Amanda Mae Cohen
(Assistant Director)
Amanda Cohen received her BFA in performance with a concentration in directing from the University of Michigan, graduating with highest honors. Recent projects include Red with TheatreWorks Colorado (Assistant Stage Manager), Into the Woods for St. Paul's Interparochial School (Director), and the Gage Player's Richard II, (Production Manager). While still completing her degree, Amanda began her professional theater career at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, assisting on such projects as Henry IV Pt. One, The Marriage of Figaro, and Henry VI Pt. Three. This summer Amanda will be the Dance Specialist at Camp Yomahwa of Washington Heights and Inwood, and starting in the fall she will be teaching theater and dance curriculum for Golda Och Academy Upper School in West Orange, NJ. Please be sure to visit www.amcohen.co for photographs and videos of future projects!
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Artem Yatsunov
(Director)
ARTEM YATSUNOV received his B.F.A. in Theater from Montclair State University, NJ in May of 2008. He is Artistic Director and co-founder of StrangeDog Theatre. Past credits: Night Blooming Jasmine(Under St Marks), Omnivores (PTNJ), The Virilogy (Under St Marks), Claire Went to France(Hamilton Stage), The StrangeDog Eat Dog and Pony Show (The Tank), Kitty Kitty Kitty (Tierney’s Tavern); Shakespeare’s Richard III (Union County PAC). Up next he is directing a StrangeDog commission by five NJ/NY playwrights – a collection of not-so-happily-ever-after adaptations of classic fairy tales titled Enchanted Arms, coming to Luna Stage, West Orange, NJ in January.
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Ben Clawson
(Playwright)
Ben Clawson (Playwright) received his B.F.A. in Theater from Montclair State University. He is the author of numerous full-length plays, short comedies, and evenings of thematically connected one acts. His plays have had professional productions, readings, and workshops throughout New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C. and New Orleans. He has written commissioned works for the Luna Stage Company, The Montclair State University School of the Arts, and the Contagious Drama Theatre Workshop. He has been an evening winner and finalist in the Samuel French Short Play festival, national finalist for the American College Theater Festival's John Cauble One-Act Award, finalist for the Princess Grace Award in playwriting, and recipient of the Kennedy Center's David Mark Cohen award. He is a member of the Dramatist Guild, and a founder of the StrangeDog Theatre Company, with whom he has produced many of his plays.
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Chris Caporlingua
(Graphic Designer)
Chris Caporlingua (Graphic Design) is currently a MFA candidate working on a degree in Media Arts Production and Emerging Practices program. He maintains the web site and has done much of the graphic design for StrangeDog since New.Tricks! on Tour in NJ in 2008 In addition, Chris has worked as stage manager on SubUrbia and Bootstraps, sound and lighting for New.Tricks!, Bootstraps, Claire Went To France (Hamilton Stage, NJ 2012)and crerated the graphics, sets and props for the StrangeDog./Rhesus production of The Montana Ranch for the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festiva . Since 2004, Chris has been creative director of The Spectrum, an independent student newspaper in Buffalo. In April, he won the Mary Louise White Grand Prize at the first SUNY-Wide film festival for his short film Gates, Doors which was also featured in the 2009 Topanga Film Festival.
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Paul Romano
(Performer)
Paul Romano (Actor, Skipper) is an actor, writer, freelance translator, language instructor and a proud native Brooklynite. He studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, and holds a BA in English from The New School and an MA in Spanish from Middlebury College. Paul spends his summers at Middlebury, where he pursues his MA in French. At Middlebury, he has had the unique opportunity to work in French with acclaimed francophone playwrights/directors Sonia Ristic, Gustave Akakpo, and José Pliya.
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Peter Martino
(Set Designer)
Peter Martino (Set Designer) is tickled pink to be working with StrangeDog Theatre once more. Before having a bloody good time designing Omnivores last February for StrangeDog, Peter has designed shows for The Westchester Sandbox Theatre, Collaborative Stages, The Looking Glass Theatre, and "Hint" at the Minetta Lane Theatre for the 2009 Fringe Festival. He was also the resident Scenic Designer for Gretna Theatres 2011 season and the Bucks County Playhouse's 2005-2010 season. He also has worked at numerous schools in the tri-state area. Some of his favorite designs include; Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hairspray, Spelling Bee, Noises Off, Lil' Abner, Joseph...Dreamcoat, Cabaret, and Rugrats: A Live Adventure. Much love and thanks to his family, Dave, Artem, the Culinariane Family, and of course his baby girl Delilah.
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Rebecca Bickley
(Lighting Designer)
Rebecca Bickley (Lighting Designer) is going into her senior year at Drew University this fall and working to complete her BA as a Theatre Arts Major and Photography Minor. Her previous work as a Light Designer includes the Fall 2012 Dance Show, The Stronger by August Strindberg, and a number of others as Assistant Light Designer at Drew University. Rebecca strives to continue to build on her education and work as an actor, and would like to work towards her MFA in Acting in the future. A native New Yorker, she is a graduate of the Drama Department at Talent Unlimited High School for the Performing Arts on the Upper East Side. Rebecca is extremely excited to be working with StrangeDog and Horse Trade on Bootstraps!
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Rob Hille
(Performer)
Rob Hille (Actor, Mike) is one of the founding members of Amios and has worn several hats in the company: actor, director, Artistic Director, producer, elf, hobo, Walt Disney, Dr. Seuss, zombie elephant...the list goes on and on. Rob's been seen professionally at the Denver Center, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Actor's Theatre of Columbus, and a bunch of industrials you've probably never heard of. As Amios approaches its 4th birthday, Rob wants to thank all the artists and audiences that have come together to form this crazy little family. He would be lost without them. Rob holds a BFA from Otterbein College, an MFA from the National Theatre Conservatory, and a Food Handlers Certificate from the New York State Department of Health. Rob's favorite color is green. www.amiosnyc.org *Rob Hille is a proud member of the Actor's Equity Association
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Scott Cagney
(Performer)
Scott Cagney (Actor, Loudjack) is a New York/New Jersey actor with a BA in Theatre from Montclair State University where he served as Artistic Director/President of a student run theatre group, MSU Players, for two years. Scott is a Founding Member of StrangeDog Theatre and has performed in many of their productions, including: Buff -SubUrbia, Loudjack - Bootstraps, Ray -Spilling Stuff and Breaking Things, Lewis - Omnivores, Brian - The Virilogy, Mr. Person - Kitty Kitty Kitty, and Dog - Claire Went to France. Other credits: Kaffee - A Few Good Men, Bottom - A Midsummer Night's Dream, Larry - Anna Christie, Heinz - Clothes Encounters and Attention Span of a Fly (Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ). Scott frequently works with Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey as an actor and an educator. In 2008 Scott was the recipient of the ACTF Region II Best Partner Award. More at strangedogtheatre.com
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Sebastian Smeureanu
(Performer)
Sebastian Smeureanu (Actor, Dougan) is a graduate of the Two-Year Professional Acting Program at the William Esper Studio. He has toured with Pilobolus Dance Theatre and is still active as a movement coach and choreographer. Sebastian is currently the Director of Dacian Wolf Productions, LLC, and writes and directs for stage and film. He holds a BFA in Dance & Theater and an MBA in Accounting.
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