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CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM
Debbi Arseneaux (stage manager)
works locally as a stage manager, director, technician and teacher. She has made
herself useful to a variety of DC theatres including Project Y, Keegan Theatre,
Round House Theatre, Signature Theatre, Phoenix Theatre DC, The Source Theatre
Festival, Theatre Alliance, and most recently, Catalyst Theater Company.
Since moving to Washington, DC, in 1999, Beth Baldwin (set design)
has designed sets and props for productions by the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop,
Rorschach Theater, Washington Shakespeare Company, Source Theater and Folger
Shakespeare Library. She is currently a hand props/craftsperson at the Shakespeare
Theatre.
Jean Cook (producer/back office, orchestration team) is a founder of
Anti-Social Music. She is part of the 11tet, a New York based jazz composers
workshop, and is a member of the Punk not Rock composer salon, which brings
together post-punk rockers and classically trained musicians in Washington, DC.
As a violinist, she has toured and recorded with the Gena Rowlands Band, Jenny
Toomey (Misra), and Edith Frost (Drag City). Jean produced and hosted "The
Twentieth Century String Quartet" on 89.9 WKCR-FM, New York from 1995-1996.
She was the publicist for Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) for three years
before moving to New York in 2000. Current projects include guest-curating a European
classical recital series for WPAS. [jean@nitratehymnal.net]
Mike Daniels is a freelance designer and master electrician in the Washington,
D.C. area. Previous designs include The Nutcracker with Crossroads Dance
Project; Exercises in Style with Le Neon Theatre; Dutchman with Source
Theatre Co.; In the Boom Boom Room with Project Y; The Spring 2002 concert
with the Arlington Center for Dance; Waiting to Be Invited with African
Continuum Theatre Co; El Invitado (The Houseguest), Hagase la Mujer (Let
There Be Woman), El Saludador (The Greeter), and Cuentos de Hadas
(Fairy Tales) with Teatro de la Luna; A House in the Country and Stretch
Marks with Charter Theatre; Red Diaper Baby and Decoding the
Tablecloth with Theatre J; and Vladivostock Blues with The Theatre Conspiracy.
David Durst (music director, orchestration team) is a pianist,
musical consultant and composer. He is a member of NYC's Anti-Social Music and regularly
performs and records classical, improv, rock and experimental music with different groups.
Also a contributor to the Punk Not Rock composer salon, he has written and arranged music
for small chamber ensembles, independent film projects and bands for over ten years. In
addition to The Nitrate Hymnal, he can be heard on recordings by Maritime, Travis Morrison,
and Troubled Hubble and others. [durst (at) nitratehymnal (dot) net]
Emily Koonse (film editor) uses a mixture of photography, film,
video, and digital imagery to open up visual storytelling. A life-long puppeteer and
visual artist, she has performed in schools, video productions and street parades in
Missouri, and has built puppet collections for Silver Whale Puppet Troupe and Camleon
Puppet Theatre. Originally from Columbia Missouri, Emily graduated from the North
Carolina School of the Arts - School of Filmmaking and has worked as an editor and a
producer for a variety of projects, including video projected backgrounds for "Tales
of Hoffman" for the Piedmont Opera Company. Her own video-art projects include
"Untitled 001", which explores themes of female experience, and meditation,
using a non-traditional narrative structure, and was recently screened at the Los Angeles
DIY Film Festival. Emily currently holds a position as Post Production Coordinator at the
International Film and Television Workshops,and continues to freelance as a video
editor/producer.
Jonathan Kreinik (sound engineer/designer) developed a love of tape
and tape manipulation around 1977 thanks to Panasonic handheld tape recorder and technics
rt707 1/4" machine matched with the wonder of manipulated mouth and body noises. At
the same time became hooked on two records purchased by his older sister: commodores live
and parliament vs. the placebo syndrome. At 12 he acquired his first synth thanks to
interest in duran duran, eno, depeche mode, skinny puppy, jean michel jarre and synth pop
in general. Between then and now has been (and currently is) a recording engineer for the
likes of Trans Am (as well as live mixer), the MakeUp, Frodus, Knodel, Hot Snakes,
Baltimore's the American, and Brooklyn's !!! (Pow!Pow!Pow!); bedroom sound
maniplulator/collager; audio editor and digital radio conspirator; solo
performer as Pines of Nowhere1999, as well as guitarist in the current rock incarnation
of P.O.N; and solo works under the names TanLine, Doomed Union and more recently as the
Limousine Unlimited. All of this in the theoretical world of Boombox Magnetica Sound
System. JK remains steadfast in his pursuit of 'the good sound' and 'sounds:interesting'.
Bob Massey (the big idea) splits his time between music-making
and writing for Spin, The Washington Post, and others. His music steals shamelessly from
the visceral impact of post-punk, the emotional palette of classical, and the sonic range
of experimental music. Massey has toured and recorded with Jean Smith (Kill Rock Stars),
Telegraph Melts (Absolutely Kosher Records), and Tsunami (Simple Machines). He has
composed scores for film, dance, and the web. Currently, he curates the Punk Not Rock
composer salon in Washington, DC. His work has been enthusiastically received by the
Sunday Times of London, The Washington Post, National Public Radio, Washington City
Paper, Public Radio International, Alternative Press, Magnet, Yakuza, Pitchfork Media,
Ink 19, Hip Mama, and others. [bob (at) nitratehymnal (dot) net]
Kendall Nordin (set design/film team), the "Professional
Dilettante," currently works on musicians' advocacy issues through the Future
of Music Coalition and on the management of independent record label Misra Records.
Some of her past successes include associate producing "The Ballad of Bering
Strait," a feature-length documentary to be theatrically released nationwide
in 2003, displaying photography in local venues, and the staging of several public
art performances. Inspired by the atmosphere surrounding her alma mater Reed College,
she and a few friends formed BOHICA, an unskilled girl band that released a recording
"BOHICA is dead". More recently, her band Wussy Bunny garnered small
attention for their rock opera "Xenoichthophobia" based on the saga of the
Northern Snakehead fish found in Crofton, MD. Kendall's poetry has been published in
"Wordwrights" and "Rain City Review" and won an American Academy
of Poets sponsored prize in 1999. Though she attempts to move to foreign lands often
(Costa Rica, Scotland, China, Sicily), DC keeps bringing her back. She looks forward
to putting together some video installation/video & audio journal projects she
has been recording. [kendall@nitratehymnal.net]
After working in various capacities at the Washington City Paper for
8 1/2 years, Tina Plottel (back office) finally figured out what she wanted to
be when she grew up – a librarian. Currently a master's candidate in Library
Science and Information Systems at the Catholic University of America, she is wagering
her encyclopedic knowledge of music and pop culture at the Library of Congress, and her
impeccable organizational skills helping run the Power Lunch Reading Program for
Everybody Wins! at Key School in Arlington. In her spare time, she is working on her
musical project of writing a song for every chapter in Ray Bradbury's the Martian Chronicles.
Cheles Rhynes (technical director) is Co-founder, Technical and
Managing director for Mason/Rhynes Productions, and Production Stage Manger for Ailey II.
For more than eight years, Mr. Rhynes has worked as a Lighting Designer, Stage Manager,
and Assistant Director with the Pocket Sandwich Theatre in Dallas, TX. He toured with the
Flying Karamozov Brothers based in Seattle, WA and Mixed Blood Theater in Minneapolis.
Locally he has worked with Living Stage Theatre, DC Jewish Community Center, the
Shakespeare Theatre, and DancePlace. He was Technical Director for Joy of Motion Dance
Center Jack Guidone Theater, and Production Coordinator, Company Manager and Stage Manager
for Liz Lerman Dance Exchange. Mr. Rhynes' award-winning technical direction and lighting
designs have been sought after by numerous groups including Ziva Spanish Dance Ensemble,
Helanius Wilkins' Edgeworks Dance Theater, Sylvia Soumah's Coyaba Dance Theatre, Toni
Blackman's Freestyle Union, CrossCurrents Dance Company, Baltimore/Chicago Contemporary
Dance Company, Native Tongue Dance Collective and City Dance Ensemble. Mr. Rhynes is also
the Founder and Executive Director of the Metro DC Dance Awards, a galvanizing event
celebrating the metropolitan DC/MD/VA dance community.
David Schweizer (director) has been directing original theater,
opera and performance works nationally and internationally for twenty-five years. Recent
New York work includes the Obie Award winning AND GOD CREATED GREAT WHALES by Rinde
Eckert which was seen in this area at Center Stage in Baltimore last spring and will be
seen at the Barbicon Center in London this summer. His opera work dates back to his debut
at the Houston Grand Opera with Mozart's ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO, and more recent
work at Long Beach Opera includes his collaboration with Guillermo Gomez-Pena on
Purcell's LA INDIAN QUEEN, Henze's ELEGY FOR YOUNG LOVERS and Thomas Ades' modern opera
POWDER HER FACE. He made his New York directing debut at the age of twenty-two with
Shakespeare's TROILUS AND CRESSIDA produced by Joseph Papp at Lincoln Center. His
numerous extended residencies abroad launched new works and revivals in Warsaw, Lisbon,
Hamburg, London, Prague, Sarajevo and Toga Village-Japan. In Washington he has directed
Lisa Loomer's THE WAITING ROOM at Arena Stage and later this season he will stage Sandra
Tsing Loh's I WORRY for the Woolly Mammoth Theater at the Kennedy Center. He was trained
at the Yale School of Drama and teaches at UCLA and CAL ARTS.
Lynn Sharp Spears (costumes) has worked as a director, performer
and designer for stage, television and film since 1984. She has won awards for her set
designs, masks and acting. Penn State University has Lynn's masks on permanent display
in their library. Lynn has performed with or designed for: The National, Source
Theatre, Studio Theater, The Washington Shakespeare Company, The Washington Savoyards,
The Creative Opera Ensemble, Toby's, The Folger Theatre, Troika National Tours and
Networks National Tours, National Geographic, and The Discovery Channel. Lynn is the
Artistic Director of Adventure Theater, a professional children's theater in Glen Echo Park.
David Wilson's (filmmaker) films celebrate existence of youth
subcultures in an area that many view as having no culture. Beginning with Kansas Anymore
(1996), Wilson's films have screened at festivals and venues around the world, including
MIXfest NYC and the Melbourne International Gay and Lesbian Film Fest. With his most
recent movie, Magic City (2000), Wilson organized the Punknotrock film tour, visiting
more than 80 cities around the country and appearing in venues ranging from basements to
Universities. Magic City had its festival premiere at the 2000 New York Underground Film
Festival, and has also shown at the Chicago Underground Film Festival, the Lost Film
Festival and the St. Louis International Film Festival. Wilson co-founded the Ragtag Film
Series, which brings new independent and underground film and video into the heart of
Missouri. He is a former film columnist for Punk Planet magazine and the founder of
Kinofist Imageworks, a DIY distribution collective. A lifelong resident of Columbia,
Missouri, David has booked underground rock shows and waffle breakfasts in and around
the city for more than ten years. [david@nitratehymnal.net]
PERFORMERS
Brian Baker (cast) is currently a student at the University
of the Arts in Philadelphia. In May he will receive his undergraduate degree in
vocal performance. His studies have been divided between opera, early music,
ensemble singing, and jazz vocal improvisation. He has performed the role of Bob
from The Old Maid and the Thief at the Arts Bank and also at the Trinity Center
for the Performing Arts. His jazz recitals include Kurt Weill, Ellington and
Gershwin tributes. He sings Sunday services with Trinity Episcopal Church in
Swarthmore, PA. Brian's experience singing in the original rock band Scribbler
over the last decade has given him a unique stage persona which is well-suited
to his roll as Robert in The Nitrate Hymnal. Brian would like to thank the writers
and staff of The Nitrate Hymnal for the opportunity to premiere this role. He
would also like to thank his parents, his brother and his teacher Reggie for their
love and support.
Nate Burke (guitar) is a former member of Real Cool Rain and
Frodus and a current member of the Out_Circuit (also with Bob Massey). He got
married this past New Year's Eve.
Hai-Ting Allison Chinn (cast) grew up in Northern California
and studied at the Eastman School of Music and the Yale School of Music. Since
1997 she has been based in New York City, where she sings with a variety of early- and
new- music ensembles, including L'antica Musica New York, Bachworks, the VOX vocal ensemble,
Sequitur, and the American Composer's Alliance. Her operatic and theater credits include
Hansel in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, Cherubino in Mozart's Nozze di Figaro,
Pitti-Sing in Gilbert and Sullian's The Mikado, Fa Mulan in Fred Ho's Warrior Sisters,
Tuptim and Lady Thiang in Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I (the latter on
London's West End). In addition to performing, Ms. Chinn teaches voice at the Greenwich
House Music School.
Mea Cook (cello) studied cello and viola da gamba for a
certificate in music performance at Princeton University, and with an Emerson
Fellowship at MIT, performing chamber music, new music, jazz, and various flavors
of baroque. She is studying Marine Geology in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and just
learned how to ice skate.
Leanne Darling (viola) uses her background in classical,
blues, jazz, Arabic, and free improvisation to create her own unique sound on
viola. Former assistant principal violist with the Florida West Coast Symphony
and Violist with the New Artists Piano Quartet, Darling has performed in concert
halls, clubs, and art galleries from New York to Austria to Missouri. She designs
her own unique solo act using looping/sampling device to create many layered
compositions both planned and improvised. Currently a freelance violist in New York,
Leanne Darling studies and performs classical Arabic music and free Jazz, as well as
teaches strings and improvisation.
Amy Domingues (cello) is a cellist and composer residing
in Arlington, VA. She currently plays in the neo-classical Threnody Ensemble and
with DC-improvists All Scars. Her most recent soundtrack work can be heard in Sam
Green's documentary The Weather Underground, premiering at the Sundance film
festival in January 2003.
Cesar A. Guadamuz (cast). Two years after graduating
with a Foreign Affairs degree from the University of Virginia, Cesar continues
to hold down a respectable 9 to 5 while satisfying his actor fantasies. Cesar
has been seen in various roles at the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, Source
Theatre Company, GALA Hispanic Theatre, ETC/Globostage, & Phoenix Theatre DC
among others. He has also had the wonderful opportunity to work on a number of local
and national radio and TV campaigns. Currently he serves as a consultant for the
President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Nitrate Hymnal marks a new stage
in Cesar's career as an actor for he will have devoted an entire month solely to
the development of the work without the distractions of a non-theatre job... and
he couldn't be happier about that.
Chris Hamley (guitar) is currently a professional gardener.
Previously he created and performed music for musical groups: The Cast Iron Lawn
Dogs, Circus Lupus, Antimony, and Monorchid. He completed three-quarters of a
bachelor's degree in Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin - Madison before
dropping out. He then relocated to the Washington, DC area in 1990 to pursue music.
Sarah Kendall (violin) is a junior at Oberlin College
majoring in Medieval History. This is her first out-of-school gig in four years,
and first ever as a member of a theatrical orchestra. Many thanks to Mrs. Cheilek for
pointing the production team in her direction.
Marcus Kyd (cast) most recently appeared in The Winter's
Tale at Baltimore's Center Stage. He has enjoyed understudy assignments for the
Shakespeare Theatre and Arena Stage and is soon to join the cast of Shear
Madness at the Kennedy Center. He received his MFA from the Shakespeare Theatre's
Academy for Classical Acting. For the five years before the Academy, Marc sang and
played guitar for local rock group The Most Secret Method, playing over 200
shows in 16 countries, releasing two full length albums and two EPs. Over the years,
Marc's choreography has been featured in several college and alternative venues.
Vin Novara (percussion), a graduate of the University of
Maryland School of Music (BM '94, MM 98), has been a drummer/percussionist and
instructor in the DC area since 1992. He has toured and recorded with The Sorts,
Canyon, The Crownhate Ruin, 1.6 Band, and was also a founding member of the
percussion group The New Dark Age Ensemble. Vin is currently with the band The
Perfect Souvenir, and the percussion trio Racing Trains.
Tunde Oyewole (bass) has studied music at Brown University,
Howard University, and at George Washington University. He can be seen around town
playing with the bossa nova revival group Galinha.
Since moving to New York in 2000, Susan Oetgen
(cast) has sung in the world premieres of works by Anti-Social Music founders Franz
Nicolay and Dan Lasaga, including a commission by Franz for Susan and guitarist
Francisco Roldán. She holds an MM in Vocal Performance from Catholic University,
where she concentrated in Latin American vocal repertoire at the Latin American Music
Center and performed works by composers João Guilherme Ripper of Brazil and
Alejandro Muzio of Uruguay. As a student and performer of folkloric Afro-Cuban music
and dance, she currently trains with Xiomara Rodriguez and Luís Bauzó
of the Harbor Conservatory in New York City, and participated in a program at the
National School for the Arts in Havana, Cuba in 2000. Recent performances include
engagements with the National Chorale, Brooklyn Music School Summer Opera, New York
Opera Forum, Anti-Social Music, MTV, the New York Public Library, New Jersey Chamber
Orchestra and various concerts with Francisco Roldán.
Philippa Thompson (violin) plays violin and viola and has
done so for years. She also sings and plays the spoons. She lives in Brooklyn where
she performs and records with the bands Gloria Deluxe, and Rosine, and has also
worked with Anti-Social Music and the New Music Ensemble at Tufts University. She
spends her weekdays working for Bang on a Can, a non-profit music organization in
New York City, where she helps to organize the Summer Institute of Music at MASS MoCA.
James Wolf (violin) plays with From Quagmire and the Gena Rowlands
Band. He works at the Library of Congress in the Music Division.
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