KEVIN CAHOON
The following is used with permission from Kevin Cahoon/Anchor C Records, www.kevincahoon.com
Born and raised just outside of Houston, Kevin Cahoon first performed on the local rodeo circuit, as a rodeo clown. He wasted no time reaching the zenith of pop culture stardom for teenagers in the 80s - an appearance on "Star Search." He took the Junior Grand Championship in 1985 with a show tune (though he won't tell which song he sang).
Kevin's pistol power performances and raw theatrics on the rock n' roll stage stem from his successful career on Broadway. After graduating from New York University, Kevin was cast as a gang member in The Who's Tommy on Broadway, then originated the role of "Ed the Hyena" in The Lion King. Other credits include The Rocky Horror Show, The Foreigner with Matthew Broderick (Lortel Nomination), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as the "Childcatcher" and the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch Off-Broadway and sit-downs in San Francisco, Boston and at the Edinburgh Festival. In fact, it was during Kevin's tour with Hedwig that he was inspired to realize his long-held ambition to front his own band. Kevin is currently starring in The Wedding Singer, as 'George,' the scene-stealing Boy George-obsessed bandmate of Robbie Hart, New Jersey's favorite wedding singer and the show's title character. The musical is based on the hit Adam Sandler movie.
Kevin Cahoon and Ghetto Cowboy deliver explosive rock infused with glitter on their debut record, DOLL. The album features 8 original gritty rock songs written and performed by Cahoon backed by guitar, drums, bass and keys. The band has quickly become one of the most buzzed about new arrivals on New York's downtown music scene. Through live shows at venues such as Irving Plaza, CBGB's, Don Hill's and Ars Nova, among others, the group has demonstrated its command of all sorts of stages - from downtown rock n' roll spots to some of the newest theater spaces in town. The pop, power and glam theatricality of their live events are captured for the first time on CD with this new studio recording.
DOLL is being released through Sh-K-Boom Records, a Sony/BMG distributed label, known to "bridge the gap between pop music and theater." With a sound unique to what one might expect from a Broadway actor, Kevin Cahoon is quickly building a fan base in the indie music world, due to his live shows and abundance of press. Kevin Cahoon and his band Ghetto Cowboy have been heralded by New York Times, Time Out New York, and The Advocate, among others.
Kevin Cahoon & Ghetto Cowboy and their CD have chalked up a number of kudos including four nominations at the 2006 OutMusic Awards, walking away with Outstanding Debut Recording - Male award. The Onion (NY) and Pabst Blue Ribbon selected KC&GB as band of the week in their "Live and Local" campaign and Mr. Cahoon received an honorable mention in Billboard Magazine's World Songwriting Contest. Music from the CD has been heard in some interesting outlets. "Fashionista" was featured on several runways during the last two Fashion Weeks in NYC, it has been overheard for two months in Urban Outfitter stores nationwide and is currently in the top 50 for Siruis Satellite Radio/OutQ's Mid-Year Music Survey alongside tunes from such artists as Elton John, Rufus Wainwright and Scissor Sisters, among others.
Kevin was most recently seen starring in The Wedding Singer, as 'George,' the scene-stealing Boy George-obsessed bandmate of Robbie Hart, New Jersey's favorite wedding singer and the show's title character.
MATT CAPLAN
The following is used with permission from www.myspace.com/mattcaplan
Last update January 28, 2007
Matt is a native New Yorker who grew up in Virginia Beach, VA. He has acted in the theater throughout his life, from small community theaters in Virginia to Broadway, where he is currently playing the role of Mark in the musical RENT. An accomplished guitar player, Matt has been composing and performing songs for almost 10 years, and has toured the country playing in over 25 states and independently building a nationwide fanbase through concerts, record sales and "internetworking". Both of Matt's records - a self-titled demo (no longer in production) and Overtones (still available through mattcaplan.com or cdbaby.com) - are acoustic albums, and range in influence from folk to rock to classical. He is currently working on his first full-band record release.
Matt is a native New Yorker, although he spent most of his childhood and adolescence in Virginia Beach, VA. He moved back to his native soil shortly after graduating an arts high school, and after a year or so of sitting on a couch and writing songs instead of dutifully auditioning, he was cast in the touring company of RENT.
Matt plays gigs in and around NYC. He was last seen on Broadway in High Fidelity (closed December 2006).
MICHAEL CERVERIS
The following is used with permission from www.cerveris.com
Last update January 28, 2007
The son of a university music professor and a modern dancer, Cerveris grew up in West Virginia and spent his youth appearing on stage in political Bertolt Brecht plays -- and playing noisy electric guitar to Joy Division and David Bowie records. After studying acting and voice at Yale University, he landed an array of music-oriented roles, ranging from the TV series "Fame" to films like "Tokyo Pop." But that dichotomy of artistic interests eventually paid off in securing Cerveris his breakthrough gig originating the role of "Tommy" in the 1992 revival of the Who's rock opera -- after he impressed director Des McAnuff at an audition, ripping through Bowie's "Young Americans." Not only did Cerveris land a major, critically-lauded role on Broadway, but he worked closely with mentor Pete Townshend on developing the role. Cerveris later performed with Townshend during the legendary guitarist's "Psychoderelict" tour. And in a memorable two-day session, he had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to record the Grammy-winning original cast album under the guidance of famed Beatles producer George Martin.
"My whole career as a musical theatre person is such a fluke," Cerveris says. "It was never what I set out to do. But the only reason it happened, oddly, was because of rock and roll. I bet no one else went in to audition for "Tommy," brought a guitar and played a Bowie song."
Not surprisingly, despite a well-received run in the 1997 Tony-winning musical Titanic, Cerveris realized that he was too much an indie-rock maverick to be happy in traditional musical theatre. He jumped off the Broadway ship to go back off-Broadway, taking over for John Cameron Mitchell in what is widely considered the ultimate glam rock musical -- Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Cerveris went on to open the show in Los Angeles and in London's West End. In between his acting gigs, his songwriting remained a constant via bands like the New York-based Lame and London-born Retriever. He played one-off gigs with the Breeders, Frank Black of the Pixies, Stone Temple Pilots and Boy George, eventually landing a gig as touring guitarist/backing vocalist on Bob Mould's tumultuous US/UK road trip "The Last Dog and Pony Show." He subsequently appeared on the album capturing that band's last London gig, BobMouldBand: Live Dog 98. Cerveris made London a second home base for his music, working and recording with UK musicians like Norman Blake, fellow Teenage Fanclub member Francis MacDonald, Euros Childs of Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and Retriever bandmates Alex Lutes, Mark Kulke and David Ledden.
Recent roles include:
| Passion | Giorgio | Sondheim Festival/Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, DC) | 2002 |
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| Fifth of July | Kenneth Talley, Jr. (Replacement) | Signature Theatre Company (Off-Broadway) | 2003 |
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| Wintertime | Francois | McCarter Theater (Princeton, NJ) | 2003 |
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| A Little Night Music | Count Carl-Magnum Malcom | Chicago Shakespeare Theater (Chicago, IL) | 2003 |
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| Wintertime | Francois | Second Stage Theatre (Off-Broadway) | 2004 |
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| Assassins | John Wilkes Booth | Roundabout Theatre Company/Studio 54 (Broadway) | 2004 |
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| Sunday in the Park with George | George | Ravinia Festival (Chicago) | 2004 |
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| Sweeney Todd | Sweeney Todd | Eugene O'Neill Theatre (Broadway) | 2005 |
Awards and Nominations include:
Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, The Who's Tommy - 1993
Theatre World Award, The Who's Tommy - 1993
Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Assassins - 2004
Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Assassins - 2004
Drama League Award nomination for Distinguished Performance, Sweeney Todd - 2006
Outer Critics Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, Sweeney Todd - 2006
Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, Sweeney Todd - 2006
Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, Sweeney Todd - 2006
Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Onstage Pair (with Patti LuPone), Sweeney Todd - 200
Michael is currently shooting a movie called Brief Interviews with Hideous Men directed by John Krasinski (The Office USA).
Michael will also appear as Kent in King Lear at the Public starring Kevin Kline in early 2007 before returning to Broadway in LoveMusik.
DONNA LYNNE CHAMPLIN
The following is used with permission from www.donnalynnechamplin.com
Donna Lynne Champlin was last seen on Broadway as "Pirelli" in Sondheim’s SWEENEY TODD playing at the Eugene O’Neill and starring Patti Lupone and Michael Cerveris. DL recently finished a run as ‘Gracie’ in THE FLIGHT OF THE LAWNCHAIR MAN at the Goodspeed-at-Chester’s Norma Terris Theatre, reprised her critically acclaimed performance of "Mary Gallagher’ in Michael John LaChiusa’s FIRST LADY SUITE (Drama Desk nom, Best Revival), created the role of ‘Penny’ in Jack Cummings III’s THE AUDIENCE (Drama Desk Award, Best Musical) at NYC’s The Transport Group, and played ‘Sophie’ in Moises Kaufman’s production of MASTER CLASS starring Rita Moreno at The Berkeley Rep.
In 2003, Donna Lynne was seen Off Broadway as The Grandmother/Francoise in Playwrights Horizons’ My Life With Albertine, and on Broadway in Hollywood Arms-- a play based on Carol Burnett's best-selling memoir One More Time. Written by Burnett and her late daughter Carrie Hamilton, Hollywood Arms was directed by twenty-time Tony winner Harold Prince and also starred Linda Lavin, Frank Wood, and Michele Pawk.
Champlin's winning portrayal of Hollywood Arms' Older Helen -- a character modeled on the legendary Burnett--quickly made her a favorite among audiences and critics alike. NYC reviewers (echoing sentiments in Chicago where the show premiered at The Goodman Theatre) proclaimed Donna Lynne a "show stopping star in the making" and described her performance as "brilliant", "a triumph", and "a tour de force". Even the legendary Prince proclaims in Onstage that Donna Lynne Champlin "is a born entertainer…(someone) about whom you can believe."
A native of Rochester, New York, Champlin has been performing since her very first tap solo in a local variety show at the age of four. Her childhood was a veritable whirlwind of lessons, community theatre productions, and national and international competitions in voice, piano, flute, theatre and dance. Having had the good fortune in her career to play such diverse roles encompassing these varied talents in one form or another, Champlin has subsequently earned the reputation for being a proverbial "triple threat".
Champlin’s focus on theatre crystallized when she attended Carnegie Mellon University on scholarship, graduating from their BFA Program in Musical Theatre with high honors. During college, she earned her Actors’ Equity status with the celebrated Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, playing Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, portraying Peron’s mistress in Evita, and working with many "up and comers" of the time including Robbie and Kathleen Marshall, Paige O’Hara and Marin Mazzie. Also during her college years, she trained at Oxford University in association with Yale Drama School’s renowned British American Dramatic Academy program, receiving intensive training in Shakespeare and Chekhov on the Advanced Acting Scholarship and the Vira I. Heinz Grant to study abroad.
She worked consistently during her college years and after graduation, accumulating an impressive list of summer stock and regional theatre credits including Fame opposite Brian d’Arcy James, Three Penny Opera, Dreams From A Summer House opposite Chris Innvar, and Dorian directed by Gabriel Barre. Harold Prince first directed Champlin in The Flight ofthe Lawnchair Man, one of three one-act musicals comprising 3hree at the Prince Music Theatre in Philadelphia. Champlin played Lawnchair’s Gracie in Philadelphia and at The Ahmanson in Los Angeles, earning numerous accolades for her showstopping delivery of the inspirational anthem "The Air is Free." It was during the run of 3hree that Prince told her he was directing the new Carol Burnett play, he thought she was perfect for the part, and that Carol Burnett was in the audience and would speak with her after the show. After four rounds of auditions in NYC six months later, the part was officially hers.
Champlin made her Broadway debut in James Joyce’s The Dead, understudying fellow Carnegie Mellon University alum Emily Skinner in the role of Mary Jane, and eventually taking over the part when Skinner left the show. She earned enthusiastic reviews as the delightfully eccentric Honoria Glossop in the Alan Ayckbourn/Andrew Lloyd Webber musical By Jeeves at The Goodspeed Opera House, the Geffen Theatre, the Kennedy Center, and during its Broadway run at the Helen Hayes. She also played the feisty maid, Daisy, in the City Center Encores! production of Bloomer Girl (directed by Brad Rouse and choreographed by Thoroughly Modern Millie’s Rob Ashford), portrayed Betty From Boston "to the hilt" in The Goodspeed Opera House’s production of No, No Nanette, and delivered what critics called "a high octane performance" as legendary hoofer Ruby Keeler in the national tour of Jolson.
Champlin’s Off-Broadway credits include Jerome Kern’s Very Warm for May at Carnegie Hall (John McGlinn conducting), Reunion, and Stars In Your Eyes. She is a proud member of TheBroadway Inspirational Voices and has appeared in numerous cabaret shows in New York City at venues ranging from B. Smith’s to Don’t Tell Mama’s.
While Champlin has enjoyed much success on the stage, her career doesn’t end at the footlights. Her television and film appearances include By Jeeves; The 54 th Annual Tony Awards; A Rosie Christmas; The Dark Half; Sweet Surrender; and PBS’ Emily Dickinson of the Voices and Visions series. She can be heard on the cast albums of By Jeeves, 3hree, and Reunion as well as Our Heart Sings, The Lady and the Slipper and Have a Heart (as well as many voice-overs).
Donna Lynne Champlin has been honored with numerous awards throughout her career, including the prestigious Princess Grace Award from The Princess Grace Foundation, the Presidential Scholar in the Arts Grant from The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and the title of National Tap Dance Champion for four consecutive years from the Dance Educators of America. Champlin also has gotten tremendous joy out of participating in many benefits for BC-EFA and The Actors’ Fund such as This Is Your Song with Elton John, Gypsy of the Year (1999, 2000, 2001) and First You Dream, a benefit for Christopher Reeve and fellow Jolson castmate Bran Pace.
Donna Lynne Champlin’s life offstage is as colorful and as versatile as the characters she brings to life onstage. In addition to being an accomplished performer, pianist, composer, musical director and choreographer, she enjoys an eclectic array of hobbies and special interests including metaphysics, mystic history and philosophy. She is a certified reflexologist, has a keen interest in Irish and Celtic folklore, music and dance, and is currently working on a humorous non-fiction book inspired by her (mis)adventures in the theatre. She lives in New York City with her cat, "Miss" Kitty.
photo credit: Diane Sobliewski
VICTORIA CLARK
The following is used with permission from www.victoria-clark.com
Victoria Clark was born on October 10 in Dallas, Texas. After getting a degree from Yale University in music, she studied opera in Vienna, Austria and was honored with numerous directing fellowships, including NYU's Musical Theatre Program as one of seven directors chosen to work with new composers.
She made her Broadway debut in 1985 in Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park With George, and she's been a Broadway regular ever since. Vicki has worked with many composers, ranging from the well-known, like Yeston and Stone, to newcomers like Adam Guettel, Craig Lucas, Ricky Ian Gordon, and Tina Landau. She currently studies voice with Ed Sayegh and acting with Rebecca Taylor.
Her most recent star turning performance in the role of Margaret Johnson, a protective and domineering mother, in the Broadway musical The Light in the Piazza, garnered rave reviews. Not only is she a performer, but she has also sat on the other side of the table as the director of many operas in her home state.
She has also been teaching vocal technique for 22 years and has helped many actors train their voices for Broadway roles. She currently resides in New York City with her son, Thomas Luke.
KRIS COLEMAN
The following is used with permission from Kris Coleman and www.kriscoleman.com (added February 3, 2007)
Kris is currently making his Broadway debut in Jersey Boys at the August Wilson Theatre.
A second generation entertainer, Kris's experience is wide and varied: Dreamgirls, My One and Only, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Big River, Once on This Island. He is a graduate of Hampton University and a recording artist for the Mystic Knight Recorder.
CHUCK COOPER
The following is used with permission from Chuck Cooper and www.chuckcooper.net (added February 19, 2007)
Chuck Cooper can next be seen at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego April 21 - May 27, 2007. He will be playing Memphis in the spring production of August Wilson's Two Trains Running.
Chuck won the 1996 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a musical for his portrayal of Memphis in The Life.
Chuck's Broadway credits include Lennon; Caroline, Or Change (Audelco Award, Best Featured Actor); Chicago; Passion; Someone to Watch Over Me; Rumors; Amen Corner; Getting Away With Murder; Hair (BCEFA concert event); and St. Louis Woman (City Centers acclaimed Encore series). His Off-Broadway credits include Caroline, Or Change (the Public Theatre); Thunder Knocking On The Door (Minetta Lane, Audelco Nomination); Marco Polo Sings A Solo (Signature Theatre); Avenue X; Police Boys; Four Short Operas (Playwrights Horizons); Colored People's Time (Negro Ensemble Co.); and King Island Christmas (SIR Studios).
Chuck's Regional Theatre credits include Dance of the Holy Ghosts (Yale Rep); The World Beyond the Hill (Berkshire Theatre Festival); Robeson (Passage Theatre); Thunder Knocking On The Door (Trinity Repertory); Othello (New Jersey Shakespeare Festival); Julius Ceasar (Philadelphia Drama Guild); The Doctor Is Out; Coriolanus; Timon of Athens (The Old Globe Theatre); The Tempest; and American Dreams Lost and Found (Alliance Theatre). His National tours include The Tap Dance Kid; Eubie; and Whistle Down the Wind.
Chuck's television credits include "3lbs", "Hack","100 Centre Street". "Law & Order", "Law & Order SVU", "Oz", "Strangers with Candy", "NYPD Blue", "Cosby", "The Cosby Mysteries", "New York Undercover", "I'll Fly Away", "The Bold and the Beautiful", and "As The World Turns". His film credits include NOISE, EVENING, AMERICAN GANGSTER, FIND ME GUILTY, THREE DAYS OF RAIN, OUR SONG, THE HURRICANE, THE OPPORTUNISTS, GLORIA, THE PEACEMAKER, THE JUROR, NORTH, and CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
Chuck is a Beinecke Fellow at the Yale School of Drama. His favorite role is father to Eddie, Alexa and Lilli.
GAVIN CREEL
The following is used with permission from www.gavincreel.com
Gavin recently made his West End debut as Bert in Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's smash hit musical Mary Poppins. Gavin's Mom and fans agree that's it's "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"
Gavin Creel was raised in a small city in Ohio and spent his childhood studying classical music, while obsessively listening to Top 40 radio. He developed a bizarre roster of childhood musical heroes that included Billy Joel, George Michael, and Harry Connick, Jr. After graduating from high school, he took his passion for music and performing to the University of Michigan where he majored in musical theatre. During his collegiate years, with sights set firmly on the New York stage, Creel started writing and creating his own sound that combined his love for pop music with the emotional energy of the theatre.
Once he hit New York City, Creel broke out with a Best Actor Tony nomination for his Broadway debut in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. Since then, he has solidified his reputation as one of the business’ top young performers, starring in such productions as the Off-Broadway cult hit, BAT BOY, the world premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s BOUNCE, and most recently, the Tony Award winning revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES. In tandem with his success as an actor, Creel has thrilled sold-out crowds with his original pop music at venues all across New York, such as Irving Plaza, Joe’s Pub, and Arlene’s Grocery.
"Proving he’s just as versatile singing pop music as he is theatre, Creel’s sexy, unvarnished tenor resonates perfectly on his excellent original material…making him a face and a talent to watch." -NEXT
Creel's much anticipated debut album, GOODTIMENATION, is now available. Collaborating on this project with Producer/Co-Writer, Robbie Roth, Creel proclaims that this is not, "your typical, generic pop album."
"When Robbie and I met, I told him that I want people to feel alive when they hear my music. I want them to feel good. I’m tired of all the angry stuff out there. I’m sick of people putting boxes around everyone, telling you where and how you have to fit in. I don’t want to fit in. I want to make music that can reach out to people of all different ages and backgrounds and beliefs and turn us into one, groovin, GOODTIMENATION."
photo credit: Cary Conover
photo credit: Emily Sopha
ROBERT CUCCIOLI
The following is used with permission from Robert Cuccioli and www.robertcuccioli.com (added April 7, 2007)
Robert was most recently seen Off-Broadway appearing in Jacques Brel is Alive and Living in Paris. He appears next as Claudius in Shakespeare's Hamlet at The Lansburgh Theatre in Washington, D.C. June 5 through July 29, 2007.
Robert is an actor/singer who has already been recognized by the entertainment industry with multiple awards. After an illustrious career in regional theater, roles in many television programs, and his Broadway debut as Javert in Les Miserables, Bob came to the work of Jekyll and Hyde. In 1996, he was presented the Joseph Jefferson Award for his portrayal of Jekyll/Hyde on the successful tour. Jekyll and Hyde opened on Broadway in 1997. Bob was presented with the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award and the Fany Award as Best Actor in a Musical. He was also honored with a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.
Upon departing Jekyll and Hyde in January, 1999, Bob was busy in many projects including appearing as Archibald Craven in the Sacramento Music Circus production of The Secret Garden and as The Actor in the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival premiere of Enter the Guardsman. He participated in a special swearing in ceremony on July 3, 1999, in New York for new citizens. During this time, he also starred in an episode of the popular SciFi Channel show, Sliders, playing a modern day pirate.
Bob's other credits include playing a Cuban hairdresser in Sons of Don Juan; recreating his role of The Actor in the Off-Broadway production of Enter the Guardsman; playing Sid Sorokin in the Pittsburgh production of The Pajama Game; performing in Antony and Cleopatra (his first Shakespeare production) at the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival; starring in Victor/Victoria at the Paper Mill Theatre; starring as Macheath (Mack the Knife) in The Threepenny Opera in New York; and playing Henry Lord in the California workshop as well as the 2002 world premiere in Denver of the musical Dorian.
In addition to his powerful performance on the Broadway cast recording of Jekyll and Hyde, Bob's voice can also be found on the recorded ensemble work of the Kander and Ebb revue And the World Goes Round. Bob's first directorial experience was in the 2003 production of The Glass Menagerie at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. He has also directed productions of Jekyll and Hyde in Westchester, New York, Pittsburgh, and Houston.
photo credit: Carol Rosegg