BRIAN BAILEY (Claire, The Mentor) is so excited to gay it up after playing a butch and bearded Muleteer in Man of La Mancha at Theatre by the Sea for most of the Summer. He was just featured as eight year-old Carl in the reading of Rainbow Valley at Emerging Artists this Spring and the premiere of 8 Minute Musicals at the New York Musicals Festival (NYMF) last Fall. New York: The Wizard of Oz (Madison Square Garden), National Tours: CATS (Mungojerrie) and The Wizard of Oz. Favorite Credits: The Producers (Carmen Ghia), Peter Pan (Starkey), and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Protean) at Theatre by the Sea, A Chorus Line at North Shore Music Theatre, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere), Bat Boy: The Musical (Bat Boy), 42nd Street (Billy), and Disney Cruise Line (Quasimodo, Aladdin), TV: “Boardwalk Empire.” A member of Actor's Equity Association Member, he holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Northern Kentucky University. Many thanks to Peter & Joey! Visit brianbaileyactor.com for more details.
ELISE CASTLE (Lorna, Katesta) is thrilled to be making her NY Fringe debut with this FABULOUS show! Her favorite roles include Joan in Dames at Sea, Katisha in The Mikado, and Hippolyta in By Jupiter. Elise dedicates this performance to the gentleman at The Malebox in Detroit who upon finding her in the club's bathroom looked down and said “Looks like we have another drag queen down in the ladies room.” Elise would also like to thank her mother for giving her a teasing comb and always reminding her to “feather her bangs” and to “put a little lipstick on.”
J. HARRISON GHEE (Esther) is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina and studied musical theater at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy here in New York City. His credits include The Wiz (Tinman), Big Band Beat and special events at Tokyo Disney Resort, Japan. He is overjoyed to be making his New York theatre debut in Parker & Dizzy's Fabulous Adventure to the End of the Rainbow.
SAM GIVEN (Crawford, Abbatha, Ginger, Ekajati) recently moved to New York City from Los Angeles, where he graduated from UCLA with a degree in Theatre. Recent credits include Neil Patrick Harris’s Rent at the Hollywood Bowl, The Nutcracker at Center Theatre Group, Backwards in High Heels at Fullerton Civic Light Opera, and TheatreworksUSA’s national tour of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Sam is also about to make his feature film debut in the upcoming Bloody Indulgent, a vampire musical slasher! Thanks to Peter, Joey and Damon for this exciting experience and Nick for consistently being a strong support!
KAREN LYNN GORNEY (The Woman) starred opposite John Travolta in the hit film Saturday Night Fever as the "fantasy girlfriend" and portrayed the original Tara Martin on the long-running soap “All My Children.” As a classically trained actress and winner of People's Choice and European Bravo Awards, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon and Brandeis University, respectively. Credits include company member at Irish Repertory Theatre (The Field as Mrs. Dandy McCabe), Late Night Catechism at St Paul's Theatre, Uncle Tom's Cabin at the Mint and Monsterface at Irish Arts Center. West End Theatre credits include Cymbelaine, King John, Richard III and Hamlet. Karen Lynn has guest starred on “Law and Order,” “Sopranos,” “Saturday Night Live” and “Six Degrees.” Films credits include The Imperialists Are Still Alive, Searching for Bobby D., A Crime with Harvey Keitel, Men in Black and Cradle Will Rock, among others. Karen Lynn is thrilled to be a part of Parker & Dizzy! Her latest Internationally acclaimed CD “Hot Moonlight” is based on the writing efforts of her famous father Jay Gorney featuring his most beloved Broadway and film-favorite hits, including “Brother Can You Spare a Dime,” “You're My Thrill” and many more. It’s available in stores now and through karenlynngorney.com.
JOEY MIRABILE (Dizzy) was last seen as theatrical performer “Coco of Times Square,” promoting La Cage aux Folles. Recent regional credits include Into the Woods (Rapunzel’s Prince), Footloose (Lyle), Grease (Danny), They’re Playing Our Song (Vernon), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Hero) for Summer Theatre at Salem; The Producers (Carmen) at Emerson Umbrella for which he earned a 2009 DASH nomination; and Spirits of the Gables (Hawthorne) at The House of Seven Gables. He also appeared in Company (Bobby), The Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King), Six Degrees of Separation (Rick), and Antigone (Sentry) at Salem State University, where he holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre. Joey dedicates this performance to all those young at heart... you were born this way. Follow Joey @Joeylovessjb on Twitter.
STEVEN POLITO aka HEDDA LETTUCE (Victoria Luster) has appeared with the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Tyra Banks and Madonna on such television shows as “Project Runway,” “Sex and the City,” “The Tyra Banks Show,” MTV Movie Awards, “Chapelle’s Show,” “Ugly Betty” and one of the stars of The Sundance Channel’s new reality show “Garo Unleashed.” Hedda's film appearances include The Look (Carol Alt), Too Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar and Go Go Crazy from the producers of The Big Gay Musical, Violet Tendencies and Musical Chairs. He has been in numerous Off-Broadway shows and has also had the pleasure of working with many high-profile charity events. Visit heddalettuce.com for more information.
JACOB R. THOMPSON (Cowboy / Cutesy / Lily) is an Iowa boy who attended Wagner College here in NYC. He's done a lot of work for ‘The Mouse’ playing princes, beasts and an Asian warrior around the country and on the seas. Jacob is thrilled to be doing theatre while living at home in the City. In New York, he's been in the New York Musical Theatre Festival’s productions of Cyclone, Oliver! at The Engeman and a new benefit or reading every week. Love and gratitude to David, Jessica, Ray, the nice people at Andreadis Talent Agency and special thanks to John Pinckard. Get more Jacob at his website jacobthompson.net where you can see a weekly video blog and other goodness.
PETER ZACHARI (Parker) is a member of the professional actors union Actor’s Equity Association, and has performed in numerous productions throughout the United States. New York credits include Street Scene (The York Theatre Company), Connections (Actors Theatre of America), 1940s Radio Hour (The Emelin Theatre), The All-Male Importance of Being Earnest (New York International Fringe Festival), and Happy Hour (The Producers’ Club). Regional credits include Love’s Labour’s Lost (Huntington), The Illusion, All in the Timing, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, A Christmas Carol and 4R Planet (Hippodrome State Theatre), Big River and Young Abe Lincoln (Lincoln Amphitheatre), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Lend Me a Tenor and Mary, Mary (Summer Theatre at Salem); The Flatlanders (Dollywood) and Fiddler on the Roof as well as Cabaret (Center for the Performing Arts, Gainesville). His television credits include “As the World Turns,” “The Life of Lizzie Borden,” and “Half Empty.” He received his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Florida and his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Salem State University. Peter is ever thankful to his mother, Rita, his brother, Scott and the rest of his family for their love and support. Follow Peter @zachatack on Twitter.
JOHN JACOB LEE (Elmo / Vendor) feels #HIGHLYFAVORED to be at the Fringe Fest for the first time with such a fun show. He recently dance-captained The Music Man with the new Harbor Lights Theatre Company on Staten Island. Previously, John Jacob relived the '80s on the first national tour of The Wedding Singer (George) AND CATS (Skimbleshanks) on which he traveled internationally with fellow cast-mate Brian Bailey. Other than that, it has been a lot of tap dancing (42nd Street, Lady Be Good, Thoroughly Modern Millie) and heel-work. Twitter him @johnjacoblee. Hey to the folks!
JOHN WEIGAND (Old Man Jasper) is thrilled to be making his FringeNYC and La MaMa debuts. Most recently on the New York stage, he played in the sold-out, Outer Critics Award-nominated Off-Broadway musical A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. On TV, he is remembered for playing “Dr. Phil” on “Chappelle’s Show” (Comedy Central). He also guest starred in the ABC-Australia hit-comedy television series “Review with Myles Barlow.” In film, he can be seen co-starring in Virgin Alexander, the romantic comedy starring Bronson Pinchot, which is currently in the film festival circuit across the country. He is a graduate of Northwestern University. Visit his website at johnweigand.blogspot.com.
SCOTT AHEARN (Mysterious Man) is thrilled to join the fun at Parker & Dizzy, and excited to return to the Fringe! Regional credits include: Fred Casely in Chicago opposite Sally Struthers (Ogunquit Playhouse), Buddy “Keno” Walsh in The Full Monty (Arvada Center, Denver), Trevor Graydon III in Thoroughly Modern Millie and a lusty, two-steppin’ Aggie in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Phoenix Theater). European Tour: Grease (Kenickie, Danny understudy). On film he can be seen as a Communist-fighting Belgian kickboxer in Live Till You Die. Non-musically, he has been seen in The Millionairess, Cyrano de Bergerac and The (All-Male) Importance of Being Earnest (with Peter Zachari)! scottahearn.net
