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. Mars 2076 is her first musical.
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HUNTER BIRD
DIRECTOR
is a Brooklyn-based maker of new plays and musicals. He has directed new work at Ars Nova, Roundabout Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The McKittrick Hotel, Signature Theatre with Columbia University, The Getty Villa, 59E59, Lincoln Center Education, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and the Musical Theatre Factory.
"Developing a show of this size and scale has been such an exciting and unique experience. This musical epic spans two planets and follows an unexpected love story amidst a revolution for independence. This writing team has created a rich world of planetary politics, scientific exploration, and the passion that pushes us all to reach beyond what is and see what could be."
- Hunter Bird, Director
GARY FREILICH
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
has been developing innovative creative partnerships for funding for more than 25 years. TV/Theatre: Today Show, Saturday Night Live, Velocity Channel, Tonight Show, Billy Elliot on Broadway, 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.
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EVAN BERNARDIN
PRODUCTIONS
MANAGEMENT FIRM
is a general management firm specializing in consulting and management for theatrical productions. Select Off-Broadway: Afterglow, safeword, Must, Diaspora. Touring: Million Dollar Quartet, Charlie Brown Christmas, Counting Sheep (International Tour). Other: The Dodgers (LA), We Are The Tigers (Ovation Nomination), The Navigator (NYT Critics Pick). EBP has worked with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA), the New York Musical Festival (NYMF), Fringe (NY & LA), and the Workshop Theatre Company; collaborative projects include performances at Lincoln Center, The United Nations, The Harvard Club, Georgetown’s Gaston Hall, The Culture Project, The Ohio Theatre, Cornell University, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
HILLEL FRIEDMAN
GENERAL MANAGER
is a general manager specializing in theatrical touring and new work development. With Evan Bernardin Productions, Hillel has managed the North American touring productions of Million Dollar Quartet and Charlie Brown Christmas and has shepherded original musicals and plays from initial readings to full Off-Broadway productions. Prior to joining the team at EBP, Hillel was the general manager of the OBIE award-winning company, Prospect Theater. He has worked on projects at Lincoln Center, The White House, The New York Times Center, and Carnegie Hall. Hillel graduated from Princeton University where he majored in philosophy and minored in music theater.
KEVIN VERRONNEAU
CREATIVE CONSULTANT
is a designer and producer at Event Designs New York specializing in all aspects of live productions and special events. Kevin’s work ranges from multi visual installations for major sponsors of the Centennial Olympics Games as well as to runway shows and events for Chanel, Bob Mackie and Geoffrey Beene. Multiple multimedia events have been created for L’Oréal, iHeart Media, and the Association of National Advertisers.
JASON
ARDIZZONE-WEST
SET DESIGNER
is an Emmy award winning set designer &
production designer based in New York. Recent projects include, among others, Blue
Man Group (National Tour), Jesus Christ Superstar (NBC), Bliss (5th Ave Theatre),
School Girls, or the African Mean Girls (Berkeley Rep), Dermot Kennedy (World Tour),
and Lana del Rey (Arena Tour).
DAVID O
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
is best known as a Musical Director, both for new pieces of musical theatre as well as classics. He has musically directed the world premieres of “Soft Power” (Jeanine Tesori & David Henry Hwang), “13” (Jason Robert Brown), “Breaking Through,” “Sleepless in Seattle the Musical,” “Songs & Dances of Imaginary Lands,” and “Toy Story the Musical,” as well as the West Coast premieres of Michael John LaChiusa’s “The Wild Party,” “Little Fish,” and “See What I Wanna See.” He is the Music Supervisor & Arranger for the currently-in-progress “Back Home Again” (a new musical with songs from the catalog of John Denver).
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.
TOVA LITVAN &
DOUG ROCKWELL
MUSIC PRODUCTION &
ADDITIONAL LYRICS
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