THE TEAM
MEET THE MINDS BEHIND MARS 2076
LISA RALIA HEFFTER
COMPOSER
is a melodic-driven composer of classical music, rock operas, and award-winning musicals. After receiving a master’s degree from the Juilliard School, Lisa wrote her first rock opera, “Atom & Eve,” drawing the attention of director Tom O’Horgan (Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar”) who staged her sung-through show to sold out audiences in New York’s Westbeth Theater. Commissions followed, and Lisa wrote the full score for “Blood and Fire,” a period musical that won the ASCAP/Disney award with praise from the judges’ panel: “Each song is a hit out of the ballpark. . .way out of the ballpark!” Lisa went on to compose the one-act rock opera “Permission” for a two-week sold out run at The Triad in NYC. Her bawdy petite musical theater piece “Oh! The Sport of Love” has been performed in salons and concert halls all over the world.
JEAN WITTER
WRITER
has been fascinated with all things “space” from a young age, when she constructed a pinhole camera to photograph the moon from her backyard. After studying dramatic criticism at the University of Manchester, England, and graduating from the University of Missouri with degrees in journalism and history, Jean traveled to New York, where she found work as an editor in academic publishing. For the past twenty years she has worked as a freelance writer, editor, and communications consultant for clients ranging from publishing houses to foreign embassies, from arts organizations to technology companies. She holds a master’s degree in creative writing from Columbia University and was a recipient of the CAP21 New Writers Residency for musical theater.
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GARY FREILICH
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
has been developing innovative creative partnerships for more than 25 years.
TV/Theatre: "Today Show", "Saturday Night Live", Velocity Channel, Tonight Show, "Billy Elliot" on Broadway, "The Blue Man Group" at Universal Studios.
Events: Four Olympic Games, Education Nation.
CSR / Non-Profit: City Harvest, TEACH.org, U.S. Dept. of Interior’s Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, No Kid Hungry.
Talent / IP Licensing: Jimmy Fallon, Conan O’Brien, Martha Stewart, Jessica Simpson, Planet Entertainment.
LOREN VAN BRENK
DIRECTOR - LONDON DEVELOPMENTAL WORKSHOP
has brought his talents to original stage musicals, touring productions, and gala events across Europe and the United States as a director, musical director, writer, composer, arranger, and musical supervisor. Notably: Arranger/Resident Director of Holland’s award-winning "Josephine, the Musical"; Assistant to Billy Wilson, Olivier-nominated, "The Cotton Club" (West End); "Metropol Orkest"; TROS Radios 1,000th Broadcast Celebration (International Radio Award); "Carmen-The Rock Opera"; "Sound of Motown". Founding Artistic Director of Melody Musical Prod: "Route 66", Ahoy Stadium’s "Bold and the Beautiful" concert tour. In NYC, composer of "The Sensational Josephine" (Off Broadway). For Royal Caribbean: Script Adaptation/Director, "Saturday Night Fever"; Writer/Director/Music Supervisor: "The Effectors-The Origin Story"; "VOICES"; "Flight-Dare to Dream"; "Columbus The Musical"; "The Beautiful Dream"; "The Gift". Awarded 2 Gold and 2 Silver Magellans.
NEW ROAD THEATRICALS
UK GENERAL MANAGEMENT
provides general management, executive producing and tour booking services for productions of every scale and every stage of development in the West End, regionally, and internationally. Current and recent productions include the Olivier Award-winning National Theatre production of Dear England (West End, General Manager); Bhangra Nation: A New Musical (Birmingham Rep, General Manager); Starter for Ten: A New Musical (Bristol Old Vic, Consultant General Manager); The Book of Mormon (UK/European Tour, Tour Booker).
DEJO ANDERSSON
MUSIC PRODUCTION
is a multi-platinum award-winning songwriter and producer from Sweden, with millions of records sold worldwide and number 1 hit songs in Japan. He’s also the CEO of Eleven B Studios, a record label & publishing company.
