THE CLASS OF 1989
MICHAEL BARRA (JOSHUA "BEEF" BEEFAROWSKI - A FOOTBALL PLAYER) is thrilled to be part of The Awesome 80s Prom. Theater: Man Of La Mancha (Phoenix National Tour), Spellbound (FringeNYC), The Foreigner, Wait Until Dark. Film: Fog Warning (2008), Banshee!!! (2008). TV: Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Training: SUNY Purchase. Michael is also a stand up comedian. Thanks Mom, Dad, and Bre for all your support. www.Michael-Barra.com
ANDREA BIGGS (MRS. LASCALZO - THE DRAMA TEACHER) has extensive ’80s experience that includes aerobicizing to Sigue Sigue Sputnik, adoring Punky Brewster, and wearing banana clips of every color in her enormously teased ’do. Her New York theater credits include the NY International Fringe Festival, NeuroFest, Vital Children’s Theatre, Looking Glass, Prism Players, Aisling Arts, and Hudson Shakespeare Festival. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University and has studied improv at Upright Citizens Brigade in NYC.
CHRIS CAFERO (BLAKE WILLIAMS – THE CAPTAIN OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM) is thrilled to be heading to Prom! The Awesome 80’s Prom marks Chris’ New York theatrical debut. Prior to this, Chris has been seen on As The World Turns, Guiding Light, Saturday Night Live, as well as various commercials and print campaigns. Chris is a member of the Theater Artist’s Workshop in Fairfield County, CT and a recent graduate of The George Washington University. Thanks to his Mom, Dad, Jaqs, Nick and all of his family and friends for their unwavering support. www.ChrisCafero.com.
MISSY DIAZ (KERRIE KOWALSKI - THE SPAZ) a newcomer to
Prom, is super excited to be a part of The Awesome 80's Prom and party like it's 1989! Missy is a recent graduate from The Catholic University of America, with a BM in Music Theatre. She has been seen on Comedy Central's “The Greg Giraldo” Show, the short film Landlocked, MTV commercials, and has done some voice over work. Missy would love to thank Ken Davenport, and everyone in the cast and crew for
Prom, for making this so amazing and so much fun! She would also like to thank her wonderful family for their never ending support.
DARYL EMBRY (LOUIS FENSTERSPOCK - THE NERD) is very excited to have the opportunity to go to the Prom every week. He's hoping this time he'll get to talk to a girl. Some previous credits include: NEW YORK/OFF BROADWAY: Fools in Love (Manhattan Ensemble Theatre, BAM), III (Cherry Lane), open heart (LaMaMa), The Ride Other: Perfect Wedding, Almost, Maine, Greater Tuna (Millbrook Playhouse),The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (Windwood Theatricals), and several other shows that you've never heard of. BS: NYU.
ALEX FAST (LLOYD PARKER - THE PHOTOGRAPHER) is stoked to be apart of the Awesome 80's Prom. A graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Alex studied at the Atlantic Theater Company, the Royal Academy for Dramatic Art as well as the Experimental Theater wing. You can also find Alex creating original work with AGGROCRAG, a theater company founded by himself as well as several other NYU alumns.
CRAIG JORCZAK (MICHAEL JAY – THE CLASS PRESIDENT) is (insert your favorite 80s phrase to convey excitement here) to be going to Prom once a week. He also acts as the production's Acting Captain, and has had the honor of co-directing the Prom in Washington, Alabama, and Arizona. Other credits include the acclaimed short play evenings Too Little Too Late and Too Much Too Soon, and the web series "Long Distance" and the upcoming "Before the Circus Comes 'Round" (tentative title). Thanks to everyone with whom he has gone to Prom.
CP LACEY (THE MYSTERY GUEST) is an "extraordinary human dynamo," a master comic, celebrity impersonator, actor and dancer. . .these are just some of the accolades that have been bestowed upon CP Lacey also known as the "Sandman Executioner" on the nationally syndicated TV show "It's Showtime at the Apollo." CP is known internationally for his flawless imitations and mimicry of some of the greatest talents in entertainment history from James Brown to Outkast. www.cplacey.com
BENNETT LEAK (DICKIE HARRINGTON - THE DRAMA QUEEN) is thrilled to join the cast of Awesome 80’s Prom. Credits include Off-Broadway: The Lonely Way (Mint Theater). Other NY Stage: Patient A (Red Fern Theater Company). Favorite shows include Cloud 9, The Grapes of Wrath, And Baby Makes Seven, and Venus. TV: "MTV Think Campaig"n (POP-Positively Outstanding Programming Nomination). Bennett studied at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and graduated with his BFA from Boston University. Thank you to my family and friends for your love and support.
ANDERSON LIM (FEUNG SCHWEY - THE ASIAN EXCHANGE STUDENT) is thrilled to be a part of Awesome 80s Prom, after a successful year Off-Bway with The Karaoke Show in the roles of sultry blonde teen Lola as well as the wildly innebriated 50yr old Noah. Other favorite credits include: U.S. National Tour of Cinderella (Ensemble), '99 & 2000 European Tours of Hair directed by Jim Rado (Margaret Meade), Secret Garden (Archibald), Joseph...Dreamcoat (Joseph), West Side Story (Chino), As You Like It (Le Beau/Amiens), Stop the World... (Littlechap), Man of La Mancha (Sancho) and self-produced projects: Beautiful Music - Celebrating Barry Manilow followed by Andy - The Musical. Mr. Lim's zany party impersonations include Cartman of South Park, Carol Channing, George Takei & Kasey Kasem! He thanks Ken for this opportunity and classmates from the awesome Class of "89"!!!
PAMELA MACEY (MOLLY PARKER-THE FRESHMAN) is thrilled to be in The Awesome 80’s Prom! Favorite theatre: It’s Time We Met (Marilyn Monroe), Alice in Wonderland (Alice), The Wedding Singer (Linda), Nunsense (Sister Amnesia), Ragtime (Mother), Grease (Sandy), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide), Oklahoma! (Ado Annie), Godspell ("Bless the Lord"), Barbie for Mattel’s business theatre & media events. Modeling: Make-up Forever Cosmetics, Sephora, UNIQLO, Scervino Fashion, Women’s Health Magazine, Kilobyte Couture, Glamour Magazine, America’s Basics. Select on-camera network credits: Spike TV, WE Network, Chic TV, Dunkin Donuts, Axe, A&E, Sundance, Time Warner, Fuji. Pamela’s work has been seen in film festivals and in roles that require her to be a huge nutcase. Super thanks to Ken Davenport, the Prom crew, and all my totally boss cast members and their expert sense of comedy! My Prom family inspires me.
BRANDON MAROTTA (NICK FENDER - THE REBEL) is a brand new addition to New York City. Coming from a small town upstate, he stormed The Prom scene when he was cast in the Schenectady production of the show as Nick Fender. He then traveled to Clearwater, Florida to take part in The Prom, and then became a permanent member of the New York cast. Other credits include Johnny in Tony and Tina’s Wedding. Brandon would like to thank Ken Davenport and all the others involved in making this opportunity possible and awesome!
JOANNE NOSUCHINSKY (HEATHER #1 – THE CHEERLEADER) is thrilled to be making her New York theatre debut with the Awesome 80's Prom! She recently received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Rider University. Favorite past roles include Agnes in "Bug", Sally Bowles in "Cabaret", and Little Sally in "Urinetown". Thanks go out to big sister Mary for offering unending support and a couch to sleep on.
LINDSAY RYAN (INGA SWANSON - THE SWEDISH EXCHANGE STUDENT) is extremely excited to be a part of The Awesome 80s Prom! NYC credits: FaceSpace (Anne) and The Shoe (Cindy). Favorite regional credits include: All Shook Up (Miss Sandra) at the Carousel Theatre, Baby (Lizzie), How I Learned to Drive (Lil’ Bit). TV/Film: "The Guiding Light" and Full Grown Men, the movie. She graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Miami. Many thanks to Abrams, Anthony Calamita, Ken Davenport, Daryl Eisenberg and the Prom team! Love to my family for being so supportive.
THOMAS POARCH (MR. SNELGROVE – THE PRINCIPAL) award-winning actor/writer and former Peace Corps English teacher (Africa), cowboy line dancer/DJ, magazine research editor, and Notary Public. Still the son of a preacher man. TV credits include: One Life To Live; As The World Turns; All My Children; numerous commercials, and is regularly seen on Nick@Nite's "Home Court." Other theater credits include: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Governor/ nat'l tour); Urban Cowboy (Marshall/ Broadway reading); Victor/Victoria (King Marchan/ first NYC revival); and Terms of Dismemberment, directed by three-time TONY winner, Hinton Battle. Film credits include several award-winning shorts and the lead role in Shave, produced by Oscar-winning, Killer Films. He is also an improv actor and graduate of Upright Citizens Brigade, National Comedy Theater and, Tragic Improv. As a writer, Thomas collaborated with Broadway writer/director, Phillip Oesterman, to co-write Take This Show and Shove It! - a country-western "soap-Opry" musical comedy. It was premiered in Houston, TX by Broadway producer, Stevie Phillips (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas). It also played in Los Angeles, CA, at the Cinegrill in The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, and in New York at The 13th Street Theater. Thomas co-starred in all three productions. Visit www.thomaspoarch.com
DILLON PORTER (DJ JOHNNY HUGHES) Originally from Oregon, Dillon makes his way to New York via Chicago where he was seen on stage at Steppenwolf, the Goodman and of course Awesome 80s Prom. Broadway: The Ritz at Studio 54.
JESSICA WEST REGAN (WHITLEY WHITIKER/DANCE CAPTAIN) is thrilled to be a part of The Awesome 80s Prom. A graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Jessica is looking forward to performing in front of an audience again. She was most recently seen in NYC performing in the play Crescendo Falls and has also enjoyed traveling the country teaching the choreography to the other companies of the Awesome 80s Prom. She is a professional Britney Spears impersonator, as well as an award winning competitive dancer all throughout North America. Jessica would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support, and Ken for this amazingly fun opportunity!
KATE WOOD RILEY (HEATHER #2 - THE OTHER CHEERLEADER) is so happy to be in her third year at The Awesome 80s Prom!! Kate has been seen in small towns in many musical theatre roles, dancing on Rosie O'Donnell's "R Family Cruise Line" in Chicago, on
"The Guiding Light", in several short films, and waiting tables. Kate is a proud member of the Upright Citizens Brigade's Harold team SCOOTCH. Thank you to this amazing group of people - the cast, crew, Matt, and Ken - for making high school this time around a lot more fun than the first time.
LAUREN SCHAFLER (MELISSA ANN MARTIN - THE HEAD OF THE PROM COMMITTEE) is thrilled to be making her New York theatre debut. A recent graduate of the George Washington University, regional credits include: How I Learned to Drive (Li’l Bit), No Exit (Estelle), Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Cecil), and many others. She has also appeared in many regional commercials and has done some voice-over work. She would like to thank Ken for this opportunity to work on The Awesome 80s Prom. Love to my amazing family and Andy!
THE FACULTY
KEN DAVENPORT (AUTHOR/DIRECTOR) once wore red suede pumas, a black leather tie and used to breakdance on official "Beat Street" cardboard purchased at KB Toy & Hobby. He survived the '80s and went on to graduate from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. After a quick career as an actor, which included a performance in Forever Plaid for the former President Bush, Ken segued into a career on the other side of the table with staff positions on the Broadway revivals of My Fair Lady with Richard Chamberlain and Grease with Rosie O'Donnell. After company managing a National Tour of A Grand Night for Singing, Ken began a three-year relationship with LIVENT, during which time he worked on the Tony Award-winning Broadway productions of Showboat, Candide, Ragtime and the workshop of Parade. Since then, Ken has had the distinct pleasure of Company Managing and/or General Managing Gypsy (starring Bernadette Peters) and Thoroughly Modern Millie, as well as the road companies of Jekyll & Hyde, Chicago (National Tour and Las Vegas) and Cinderella starring Eartha Kitt, Deborah Gibson and Jamie Lynn DiScala. Ken was the Director of Creative Development for NETworks and has also produced and directed several workshops, readings and regional productions, including several companies of Forever Plaid, a reading of Is There Life After High School? and an original musical that he wrote, entitled Prime Time. The Awesome 80s Prom, which is currently in its fourth smash year Off-Broadway in New York City, has also played in Chicago, Minneapolis and in Baltimore. Ken is also producing Altar Boyz, the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award Winner for Best Musical, which is in its fourth year Off-Broadway. Altar Boyz has also been seen in a National Tour around the U.S. as well as in Korea and Hungary. Productions are planned for Japan, Brazil, Sweden, Finland, Australia with more to follow. Ken is also developing a Broadway musical adapted from the classic film, Somewhere In Time. Ken is also the Producer of My First Time (Off-Broadway) and the Broadway productions of Speed-the-Plow with and without Jeremy Piven, 13, Blithe Spirit with Angela Lansbury, and Oleanna with Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles. Ken writes the popular blog www.TheProducersPerspective.com, which has been featured in Vanity Fair, The Gothamist, NY Magazine, and more. For more information visit www.davenporttheatrical.com.
DREW GERACI (CHOREOGRAPHER) Among his regional credits are Nunsense, Crazy For You, Smokey Joe's Cafe and Forever Plaid (Chicago and Toronto companies were award-winning). In NY he has been involved for years with B'way Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and their annual Easter Bonnet and Gypsy of the Year Competitions (his own creations received 3 separate awards). He's also directed showcases such as Joseph and Napoleon for Gayfest '04 and most recently Believe in Me: A Bigfoot Musical for the 2004 Fringe Festival. He and Mr. Davenport have collaborated in the past on showcases of PrimeTime and Altar Boyz. He also has a screenplay in the works and is a professional and published photographer.
MARTIN POSTMA (LIGHTING DESIGNER) Resident Lighting Designer for Webster Hall since April 2000. Freelance Lighting Design for Theatre, Dance, and Live Music since 1998. Education: B.F.A. – SUNY Purchase. More at www.RetinalResonance.com.
ADRIAN PENA (PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER)is thrilled to be rejoining Prom after taking some time off this summer to be a Carpet. While usually on the stage, he's excited to get a taste of what it's like being on the other side of the curtain. He's been all over on tour and worked a bunch of places - he's done some stuff. Many thanks to all the people he stepped on to get here. Class of '01!
LAURA GUSSO (ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER) is “like, totally” thrilled to be part of Prom! She grew up in Shaker Heights, OH, but fell in love with New York when she moved here in 2000. Laura graduated Summa Cum Laude from NYU in 2004. She loves life on both sides of the curtain, especially teaching Primary Tap & Ballet Dance at Broadway Training Center of Westchester. Away from Prom she loves spending time with her awesome family and friends!
DARYL EISENBERG CASTING (CASTING DIRECTOR) Theater: My First Time (New World Stages), Tully (In No Particular Order) (Nymf '07), The Awesome 80s Prom, Jihad: The Explosive New Musical (Edinburgh Fringe '07). Film: The Book Of Caleb. Web: Minutemancomedy.Com. Currently The Casting Associate On "Gossip Girl" (The CW) and "Cashmere Mafia" (ABC). As the assistant at Stanczyk/Cherpakov Casting: Coram Boy, Radio Golf, The Glorious Ones, The Seafarer. At Casting House: Foriegn Xchange. At Ellen Parks Casting: Dark Matter (Sundance '07), Grey Gardens, August, The Key Man. www.decasting.com
THE CLASS OF '89 (CO-AUTHOR) is a group of performers including Sheila Berzan, Alex Back, Adam Bloom, Anne Bobby, Courtney Balan, Mary Faber, Emily McNamara, Troy Metcalf, Jenna Pace, Amanda Ryan Paige, Mark Shunock, Josh Walden, Noah Weisberg, Brandon Williams, Simon Wong and Fletcher Young who assisted in the development of The Awesome 80s Prom by participating in the original workshop.
