Performers & Participants

Jazz pianist and composer Geri Allen was nominated for a Grammy award for her orchestration of Andy Bey’s American Song in 2005. She has performed with Jack DeJohnette, Wayne Shorter, Miles Davis, Marianne Faithfull, Bill Cosby, and Me’Shell Ndegeocello, among many others. In 1996, she became the youngest and, to date, the only woman to win the JAZZPAR prize and, in 2008 [year to be confirmed], she received a Guggenheim Fellowship. More information about Geri can be found at her website, Geri Allen

Shane Bland credits include Dow in How Now, Dow Jones (NYC Fringe); Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bombay Dreams (Original Broadway Cast, 1st US Tour ); Disney’s The Lion King (Toronto Company); Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Montreal); and Harold Prince's Show Boat (Canada, 1st US Tour). Regional credits include The Producers, J.C. Superstar, Peter Pan, Man of La Mancha and Enter the Guardsman. Creative credits include Assistant Director on Dreyfus in Rehearsal (Off Broadway); El Dive Del Voodoo; and Choreographer on Disney's Aladdin Jr. Shane has made appearances on Live! With Regis & Kelly, ABC’s Good Morning America, and on NBC’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Shane can also be seen in the opening credits of the documentary Showbusiness:The Road to Broadway.

A contemporary drummer and aggressive, polyrhythmic stylist, Cecil Brooks III has worked in the New York area with such musicians as Greg Osby, Geri Allen and Lonnie Plaxico. He recorded his debut album as a leader for Muse in 1989, subsequently releasing efforts including 1990's Hangin' with Smooth, 1993's Neck Peckin' Jammie and 2000's Our Mister Brooks in addition to session work in both a hard bop and bebop setting. The intimate setting of Live at Sweet Basil (2001). Brooks is also making his mark on the music as a producer, recently Muse created a subsidiary label, Westside Records, so he could produce some of the older, lesser-known artists whom he's been bringing into the Muse stable, including vocalists Gail Allen and Jackie Woods and saxophonist Reggie Wood.

Catherine Brunell, a resident of West Orange, Catherine is currently in the Broadway cast of Mary Poppins where she covers the title role of Mary. Other Broadway credits include: Big River (revival with Deaf West Theater), Thoroughly Modern Millie (original cast), Les Miserables (Eponine), and A Tale of Two Cities. National Tours: Big River, Les Miserables. Regional credits include: Anything Goes (Williamstown Theatre Festival), A Wonderful Life (Paper Mill Playhouse), A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters (Skyline Theatre Co.), Paramour (Old Globe Theater), Call Me Madam (Goodspeed), Little Women (Shaeffer Theater at Duke U.), Guys and Dolls (St. Louis MUNY), Roman Holiday (MUNY), Sleeping Beauty (Barter Theater), Big River (Ford’s Theater). Catherine is twice nominated for a Kevin Kline Award for Best Actress for her portrayals of Laurey in Oklahoma and Eliza in My Fair Lady at the St. Louis MUNY. National Anthem Soloist for the Boston Red Sox. Attended Northwestern University. Finisher in two New York City Marathons. Wife to Chris, mother to twins, Gus and Charlie.

Kristin Carbone Broadway: Mary Poppins (currently - Mrs. Banks u/s), Fiddler on the Roof (’04 revival - Tzeitel u/s), Into The Woods (’02 revival – Milky White, Stepsisters, Stepmother u/s). 1st National Tours: Hal Prince’s Show Boat (Magnolia), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and Principal Vocalist in An Evening with Michael Crawford in Concert. Favorite regional shows/roles: Phantom (Christine) at Walnut St. Theatre, Kiss Me, Kate (Lilli/Kate), 1776 (Abigail Adams), The Music Man (Marian), Carousel (Julie), She Loves Me (Amalia), Dear World (Nina), Passion (Clara), and The Fantasticks (Luisa). Kristin is married to actor Michael St. John.

Newark, New Jersey native Maurice Chestnut began dancing at the age of five, under the direction of Mr. Alfred Gallman. He became a professional dancer at the age of nine as an original member of the New Jersey Tap Ensemble under the direction of Ms. Deborah Mitchell. In 2003, Maurice was recruited by tap master Savion Glover, to join the national touring company of the Tony Award winning Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring In ‘Da Funk. Maurice received critical favor in that role. He has continued to work with Savion as a member of his Improvography and Bare Soundz tours, as well as performing in productions such as Classical Savion, Tappin’ Into Monk, Invitation To The Dancer and on ABC-TV’s Dancing With The Stars. Off-Broadway credits include Shades of Harlem, The Wiz, Bubbling Brown Sugar directed by George Faison at Atlanta’s Fox Theater and Can I Hit That. Maurice has developed an impressive list of credits. In addition to performing with his own band, he is often invited to perform or tour as a special guest with such prominent jazz musicians as Christian McBride, Cyrus Chestnut and Thelonius Monk III. His high profile engagements have included the JVC Jazz Festival, the Playboy Jazz Festival, The Apollo Theater and Birdland, as well as appearances at Carnegie Hall and throughout Europe with the Geri Allen Trio. As a featured soloist and choreographer, Maurice skillfully uses these venues to further develop his signature style of “playing tap” as a “live instrument.” He seamlessly weaves complex dance steps to interplay with musical notes, creating a powerful and distinctive energy that resonates with his audiences.

Throughout the 90's, Kenny Davis toured with such notable jazz artists as Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves and Art Farmer. In 1999, Kenny Davis got the call from Kevin Eubanks, then band leader/music director of The Tonight Show Band. Davis was the bassist of The Tonight Show Band from September, 1999 thru March, 2002. In June, 2002, Kenny Davis moved back to New York and he is again touring, recording and teaching. In May 2006 he recieved his Masters in Music (MA) from Rutgers University. Kenny was the bass teacher at the University of Connecticut (UCONN) from 2003 thru 2009. Also, in May 2006 Kenny received his Master of Music (MA) from Rutgers University. In 2009 Kenny released his first CD as a leader, Kenny Davis on Daken Records.

Bradley Dean Bradley is currently appearing on Broadway in A Little Night Music. Other Broadway credits include Spamalot, Company, Man of La Mancha, The Story of My Life, and Jane Eyre. Off-Broadway and NYC: El Gallo in The Fantasticks (Jerry Orbach Theater), The Big Time (The Drama Dept.), Barry Manilow’s Harmony, Walmartopia (Minetta Lane). He has toured nationally as Che in Evita directed by Hal Prince and Sir Galahad in Spamalot directed by Mike Nichols and internationally as Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Show performing in over a dozen countries. Regional credits include Camelot, No Way to Treat a Lady, Falsettos, The Caretaker, Loot, and the title roles in Phantom, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Macbeth at such theaters as Goodspeed Opera House, Papermill Playhouse, The Alliance, St. Louis Rep., and Pittsburgh CLO. Television: One Life to Live, Guiding Light and All my Children. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon, Bradley is husband to Eileen, and father to Ana, Emma, and Oliver.

Jim Ferris Broadway: The Lion King (Pumbaa) Tours: The Lion King (1st national), Hello, Dolly! Off B’Way: Prelude to the First Day (Emerging Artists), Regional: Privates on Parade (Studio Theatre), Into the Woods (Signature Theatre), Over the River…(Totem Pole Playhouse). Film: Dave, The Pelican Brief and Born Yesterday.

Rosena M. Hill Jackson is currently a part of the Broadway production “Come Fly Away”. Other Broadway productions include The Color Purple; Monty Python’s Spamalot as the “Lady of the Lake” standby, Imaginary Friends, Oklahoma (2002 revival); Riverdance on Broadway; Marie Christine; and Ragtime. On the 1st National tour of Ragtime, Ms. Hill was in the Sarah understudy. Off- Broadway: Tin Pan Alley Rag, and numerous regional productions. In 2008, Ms. Hill released her debut solo CD of Show Tunes, Gospel and Jazz standards: "If you Believe"

In 1995, Mark Jacoby received a Theatre World Award for his Broadway debut as Vittorio Vidal in Sweet Charity. Subsequent Broadway roles include Baron von Gaigern in Grand Hotel, three years as the title character in The Phantom of the Opera, Gaylord Ravenal in Show Boat (Tony and Outer Critics’ Award nominations), the original Father in Ragtime, Padre Perez in Man of La Mancha, and Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd. Mark portrayed The Playwright in Enter the Guardsman Off-Broadway (Drama Desk nomination) and Guido Contini in the Chicago premiere of Nine (Joseph Jefferson Award).

Melissa Lone Melissa is currently performing in the Broadway production of "Mary Poppins" after spending over a year performing the role of Maggie in the Broadway production of "A Chorus Line". She traveled the country for 3 years in the National Touring Companies of "Beauty and the Beast", "Mamma Miia!" and "42nd street" and performed in such exceptional regional theatres as the Paper Mill Playhouse, Northshore Music Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre and Sacramento Music Circus. Her thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti.

For the past fifteen years, Janelle Anne Robinson has enjoyed an ongoing professional career on the operatic and musical theater stage. She has performed in France and Japan and also toured extensively within the United States. Janelle has been honored with several awards, including The Richard Tucker Study Grant and the MacAllister Award. Some of Janelle’s credits include the present Broadway production of Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s Mary Poppins, directed by the award-winning Sir Richard Eyre, in which she originates the role of Mrs. Corry; Oklahoma, also produced by Cameron Mackintosh and directed by Trevor Nunn and the revival of Showboat directed by Hal Prince and Susan Stroman. On tour she was seen as Ms. Flannery in the 1st National of Thoroughly Modern Millie and Queenie in Showboat. Also, she has been active in film and television, appearing most recently in a national commercial for Febreze, and on Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Thanks to all that have stood by believing in her.

Kelly Ross can currently be seen playing the zany landlord Harriet Valley in the new comedy web-series "Wiener and Wiener." Go to wienerandwiener.com. She also recently enjoyed playing many characters in "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" in Bethesda Maryland and had the most fun EVER terrorizing children as Cruella DeVil and Cinderella's evil stepmother for Disney Cruise Line. Kelly has worked in regional theater across the country and was one of 8 singers selected to sing in a master class for Mandy Patinkin at the Roundabout Theatre Company.

Michael St. John toured with the Broadway National tour Les Miserables for 4 years, where he portrayed the Bishop as well as the role of Thenardier. Most recently he was seen in NY as Lewis in Sherlock Holmes The Early Years. Off-Broadway credits include The Mikado and Pirates Of Penzance. Regionally, he has performed and starred in the title role of Phantom in four separate productions. Other regional credits include Stride in Jekyll and Hyde, Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar, and Gaston in Gigi. Michael is married to actress Kristin Carbone. Michael St. John

The event will be directed by Thom Christopher Warren, (Director) currently appears in the Broadway company of Disney’s THE LION KING, standing by for Scar, Zazu & Pumbaa, having served as the Resident Director of one of the productions national touring companies. Other Broadway/NY; ONCE UPON A MATTRESS with Sarah Jessica Parker, WHEN PIGS FLY (Howard), world premiere of Barry Manilow & Bruce Sussman’s HARMONY (Harry). Locally, Thom has been seen in both GYPSY and JOSEPH...DREAMCOAT at the Paper Mill Playhouse, while other regional work includes: The Guthrie, La Jolla, Hartford Stage Company, George Street Playhouse, Fulton Opera, and the Omaha Playhouse. Tours; LION KING (Zazu), JOSEPH…DREAMCOAT (Reuben), GODSPELL (Jesus), INTO THE WOODS (Baker), MY FAIR LADY (Freddy), LEND ME A TENOR (Max), FOREVER PLAID (Sparky), GYPSY (Yonkers/Pastey), BABES IN ARMS (Billy), RUTHLESS (Sylvia St. Croix) and HOW TO SUCCEED…(Finch). Thom most recently directed Susan Sandler's CROSSING DELANCEY at the Bickford Stage Company in Morristown, and LITTLE WOMEN at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music - on the faculty of the New York Film Academy, he coaches privately and teaches workshops and Master Classes around the country in Audition Technique. Thom Christopher Warren