Guests/Support
For Holiday Show 2011:
Brian Rardin
Brian Rardin (Director)
Brian has appeared on Broadway in the revival of Amadeus and in the Off-Broadway production of Passion Play.
Moving to backstage, Brian most recently stage managed Equus with Daniel Radcliffe on Broadway. Other B’way credits include: Well by Lisa Kron, Amadeus with David Suchet/Michael Sheen and Showboat. Off-Broadway credits: Shout!, Kilt, Game Show, Disappearing Act and Mr. President.
Brian is thrilled to be working again on such a unique interactive piece with this amazing company of performers.
Eric Gorsuch
Eric Gorsuch (Guest Performer)
Eric is a circus and variety performer currently based out of New York City. Standing 6 feet and 5 inches tall, Eric’s long lines and towering physique set him apart from the conventional circus body type.
Eric performs solo aerial span-sets in addition to hand to hand acrobatics. He also showcases numerous variety acts as Mr.Gorgeous, a pure spectacle of foolishness and mayhem in the best possible sense. Eric has been influenced by coaches Elsie Smith and Serenity Forchion along with Bill Forchion while studying at the New England Center for Circus Arts as a student in the Professional Track Program.
In addition to performing, Eric coaches both ground and aerial circus arts, focusing on youth and community based programs. Eric has worked for schools such as TSNY Baltimore / Washington DC and New England Center for Circus Arts and is currently working with Trapeze School New York (TSNY) NYC. Eric’s circus instruction has been built on top of a Masters Degree in Art Education from The Maryland Institute College of Art.
Jason Mejias
Jason Mejias (Guest Performer)
Jason began his career at the age of 8, when he joined a local Acrobatic Gymnastics team in his hometown of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. He trained and competed nationally for many years under the men’s pair and four men category. After attending College at The University of Puerto Rico for Business Administration, he decided to retire from Acrobatics and move to New York City, where he worked for 4 years as an operations manager.
It was during this time in NY when his passion for aerial and acrobatic arts was reawakened. He knew where he really wanted to be and what he was born to do. He left his previous job and in 2007 became a Flying Trapeze Instructor at Trapeze School New York where he continues to bring a fun, yet intense approach to teaching, perfecting skills and adapting the techniques he has learned from his own experiences.
Currently, Jason is an aerial and acrobatic performer based in New York City. And while he continues to be an excellent Flying Trapeze Instructor, Jason can also be seen instructing Balancing & Acrobatics Classes at Trapeze School New York (TSNY) NYC.
For Subterranea:
Andrew Oswald
Andrew Oswald (Director/Co-Creator, Subterranea)
Andrew has been directing plays since he was about 7 years old. And he thanks his brothers and sisters for coming to, and acting in, all of those early performances. Since then Andrew has grown up. A little. He is a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts and the North Carolina School of the Arts. His most recent directorial work was with the 8o’clocks on their NYFringe Festival production of As I Am Fully Known. He has worked as a guest artist and director with Brooklyn’s “One Arm Red” and was Co-Artistic Director of Bedtime Sketch Comedy for two years. He has also worked as an actor up and down the East Coast. He played John Thorpe in Distilled Spirits OOBR award winning production of Northanger Abbey. Andrew is honored to be collaborating with Suspended Cirque on Subterranea and he looks forward to sharing this work with an audience soon.
Lani Corson
Lani Corson (Guest Performer, Subterranea)
Lani is very excited to be working alongside these amazing artists! She has performed around the country and internationally as a musical theatre performer in such shows as 42nd Street, State Fair, Brigadoon, Cats and more. She has also dabbled in silks and would like to thank Josh and Ben for their encouragement and this opportunity!
Megan Loomis
Megan Loomis (Guest Performer, Subterranea)
National Tour: John Doyle’s Sweeney Todd (Standby Mrs. Lovett, Beggar Woman), Sam Mendes’ Cabaret (Helga, Sally/Kost cover). Off B’way: The Mikado, Princess Ida (City Center). NYC: Hell: the Opera(PS122), Northanger Abbey, Happy End (Theatre 1010). Regional: Woody Sez (Lyric Theatre OK and Edinburgh Festival) Ring of Fire (dir. David Lutken), Cabaret (with Deborah Gibson), Drowsy Chaperone (Ogunquit-dir. Casey Hushion), Titanic (dir. Scott Schwartz), Pump Boys (Carousel Dinner Theatre). Education: Eastman School of Music, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art London.
Jeff Halpern
Jeff Halpern (Composer, Subterranea)
Jeff Halpern is a composer, arranger, music director, voice teacher and coach. Credits include music direction for The Secret Garden (National Tour) Beauty and the Beast (LA); Das Barbecue (Off Broadway); Carly Simon; Anne Bogart; Martha Clarke; John Kelly; Associate Conductor for Houston Grand Opera. Has served on the faculties of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Barnard College, UCSD Graduate Theater Program, Trinity Repertory Conservatory. His private studio serves many Broadway and regional performers.
Andrew J White
Andrew J White (Lighting Designer, Subterranea)
Andrew J. White is truly excited about his first production with Suspended Cirque. He is currently touring the US as Tour Manager of the new Gershwin revue ‘S Wonderful. Prior to that, he was honored to assist Executive Producer Joey Parnes on the Broadway production of Hair. He has also toured extensively with the East Village Opera Company as their resident lighting designer. In addition to theatrical clients, Andrew runs an upstart consultation service which provides nightclubs, corporate offices, and private residences with affordable lighting and design solutions.
For Swingin’ at Jack’s:
Brian Rardin
Brian Rardin (Director, Swingin’ at Jack’s)
Brian has appeared on Broadway in the revival of Amadeus and in the Off-Broadway production of Passion Play.
Moving to backstage, Brian most recently stage managed Equus with Daniel Radcliffe on Broadway. Other B’way credits include: Well by Lisa Kron, Amadeus with David Suchet/Michael Sheen and Showboat. Off-Broadway credits: Shout!, Kilt, Game Show, Disappearing Act and Mr. President.
Brian is thrilled to be working again on such a unique interactive piece with this amazing company of performers.
For Urbanopolis:
Leenya Rideout
Leenya Rideout (special guest performer; Urbanopolis)
Suzanna in Cardenio. A.R.T.: Debut. Broadway: Cyrano de Bergerac (with Kevin Kline), Company (Jenny), Cabaret (1998 revival, original cast).
Off-Broadway: Yiddle with a Fiddle, American Jewish Theatre; The Portable Pioneer and Prairie Show, Melting Pot Theatre Company; and Cowgirls, Minetta Lane Theatre.
Leenya has also performed in numerous regional shows, in films, and with bands. An honor graduate of the University of Colorado School of Music; Phoenix, her premiere album of original songs, is available at www.leenya.com.
