coLAB Arts

New Brunswick Theater Festival’s production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by
Directed by Rachel Klein (nominated for Outstanding Director & Outstanding Choreography / Movement by the New York Innovative Theater Foundation) begins previews on Wednesday, August 31 with an official opening on Friday, September 2, 2011.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM features members of the NBTF core Acting Company as well as an Apprentice Company of New Brunswick High School students.

Produced by coLAB Arts, the New Brunswick Theater Festival is based in New Brunswick, New Jersey and is dedicated to cultivating the talent of emerging theater artists through large-scale production paired with dynamic educational outreach. By linking professional artists living and working in New Brunswick with each other and the local community, NBTF builds an artistic partnership that cultivates the rich cultural and historical significance of the hub-city.

Christopher Halladay is a professional actor and teacher. An MFA graduate in Acting from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, he is also a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, in Los Angeles, and has studied at Oxford University in the U.K. He works in theater, film, and t.v (including several national commercials) in New York and Los Angeles. Most recently: The Unusuals, All my Children and Guiding Light. He also just completed shooting several Independent Films: Jason’s Big Problem and Forged; and begins shooting “A guy Named Rick” this fall. He teaches privately and at the University level for acting, speech, theater history and stage make-up.

Stacie Lents has performed at Florida Studio Theatre, New York’s Provincetown Playhouse, Ohio Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Hangar Theatre, Luna Stage, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and Terra Firma Dance Theatre, among others. Playwriting credits include: Written on Her Face, College Colors, book and lyrics for Daisy in Disguise. Stacie is assistant professor of theatre at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Education: Rutgers (MFA) and Yale (BA). AEA and SAG.

Andrew Saunders is excited to return and offer support for the New Brunswick Theater Festival’s second production. An actor and a musician, he most recently worked with the George Street Playhouse Educational Touring Company performing issue-based plays for young and old audiences alike throughout New Jersey. Andrew played the role of Benvolio in the first annual NBTF production of Romeo y Julieta and is currently working on his second independent feature film, 11/11/11. Andrew currently works as the Managing Director of coLAB Arts and with other organizations, such as the MAMA Foundation for the Arts in Harlem. He would like to thank the entire production team for the opportunity to work with them again, and thank all of his friends and family for never telling him he couldn’t do what he loved to do and make a living out of it. He wouldn’t be here without the love and support given so plentifully by everyone in his life.

Krystopher Mateo is thrilled to be making his New Brunswick Theatre Festival debut! Born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised in Huntsville, AL, he just completed his MFA in Acting at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Credits include: Nag/Teddy in Rikki Tikki Tavi at Miles Square Theatre, Zopiloti in El Becerrito Valiente for IATI theatre, Marcus in Game Over, Agis in The Triumph of Love, Beethoven in Dog Sees God, Jon in Tape, Ed in Five Flights, Lenny in Marisol, Nikos in Big Love, Carl in Getting Out, Mark Right Place Right Time, and Paris in Romeo and Juliet. Many thanks and much love to everyone involved.

Jen Ring Credits: The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi (Mile Square Theatre), Yippie! (Beggar’s Group), New York One-Minute Plays, Romeo and Juliet (NBTF), Five Flights (Red Stage Theatre Company), The Cassandra Project (Capital Fringe), Clown Hamlet (Infinite Stage), Liar’s Poker (Source), Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Rutgers Theater Company). MFA (Rutgers

Abigail Hawk appears on Blue Bloods as Baker, the faithful sidekick of Commissioner Reagan (aka Tom Selleck). Other television appearances include Body of Proof, Are We There Yet?, and Law and Order: SVU. My humble gratitude to family, friends, and wonderful husband Bryan, for always believing. For Grandma and Grandpa.

Kevin Gilmartin performed the roles of Gavin Miller in “According To Goldman” with the Alliance Repertory Theatre and Ernie in “Rumors” with Villagers theatre. In a previous life, in New York City, he originated the roles of Eddio in “A Barbershop in Pittsburgh” and Varick Raeburn in “A Romance” at the 42nd Street Lion Theatre. Over the years he also enjoyed performing in the following shows and roles in varying USA theatre companies: “The Mousetrap” (Lieutenant Trotter), “Child’s Play” (Paul Reese), “Butterflies Are Free” (Don), Shakespeare’s “A Comedy of Errors” (Antipholus of Ephesus), “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” (Bud Frump), “Finian’s Rainbow” (Woody), “Cabaret” (Cliff Bradshaw), and many others. He has appeared in print ads for Virginia Slims, Xerox, Konica Cameras, and Chevrolet and in TV commercials for Federal Express, General Electric, and New York Post, among others. It has been a pleasure working with this very talented new theatre company.

Christina Gordon (Helena Understudy) is a New Jersey native from Somerset, New Jersey. She received her B.A. and M.F.A. from Rutgers University. Previous credits include Children of Eden, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Television’s Guiding Light, Marisol, Revisions, Take A Chance, Lost Persons, Reasons to be Pretty and Marat/Sade. This is Christina’s first show with the New Brunswick Theater Festival and she is very pleased to be working with such a talented group of actors.

Kiley Oram is a proud member of the Rachel Klein Ensemble. She can also be often found singing, dancing, and burlesquing as Scooter Pie all over NYC.