CREATIVE TEAM
ALAN GOVENAR (Playwright)
Alan Govenar is a writer, folklorist, photographer, and filmmaker. He is president of Documentary Arts, a non-profit organization he founded in 1985 to present new perspectives on historical issues and diverse cultures. Govenar has a B.A. with distinction in American Folklore from Ohio State University, an M.A. in Folklore and Anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Ph.D. in Arts and Humanities from the University of Texas at Dallas. He is a Guggenheim Fellow and the author of thirty books, including Texas Blues: The Rise of a Contemporary Sound, Stompin’ at the Savoy: The Story of Norma Miller, Extraordinary Ordinary People, Everyday Music, Untold Glory, Stoney Knows How: Life as a Sideshow Tattoo Artist, Deep Ellum: The Other Side of Dallas, Portraits of Community, The Early Years of Rhythm and Blues: The Photography of Benny Joseph, and The Blues Come to Texas: Paul Oliver and Mack McCormick’s Unfinished Book. His book Osceola: Memories of a Sharecropper’s Daughter won First Place in the New York Book Festival (Children’s Non-Fiction), a Boston Globe-Hornbook Honor; and an Orbis Pictus Honor from the National Council of Teachers of English.
Govenar’s film, Stoney Knows How, based on his book by the same title about Old School tattoo artist Leonard St. Clair, was shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, and was selected as an Outstanding Film of the Year by the London Film Festival. Govenar has also produced and directed numerous films in association with NOVA, La Sept/ARTE, and PBS for broadcast and educational distribution. His documentaries The Beat Hotel, Master Qi and the Monkey King, You Don’t Need Feet to Dance, and Extraordinary Ordinary People are distributed by First Run Features.
Govenar is also a playwright, whose musicals include Blind Lemon Blues and Lonesome Blues (with Akin Babatunde) and Texas in Paris. His musicals have been performed at the York Theatre (New York), Forum Meyrin (Geneva), Maison des Cultures du Monde (Paris), Zuiderpershuis (Antwerp), Leidse Schouwburg (Leiden), Regentes (Den Haag), and Oude Luxor (Rotterdam).
His artist books and photographs are in collections in the United States and abroad, including The Museum of Modern Art (New York), Victoria and Albert Museum (London, Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris), Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), National Portrait Gallery (Washington, DC), and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Govenar’s film, Stoney Knows How, based on his book by the same title about Old School tattoo artist Leonard St. Clair, was shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, and was selected as an Outstanding Film of the Year by the London Film Festival. Govenar has also produced and directed numerous films in association with NOVA, La Sept/ARTE, and PBS for broadcast and educational distribution. His documentaries The Beat Hotel, Master Qi and the Monkey King, You Don’t Need Feet to Dance, and Extraordinary Ordinary People are distributed by First Run Features.
Govenar is also a playwright, whose musicals include Blind Lemon Blues and Lonesome Blues (with Akin Babatunde) and Texas in Paris. His musicals have been performed at the York Theatre (New York), Forum Meyrin (Geneva), Maison des Cultures du Monde (Paris), Zuiderpershuis (Antwerp), Leidse Schouwburg (Leiden), Regentes (Den Haag), and Oude Luxor (Rotterdam).
His artist books and photographs are in collections in the United States and abroad, including The Museum of Modern Art (New York), Victoria and Albert Museum (London, Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris), Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), National Portrait Gallery (Washington, DC), and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
AKIN BABATUNDÉ (Director)
Akin Babatundé is an accomplished actor, director, and writer whose theatrical career spans Off-Broadway, regional theatre, film and television. He has been a resident company member of prestigious theatrical institutions throughout the country: Trinity Rep (Providence, R.I.), Alley Theater (Houston, TX), La Mama Theater (NY City) and the Dallas Theater Center. He is founder and artistic director of Vivid Theater Ensemble of Dallas and founder of Ebony Emeralds Classic Theater Company. Babatundé was the first African-American to direct for the Dallas Shakespeare Festival in the celebrated diverse production of Taming of the Shrew in 1993. As a writer, his work has been commissioned by Florida Stage, La Mama Theater, the Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, Brown University, the Black Academy of Arts and the Core Ensemble. His work Shakespeare – Midnight Echoes tours in Texas paying homage to black performing artists who performed Shakespeare from slavery to the present. He has toured extensively with Core Ensemble in Of Ebony Embers – Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance. His one-man show, Before the Second Set – A Visit with Satchmo has received critical acclaim at theaters across the country. Babatundé co-wrote and starred in Blind Lemon Blues. Television appearances include “Law and Order” and “Wishbone,” the PBS literary show for children. Babatundé is a renowned arts educator, having undertaken five long-term artist residencies in underserved communities in Florida, creating new music theatre works alongside at-risk teens and community members. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Arts and Humanities from the University of Texas at Dallas and received the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award.
AMY JONES (Music Supervisor)
Amy Jones is thrilled to be back at The York after musical directing Lunch At The Piccadilly here in 2012 as part of the developmental read series. This past year, Amy has provided choreography for Broadway Backwards 9 at the Hirschfeld Theatre (Broadway), directed/musical directed Ring of Fire at the Barter Theatre, and served as the Musical Dir/Creative Consultant of Cuff Me: The Unauthorized 50 Shades of Grey Musical Parody Off-Broadway at The Actors’ Temple. She also choreographed My Fair Lady and directed Boeing, Boeing at Flat Rock Playhouse, where she has been the resident vocal director/choreographer since 1999. She is the associate musical director of Girls Night, The Musical, musical director/ choreographer of Girl Talk, and has provided dramaturgy for the new musicals Alice, Warsaw, and Junk: A Rock Opera. Amy is a member of AEA and SDC.
JAMES MORGAN (Producing Artistic Director; Scenic Designer)
James Morgan has been associated with York for 40 years, the last 18 as Producing Artistic Director. He has built on the legacy of his mentor and friend Janet Hayes Walker, to make the York Theatre Company a place "where musicals come to life." As scenic designer, he has designed over 300 productions in theatres around the country, on Broadway and Off, and some 100 productions at York. Recent designs: Love, Linda: the Life of Mrs. Cole Porter, Storyville, Closer Than Ever and I'm a Stranger Here Myself (York); Da, New Girl in Town and It's A Wonderful Life (Irish Rep), Enter Laughing, The Musical (Bay Street); Radio Gals (Cape Playhouse). Numerous directing credits, as well. His graphic designs are seen on the new scores and vocal selections of Closer Than Ever and Merrily We Roll Along, among others.
BRIAN NASON (Lighting Designer)
Broadway: The Mystery of Edwin Drood with Chita Rivera; Thurgood with Laurence Fishburne; On Golden Pond with James Earl Jones; Fortunes Fool with Alan Bates and Frank Langella; Arthur Miller's Broken Glass (World Premiere); 1776 Directed by Scott Ellis; A Month in the Country with Helen Mirren (Outer Critics Nom. Best Design); Taller Than a Dwarf with Matthew Broderick; 3 Penny Opera with Sting; Metamorphosis with Mikhail Baryshnikov (Tony Nom. Best Lighting Design), Off Broadway: more than 60 productions including, A Christmas Memory, Juno and the Paycock, The Emperor Jones, The Hairy Ape, Gaslight, Meet Me in St. Louis, Beyond The Horizon (Irish Rep); Exits and Entrances (Primary Stages); The Cripple of Innishman (The Public); Jerry Hermanʼs “Showtune” (York Theater); Richard II ( The Public Audelco Nom,); Cellini by John Patrick Shanley (Second Stage); Four Dogs and a Bone, Durang Durang, Neat (Audelco Nom), Pretty Fire (MTC); Dream A Little Dream (Village Theater); Cantorial (Outer Critics Nom. Best Design); Amphigorey (Perry St.) My Motherʼs Italian... (Westside Arts); The Coconuts (American Place). Regional: The Kennedy Center, Mark Taper Forum, Williamstown , Bay Street, Seattle Rep, Long Wharf, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Acting Co., The Old Globe, Alliance, Cincinnati Playhouse, Philadelphia Theater Co., Studio Arena, Huntington Theater, George Street Playhouse, Walnut Street Theater, Actorʼs Theater of Louisville, Berkshire Theater Festival. Opera: A Little Night Music (HGO); A Coffin In Egypt (HGO, Opera Philadelphia); Cruzar La Cara De La Luna (HGO, San Diego Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera); Dead Man Walking (NYCO.,HGO, Opera Pacific, Cincinnati, Michigan, Baltimore, Austin Lyric Operaʼs); The End of the Affair (Madison Opera); 3 Decembers (HGO,SFO); West Side Story (La Scala, Beirut Japan). Brian has been nominated for a Tony Award , 2 Outer Critics Circle Awards, 3 Audelco Awards and received a Barrymore Award for his Lighting Design.
CHRISTOPHER VERGARA (Costume Designer)
Last Dance (York Theatre Company), The Golem of Havana (La Mama), Danza de Fernando (somedance company); like the eagle (DASH); Madame Butterfly, Kiss Me Kate, La Traviata, Pirates of Penzance (Brevard Music Festival); Harlequinade, Walpurgisnacht, Esmeralda, Majisimas, Paquita (Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo). Broadway assisting credits include The People in the Picture (Roundabout Theater Company) and Freeman of Color (Lincoln Center Theater). As the Costume Coordinator for Les Ballet Trockadero he toured throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. He is an alumnus of The Professional Internship Program of The Juilliard School and a proud member of Local USA 829, IATSE.
JASON JOHNSON-SPINOS (Projection and Sound Designer)
Jason Johnson-Spinos is a film and theatre artist based in Dallas, Texas. He is the resident projection and sound designer at Outcry Theatre, which he co-founded with his wife Becca. Work for Outcry includes: dark play or stories for boys, The Four of Us, Circus Tracks, and Isaac’s Eye. He was the projection designer for ReVision Theatre’s Rocky Horror in New Jersey and the sound designer for the York Theatre's production of Lonesome Blues. As a film editor for Documentary Arts, he has edited the feature documentaries You Don’t Need Feet to Dance, Serving Second Chances, and Extraordinary Ordinary People, as well as numerous short documentaries. www.jasonjohnsonspinos.com
JARED JANAS (Wig and Make-Up Designer)
Broadway designs and consultations include The Real Thing (Makeup Design), Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, Motown the Musical (Makeup Design), Peter and the Starcatcher, All About Me, and Next to Normal. Recent Off-Broadway designs include Allegro and Passion at CSC, Father Comes Home from the Wars, Atomic, Lady Day, Bad Jews, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, and Detroit 67. Recent regional designs include Can-Can (Paper Mill Playhouse), Les Miserables (Dallas Theater Center), Breaking the Code, Kiss Me Kate and On the Town (Barrington Stage). TV/ Films include "30 Rock," Lola Versus, Gilded Lilys, and Angelica.
KEVIN MALOOF (Props Designer)
Kevin Maloof earned a degree in Theater Arts Administration while at Hunter College. He also achieved a degree in Advanced Actors Studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has worked in logistics and productions in New York for 10 years getting his start at the Martha Stewart Show. This is his twelfth show at the York.
ELAIN GRAHAM (Assistant Director)
Elain Graham was last seen as Delores in Billy Porter's While I Yet Live. She was Mum in Debbie Tucker Green's born bad at SoHo Rep. Television credits includes "666 Park Avenue," "Smash!," "Unforgettable," "L&O," "L&O:SVU." She was Etta Mae Burrell on "Another World." Other Stage Credits: Lena Younger, A Raisin In The Sun (VSC), Intimate Apparel (Two River Theatre), Lynn Nottage's Banana Beer Bath (EST), Julius Caesar (Hartford Tage Company), Sam-Artt Williams' Home (NEC).