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- Atlantic for Kids: 1001 Nights: A Love Story about Loving Stories
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Atlantic for Kids: 1001 Nights: A Love Story about Loving Stories
Music & lyrics by ROBERT LOPEZ
Book by ADAM KOPLAN & ROBERT LOPEZ
Directed by ADAM KOPLAN
Musical Direction by MADELINE SMITH
Choreography by MK LAWSON
Puppet Direction by MATT ACHESON
Linda Gross Theater
September 17 – October 16, 2016
This newly reimagined musical production of 1001 Nights features early songs by Oscar, Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award winner Robert Lopez (Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon, and Disney’s Frozen).
More Info
In this celebration of brainy imagination over brawn, a princess uses her wits to save a kingdom from an evil decree as she spins tale after tale for a narrow-minded king. This playful adaptation of the “Arabian Nights” fairy tales is recommended for ages 5 to 9, but welcomes children of all ages!
Cast & Creative


PJ Adzima
Ensemble/King
PJ ADZIMA is royally pumped to be a part of 1001 Nights with ATC! Most notably, PJ has appeared in Volleygirls, (2013 Winner Best of Fest), TINK!, and The Cobalteans at NYMF. Additional credits include: The Bacchae at La Mama Experimental Club, A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Washington Square Park with Gorilla Rep, Very Bad Words at NYC Fringe, Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical at The Ivoryton Playhouse, and GUNS: A Cabaret under director Liz Swados. PJ is also a founding member and the current Artistic Director of Madcap Repertory Theatre. MMC grad! Love to Mom, Dad, Eric, and Julia. Thanks to the entire team for this wonderful opportunity. Find out more at pjadzima.com

Caitlin Donohue
Ensemble/Sherry
CAITLIN DONOHUE is beyond excited to make her Atlantic debut in 1001 Nights! She graduated from Boston University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and concentrations in sociology and deaf studies. Favorite university credits include Chicago (Roxie), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Christine), Avenue Q (Bad Idea Bear), and The Human Comedy (Helen). Selected Regional credits: Chicago (June/Dance Captain, BroadwayWorld Award for Best Ensemble), Metamorphoses (Myrrha), Footloose (Rusty), The Crucible (Mary Warren), Little Women (Amy), and the New England premiere of Spring Awakening (Wendla). National anthem: Agganis Arena & Fenway Park. Endless thanks to this wonderful team, her family, friends, & MCB. Let’s tell stories! caitlin-donohue.com

Lydia Granered
Ensemble/Head Genie
LYDIA GRANERED is currently looking for a different qualifier to say she is thrilled to be making her Atlantic debut with the cast of 1001 Nights. She is a recent graduate of the Atlantic Acting School through NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Her past roles include the Stage Manager in Our Town, Maria in Twelfth Night, and Lynette in Anything For You. She is also a director, writer, and composer when she’s not on stage. Great at high-fives. Endless thanks to the Atlantic as well as friends and family back in Nashville!

Jamee Hanson
Ensemble/Queen
JAMEE HANSON is thrilled to be working with the entire cast and crew of 1001 Nights! This is her first production since graduating NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in May, where she studied at the Atlantic Acting School. Favorite past roles include Holly in Uncommon Women, Annabel in Lucky Stiff, and Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray. When she’s not on stage, you can find her planning her next trip to Disney World, researching the likelihood of adult humans turning into mermaids, and trying (poorly) to satisfy her obsession with makeup. Ultimate gratitude for the world’s best friends, and never-ending love for Mom, Kel, and the Helser clan!

Donovan Mendelovitz
Ensemble/Orange
DONOVAN MENDELOVITZ is stoked to be making his ATC debut with 1001 Nights! Donovan recently toured with Theatreworks USA as Buzz in Fly Guy & Other Stories and can’t wait to perform again for the wackiest kind of audience: kids! Other Recent Credits: West Side Story (STONC), Sweeney Todd (Piper Theatre) Spring Awakening (YA4Ever – LA). He also is a founding member of Madcap Repertory Theatre here in NYC.

Derek Christopher Murphy
Ensemble/Blue
DEREK CHRISTOPHER MURPHY is thrilled to be making his Atlantic Debut with the cast and crew of 1001 Nights! He was most recently seen on stage in the American premiere of Adam Rapp’s Wolf in the River at The Flea Theater. Other NYC Theater: Take Care (The Flea), Fuerza Bruta (The Daryl Roth Theatre), Urinetown (The John Cullum Theatre). Regional/International: Robin Hood (WTF), The Wedding Play (WTF), Baby Wants Candy’s Thrones! The Musical (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Assassins (Edinburgh Fringe Festival). Derek graduated from Princeton University with a degree in English and Theater.

Vanessa Pereda-Felix
Ensemble/Yellow
VANESSA PEREDA-FELIX is delighted to be making her Atlantic Theater Company debut in 1001 Nights! She graduated with her B.A. in Theatre Arts from California State University Fresno and has been in NYC ever since. Vanessa has had the pleasure of working with several theater companies in many capacities as an actor throughout NYC including: SoHo Rep, EST, The Bushwick Starr, the PIT and with Superhero Clubhouse at the New Victory Theater. vanessapfelix.com

Ben Schrager
Ensemble/Vizier
BEN SCHRAGER. Atlantic debut. Ben recently starred in Lake Dillon Theater Company’s production of Mark St. Germain’s Dancing Lessons (2016 Henry Award Nomination: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play). Other New York/Regional Credits: Man of La Mancha and His Girl Friday (Barrington Stage Company, dir. Julianne Boyd), the world premiere of Liz Swados and Erin Courtney’s The Nomad and Serials (Flea Theater), Reunion Practice (The 24 Hour Plays), and Two Gentlemen of Verona (Delaware Shakespeare Festival). Training: BFA, NYU-Tisch (Atlantic Acting School and RADA). Ben has also performed in readings, workshops, and cabarets at Williamstown, New Dramatists, Joe’s Pub, The York, The Flea, and The Kaufman Music Center, working alongside artists such as Norm Lewis, William Finn, Elizabeth Stanley, Nora York, Neigel Smith, and Taylor Mac. He is a current member of The Flea’s resident acting company, The Bats. For more info, visit BenSchrager.com.

Robert Lopez
Book, Music and Lyrics
ROBERT LOPEZ wrote the songs for Disney’s Frozen along with wife and collaborator Kristen Anderson-Lopez, earning them an Oscar® and two Grammys®. Lopez is the co-creator of the Tony® winning Avenue Q and Book of Mormon. Lopez and Anderson-Lopez co-wrote the original musical Up Here, the score for Disney’s Winnie the Pooh and Finding Nemo: The Musical. Currently they are adapting Frozen for Broadway and working on the Disney animated films Gigantic and Frozen 2. Lopez shared two Emmy® Awards for “The Wonder Pets”, and was nominated for “Scrubs” and the 87th Academy Awards. Other TV: “South Park,” “The Simpsons” and “Phineas and Ferb.” Lopez is one of 12 artists to “EGOT” — i.e, win Emmy®, Grammy®, Oscar®, and Tony® Awards. He has also won Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, Lucille Lortel, Frederick Loewe and Edward Kleban awards. A graduate of Yale, Lopez now resides in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters.

Adam Koplan
Director, Book
ADAM KOPLAN is the founding Artistic Director of The Flying Carpet Theater Company where he has helped to create 9 world premieres. His current production, Alpin Hong: Chasing Chopin recently appeared at Lincoln Center as part of their Meet the Artist series, has toured to 8 states, and has played for over 6000 people. The debut production of 1001 Nights: A Love Story About Loving Stories at the Center for Puppetry Art won two Suzi awards for excellence in Atlanta theatre. In addition to professional theatre, Adam works in arts education and previously served as the chair of the Theatre Department at the Dreamyard Project. MFA, University of WA; BA, Swarthmore College; Training: Ecole Jacques Lecoq.

Madeline Smith
Music Director
MADELINE SMITH is delighted to be working at ATC! Broadway: Waitress (Pianist/Copyist/Music Asst.), Frozen (Music Asst.); Off-Broadway: Futurity (Assoc. MD), An Octoroon (Assoc. MD), The Light Princess (MD). TV: “The Wiz! Live” (Music Asst.). Regional: Witness Uganda (ART), Spring Awakening (Gloucester Stage Co.). Madeline has music directed readings for NYMF, NAMT, and MTF as well as concerts at 54 Below, Joe’s Pub, and the Laurie Beechman. B.A. from Harvard University in Music and Classical Civilizations. MadelineASmith.com. Thanks to this wonderful team and cast!

MK Lawson
Choreographer
MK LAWSON has been working as a choreographer for the past seven years, having helped birth nearly 40 productions-babies in that time. Nat’l Tour: Ivy + Bean. With Atlantic for Kids!: Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money, Camp Kappawanna (by Lisa Loeb), The Pirate La Dee Da (Off-Bway Alliance Award). Regional: RENT, Damn Yankees, Avenue Q (OSTC) The Wedding Singer, Best Little Whorehouse… (Sharon Playhouse) Parade (WPPAC) For NYU: too many to count! but favs include The Drowsy Chaperone, Assassins (Dir/Chor) and the Marvin Hamlisch Tribute production of Sweet Smell of Success. Upcoming: Dir/Chor – The Secret Garden (NYU).

Maria Malanga
Associate Choreographer
MARIA MALANGA is so thrilled to be working on this production with the most amazing cast and creative team! She graduated from the NYU Vocal Performance program in 2012, and is now an Adjunct Professor for the program. She also teaches theatre dance at Kean University and Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey. She has performed at TriArts Sharon Playhouse (Damn Yankees) in Connecticut, as well as Vital Theater Company (Angelina Ballerina) and at the Snapple Theater Center (Piggy Nation: The Musical) here in New York City. Maria was the associate choreographer on NYU’s productions of Kiss me Kate, Grand Hotel, Carousel, and the The Drowsy Chaperone. She would like to thank the entire creative time of 1001 Nights, especially MK, for this incredible opportunity. She would also like to thank her Mom, Dad, Marisa, and Chris for their endless love and support. Break legs to this insanely talented cast!

Matt Acheson
Puppet Direction
MATT ACHESON has had the pleasure of working as the Resident Puppetry Director for Warhorse at Lincoln Center Theater and was the Associate Puppetry Director for the Warhorse North American tour. He designed and directed puppets for Radio City’s Spring Spectacular and also designed, built, and directed the puppets for Sarah Ruhl’s The Oldest Boy that opened in 2014 at Lincoln Center Theater. Favorite collaborations include A Howling Flower, choreographed by Nami Yamamoto; Rinna Groff’s Compulsion, directed by Oscar Eustis; founding a company, Acheson Walsh Studios, with Fergus J Walsh and directing the annual St.Ann’s Warehouse Puppet Lab with Krissy Smith.

Ames Aitken
Scenic Designer
AMES AITKEN is the principal designer for Invisible Circus LLC, a firm specializing in theatrical and architectural lighting and design. Invisible Circus’ recent architectural projects include all Nordstrom retail stores throughout the US, The Rockefeller Center Faconnable Boutique, Khimki Mega Mall in Moscow, and the Griffith Observatory renovation. His designs for theatre and opera have been seen at venues such as Center for Puppetry Arts, San José Repertory Theatre, Geva Theatre, La MaMa E.T.C, and Shakespeare Santa Cruz.

Erik Teague
Costume Designer
ERIK TEAGUE is excited to be making his design debut at Atlantic. Some past designs of note are La Boheme, The Flying Dutchman, Odyssey, Trouble in Tahiti, and Ariadne in Naxos for the Glimmerglass Festival, Costumes and Puppets for The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me at the Washington National Opera, The Snow Queen and Evita at Serenbe Playhouse, EQUUS at Constellation Theatre co.,The Wedding Dress and The Last of the Whyos at Spooky Action Theatre Company, 1001 Nights: A Love Story About Loving Stories with the Center for Puppetry Arts, Les Liaisons Dangereuse, Sweeney Todd, The Rocky Horror Show and Spring Awakening at Actor’s Express, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea for the Georgia Aquarium, The Museum At Night for The High Museum and The Navigator at 7 Stages. www.erikteaguedesign.com

Steve O’Shea
Lighting Designer
STEVE O’SHEA is a lighting designer for theater, opera and dance. He has designed over 30 productions at TADA! Youth Theater in NYC since 2006. He is a design associate for international, Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional productions as well as industrials. Recent projects include Lighting Director for the Kronos Quartet (Europe and South America), SITI Company (Radio Macbeth, Steel Hammer), Rude Mechanicals (Now Now Oh Now, Method Gun), Philadanco Dance Company, The Washington Ballet (Alice in Wonderland) and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (A Christmas Carol). M.F.A. from the University of Washington in Seattle (2001).

Jeanne Wu
Sound Designer
JEANNE WU. Missed Connections: A Craiglist Musical with Beebar LLC., NY Animals with Bedlam Theater Company, Uncommon Women and The Real Thing (Atlantic Acting School), Trans Euro Express and 3D Hamlet (Fundamental Theater Project), Cheesecake Girl and Dedalus Lounge (Royal Family Productions). Other design credits include productions at 52nd Street Project and Williamstown Theatre Festival, Broadway Audio Support, Sound Engineering and mixing productions at Bernhard Link Theatrical, PRG Audio, Skirball, Theatre Row, Yale Repertory Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Long Wharf Theatre, Café Wha, The Public Theatre, Mass MoCA, Alvin Ailey, Atlantic Theatre Company, the Miller Theatre at Columbia University, and Syracuse Stage.

Ben Shipley
Production Stage Manager
BEN SHIPLEY is thrilled to join Atlantic For Kids with the company of 1001 Nights! Off-Broadway: The Odyssey, The Winter’s Tale (Public Works), Don Juan, The Winter’s Tale (Pearl Theatre Company), Titus Andronicus (NYSX), The Invisible Hand (NYTW). Regional: Henry V, Blithe Spirit (Texas Shakespeare Festival), July House (FringeNYC), Backyard (Echo Theatre Company), How I Learned To Drive (Illyrian Players), The Pain and the Itch (Zephyr Theatre), Khardal, What Would Crazy Horse Do? (Berkeley Rep). Thanks to family and friends for their constant support! For more information, please visit www.benshipley.com.
Photos







Photos by Joanne Bouknight