JOE BATTISTA
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
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Joe is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He trained at HB Studios with Uta Hagen and William Hickey as well as studying mime with Paul J Curtis of the American Mime Theater. He has been involved in over 100 plays and musicals as an actor, musician, writer and director.
Battista is also a prolific songwriter who has been lead guitarist for the punk rock bands Razor Engine and Electric Landlady. Last year he performed original compositions for guitar at Dixon Place. As a professional photographer, Joe was instrumental in building careers for models and actors working for top agencies such as Ford, Elite, Zoli, Legends, Sue Charney, Clic and Elite. His most profound and moving photographic assignment was covering the United States Wheel Chair Team at the Special Olympics in Korea. Joe has directed two plays and two musicals at the13th Street Rep and recently staged a reading of Inertia in Motion, starring the legendary Everett Quinton. His upcoming directorial projects at the Rep include Return to LalaLand, a collaboration with Grammy nominated songwriter/singer LaForest Cope and drummer Freddy Dugard, as well as Mark Blickley’s Valadon: Reclining Nude starring Jenne Vath and Daniel Yaiullo. |
Joe is grateful for the opportunity to have been selected as Artistic Director for this historic, 44 year old theater. He looks forward to bringing the best and most exciting theatrical productions to the 13th Street Repertory Theater.
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ARTS INDEPENDENT FEBRUARY 2017He spearheaded numerous productions at 13th Street; provided a joyous and triumphant return of La Forrest Cope and directed Robert Funaro in a riveting drama just a few months ago. Joe Battista is rapidly becoming the hardest working man in independent theater biz as artistic director of 13th Street Repertory Theater.
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Once a bastion of controversial and daring works as well as a leading location within the historic off-off Broadway movement of the 60s, 13th Street Rep fell upon disrepair for long enough that many forget it was even in operation. “many have tried to save the old place” Battista said with gravity, a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts with such names as Gates McFadden, William Hickey and Uta Hagan as his teachers and mentors, “but now we have a team in place to bring 13th Street back and beyond !!” he concluded in his usually powerful and inspiring tone. >> READ THE FULL STORY
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ROSLYN McKAY
Producer/Actress/SetDesign 
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Roslyn Mckay, (Producer/Actress/SetDesign) is a member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA and a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts who studied with Eve Collier, Hugh Whitfield, Jack Melanos and Voice training with Amri Galli Campi. Her many endeavors include Stage, Film and TV. Recent Productions: Triangle The Musical, Bed Bugs and Beyond, Beauty Knows No Pain, Staged Reading of Paleo The Fat-Free Musical and The Milkman’s Sister. Her participation and guidance at The 13th Street Repertory Theater has been constructive and appreciated in her skills of production and creativeness with casting as well as set designs. Our historic theater has grown into a respected venue under the leadership of Artistic Director, Joe Battista and our professional team. |
WENDY TONKEN
Associate Artistic Director
Associate Artistic Director
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Wendy Tonken has been a teaching artist and director at the legendary 13th Street Repertory Theatre for 27 years. She has produced and directed (and occasionally appeared in) the longest running production of RUMPLEWHO? A Musical Fairy Tale, which ran for 4 years.
After having danced on Broadway as well as touring Europe, and the Caribbean in many Musical Reviews, very far from Broadway, she started teaching musical theater classes for children when she couldn't find a good class in town for her own son. Since then, she has produced and directed more than 200 showcase productions of original and classic musicals, as part of her company KID CITY THEATER, and has helped start the careers of many young performers. In addition to teaching musical theater workshops for children, Wendy has also helped cast young actors at HBO and Lincoln Center Theater in New York. Several of Wendy’s students can currently be seen on TV, on and off Broadway, and in National Tours. Wendy is often seen in staged readings of new plays at The 13th Street Repertory Theatre; and can be seen in several independent films, including A HOME IN THE THEATER (a documentary about Edith O'Hara, legendary owner/founder/original artistic director of The 13th St. Rep. Theatre), and the French film SWIM LITTLE FISH, SWIM. Currently Ms. Tonken is working on a recurring role in the upcoming web-series ROOM IN THE HEIGHTS. |
FREDDY DUGARD
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Freddy Dugard is a Drumbeat and City Sticks Drum Programs developer specializing in stress management as a certified Remo (R) Trained Health Rhythm facilitator of group empowerment workshops. He received an educator’s endorsement from Pro Mark Drumsticks Evans Drumheads and plays GMS Drums. Featured in Modern Drummer Magazine, Freddy has brought his record-breaking athletic self-discipline and natural aptitude to his musical skills. At Princeton University, he competed against Olympic gold-medalist sprinter, Willie Smith, setting the national record as the fastest high school sophomore in the nation. He currently teaches “The Art of Drumming” program throughout the Queens Library system and offers private drum lessons. Freddy’s repertoire as musical director includes the Symphony Space production of Dreamgirls (2006), and the York College/CUNY production of Little Shop of Horrors (2009) Fame (2010), Rent (2012) and LALA and Dugard's Hit Squad, a race and gender-mixed band performing jazz, funk, and soul.
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LEAH KORNFELD FRIEDMAN
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AWARDS:
2005 - Honorary Mention: Moving Arts One-Act Play Festival 1998, l999 - Finalist: Shenandoah International Playwrights Retreat Festival l994, l996, l997 - YADDO Fellowships 1994 - Winner: Gallery Players Playwrighting Contest, Columbus, Ohio 1997 - Finalist: Francesca Primus Prize, Denver Center for the Performing Arts 1986 - Playwrights Fellowship: New York Foundation for the Arts 1986 - Winner: National Foundation for Jewish Culture Playwrights Award PRODUCTIONS: CLUB SODA: WPA Theatre, NYC, (acclaimed reviews: New York Post, Variety); Queens College, NY; Stage West, Ft. Worth, Texas, ( favorable reviews); St. Genesius Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, (Dramalogue Award); National Jewish Theatre, Chicago, IL (Nominated, Jefferson Award, Chicago Herald Tribune). |
THE GOOD STENO: Workshop presentation at Hayworth Theater, Los Angeles,
CAPUSHING THE D TRAIN BACK TO BROOKLYN: Theatre for The New City, NYC, NY
THE RACHEL PLAYS: American Jewish Theatre, NYC, NY
BEFORE SHE IS EVEN BORN:Theatre for the New City, (acclaimed reviews: The Village Voice, New York Post, Other Stages and others; Obie nomination) N.Y.C.; 92nd Street Y, NYC, NY;
WOW Café Theatre, NYC, NY; The Streisand Center for Jewish Cultural Arts, L.A.; Smith College, Amherst, MA (the play was studied by students in Holocaust seminar); The Art Barge, Amagansett, L.I.; Jewish Women’s Theatre Project,
L.A. THE FLOWER GIRL: Gaslamp Quarter Theatre, San Diego,
CASTAGED
READINGS:
1983-2009. WOW Café Theatre, N.Y.C.; Circle In The Square, N.Y.C.; Jewish Repertory Theatre, N.Y.C.; The Cast Theatre, L.A., CA; Ensemble Theatre, N.Y. and L.A.; University of Pittsburgh theater, Pittsburgh, PA; New Playwrights Theatre, Wash. D.C.; SUNY Theater, Albany, NY.
FILM:
SHOULD’VE BEEN ROMEO, screenplay co-written with Paul Ben-Victor. Produced in 2011, starring Ed Asner and Carol Kane.EDUCATION:BFA, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NYMFA, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY(Wilson Lehr Award for Outstanding Theatre Graduate Student)
OTHER:
Listed in Oxford Companion to Women’s Writing in United States 1994Guest Artist, National Foundation for Jewish CultureGuest Artist, Symposium/Retreat at Jacobs PillowGuest Lecturer, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.Guest Lecturer, SUNY AlbanyPlaywright-in-Residence, University of PittsburghAdjunct Lecturer, Brooklyn College, l977-l98l
CAPUSHING THE D TRAIN BACK TO BROOKLYN: Theatre for The New City, NYC, NY
THE RACHEL PLAYS: American Jewish Theatre, NYC, NY
BEFORE SHE IS EVEN BORN:Theatre for the New City, (acclaimed reviews: The Village Voice, New York Post, Other Stages and others; Obie nomination) N.Y.C.; 92nd Street Y, NYC, NY;
WOW Café Theatre, NYC, NY; The Streisand Center for Jewish Cultural Arts, L.A.; Smith College, Amherst, MA (the play was studied by students in Holocaust seminar); The Art Barge, Amagansett, L.I.; Jewish Women’s Theatre Project,
L.A. THE FLOWER GIRL: Gaslamp Quarter Theatre, San Diego,
CASTAGED
READINGS:
1983-2009. WOW Café Theatre, N.Y.C.; Circle In The Square, N.Y.C.; Jewish Repertory Theatre, N.Y.C.; The Cast Theatre, L.A., CA; Ensemble Theatre, N.Y. and L.A.; University of Pittsburgh theater, Pittsburgh, PA; New Playwrights Theatre, Wash. D.C.; SUNY Theater, Albany, NY.
FILM:
SHOULD’VE BEEN ROMEO, screenplay co-written with Paul Ben-Victor. Produced in 2011, starring Ed Asner and Carol Kane.EDUCATION:BFA, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NYMFA, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY(Wilson Lehr Award for Outstanding Theatre Graduate Student)
OTHER:
Listed in Oxford Companion to Women’s Writing in United States 1994Guest Artist, National Foundation for Jewish CultureGuest Artist, Symposium/Retreat at Jacobs PillowGuest Lecturer, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.Guest Lecturer, SUNY AlbanyPlaywright-in-Residence, University of PittsburghAdjunct Lecturer, Brooklyn College, l977-l98l
JAY MICHAELS
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Mr. Michaels, a professor of Speech Communications at Kingsborough College and past guest artist at Fordham, Lehman, and Yeshiva universities, has maintained a career in the arts & entertainment industry since the late 70s when he worked as an actor appearing in Raymond Gasper’s production of Hamlet at the original Lion Theatre, Nachum the beggar in Fiddler on the Roof at Lincoln Center, and the “Umbrella Man” in the Broadway workshop of In the Rain.
By the mid-1980s he was working as a director and a producer with a specialty in promotion with credits including a series of acclaimed productions of Shakespeare’s canon including Richard III, Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, Merchant of Venice, Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream – as well as Marlowe’s Faustus, Kyd’s Spanish Tragedy, and the Fourth Folio’s A Yorkshire Tragedy (performed at LaMama); and Oedipus Rex and The Bacchae for the HBO Summer Stage; as well as innumerable musicals and plays independently produced as well as part of most New York festivals. |
His most recent stage work was a new production of Hamlet, here; at 13th Street Rep. He looks forward to putting his mark, here, as director of the perennial phenomenon: LINE. Film/TV credits include Slings & Arrows based on the Nunnery Scene from Hamlet (dir.); Metro Cats: Veronica’s Birthday (dir.); Heart of the Community (documentary prod./editor); Twelve Fingers and The Color of Truth (assoc. prod.); Increase the Peace (prod. associate, PBS TV series). As an event producer and publicist, Mr. Michaels’ has credits that include BROADWAY: Guys & Dolls (1992), Damn Yankees (1994) and The Vagina Monologues at Town Hall; NATIONAL TOUR: Cats, Les Miserables, Oliver, Edwin Drood.
Under this specialty, he is founder of JAY MICHAELS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT supplying public relations and production consultation to independent theater & film through aggressive multi-platform, sliding scale fee campaigns. Clients include the Midtown International Theatre Festival, Fresh Fruit Festival, 13th Street Repertory, Opera @ the Kaye Playhouse, American Theater of Actors, and numerous independent productions. In 1998, he and Mary E. MiCari formed Genesis Repertory, a stage and film production company dedicated to educating through the arts. Mr. Michaels was recognized in National SDC, TheatreWorld, American Theater, and Cambridge’s Who’s Who.
His productions have won ASCAP, SPOTLIGHT, and OOBR Awards, published by Samuel French Play Service, and NYIT, GLAAD, and Drama Desk nominations.
Under this specialty, he is founder of JAY MICHAELS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT supplying public relations and production consultation to independent theater & film through aggressive multi-platform, sliding scale fee campaigns. Clients include the Midtown International Theatre Festival, Fresh Fruit Festival, 13th Street Repertory, Opera @ the Kaye Playhouse, American Theater of Actors, and numerous independent productions. In 1998, he and Mary E. MiCari formed Genesis Repertory, a stage and film production company dedicated to educating through the arts. Mr. Michaels was recognized in National SDC, TheatreWorld, American Theater, and Cambridge’s Who’s Who.
His productions have won ASCAP, SPOTLIGHT, and OOBR Awards, published by Samuel French Play Service, and NYIT, GLAAD, and Drama Desk nominations.
MARY ELIZABETH MICARI
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Mary Elizabeth Micari began singing at age six and never stopped. Part of the Brooklyn Borough Chorus by 12 and a member of the experiment-in-education program as a music major at John Dewey High School, she continually worked towards her goals as an artist. After college — where she majored in both acting performance and costume design, all the while studying classical voice privately — Mary founded None of the Above Theater and went on to produce more than 20 years of work including many by new playwrights.
Early in her professional life, she embarked on a 30-year study and career in opera, performing at St. Stephen’s Church, Donnell Library, Merkin Hall, and Carnegie Hall singing many of the great operas. Mary studied with some of the finest teachers in NYC including one of Maria Callas’s students, Julliard educated singers, members of the Kirov Opera in Russia, and Broadway stars. She has transitioned from operatic roles into Jazz & Blues, as well as composing her own original spiritual music in Gaelic & Italian. |
In 1998, Mary met Jay Michaels and together they formed Genesis Repertory Ensemble. Today, she is Genesis’ artistic director. It was during this time that she began teaching acting, voice, and creative empowerment for women. Adding to her credits as director, producer, and teacher, is designer. Her design skills were utilized in the original Broadway productions of Wonderful Town, Light in the Piazza, Little Women, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Aida, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Spamalot; working with Tony Award-winning directors and designers including Kathleen Marshall, Doug Hughes, Catherine Zuber, Paul Huntley, and Martin Pakledinaz. Mary also explored alternative paths to healing and spirituality. She studied several major religions of the world and new age paths like Yoga, Herbalism, Goddess-Centered work — and her most recent, Sound Healing.
She recently produced Summer Soul Sounds – a concert of spiritual music, here, at 13th Street Rep. Today, she is a Reiki Master and ordained minister with numerous licenses and certifications. Magic Apothecary is her cosmetic and aromatherapy line. These products are a melding of her spiritual path, herbal studies, and her cosmetology work.
She recently produced Summer Soul Sounds – a concert of spiritual music, here, at 13th Street Rep. Today, she is a Reiki Master and ordained minister with numerous licenses and certifications. Magic Apothecary is her cosmetic and aromatherapy line. These products are a melding of her spiritual path, herbal studies, and her cosmetology work.
JOSH MOSER
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Joshua E. Feliciano Sánchez Moser (Josh Moser) is an actor, director, and teaching artist. He completed undergraduate education at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, and has an MFA in Performing Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design. He trained with SITI Company at the 2013 Summer Intensive.
He is a certified teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework® (www.FitzmauriceVoice.com). He also teaches and coaches speech and accent work using Knight Thompson Speechwork (www.KTSpeechwork.com). He is the current editor of the VASTA Voice for the Voice and Speech Trainer's Association. He has taught and coached at Savannah College of Art and Design, William Peace University, Savannah Shakes, Savannah Stage Company, and S.P.A.C.E. Josh offers introductory workshops for Fitzmaurice Voicework® and solo coaching at 13th Street Rep. He is currently an Associate Faculty member of Voice and Speech at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. This fall he will be a guest artist in the La Mama/Trinity College NYC Semester, where he will lead a workshop in Fitzmaurice Voicework. |
As an actor, he has appeared in off-off-broadway productions at 13th Street Repertory and Stage Left Studio, regionally at Montgomery Theatre, the Media Theatre, Savannah Stage Company, Collective Face Ensemble, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, and as a singer with various choir trips to Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and in Ireland at St. Patrick's and St. Finn-Barre's Cathedrals. He has been on film in numerous SCAD student films, an Adult Swim short, and most recently, as a Times Square superman cos-player in the official music video for Coheed & Cambria's Island.
For more details on coaching or classes, contact Josh directly at Info@JoshMoser.com, or visit www.JoshMoser.com/coaching.
For more details on coaching or classes, contact Josh directly at Info@JoshMoser.com, or visit www.JoshMoser.com/coaching.
ELIZABETH HESS
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Ms. Hess’ acclaimed solo work has been performed around the globe: SPOILED, at SUNY Conference on Masculinities and Stage Left Studio in New York; DUST TO DUST in Bucharest, Kiel, Stockholm, Prishtina and New York at LPTW New Play Festival, New World Stages; Stage Left Studio and UN Conference on Gender Violence; LIVING OPENLY & NOTORIOUSLY, a solo trilogy - BIRTH RITE, DESCENT, AT/ONE in Berlin, Bath, Barcelona, Edinburgh, Toronto, Yerevan and Off-Broadway.
Other acting credits include work with The New Group, Women’s Project, Irish Rep, MTC and NYTW in New York, as well as extensive regional theaters. TV credits include 5 seasons starring on Clarissa Explains It All; Law & Order; Guiding Light; All My Children and Another World. Film credits include: Handsome Harry; A Bedtime Story; Italian Lessons; Buddy & Grace and Soldier’s Heart. Elizabeth is currently developing several plays and projects: NO EVIL, a triptych of fabulist tales - PERFECT CURIOSITY, MELTDOWN, SALVAGED - developed at The O’Neill Center and NYU; NOMADS, a heightened realist work - developed at The New Group and The Lark; SCARBERIA, ten performative prose/poems. |
She is also writing a book, THE INTERPLAY OF BEING - slated for publication in the new year - based on her methodology culled from teaching acting/playwriting at New York University, National Theater Institute (The O’Neill), Fordham University, Sarah Lawrence College, New York Theater Intensives, New York Sumer School of the Arts and Master Classes internationally.
Elizabeth is the recipient of a Madolin Cervantes Grant; ITI Armmono Festival Director’s Award; ITI Thespis Mono Festival Organizers and Audience Awards. Internationally, she was also an ACULSPEC (American Cultural Specialist) in Yerevan, Armenia where she taught master classes in playwriting and performance; participated in the ITI / UNESCO Conference in Manila, The Philippines; sat on the jury of the ITI Thespis Mono Festival in Kiel, Germany and Saint Muse Festival in Ulan Bator, Mongolia and conducted a playwriting / acting workshop in Prishtina, Kosovo, resulting in the devised work, INTERNALLY DISPLACED.
Elizabeth is the recipient of a Madolin Cervantes Grant; ITI Armmono Festival Director’s Award; ITI Thespis Mono Festival Organizers and Audience Awards. Internationally, she was also an ACULSPEC (American Cultural Specialist) in Yerevan, Armenia where she taught master classes in playwriting and performance; participated in the ITI / UNESCO Conference in Manila, The Philippines; sat on the jury of the ITI Thespis Mono Festival in Kiel, Germany and Saint Muse Festival in Ulan Bator, Mongolia and conducted a playwriting / acting workshop in Prishtina, Kosovo, resulting in the devised work, INTERNALLY DISPLACED.
