Lauren Courtney Norman, May Festival 2010

Lauren Courtney Norman (as Kelsie, the yoga-loving cannibal who talks to squirrels) studied marine biology & acting at the University of Miami. During her time there, she worked as a laboratory assistant, exploring the field of Marine Geology for 3 years in accordance with her undergraduate studies in Marine Affairs and Ocean Policy and graduate studies in Aquaculture. However, the hundreds of hours she spent with the microscope did not completely satisfy her, so she decided she must add acting into her curriculum of nautical archaeology, and scientific research diving.

She started studying theatre and decided to pursue it as a career after finishing her degree. She spent time living in England during a study abroad program at the University of Essex and was cast in a production of 84 Charring Cross Road. On the day of her graduation, she gave a lecture to the Florida Archaeological Society. She was later offered a job on the spot as a park ranger, and although she was flattered, would not be caught dead wearing a ranger’s hat and polyester pants. She then turned her focused on acting. She was awarded a scholarship to study in New York City and never looked back.

She has portrayed characters ranging from serial killers to loving moms and worked in media ranging from print to stage to sound stage, and from screen to green screen.

Lauren is proud to say she is a full time actress and model. She has traveled to over 14 countries.

She currently lives in Manhattan with her hamster named Walker. Her converse are pink and she loves them. Check out her website at www.LaurenNorman.com

Daniel Maté, May Festival 2010

Daniel Maté (B.A., McGill, Psychology; M.F.A., Tisch/NYU, Musical Theatre Writing) writes music, lyrics, and book, in various permutations and combinations. He is the lyricist and co-bookwriter, with composer Will Aronson, of The Trouble With Doug, a modern comedic musical inspired by Kafka's The Metamorphosis (staged reading, Goodspeed Festival of New Artists '08; workshop production, CAP 21 Theatre Company, NYC, '09.) As a composer, his collaboration with lyricist Maggie-Kate Coleman has been featured as part of the York Theatre's NEO (New, Emerging, Outstanding) concert series. As a composer-lyricist, his song cycle The Longing and the Short of It was presented by Barrington Stage Company in August '09, curated and directed by Tony-winning composer/lyricist William Finn. Daniel's work has been performed at numerous NYC venues such as Joe's Pub and the Duplex, and his sold-out concert Marry Me, America at the Laurie Beechman in February 2009 was a Time Out New York "Critics' Pick." In addition he runs a custom songwriting service and teaches songwriting to young people. Daniel is the recipient of a 2006 Tisch Achievement Award and a 2010 Jonathan Larson Foundation Grant. He is also a two-time finalist for the New York City Hip Hop Karaoke Championship, a distinction of which he is most jiggy.

www.danielmate.com

Representation: Sarah Douglas, Abrams Artists, NYC

Eric March, May Festival 2010 Bio

Eric March is a composer/lyricist whose work has been performed at the New York International Fringe Festival (Granola! The Musical), Ars Nova (Songs About Real Life) and the Ensemble Studio Theatre, where he is a member of Youngblood, EST's group for emerging playwrights under 30. He is a member of the BMI workshop, a pianist and musical director for Chicago City Limits, Brodway's Next Hit Musical and ArtProv, and a former contributing writer for The Onion. His latest musical, "The Great American Deli Musical: Part I" will be read at the Schaerberle Studio Theatre at Pace University on June 21. Come!

Julia Meinwald, May Festival 2010 Bio

JULIA MEINWALD is an nyc-based composer. Her music for theatre has been heard at Lincoln Center (Disappeared at the Directors Lab), Ars Nova (Jack Perry is Alive and Dating), Joe's Pub (One Man Show), Prospect Theatre Company (Mapquest), the York Theatre (NEO5),and Barrington Stages (Bill Finn Presents Ridiculously Talented Composers and Lyricists That You’ve Probably Never Heard of But Should.) Julia is a Dramatists Guild fellow, a resident artist with American Lyric Theatre and a proud participant in the composer librettist studio at New Dramatists. You can hear her music on the internet sitcom Inconvenient Molly as well to in the score to short films featuring Josh Gad (The Losers) and Mary Louise Parker (Wing Woman). She received her BA in Music from Yale University in 2005, and her M.F.A from NYU Tisch's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program in 2007. www.juliameinwald.com.

Elizabeth Boyke, May Festival 2010

Elizabeth is a sophomore musical theatre major at Syracuse University. In the fall of 2010, she will be performing in the SU Drama Department Faculty One-Acts. The 'Dress Shorts' portion of the 'From the Hip Festival' marks her NYC debut, with The British are Coming?... being her first playwriting credit. She'd like to thank Phil for ad-libbing with her for 8 hours to create their beautifully absurdist play. She would also like to thank Sonita for her wonderful direction, Ryan for being the greatest co-star a girl could ask for, everyone who has helped her with her first week in NYC, and her friends and family for being so loving and supportive.

Phil Blechman, May Festival 2010 Bio

Phil Blechman is currently a junior acting major at Syracuse University. His acting credits include Aesop in "Fables of Aesop", "Rocky Horror", and Evan in "Death of Superboy". He will be appearing as the palooka in "Palooka" by Tennessee Williams this fall in Syracuse. This is his NYC playwright debut. His play "The Unwritten Code" recently performed in Syracuse at the New Playwrights Festival and at the John Drew Theatre in East Hampton this past summer. He thanks everyone who thought of the idea "hey let's write a play in a day and then perform it". Big ups to you. Thanks to his wonderful partner in crime - Lizzy Boyke - Mom, Dad, Henry, Ed, and Bada. Hey Mr. Bear, we miss ya.

Laura Baron, May Festival 2010 Bio

"Laura Baron is a fearless actor," says NY Indie director Ian Fischer. Laura recently completed an acting project at the United States Military Academy in which she improvised with cadets completing their training with the USMA Negotiations Project. This summer she is slated to play a lead in the feature film "Love Stalker", to be shot in St. Louis. Also a classically trained vocalist, she's sung with such celebrated musicians as Bobby McFerrin and Sir David Willcocks. In her spare time she races motorcycles and practices yoga. www.laurabaron.net