 |
| The Cast |
|
 |
Lynn Adrianna (Los Angeles)
The daughter of a jazz pianist and an abstract painter, Lynn began her love affair with the arts at an early age. After an international tour as a back-up dancer for C & C Music Factory, she graduated from the two-year Meisner program at The William Esper Studios in NYC and promptly immersed herself in the theater scene, playing some wonderful and iconic roles Off-Broadway. Upon moving to L.A., Lynn immediately began working in film, television and voiceovers. She also continued her work as an arts teacher(acting and dance) with low income and at-risk kids in L.A. Recent favorites include: "Her" (directed by Spike Jonze), "Massacre (Sing to Your Children)” (written by Jose Rivera), "The F List," "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" (on which she recurred), "Godspeed," "Annie in the Aisle of Irma," and "Loaded." Lynn is honored to be a part of this company and is anticipating a whole lot of laughter. Thanks Jason, Billy and Amy! |
 |
Barry Gordon (Los Angeles /San Francisco)
BARRY GORDON began his professional life at age three as a child singer and actor, singing Johnnie Ray's "Cry" on the "Ted Mack Amateur Hour" (He still knows the words). At six, Barry recorded "Nuttin' for Christmas," still listed as one of the top ten best-selling Christmas records of all time. When he was thirteen, Barry's Broadway debut, in Herb Gardner's "A Thousand Clowns," earned him a Tony nomination for the role of Nick, a role he reprised in the successful film version. Barry became a fixture as a character actor in feature films and television, most prominently as a co-star in "Fish," as the lawyer Rabinowitz in "Archie Bunker's Place,” and as the Rabbi in HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Barry's voice has been heard for decades as the Nestle Quik Bunny and as Donatello in the original animated series "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." His latest film, “Losing Control,” is currently available on home video. In 1988, Barry became the longest-serving president of the Screen Actors Guild, holding the office for seven years -- one year longer than either Charlton Heston or Ronald Reagan. He was last seen on the LA stage in “Jennifer Aniston Stole My Life.” |
 |
Brian Herskowitz (Los Angeles)
BRIAN HERSKOWITZ is a writer, director, producer, and actor. As a voice over artist, Brian has been heard in hundreds of films, games and commercials including: “Forrest Gump,” “Total Recall” (with Colin Ferrell), “X-2,” the hit video game “Medal of Honor: Airborne,” and national commercials for Kentucky Fried Chicken and Beringer Wine. On camera, Brian’s career goes back to “Eight is Enough,” where he played the drummer in Willie Aames’ band and appeared in “Hot Pursuit,” “Outlaws,” and “The Huntress.” Brian’s local theater credits include “Romeo and Juliet,” “Rimers of Eldritch,” and “It’s Hard to Be a Jew” (that’s the name of the show, honest), as well as the West Coast premiere of “A Prayer For My Daughter,” “Too Cold to Play Ball,” “Tom & Jerry,” “The StandUp,” “Subway,” “Trade,” “Night of Broken Glass,” and “Goodbye Howard.” Brian is married to the fabulous actress Gina Hecht, and has two amazing daughters – Maggie and Bailey. He’s a world judo champion — no, really — and he puts the “Jew” back in “judo”.
|
 |
Michael Pasternak (Los Angeles / San Francisco / Boca Raton)
MICHAEL PASTERNAK (ensemble) has starred opposite
Michael Imperioli in the feature film High Roller: The Stu
Ungar Story. It’s the true story of a Brooklyn Jew who
became the youngest World Series of Poker champion.
He was also a regular on the CBS series, Co-Ed Fever (you
mean you didn’t see the 22 minutes it was on?) and the
pilot Our Place. Michael had the unique privilege of gueststarring
twice, as two different characters, in episodes of
NYPD Blue; the first as an Italian from the “neighborhood,”
and the second as an Orthodox Jew. Recent television
appearances include Vegas and over 30 other starring
and guest starring roles. Scores of stage roles include:
The defense attorney in Nuts, and a featured part in the
world premiere of Fedunn, a Holocaust drama, seen thru the eyes of the owners
of a small resort hotel in the Catskills. Audiences throughout the world are also
familiar with Michael’s work in a different arena.
He is one of the top comedians on the corporate circuit today,
and is known as “The World’s Funniest Meeting Crasher.” Additionally,
Michael created THE AMAZING BOTTLE DANCERS. Their surprise
appearances have added a touch of tradition to Weddings and Bar
Mitzvahs throughout the world. He also starred in an episode of ABC’s
Life With Bonnie, which was written around his “Bottle Dancers.” Michael is
especially proud to share his life with his beautiful wife Lisa, and his wonderful
sons, Garrett and Darren. www.pasternakproductions.com
|
 |
Ellen Ratner (Los Angeles / San Francisco / Boca Raton)
ELLEN RAT NER (ensemble, 12/11-1/4) is a native New
Yorker and graduate of the High School of Performing
Arts. A familiar face to Los Angeles theater-goers, she is
best known for her one-woman show Personality (Odyssey
Theater), and appeared in seven Justin Tanner plays, most
notably the award winning Pot Mom. Most recently she
appeared in Laurel Ollstein’s Esther’s Moustache. Ratner
began experimenting early on with different voices and
used to impress her parents with incredible imitations of
well-known personalities like Ed Sullivan, James Cagney
and John Huston.
She has appeared on dozens of television series throughout
her decades-long acting career. Regional credits: Awake and Sing, The
Floating Lightbulb, Don’t Talk to the Actors, Prisoner of Second Avenue, and
Laughter on the 23rd Floor. TV credits include: Seinfeld, Frasier, The Nanny
(as Fran’s sister), Prime Suspect (recurring role), and The New Normal. Film:
Punching the Clown (Slamdance Audience winner 2009). |
 |
Jana Robbins (Boca Raton)
Jana Robbins (ensemble 1/7 - 1/11) Jana Robbins is happy
to return to Florida where she received The Carbonelle
Award as Best Actress for Run For Your Wife at both the
Royal Poinciana and Parker Playhouses, and more recently
appeared in her Broadway Cabaret Show One Hell Of A Ride!
(The Songs Of Cy Coleman) at The Crest Theater.
An actor, director and producer, Jana has appeared
in leading roles on Broadway in Good News, I Love My Wife,
Crimes Of The Heart, Romance/Romance, Gypsy and The Tale
Of The Allergist’s Wife. She starred opposite Valerie Harper
in the National Tour. Some recent favorite performances
include Bessie Berger in Awake And Sing, the title role in The Drowsey Chaperone
and the role of Maxine, a part she created, in the World Premiere of Managing
Maxine at the Alliance Theater in Atlanta. Plans are currently in the works for an
Off-Broadway production and Florida tour.
Television credits include guest starring on Cheers, Roseanne, Babylon 5,
Jag, Law And Order, SVU, Criminal Intent, Nurse Jackie, and The Good Wife. Film
credits include The Women with Eva Mendez, Meg Ryan, and Annette Bening,
The Last Days Of Frankie, The Fly with Dennis Hopper and Keifer Sutherland,
Executive Target with Michael Madsen and Roy Schieder, and Haunted Heart with
Olympia Dukakis, among others.
Jana is the recipient of the Jewish National Fund’s prestigious “Tree Of
Life Award.” For more information: www.janarobbins.com |
 |
Nick Santa Maria (Boca Raton)
Nick Santa Maria (ensemble) Nick was born
in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island, so he is
practically an honorary Jew. Nick has appeared in
every form of show biz except circus and ballet.
He played Vince Fontaine on Broadway in Tommy
Tune’s production of GREASE, and played almost
every role in every version of Mel Brooks’ THE
PRODUCERS, including Broadway, both national
tours (where he actually understudied the director
of this play, Jason Alexander), Tokyo, Las Vegas,
and the film version. He also records at least two
audio books per month, has written a book about vintage classic
comedians, and has co-authored (with Paul Louis) the award winning
musical, REAL MEN, a Musical for Guys and the Women Who Put Up
With Them (which premiered at the Actor’s Playhouse in Miami). Love
and faraway kisses to my Anne, and to wee Gabby (I’ll be home next
Christmas, I promise!). And lots of love to my Mom and Dad. |
 |
Omri Schein (Boca Raton)
The grandson of holocaust
survivors from the shtetls of Galicia, Omri is thrilled to be
exploring his roots. Omri has toured Europe in the musical
Grease (mostly as Eugene but sometimes as the oddest
T Bird you’ve ever seen), appeared in the N.Y. Premiere
of The People vs. Mona (cast recording JAY records), and
has been seen in regional productions of Spelling Bee,
Five Course Love, A Funny Thing…, Seussical The Musical,
The Big Bang, Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, as well as
many others. Omri is an active book writer and lyricist,
having recently won Best Lyrics at the New York Musical
Theatre Festival for his musical Gary Goldfarb: Master Escapist. He is currently
on the creative team for the musical adaptation of the film Mambo Italiano,
produced by Jean Cheever and Tom Polum. MFA Musical Theatre from SDSU. omri-schein.com. |
 |
Robert Shampain (Los Angeles / San Francisco / Boca Raton)
Since coming to L.A. 10 years ago, Robert has worked at such theaters as The Geffen Playhouse, Tim Robbin’s The Actor’s Gang (6-year company member), and Pacific Resident Theatre (6-year company member), among others. New York, U.S. regional, and U.K. stage credits include: Roy Johnson in A Light in The Piazza (Bart Sher, dir.); Traps by Caryl Churchill (NY premiere, John Stix, dir.); Inman (Sir Jonathan Miller, dir.); The Odyssey (Mary Zimmerman, dir.); Temple (Gabriel Barre, dir.) [last three at Seattle Repertory Theatre]; Malvolio in Twelfth Night with California Shakespeare Festival: Pentheus in The Bacchae and Jack in The Rivals at Portland Center Stage (Liz Huddle, dir.); Snoopy in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (UK revival) and many other theatres including ACT, Arena Stage, Huntington Theatre Company (Boston), Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Theatre Clwyd (Wales). Film/TV credits include: CSI: Miami, Ghost Whisperer, Final Justice, The Onion Movie, The Unit, Without A Trace, and Law and Order. Robert is founder and Director of BAYFEST International Youth Theatre (www.BAYFESTyouthTheatre.org), which runs summer intensives for young actors from around the US, Canada and the UK, and which also has in-school and teacher-training programs in L.A. to help make the dramatic arts a component of every child’s life. He is a proud, happy and exhausted member of the Shampain/Morgan clan, including Wendy, Noah (8) and Emma (6), and is very happy to be working again with his college buddy Jason, who he always suspected was Jewish…
|
 |
Rena Strober (Los Angeles / San Francisco / Boca Raton)
Rena is a Native New Yorker and learned everything she knows about comedy from her summers in the Catskills (and Mel Brooks Movies). Broadway: “Les Miserables” (Cosette). National Tours: “Fiddler on the Roof with Topol” (Tzeitel). Off-Broadway: “White's Lies with Betty Buckley & Peter Scolari”; Her one-woman show, “Spaghetti & Matzo Balls!” Regional credits include: “Zhivago” (Dir. Des McNuff), La Jolla Playhouse. Rena was awarded the Outer Critics award for her performance as Tonya. Rena was recently seen on stage in L.A. as Eleanor Keaton in “Stoneface,” at the Pasadena Playhouse. Other New York Theater Credits: “Babes in Arms” (Billy Smith), “Beauty & The Beast” (Belle) “Man of La Mancha” (Antonia) “TV: "Shameless", "Liv & Maddie", "Law & Order" & "Kings". Rena has voiced numerous roles for Disney, Nickelodeon, Mattel, video games as well as audiobooks for audible.com. Rena has sung onstage at Lincoln Center, Town Hall and proudly on the pitchers mound for the Mets at Shea Stadium. She is the current National Anthem singer for NASA launches and is one of the youngest members of the NY Friar's Club. Her Film Waiting in the Wings: the Musical Movie will be available this Spring. To hear her music and see more of her work please visit www.renastrober.com
|
 |
Jay Brian Winnick (Los Angeles / San Francisco)
Jay is thrilled to be reliving his childhood memories in this production of “When You’re in Love…” His Broadway credits include the Stephen Sondheim musical “The Frog’s,” at Lincoln Center, where he understudied Nathan Lane and as Lefou in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” Jay has appeared in the National companies of “Guys and Dolls” (Rusty, Nicely, Benny), directed by Jerry Zaks, and “42nd Street” (Bert). Since moving to Los Angeles in 2005, theater audiences may have seen him in the Reprise Theater Companies production of “Kiss Me Kate,” as Man #1(LA Ovation Nomination as Best Supporting actor in a musical), Kromov in the L.A. Opera production of “The Merry Widow,” as The Cowardly Lion in Cabrillo’s “Wizard of Oz,” and as Arnold in Garry Marshall’s “Happy Days.” Television credits include guest spots on “Good Luck Charlie,” “Ant Farm,” “Victorious,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Rules of Engagement,” “Hannah Montana,” “Zeke and Luther,” “Raising the Bar,” and “Veronica Mars.” Jay is most proud to share his life with his beautiful wife Pamela Fisher and daughter Emma Grace. |
|
|
