ZOMBIE
has written some of the most enduring fiction of our time. In a prolific and varied career that ranges over several genres of fiction, Joyce Carol Oates has proven herself one of the most influential and important storytellers in the literary world.
She is the author of more than 70 books, including best-selling novels, short story collections, poetry collections, plays, literary criticism, and essays. Oates is a recipient of the National Book Award, the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in Short Fiction, and the Common Wealth Award for Distinguished Service in Literature. She has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize, and has been a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters since 1978.
Joyce Carol Oates was born in 1938, and grew up in upstate New York. While a scholarship student at Syracuse University, she won the coveted Mademoiselle fiction competition. She graduated as valedictorian, then earned an MA at the University of Wisconsin. In 1968, she started teaching at the University of Windsor. In 1978, she began teaching creative writing at Princeton University, where she in now the Roger S. Berlind Distinguished Professor of the Humanities.
Oates has produced some of the most controversial, and lasting fiction of our time. Her novel THEM, set in racially volatile 1960s Detroit, won the 1970 National Book Award. BECAUSE IT IS BITTER, BECAUSE IT IS MY HEART, focused on an interracial teenage romance. BLACK WATER, a novel based on the Kennedy-Chappaquiddick scandal, earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination, and her national bestseller BLONDE, a work based on the American icon Marilyn Monroe, became a National Book Award Finalist, and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
She received the 2005 Prix Femina for THE FALLS. Although Oates has called herself, "a serious writer, as distinct from entertainers or propagandists," her novels have enthralled a wide audience, and WE WERE THE MULVANEYS earned the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list.
Ms. Oates writes an average of two books a year. Her work frequently has dealt with themes of sexual abuse, desire for power, and violence.
The novella ZOMBIE is based on the life of the sexual psychotic serial killer, Quentin P.
BILL CONNINGTON, adaptor and performer
is a New York-based actor and playwright. As an actor he recently performed in a series of readings of the work of Joyce Carol Oates at the Society Library. He has performed in "Spectacle of Spectacles" at La MaMa E.T.C., "Mr. Gallico" at HERE Theatre, "All Mixed Up Inside My Head" at La MaMa E.T.C., "Just Like That" at the John Houseman Theater, and in his own one-man play, "Dating Rituals of the American Male," at the Royal Theater. He has also performed in regional theater, television, and independent film. Upcoming performances include "Love Letters," and "A Cheever Evening" at the Society Library. As a playwright, Bill has written "God and the Supermodel", "The Perfect Lady", "Walker", and "The Relationship Thing". His plays "Lord Byron's Lover"; "Teach Me All About Love, Johnny Mathis"; and his adaptation of "The Picture of Dorian Gray", have been performed in New York. He is a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. In addition to playing psychopathic serial killers, he has also played sweet romantic fellows who get the girl. To contact:
info@zombietheplay.com
THOMAS CARUSO, director
Directing credits include the new musical "Wood" by Dan Collins and Julianne Wick Davis, starring Tony Award Winner Cady Huffman (NYMF 2008), ZOMBIE by Bill Connington, adapted from the novella by Joyce Carol Oates (FringeNYC 2008 – Outstanding Solo Show Award – FringeNYC, and Best Director Award - offoffoff.com), "10 Percent of Molly Snyder" by Richard Strand (Penguin Rep), "Don’t Talk To The Actors" by Tom Dudzick, starring Denny Dillon, Richard Kline and Lewis J. Stadlen (Studio Arena Theatre – Buffalo), "Diagnosis" by Ioana Moldovan, (The Play Company – 59 East 59th), the musical "Mimi Le Duck" by Brian Feinstein and Diana Hansen-Young, starring Eartha Kitt (Off-Broadway – New World Stages), "The Butcherhouse Chronicles" by Michael Hidalgo (SPF), "The Middle East – In Pieces" (Cherry Lane Theatre), the musical "Bingo" (Off-Broadway - St. Lukes Theatre), the premiere of Jack Heifner’s "Earth to Bucky" (Bay Street Theatre) and the premiere of Terrence McNally and Israel Horovitz’s "Off Season – a Duet" (Gloucester Stage). He directed the National Tour of "Master Class" by Terrence McNally, starring Charlotte Cornwell of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Other New York new play credits include Jack Heifner’s "China Dolls" (Ensemble Studio Theatre), James Edwin Parker’s "Two Boys…"(Rattlestick and Off-Broadway), "Mimi Le Duck" (FringeNYC), "Surviving Mom" (HB Playwrights Foundation), Clive Barker’s "Subtle Bodies" (Off-Broadway), "Mickey’s Home" (Theatre for the New City), "Tatjana" (Juilliard - workshop) and "Enemy of the People" (Century Center). He received the Kenneth Frankel Memorial Directing Fellowship from Manhattan Theatre Club. Regionally, he has directed "Cowboy Mouth" (Williamstown Theatre Festival – workshop), "The Next Marilyn" (Florida Studio Theatre), "Master Class" (TheatreWorks, Palo Alto), "New World Rhapsody" (New York Stage and Film – Emerging Writers Workshop), "The Girl in the Frame" (Adirondack Theatre Festival). He was the Resident Director of Mamma Mia! in Las Vegas. On Broadway, Thomas was the Associate Director for both "Bombay Dreams" and the musical revival of "Follies" by Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman. Thomas directed and composed "All American Boy", a new musical for the New York International Fringe Festival. He has also developed new works at the Stamford Center for the Arts; Festival of New Works in Ann Arbor; Phoenix Theatre Company-New Works Festival, and Key West Theatre Festival, where he directed the inaugural gala presentation of Arthur Miller’s "Resurrection Blues" starring James Naughton and Mary McCormick. Thomas has assisted on numerous Broadway productions including "Love! Valour! Compassion!", "Master Class" with both Zoe Caldwell and Faye Dunaway, "Stanley" with Anthony Sher, "Parade" (Toronto), and "Les Miserables" (10th Anniversary). For more information, or to contact, please visit www.ThomasCaruso.com.
NAOMI ANHORN, production manager
is thrilled to be working on ZOMBIE once again. Credits Include: "Jack Sprat Low-Fat World Tour" (TheaterworksUSA), "Wood" (NYMF 2008,) ZOMBIE (Fringe NYC 2008,) "Another Vermeer" (Abingdon Theatre Co.) "Not Waving", "VROOOMMM: A NASComedy" (Summer Play Festival 2007) "What Will They See" (Residue Dance Theatre,) "Urinetown", Dance Adelphi (Adelphi University,) "The 40th Anniversary Gala" (Roundabout Theatre Co,) "Oscar de la Renta Benefit" (Shadowbox Design Management.) She received her B.F.A. in Technical Theater/Design from Adelphi University. Thanks to Yuriy and Josiah for never-ending support.
DEIRDRE BRODERICK, sound designer/composer and graphic designer
is a composer, lyricist, and singer/songwriter based in Manhattan. She has worked with a number of New York City studios, including Harmony 534 and Palace Studios, where she composes and records for film, television, theatre, radio and the internet.
Deirdre is the composer of the internationally acclaimed feature film ABCD. The film won festival awards in London and Austin, and her soundtrack album was released worldwide. The film is currently being aired on Lifetime Television under the title Her Own Choice.
Songwriting with composers such as Russ Kassoff, Bill Mays and David Spinozza, Deirdre’s work is being performed and recorded widely, especially in the jazz community. Her songs are currently receiving airplay on rock and jazz stations in America and Canada. Her original work is performed at various east coast jazz festivals and in venues including Dizzy’s at Lincoln Center, Iridium, The Cutting Room, The Metropolitan Room, The Players’ Club, Knickerbocker’s, Danny’s, Makor, and LaMama.
Deirdre has collaborated on two shows with the dance company Paula Josa-Jones Performance Works. Wonderland and Light and Bone have toured nationally, and been performed at Jacob’s Pillow, The Majestic Theatre in Boston, and The Joyce in New York City.
Deirdre’s theatrical scores include Twelfth Night and The Bacchae for Lantern Theatre Company of Philadelphia, and the premiere production of Irish novelist Colum MacCann’s Flaherty’s Window in New York City. Her musicals have included The Life and Times of Luella LaMour and George III Sings! with librettist David R. Zyla, and Spectacle of Spectacles: The Clairvoyant Cabaret for LaMama Theatre. Her musical work for children includes two dvd packages for Hooked on Phonics and the original musical, The Perfect Monster, commissioned by Tada! Children’s Theatre. Her previous work for the NY International Fringe Festival includes her original Elvis spoofing musical Viva Los Alamos…in 3-D with librettist/lyricist Mike Katinsky, and Facelicker, Come Home.
Deirdre’s professional training began at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Playwrights’ Horizons, and a dramaturgical internship at Lincoln Center Theatre. She also trained as a composer and lyricist at the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.
Upcoming projects include her new solo album The Company We Keep, songwriting and recording for the goddess of internet gaming, Pansy Warrior Princess, and a large-scale musical reworking of the Orpheus myth, Hero, featuring a modern day American firefighter, his suicidal wife, and a glamorous 1940’s-inspired apparition of Death – the ultimate Femme Fatale.
If you would like more information, please visit www.deirdrebroderick.com.
JOSH ZANGEN, scenic designer
Recent design credits include: John Lithgows “Sunny side of the Street” at the New Victory Theatre, “Affluenza” and “Lunch Hour” with Heiress Productions (Lion theatre at Theatre Row) both directed by Maura Farver, as part of SPF “Butcherhouse Chronicles” by Michael Hidalgo directed by Tom Caruso, “Home Front” (LaMAMA), “The Baraka Project” (HERE arts center), “Having it Almost”(New World Stages) as part of NYMF, “Tiger by the Tail” (Wings theatre) with director Jules Ochoa, “Ham Lake” and “Brettfest 2004: Two by Neveu” both directed by Ian Morgan, “The Lunch” (Jose Quintero Theatre), “Becca and Heidi” (Chashama). As a benefit for the American Cancer Society “Cancer Tales” with director Josh Vasquez. With Civic Entertainment Group he has designed a variety of Industrial shows and events for companies such as Hallmark, Nascar, The History Channel and HBO – Josh is the associate designer for Nickelodeons “Dora the Explorer” and “Go Diego Go” live national tours which have traveled the globe. Other family entertainment includes associate design on “Thomas the Tank Engine Live” -- On Broadway: he was the associate on the Tony award winning “Alfred Hitchcocks’ - The 39 Steps” (Roundabout and Cort Theatre), “A Catered Affair” (Walter Kerr Theatre), and the recent revival of “Les Miserables” (Broadhurst). He was assistant on “Company” (Barrymore), “Sly Fox” (Barrymore) and“Drowning Crow” (MTC). Upcoming work: In August he looks forward to mounting a new burlesque cabaret show “Desir” in the acclaimed Spiegeltent for Mollison Entertainment. Later this fall he has the pleasure of working with director John Doyle on Stephen Sondheim’s’ “Bounce” at the Public theatre, and with Heiress Productions a new play “Three Movements” written by Martin Zimmerman (Theatre Row).
JOEL E. SILVER, lighting designer
Recent design credits include "Little Shop of Horrors" (Engeman Theatre), "The World Goes Round" (Prince Music Theatre and The Gettysburg Festival), "The Producers" (TBTS), "The Music Man" (STONC), "Art Tatum: Piano Starts Here" (Apollo Theatre), "Ain't Misbehavin'" (WPPAC and TBTS), "The Gondoliers" (NYU), "Three Movements" (Heiress), "Affluenza" (Heiress), "Chita Rivera in Concert", "Semi-Permanent", "Lunch Hour" (Heiress), and "Homefront" (La Mama). Upcoming Projects include "Zombie" Off Broadway at Theatre Row as well as work with several new scripts that are in development.
Joel's Associate and Assistant Design credits include Broadway's "Pal Joey", "Young Frankenstein", "The 39 Steps", "Curtains", "Grey Gardens", and "Kiki and Herb:Alive on Broadway", as well as the upcoming production of "Hair". Other projects include Off Broadway's "Next to Normal" (Second Stage) and the National Tour and London Productions of "Golda's Balcony". Other Various credits include work with Manhattan Theatre Club, New York Theatre Workshop, Papermill Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House, Theatre Under the Stars, New York Stage and Film, LAByrinth Theatre Company, The Public, and the Spoleto Festival USA.