Rachel Dratch*
(Wives, Tails, Beards & Barbara Walters) was a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” for seven years. Before that, she was on the Mainstage of Second City in Chicago for four years. Other TV appearances include “30 Rock,” “Ugly Betty,” “Monk” and “King of Queens.” Film credits include Just Go With It, Click, My Life in Ruins and Spring Breakdown. Her book, "Girl Walks into a Bar," came out in March.
Sean Dugan*
(Senator Larry Craig, et al.). Broadway: Next Fall (Drama Desk Nomination). Off-Broadway: The Illusion, Next Fall, The English Channel, Perfect Harmony, BFF, Nerds, Valhalla, Corpus Christi, Flesh & Blood, Shakespeare’s R & J. Regional: Two River Theater Company, Roundhouse Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, The Old Globe, American Repertory Theatre, California Shakespeare Festival, Theatre J. Film/TV: On The Slope, Gigantic, Trust the Man, Company Man, Overnight Sensation, "Smash," "I Just Want My Pants Back," "Eden," “The Good Wife,” “Fringe,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “The Beat,” “Oz.”
Dan Hodapp
(Rep Mark Foley, et al.) is an actor, improviser and sketch comedian at the UCB Theatre. He has appeared on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” and his performance as a fake news reporter video for Jest.com was recently featured on “The View.” He performs with the UCB sketch team "Beige" and recently appeared in "A Load of Hooey," written by and starring Bob Odenkirk. Dan can also be seen in the musical Newsadoozies, now in the sixth month of its run at UCB. He hosts and performs in The Scene, a weekly showcase of improvised one-act plays, at the People's Improv Theater. www.danhodapp.com
Mo Rocca
(Gov Mark Sanford, et al.). Stage: Vice Principal Panch in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Broadway; Professor in South Pacific at Paper Mill; Doody in Southeast Asia tour of Grease. TV/Radio: Currently Correspondent for “CBS Sunday Morning;” Host/Creator of “My Grandmother’s Ravioli” on Cooking Channel; panelist on NPR’s Wait, Wait...Don’t Tell Me; four seasons as correspondent on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” Writer/Producer for PBS’s “Wishbone.” Film: Host of newly released documentary Electoral Dysfunction. Print: Author of “All The Presidents’ Pets,” consulting editor for “Perfect 10,” co-editor with Mario Correa of “Insight,” Thomas W. Pyle Jr. High’s premier tabloid.
Nate Smith
(Rep Anthony Wiener, et al.). Notable credits include the Comedy Central pilot “Black Jack;” ABC’s “Happy Endings;” and NBC's “30 Rock,” as a “writer who never talks.” He had lead roles in the independent features Hello Lonesome and the forthcoming Ready or Not. Nate can be found acting like a brilliant idiot in sketches for funnyordie, collegehumor & loads of other spots online. He is a regular improv and sketch performer at the UCB Theater. Nate wrote and directed lots of comedy online and at the UCB and has worked extensively as a documentary film editor and producer.
Mario Correa
(Playwright) came with his family from Chile at age seven, was soon throwing himself Reagan/Bush-themed birthday parties, and landed his dream job—Congressional aide—at 18. He spent a good long time in government and lobbying before trading in political theater for the entertainment kind. TV: Writer, “Whoa! Sunday with Mo Rocca” (Animal Planet); Co-creator and co-host, “PowerHouse” (Pilot, NBC4 Washington). Film: Script consultant, Electoral Dysfunction (upcoming documentary). Radio: Contributor, NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday; Co-creator and co-host, RelationShow, WNYC New York Public Radio; Washington Correspondent, Public Radio International’s Fair Game with Faith Salie. TAIL! SPIN! is his first play.
Dan Knechtges
(Director). Broadway Lysistrata Jones (Direction & Choreography), Xanadu (directed by Chris Ashley, Tony nomination, Drama Desk nomination), Sondheim on Sondheim (directed by James Lapine), 110 in The Shade (starring Audra McDonald) and Spelling Bee (directed by James Lapine). Off-Broadway: Merrily We Roll Along for Encores! at City Center (directed by James Lapine); Vanities at Second Stage; and Lysistrata Jones for the Transport Group. International: Der Schuh Das Manitu (Berlin, Germany). Regional theatre include La Jolla Playhouse, Theatreworks Palo Alto, Dallas Theatre Center, Goodspeed, Centerstage Baltimore), Papermill Playhouse, Hangar Theatre, Surflight Theatre, Indianapolis Opera, Opera Illinois. www.danknechtges.com
Caite Hevner
(Scenic/Projection design). Recent design credits include: Triassic Parq, off-Broadway at Soho Playhouse; Jukebox Jackie, La MaMa Ellen Stewart Theatre; Tales from My Parents’ Divorce, The Civilians; La Scala di Seta and Il Cambiale di Matrimonio, The Juilliard School; Miss Lilly Gets Boned,Billy Witch and My Base and Scurvy Heart, Studio 42; March, Red Fern; The Myths We Need, Purple Rep; Refrain, The Wild Project; RENT, Yale Dramat; Greenwich Music Festival’s 2011 season; Carmen, Allentown Symphony; Rx and The Further Adventures of Suzanne and Monica, Chautauqua Theater Company. Graduate: NYU/Tisch (MFA), Yale School of Drama, Florida State University. Member: Wingspace Theatrical Design. www.caitehevnerdesign.com
Jennifer Caprio
(Costume design). Broadway: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. NYC includes: In Transit (Lortel Nomination), Masked (DR2), Striking 12 (Daryl Roth), Girl’s Room (QTIP), Wanda’s World (Amas), Serendib (EST), The Atheist (Center Stages), Broadway Bares (BC/EFA), Out of Iceland (Culture Project). International: The Collected Works of Billy the Kid (Edinburgh Festival). Regional: Florida Grand Opera, Minnesota Opera, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Williamstown Theater Festival, Geva, Humana Festival, George Street, Virginia Stage, George St. Playhouse, Playmakers Repertory, Vineyard Theatre, North Shore Music Theater, The Hangar Theater, Cleveland Playhouse, Barrington Stage Company, among others. Originating company member of The Mill City Summer Opera.
John Emmett O'Brien
(Sound design). Upcoming: Levels of the Game (dir. Tom Butler/Studio Tisch), Release Point (dir. Joel Stone/NJ Rep). Other designs: Two Sisters/Two Brothers (TFNC/Dirs. Mark Schneider and Valentina Fratti), Poetic License (59E59/The Directors Company). Workshops: The Blonde Streak (directed by Jack Cummings III), The Rhythm Club and Tuck Everlasting (both directed by Casey Nicholaw) Jericho (dir. Evan Bergman/NJ Rep), Next Thing You Know (CAP21/dir. Terry Berliner), Locker 4173b (NY Neo Futurists), Lesbian Love Octagon (dir. Kim Kressal), The Upstart (Rising Phoenix Rep.), Character Assassins (NJ Rep), The Lover (dir. Mark Schneider). Select assistant credits: Anything Goes (Drama Desk, Tony Nom.), Fela! (Tony Award).
Jimmy Lawlor
(Lighting design) is thrilled to be a part of Tail! Spin! Originally from the metro DC area, Jimmy moved to NYC and received his MFA in Lighting Design at New York University. Jimmy's New York work as been seen at St. Clement's Theatre, Theatre Row, HERE Arts Center, Dixon Place, NYU, Columbia University, among others. Regional work includes The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, The Shakespeare Theatre, and Spoleto Festival USA. Upcoming projects include lighting shows for The Tango Zone in Edmonton, Canada. Thanks to Caite and the whole cast and creative team! www.lawlordesign.com
Jason A. Quinn*
(Production Stage Manager). Broadway: A Tale of Two Cities, Cabaret, Phantom of the Opera, Urban Cowboy, Candide with the NY Philharmonic, pre-Broadway; The Normal Heart; Annie Get Your Gun; In My Life. National Tour: Tommy Tune’s Dr. Dolittle. Off-Broadway: Striking 12, Criss Angel Mindfreak, Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding, Rooms: A Rock Romance, Scott Wittman’s Jukebox Jackie, Roundabout’s Howard Katz, Beyond Glory, The Overwhelming. For BC/EFA; Broadway Bares, Easter Bonnet, Broadway on Broadway, for The Actor’s Fund; The Normal Heart, The Visit, Nothing Like A Dame. Jason has contributed to multiple books on event management, and served as a guest lecturer at several universities.
Michael Friedlander
(Assistant Stage Manager). Recent credits include: Broadway Bares 22: Happy Endings (BC/EFA); Lost in Yonkers (TACT); & the The Visit (Actors Fund/Vineyard). Off Broadway: The Runner Stumbles (Bleeker Company); Accidentally Like A Martyr (Other Side Productions); and Children (TACT). Surflight Theatre: Same Time, Next Year; The Odd Couple: The Female Version; Grease; and Rent. Numerous events for the Actor’s Fund, Vineyard Theatre and Dramatist's Guild. Michael is proud to be an adjunct company member of The Actor's Company Theatre and would like to thank his friends and family for supporting him in such a rewarding career.
Billy Zavelson
(Producer/General Manager). Broadway: The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Tony nomination); Kiki & Herb: Alive on Broadway (Tony Nomination). A native of Shaker Heights, OH and graduate of Ithaca College, Billy is also an entertainment publicist whose current/past clients include FELA!, The Joyce Theater and Arias with a Twist, among others.
Marianne Mills
(Producer) is enjoying a third career after banking and real estate. She has been on the producing teams of Frozen, All My Sons, Burn the Floor, Catch Me if You Can, 33 Variations and most recently Lysistrata Jones, also directed by Dan Knechtges. She serves on the Board of MCC Theater and the LAByrinth Theater Companies.
Clifford Lee Johnson III
(Associate Producer) is a Consulting Producer, whose current project is the Broadway-bound Stax Records musical, R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Between 2009 and 1993, he was the Director of Musical Development at Manhattan Theatre Club. He writes reviews for Backstage and publishes articles on the theater in various publications. He also served as an adviser during the creation of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. He was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and currently lives in Brooklyn with two writers, wife Jane A. Kelley and daughter Fia. For more information, go to www.clj3.com