Local lab 2019 featuring

Just can’t wait for Local Lab 2019? Read up on all the amazing individuals you will be seeing below!

Orange Crush

Daniel Goldstein (playwright) is the recipient of the 2016 Kleban Prize for Most Promising Musical Theater Librettist. His work includes the musical Unknown Soldier (music and co-lyrics by the late Michael Friedman) which had its world premiere at the Williamstown Theater Festival. He also wrote the book to the musical Row (songs by Dawn Landes), which was commissioned by The Public Theater, has been developed by NAMT, The Orchard Project, Tofte Lake Center, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat and is currently being developed by Playwrights Horizons. Orange Crush was commissioned by the Roundabout Theater Company. He has directed plays and musicals on and off Broadway and around the world. He is a graduate of Northwestern University.  He is the husband of Melissa Lee, a public defense attorney and two children, Gracie and Ezra.

Discount Ghost Stories

Jessica Kahkoska is a writer, dramaturg, and performer. Projects include AGENT 355 (with Preston Max Allen, recipient of the 2017 Marion International Fellowship and 2019 American Antiquarian Society Fellowship), UNTITLED CRYPTO-JUDAISM PROJECT (Denver Center for the Performing Arts, “Powered By Off-Center” Residency), and TOO WILD TO DRILL (Notch Theatre Company). Her writing has been developed and presented by the Drama League, Village Theatre, Joe’s Pub at the Public Theatre, Ars Nova ANT FEST, North Fork Valley Creative Coalition, and she is the recipient of residencies at the American Music Theatre Project (AMTP), Barn Arts Collective, Chautauqua Institution, Taft-Nicholson Center for the Arts and Humanities, and UCROSS Foundation. Dramaturgical work includes new play development with the Cooper Union, Local Theater, Creede Rep, she is Co-Regional Vice President of the Rockies Region for Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of America (LMDA). Favorite acting includes National Sawdust, the Bushwick Starr, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center (Henry Award Nomination), Theatre Aspen, American Stage, Notre Dame Shakespeare, Lake Dillon Theatre, and the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival. Graduate of Northwestern University. 

Alexander Sage Oyen was on a reality TV show when he was 13, but let's not talk about that. He is the recipient of the 2014 ASCAP Foundation’s Lucille and Jack Yellen award for lyricists and the Lotos Foundation Prize in Arts and Sciences for his lyrics. His musicals include TYRANTS (book by SP Monahan, dir. John Simpkins), PROXY (book by Austin Regan and Rachel Franco), DIVA (Theatre for the New City, 2017, book and characters by SP Monahan, directed by Daniel Goldstein) OUTLAWS (Goodspeed Festival of New Musicals- book by James Presson, dir. Noah Himmelstein), TETHERED (book by Rachel Franco),  ARCHIE'S FINAL PROJECT (Book by James Presson and David Lee Miller), and MOMENT BY MOMENT (directed by Brandon Ivie, 54 Below. Production at Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand). He and collaborator James Presson were awarded the 2013-2014 Dramatist Guild Fellowship and their musical, OUTLAWS, was the recipient of the 2014 ASCAP Workshop. He was named one of Playbill’s “Contemporary Musical Theatre Writers You Should Know,” and he was selected for the 2014 Johnny Mercer Songwriter’s Project . Additionally, he was a 2017 Jonathan Larson Grant Finalist. His music has been heard at Lincoln Center, Goodspeed Opera House, Symphony Space, 54 Below, Joe’s Pub, Playwrights Horizons, The Signature Theatre, New World Stages, The Laurie Beechman Theatre and venues in Thailand, London, The Netherlands and all across the world. He is the primary songwriter and a co-lead vocalist of his theatrical rock band, Discount Ghost Stories!, who can be seen playing through every borough and the astral plains. His debut solo record, FEELINGS AND BLOOD is available for purchase on iTunes and Spotify. Proud member of ASCAP and The Dramatists Guild.

Flame Broiled. or the ugly play

Rodney Hicks is grateful for life and living. He is a Denver based Meditator, Playwright, Director, Arts Educator, Broadway, Television and Film actor. Before moving to Denver he and his husband, Chris Coleman, who have two dogs, lived in the Pacific Northwest for five years. Prior to meeting Chris he lived in New York for 18 years. He is originally from Philadelphia, PA. Went to the performing arts magnet school Shawmont where he learned theatre, singing, writing and many musical instruments. Graduated from Roxborough High school as part of their Business and Communications core program in 1992 and went to college at Mansfield University in North Central Pennsylvania where he studied Communications and Theatre. There he spent more time acting, writing and directing than actually attending class. He wrote and directed two screenplays and presented a remount of his high school play about social issues called, ‘It Could Happen to Anyone’. After two years he left college to pursue his love of being a creative Artist. Along with Flame Broiled. or the ugly play Rodney has written two other plays and a teleplay. The Singer and Ms. Pearl is a story of a family coming of age told through the eyes of a Black drag queen named Pearl. The play has original songs by Caren Tackett. It received its first reading at Portland Center Stage. Just Press Save (a 2017 semi-finalist for the Eugene O’Neil Conference and received an honorable mention for the 2016 Relentless Award) is a story of six teenagers coming of age in today’s America. The Breakfast Club for today. It had developmental readings at Portland Center Stage, Seattle Repertory Theatre and New York. One Big Happy is a teleplay that is about everything and nothing and centers around 7 longtime friends who are now in the second half of their lives trying to keep it together in this crazy world. A multi- cultural Seinfeld, All in the Family, The Jefferson’s, Maude and Good Times rolled into one but for today. As an actor Rodney was last seen in the Broadway and world hit Come From Away choreographed by Kelly Devine and directed by Tony Award winner Christopher Ashley. Rodney originated the role of Bob from its Seattle workshop to Broadway. He can be heard on the Original Cast Recording. The show is currently playing to packed houses on Broadway, the National Tour, London, Australia and Canada. I’m sure when you read this there will be more. So incredibly grateful for that journey with some of the most Extraordinary people I know. Rodney was also an Original cast member of the Landmark Pulitzer Prize and Tony winning musical RENT on Broadway and off. Choreographed by Marlies Yearby and Directed by Michael Greif. Originating the roles of Paul and others and subsequently assuming the role of Benjamin Coffin III as part of the Closing Broadway cast, where he can be seen on the RENT Live on Broadway dvd. He can also be heard on the Original Cast Recording of the Broadway Musical. Another Landmark and important show is The Scottsboro Boys Choreographed and Directed by Tony Award winner Susan Stroman. Rodney originated the role of Clarence Norris III and can be heard on the Original cast recording. This show is the root of all of my healing and learning about truth, togetherness and self-love. There are no words for the love I feel for every show and person that I have had the honor to be a part of on Broadway, Regionally and film and tv. Art is a healing baptism of love. I believe. Art is that thing in our creative world that is like oxygen to some. Art heals. My hope is that you see this play with an open heart and reflect on your life and others with an even deeper understanding of love and compassion. My belief is that it takes All of us to make this world. All of our different lives, beliefs, hopes and dreams. My hope is we can find a way to peace, love and togetherness through this thing called Art. So much love to you All. peace www.rodneyhicks.net