Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Cast Bios - Spring 2009

CAST BIOs
http://www.eightimprov.biz/ http://www.improv4kids.com/

Laurice Fattal (Member since 2002, Producer) has been performing in theatre, music concerts, and stage shows since the age of 10. She originally began writing scripts and composing music through her own vocal group in high school. She continued to pursue her passion for the performing arts in college through studies in theatrical production, acting of NYC, MD and DC. Stage credits include comedy shows: Bobby Monaco's Improv Show, Indie Feature: Sunday Morning, TV: "Bad Bob" On DSL, Wil and Grace, Musicals/Operas: Amahl and the Night Visitors (Riverside Opera NYC), Alice in Wonderland - A New Musical, The Phantom Tollbooth - By Sheldon Harnick (Opera Th of N. Va), The Lounge @ Under St. Marks (Edge of Insanity Prod/Horse Trade), Bizet's The Pearl Fishers - Lead Soprano (Mont.Col/MD) and Valencienne - Supporting Lead The Merry Widow(Mont Col/MD) In addition to developing the concept for "Eight is NEVER enough!", she is thrilled to be the co-founderf "IMPROV 4 Kids!" program which currently tours elementary schools.

Walt Frasier (Member since 2002, Company Manager, SAG) is best known for multiple cameo appearances on the Late Show with DAVID LETTERMAN (CBS), Nickelodeon's "The Naked Brothers Band", "Stankervision"(featured sketch comedy segment), Cartoon Networks "Adult Swim" and several national commercials. You can catch Walt in 2 commercial spots for VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club” and Nintendo Wii. Walter has also been featured multiple times on the WE Network's hit show "Hair Trauma" for his expertise in leadership and teambuilding. THEATER: Fred Ho's WARRIOR SISTERS (NY Times Review), Boccaccio (Bronx Op-era), Scarlet Pimpernel (2nd Nat tour), Fiddler on the Roof (Gateway Playhouse), Pirates of Penzance (West End DT).


Spero Chumas (Member since 2005, Artisic Director) was born and raised in New York. He graduated from Castleton State College with a BA in Theatre. He has performed and taught improvisation for over 15 years on the stages of NYC, Atlanta and Chicago. Two of his favorite theatrical roles have been Alvaro in The Rose Tattoo and Danny in Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. He also has a bit part in the 1995 movie HEAVY. When he is not improvising you can catch Spero at the picture show or Yankee Stadium.

Lee Markham (Member since 2005, AEA) is currently appearing off-Broadway as Luke in “Altar Boys”, reprising the role he also appeared in regional productions in Media PA and Lake George NY. THEATER HIGHLIGHTS: "Angels" New York Musical Theate Festival, "For Christ Sake, The Musical" Off Broadway at New World Stages. Lee has performed in 30 musicals/plays and has appeared in 7 commercials. He first started out performing in Superbowl XXV Halftime Show when he was 7 years old. He grew up in Treasure Island, FL and moved to NY in Sept '05 with a BA in Theatre from USF Tampa. Three weeks later Lee joined "Eight is NEVER enough!"

CHRISTOPHER CATALANO (AEA) is a New Orleans native who graduated from Florida State University. His pilot Open Bar was a quarter-finalist in BRAVO's Situation: Comedy. Favorite past productions include: Trey Parker's Cannibal: The Musical and more than a dozen Dare projects with Tax Deductible Theatre Company, who has also produced and published three of his plays. Chris has taught improvisational comedy at the college level, and is a founding member of several troupes. http://www.christophercatalano.com/

DARYL RAY CARLILES is excited to be living and performing in the wonderful city of New York!! He is now a part of the Improv Troupe, "Eight is Never Enough" and performs every weekend at The Times Square Arts Center, (formerly The Laugh Factory) His favorite roles include Frankie in Forever Plaid, Judas/John the Baptist in Godspell, Lysander in a Midsummer's Night Dream and Oscar in Sweet Charity!! Check out his website and say hello!! Daryl can be contacted at http://www.darylraycarliles.com/

David M. Green “DMG” (AEA) is thrilled to be enjoying his second year with Eight is NEVER Enough. David can also be seen in The Awesome 80's Prom as Principle Snelgrove and in the upcoming NYC Fringe production of Gutter Star: The Paperback Musical. Favorite roles include: Nicely-Nicely (Guys and Dolls), Jake Blues (Universal Studios), Cowardly Lion (The Wizard of Oz), Harry MacAfee (Bye Bye Birdie) and Mother Superior (Nunsense AMEN). "Thanks to Walt, Laurice, Spero and all the talented people who I have had the honor of sharing a stage with and learning so much from." - DMG

Marcia Sofley (AEA) National Tours: Seussical (Mrs. Mayor), They’re Playing Our Song (Erin Moran's understudy), Nuncrackers (Amnesia), A Christmas Carol (Belle). Other Favorites: Meet Me in St Louis (Esther), Hello, Dolly (Minnie Fay), Charlie Brown Christmas (original workshop), Nunsensations (with Georgia Engel). NYC comedy: Rose’s Turn, Don’t Tell Mamas, and Gotham City Improv.

John Gleason- has a natural skill for comedy, which was shaped and honed at Gotham City Improv where he was trained in Improvisation and Sketch Comedy, He also helped train potential “Happy Burger Employees” in the Off-Broadway Show “Minimum Wage” and has also generated over 10 Million “Theoretical” dollars thanks to “Youtube”.

Alena Acker hales from Detroit Michigan, is a graduate of the University of Michigan and is thrilled to be performing with Eight is Never Enough. Alena spent almost two years in South Korea, creating and performing in musicals for the Gyeonggi English Village. She has also performed with the New York International Fringe Festival and most recently with New York Dinner Theatre.

Andrée Lambertson believes in the power of imagination, humor and music. A classically trained actor, with a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Castleton, a comedienne and singer, a director and writer, musician and artist, she has performed in many cities along both coasts and in Chicago, IL.

Christopher Leidenfrost-Wilson began his improv training under the auspices of the New York Renaissance Faire Performance Company in 2004. Truly a renaissance man, he is a singer; actor; musician; costume, wig and set designer; teacher; painter; event planner; and graphic artist whose career has stretched from Cancun to Toronto.

Mara Dratfield is so pleased to be in Eight Is Never Enough! Theatre performances include: Pippin, The Producers, Oklahoma ! (Ado Annie), The Crucible (Elizabeth Proctor), Winter’s Tale and Tales Of Hans Christian Anderson. Thanks to my friends (especially Mathew, David, Josh, Ali, Amanda, Carly), parents & fellow Eight-ians, you guys rock!

Julia Morales is from Houston, Texas and has been doing improv comedy for over 7 years. She attended The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York and Los Angeles, where she got her inspiration to continue performing improv. In Houston, she was a member and co-director of Massive Improv and later moved back to NYC in Fall 2008 to pursue her comedy career.

Charles Bernard Murray (SAG, AEA) started in New York with the AMAS Repertory Company. He landed in the original Broadway cast of Dreamgirls in 1981 & Honky Tonk Nights in 1986. He’s appeared on television and in films and toured as a recording artist. He’s a published author, playwright, screenwriter and composer.

Sarah B. Stevens is so excited to be performing with Eight is Never Enough. She is a co-founder of the Vagabond Theatre Ensemble and most recently performed as "Hildie" in "Drunk" with Naked Angels ("Naked From the Vault"). She is currently in a production of "Un Ballo in Maschera" by Verdi at Brooklyn Rep in Park Slope.

Emma Tattenbaum-Fine BFA, Tisch School of the Arts. Emma performed her one-woman show in the NY International Fringe Festival and interned on Saturday Night Live. Performs at Joe’s Pub (direction, Elizabeth Swados), UCB Theatre and was Best Actress Nominee: Strawberry One-Act Festival, Symphony Space. National tour: Chamber Theatre, co-founder People’s Sketch Association.

Monday, May 4, 2009