COMPANY BIOS:
Mark Lonergan Director
Mark is a New York-based director/creator and the Artistic Director of Parallel Exit, a 2008 Drama Desk Award nominee for Unique Theatrical Experience. With Parallel Exit, he has created seven original works of physical theatre and received several grants and awards. Mark’s work has been seen in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia, at festivals such as the COS Festival in Spain, the We Love Dance Festival in Japan, the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in the United States, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland (Spirit of the Fringe Award). In New York City, he has presented work at 59E59 Theaters, the Duke on 42nd Street, Symphony Space, the Guggenheim Museum, Ars Nova, and PS 122. Mark also works as a freelance director of productions in the United States and Canada.
Mike Dobson Performer
Percussionist Mike Dobson enjoys a career of highly diverse performance opportunities. Classically trained with degrees from Mannes College and The Hartt School, Mike has performed with orchestras such as the Westfield Symphony, Scandia Symphony, Waterbury Symphony, and Bridgeport Symphony at such prestigious venues as Carnegie hall, Lincoln Center, and Ozawa Hall at The Tanglewood Institute. For the past four seasons, Mike has toured with Circus Smirkus as percussionist and assistant music director. He has also played in off-Broadway productions of Political Idol, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, and Target Margin’s Old Comedy. Other theatre credits include New York’s own Bindlestiff Family Circus and the Goodspeed production of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Mike’s versatility is revealed in the multi-genre list of outstanding and unique artists he has performed with, including master percussionist Glen Velez; jazz virtuosos Ira Sullivan, Nester Torres, and Dave Samuels; and pop icon Paul Anka.
Ryan Kasprzak Co-Choreographer/Performer
Ryan continues to perform and create new work with Parallel Exit. Recent productions include Cut to the Chase at 59E59 Theaters (Drama Desk Nomination), This Way, That Way at the COS Festival in Spain, and Powerhouse at Joyce SoHo. Ryan performed with Revolution at the Joyce Theater and was dance captain for the international tour of Fosse. He danced with Sutton Foster in Broadway Under the Stars for CBS television and has been honored to perform with such legendary entertainers as Liza Minelli, Ann Reinking, Ben Vereen, Gregory Hines, Jimmy Slyde, and the Nicholas Brothers. He was recently nominated for a NYIT Award for Outstanding Choreography and performed as a soloist at the historic West Virgina Dance Festival. Ryan holds a B.F.A. in acting from Marymount Manhattan College and serves on the resident faculty at the esteemed Broadway Theatre Project.
Brent McBeth Co-Choreographer/Performer
Brent is a proud member of Actor's Equity. After completing a B.F.A. in Musical Theater from Sam Houston State University, Brent toured internationally in Fosse (dance captain), starring Ben Vereen and Ruthie Henshall. Recent credits include: No, No, Nanette; Face the Music (cast recording); Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (cast recording); Cabaret (Emcee, New Hampshire Theater Award); Guys and Dolls (Harry the Horse); and Houston’s Theater Under the Stars’ productions of Anything Goes, Singin’ in the Rain, 42nd Street, and The Who’s Tommy.
Derek Roland Co-Choreographer/Performer
“Twigs” is thrilled to be working with Parallel Exit again, having previously worked on Cut To The Chase and Powerhouse! Derek began his dance training at Clark Academy of Performing Arts in Rochester and Buffalo, where he was inspired by Master classes from such tap greats as Savion Glover, Ted Levy, and Van “The Man” Porter. He received a BFA in Theatre Performance from Niagara University, and his performance credits include National Tours of Kiss Me Kate (Bill Calhoun), Showboat, Cinderella, and Funny Girl, as well as the Italian Tour of West Side Story. New York Credits include the New York Fringe Festival, American Theater of Actors, The York Theater, The Actors Playground, Merkin Concert Hall, and most recently the New York Musical Theatre Festival’s Freshly Tossed. Derek continues to study tap with teachers such as Ray Hesselink, Barbara Duffy, Derick Grant, Roxane Butterfly, Max Pollack, and Jason Samuels Smith, and has performed in Tap City at the Duke Theater and the ATDF’s Winter Tap Intensive, as well as Shakespeare’s Sonnets on Tap. He is on faculty at Steps on Broadway, and also teaches at Broadway Dance Center and New Dance Group. His choreography has been featured at venues such as Vital Theater Company, 59E59 Theaters, Emerging Artists Theatre, NYMF, and New World Stages. He recently completed a Choreography Observancy for City Center Encores star-studded production of No No Nanette with choreographer Randy Skinner.
Joel Jeske Writer/Performer
Joel’s professional clown career began with his graduation from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College class of 1996. He toured with the blue unit of The Greatest Show on Earth for three years and the elegant one ring circus, Barnum’s Kaleidoscope, for one year. Joel has performed internationally and won awards as a clown and variety performer in England, Germany, Scotland, Canada, Mexico, and China. In New York, Joel is a creator/performer for the physical theatre company Parallel Exit and most recently wrote and performed in their Off-Broadway Production CUT TO THE CHASE, nominated for a 2008 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience. Joel also recently appeared as the Carnival Barker in the Big Apple Circus’ production STEP RIGHT UP!
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