James Ricks - Director, Producer
Originally from Victoria, British Columbia, James found his way south where he began a successful career in NY and Washington, DC working in theatre and television. He has performed regionally and internationally, performing in such venues as: The Shakespeare Theatre, The Kennedy Center, The Folger Shakespeare Library, The Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, VA, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, The Clemson Shakespeare Festival and the Globe Theatre in Neuss, Germany. He has also appeared in dozens of national and regional commercials, as well as several short films and industrials. In 2004, he moved to Washington, DC where he studied at The Shakespeare Theatre’s Academy of Classical Acting where he achieved is MFA. He then worked as a freelance director for several years in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. James also served as Henley Street Theatre’s artistic director for four years. During his time there, he authored the company’s mission, developed its artistic aesthetic and brought the company into the fore as a leading arts organization. He has also worked extensively as a workshop leader in Shakespeare’s verse & rhetoric; stage combat and private coaching in character development and scene study. Directing credits include: Julius Caesar; Troilus & Cressida; The Merchant of Venice; The Winter’s Tale; Titus Andronicus; Romeo & Juliet; Richard III; Richard II; Twelfth Night; Henry V; The Liar by David Ives; The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni; Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett; Faith Healer by Brian Friel; The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter and The Marvelous Pageant by Miguel de Cervantes. James was the recent recipient of the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Award for ‘Best Direction’ for his 2013 production of Julius Caesar and was named one of Style Weekly Magazine’s ‘Top 40 Under 40’ People Who Are Changing Richmond, VA. James is a member of Actor’s Equity Association, Screen Actor’s Guild and is certified with the Society of American Fight Directors. http://www.jamesricksdirect.com/ Matthew Mitchell - Prince Rudy
Matthew recently graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in acting. Richmond, Virginia knows him well for his performances as Leilo in The Liar, Jeff in Kimberly Akimbo and as Katurian in The Pillowman. While in Richmond, Matthew was nominated for Best Actor and won Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Jeff in Kimberly Akimbo. This year he re-located to New York and has made residence here as a full time actor. He is thrilled to be playing Prince Rudy in Cinderella, The Fairy Godmother’s Tale and hopes that everyone enjoys the show. http://castmattmitchell.com/ Liz Kinder - Mabel
Liz Kinder grew up in Annapolis, MD and is very excited to be performing in New York with the New York Children’s Theater Festival! She has recently spent an extended contract at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire pretending to be things like a singing pirate as well as a spoiled 7-year old in the Fezziwig’s household. Recent credits also include Kitty (Pride & Prejudice), Rosalind (As You Like It), and Marc Antony (Julius Caesar). She’d like to thank her family for always being so supportive of her for this crazy dream and her friend Louise for giving her this wonderful opportunity. http://www.liz-kinder.com/ |
Caitlin Carbone - Phoebe
Caitlin Carbone is an actor and teaching artist living in Baltimore. She has most recently performed with Baltimore Shakespeare Factory ( Prince Edward in Richard III), Spotlighter's Theatre (Juliet in Romeo and Juliet), and Chesapeake Shakespeare Company (Apothecary in Romeo and Juliet). She is a resident teaching artist with Chesapeake Shakespeare Company and directed the winter 2014 children's production of Much Ado About Nothing with Baltimore Shakespeare Factory. Before moving to Baltimore, she was a member of the Coalition Theatre in Richmond, VA, where she performed improvisational comedy with the Mainstage Ensemble. She received her BFA in Theatre Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Chelsey Jean - Cinderella
Chelsey Jean is thrilled to be a part of this delightful twist on a beloved story! She holds her BFA in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory and is a certified Pilates Mat instructor. Chelsey is currently in training to become a fully-certified instructor of the Pilates apparatus while doing as much theatre as she can in the Philly area. Favorite past productions include Into The Woods (The Baker's Wife), Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Madame de Tourvel), Damn Yankees (Gloria), and The Three Bears: The Musical (Mama Bear). Proud member of the Shaken Not Stirred Players (South Jersey) and of Alpha Psi Omega! Many thanks to Louise for this exciting opportunity! Emily Morrison - Hortense
Emily Morrison is thrilled to be a part of this production and to be in New York, her home for sixteen years. She currently lives in Washington, DC, where she has appeared on stage with Scena Theatre Company in The War of the Worlds and The Marriage of Maria Braun, with The American Century Theater in Little Murders and Stage Door, and Brave Spirits Theatre Company in Romeo & Juliet. In 2011 she wrote, produced and performed her own one-woman show, But Love Is My Middle Name! for the Capital Fringe Festival, an Editor’s Pick for the Washington Post and for which DC Theatre Scene wrote: “...Unique, quirky, energetic, hilarious, and engaging. Morrison takes no prisoners with her striking form of narrative. Emily moved to Los Angeles from New York City in 2000 to continue a jazz singing career and got detoured when a friend insisted she take an acting class at the Actors Circle Theater. Founder/ Artistic Director and mentor Arthur Mendoza, a student and devotee of Stella Adler, guided her through the Adler world of the imagination. Favorite stage roles include Queen Elizabeth in Richard III for Colony Theatre, Frankie in Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune(Elephant) and Mother in How I Learned To Drive (Actors Circle Theater). FILM/TV roles include: Geographically Desirable; The Nextnik; Blonde in Summer (AFI), Cat Dragged In (AFI); Evil Twins (Investigation Discovery) She has trained at Shakespeare Theatre Company Washington, DC, A Noise Within, LA and Actors Circle Theatre, LA. Emily is the President of The Actors' Center, a Washington DC organization that promotes study, networking and audition opportunities for the growing community of DC based actors.She is grateful to Louise Keaton and James Ricks for the opportunity to appear in this production of Cinderella. Website: [email protected] Tiffany Jana-
Fairy Godmother Superior Tiffany Jana is pleased to participate in the 2014 New York Children's Festival. Tiffany has been performing in children's theatre and storytelling for over a decade. She lives in Richmond, Virginia with her three children, ages 17, 15 and 7 and is happy to return home for this event. Tiffany has written, directed, and performed in children's museum theatre primarily with the Carpenter Science Theatre Company and the Smithsonian's Discovery Theatre. She is also an award-winning startup entrepreneur and thought leader in the diversity and inclusion industry. Tiffany would like to thank her family for putting up with her crazy schedule and letting her perform in New York on Mother's Day weekend! www.tmiconsultinginc.com |