THE CREATIVE TEAM
Email: johnwalkerthemusical at yahoo.com

Brad Bauner, Producer

Brad is the assistant to the Executive Producer of the Marines Memorial Theatre and Post Street Theatre in San Francisco where he has assisted on productions of Noises Off, A Little Night Music, and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. As a staff member of Richard Frankel Productions (producers of Hairspray, The Producers, STOMP, etc.), he also serves as the assistant to the General Manager of Off-Broadway's smash hit, STOMP. Brad has served as the company manager for the Off-Broadway production of Temporary Help (starring Robert Cuccioli, Margaret Colin, and Chad Allen) and has served as a junior staff member for Flat Rock Playhouse in North Carolina.

Caroline Blaeldh, Costume Designer

Swedish born Caroline Blaeldh graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a major in advertising and Packaging Design. Carolina began her career at Philips Design Group in Boston, working on brands such as Gillete and Hood. She returned to NYC as creative director of 13 Designs. Here she is responsible for creative public relations as well as event design, working with clients as Origins, J&J and Clairol. Blaeldh is now CEO of Black Factory, a graphics firm specializing in invitation and promotional design. She incorporates her Swedish roots in her approach to her work with a perfect fusion of American and Scandanavian influences.

J. Edward "Joe" Cecala, Executive Producer

Joe Cecala serves as General Manager of the 600 room Holiday Inn-MIDTOWN on West 57th Street one of the largest Holiday Inn hotels in the United States. He currently sits on the Advisory Board of the Private Industry Council of NYC, the Advisory Board for Hospitality For Family & Friends, Inc. and was a charter member of the Times Square BID in 1990. His support of the theater in New York and New Jersey is widespread, as he is a contributor to the 2econd Stage Theater, The Drama League, Dance Theatre Workshop, Fractured Atlas and Woman Seeking Š He serves as Executive Producer of PUSH Productions, Incorporated NYC, Executive Board member of The Theatre Project at Union County College, Executive Producer of Word of Mouth Productions and Executive Producer of Alter Ego Theatre of New York. Over the past several years he has executive produced "Swim Shorts", "The Criminals", "Artist Descending A Staircase", "Having Our Say", "Geography of a Horse Dreamer", "Acts of Providence", "Faith", "Swim Shorts II" and "bunkerbaby".

Mr. Cecala is the founder and sole supporter of the Benedetto J. Cecala Scholarship Fund given annually to graduating students of Holy Trinity Interparochial School in Westfield, New Jersey. Former positions held by Mr. Cecala include Vice President Hotel Operations Milford Consultants, Executive Vice President Entertainment Properties (New England Patriots / Michael Jackson), Executive Vice President IZOD/Lacoste, Managing Director Hirsh Enterprises Hong Kong and Executive Director Murjani Industries Limited Hong Kong. While serving as Executive Director of the American Division of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce he proposed legislation before the Joint Economics Committee of the Senate in 1979 relating to Ex-Patriot Tax Relief and Duty Relief for Domestic Fabric Manufacturers producing finished products abroad. His initiatives were passed as legislation.

He is still married to his "bride" Kathy of thirty two years and has three children, Joseph Edward Jr., Kristen Marie and Patrick Thomas. A sixth family member was added on June 8th, 2002 when Kristen wed Jason Blackburn an independent filmmaker from New York. All of them have always been supportive of his vicarious involvement with young men and women attempting to make a go of it in the theater industry. Joe¹s heart and support are there for the aspirant who treads the boards or sits hunched over a keyboard. Through first hand experience acting in Lower East Side productions during the 1950¹s and 1960¹s he has developed a great empathy not only for actors but for anyone interested in the arts. He has tried to be that friendly face and helping hand that¹s so frightfully scarce in the creative arenas. Coupled with his boundless enthusiasm for all things and people creative he is a theater "angel" in the truest sense of the word.

Tom Escovar, Push Productions Co-Producer

Previous New York producing credits include among others; the premiere of "bunkerbaby" by Colin Hodges and the US premiere of "Faith" by Meredith Oakes named 'One of New York Theater's Best of 2003' by Ron Cohen of Backstage, and the premiere of "It's Not Even Past" by Timothy Mansfield all at Clemente Soto Velez. "It's Not Even Past" will also appear at the 2004 Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Other producing credits include; "The Criminals" by Ferdinand Bruckner at Present Company Theatorium, "Women For Women" at HERE Performing Arts Center, "Geography Of A Horse Dreamer" at Tribeca Playhouse and the revival of Martin Sherman's "Bent" this July at the Schapiro Theater. As an actor Tom has appeared in among many; Adam in "Faith", Jack in "Boys Life" at American Theater for Actors, Erpingham in "The Erpingham Camp" at the Sande Shurin Theater, Arnie Mishkin in "Mishkins Paradise" at Theater @ St. Clements and Antonio in "The Duchess of Malfi" at Westside Rep. Tom would like to thank the very dedicated cast, crew and creators.

Tim Mathes, Sound Design

Tim Mathes has recorded, edited and mixed hundreds of commercials, radio spots, government and industrial films, and cable television shows. Having gained his foundation in Washington D.C., Mr. Mathes has since worked on projects for Aaron Spelling Productions, Upjohn Pharmaceutical, Blind Faith Films, and Broadway Shows such as The Glass Menagerie and Swingin' On A Star. Mathes earned a Bachelor of Science degree in audio technology and music from The American University in Washington D.C.

John McCloskey, Co-Creator

John McCloskey wrote his first song in 1984, about the Townsend Tax Act, the British colonial legislation that precipitated the Boston Tea Party. In the years since, he has written or co-written woebegone tunes about subjects ranging from smoking cessation to cleft palettes. McCloskey is the author of a reinterpretation of the Robin Hood myths that will be published in September. He is a writer for My Mother the Cow, a cartoon series currently in development with Robert Zammarchi of Zamination Studios.  

Kenneth V. Nourse, Associate Producer

Kenneth V. Nourse has been an avid fan of, and participant in, Jean Strong productions for almost 20 years. More recently, he acted as Assistant Director, Make-up Artist, and Dancing Boy #1 in her late-90s musical "Domestic Bliss". An attorney by day, he lives in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston with his spouse Andrew G. Buck and their two little dogs, Muji and Poika.

Daniel Ogrocki, Technical Director

Daniel Ogrocki is a technical director from the Czech Republic. In New York, he has served as Technical Director of Gravity Always Wins by Marc Spitz at HERE Arts Center and The Expense of Spirit by Josh Fox and the International WOW Company at the Ohio Theater, presented by Soho Think Tank's Ice Factory 2004. He is thrilled to be working with the creative team of John Walker: the Musical.

Ana Mari de Quesada, Production Stage Manager*
*working courtesy of Actors' Equity Association

Ana Mari de Quesada has previously worked as a stage manager at The Paradise Theater for I Want You To, Fear & Friday Night, What Happened Was..., Room 314, The Mineola Twins (Pantheon Theater), Specter (Red Room), Territory (The Bottle Factory Theater) Eric & Nelson: Men of Magic (Abingdon Theatre), Pick-Up 6 (NY Int¹l Fringe Festival) Audience Favorite Award Winner, Production Stage Manager for It's Not Even Past (CSV, Flamboyan Theater), Bunkerbaby (CSV, Milagro Theater), A Train Wreck (Ground Floor Theater), 2003 Drama Desk Award Nominee Peter & Vandy (Paradise Theater), and The Criminals (Present Company).

Phil Stambaugh, Choreographer

Phil Stambaugh received his B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography from The Ohio State University. While in attendance he was a member of The University Dance Company, performing works by Pilobolus and The New York Baroque Company. Since moving to New York, Phil has worked with Comedy Central, Ricki Lake, MTV Japan, The International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Ben Munisteri Dance Projects, Peter Prisms Productions, Keep Your Head Productions, and The Gay Pimp.

Jean Strong, Co-Creator

Jean Strong composes music for independent film, performance, and musical theater. Jean recently scored the short film, "The Misconception of Randal Bimford," directed by Matthew Jarrett, which is making the rounds of the independent film festival circuit this year.

Strong wrote the book, music, and lyrics for "Domestic Bliss," a musical comedy about settling down, produced for digital video by Buttco Films in 1999. She also composed music for CD projects, "Movie Music," and "The Reluctant Monster." "The Reluctant Monster" single will be available in stores on a compilation CD through Suite Inc, in late 2004. Jean is also a writer for the animated series in development, "My Mother The Cow," created by Rob Zammarchi of Zamination Studios. Website

Laura Wagner, Director

Laura Wagner is a director and producer of theatre and film. She researched, developed, and served as Associate Producer of Pulse: a Stomp Odyssey, the critically acclaimed film directed by the creators of Stomp. Pulse is currently running in Imax theaters all over the world and recently won the Grand Prize and the Public Choice Award at La Geode Film Festival in Paris.

Other recent productions include Gravity Always Wins by Marc Spitz at HERE Arts Center (Producer); the Off-Broadway production of Eve Ensler's Necessary Targets, directed by Michael Wilson and starring Shirley Knight and Diane Venora (Associate Producer); and the feature film, Homework, written and directed by Kevin Asher Green, winner of the Grand Jury Award at Slamdance (Casting).

Her directing credits include Largo Desolato by Vaclav Havel, What Happened by Gertrude Stein, Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, Titanic by Christopher Durang, and The Love of the Nightingale by Timberlake Wertenbaker.

With Harriet Newman Leve Productions, Wagner has contributed to the Broadway productions of The Crucible, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Hedda Gabler, and Kat and the Kings. She is currently an associate producer of the upcoming Broadway production of The Good Body by Eve Ensler and associate producer of Jocasta Rising by Carol Kaplan at Artscape inCape Town,South Africa.

Jonathan Waller, Music Director

Jonathan Waller is a composer for theatre and film, who also enjoys directing. Among his recent projects, Jon has music directed Peter Pan, The Wiz, and an original musical called Tale, and served as music director for NYU's Mass Transit for nearly three years.Receiving a Bachelor of Music from New York University, and an Alan Menken Scholar, Jon has been recognized for his compositions and is currently creating the concept and writing the music for a new musical comedy called Superhero, which hopes to explore the importance of the superhero within us all. Jon had the opportunity to work with director Alrick Brown, a second year grad student at NYU's Tisch Film School, scoring his dark satire The Adventures of Supernigger: Episode I, The Final Chapter, which recently won Best Short Film at the New Jersey International Film Festival. The making of the film has also been documented and edited into a new original reality series by the IFC (Independent Film Channel) called "iFilm School," which will begin airing on Fridays in September at 10:30.

Keith Kiya Wilson, Producer

As the founder of BeeHive Inc, Keith managed the development, domestic and international licensing and successful marketing of Ichat, the first web-based chat technology. Ichat is still the primary basis for
over 50% of the chat on the Internet today, including yahoo.chat. In 1997 Ichat was named CNET’s runner-up for “Server of the Year,” second only to Netscape Enterprise. Keith is currently pursuing the
technology’s potential in the interactive gaming sector.

BeeHive’s success fueled the achievements of its parent company, BeeLine Internet Resources, the Boston area’s first pure web development firm. Founded by Keith in 1995, BeeLine took a vertical marketing approach, serving domestic and international clients in the
government/non-profit, media, healthcare and financial services sectors. After successfully negotiating venture capital funding for BeeLine in 1999, Keith spearheaded a merger with Skyworld, Inc in 2001. Today Skyworld is a thriving, solid business despite the 75% failure rate of its competitors.

Keith is a passionate supporter of theater and film and has funded past projects of Jean Strong’s. Keith also starred as “Ralph Potts” in Jean Strong’s musical film, “Domestic Bliss” in 1998.

Suzanne Zelinski, Associate Producer

Suzanne Zelinski is Manager of International Accounting at a NYC based investment management firm.  Her previous experience includes private equity partnership accounting, payroll management, and a one year stint with the Internal Revenue Service.  She served as Production Manager on Buttco Films' 1999 digital video release "Domestic Bliss." Ms. Zelinski earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting magna cum laude from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. 

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