Guest Artists
Alex Brightman is currently playing the Lead Role on Broadway in SCHOOL OF ROCK. Alex has also appeared in Matilda, Wicked, Big Fish and Glory Days. In addition to Alex's many theater credits, as a writer, he has written Make Me Bad (music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini); Everything in its Place: The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers; and The Whipping Boy (music and co-lyrics by Drew Gasparini), an upcoming musical adaptation of the award-winning novel.
Liz Larsen On Broadway, Liz is Genie Klien, Carole’s Mother, the role she originated and has played for nearly 3 years in BEAUTIFUL, The Carole King Musical*. Previously on Broadway, she’s co-starred in HAIRSPRAY, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, THE SMELL OF THE KILL, DAMN YANKEES, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, STARMITES*, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and THE MOST HAPPY FELLA*, for which she received the TONY, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award nominations, and the Los Angeles Dramalogue Award for Best Featured Actress; and DUBARRY WAS A LADY at City Center.
On Television, this Season Liz played Sheryl Weinstein, the longtime Mistress of Bernie Madoff in the ABC TV Movie MADOFF, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Blythe Danner; she guested on THE AMERICANS for The FX Network last Season, on BUNHEADS for ABC Family; and was a Series Regular on the CBS Series MY GUYS. She also played CSU Jessica Reed for 10 years on LAW AND ORDER, and L.A. Regal for 4 years recurring on SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT.
Ms. Larsen has been a soloist with Symphonic Pops Orchestras all over the World; from the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall to the Gothenberg Symphony, Sweden. Her extensive recordings include 20 Broadway Compilation Albums on the Varese Sarabande Label (many of them with Sal Viviano), Oh, Kay! (with Dawn Upshaw), Broadway 1960. (*‘d titles above = Original Cast Recordings) Her proudest achievements are her two beautiful sons: Alessandro Gian and Joseph Dante, with dreamboat husband Sal Viviano.
Drew Gasparini is an award winning musical theatre composer/lyricist, a performing singer/songwriter and winner of the 2006 John Lennon Songwriter’s award. He wrote the music, lyrics, and book for his musical Crazy, Just Like Me (winner of “Best Of Fest” and runner up for “Best Book” in the New York Musical Theatre Festival 2011), and music & lyrics for Make Me Bad (PACE new musicals; book by Alex Brightman, Bloomington Playwrights Project), Turn Of The Screw (commission by Fordham University, 2012 workshop at Lincoln Center; book by Michael Kimmel), and #UntitledPopMusical (book by Michael Kimmel) to name a few.
Drew was a contributing composer for the television series SMASH (season 2) on NBC and was named one of Playbill’s “Contemporary Musical Theatre Songwriter’s You Should Know.” The Houston Press has called Drew’s music “deftly captivating with lyrics that pulse with vibrant poignancy and appealing wit.” His work is regularly heard at Contemporary Classics New Voices in Seattle, Cutting-Edge Composers in NYC and his brand of theater concerts are performed regularly at esteemed NYC venues such as Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, and 54 Below.
Drew was a contributing composer for the television series SMASH (season 2) on NBC and was named one of Playbill’s “Contemporary Musical Theatre Songwriter’s You Should Know.” The Houston Press has called Drew’s music “deftly captivating with lyrics that pulse with vibrant poignancy and appealing wit.” His work is regularly heard at Contemporary Classics New Voices in Seattle, Cutting-Edge Composers in NYC and his brand of theater concerts are performed regularly at esteemed NYC venues such as Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, and 54 Below.
Sal Viviano has sung over 400 Pops Concerts with nearly 200 Symphony Orchestras around the World, at a list of beautiful Concert Halls across the Country, and at such iconic venues as The White House, Carnegie Hall, Wolf Trap, Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi, The Waldorf Astoria’s Starlight Roof and Ballroom, London’s Palladium, The Kennedy Center, NY’s Central Park, Teatro Massimo (Palermo), The Hollywood Bowl... to name a few... A Detroit native, Viviano began his career as a teenager opening for Comedy Greats of the last generation, in Chicago, and in Showrooms throughout the Midwest. After completing his degrees (Eastern Illinois University), he taught High School, and worked and entertained at Nippersink Manor Resort (WI) in the Summers, while also earning his Union cards as an actor doing Theatre, Jingles, Voice-overs, and Commercials in Chicago. On Broadway, Sal made his debut in THE THREE MUSKETEERS, and has since co-starred in ROMANCE / ROMANCE, CITY OF ANGELS, FALSETTOS, THE LIFE, and THE FULL MONTY. Off-Broadway, Viviano co-starred in the Revival of CLOSER THAN EVER* (BROADWAY WORLD AWARD - Best Actor; Off-Broadway Alliance Award); as well as in THE BIG TIME; GOLF, THE MUSICAL* (BACKSTAGE AWARD - Best Actor); BEAU JEST; CATHER COUNTY*; WEIRD ROMANCE*; CATCH ME IF I FALL*; BROADWAY JUKEBOX; and HAMLET, THE OPERA (for Joseph Papp), among others. On Tour he’s starred in CHICAGO; EVITA; JOSEPH AND THE...DREAMCOAT; ANYTHING GOES!; THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE; HAIR; SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (HELEN HAYES AWARD - Best Actor nom.). On Film, Viviano starred in John Fasano’s cult classics BLACK ROSES*, and THE JITTERS; and appeared in (and recorded songs for...) LEGALLY BLONDE 2*; SPIKE OF BENSONHURST*; and LIFE WITH MIKEY*, among others. The ‘highlight’ of his couple dozen Primetime and Daytime Television credits: Vincent VanGogh in Disney’s OUT OF THE BOX (Parent’s Choice Award)... Viviano’s Original Cast, Compilation, and Solo CD Recordings number over 70, on various different Labels SALVIVIANO.COM
Tracey Grimaldi is a lifelong musician and theatre lover who accompanied and coached singers for years before officially launching her professional teaching studio in 2001. She specializes in repertoire development, presentation skills, breath support and vocal technique for theatrical auditions and performing arts program admissions.
Tracey's students have been cast in numerous Broadway, National and Regional productions, including: The Book Of Mormon, Jersey Boys, Wicked, RENT, How 2 Succeed, Hair, In The Heights, West Side Story, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Leap of Faith, A Chorus Line, 13, The Capeman, The Civil War and Pal Joey. Her younger students have gained admission to LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts, PPAS, Special Music School and various university performing arts programs, and have earned leads in competitive youth and regional theatre companies and summer programs.
Many of Tracey's students are referred by the agents and managers she maintains productive relationships with due to her high casting rate. She brings equal enthusiasm to working with singers, actors and dancers. Tracey believes in the importance of tapping into each artist's area of strength for expression and that all disciplines of the performing arts should be connected. She works with adults, teens and tweens from her Upper West Side studio, and teaches group classes and seminars at performing arts programs.
Tracey holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College (flute and piano) with a minor in Communications. She attends professional development courses held by NYSTA (New York Singing Teachers' Association), of which she is a proud member.
Tracey's students have been cast in numerous Broadway, National and Regional productions, including: The Book Of Mormon, Jersey Boys, Wicked, RENT, How 2 Succeed, Hair, In The Heights, West Side Story, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Leap of Faith, A Chorus Line, 13, The Capeman, The Civil War and Pal Joey. Her younger students have gained admission to LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts, PPAS, Special Music School and various university performing arts programs, and have earned leads in competitive youth and regional theatre companies and summer programs.
Many of Tracey's students are referred by the agents and managers she maintains productive relationships with due to her high casting rate. She brings equal enthusiasm to working with singers, actors and dancers. Tracey believes in the importance of tapping into each artist's area of strength for expression and that all disciplines of the performing arts should be connected. She works with adults, teens and tweens from her Upper West Side studio, and teaches group classes and seminars at performing arts programs.
Tracey holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College (flute and piano) with a minor in Communications. She attends professional development courses held by NYSTA (New York Singing Teachers' Association), of which she is a proud member.
Joe Langworth (Director/Choreographer) – recently directed Tony Award winner Paulo Szot (South Pacific) in his celebrated concert at the Spoleto Festival in Italy and New York’s 54 Below (BroadwayWorld Award nomination, Best Director.) Broadway credits: Next Fall (Associate Director; Tony nominee - Best Play and Best Director) and Lincoln Center Theater's South Pacific (Associate Choreographer; Tony winner - Best Musical Revival, nominee - Best Choreography). Joe also directed Laura Osnes (Cinderella/Bonnie and Clyde) in her critically acclaimed cabaret debut at Café Carlyle (“Dream A Little Dream” - Broadway Records). Shows in development include the new play by Ben Andron, BROKEN SNOW, ONCE UPON A PASTIME by Terry Cashman and the new musical FIXING FRANKIE which he is creating alongside his writing partner Steve Marzullo. Other directing/choreography: WEST SIDE STORY, RENT, THE PRODUCERS, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES, and THE WHO’S TOMMY. Joe began his career as Broadway performer in such shows as A CHORUS LINE, RAGTIME and FOLLIES and went on to work as a casting director with Telsey + Company (COMPANY, IN THE HEIGHTS and HIGH FIDELITY). Joe is also a professor of theatre arts at NY State University at New Paltz.
