Samuel Beckett Theatre, "Sure Thing" at Soho Rep, the title role in "Zastrozzi" at The Basic Theatre, a staged reading of "The Grand Tour" for the Jewish Rep. directed by Stuart Zagnit, and Peck in "How I Learned to Drive" as a guest artist at Brooklyn College. Regional credits include "Sideman" at Florida Rep, "Candida" at Pennsylvania Stage, "Master Harold and the Boys" for Portland Rep, "Romeo and Juliet" at the Virginia Shakespeare Festival and "Hamlet" as a guest artist at Northern Michigan University. Television appearances include “All My Children” and “As the World Turns.” John has performed in and choreographed fights for numerous Shakespeare Festivals and independent films. Also for The Basic Theatre he directed "Downtown" at The Samuel Beckett Theatre, and he has directed for The Neighborhood Theatre for kids in Brooklyn. Teaching credits (acting and stage combat) include NYU, Webster University and Northern Michigan University. He teaches stage combat in the theatre department at Brooklyn College. John and his family live in Brooklyn. MADAFI PIERRE (Actor) Brave New World: "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry", "Fahrenheit 451" If Adam had a daughter with Josephine Baker, and had her baptized by Charlie Chaplin, her name would be Madafi. Madafi Pierre is an actress, singer and songwriter. She, along with her band, has performed at some of New York's hottest venues such as the legendary Blue Note, S.O.B.s, Nuyorican Poet's Cafe and Central Park's Summer Stage. This coming February, she will play Gloria in the comedy “Tambourines of Glory” by Langston Hughes, and on March 8 she will be back at the Blue Note. Her new CD “No Lie Relaxer” is scheduled for January 29. ELEANOR RUTH* (Actor / Board Member) Brave New World: "Fahrenheit 451" (Mrs. Hudson) “Great White Hope” and “To Kill a Mockingbird; BNW readings: “Much Ado About Nothing”, “Waiting for Godot”, “Hotel Paradiso” and “Lysistrata. NYC credits include “Angela’s Flying Bed” (Bed), “Sister” (Mother), “Ladies at Play” (Celeste), “Steinway Grand” (Mrs. Broderick), “Cruma” (Nagayo), “No Conductor “(Antonia) and “Dubliners” (Evaline, Maria). Regional credits include “House of Blue Leaves” (Bananas), “How the Other Half Loves” (Fiona), “Witness for the Prosecution” (Janet Mackenzie), “Hamlet” (Gertrude), “Macbeth” (Lady Macbeth), “Once Upon a Mattress” (Aggravain), “Little Mary Sunshine” (Mme.Ernestine) and “Side By Side By Sondheim”. An accomplished singer and puppeteer, Eleanor has appeared in casual venues (i.e. cabarets and bars) throughout the U.S., and has toured extensively with Robert Rogers, Puppet Projects and Starry Night Puppet Theatre. She is also a long-time member of the OBIE-winning Threshold Theater Company, and is especially pleased to have had the opportunity to assist the fabulous Brooklyn arts community in her former position as Program Coordinator for Brooklyn Arts Council. JOE SALGO* (Actor) Brave New World: "The Great White Hope"(Reporter, German Soldier), "The Importance of Being Earnest."(Lane, Merriman), Numerous salons. A native Brooklynite, Joe is an alumnus of the North Carolina School of the Arts. Check out Joe's band at myspace.com/salgorocks. FRANNY SILVERMAN* (Actor / Director) is delighted to join BNW after directing Three One-Acts in the Salon Series '08. As an actor, selected credits include HB Playwrights, Estrogenius Festival, The Shalimar, EST, MultiStages, Ko Festival (Amherst), Human Race Theatre (OH), Phoenix Theatre (IN) and Northwoods Theatre Company (WI). From 2002-2007, Franny was Associate Artistic Director of Storahtelling, collaborating on and performing in over 40 original works for the stage and site-specific ritual settings presented in venues from NY to Alaska. She is also the director of Mayim Rabim/Great Waters, a song-cycle by Ayelet Rose Gottlieb presented across the US and in Israel. BFA University of Cincinnati Conservatory (CCM). Member AEA. www.frannysilverman.com CHRISTINE SIRACUSA* (Founding Member / Actor) Brave New World: "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" (Irish Mom/Park Slope Mom) "The Great White Hope", "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Maudie Atkinson), The Importance of Being Earnest (Cecily). NY Theatre credits include: Judy in "Sincerity Forever" directed by Loretta Greco, Colleen in "Finnegan’s Farewell", Mary in "When the Bough Breaks", and Avonia in "Trelawney of the Wells at TACT. Other New York theaters include: Synchronicity Space, The Dramatists Guild and Playhouse 91. Regional credits include Dot/Marie in "Sunday in the Park with George" for The Arden Theatre Company, "Rough Crossing" at The McCarter Theatre, the title role in "Cinderella" at The Olney Theatre and "All in the Timing" directed by Chris Clavelli, as well as many stock productions. TV and Film includes “All My Children” and "Runway." Christine received a BA in Drama (magna cum laude) from Catholic University and trained at The Stella Adler Conservatory and the Shakespeare Theatre at the Folger. SCOTT VOLOSHIN* (Actor) Scott spent much of his adult life in Denmark. There, he performed with various theatre companies, acting in both English and Danish. In New York he co-founded Boon Theatre, where he was chief dramaturge, composer and a resident actor. He is now composing a sci-fi rock opera, Fertility, which will be produced this November (09’) at Players Theatre. Scott is currently employed as an actor in the Off-Broadway production of Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding. He is also co-producing the resurrection of the Grand Guignol (the French Theatre of Horror) to open in October of 2010. ZACHARY WILLIAMSON (Founding Member / Production Manager / Sound Designer) Zachary is a professional sound designer, living in Brooklyn, New York. Brave New World: "Fahrenheit 451" "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" "The Great White Hope", "To Kill a Mockingbird." Recent New York designs include The Colleen Bawn, Peg o’My Heart and Bedbound (Irish Rep), I Vermin (NYC Fringe), For Real (78th St. Theatre Lab), The Nualas (Irish Arts Center), Misterman (Origin) and House of Blue Leaves (Two River). He has also been associate designer for the national tours of The Full Monty and Kiss Me Kate (Networks). Additionally, he has designed shows for Virginia Stage, Syracuse Stage, Virginia Opera, Queens Theater in the Park, Vermont Stage, Pennsylvania Center Stage, Dublin Fringe Festival and the School for Visual Arts in New York. He has also worked with the Norfolk Governor’s School for the Arts where he taught as a guest-artist and has designed sound for seven productions. Zachary is the house audio engineer at New York’s John Jay Theater where he works with such groups as Lincoln Center, Alvin Ailey Dance Company, the Joffrey Dance Company, the A & E Channel and Comedy Central. He is also a member of United Scenic Artists, the union for theatrical designers. STUART ZAGNIT* ( Founding Member / Actor ) Brave New World: Numerous Salons, Inaugural Pier Show. On Broadway, Stuart created the roles of Goldberg in “The Wild Party” and the Mayor of Whoville in “Seussical.” Off-Broadway credits include”Mr. President,” “Retribution,” the Public Theatre's “A Dybbuk,” “All In The Timing,” the original “Little Shop Of Horrors,” Lucky Stiff,” and he was critically acclaimed for his performances in “The Grand Tour” and “Kuni-Leml.” National tours: “Crazy For You,” “Applause,” “Falsettos,” “Into The Woods". Regional theatres include "Enter Laughing" (Berkshire Theatre Festival), and "Sound of Music" (Sacramento Music Circus). Television: Five featured appearances on the three “Law & Order” shows and numerous commercials and voice-overs. Independent feature: “Jingle Hell.” He resides in Brooklyn with his family.