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Taha Mandviwala as ‘Pi’ and puppeteers Anna Leigh Gortner, Shiloh Goodin and Toussaint Jeanlouis as ‘Richard Parker’ (the tiger) in the National Tour of Life of Pi. Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade 2024.
LIFE OF TAHA - HOW THE LEAD IN LIFE OF PI CAME TO STAR ON THE TOUR STORY BY
Keith Loria Taha Mandviwala dreamed of being a doctor. But while attending the University of Kentucky on a pre-med track, the acting bug started to bite. “It was a slow unveiling of things,” said the star of the national tour of Life of Pi. “I really enjoyed science and everything surrounding it, but it wasn’t until college that I had a real exposure to the arts.” Not that he never acted before—Mandviwala performed in The Wizard of Oz in high school to get out of having to play tennis. But it wasn’t anything he thought would be part of his life going forward. “It wasn’t until I met who is now one of my best friends in the whole world, Hunter Hendrickson, who is an actor through and through, and I spent a lot of time going to see his shows and started to immerse myself in the world a bit more,” Mandviwala said. “During my freshman year in
4 | encorecharlotte college, I took an intro to theatre class, and then sophomore year, I auditioned for my first play.” By junior year, he decided to switch his major to theatre, though he was still doing pre-med, thinking it would be an interesting thing to have on his med school applications. But by senior year, after getting encouragement from some professors and mentors, Mandviwala decided to go towards a performing career, full-time. “It was serendipitous that I had an Taha Mandviwala internship lined up right out of college at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and from there, it was just a spiderweb effect,” Mandviwala said. While there, he took on roles such as Fred in A Christmas Carol and Bouc in Murder on the Orient Express and went on to other theatres to perform as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and Leonard Vole in Witness for the Prosecution. By 2023, Mandviwala had the chance to be part of his first Broadway production, becoming an ensemble member and swing in Life of Pi, the story of a man who survives a shipwreck only to find himself trapped on a lifeboat with a live Bengal tiger (played by a life-size puppet). THE FOURTH PUPPETEER “A friend of mine who was in it had reached out to me and he forwarded my stuff to the creative team,” he said. “It happened very slowly and then all at once. I got an email from casting and I sent them a tape, and 30 minutes later they asked me to come to New York to audition. I packed a single backpack thinking I would be there for a single weekend. I did the audition and they asked if I could start tomorrow!” Less than two weeks later, Mandviwala was on stage and eventually went on in three of the four tracks he was a swing for. When the show ended, he stayed in contact with the team and they reached out to him for the national tour, and he came out the other side playing the lead role of Pi Patel. One of his favorite things about the show is interacting with the lifelike animal puppets that create the world of Pi’s story. “This role is so unique,” Mandviwala said. “In the world of puppeteering as I’ve come to learn it, we have this concept called ‘the fourth puppeteer,’ so there are three puppeteers bringing the puppet to life, and the last piece of the puzzle is the fourth, who is the witness on the outside. Pi views the puppet with a sense of life and a sense of danger. It’s the same as acting alongside an actor because a puppet has its own needs, wants and communication.”
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Taha Mandviwala as ‘Pi’ and puppeteers Anna Leigh Gortner, Shiloh Goodin and Toussaint Jeanlouis as ‘Richard Parker’ (the tiger) in the National Tour of Life of Pi. Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade 2024.
THE BEST PART OF HIS DAY As a Pakistani-American, he finds it so meaningful to be part of a full South Asian cast and have pieces of himself represented on stage. This is Mandviwala’s first tour, and he describes it as “a beast” at times, as it requires people to simplify their lives and “exist out of two suitcases and a trunk.” “You learn a lot about yourself on what you really need to live with and what you can live without,” he said. “For me, it was about ‘How can I make a really good cup of coffee every day on the road?’ and that cup of coffee is the most rewarding part of my day. It really teaches you that you don’t need all those clothes, and it’s a great lesson in sustainability and usability.” On the job side of things, touring has taught him a lot about recovery, because so much time is spent in transit. “You really have to be conscious about getting an adequate amount of mental rest and physical rest…and really create a sense of routine while maintaining your physical training,” Mandviwala said. “I’m very lucky this cast is so lovely, and we all get along with one another because you’re on the road with these people for a year. We look out for each other and have fostered an internal sense of community.”
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SIMON FRIEND DARYL ROTH HAL LUFTIG MARK GORDON PICTURES NETWORKS PRESENTATIONS 42ND.CLUB PLAYING FIELD HARRIET NEWMAN LEVE INDEPENDENT PRESENTERS NETWORK ELIZABETH ARMSTRONG JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION KUHN DODANI KATE & BILL FISHEL HANNA OSMOLSKA & SETH WENIG, EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATER AND SHEFFIELD THEATRES Present
YANN MARTEL LOLITA CHAKRABARTI
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY ADAPTED BY
TAHA MANDVIWALA JESSICA ANGLESKHAN ALAN ARIANO PRAGUN BHARDWAJ BEN DUROCHER SHILOH GOODIN ANNA LEIGH GORTNER AUSTIN WONG HARPER AARON HASKELL RISHI JAISWAL TOUSSAINT JEANLOUIS MI KANG INTAE KIM SHARAYU MAHALE SINCLAIR MITCHELL MAYA RANGULU BETSY ROSEN ANNA VOMÁCKA SORAB WADIA ANDREW WILSON & SAVIDU GEEVARATNE Scenic & Costume Design
TIM HATLEY
Puppet Design
Puppetry & Movement Direction
FINN CALDWELL
Video & Animation Design
NICK BARNES & FINN CALDWELL Lighting Design
ANDRZEJ GOULDING
Hair & Wig Design
CAROLYN DOWNING
Composer
DAVID BRIAN BROWN MEG MURPHY
Dramaturg
ANDREW T. MACKAY
Global Associate Puppetry & Movement Director
JACK BRADLEY
U.S. Associate Puppetry & Movement Director/Resident Director
SCARLET WILDERINK
Casting
Sound Design
TIM LUTKIN & TIM DEILING
JON HOCHE
ARC DUNCAN STEWART, CSA PATRICK MARAVILLA
THE THEATER LOVERS
Digital Marketing
Tour Booking & Marketing Direction
General Management
Production Stage Manager
Company Manager
GENTRY & ASSOCIATES GREGORY VANDER PLOEG
BOND THEATRICAL
KRISTIN NEWHOUSE
KATIE CORTEZ
U.K. General Management
SIMON FRIEND ENTERTAINMENT
Production Management
NETWORKS PRESENTATIONS JASON JUENKER
Tour Director
ASHLEY BROOKE MONROE Director
MAX WEBSTER FIRST PRODUCED AT SHEFFIELD THEATRES NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE AT THE AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATER AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY DIANE PAULUS, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: KELVIN DINKINS, JR. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
10 | encorecharlotte CAST
Taha Mandviwala
Jessica Angleskhan
Alan Ariano
Pragun Bhardwaj
Ben Durocher
Savidu Geevaratne
Shiloh Goodin
Anna Leigh Gortner
Austin Wong Harper
Aaron Haskell
Rishi Jaiswal
Toussaint Jeanlouis
Mi Kang
Intae Kim
Sharayu Mahale
Sinclair Mitchell
Maya Rangulu
Betsy Rosen
Anna Vomáčka
Sorab Wadia
Andrew Wilson
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CAST
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Pi ..................................................................................................................................TAHA MANDVIWALA Pi (at certain performances).............................................................................SAVIDU GEEVARATNE Cook/Voice of Richard Parker............................... BEN DUROCHER, TOUSSAINT JEANLOUIS Father......................................................................................................................................SORAB WADIA Admiral Jackson/Russian Sailor/Father Martin............................................SINCLAIR MITCHELL Amma/Nurse/Orange Juice.......................................................................... JESSICA ANGLESKHAN Lulu Chen/Mrs. Biology Kumar/Zaida Khan..........................................................................MI KANG Mamaji/Pandit-Ji.................................................................................................................RISHI JAISWAL Mr. Okamoto/Captain/Jai................................................................................................. ALAN ARIANO Rani..................................................................................................................................SHARAYU MAHALE Richard Parker/Puppeteer..................................................... BEN DUROCHER, SHILOH GOODIN, ANNA LEIGH GORTNER, AUSTIN WONG HARPER, AARON HASKELL, TOUSSAINT JEANLOUIS, BETSY ROSEN, ANNA VOMÁČKA, ANDREW WILSON Ensemble............................. PRAGUN BHARDWAJ, BEN DUROCHER, SAVIDU GEEVARATNE, SHILOH GOODIN, ANNA LEIGH GORTNER, AUSTIN WONG HARPER, AARON HASKELL, TOUSSAINT JEANLOUIS, BETSY ROSEN, ANNA VOMÁČKA, ANDREW WILSON SETTING 1976-78. Pondicherry in India, Tomatlán in Mexico and the middle of the Pacific Ocean UNDERSTUDIES Understudies never substitute for the listed players unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the appearance. For Pi— SAVIDU GEEVARATNE, SHARAYU MAHALE; for Cook/Voice of Richard Parker—INTAE KIM; for Father—PRAGUN BHARDWAJ, RISHI JAISWAL; for Admiral Jackson/Russian Sailor/Father Martin—PRAGUN BHARDWAJ, INTAE KIM; for Amma/Nurse/Orange Juice—MAYA RANGULU; for Lulu/Leonard Chen/Mrs./Mr. Biology Kumar/Zaida/Mr. Khan—INTAE KIM, MAYA RANGULU; for Mamaji/Pandit-Ji—PRAGUN BHARDWAJ; AUSTIN WONG HARPER; for Mr. Okamoto/Captain/Jai—JON HOCHE, INTAE KIM; for Rani/Ravi—SAVIDU GEEVARATNE, MAYA RANGULU; for Richard Parker—JON HOCHE SWINGS JON HOCHE, INTAE KIM, MAYA RANGULU ASSISTANT PUPPETRY & MOVEMENT DIRECTION/ PUPPET CAPTAIN: BETSY ROSEN FIGHT CAPTAIN: TOUSSAINT JEANLOUIS LIFT CAPTAIN: AUSTIN WONG HARPER RESIDENT DIRECTOR: JON HOCHE THERE WILL BE ONE 20-MINUTE INTERMISSION. TO VIEW THE CAST LIST FOR THIS PERFORMANCE, SCAN THE QR CODE BELOW:
The use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, either with or without flash, is strictly prohibited.
14 | encorecharlotte WHO’S WHO in the CAST TAHA MANDVIWALA (Pi) is an actor, athlete, and health coach. Deeply passionate about movement and storytelling, he is grateful for the opportunity to lead the Life of Pi tour as Pi. Taha blends his love for performance and wellness to inspire others toward vibrant, balanced living. @manlykoala JESSICA ANGLESKHAN (Amma/ Nurse/Orange Juice) is an NYC actor of over 20 years, now on her first National Tour. Frequent Met Opera performer, she’s worked internationally as a revival movement director. Other credits include “Law and Order: SVU,” “Blue Bloods,” and more. Training: NYU, Stella Adler. Member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA. For Behr ALAN ARIANO (Mr. Okamoto/ Captain/Jai) comes direct from Girl From the North Country (Dr. Walker) national tour. Broadway: Miss Saigon (Original 1991), Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, The King and I, M. Butterfly, Shogun. Off-Broadway: Felix Starro, Good Enemy, Greater Clements. TV: “Law and Order: SVU” (recurring), “L&O,” “FBI: Most Wanted,” “Gotham,” “Tremé.” Visit www.alanariano.com. For MOM PRAGUN BHARDWAJ (Ensemble, u/s Father, u/s Admiral Jackson/ Russian Sailor/Father Martin, u/s Mamaji/Pandit-Ji) is an IndianAmerican actor with a BFA in Musical Theater from Pace University and is thrilled for his tour debut! Recently seen in Sunset Boulevard (Artie Green) at ACT of CT, and In The Heights (Ensemble - u/s Benny, Sonny, Piragua Guy) at the Gateway. Thankful for my beautiful family. @pragun_bhardwaj BEN DUROCHER (Cook/Voice of Richard Parker, Richard Parker/ Puppeteer, Ensemble). New York: Avenue Q (Princeton/Rod), Madama Butterfly at Met Opera, TV/Film: “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock,” “Helpsters,” “Pineapple Playhouse,” Dying For Sex, “Mr. Crocket.” Twotime Emmy Award winning puppet builder/wrangler for “Sesame Street” and The Jim Henson Company. @bendurocher
SAVIDU GEEVARATNE (Ensemble, u/s Pi, u/s Ravi) is thrilled to be joining Life of Pi! A Sri LankanAmerican actor, singer, and musician, he trained at NYU Tisch. Off-Broadway: Your Own Personal Exegesis, Monsoon Wedding. Thanks to ARC+Julia for believing! Love to his teachers, friends, and family for their support. Thank you Amma for everything. @the_savidoodle_ SHILOH GOODIN (Richard Parker/ Puppeteer, Ensemble). Broadway: Life of Pi, Paradise Square. OffBroadway: Babes in Toyland at Lincoln Center, LoveLife at Encores, Screwtape Letters, The Anthem. Other faves: A Chorus Line (Cassie) at Cincinnati Playhouse, Rigoletto (Santa Fe Opera), Twelfth Night (Assoc Choreo, The Public). ANNA LEIGH GORTNER (Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble). Broadway tour debut! Regional Theater: label●less (Cincinnati Playhouse), The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. Proud Tumbling instructor at Broadway Dance Center! So much love to Mom, Dad, Beth, Chris, Andrew and all of the teachers who helped me on the way! Jer 31:13. @anna.gortner AUSTIN WONG HARPER (Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble, u/s Mamaji/Pandit-ji) National Tour: Tootsie. Regional: Sister Act (The Muny), Tootsie (Ogunquit Playhouse), Guys and Dolls, Newsies, Billy Elliot (Woodminster). Select live performance credits: “MTV VMAs” (Eminem), Blue Devils Color Guard. Big love to mom, Patrick, and Stanley! @austinhapa AARON HASKELL (Richard Parker/ Puppeteer, Ensemble). Fellowship recipient at Alvin Ailey. Credits: War Horse, Lion King Broadway (Puppetry Specialist), Cirque du Soleil’s Toruk, and Fatal Attraction: A Greek Tragedy. Creator/Director of Wake Up, You’re Dead!, and The Pact; Designer/Builder for Six Flags, Lincoln Center, Acheson/Walsh Studios, and Nightmare: Haunted House.
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encorecharlotte RISHI JAISWAL (Mamaji/Pandit-Ji, u/s Father) is an actor, director, screenwriter, and choreographer. He has been featured on the NBC comedy “American Auto,” ABC’s “Johnny Knoxville’s Prank Panel,” NBC’s “Superstars of Dance,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” and “Good Morning America.” Rishi wrote, starred in, and directed the feature film Unmasked in 2022. TOUSSAINT JEANLOUIS (Cook/ Voice of Richard Parker, Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble, Fight Captain). Meredith Monk’s Indra’s Net (Chorus), Dr. Bernice Reagan Johnson and Toshi Reagan’s International Tour of Parable of the Sower: The Opera (Bankole/Richard Moss), based on the novel by Octavia E. Butler, Katori Hall’s Pulitzer Prize winning Hot Wing King (Cordell), and SITI Company’s The Bacchae (King Pentheus). MI KANG (Lulu Chen/Mrs. Biology Kumar/Zaida Khan) is thrilled to be part of the Life of Pi! Selected credits: Inherit the Wind (Goodman); Villette (Lookingglass); The Chinese Lady (TimeLine); Dracula (Cincy Playhouse); Journal of Ben Uchida (Seattle Children’s); Tale for Time Being (Book-It). Mi is a Northwestern MFA Acting graduate and represented by Stewart Talent. INTAE KIM (Swing, u/s Cook/Voice of Richard Parker, u/s Admiral Jackson/Russian Sailor/Father Martin, u/s Leonard Chen/Mr. Biology Kumar/Mr. Khan, u/s Mr. Okamoto/ Captain/Jai) is making his National tour debut. Originally from Boston, he graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in Theater and English. Past credits include projects like “Fargo” and “Succession”. He’s thrilled to tour with this team and grateful to his family and loved ones for their support. SHARAYU MAHALE (Rani, u/s Pi) is an Indian-American actor and dancer. After completing a B.S. in Business from NYU she pivoted to a career in the performing arts! Credits include: Monsoon Wedding (OffBroadway), “Cobra Kai” (Netflix), Footnotes (Amazon), Frankie Meets Jack (Tubi). Thank you Aai & Papa! @sharayu.mahale
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SINCLAIR MITCHELL (Admiral Jackson/Russian Sailor/Father Martin). Broadway: The Lion King. Off-Broadway: The Emperor Jones, Harlem Song. National Tour: The Prom, School of Rock, The Producers, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Regional: Shout Sister Shout!, The Wiz. CCM Grad, Olympic Torch Bearer (’96 games). Love to fiancé Joey. Thanks to About Artists Agency. MAYA RANGULU (Swing, u/s Amma/Nurse, u/s Lulu Chen/ Mrs. Biology Kumar/Zaida Khan, u/s Rani) is thrilled to make her national tour debut! Originally from Portland, Oregon, her training includes American Conservatory Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, AMAW Los Angeles, and a B.A. from Stanford University. Endless gratitude to family, friends, and mentors. Here’s to the stories we tell and the people we love. @mayarangulu BETSY ROSEN (Assistant Puppetry and Movement Director/Puppet Captain/Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble) is a Helen Hayes Awardwinning artist based in NYC. Broadway: Life of Pi (OBC). Selected credits: Sydney Opera House, Lincoln Center, American Repertory Theater, Cincinnati Playhouse, Woolly Mammoth. Grateful for all who hold me up, the LOP family, and FSE. @thebetsyrosen ANNA VOMÁČKA (Richard Parker/ Puppeteer, Ensemble) is a dancer who has worked with Brennan Gerard & Ryan Kelly, Bebe Miller, & Nami Yamamoto. She also creates her own work, including film Listening Near an Edge (2022) and immersive performance W A S T E in S P A C E (2019). Excited for her national tour debut! Annavomacka.com @anna. vomacka SORAB WADIA (Father). From Bombay, India. Tours: Aladdin, Oklahoma! Kite Runner (solo play). International: Jihad! The Musical (West End, London), Merchant of Venice (Venice, Italy), Bend It Like Beckham (Toronto). Regional: Nathan the Wise (Folger/Theater J), Much Ado About Nothing (St. Louis Shakespeare Festival), Monsoon
18 | encorecharlotte Wedding (Berkeley Rep). OffBroadway: Babette’s Feast (Theater at St. Clement’s), The Tempest (LaMama), Bunty Berman Presents… (The New Group), Nymph Errant (Prospect Theater). TV: “Blacklist: Redemption,” “Madame Secretary,” “L&O: SVU,” “30 Rock,” “Chapelle’s Show.” @SorabWadia ANDREW WILSON (Richard Parker/ Puppeteer, Ensemble). Broadway: Life of Pi (OBC), Cats (Revival). Tours: Newsies the Musical (OTC and Disney+), Cats, Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan, Seven Brides. Other credits: TUTS, Music Circus, PCLO, MUNY, La Mirada, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Riverside, Met Opera, NYC Opera. Theater dance and acrobatics educator at @bdcnyc. For Chris and Duke! Insta: @andrewwilsonny YANN MARTEL (Novelist) is a Canadian writer. He is the author of a collection of short stories and four novels, most notably Life of Pi, for which he won the 2002 Man Booker Prize. Writing credits include: The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios, Self, Life of Pi, Beatrice and Virgil, The High Mountains of Portugal and the non-fiction collection 101 Letters to a Prime Minister: The Complete Letters to Stephen Harper. Martel is presently at work on Son of Nobody, a novel about the Trojan War. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with the writer Alice Kuipers and their four children. LOLITA CHAKRABARTI (Playwright) is an actress and award-winning playwright. She won an Olivier, WhatsOnStage and UK Theatre Award for Best New Play for Life of Pi. Her adaptation of Hamnet recently opened at The RSC and London’s West End. Her debut play Red Velvet earned her the Evening Standard Charles Wintour Award and The Critics’ Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright and an Olivier Award nomination. Other writing includes Hymn, Invisible Cities, Calmer, dramaturg on Message In A Bottle and Sylvia. Lolita trained at RADA and has worked as an actress on stage and screen for 35 years.
MAX WEBSTER (Director) is a Tony & Olivier Award nominated director specializing in new work, opera, and live music events. Theatre credits include: The Importance of Being Earnest (Upcoming, National Theatre); Macbeth (Donmar & West End); Henry V (Donmar); Antigone, As You Like It and Twelfth Night (Regent’s Park); Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (Old Vic/San Diego Old Globe/ Minneapolis Children’s Theatre); The Jungle Book (Fiery Angel); Fanny and Alexander, Cover My Tracks (Old Vic); The Twits (Leicester Curve); The Winter’s Tale (Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh); The Sea of Fertility, Mary Stuart (Parco Tokyo); Much Ado About Nothing (Globe); Orlando, To Kill a Mockingbird, My Young and Foolish Heart (Royal Exchange, Manchester); James and the Giant Peach, My Generation (Leeds Playhouse). Opera: La Bohème (Göteborgsoperan, Sweden) and The Merry Widow (ENO). ASHLEY BROOKE MONROE (Tour Director). Broadway: Life of Pi, Indecent, Fun Home, The Glass Menagerie. Broadway National tour: Hamilton (resident director). Off-Broadway: All of Me (The New Group), Julius Caesar (CSC), Death Cruise (Access Theater), The Goree All-Girl String Band (Theatre Row). Regional: All of Me (Barrington Stage Company), Fun Home (Cape Rep), Indecent (Huntington, Center Theatre Group). TIM HATLEY (Scenic Design and Costume Design) Broadway/ West End: Starlight Express 2024, Back to the Future: The Musical, Life of Pi, Dreamgirls, Travesties, Ghosts, Vincent in Brixton, Temple, Bodyguard, Shrek, Spamalot, Humble Boy, Private Lives, The Crucible, The Pajama Game, Carmen, Don Quixote, My Fair Lady, Singin’ in the Rain. Film credits include Closer, Notes on a Scandal, and Stage Beauty. Winner of three Tony Awards and three Olivier Awards for Best Design. timhatley. com FINN CALDWELL (Co-Puppet Design, Puppetry/Movement Director) is an Olivier Award-winning director, designer and performer; he is a co-artistic director of Gyre
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encorecharlotte & Gimble, where his co-director/ puppet designer credits include The Four Seasons: A Reimagining (Globe), The Hartlepool Monkey (U.K. tour) and The Elephantom (National Theatre/West End). As puppet co-designer/director: The Wicker Husband (Watermill), The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic/West End), Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (Old Vic/ San Diego Old Globe/Minneapolis Children’s Theatre) and Running Wild (Chichester/Regent’s Park/U.K. tour). As director of puppetry/movement: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Angels in America, The Light Princess and War Horse (all National Theatre/ West End). As director, credits include: Ex Machina (NIDA, Australia) and Lardo (Old Red Lion). NICK BARNES (Co-Puppet Design) began making puppets at university and afterwards at the Slade School of Fine Arts, incorporating puppets into his theatre designs for opera and theatre. He subsequently formed the puppetry company Blind Summit Theatre, devising and performing in shows which toured internationally from the Edinburgh Fringe to the Metropolitan Opera and co-directed the puppetry for the London Olympic Games opening ceremony. Nick now runs his puppet making studio in Hove. Follow Nick’s work at www.nickbarnespuppets.co.uk ANDRZEJ GOULDING (Video & Animation Design). Video designs include & Juliet, Room, Groundhog Day (Broadway); Starlight Express, Just For One Day, Life of Pi, The Drifters Girl, & Juliet, Message in a Bottle, Sylvia, The Unfriend, Eureka Day, Pressure (West End); People, Places and Things (St Ann’s Warehouse); Henry V, Coriolanus (Donmar Warehouse, NT Live); The Da Vinci Code (U.K. tour); Burn (Joyce Theater); The Machine (Park Avenue Armory), Message in a Bottle (tour). TIM LUTKIN (Lighting Design). Tony and two-time Olivier Award winner. Broadway: Back the Future: The Musical, Life of Pi. Select West End: The Crucible, Back to the Future, Fiddler on the Roof, Noises Off, Strangers on a Train, Close to You, The Full Monty, Present Laughter,
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Chimerica, Quiz, Lungs, A Number, Elf, Big. National Theatre: Under Milk Wood, Antony and Cleopatra, LesBlancs, Jack Absolute Flys Again. TIM DEILING (Lighting Design). West End credits: SIX, Knights of the Rose, American Idiot, Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Vanities the Musical. He’s also lit many U.K. tours including Club Tropicana, Our House, HMS Pinafore and Summer Holiday. He’s worked on many plays/ musicals at regional U.K. theatres and throughout Europe. He’s also worked for many years as an associate to Ken Billington and The National Theater in London. Tim is an American living in London. CAROLYN DOWNING (Sound Design) is an award-winning sound designer working internationally in a variety of fields with creativity and collaboration at the heart of her work. Carolyn’s work includes The Commonwealth Games 2022 Opening Ceremony, Birmingham; Jean Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure exhibition; The Normal Heart for the National Theater; Downstate at National Theatre, Steppenwolf Playwrights Horizons; Henry V for Donmar; Summer and Smoke (Olivier nomination 2019) and Chimerica for Sonia Friedman Productions (Olivier award 2015). DAVID BRIAN BROWN (Wig Design). Broadway highlights: Drama Desk Awards for Mrs. Doubtfire and War Paint. Moulin Rouge!, Life of Pi, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Frozen, She Loves Me (Drama Desk nomination), Shrek, Legally Blonde, Spamalot, Nine, Sweet Smell of Success, Aida, Chicago, Side Show. Film credits: “Angels in America” (Emmy nominated), Too Wong Foo…. ANDREW T. MACKAY (Original Music) is an Olivier Award-nominated composer and the co-founder of Bombay Dub Orchestra. He studied at the London College of Music. His music often fuses orchestra with traditional elements from the project’s region and has scored many films in India and around the globe. Life of Pi was Andrew’s first theatre score, followed by Henry V (Donmar) with Kit Harington. The soundtrack to
22 | encorecharlotte Life of Pi is available on all streaming platforms. JACK BRADLEY (Dramaturgy) is a dramaturg, translator and playwright. As literary manager at the National Theatre (1994-2007) he advised Richard Eyre, Trevor Nunn and Nicholas Hytner on new plays. For Sonia Friedman Productions since 2007 shows include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child; Mean Girls; and New York, New York. For Tricycle Theatre (2007-2012): The Great Game, The Bomb-A Partial History, The Riots. And for Simon Friend, other work: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Jack has conducted writing workshops around the world. SCARLET WILDERINK (Global Associate Puppetry & Movement Director) (she/her/hers) one of the Olivier award winning puppeteers in the original West End cast of Life of Pi; then set up the ART, Broadway and Toronto productions. Regional: Life of Pi, Mirvish Theatre, American Repertory Theatre. West End: War Horse, New London Theatre; Life of Pi, Wyndham’s Theatre (Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor); Pinocchio, National Theatre. OffWest End: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Southwark Playhouse; Putting It Together, The Other Palace. U.K. regional: The Wicker Husband and Watership Down, Watermill Theatre; Treasure Island, Stephen Joseph Theatre. U.K. tour: The Comedy of Errors & A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Running Wild. International: Cabaret, MAC Theatre. Education: Guildford School of Acting. Actors’ Equity Association member. JON HOCHE (U.S. Associate Puppetry & Movement Director/ Resident Director/ u/s Mr. Okamoto/ Captain/Jai, u/s Richard Parker). Broadway: Life of Pi (Richard Parker puppeteer), King Kong (Voice of King Kong/Puppeteer). OffBroadway: Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey 2 puppeteer); Soft Power (The Public Theater, Grammynominated); Vietgone, Poor Yella Rednecks (Manhattan Theatre Club); Soul Samurai, The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G (Ma-Yi
Theater/Vampire Cowboys Theater); Hello, From the Children of Planet Earth (Playwrights Realm). National tour: War Horse (Puppeteer/Puppet Captain). TV: “Hello Tomorrow!” (Apple TV+) @JonHoche ARC (Casting). 150+ productions across the globe & 13 Artios Awards for Casting. Broadway/NY Past & Present Productions include: A Wonderful World, Life of Pi, Chicago the musical, Disney’s The Lion King & Beauty and the Beast, Hadestown, Lost in Yonkers, Great Comet of 1812, Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, 39 Steps, Pippin, La Cage aux Folles. TV/Film: Netflix, 20th Century Fox, NBC, Lionsgate, Disney Channel. West End/U.K.: Sister Act, Hadestown, Thriller Live, Menier Chocolate Factory. Tours: 1776, Girl From The North Country, Hairspray, Waitress, Urinetown, Finding Neverland, Into the Woods, We Will Rock You. Regional: A.R.T., Berkeley Rep, Alley, Bay Street, Goodspeed, Hollywood Bowl, McCarter, Signature. ARC, Part of RWS Global. www.castingbyarc. com IG: castingbyarc BOND THEATRICAL (Tour Booking, Marketing & Publicity) is an independently-owned theatrical booking, marketing and publicity company representing awardwinning Broadway shows and live entertainment properties. BOND connects artists and audiences by forming strategic, authentic and profitable partnerships between producers and presenters across North America. For a complete list of current projects, please visit BondTheatrical.com KATIE CORTEZ (Company Manager) National Tours: To Kill a Mockingbird, 1776, Waitress, The Prom, The Phantom of the Opera, Finding Neverland, Bullets Over Broadway, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. FRANK DEMING II (Associate Company Manager). National Tours: Mean Girls, To Kill a Mockingbird (ACM), Pretty Woman (ACM), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (CSM). Regional: Virginia Theatre Festival (CM), New Harmony Theatre
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encorecharlotte (CM). Graduate of the University of Montevallo. Proudly mentored by Jen and Marcus Lane, Katie Cortez, and Jack Stephens. KRISTIN NEWHOUSE (Production Stage Manager): is excited to join the Life of Pi tour! Recent credits include The Thing About Jellyfish (Berkeley Rep), The Outsiders (La Jolla Playhouse), and The Lion King (North American and International Tours). Broadway and additional touring credits include: The Lion King, Kinky Boots, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, RENT, and Mary Poppins. Kristin has stage managed a variety of corporate events, TV shows, and special events. She has also enjoyed directing over 20 shows for Broadway Cares. MATTHEW BROOKS (Stage Manager) (he/him). National Tours: Company; Jesus Christ Superstar; A Christmas Story; An Officer and a Gentleman; Xanadu; and Rosie Revere, Engineer and Friends. Regional: Asolo Repertory Theatre; New York Stage and Film’s Powerhouse Theatre; Connecticut Repertory Theatre; Colorado Shakespeare Festival; and the Dorset Theatre Festival. Thanks to Kelsey, Heather, my parents, and mi amore Nia most of all. Proud AEA member and graduate of the University of Illinois. matthewibbrooks.com FOUAD HASSAN (Assistant Stage Manager) (he/him) is a blind and Arab stage manager, proud of both. Fouad dedicates his work to beautiful Arabs who rarely see ourselves and our real stories represented. With credits including Broadway’s Hamilton and The Kite Runner, and Off-Broadway’s We Live in Cairo, Fouad strives to foster spaces of community, care, and visibility for all. GENTRY & ASSOCIATES (General Manager) has managed nearly 250 national and international touring theatrical productions over the past 25 years. Current and upcoming productions include A Beautiful Noise, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, Come From Away, Funny Girl, The Great Gatsby, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Mean Girls, Peter Pan, Cameron Mackintosh presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
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The Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music and The Wiz. HANNA OSMOLSKA (Executive Producer) has general managed Life of Pi in London’s West End (Wyndham’s Theatre), on UK tour and on international engagements. She is also the Executive Director of Simon Friend Entertainment whose current and recent productions include Paranormal Activity, Here You Come Again, The Girl on the Train and The Height of the Storm. SETH WENIG (Executive Producer) has been with NETworks since its inception in 1995. He spearheaded the international tours of Fosse starring Ben Vereen and Ruthie Henshall. Seth has produced the Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific and the National Theatre production of War Horse. Together with Cameron Mackintosh, Seth served as Executive Producer for both the US and UK tours of the National Theatre’s My Fair Lady, the 25th Anniversary US tour of Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera tour, Miss Saigon. Currently, Funny Girl, The Book of Mormon, and Life of Pi. He is most proud of his greatest productions – Marlo and Camden. SIMON FRIEND (Producer) has commissioned, developed and lead produced many productions in the U.K. including Life of Pi, which arrived on Broadway last year after a long run in London’s West End the production won 3 Tonys and 5 Oliviers. This year has included world premiere productions of Minority Report based on Philip K. Dick’s story, and Paranormal Activity based on the Paramount Pictures films, the enormously successful new Dolly Parton musical Here You Come Again across the U.K. and in London, and the forthcoming new play Second Best. Recent West End credits: The Real Thing, Life of Pi, Bad Jews, The Starry Messenger, The Girl on the Train, The Height of the Storm (also Broadway) and Admissions, amongst many others. Simon also produced the Academy Award-winning film The Father.
26 | encorecharlotte DARYL ROTH (Producer) holds the singular distinction of producing seven Pulitzer Prize-winning plays: Anna in the Tropics, August: Osage County, Clybourne Park, How I Learned to Drive, Proof, Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women and Wit. The proud recipient of 13 Tony Awards and London’s Olivier Award, over 130 productions including Kinky Boots, Into the Woods, Indecent, Left on Tenth and The Normal Heart. Trustee, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Lincoln Center Theater. Honored to have been inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. HAL LUFTIG (Producer). Winner of five Tony Awards and two Olivier Awards, Hal Luftig has worked on and off Broadway for the past 35 years. Broadway includes Here Lies Love, Plaza Suite, American Utopia, Kinky Boots, Children of a Lesser God, Legally Blonde, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Diary of Anne Frank and Angels in America. OffBroadway: Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish; Scotland, PA (Roundabout); Here Lies Love (The Public). Upcoming: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Becoming Nancy and Scotland, PA (Broadway). MARK GORDON PICTURES (Producer). Broadway: Romeo + Juliet, Life of Pi, The Piano Lesson, POTUS. Off-Broadway/Regional: Teeth, Highway Patrol, Nollywood Dreams, The Buddy System. UK: People, Places and Things, Brace Brace, Punch, School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play. Film: Saving Private Ryan, Speed, The Day After Tomorrow, 2012, Murder on the Orient Express, Source Code, Molly’s Game, Steve Jobs, The Patriot. Television: “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Criminal Minds,” “Ray Donovan,” “Designated Survivor,” “Quantico,” “Private Practice,” “The Rookie.” NETWORKS PRESENTATIONS (Producer) is an industry-leading producer of touring theatrical productions, committed to delivering quality entertainment to audiences worldwide for more than 25 years. Current and upcoming productions include A Beautiful Noise, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, Come From
Away, Funny Girl, The Great Gatsby, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Mean Girls, Peter Pan, Cameron Mackintosh presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music and The Wiz. 42ND.CLUB (Co-Producer) is a seven-time Tony Award-winning network of Broadway producers and investors. Productions include & Juliet, Hadestown and Moulin Rouge!. In development: Alice in Neverland. Producers: Phil & Claire Kenny, Winston Hatta (@buddybroadway) and Miles & Bonnie Romney. www.42nd.club PLAYING FIELD (Co-Producer). Combining our knowledge of theatre and capital, Playing Field is dedicated to accelerating the creation of world class theatre through the early-stage development, late-stage investment and production of a wide variety of projects in London, nationally and internationally. Work includes The Lehman Trilogy, Back to the Future, Life of Pi, War Horse, Starlight Express, Dear England, Stranger Things, The Motive and the Cue, Moulin Rouge, Merrily We Roll Along, Funny Girl, Patriots and Jerusalem. playingfield.co.uk HARRIET NEWMAN LEVE (Co-Producer) has won four Tony Awards. Productions include Ain’t Too Proud, Beautiful, An American in Paris, Hedwig, War Horse, The 39 Steps, The Mountaintop, A Little Night Music, La Cage aux Folles, The Norman Conquests, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Crucible and Stomp. INDEPENDENT PRESENTERS NETWORK (Co-Producer). Over 30 presenters of touring Broadway in the US, UK and Asia. Recent/ Upcoming: & Juliet, The Devil Wears Prada, The Notebook, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Some Like It Hot. JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION (Co-Producer) family of companies include Broadway Across America and Broadway.com, under the supervision of 22-time Tony-winning producer John Gore. Productions include: MJ, Moulin Rouge!, The Outsiders, Gypsy. KUHN DODANI (Co-Producer). Eric Kuhn is a Tony Award-winning producer between New York and London and co-CEO and co-founder of Folk Media Group. Nik Dodani is
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28 | encorecharlotte KATE AND BILL FISHEL (Co-Producer) live in the Pacific Palisades with their three sons Mike, John, and Andy and their own representative of the divine through love, fear, and survival: Wally Washington Fishel. AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATER (Co-Producer) at Harvard University, led by Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director Diane Paulus and Executive Director Kelvin Dinkins, Jr., produces groundbreaking work to catalyze dialogue and transformation. The A.R.T. is a Tony Award-winning creative hub, launching acclaimed productions seen on Broadway, across the U.S., and around the world including Jagged Little Pill, Waitress, Great Comet, All the Way, The Glass Menagerie, Pippin, Once, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, 1776, and Real Women Have Curves (upcoming). SHEFFIELD THEATRES (Co-Producer) is the largest U.K. producing theatre complex outside London, comprising the Crucible, Lyceum and Playhouse. Celebrated for creating bold new work, recent hits include Life of Pi, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Standing at the Sky’s Edge. Opening Night: December 10, 2024 STAFF FOR LIFE OF PI EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Hanna Osmolska and Seth Wenig GENERAL MANAGEMENT Gentry & Associates Gregory Vander Ploeg PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT NETworks Presentations Jason Juenker Matthew Reardon Booking Assistant – Lily Flippin Aimee is now Associate Production Manager Production Coordinate – Gina Boccolucci Aidan Herman – Administration Assistant TOUR BOOKING, MARKETING & PUBLICITY BOND THEATRICAL bondtheatrical.com TOUR BOOKING Temah Higgins Mollie Mann Wendy Roberts TOUR MARKETING & PUBLICITY DJ Martin Jenny Bates Marc Viscardi Tony Joy Harrison Mootoo CASTING ARC Duncan Stewart, CSA Mark Brandon, CSA Patrick Maravilla, Jarrett Reiche, Kendra Luca Kyle Coker, Devi Peot, Jaron Cole Ryan Stana, CEO RWS Global Ryan Saab, SVP RWS Global Production Stage Manager....................... Kristin Newhouse Stage Manager......................................... Matthew Brooks Assistant Stage Manager.............................. Fouad Hassan
Company Manager .........................................Katie Cortez Associate Company Manager ..................... Frank Deming II Associate Puppet Designer...................... Caroline Bowman Associate Scenic Designer............................Ross Edwards Associate Costume Designer......................Robin L. McGee Assistant Costume Designer....................... Jeanna DiPaolo Associate Lighting Designers...... Timothy Reed, Paul Toben Moving Light Programmer................................. Paul Toben U.K. Associate Sound Designers.................. Sam Clarkson, Elliott Williams / Sound Quiet Time Associate Video and Animation Designer........Brad Peterson Video Associate and Programmer................. Dan Trenchard Production Supervisor....................................Sharika Niles Production Electrician........................................ Eric Norris Production Sound....................................... Shannon Slaton Assistant Production Sound............................Nikki Belenski Production Props..............................................Dan Brown Production Video................................... Chelsea Zalikowski Production Puppets...................Marta Sarrion, Aga Fraczak Production Carpenter................................................pesci Head Carpenter/Automation...........................Adam Randall Assistant Carpenter................... Brit Keyser, Shawn Watson Head Electrician...............................................Lars Stolpe Assistant Electricians.................. Jeremy Bolnick, Tim Mack Head Sound................................................Philip Franzone Assistant Sound........................................Jimmy O’Connor Head Props...................................................Cailin Kucera Assistant Props........................................ Robyn Monkarsh Puppet Tech.......................................................Jena Kerr Wardrobe Supervisors....................................Tyler J. Guse Assistant Wardrobe................................ Nichole Marie Hull Costume Researcher..................................Maariyah Sharjil Fight Director.................................................... Rod Kinter Dialect Coach.............................................. Luca Fontaine Production Assistants..........Sarah Holland, Gabriella Shead, Campbell Tiffin Merchandising.......................................... The Araca Group Merchandise Manager..................................... Kelli Farmer Marketing Materials............................................. AKA NYC Promotional Video................ Situation, Spotco, Tour Design Photography............................................Matthew Murphy, Evan Zimmerman Tour Booking, Marketing & Publicity Office... BOND Theatrical Nilesha Alexander, Kolten Bell, Melissa Cohen, Jesse Daniels, Alexandra De La Cerda, Caroline Frawley, Bridget Gross, Ayanna Jernigan, Steph Kelleher, Deborah Mann, Scotland Newton, Elisabeth Reyes, Laura Rizzo, Madison St. Amour, Linda Stewart Physical Therapy............................................. Pip Gamble, NEURO TOUR Physical Therapy, Inc. Safety Consultant......................................Bryan Huneycutt Accounting............................ NETworks Presentations LLC Tax Accountant............................................... Jeff Mensch Legal Services.............................. David F. Schwartz, Esq., Gray Schwartz LLP HR Support................................................K+K Reset, LLC Housing.................................................... Road Concierge Travel Agency........................ Kessler & Co. / Direct Travel Trucking......................................................Clark Transfer LifeofPiBway.com Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok: @LifeofPiBway FOR NETWORKS PRESENTATIONS Chief Executive Officer......................................... Orin Wolf President/Chief Production Officer..................... Seth Wenig Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer... Margaret Daniel Business Affairs...................................... Scott W. Jackson Executive Producers........Mimi Intagliata, Hannah Rosenthal, Trinity Wheeler Vice President of Finance................................ Scott Levine Sr. Director/Finance.......................................... John Kinna Controller.................................................. Jennifer Gifford Director of Tour Accounting.........................Laura S. Carey Tax Director.................................................... Pat Guerieri
encorecharlotte Directors, Booking & Engagements...................Stacey Burns, Colin Byrne Director of Sales....................................... Zach Stevenson Director of Marketing.....................................Heather Hess Sr. Director/General Management..... Gregory Vander Ploeg General Managers...Madeline McCluskey, Steven Varon-Moore Associate General Manager........................... Heather Moss Sr. Director/Production Management.............Jason Juenker Sr. Production Manager................................ Hector Guivas Production Managers...........Matthew Reardon, Alex Williams Technical Director.....................................................pesci Production Coordinator..................... Aimeé Mangual Pagán Director of Operations....................Pearce Landry-Wegener Resource Director......................................... Kayla Rooplal People Operations/Payroll Manager........................Sara Clayton Executive Assistant..................................Isabella Schiavon Office Manager.............................................Michelle Adye Music Coordinator...........................................John Mezzio Warehouse Manager..................................... Joseph Spratt Warehouse Costume Shop Assistant........ Grace Santamaria SIMON FRIEND ENTERTAINMENT Producer.......................................................Simon Friend Executive Director.................................... Hanna Osmolska Associate General Manager.............................. Amy Hendry Associate General Manager............................... Kati Donlon Associate General Manager............................ Aaron Rogers Production Coordinator...................................... Mia Franey Finance Director......................................... George Bradley Payroll................................. Toni Palmer, Francesca Oldnall Administration Assistant............................... Poppy Maxwell DARYL ROTH PRODUCTIONS Associate Producer........................................Megan Smith Executive Assistant....................................... Patton Linder Producing Assistant.........Rebecca Salzhauer, Sarah Shapiro Director of Finance.......................................... Emily Currie Bookkeeper......................................................Darren Ley Interim Associate Producer...................... Victoria Weinberg HAL LUFTIG PROUDCTIONS Hal Luftig Producer...................................................... Kevin Connor Associate Producer............................................. Eli Cohen MARK GORDON PICTURES Producer....................................................... Mark Gordon President......................................................... Bibby Dunn Producers................................Jessica Chase, Katie Myers, Bonnie-Chance Roberts Associate Producer................................ Michela Rodriquez Executive Assistants................................ Chelsey Dobbins, Andrea Rivera, Taylla Smith CREDITS Scenery fabricated by Great Lakes Scenic Studios, Burlington, ON, Show Control and Scenic Motion Control featuring STAGE COMMAND SYSTEMS® by PRG Scenic Technologies, a division of PRG Broadway L.L.C., New Windsor, New York. Sound and Video Systems provided by Sound Associates, Yonkers, NY. Lighting equipment from Christie Lites. Costumes by Eric Winterling Inc., Pintler Costumes. Puppets made by Nick Barnes Puppets: Caroline Bowman, Jodie Dean, Aga Fraczak, Harriet Lansdown, Suzanne Law, Chelsey Lee, Oli Simonon, Georgina Smith, Jessica Taylor, Charlie Tymms, Ash West. Rehearsed at NEW 42nd Street Studios, 229 W 42nd Street, New York, NY. SPECIAL THANKS TO Cameron Mackintosh, Mark Lunsford, Emma Watt, Skip Curtiss, Sabrina Cuniberto. Broadway Across America Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore, MD Ron Legler, President and Chris Mahan, Vice President.
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Insurance Broker Services EPIC Entertainment & Sports Financial Services and banking arrangements by Flagstar Bank N.A. The Actors and Stage Managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers of the United States. The Musicians employed in this production are members of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. The Director and Choreographer are members of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Inc., an independent national labor union. The Press Agents and Company Managers employed in this production are represented by the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers. Backstage employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (or I.A.T.S.E.). United Scenic Artists represents designers and scenic artists for the American Theatre. This production is produced by a member of The Broadway League in collaboration with our professional union-represented employees.