Midnight Madness

Theodore J. Agress (Executive Producer, NJYT)

Mr. Agress has had a successful and diversified career in theatrical endeavors over the last 33 years. Starting in show business at age 17 as an aspiring actor led to a 20-year professional career on Broadway, National Tours, TV Soaps and film in productions such as: the original Hello, Dolly! (with Carol Channing and Ginger Rogers), Dear World (with Angela Lansbury), Woman of the Year (with Lauren Bacall), Coco(with Katherine Hepburn, Shenandoah (with John Cullum),"As the World Turns," "All My Children," "One Life to Live," "Ryan's Hope," "Captains & the Kings," Trip to Holocaust, Most Wanted and many others. Together with his wife, Cynthia Meryl, he has developed one of the most successful youth theatre companies in the country, the New Jersey Youth Theatre, now in its 17th successful year. Before managing the business of NJYT, he was Associate General Manager of the Paper Mill Playhouse.

Cynthia Meryl (Director; Book & Lyrics; Artistic Director, NJYT)

A 40-year veteran of theatre and television, Ms. Meryl was an original cast member in Nine, with Raul Julia. She played 'Eliza' opposite Noel Harrison in My Fair Lady, 'Nellie' opposite Giorgio Tozzi in South Pacific, 'Hedy LaRue' opposite Don Porter in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, 'Charlotte' opposite Pat Paulson in Beyond Therapy, in Side by Side by Sondheim with Arlene Francis, Hermione Gingold, Hans Conreid and Dody Goodman, and the list goes on. Ms. Meryl was honored to be one of the performers in the United States celebration of Israel's 40th Anniversary in Washington, DC. Adjunct to her extensive performing career, Ms. Meryl, Founder and Artistic Director of New Jersey Youth Theatre, is a profesional theatre-arts educator, and is currently the Master Instructor for NJYT's School for the Performing Arts. She works with all age groups, from elementary through college, providing acting, musical theatre, and voice training. Ms. Meryl has directed for NJYT such classics as "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Stage Door, Crimes of the Heart, The Children's Hour, and musicals such as Carnival, Camelot, Fiorello!, The Threepenny Opera, The Gay Divorce and Merrily We Roll Along for which Worrall Newspapers elected her "Best Director." She has directed at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) NJYT productions of Carousel (1998 and 2007), Oliver! (1999), Brigadoon (2000), Once On This Island (2001), South Pacific (2002), West Side Story (2003 winner of the Music Theatre International Award of Excellence), Anything Goes (2004), Guys and Dolls (2005), Ragtime, The Musical (2006), for which the show and director were named "New Jersey's Best Musical" and "Best Director of the Year" by Peter Filichia of The Star-Ledger, and, most recently, 1776 and Midnight Madness (2008). Ms. Meryl created and performed in the 2002 Concert Puttin' On The Ritz, The Music of Irving Berlin, America's Songwriter, presented at the Algonquin Arts theatre and in collaboration with the Westfield Symphony Orchestra (WSO); and the 2001 Concert collaboration with the WSO entitled Richard Rodgers, A Centennial Celebration of his Music, raising money for New Jersey families affected by the 9/11 tragedy. Ms. Meryl remounted a Cabaret version of this Richard Rodgers concert in December, 2005, donating all proceeds to Hurricane Relief.

Jack Bender (Music and Orchestrations)

Jack Bender is honored to debut his first major compositional work at New Jersey Performing Arts Center and in the New York Musical Theatre Festival Partner Event. He is a 2003 graduate of Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, with a degree in Music Education. From 2003 to 2006, he held the position of choir director at Bloomfield High School. He is also currently serving as organist at Sacred Heart RC Church in South Plainfield and working as a freelance musician. Mr. Bender has performed both domestically and internationally as a pianist and as a singer with several ensembles including the Rutgers Glee Club, the St. Matthew's Choir of Edison, NJ, and the Allegro choir of Manasquan, NJ. Though this is his first large scale compositional endeavor, Mr. Bender has composed several small choral pieces for various local ensembles as well as a few dozen a cappella arrangements of rock and pop groups for the collegiate a cappella groups of Rutgers University. In his spare time he enjoys...he has no spare time. Mr. Bender would like to thank the lyricist and book writer, Cynthia Meryl, for pushing him just hard enough to complete this project. He has thoroughly enjoyed the process. Thanks also to Ted Agress, Sherry Alban, Ilene Greenbaum, Camille DiLorenzo, Howie Tilkin, Katie Cuca, and the wonderful cast and crew who have helped make this show a reality. He would like to dedicate these debut performances to his loving family, his parents, Jack and Eileen Bender, as well as to the memory of his biggest fan, his late grandfather, Robert Wynne.

Sherry Alban (Choreographer)

Sherry Alban has choreographed for the New Jersey Youth Theatre's main-stage productions for the past eleven years. Her previous WYACT-NJYT productions include Carousel (1998 & 2007), Oliver! (1999), Brigadoon (2000), Once On This Island (2001), South Pacific (2002), West Side Story (2003), Anything Goes (2004), Guys and Dolls (2005) and Ragtime (2006). A recipient of the New Jersey State Council of the Arts Fellowships, she has had her work performed by Princeton Ballet II, Roanoke Ballet Theatre, Rutgers Faculty Concerts, Rutgers Summerfest and The New England Opera Company. She has a long standing affiliation with Princeton Ballet as a charter member, performer, choreographer and faculty member, and has served as first-act rehearsal director at the American Repertory Ballet Company's annual Nutracker. Ms. Alban has served as Children's Ballet Mistress for the Washington Ballet's all new Nutcracker, and as Choreographer for La Traviata and Merry Widow for Rutgers Opera Company. Additionally, she served as director and choreographer for Plays in the Park of Edison and has been a member of the dance faculty at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers, where she has taught Ballet for 29 years.

Ilene Greenbaum (Music Director)

Ilene Greenbaum has served as music director and conductor for numerous theatre companies in New Jersey over the past 30 years, including the Livingston Community Players, the Florham Park Players, and the Barn Theatre. She is founder of the JCC Musical Theater Company in West Orange and has served as their music director and conductor since 1991, collaborating for the past four years with director with Camille DiLorenzo. This team is currently planning for their 2009 production of Beauty and the Beast in that venue. She was co-founder of "Shows-To-Go," a touring production company in southern New Jersey, and served as music director for their premier statewide tour of I Do! I Do! She has also worked for a number of New Jersey high school theater companies, and has been the music director and conductor for the Bloomfield High School All-School Musical for the past eight years. Classical conducting credits include the Garden State Ballet's winter production of Tchaikovsky's ballet, The Nutcracker, performed by the company for the first time with a live orchestra in 2003 and continued annually ever since. She has also served on the 2003-2004 faculty of the Performing Arts Department of the Somerset County Vocational/Technical High School, working with NJYT director Cynthia Meryl. Mrs. Greenbaum began her association with NJYT in 1999, and has continued as the company's music director and conductor for their main-stage productions at NJPAC and the Algonquin Arts Theater. She is thrilled to be part of the talented NJYT 1776 production team, and excited and honored to be involved in the premier production of Cynthia Meryl and Jack Bender's original musical, Midnight Madness.

Mark Nayden (Set Designer)

Mark Nayden has garnered a prestigious reputation and critical acclaim, as a designer/design manager for film, television and live events. Prior to Midnight Madness, he designed NJYT productions of Carousel and Once On This Island. Mr. Nayden was an Associate Designer on B'way productions including: Indiscretions (Les Parents Terribles), An Inspector Calls (B'way and Nat. Tour), Translations and Wonderful Tennessee ,and at NYC Opera on The Visit of the Old Lady. He has worked as a costume designer for several Off-Broadway theatre companies including The Jewish Repertory, The Director's Co. He designed four seasons at Seaside Music Theater: Forum, Street Scene, Rags, High Spirits, Children of Eden, The Telephone and The Medium, Five Guys Named Moe. He was guest artist in Dept. of Theatre and Dance at Montclair State University in 2000-2001, 2003. Designs for choreographer Paula Josa Jones include: Wonderland at Jacob's Pillow and the Altogether Different Festival at the Joyce Theatre. He is collaborating with Ms. Josa Jones on Ride, a dance piece that incorporates horses and acrobatics. Nayden was a designer with DMD Group, founded by Duke Durfee. His industrial show and architectural design experience includes live events, videos and permanent installations for product introductions, press events and promotions for corporate clients around the world. He designed and co-owns Excelsior, a bar/cocktail lounge in Park Slope, Brooklyn which has been featured in Time Out's Best Bars 2001, The Best in NY 2000 by New York Magazine, as well as The Village voice. Excelsior is considered one of NYC's top nightspots. He and his partner, Richard Kennedy, were recently honored for their service to the community by the Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz. Currently, Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Nayden are working on the designs for a new restaurant and live music venue. He lives in NYC and is a member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829.

Aaron Mastin (Costume Designer)

Aaron Mastin is a freelance Scenic and Costume Designer based in NYC. Recent projects include: Two Headed (Berkshire Theatre Festival, Set Design. Featured in American Theatre Magazine). Ragtime, Carousel (NJYT/NJPAC, Costume Design), Everything About Camp--Almost (TADA!), Why We Shot John (at 29th St. Rep) Production Design. Acts of Love, Ascension (Theatre Row, Set Design) John Adams (HBO, Background Costumer) Death in Love (Independent Feature, Sundance Selection, Asst. Costume Designer). Aaron designs regularly for Manhattan Children's Theatre, Battery Dance Co. and is Adjunct Faculty in Costume at York College, CUNY. Aaron is currently designing scenery for Souvenir at Hudson Stageworks. B.F.A. Carnegie Mellon Drama, M.F.A. Yale Drama 2011.

Al Crawford (Lighting Designer)

Al Crawford (ARC3Design) has worked as a lighting designer extensively in many areas of the visual and performing arts including dance, theater, opera, corporate and social events and themed entertainment. He is enjoying his tenth season as the Lighting Director for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and also designs extensively for the company. He has designed numerous high profile works such as Judith Jamison's Love Stories with Rennie Harris and Robert Battle, Double Exposure for the Lincoln Center Festival and scenic and lighting designs for HERE...NOW., a work commissioned by the Cultural Olympiad at the Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games. Al also enjoys designing projects such as corporate and social events, themed dinners and architectural installations. Clients include companies such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, XM Radio and New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Al's favorite collaborators include choreographers Melissa Hayden, Judith Jamison, Mark Dendy, Hope Boykin, Abdur-Rahim Jackson, Matthew Rushing, Uri Sands, Durrell Moultrie, Jessica Lang, Francesca Harper, Troy Powell, Doug Varone, Rennie Harris and Robert Battle. Throughout his career, Al has had the opportunity to work with some of the great lighting designers working the field including Chenault Spence, Tim Hunter, Mark McCullough, Robert Wierzel and Jeff Harris.

Michael Sinclair - Audio Incorporated (Audio Designer)

Michael Sinclair (Vice President and co-owner of Audio Incorporated) began his career touring England in 1976 as a sound engineer for Graham Parker & The Rumor. In America in 1979, for a series of shows for Stiff Records, he met his wife and has stayed since, with additional good fortune to follow. He landed a major position with the Pink Floyd (owned by Britannia Row Sound) to oversee the audio for the legendary Bonds International Casino performances of the Clash shows, the Talking Heads, Bob Dylan and many others in the U.S. See Factor in 1982, then the largest audio equipment provider in the Tri-State area, positioned him as head of their audio division for the next five years, enabling him to direct audio installation requirements for Madison Square Garden shows and performances of major artists including Billy Joel, Rush, Blue Oyster Cult, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and more. In the late 1980s, following extensive experience in audio design and development of sound systems, speaker enclosures and console and control systems, Mr. Sinclair ventured out on his own to start what is highly regarded in the industry today as Audio Incorporated. An international reputation for quality, the company provides audio design, development and installation for major NY theatres, corporate conference rooms, and ballroom and stadium projects around the world. His specialization in digital audio control systems and programming, as well as video conferencing systems, has made Audio Inc. tops in its field. With full time commitment to such commercial enterprise, Mr. Sinclair still finds time to design, and at times operate, audio systems for youth theater. In his sixth year as NJYT's audio designer for products at NJPAC and Algonquin Arts, he says: "These young actors put so much work into their productions, they, too, deserve the best audio I can provide."

Scot Cleaveland (Production Manager)

A Michigan resident, Mr. Cleaveland has over ten years experience in various capacities with Meadow Brook Theatre, eight years as Technical Director with the Summer Theatre Conservatory, and more than ten years as a Production Manager in the exhibits and display industry. Currently serving as Technical Director of the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, Scot is married to actress and director Stacy White, and is the proud father of four sons, Lee, Henry, Grant and Wyatt.

Howie Tilkin (Production Stage Manager)

Howie Tilkin is stage managing his fourth NJYT production, now as Production Stage Manager. He is currently a sophomore at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He'd like to thank Cynthia and Ted for this extraordinary opportunity and for entrusting him with this responsibility and wishes the best of luck to everyone involved in Midnight Madness.

Ken Larson (Technical Director)

Ken Larson has traveled the world working on films in such places as South Africa, the Philippines, Hawaii, New Orleans, Hollywood and Cambodia. His talents include Set Design, Art Director, Master Carpenter, Special Effects, Prop Master, Production Manager, Brother, Boyfriend and Comedian. Ken has worked with Tri-Star pictures, Dimension Films, Universal, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Warner Bros, and several episodes of "ER," MTV and many others. Currently Ken is focusing on live theater in NYC and the greater Tri-State Area. This past season, Ken is proud to have designed Half and Half and Tour De Farce at The Penguin Rep, Rum and Coke and The Goldman Project at the Abington Theater, Rounding Third at Stamford Theater Works and Shaughraun at the Storm Theater. Mr. Larson also designed the set for the 2006 NJYT production of Ragtime at NJPAC. Beginning his fourth season as Production Manager at the Theater For a New Audience, most recently for 07-08 season of the award winning Ohio State Murders, the US premiere of Oronooko and Shakespeare's epic Antony and Cleopatra. The Ken Larson Co. (Ken's set shop) is building the sets for the Summer Play Festival second season in NYC, and working with The New Group on several projects including 2000 Years, Rafta Rafta, Things We Want, and Rich Boyfriend along with several other projects in NYC.

Camille DiLorenzo (Company Manager/Property Master)

Camille DiLorenzo marks her 6th NJYT summer production with NJYT at NJPAC having previously served as assistant to Cynthia Meryl as well as Company Manager and Prop Master. Camille's other Property Master credits include Ragtime, The Rainmaker, King and I and Follies, and Assistant Prop Master for West Side Story, Anything Goes, Guys and Dolls and Carousel. Camille's directorial credits include Once On This Island, Peter Pan, The King and I, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown and Seussical --The Musical, all of which she directed under the baton of Music Director and friend, Ilene Greenbaum. The pair will team up again next season for a production of Beauty and the Beast. Ms. DiLorenzo also served as Production Stage Manager for The Wizard of Oz, Joseph...Dreamcoat, Oliver and Mass Appeal.

Josh Balber (Publicist)

Josh Balber is the Associate Director of Press Relations at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, publicizing the center's Alternate Routes series and Arts Education Department performances and programs. He has been the media representative for NJPAC/New Jersey Youth Theatre Summer Musical production of Guys and Dolls (2005), Ragtime (2006), Carousel (2007), 1776 (2008) and the premiere of Midnight Madness at NJPAC (2008). Josh is also on the Board of Trustees for Partnership in Philanthropy in Chatham, NJ. Prior to NJPAC, Josh was a publicist at the New York boutique PR-firm Rentsch Associates, where he handled national public relations campaigns for authors and publishers from around the country.