 Tina Fabrique (Ella Fitzgerald)
Tina has been touring in Ella for the past year, having created the role in the world premiere at Hartford TheatreWorks. She has been honored with the 2007 Carbonell Award as Best Actress in a Musical for the Florida Stage engagement of Ella, and has been nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her role at Arena Stage. Her Broadway credits include Dessa Rose at Lincoln Center; Ragtime; Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk; Truly Blessed; How to Succeed…; The Gospel at Colonus and Harlem Song. Her national tours include The Wiz, Bubbling Brown Sugar, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Once on This Island, South Pacific with Robert Goulet and How to Succeed…. Other New York credits include 70 Girls, 70 for City Center Encores! and Angel Levine at Jewish Repertory. Regionally, her many credits include The Women of Brewster Place, Crowns (Helen Hayes nomination), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Constant Star (Helen Hayes nomination) at Arena Stage; The Old Settler at Westport Theater; and The Glass Menagerie at Cleveland Play House. Ms. Fabrique was a featured soloist with The Duke Ellington Orchestra for several years touring in Europe and the United States. In 2005, Ms. Fabrique sang the theme song to the documentary Mad Hot Ballroom. She is also the original voice of the Reading Rainbow theme song. Her television credits include Law & Order: Criminal Intent, When I Grow Up, The Today Show, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Mike Mulligan’s Steam Shovel, All My Children and One Life to Live.
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 Rob Ruggiero (conceiver)
Rob
is a freelance professional director who has directed at numerous regional theaters around the country as well as off-Broadway. He conceived and directed the world premiere musical portrait of Ella Fitzgerald entitled ELLA (starring Tina Fabrique). A popular and critical success, ELLA has been or will be seen on 18 regional theater stages from 2006-2010. ELLA has won three 2008 Joseph Jefferson Awards including “Best Director - Revue.” Mr. Ruggiero also conceived and directed the musical revue MAKE ME A SONG: THE MUSIC OF WILLIAM FINN, which opened Off-Broadway in 2007 to great reviews. The production received nominations for both the Drama Desk Award for "Outstanding Review" and the Outer Critics Circle Award for "Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical.” In 2008 an original cast recording was released and the London premiere was also produced at the New Players Theater. He made his Off-Broadway debut directing ALL UNDER HEAVEN, his second collaboration with Valerie Harper, which toured regionally and in Florida, and had a critically acclaimed run in Los Angeles. Mr. Ruggiero continues his collaboration with Ms. Harper in Matthew Lombardo’s new play LOOPED which continues to be produced nationally, including a recent production in Florida and an upcoming production at Arena Stage with a planned Broadway production opening in the fall of 2009. Mr. Ruggiero has received two Kevin Kline Awards, for Best Direction of a Musical for his production of URINETOWN and for Best Direction of a Play for TAKE ME OUT. Upcoming projects include a revival of CAMELOT at Goodspeed Musicals, where he also directed a highly acclaimed production of BIG RIVER as well as a production of 1776, which garnered him his third Connecticut Critic’s Circle Award for best direction. An online portfolio of his work can be viewed at www.robruggiero.com.
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 Jeffrey Hatcher (book)
BROADWAY: “Never Gonna Dance” (book). OFF-BROADWAY: “Three Viewings” and “A Picasso” at Manhattan Theatre Club; “Scotland Road” and “The Turn of the Screw” at Primary Stages; “Tuesdays with Morrie (with Mitch Albom) at The Minetta Lane; “Murder by Poe” and “The Turn of the Screw” at The Acting Company; “Neddy” at American Place; and “Fellow Travelers” at Manhattan Punchline. OTHER PLAYS/THEATERS: “Compleat Female Stage Beauty,” “Mrs. Mannerly,” “Murderers,” “Mercy of a Storm,” “Smash,” “Armadale,” “Korczak’s Children,” “To Fool the Eye,” “The Falls,” “A Piece of the Rope,” “All the Way with LBJ,” “The Government Inspector,” “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and others at The Guthrie, Old Globe, Yale Rep, The Geffen, Seattle Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse, South Coast Rep, Arizona Theater Company, San Jose Rep, The Empty Space, Indiana Rep, Children’s Theater Company, History Theater, Madison Rep, Intiman, Illusion, Denver Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Rep, Repertory Theater of St. Louis, Actors Theater of Louisville, Philadelphia Theater Company, Asolo, City Theater, Studio Arena and dozens more in the U.S. and abroad. FILM/ TV: “Stage Beauty,” “Casanova,” “The Duchess,” and episodes of “Columbo.” GRANTS/AWARDS: NEA, TCG, Lila Wallace Fund, Rosenthal New Play Prize, Frankel Award, Charles MacArthur Fellowship Award, McKnight Foundation, Jerome Foundation, and Barrymore Award Best New Play. He is a member and/or alumnus of The Playwrights Center, the Dramatists Guild, the Writers Guild, and New Dramatists.
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 George Caldwell (Pianist / Musical Director)
Mr. Caldwell is a veteran of Broadway having worked on Black and Blue and Play On!, as well as having served in orchestra pits for Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring In ‘Da Funk, The Full Monty, etc. In addition to providing musical direction for the European tour of Black and Blue and serving as associate conductor for the tour of Body and Soul in Europe, Caldwell has toured regionally, including serving as musical director for the original musicals Thunder Knocking on the Door, Golden Boy at Long Wharf, and productions of Cookin’ at the Cookery. Caldwell also played for three years with the Duke Ellington orchestra, and seven years with the Count Basie orchestra. The Basie Orchestra received a Grammy award with Caldwell at the piano for the recording ‘The Count Basie Orchestra Live at the Manchestra Craftsman’s Guild (with the New York Voices). He has performed with many artists, performers as diverse as George Benson, Savion Glover, Lou Rawls, Elvis Costello, Art Blakey, Shirley Bassey, Freda Payne, Wynton Marsalis, Lionel Hampton, the Manhattan Transfer, Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, The Coasters, Cab Calloway, Quincy Jones, Gregory Hines, Dizzy Gillespie and Brenda Lee. Caldwell has played and conducted Ella since it’s inception in 2005.
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 Harold Dixon (Norman Granz)
Off Broadway: 92nd St Y, Theatre Row. Regional: Ella at 15 theatres, including the Guthrie, Pittsburgh Public, Hartford Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Arena Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Arizona Theatre Company. Other shows at: Gloucester Stage (Israel Horovitz’s My Old Lady and The Secret of Mme Bonnard’s Bath – world premiere), Phoenix Theatre (Six Degrees of Separation), Arizona Theatre Company (Much Ado About Nothing), Shakespeare Sedona, Arizona Repertory Theatre (King Lear), and Invisible Theatre, Tucson. Film: Hungry For Change, Half Laughing (indie shorts), The Back of Beyond (narrator). Television: “Rescue 911,” “The Highwayman,” “Enola Gay,” plus commercials and industrial films. Harold is Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the School of Theatre, Film, & Television at the University of Arizona. Member of Actors Equity since 1973. www./haroldandmaedell.blogspot.com
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 Rodney Harper (Drummer)
Mr. Harper comes to Long Wharf Theatre from Chicago, where he began playing jazz and rhythm and blues on the South Side nightclub scene. Those who are hip to the jazz scene will recognize the arts he has accompanied, including tours with Grammy Award winners Billy Eckstein and Della Reese. Mr. Harper has worked with Dakota Staton (of “Late Late Show” album fame), jazz instrumentalist Richard “Groove” Holmes, Jimmy McGriff, Hank Crawford, Charles Earl and saxophone giants Sonny Stitt and Frank Foster. Beginning in 2005, he has back the very swinging Marlena Shaw. In the theatre world his credits include Ain’t Misbehavin’ (first national and world tours); Bubbling Brown Sugar (European tour). Rodney has also played the national and European tours of Blackbirds of Broadway and Cookin’ at the Cookery. Finally, his drumming has helped propel the Dells, the Impressions, the Coasters, the Drifters and the Marvellettes in rock and roll revival shows.
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Joilet F. Harris (Ella understudy)
Joilet is happy for the opportunity to channel Lady Ella. Some recent theatre credits include: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Nell), Hairspray (Motormouth Maybelle), A Streetcar Named Desire (neighbor), Caroline or Change (Caroline – Barrymore Award), Finian’s Rainbow, Damn Yankees, Crowns, Menopause the Musical, The Sunshine Boys, The Buddy Holly Story, It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues and others. TV: “The Wire” (Detective Caroline), “Law & Order SVU,” “Hack,”“Philly,” “New York Undercover.” Film: The Perfect Witness, Animal Factory, Beloved, 12 Monkeys and many others. To God be the glory!
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 Ron Haynes (Trumpet)
Ron Haynes began his career as a trumpeter while in his teens, gigging with various blues artists. He studied at Shaw University in N.C., and North Carolina Central University, studying under jazz great Donald Byrd. Ron was the horn section leader for Bernie Mac’s HBO show Midnight Mac with Bernie Mac, later joining the Ohio Players. While playing with Liquid Soul, their cd Here’s the Deal was grammy-nominated for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 2001. Ron has also worked with Ramsey Lewis, being featured on Urban Knights IV and The Chicago Project, and in 2005, participated in a world tour as a member of Lenny Kravitz’s band. In 2007, Ron began his acting career in Northlight Theater and Dallas Theater Center’s production of Ella, and has since been involved w/ the production at various other theaters. In 2008, he was the trumpeter and an understudy for Drury Lane’s production of The Buddy Holly Story. Ron has released three solo cd’s (Cool Work, Can You Hear Me and recently released Journeyman.)
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 Clifton Kellem (Bass)
Theatre Ella: numerous venues around the country since 2006; Jacques Brel is Alive and Well..., Billie Holiday Story, Dinah Was, Cookin’ at the Cookery. Concerts Performed with many Philadelphia jazz artists and at several Atlantic City casinos with George Benson, Diahann Carroll, Buddy Greco, Vic Damone, Shirley Bassey, Petula Clark, Suzanne Somers, Jerry Lewis, Milton Berle and many others; South American tours with Billy Paul and fusion group Musiqology. Recordings Include a great variety with more than 15 artists. Teaching West Catholic High School, Philadelphia; private lessons to Cheyney University students. Education Temple University, studied bass with Philadelpha Orchestra bassists Ed Arien and Henry Scott.
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 Danny Holgate (Musical Supervision & Arrangements)
Mr. Holgate has worked on Broadway as musical director/supervisor and arranger for Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope, Bubbling Brown Sugar, Eubie, Guys and Dolls, and Rainbow Jones. He was also the dance arranger for Odyssey, starring Yul Brenner. New York credits include musical supervisor/arranger and performer for Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (with Lonnette McKee), which he also toured with Gail Nelson. Pre-Broadway shows: Daddy Goodnes; Two Faces of Africa; Golden Boy; Stringbean (with Leslie Uggams); Sweet and Hot (an evening of Harold Arlen); Aretha, Queen of Soul; Blackbirds of Broadway; and Cookin’ at the Cookery. He has arranged for performers such as Carol Channing, Alexis Smith, Lena Horne and Cab Calloway.
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Michael Schweikardt (Scenic Design)
World premiere of Duncan Sheik’s Whisper House at The Old Globe in San Diego. Recent credits include Ella, critically acclaimed productions of Annie Get Your Gun, 1776, Big River and Camelot for Goodspeed Musicals, Bloodsong Of Love at Ars Nova, Barnum for The Asolo Rep’s 50th anniversary season, American premieres of Frank McGuinness’ Gates Of Gold and The Bird Sanctuary, Oklahoma!,starring Kelli O’Hara and Will Chase celebrating the Oklahoma State centennial; and national and international Tours of James Taylor’s One Man Band. Online portfolio: www.msportfolio.com |
Alejo Vietti (Costume Design)
New York: Secrets of the Trade, MTC’s Nightingale and MCC’s Grace both staring Lynn Redgrave, Rooms, William Finn’s Make Me a Song, Tryst, Roulette, The Last Sunday in June, 16 Wounded, 2 X Tennessee, Servicemen, Five Flights, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Measure for Measure. Selected regional theatre: Alley Theatre, Arena Stage, Arizona Theatre, Asolo Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse, Colorado Ballet, Florida Stage, Ford’s Theatre DC, Goodspeed, Guthrie Theatre, Hartford Stage, NY Stage & Film, Northlight, Pasadena Playhouse, Philadelphia Theatre Co, Pittsburgh Public, San Diego Rep, Saint Louis Rep, Signature Theatre VA, Westport Country Plahouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival. Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Donetsk Opera Ukraine. Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Boo’A’Ring. Upcoming: Séanceon a Wet Afternoon at NYC Opera. |
Charles LaPointe (Hair & Wig Design)
Broadway: Lombardi, Fences, Looped, The Miracle Worker, Superior Donuts, Memphis, 33 Variations, Guys and Dolls, In the Heights, Jersey Boys, The Color Purple, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Good Vibrations, The Apple Tree, A Raisin in the Sun, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Lieutenant of Inishmoor, Radio Golf, Sight Unseen, Cymbeline, High Fidelity, Henry IV, The Rivals, and Xanadu. Jersey Boys U.S. tour, Chicago, Las Vegas Toronto, London, and Melbourne. Little House on the Prairie national tour, The Color Purple national tour, Xanadu national tour, and In The Heights national tour. Many Off-Broadway and regional credits. Love to James |
John Lasiter (Lighting Design)
Mr. Lasiter has designed lights Off-Broadway for Make Me A Song: The Music of William Finn, Alarm Dog Repertory Company, Blue Light Theater Company, Music Theater Group. Regional: Actors Theatre of Louisville, Arena Stage, Arizona Repertory Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Centerstage,Cincinnati Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse, Dallas Theater Center, Florida Stage, George Street Playhouse, Geva Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals, Gutherie Theater, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, New Mexico Repertory Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theater, South Coast Repertory, Syracuse Stage, Virginia Stage Company, and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Opera: Eos Orchestra, the Curtis Institute of Music, Glimmerglass Opera, Manhattan School of Music, Opera Delaware, Opera Carolina and Skyline Opera Theatre. Dance: Ballet Memphis, Danzantes LA, Danzantes New Mexico, Irene Hultman Dance, Nora Reynolds Dance and Randy James Dance Works. For more information,visit: www.johnlasiter.com |
Michael Miceli (Sound Design)
Theatre: Sound Ella: numerous venues around the country since its 2005 premiere at Hartford TheaterWorks; Hartford Stage Company: Resurrection, Mahalia: A Gospel Musical, The Devil’s Music, Crowns, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Floyd & Clea Under the Western Sky; Philadelphia Theatre Company: Resurrection; Cincinnati Playhouse: Daddy Long Legs, Emma; Repertory Theatre of St. Louis: Emma; ArtFarm: As You Like It, The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, Macbeth; Ridge Theater: Jennie Richee (audio consultant). Theatre: Video Virginia Stage Company://romeo&juliet ; Theaterworks Hartford: Speech & Debate. Other Audio Supervisor, Hartford Stage Company; Founder, Miceli Productions HD, specializing in video for theater/corporate clients and sound and audio systems designs. |
Dyke Garrison (Co-Conceiver)
Mr. Garrison wrote his first produced play, They Also Serve, as a Shubert Playwright Fellow at Occidental College. He has had performances of his short works at One Act Theatre, the Marsh, and Guild Theatre. His full-length works include: Meadow in the Sky, The Finish Line, Shall We Dance, Dead Languages, What’s On Tonight?, All Present (a one-man show
for Ken Dixon), and All Under Heaven, a one-woman show written for and with Valerie Harper. Professional affiliations include member of the Playwrights Lab of San Francisco; former president of the board of directors of Playwrights Foundation. Training: Occidental College; studied playwritingwith Sam Shepard and Oskar Eustis
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