Oedipus! A New Musical Comedy

Cast & Creative

Janine LaManna

Janine LaManna’s Broadway credits include THE DROWSY CHAPERONE (Janet Van De Graff), SWEET CHARITY (Nickie), THE LOOK OF LOVE, KISS ME KATE (Lois Lane), SEUSSICAL (Gertrude McFuzz—earning Drama Desk and Grammy Nominations), RAGTIME (Evelyn Nesbit) and SWING!. Her First National Tours include CHICAGO (Velma Kelly) and KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (Stand-by for Chita Rivera). She has appeared on TV and Film as Carmen Sandiego on the PBS series WHERE IN TIME IS CARMEN SANDIEGO?, TWO WEEKS NOTICE, and DEVIOUS MAIDS. Her Off-Broadway credits include WOMAN OF THE YEAR, LUCKY STIFF, ENTER LAUGHING, HIGH SPIRITS, and THEDA BARA AND THE FRONTIER RABBI. Regionally, she has performed in REGENCY GIRLS (The Old Globe), THE PROM (BW Nominee) NOISES OFF, SWEET POTATO QUEENS (BW Award Winner for Lead Actress in a Musical), I HATE HAMLET, EVITA, and AIDA (IRNE Nominee). Concert and recordings include CANDIDE with the New York Philharmonic, Carolina Philharmonic, Army Ground Forces Band, West Point Band, SWEET CHARITY, SEUSSICAL, ENTER LAUGHING, and KRIS KRINGLE The Musical.

Tony Javed

Tony Javed's been seen around the city in stage productions ranging from sketch comedy to Shakespearean tragedy. Most recently he was seen on the small screen in Tommy on CBS as a particularly hot-headed Iranian Community Leader.

David Edwards

David Edwards Broadway and National Tour credits include “The Rothschilds,” Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s “By Jeeves” (directed by Alan Ayckbourn), And “The Producers” (as both Max Bialystock and Roger De Bris). Off Broadway he was the final “El Gallo” in the original record breaking run of “The Fantasticks,” and starred in the critically acclaimed revival of “Room Service.” Other New York credits include “Ionescopade,” “The Disputation,” and “Dr. Sex.”

Over 150 regional credits in musicals ranging from Cole Porter to Sondheim and plays from Moliere to Tom Stoppard. Recent highlights include the world premieres of “My Lord, What A Night” (as Albert Einstein) and “The Starmaker” (as Henry Willson). Film and TV credits include “Belly,” “On a Scale,” and “Meshuggah-Nuns.” Among his recordings are “Other Lives,” “Bittersuite”, and a solo CD “David Edwards Giving Voice.”

Zuri Washington

Zuri Washington’s national tours include 1776 (Robert Livingston), BAT OUT OF HELL, MEMPHIS – THE MUSICAL (Felicia), and BRING IT ON (Danielle). As a voice-over artist, she stars in STAR TREK: KHAN (Madot) wherever you get your podcasts, and can be heard on Netflix as Aisha in the new reboot of WINX. Additional voice-over credits include POKÉMON: PALDEAN WINDS (Ryme), WARHAMMER 40K: ROGUE TRADER (Idira Tlass), and WONDER PETS: IN THE CITY!.

Pam Schmier Hacker

Pam Hacker’s past credits include Suessical the Musical, the original Oedipus! A New Musical Comedy. She previously worked at Sesame Street and HBO behind the scenes in PR and Social Impact roles. She currently leads Social Impact at Kyndryl. Hacker is a passionate Board member for Opening Act, an organization that provides free theatre arts education to under-resourced NYC schools.

Edwin Wald

Edwin Wald is a composer, author, producer, director, actor, singer, designer, and dialect/acting coach based in Chicago, Illinois. He has worked on myriad theatrical productions over the last forty years. A proud member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, Mr. Wald is best known as a professional actor, but he enjoys every aspect of creating the magic of Theatre. Musicals he has composed include: Eight to the Bar (with Bob R. Patterson), and Rick Cousteau’s Café Big D (for Pegasus Theatre, Dallas, Texas).

Jennifer Norkin Schwartz

Jennifer Norkin Schwartz has TV credits including UGLY BETTY (ABC), ZOEY 101(NICKELODEON), STRONG MEDICINE(LIFETIME), ENTOURAGE (HBO), and ER (NBC). Her Los Angeles theatre credits include INTERNET DATING: THE MUSICAL, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, SAUCY JACK AND THE SPACE VIXENS, and several cabaret performances.

Michael Lavine

Michael Lavine (Music Director) is a Musical Director, Vocal Coach (specializing in Musical Theatre), Orchestra Conductor and Record Producer. Lavine attended Columbia University in New York City, New York, graduating in 1983, where he received a B.A.

Cynthia Jay

Cynthia Jay, DMA, (Composer) is a diverse performing artist and educator with dance, theatre and music backgrounds spanning over 55 years in the U.S. and internationally. A highly respected educator, she has been a teacher or professor for such institutions as Westminster Choir College, University of Maryland, and University of Texas-El Paso. Along with stage directing and choreography, she has extensive experience as a choral conductor, vocal coach, and accompanist, while providing nearly four decades of private instruction in her performance and wellness arts studio in voice, piano, acting, movement for the stage, and fitness.

Bob Johnson
Bob Johnson (Book & Lyrics) has spent the majority of his career working in non-profit communications with areas of expertise that include theater, higher education, music, dance and religion. Some of his plays for young audiences (Attack of the Vampire Pigs, Snow White & the Magic Go-Go Boots, Mother Duck & the Golden Goose, The Little Mermaid and The Wicked Prince) are published by Drama Notebook. He also wrote the dialogue to an opera based on the O.J. Simpson trial with composer Anthony Newman. He was the associate producer of the Off-Broadway hit Cougar the Musical and his photographs have appeared in publications that include The New York Times , New York Post, Starmagazine and Equestrian Living. He is currently on the board of Out of the Box Theatre Company.

Edwin Wald

Edwin Wald (Composer) is a composer, author, producer, director, actor, singer, designer, and dialect/acting coach based in Chicago, Illinois. He has worked on myriad theatrical productions over the last forty years. A proud member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, Mr. Wald is best known as a professional actor, but he enjoys every aspect of creating the magic of Theatre. Musicals he has composed include: Eight to the Bar(with Bob R. Patterson), and Rick Cousteau’s Café Big D (for Pegasus Theatre, Dallas, Texas).

Anne Fliotsos
Anne Fliotsos, Ph.D. (Book & Lyrics & Director) is Professor of Theatre Emerita, Purdue University. Her books include American Women Stage Directors of the 20th Century, International Women Stage Directors, Interpreting the Play Script: Contemplation and Analysis, and Teaching Theatre Today. She enjoys directing and creating theatre and is a national member of the League of Professional Theatre Women. Her website chronicling 20th century Broadway theatre can be found here.