Greg Schreiner is the pianist, narrator and producer of Hollywood Revisited. He has appeared on numerous television programs including AMC’s Hollywood Fashion Machine, A&E’s The Incurable Collector, Entertainment Tonight, Hard Copy and The Montel Williams Show. All have featured various movie costumes from his vast personal collection. Some of these costumes are on display at the new Hollywood Museum in Hollywood, California. Mr. Schreiner serves on the piano faculty at Cerritos College and Santa Monica College, has several recordings in release and was composer/performer for the educational television series Masters of the Silent Screen. Greg also is an active participant in the music community of Southern California as the accompanist for the Mansfield Chamber Singers of Beverly Hills. He is also the president of Marilyn Remembered, a club devoted to preserving the memory of Marilyn Monroe. Greg Schreiner is truly a renaissance man!
Joshua Finkel is not only a lead performer but is also the director and choreographer of Hollywood Revisited. He has directed everything from cabaret to industrial film and has been fortunate enough to perform and direct all over the world. His current directing projects include 2 projects in development: a new 1 man show starring Lukas Bailey of the Artemis Theatre near Atlanta called: Luke-ing Forward, Luke-ing Back: This is Me, as well as a new musical about the origin of Chanukah from a modern perspective called Benjamin and Judah. Additional directing credits include the L.A. Premiere of the musical The Spitfire Grill which received a best musical nomination from the Ovation Awards as well as the L.A. Times’ Critic’s Pick of the Week, Violet (Scenie Award Best Musical and Best Direction and LA Premiere), Songs for a New World (Bay Area Premiere, The Rrazz Room-San Francisco), Together at Last (54 Below NYC), The Wedding Night (Pick of the Hollywood Fringe), A Ring In Brooklyn (Scenie Award, Best Choreography, NoHo Arts Center, World Premiere), The Journey of Love (Guildford, England), In addition, Mr. Finkel coaches acting, singing, and public speaking in person and online from his Los Angeles based studio. His Creative Combustion Acting Studio accepts students of all ages and levels. Joshua has created several curricula in Theatre, Dance, Speech, Dialects and Musical Theatre over his career: He travels worldwide to share his many Master Classes to students, executives and various theatre companies. Joshua also headed up the Musical Theater Emphasis at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, and has created the intensive musical theater training program for adults and teens: the NMI Actor Masterclasses and the Performers’ Workshop in North Hollywood as well as the Audition Masterclass at the Los Angeles AMDA Campus. Joshua has his MFA in Classical Theater from the Professional Theatre Training Program located at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee/University of Delaware. As a result of his training, Joshua loves being a Lead Name Reader for Commencement Ceremonies all of the country with Voice Talent International. He also teaches Stage Speech, Dialects, and Shakespeare and loved playing many classical roles including Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet directed by Tony Award Winning Director, Bartlett Sher, and was The Painter in the revival of Amour directed by Tony Award Winning Director, Darko Tresjnak at the Goodspeed Opera House. Joshua starred on Broadway and in London in as “Molina” in the Original Cast of Kiss of the Spider Woman in the opposite Chita Rivera and Vanessa Williams plus he then took the show to India twice. Joshua performed the role “Thenardier” in Les Miserables in the original LA company, on tour and opposite Hugh Jackman as Valjean. He has appeared on the Tony Awards, as well the Kennedy Center Honors. Among Joshua’s film roles, his favorite was creating the physical life for Prince Eric in Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
For more info on Joshua, check out his website: Joshua’s website, as well as his Linktree: Joshua’s Linktree.
Jill Burke is a Los Angeles native and a former Miss Anaheim. Her first professional work began onstage for the Walt Disney Company, portraying such characters as Princess Jasmine, Ariel, and Pocahontas. While traveling the globe, she was the principal vocalist for Norwegian Cruise Lines, and notably opened their production of Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s MUSIC OF THE NIGHT. Her voice can be heard singing the well-known “Priceline Negotiator” jingle in their national commercials starring William Shatner. She was Executive Producer plus co-starred in the short film “Huckleberry Dreams,” starring MAD MEN‘s Robert Morse. Her theater credits include: IT’S ONLY LIFE with composer John Bucchino, INSIDE OUT which she won a StageSceneLA Scenie and Robby Award for her performance, LOVELACE A ROCK MUSICAL which won an L.A. Weekly award for Best Ensemble, THE THIRD FROM THE LEFT at the NYC and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD which she was nominated for a L.A. Ovation Award. Jill has had the privilege of singing with and for such stars as Tony Award winning Jason Robert Brown, Richard Carpenter, and her “uncle” Johnny Mathis.
Jill Burke is a Los Angeles native and a former Miss Anaheim. Her first professional work began onstage for the Walt Disney Company, portraying such characters as Princess Jasmine, Ariel, and Pocahontas. While traveling the globe, she was the principal vocalist for Norwegian Cruise Lines, and notably opened their production of Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s MUSIC OF THE NIGHT. Her voice can be heard singing the well-known “Priceline Negotiator” jingle in their national commercials starring William Shatner. She was Executive Producer plus co-starred in the short film “Huckleberry Dreams,” starring MAD MEN‘s Robert Morse. Her theater credits include: IT’S ONLY LIFE with composer John Bucchino, INSIDE OUT which she won a StageSceneLA Scenie and Robby Award for her performance, LOVELACE A ROCK MUSICAL which won an L.A. Weekly award for Best Ensemble, THE THIRD FROM THE LEFT at the NYC and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD which she was nominated for a L.A. Ovation Award, and JACQUES BREL: A LIFE IN SONG, which she won a Ticket Holder Award for Best Cabaret Performance. Jill has had the privilege of singing with and for such stars as Tony Award winning Jason Robert Brown, Richard Carpenter, and her “uncle” Johnny Mathis. She iperforms in a variety of projects: she is a member of MUSICAL THEATRE GUILD in Los Angeles, and frequently belts out our National Anthem for the Anaheim Angels. She also enjoys her role as Musical Director for the production company JAXX THEATRICALS in Hollywood. Jill has headlined in Las Vegas, Branson, and Canada in the long-running tribute show LEGENDS IN CONCERT, portraying rock icon Pat Benatar. Plus, she pays tribute to Pat in her own tribute band LIVE FROM EARTH – Pat Benatar and Beyond www.jillmarieburke.com
*David Engel Mr. Engel is a two-time recipient of the LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award for “Best Actor in a Musical” for his performance as Bobby in Crazy For You. He is best known for playing Smudge in Forever Plaid, the role he created in the original New York production and subsequent London, and Los Angeles productions (LA Drama Critics, Drama-Logue, Ovation Awards), and reprised the role in Plaid Tidings at the Pasadena Playhouse, On Broadway David appeared opposite Carol Burnett in Putting It Together, and played the Bass Wickersham in Seussical: The Musical. Also on Broadway David created the role of Hanna from Hamburg in the original production of La Cage Aux Folles and played an Aggie in both the stage and the film versions of The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. Other appearances onstage include starring roles in Never Gonna Dance, La Cage, Kiss Me Kate, Swing, Singin’ In The Rain, Children Of Eden, Dames At Sea, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, I Do! I Do! and Side By Side By Sondheim. A longtime member of LA’s Musical Theatre Guild, he has most proud of his work in Passion, Falsettos, My Favorite Year and last years triumphant The Wild Party. Recently Mr. Engel starred in a musical short film called Zombie Prom and shared an on screen romance with RuPaul.
Elisa Surmont is an award winning actress having performed in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and points between. She starred Off-Broadway in John Forster’s A Good Swift Kick. She created her roles for Both Barrels at The Goodspeed Opera House @ Chester and in the original Los Angeles company. West Coast appearances include leads in several productions at The Santa Monica Playhouse, The Whitefire Theater, and The Grove Theater, where she was thrilled to originate many characters in original plays. Other favorites include roles in A Streetcar Named Desire (Blanche), The Great Gatsby, The Robber Bridegroom, HMS Pinafore, The Maids, and both the stage and educational film version of Tartuffe (Elmire). She has appeared in numerous films, most recently in the short thriller The Tunnel, and the comedy feature Small Town Showdown. She has had the pleasure of singing backup for Liza Minnelli and Cybil Shepherd. Elisa can be seen and heard in many voice-overs and commercials, both regionally and nationally. Some of her favorite roles were in the brilliantly creative student films of Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA), where she was a theater faculty member for many years. She enjoys life with her son Russell and husband Christopher!
Karen Morrow an award winning actress who has starred on Broadway in such productions as A JOYFUL NOISE, I’M SOLOMON; MUSIC, MUSIC, THE SELLING OF THE PRESIDENT, THE GRASS HARP and the Tony Award winning MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD. Her Off-Broadway credits include her starring roles in SING MUSE, and THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE. A favorite actress of New York theater audiences, Miss Morrow appeared for five seasons with the New York City Center during it’s golden years of musical revivals, and most recently she stared in the National Tour of Jerome Kern’s SHOWBOAT. Television audiences remember her from her starring role on THE JIM NABORS HOUR and her starring roles in may television shows including FRIENDS, TABITHA, GOODNIGHT BEANTOWN, SABRINA, THE TONIGHT SHOW, THE TODAY SHOW, TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT, ALICE, LOVEBOAT, MURDER SHE WROTE, TRAPPER JOHN M.D. and countless others that are too numerous to mention. Of course her musical performing skills are continually called upon by television producers as she has apperared in SONG BY SONG, GREAT PERFORMANCES FOR PBS and SINGIN’. And of course she as appeared and performed on the THE TONY AWARDS. Karen Morrow has sung (and still does) with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as well as The Honolulu, Pacific, Minnesota, Milwaukee and Metropolitan Symphony Orchestras and can be heard on numerous albums, including the latest cast recording of WHITE CHRISTMAS, the stage musical. She has received an Emmy, Los Angeles Drama Critic’s Award, the coveted Theater World Award, an Ovation nomination and five Dramalouge Awards. Along with her theater, television, commercial, concert and cabaret appearances, Karen conducts a bi-monthly Master Class in performance and audition skills. She currently is on the faculty at AMDA-LA. Karen Morrow is a well sought after teacher/performer who travels the U.S. conducting Master Classes for other Universities and Arts Conferences.
Cate Caplin and Gary Franco Theatrical Dance Champions Cate Caplin is a thirty-four times regional and international champion in Theatre Arts Adagio and has appeared on television, in commercials, in feature films and in a variety of prestigious venues across the county and worldwide including the White House, the Kennedy Center, the Metropolitan Opera House, Ford’s Theatre, the Hollywood Bowl, the Paris Opera House, Rockefeller Center, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Orpheum Theatre, the Ritz Carlton, Caesar’s Palace, the Hollywood Palladium, the Los Angeles Theatre Center, House of Blues, Shanghai China’s Sports Arena, Tokyo’s Hakuhinkan Theatre and the Broadway stage. She is also a theatre director and choreographer and recently wrote and directed her first feature film, “Mating Dance” produced by Cineville/Kestone, scheduled for release later this fall.
Gary Franco has an extensive theatre and dance career which includes MTV videos, television shows, movies, commercials, European tours with Chippendales and performing as the “Head waiter” in the 1st and 2nd National Tours ofthe Broadway show CONTACT, the winner of four Tony Awards including best musical in 2000. Gary is a two time Showstopper National Champion and his classical technique and partnering abilities have led him to perform in some of the most prestigious theatres in Russia, Latvia, Europe, Japan, Taiwan and throughout the United States with companies such as the Boston Ballet, LA Classical Ballet, American Folk Ballet and Disney’s Symphonic Fantasy. He and dance partner Cate Caplin are World Champions and Multiple Gold Medalists in Theatre Arts Adagio and Theatrical Dance.
Damon Kirsche is one of the singer/models in Hollywood Revisited. Broadway appearances include numerous revivals with City Center’s Encores! series, including ON A CLEAR DAY…, STRIKE UP THE BAND, and SWEET ADELINE. On the California stage, he recently revived SHE LOVES ME (Kodaly) and ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY (Bruce Granit) with the LA Reprise! Series. At the Sacramento Music Circus: THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN (Prince DeLong), MY FAIR LADY (Freddy) and INTO THE WOODS (Rapunzel’s Prince). Other highlights: Performance Riverside’s ROCKY HORROR SHOW (Brad Majors), TRIUMPH OF LOVE (Agis) – ICT, FOREVER PLAID (Frankie) – Granada Theatre, CAMELOT (Lancelot) – Cabrillo. A member of the LA-based Musical Theatre Guild, Damon made his debut starring as Joseph Taylor, Jr. in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ALLEGRO and has since been featured in Jason Robert Brown’s PARADE as southern journalist Britt Craig and in Weill and Gershwin’s LADY IN THE DARK as matinee idol Randy Curtis. In concert, Damon has been a featured soloist at The Kennedy Center, Weill Hall, the 92nd St Y, Lincoln Center, the Berliner Dom and with the California Philharmonic. Last June he created the role Logos for Eric Whitacre’s groundbreaking opera electronica, PARADISE LOST (www.ParadiseLostTheOpera.com). He sings regularly with vintage swing orchestra Mora’s Modern Rhythmists at venues throughout Southern California including The Dorothy Candler Pavilion, The Orpheum, Catalina’s Casino Ballroom and aboard HMS Queen Mary and is featured on the orchestra’s CD, “Goblin Market”. Training: Juilliard. Website: www.damonkirsche.com.
