Theatrical Gems: Miracle on 34th Street: Creative Team/Crew

presents

MEREDITH WILLSON (Book, Music, and Lyrics) was born in 1902 in Mason City, Iowa. He learned to play the flute as a child and began playing semi-professionally while still in high school. After high school he left Iowa to study at the Damrosch Institute of Musical Art (later the Juilliard School), receiving flute instruction from Georges Barrere, the world-renown flautist. While still attending the Institute, he was hired as principle flautist and piccolo player for the John Philip Sousa Band. He later joined the New York Philharmonic Orchestra where he was 1st flautist. He became musical director for various radio programs throughout the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, including Tallulah Bankhead's program, "The Big Show," for which he wrote the hit song "May The Lord Bless and Keep You." He composed the scores for the movies The Great Dictator and The Little Foxes, as well as symphonic, band, and choral works, including The Jervis Bay: Symphonic Variations on an American Theme and Anthem of the Atomic Age. Willson wrote three Broadway musicals: The Music Man, his first and most successful; The Unsinkable Molly Brown (music and lyrics), and Here's Love (book, music and lyrics). As an author he has published two autobiographical works (And There I Stood with My Piccolo and Eggs I Have Laid), one novel (Who Did What to Fedalia) and a memoir about the making of The Music Man (But He Doesn't Know the Territory).

JACOB SHOESMITH-FOX (Director). As Artistic Director of Theatrical Gems, Jacob directed the first production of Irving Berlin's Mr. President in NYC since 1963, the first New York revival of Wildcat, and produced the cabarets Real Men Wear Pink and Sing Showtunes, Broadway For Broke People, and Broadway Doe Disney (The Duplex). He has also directed full productions of Little Shop of Horrors and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying as well as various readings and workshops and was the Assistant Director of Are We Writing Loud Enough for the Vineyard Theatre. He worked as an actor for most of his childhood at the Pocono Playhouse and other locations in his hometown and also appeared in NYC in The Car in the 2007 Short Attention Span Horror Festival and the film Wet Hot American Summer. In 2006 he began producing with The Vagina Monologues on Staten Island, which he continued for the following three years, making him the only male V-Day producer in the region. Jacob graduated from Wagner College in 2009 with a B.S. in Arts Administration and spent 5 months interning in development and education at the Vineyard Theatre. Thanks to Mom for always being there and EN for getting me into theatre. In memory of Dad, Gram and Gramp. Remember "If you can dream it you can do it".

JONATHAN G GALVEZ (Assistant Director), in addition to being Artist-in-Residence/Co-Founder with Theatrical Gems, is a Producer/Tech Director for Stuff Films sketch comedy, and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. He created and was featured in the Theatrical Gems cabaret Real Men Wear Pink and Sing Showtunes and also appeared in their presentation of Mr. President. His writing credits include Thirty Minutes or Less in the NYC International Fringe Festival and Crossing Lights in Manhattan Repertory Theatre’s Amazing Play Festival. He received his B.A. from Wagner College and is an M.F.A. Candidate for Playwrighting at Hollins University.

BRETT RADEK (Choreographer) is originally from Chicago, Illinois and is glad to be starting the holiday season off a little early this year with Theatrical Gems! Brett also spent the summer being merry at Santa's Village in Jefferson, NH performing for the entertainment group RWS and Associates. He recently choreographed The Jungle Book for CMJ Productions in Chicago, and has danced with Floorwork Dance Company and LMProject in New York. Other theatre credits include: Robin Hood, the musical (NYMF), Rent (Weathervane Rep), Spring's Awakening (Adam Roebuck Productions), and Inside Out (Genesis Theatre Company). MCS and Wagner College BA Training.

SETH BISEN-HERSH (Musical Director/Piano) is a prolific, versatile composer/lyricist and performer. His musicals include Love Quirks, Stanley's Party (Manhattan Children's Theatre), More to Love, The Spickner Spin (FringeNYC Audience Favorite Award) and Meaningless Sex (FringeNYC Audience Favorite Award). He also produces two annual charity concerts of his work featuring Broadway performers: Broadway Meows and Broadway Can!, and writes/ stars in the web series "Every Day a Little Seth." He has two Bachelors from MIT and a Masters from NYU and is a member of AFM Local 802. www.sethbh.com

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