PRESENTS

THE NEW ROCK MUSICAL, SOUL SEARCHING

Now at the New York Musical Theater Festival!

THE STORY

Brenda, a thirty year-old single Upper West Side New Yorker, finds herself on a comedic and poignant search for her soul-mate with help from her three married friends, all engulfed in relationship troubles of their own. Her journey has just begun...The New Rock Musical, Soul Searching has wowed audiences from coast to coast after last year's sold-out run in the New York Musical Theater Festival. In Soul Searching, a single woman embarks on a comedic and poignant quest for her soul-mate, while her three best friends face their own romantic travails. Featuring electrifying vocals and a funk/rock/reggae-infused score.

NYMF Show Schedule
Monday, Sept. 15 at 9pm
Sunday, Sept. 21 at 9pm
Monday, Sept. 22 at 9pm
Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 8pm
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What they're saying . . .

"...winning tunes...many hummable melodies...commercial prospects...(this) musical about the quest for love may have a bright future." - William Stevenson, Playbill
"...intuitively true...The best thing about Soul Searching is (Avi Kunstler's) varied, pop-rock-styled score ...the songs are catchy, tuneful, and pleasing...the staging is fine and always clear to me...the higher-production- value image guiding (Matt Okin's) vision in this necessarily stripped-down staging was always evident...a real crowd-pleaser, a feel-good date show on the order of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. - Martin Denton, nytheatre.com
"...catchy tunes..." "Cruising and Schmoozing While Looking for Mr. Right." - Anne Midgette, New York Times
Meredith Mannino, New York Cool says, "a great choice...thought provoking entertainment...rich with expressive lyrics...I'd recommend the show to people from all different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities..."
"At last a Jewish Hair...it may well become a cult classic..." - Paulanne Simmons, NY Theater Wire
The music for Soul Searching is buoyant and poppy, with tunes that recall a little Dylan, a little Stevie Wonder, some Beatles... The band is tight and energetic, and they launch into every song with gusto. I especially liked the fat bass lines and keyboard of 'On the Upper West Side' and the straight-ahead rock of 'In a Man.'" - Jennifer Ernst, offoffonline
AfterWord gives it 3 1/2 stars out of 4! "The catchy songs are never over the top, and always engaging, such as the fingerpopping “Soul Searching” and “Pretty Girl” to the tongue-in-cheek, “Me, Madonna and Tom Cruise.”

CAST

NOAH DEBIASE (Dates/Husbands/Michael) An NYU alumnus and proud New Yorker, Noah is excited to be performing Soul Searching in NYMF! Credits include: Off-Broadway Chuckleball (Various), For Pete's Sake (Swing, u/s John-Eric). National and Regional Tours Camelot (Sir Dinadan), Chuckleball (Various). Off-Off-Broadway KidShorts (Beowulf, Others), Cherry Hill (Judd Thomasino), The Shoe (King Quincy), Emergency Contraception!: The Musical (Luke Lombardi). NYC Readings Returning (Mark); Cherry Hill (Sheriff). Thanks to the Folks, Victoria, John, and Posner. Thank you for your support of original theater, and enjoy the show!
JACKIE SCHWARTZ (Rachel) is excited to bring her voice to Soul Searching. Past Musical Theatre credits include: Cabaret, Anything Goes, Pippin, and The Who’s Tommy. Jackie has been a featured vocal performer at Rascals, and New York City’s A M Roadhouse, Red Lion, and Knitting Factory. To further her training, Jackie has participated in New Jersey School of the Arts Workshop at Montclair State University, A Broadway Performance Workshop at Carson Studios, and a vocal Jazz Workshop at OSPAC. Jackie is currently recording original material, which is being produced by Warner Brothers. Lots of love and thanks to my family and friends for their support and encouragement!
CHADWICK ELLIOT (Male Swing) is happy to be a part of such a great cast. He is making his NYC musical theatre debut, and also can be seen regularly at the N.Y. Comedy Club with the improv group Grown-ups Playground. He recently made the move to NYC after graduation from the Mississippi University for Women...and smart men too. Some of his past credits include: Dracula: Re-vamped (Arthur), The Foreigner (Rev. Lee), A Year With Frog and Toad (Frog), Unto These Hills (Rev. Worcester), Once Upon a Mattress (Jester), On the Verge (Grover, et al), and Book of Liz (Brother Brightbee). In addition to theatre, Chadwick is also a comedic songwriter and has performed his original material at The Broadway Comedy Club. Additional Training: Second City Improv workshop, and Physical Comedy with Avner Eisenberg. Thanks to my beautiful wife for all her love and encouragement!
GISELLE D'SOUZA (Sara) is originally from Portland, OR and Toronto. Her New York credits include: Various Roles with Wildlife Theater (Central Park Zoo), Actor in Quickie: A 24hr Theatre Festival (Tip My Cup Productions), Deirdre in Cherry Hill (Selected Scenes at Acoustic Theater, D-Lounge), Alida in Legend of the Hummingbird (Collective Company), Chanel in 8 Women: A Karaoke Murder Mystery (Jimmy's No 43-dir. Leigh Hile), Soloist for Hope for India Benefit (Duplex Cabaret Theater), Gitanjali in External Introspection (Theatrix!-NYU), Kui Palo in Danielle Steel Writes Children's Novels and Soloist for 2006 Fall Benefit (The Looking Glass Theatre), Rusty in Footloose (St. Jeans Players), Lead Vocalist for Kidstuf-NJ (dir. Jeremiah Caleb). Giselle trained at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and received her BFA in Musical Theater from The New School.

DANA SHAW (Brenda) Dana recently moved to NYC and is thrilled to join the cast of Soul Searching. Previously, she appeared in Losing It at the Looking Glass Theatre’s Winter 2007 Forum. She is a graduate of PCPA in Santa Maria, CA, where her credits included: Kathy (u/s) The Last Five Years, Christmas Is.., Quilters and Annie. Regional credits: Vision in One, Hope Cladwell in Urinetown, Woman 1 in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, Wife in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Ermengarde in Hello Dolly (Sierra Repertory Theatre) and most recently Pam Lukowski in The Full Monty (San Diego Musical Theatre). Love and gratitude to family and friends!
DAVID THORNTON (Dr. Neil Perl) is thrilled to be joining the cast of Soul Searching and making his NYC stage debut after finally making the move here from Huntsville, AL. However, he is no stranger to the stage having been involved with the theatre for over 20 years. Favorite roles include Godspell (Jesus), Jesus Christ Superstar (Annas), Fiddler on the Roof (Motel), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Levi), The Nerd (Axel). Being an avid fan of cartoons, David also has a unique talent for doing over 100 voices and dialects. He also wishes to dedicate this performance in memory of his mother, Bitsy, who lost her battle to cancer and inspired him to pursue this avenue with his life. He knows she is there guiding him each step of the way.
VANESSA ALTSHULER (Female Swing) Vanessa is thrilled to join the cast of Soul Searching! Originally from Oklahoma, she has appeared in regional theater in Indiana (The Roundbarn Theater), Oklahoma (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma & Tulsa Theatre Arts), and Texas (Galveston Island Musicals) and has recently appeared as Mol Porter/Mrs Thomasino in the MITF production of Cherry Hill. Some past favorite roles include Queenie (The Wild Party), Gladys (The Pajama Game), The Baker's Wife (Into the Woods), and Helga (Cabaret). Vanessa has also appeared in television and films, including the feature films Sam and Janet and The Fun Park both out on dvd. Thanks to my family and friends, Matt, and everyone involved in Soul Searching! For T&D, as always.

BAND

JASON HOROWITZ (Drums) has manned the chair for such diverse groups as Jagadoo and The 7th Dimension, Tish, Planet City Brooklyn, Mick Lewis, Gilders Groove and The Yeshiva University Jazz Ensemble. He also made up one third of The Aryeh Kunstler Band, and was the in-house drummer for The Jewish American Arts Project’s concerts.
IAKOV KREMENSKIY (Lead Guitar) Originally from Russia, Iakov graduated from the acclaimed Berklee College of Music in 2007 and is further pursuing his musical career in NYC. He is always on the lookout for new projects and endeavors to be a part of in order to increase his musical knowledge and experience. So far his musical journey has led him to perform with Marcus Miller, Gary Grainger and David Sanchez to name a few. Iakov's Myspace page.
VITAA (Lead Guitar) started music early and still develops his musical culture by touring and recording professionally with many artists in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. Always in search of new and interesting experiences, this traveling musician is currently busy with his own band, liquidS (Aquatic Soul).
YITZY GLICKSMAN (Original Vocal Arrangements with Susan Erenberg) has been a collaborator with the producers for several years having performed as The Wedding Musician in A Match Made in Manhattan and currently is the Musical Director for Generations: The Musical, which is currently in development. As a keyboard player/vocalist, he performs regularly with several local party bands including The Barock Orchestra, Nafshenu, and Neshoma. Yitzy is also a member of the faculty of the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School where he teaches.
JON TAUB (Bass Guitar/Bandleader) hails from Queens, NY, having cut his teeth as bassist for Filthy Penny Jr., Dert Merchants, Bishop Smeck, Moonie’s Motel, [sic] (with whom, he recorded and co-produced two albums, Poor Conductor and Last Laugh), The Mick Lewis and the Aryeh Kunstler Band. He also occasionally moon-lights for Sam Bodenheimer’s B’samim. Additionally, Jon was the guitarist for the producers’ improv troupe Lost Tribe, as well as the Band leader for The Jewish American Performing Arts Project’s concert series. He also co-starred in the 10th Anniversary revival of Twist of Faith, and played Sam the groom in A Match Made In Manhattan.
CREATIVE TEAM
AVI KUNSTLER (Music and Lyrics) boasts a musical resume that runs the gamut from performer to songwriter to recording artist. On stages throughout the NYC area and around the globe, Avi has appeared solo as well as fronting various bands. Primarily, his focus has been in performing his own material. Avi has released three albums to date: Eyes On Jerusalem, In This Place Of Mercy, and Destinations; and he has written music and lyrics for six productions: Twist Of Faith, Second Chances, Destinations, A Match Made In Manhattan, Soul Searching, and Generations. Currently, with Matt Okin, he is at work on a new rock musical called Returning.
MATT OKIN (Story, Additional Music & Lyrics and Direction) Matt's plays include Pigs (Adam Nicolas Productions/NYU), In Love (Adam Nicolas Productions/NYU), The Ugly Wife (Off-Broadway/Riverwest Theater), Cherry Hill (Theater for the New City/Cannery Works; Spencer Chandler, director), One Innocent Woman (TNC/Cannery Works; Spencer Chandler, director), Walter Liked To Sit In His Big Backyard (staged readings at First Stage of Los Angeles and The Zipper in NYC), Twist of Faith (director of national tours), Second Chances (director of national tours and at TNC), Destinations (story/director; TNC and FL's Coral Springs Center for the Arts) and Cherry Hill (director; 2008 Midtown International Theater Festival at the June Havoc). His musicals, written with composer-lyricist Avi Kunstler, include Generations (also director; now in workshop at BergenPAC), the new rock musical Soul Searching (also director; currently in development for Off-Broadway and Broadway), and the in-progress Returning. (Both Generations and Soul Searching will appear in the 2008 New York Musical Theater Festival.) Matt's improv comedy projects have included Lost Tribe (numerous NYC-area venues) and, as director and co-writer, A Match Made In Manhattan, The Interactive Jewish Wedding Experience (NYC and national tours). Matt is Artistic Director of Black Box Studios, which has developed and produced theater and music events with spiritual themes for both mainstream and niche audiences. As an Associate Producer, he is currently working with Gallant Arts on the NY premiere of The Quarrel at The DR2 Theatre. A member of the Dramatists Guild, he also teaches musical theater, improv, and acting at Black Box Studios in Teaneck, NJ; at The School of Performing Arts at the JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly, NJ; at the Bergen County High School of Jewish Studies in Hackensack, NJ; at the Moriah School of Englewood, NJ; and with The Apollo Theater’s In-School Seminars throughout NYC. Matt received a B.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and has two daughters, Rachel and Arielle.
Mandy Decker (Production Stage Manager) is Black Box's Company Manager, as well as a children's choreographer/director and acting coach. She also teaches technical theatre and basic lighting design. In New York, her recent credits include Indiosyncrasy (Teatro La Tea), Out of Control (Midtown International Theatre Festival), Woody and the Heeb (Manhattan Repertory Theatre), Trilogy Threat (Indigenous Taino Productions), the new rock musical Soul Searching, Twist of Faith (Black Box Entertainment), and Cherry Hill (MAKOR). Her extensive work in children's theater took her around the states to work on Dracula, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Urban Youth Theatre), Horton Hatches the Egg, The Sneetches, Stone Soup, Nickel and Dimed, The Lorax, R.E.S.P.E.C.T (Children's Theatre Company), the all-kids rock musical workshop, Generations (Black Box Entertainment at BergenPAC and New York Musical Theatre Festival), Me and My Girl, RAGS, Babes in Arms (Capital Playhouse). Mandy's tours include Pippi Longstocking (American Family Theatre), R.E.S.P.E.C.T (Dr. Dorothy Productions), and A Match Made In Manhattan (Black Box Entertainment). She has also worked regionally on Blood Brothers, Grapes of Wrath, Annie Get Your Gun, the world premiere of Salute to Christmas Radio Days, The Crucible, West Side Story (Covered Bridge Theatre Company) and 42nd Street (Star Players of Bristol County). She is married to Tim Decker, a published author/illustrator of books for young people and an accomplished guitarist. They live happily in Jersey City and have several fish.
Alexis Marnel Alexis Marnel is known for her energy and creative approaches in the field of arts programming. Named Coty's American Original Woman (Sept-Oct 2001), for her work melding arts and social services, she is a founding member and director of Artists Collective for Social Change. Through her work with the ACSC, she has created multi disciplinary projects for at risk youth living in various facilities, developed dance-related projects in Athens and Skyros, Greece, including the First International Arts Festival on the island of Skyros in 2004 and has produced various plays and readings that raise important social questions. She has been featured twice in Eric Booth’s Teaching Artist Journal, national magazine Mia in June of 2006, and was recently featured on New York One as "Person of the Week". Ms. Marnel’s latest projects include: Director of Dixon Place’s Community and Educational Outreach Program, producing Niles Ford's (artistic director of Urban Dance Collective) latest work, Invisible People; working as part of the Broadway A list production team on the musical All That Glitters by Alexander De Jong; and acting as movement director for the rock musical, Soul Searching by Matt Okin.