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Aleksandra Antolak (Natalya) has been studying with ATC for a few years now and is thrilled to be in the original cast of The Conservatory.
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 Steven Bunin (Quinton) has credits at venues in New York and New Jersey which include the Paper Mill Playhouse, New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, The Actor’s Temple, The Mesaper Theatre, Circle Players, the Cranford Dramatic Club, Smiling Rhino Theatre, West Milford Players, Main Street Theatre and Bergen County Players. Favorite past roles are Edmund (Narnia), Colin Craven (The Secret Garden), Gavroche (Les Miserables), Charlie (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Louis (King & I), Jem (To Kill a Mockingbird), Tom (lead in Schoolhouse Rock Live!), Jack (Into the Woods), Joseph (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) and Oliver (two productions of Oliver!). He was nominated for a Best Actor Perry Award for his role as Artie in Lost in Yonkers.
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 Karina Crespo, who plays Kayla on the dramatic series “The Conservatory”, is a born and raised Jersey Girl, and at thirteen years old, she’s grown up around the stage. Performing is something Karina takes very seriously and says that it “runs in her blood.” Her mother is a professional in the business, and for as long as she can remember Karina has also loved the stage. Her mother says that Karina is most certainly not one to be known as “shy” As a young girl Karina would continuously put on mock-shows and skits for her family and friends but now that she’s older she’s moved onto real stages. Karina has had some form of a role in every single one of her school shows, starring in roles such as Brigitta in The Sound of Music and more recently Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar. Karina says that one of her biggest goals in life would be to pursue performing as a career because it’s something very dear to her heart and something that seems to come naturally to her. Who knows? Maybe “The Conservatory” will be her big break in the business!
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Chris DiPasquale is excited to be part of "The Conservatory" and to be a part of such a new and unique experience. Although this is his first television project, Chris has been in many shows prior to "The Conservatory". His past performances include Big, The Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, Sweet Charity, The Who's Tommy, Rumors (NJM Cappie Award winner for Best Play), Cabaret (NJM Cappie Award winner for Best Musical), and many more. Chris would like to congratulate the cast of "The Conservatory" and thank his family and friends for their support.
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 Katharine Downs (Chelsea) is totally psyched to be a member of the creative team and cast of The Conservatory. As a member of ATC since she was a kid, she has performed in and assisted with numerous shows at ATC. Katharine has performed in New York with ATC’s summer showcases since she was 11. She wrote a scene for the showcase, Loud Whispers Silent Screams and she is thrilled to be able to continue writing as a member of the creative team. She has performed in productions at her high school and is a member of her school’s thespian society. She is so grateful for this opportunity and to be able to work with such talented people.
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 Keegan Erin (Stephanie) is a college student at MSU while she continues her acting and dance studies at ATC Studios. She was in ATC's Elite Hip Hop Nutcracker as the Snow Queen and teaches dance to the Children's Conservatory Theatre classes. Keegan is so excited to be part of the original cast and loves serving on the creative team.
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 Brandon Essig (Blaine) is a 16 year old Pascack Valley H.S. student and excited to add his comic relief to the quirky Blaine in The Conservatory. His recent credits include local and regional productions of Seussical (Wickersham), Museum (Will Willard), Sweeney Todd (Judge Turpin), and King & I (Phra Alak) and Disorientation (Dean Anderson). Brandon has been featured at the Producer’s Club, NYC in the ATC Teen Showcase Loud Whispers, Silent Screams, Quick Bright Things Theatre (Will Shakespeare), the ATC Players’ production of Macbeth (Donalbain, Murderer, & Young Seward), Sound of Music (Captain von Trapp) and in the Helen Hayes Youth Theatre’s production of Honk. Brandon is sincerely grateful to Kathleen Kellaigh and the wonderful production team for casting him is this fantastic project.
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Lindsey Michelle Evans is currently 18 years old and from Westwood New Jersey. Film, Television and Theater have been a big part of her life for the past few years and she's incredibly passionate about every little thing that has to do with it. Lindsey has gotten the amazing opportunities to work with the New York Film Academy in both Disney and New York City, as well as with ATC Studios in Clifton NJ. She is incredibly excited to be working currently with ATC studios on "The Conservatory" both acting and writing. She can not believe how blessed she is to have gotten so lucky to work with such amazing people, and has made life long friends who she considers family. Lindsey will be attending Rowan University in the fall, majoring in Radio/Film/Television.
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 Corinne Fitamant is thrilled to be involved with “The Conservatory” at ATC Studios. This past summer she was involved in the ATC Teen’s Showcase, which performed in New York City. Corinne goes to a performing arts high school and has performed in numerous community theatre productions. She has also appeared in the Off-Broadway production of “Counsellor at Law.”
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MICHAEL KELLY (Tim- Episodes 1 & 2) is a sophomore at Saint Joseph’s Regional HS and is ecstatic to be performing in the TV Dramatic Series The Conservatory ,Credits: Lend me a Tenor ( Saunders), The Who’s Tommy (Uncle Ernie) at SJR, Beauty and the Beast (Ensemble) at IHA, West Side Story (A-rab) at SJR, The Secret Garden (Colin) at IHA, Crazy for You (Mingo) at AHA,. His training includes Broadway Artist Alliance, NY and Acting Theater Conservatory in Clifton, NJ, Standing O Theater Program Montvale, NJ. He is a part of the SJR Chorus & Student Council & loves to be onstage. Thanks to family and friends for their endless support & encouragement.
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 Jeannie Rae Kempa (Paulie) previous credits include: "Hecate" from Macbeth, Rosetta, off Broadway production "You Shouldn't Have Told" Journey (ATC) Romeo & Juliet (ATC) The Vagina Monologues, Bickford Theatre. Perry nominated for role of Kate in Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs. Augusta May in "Dead Man Walking" Pheba in "You Can't Take It With You" .Waiting for Christmas (TLC) Alice in Wonderland (SP) Narnia (ATC) Comedy performances at Rascals & Georgios'. Voice over work and independent film work. NYC Showcases. Assistant Director, Mousetrap (TLC) Costume design. Jeannie continues to study Acting, Comedy and Film at ATC studios. Originally from Chicago, with a musical background she has worked with various groups and comedians.
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 Christine Lavosky (Gabriella) was in the 2008 Teens Summer NYC Showcase and the 2009 Teen/Young Adult NYC Showcase, and has taken some teens classes with ATC. She attends school in Montclair and is so happy to be one of the "krystlettes" in The Conservatory.
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 Julia Lisa (Amy) began training at ATC when she was 10. She is thrilled to be back where she started. Her favorite roles have been performing as a witch in Macbeth; Kim in Bye Bye Birdie; and the pirate Misty Sails at NJ Renaissance Kingdom. She is also a competitive ballroom dancer. Julia is having the time of her life in The Conservatory, and sends love to all the cast and crew.
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 Matt Locker's theatre credits include Bent, Full Moon Café, The Last Talk Show on Television, The Fantasticks, Not Enough Rope, The Fourth Chair and Beguiled Again. In film, he’s been in Weekend At Bernies II, While You Rest, Portfolio, Just My Luck, and the lead in Requiem For A Vampire. He has done numerous radio and television commercials, including being the first “Guy On The Beach” in The Corona Beer spots. Matt’s radio credits have him on the air in New York, New Jersey and the Virgin Islands where he was the morning guy on Paradise 104. In television, he has been the lead anchor for The Staten Island NewsCenter, and has been a television weather anchor as well. He has been the voice for KFC, Pizza Hut, The NJ Devils, Revlon, Campari, and countless other commercials and industrials. Matt is proud to serve on the advisory board of ATC Studios.
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Tommy McKiernan (Garrett) has been with ATC since he was 10 and with the Conservatory Players was seen in Our Town, Narnia, Midsommer Night's Dreame and has played the leads in many of his high school plays. Tommy is pursuing theatre in college and plans on a professional career in the performing arts.
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 Cassandra Elyse Penna (Loral- Episode 1) is 16 and a junior at Secaucus High School. Theatrical performances include: Seussical the Musical (The Mayor Wife), Witness for the Prosecution (The Girl), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (The Narrator), Little Women (Margaret March), Wizard of Oz (Dorothy), Beauty and the Beast (Madame de la Grande Bouche), Hip Hop Nutcracker (Mr. Stahlbaum, mouse, Arabian dancer, sugar plum, and soldier), Guys and Dolls (Mission Girl, Ensemble), Hello Dolly (Ensemble), Evening at the Ripley (Senior Citizen), Through the Looking Glass (Queen of Hearts), Back to the Future (50’s Pink Lady) and the King and I (Ensemble). She would like to thank her family for their love and support and to wish the cast and crew many more successful episodes.
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 Matt Poalillo (Scott). This is Matthew’s TV debut but his second big performance for ATC Studios. Last summer, Matthew performed in ATC’s NYC summer showcase where he was picked up by GoldStar Talent Management. He’s involved in his school plays and both years had lead roles. His teachers note his creative side and his interest in the arts. Matthew’s interested in being in commercials and making people laugh. His career goals include TV, movies and broadcasting.
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 Kelly Reilly (Krystl) - Recent credits include playing the Tin Woman in Adam Roebuck's off-Broadway production of The Wizard of Oz and Jenny in Off Stage Films' One Saved Message. She also appeared in Les Miserables at French Woods Camp. Past credits include Fern in Charlotte's Web. Kelly's favorite role so far was Annie in the musical Annie. In addition to acting and singing, Kelly is a flutist with the Essex County Symphony Orchestra and a dancer with Spirit Dance Troupe. Hugs and kisses to The Conservatory cast and crew!
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 Chris Robertson (Daniel) is a recent graduate of the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts/School for Film & Television, and a knight at Medieval Times. Chris has gone through ATC’s complete professional training program. He counts among his favorite roles Matt Poncelet in Dead Man Walking for which he won the NJACT Perry Award for Outstanding Youth Actor in a Play, Romeo (NJACT Perry award nomination), in a cutting edge production of Romeo & Juliet , and The Baker in his high school's production of Into the Woods. He is also on the writing team for The Conservatory and is pursuing a professional career in show business.
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 Joel Robertson (Mac)--credits include Mort Greenway in ABC's All My Children; Bishop of Basingstoke in Jekyll & Hyde film with David Hasselhoff and on Broadway; Santa in Radio City's Christmas Spectacular, Chicago; Broadway: Parade, Les Miserables, Cats, Fiddler on the Roof; and has worked with directors Hal Prince, Jerome Robbins, Trevor Nunn, and Gillian Lynn.
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 Sarah Robertson (Jackie) also serves on the writing team for The Conservatory. This past spring she played Maureen in her school’s production of Rent and last year was Phyllis Dale and one of the dance captains for their production of 42nd Street, Fall 2009 will see her as Linda in her school's production of Death of a Salesman and singing on several Friday nights at Pianos Bar & Grill. Sarah has several commercials to her credit both as on-screen and as voice-over talent and is currently studying acting at ATC. She has provided voiceovers for ESL tapes, educational dvds/cds and for a feature film.
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 Kelsey Saam has been working with ATC for a couple of years, though not as much recently. She is a graduating senior, going off to college in the fall. For years she has sung, acted, and danced on many different stages performing in many different shows. Meeting new people and working with different groups is always fun and that's why she enjoys this. She has made so many new friends with The Consevatory, and she is very happy.
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Bob Smith (Michael O'Brien) Starting with college productions at the Mason Gross School in the 70's, Bob Smith has appeared in numerous plays as well as in independent films, and most recently, in Action Theatre's production of Little Murders, and as Scrooge in its staged readings of A Christmas Carol. A lawyer by day, Bob also advises ATC in intellectual property and other legal matters.
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 Paige Sofia Sciarrino. 16 years old. Playing the part of "Tanya". Paige has taken acting classes at HB Studios in NYC and many at ATC. She has also taken hip hop dance classes and private vocal lessons. She played the part of Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, Jr. along with being in many other productions and has performed at the Producers Club in NYC with the teens of ATC this past summer. Filming The Conservatory has been her first on-camera experience and is thrilled to be a part of it.
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 Nick Stefanacci (Trevor) pursues his career in the performing arts each day, playing various instruments, composing, teaching, and of course acting. He's appeared in several films and is very happy to be creating the role of Trevor for The Conservatory.
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Michael Laibson (Director--Episode 1; Consultant) is an Emmy winning Producer of Daytime Dramas. Over the past twenty years, he has led the creative teams at All My Children, As the World Turns, Guiding Light, and Another World. He started in the business as an actor, working at many theatres in New York in productions ranging from classical to musical. He directed productions of Loveliest Afternoon of the Year, Thieves, and Loneliest Game in Town, before moving into Television Production. Last year he directed the award winning production of The Savior of Fenway at the New York International Fringe Festival. He is also a director at the Garage Theatre in Teaneck, NJ. Besides being on staff at Action Theatre Conservatory (ATC Studios) in Clifton, New Jersey, Michael has been teaching Acting for the Camera at Montclair State University, the New York Film Academy, the Weist-Baron School in Manhattan, and the New Actors Workshop. In addition, Michael runs “Sessions”, a pro-active support group for actors that meets regularly in the City and provides focus and direction for performers as they build their careers.
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Kathleen Kellaigh (Producer, Headwriter, Director) formerly of the CBS soap opera, GUIDING LIGHT, is pleased to be working once again with Michael Laibson. In NYC, Ms. Kellaigh has directed the premieres of An Evening of Ed Dixon One-Acts at Lincoln Center, Waldwick, and The Fourth Chair at the Intar Theatre, as well as a multitude of showcases and scene evenings at the Intar, the Lamb's Theatre, the Pulse Ensemble Theatre and the Producers Club. Regionally her directing credits include Tim Robbins’ Dead Man Walking (part of the National School Theatre Project), Mousetrap, Oklahoma, Narnia, Our Town, Pippin, Chicago, Equus, Cabaret, and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, among others. Ms. Kellaigh produced the NY premiere of Narnia, bringing the production over from its original London run.Several of Ms. Kellaigh’s short plays, Aternatives, Alternatives 2, Bridges, Chapter 33, Brat, The Break and Hijinks have received NYC productions. Ms. Kellaigh's full length musical, Journey, had its premiere production in the spring of 2005. She is thrilled to be serving as headwriter for the group of talented teen writers of The Conservatory, and excited to be directing such a stellar cast.
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Herbie Pabst (Film Editor) considers filmmaking, directing, writing, editing, acting and composing to be his life work. He lives with a constant passion to create artistically.
Filmmaking has taken his art to Cable TV, Internet Shows, and National Film Festivals. Some recent projects:
At The Conservatory Studios(1st & 2nd episodes) – co-creator, director, videographer and editor; The Shed (short film) – Co-writer, director, videographer and editor, screened at the San Diego International Children’s Film Festival: Cold Hands – (short film) – Writer, director, videographer, editor; The HV20 International Video Project – (film) – Executive Producer
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Matt Locker’s (Assistant Director, Lighting, Sound) work in commercial television began as a graphics operator and audio engineer at the age of 16 at CBS affiliate WBNB-TV in the Virgin Islands. He eventually began to produce local commercials and quickly moved up to direct “NewsCenter 10”. He mastered the art of producing “quick and dirty” cable commercials during his time at Telemedia Productions in Canandaigua, NY and later went into radio. He returned to the visual medium as a founding member of Triple L Television, where he directed the live variety show, “Hour Style”. Matt transitioned into film where he began as a production hand on the motion picture, “Christopher Columbus: The Discovery”. Immediately after, he went on to work as a set dresser for Tri-Star Pictures’, “Weekend At Bernies II”. He was also the founding force in creating and producing “The Staten Island NewsCenter” for Time Warner Television.
Matt continues to work in the capacity of cameraman, editor, sound engineer, and producer on countless commercials and long form projects.
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