The Off-Broadway rock musical Jasper in Deadland is being performed live online on Friday, October 9 at 8 pm ET to benefit the Actors Fund, with direct links for viewers to donate. The writers of the show, Ryan Scott Oliver (Music, Book, and Lyrics) and Hunter Foster (Book), will be present for the live stream as well and participate in a Q&A talk-back after the show. The performance will be available to stream on multiple platforms including Broadway On Demand, Ryan Scott Oliver’s YouTube Channel, and more.
Jasper in Deadland is the story of 17-year old Jasper as he searches for his friend Agnes, deeper and deeper into Deadland. The show mixes mythology and a punk rock score as Jasper comes across Gods and monsters who stand in his way. Brandi Chavonne Massey* directs, with choreography by Raquis Petree.
The cast features Michael Taylor Robinson* as Jasper, Diana Huey* as Gretchen, and Michael Coale Grey* as Mr. Lethe. Completing the cast is William Bailey*, Bianca DiSarro, Chrissy Albanese, Paul Trenier*, Amanda Felicia Foote* and Brandi Chavonne Massey*.
The production team for Jasper in Deadland includes Anne Fraser Thomas, John Walbolt, John Bronston, Richard Baskin Jr., Tony Javed, Scott Barbarino, Bianca DiSarro, and Ricardo Castelin.
*Actors performing courtesy of AEA and Theatre Authority.
Founded in 1882, The Actors Fund is a national human services organization here to meet the needs of our entertainment community with a unique understanding of the challenges involved in a life in the arts. Services include emergency financial assistance, affordable housing, health care and insurance counseling, senior care, secondary career development and more.
MICHAEL TAYLOR ROBINSON* (JASPER) is exceedingly excited to be joining the virtual cast of Jasper in Deadland! He is originally from Montclair, NJ and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Montclair State University in 2014. Many thanks to his family, friends, and colleagues for their love and support.
DIANA HUEY* (GRETCHEN) is excited to swim back into Deadland after playing Eurydice in the 5th Avenue Theatre production. She played Ariel in the National Tour of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, where she made headlines for facing racism over her casting and her activism for diversity in the arts. @dianahuey
MICHAEL COALE GREY* (MR. LETHE) is AWFULLY excited to be in Deadland. Regional: Elf: The Musical, Annie (Paper Mill Playhouse), The Theory of Relativity (Goodspeed Opera House, OCR) and more. Michael premiered original music last summer at Rockwood Music Hall as part of Drew Gasparini and Friends. BFA The Hartt School. Proud AEA Member. @michaelcgrey.
WILLIAM BAILEY* (VARIOUS ROLES/ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER) National tour: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Madison Square Garden). TV and film credits: Shade: Queens of NYC, Nickelodeon commercial (choreographer and dancer), “Dragged,” “Party of One” (Afro Daisiac), “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” “Wig” on HBO (Featured- Jada Valenciaga). “Stay Strong! Love and light!” Instagram: @jadavalenciaga
BIANCA DISARRO (VARIOUS ROLES) is an NYC-based performer. She can be seen on season 1 of “Vinyl” on HBO. She is a 2 time Apollo Amateur Night winner. Favorite shows include: In The Heights, Once Upon a Rhyme ( Formally iLLa), and The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover. Dedicated to all the change-makers who dream of a better, more fair and more equitable future in the arts. Be Fierce! www.biancadisarro.com
CHRISSY ALBANESE (VARIOUS ROLES) Off-Broadway: PUFFS (Sally). Regional: A Gentleman’s Guide… Florida Studio Theatre and Florida Repertory Theatre (u/s Phoebe), Austen’s Pride Fingerlakes Musical Theatre Fest, Sister Act and The Music Man Maine State Music Theatre, Tartuffe Westport Country Playhouse, My Fair Lady (Eliza). NYC: FARMED Joe’s Pub, OFF The Duplex. chrissyalbanese.com
PAUL TRENIER* (VARIOUS ROLES), a native of Mobile, AL, is excited to be working on Jasper in Deadland. He is a graduate of Oklahoma City University (M.M. in Music Theatre) and The University of Southern Mississippi (Bachelors in Music Education). He would like to thank the creative team for this wonderful opportunity!
AMANDA FELICIA FOOTE* (VARIOUS ROLES) is a native “Yinzer” from Pittsburgh, PA and an AMDA BFA alumna. Credits include Broadway: The Book of Mormon, Tours: The Book of Mormon, The Book of Mormon Australia, The Lion King, Regional: Sister Act, Saturday Night Fever, Grease and Hairspray. Endless gratitude to God, my husband and Ma. @amandafeliciafoote
BRANDI CHAVONNE MASSEY* (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/VARIOUS ROLES) is excited to be back in Deadland where she originated the role of Ammut at The 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle. Favorite credits include: West End Nala in The Lion King, Nettie/Celie in The Color Purple; Elphaba in Wicked; The Radio in Caroline or Change and Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde.
RAQUIS PETREE (CHOREOGRAPHER) is a Librettist/Director/Choreographer and the first student to graduate from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC with a concentration in Musical Theatre/Producing. He studied Musical Theatre at AMDA (NYC). Nominated for the Wilde Award, Best Choreography, Lysistrata Jones at Meadow Brook Theater.
ANNE FRASER THOMAS (PRODUCER/STAGE MANAGER) has starred in many regional shows including Hercules, Man of La Mancha, Les Miserables, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Miss Saigon and many more. She sings with Tony award honored, Broadway Inspirational Voices gospel choir. Her proudest accomplishment to date is a being mommy to her beautiful daughter, Violet. www.annefraserthomas.com
JOHN WALBOLT (PRODUCER/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR) wrote and directed Non-Eq, a short film comedy about life as a non-union theatre actor in New York City. Coming up in December is his annual holiday fundraiser, The 3rd Annual Miracle on Christopher Street (Online)! Creator of the singer’s app Pocket Pitch. johnwalbolt.com @johnwalbolt
JOHN BRONSTON (MUSIC DIRECTOR) is the musical director of Bounce: The Basketball Opera. He served as conductor of the North American tour of Hair and associate conductor for tours of Smokey Joe’s Café and Ain’t Misbehavin. Regional credits include Into the Woods, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Color Purple and The Wiz.
RICHARD BASKIN JR. (SOUND MIXER), hailing from the Midwest, has served as the MD for several musicals in NYC such as Spring Awakening (Manhattan School of Music), Amélie (Pace School of Musical Theatre) and the world-premiere of Joe Schmoe Saves The World by Brett Ryback at Indiana University.
SCOTT BARBARINO (VIRTUAL PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR) has been the Producer of Piano Bar Live! which premiered in August 2019, winning the 2020 MAC Award for Show Of The Year. PBL! is proud to continue the long-established tradition of the piano bar––that special place where we can gather, entertain, support and create, as we connect with live music. He is also the Publisher of NiteLifeExchange.com a web-based magazine, where “Broadway and Cabaret Meet” and has been The Artistic Director at Ellen’s Stardust Diner since 2003.
TONY JAVED (TECHNICAL PRODUCER) has 2020-ed the hell out of his career, taking his recent return to performing arts as associate producer to Scott Barbarino for Piano Bar Live!, (2020 MAC Award, Show of the Year) and Dancing Classrooms’ Virtual Mad Hot Ball annual gala; and producer for Beyond the Green Room weekly theatre debate, dish and delight with stage veteran, David Edwards and his guests. He is stoked to be part of the unique theatrical event. Support the arts and artists! Support ActorsFund.org!
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