ABOUT US -Our Mission & Values (ABOUT US home page) unbounded MISSION : To promote mercy, beauty, and truth through performance and service. Unbounded Theater is a member-based company dedicated to compassionate action, authentic storytelling, collaboration, diversity, and play. We seek to create great theater in an environment where artists thrive, and serve the community through theater outreach and partnerships with relief organizations. "The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty and Truth" - Albert Einstein unbounded VALUES: Unbounded Theater aspires to: Mercy -foster compassionate action Beauty -produce quality work defined by authenticity, ingenuity, harmony of form, and excellence of artistry. Truth -champion beneficial storytelling that provides insight and wisdom and challenges falsehoods or misconceptions. Justice -illuminate the need for fairness, equality and advocacy. Inclusivity -remain free from political, religious or social agenda. Integrity -always make the right choice, regardless of pressure or consequence. Diversity -celebrate people of all races, genders, ages, religions, sexual orientations and capabilities, and represent all kinds in our company, onstage and off. Respect -commit to honesty in personal interactions, handle conflict responsibly, and value each other’s time, effort and contributions. Sanctuary -create an environment where all can be fully who they are and take risks fearlessly. Collaboration -work together as a team in which every voice is heard. Community -build gratifying relationships within our company, our neighborhood, our city, our world. Enrichment -provide opportunities for us and all those we encounter to grow and thrive. Joy -rejoice in the thrills of creation, imagination and inspiration; delight in the pleasure of giving of ourselves; and occasionally indulge in shenanigans and tomfoolery. -Our History Sometime in the '80s - Young April Nickell realizes that when she grows up, she wants to start a theater company that will save the world. Fall 2000 - April assistant directs a workshop in NYC where she meets the actor Anika Larsen and they begin to collaborate relentlessly. April eventually confides her dream to Anika, who digs it. November 2006 - April directs an evening of one-acts that benefits an international relief organization, and she meets Kristen Ball. After a brief discussion, they discover that Kristen should be the general manager of a theater company. January 2007 - April, Anika and Kristen go on a weekend retreat, and on a couch in Massachusetts they concoct the recipe for Unbounded Theater. March 2007 - Unbounded Theater has its first Monthly Membership Meeting, where they have become 15 strong. Unbounded's Founding Members are actors, directors, writers and designers. -Our Partners Unbounded Partners are theater artists who provide us with exceptional support, counsel or resources. Kerry Butler - Actor Mary-Mitchell Campbell - Composer, Musical Director Kirsten Childs - Composer, Writer Joe DiPietro - Playwright Renee Houser - Education Consultant for the Reading & Writing Program of Columbia University " Tina Landau - Director, Writer Seth Rudetsky - Theatrical Jack-of-All-Trades -Contact Us Unbounded Theater P.O. Box 36-20937, PACC New York, NY 10129 (347) 227-7195 info@unboundedtheater.org -------- PERFORMANCE (Sub-menu: Current Production, This Season) -Current Production (PERFORMANCE home page) Unbounded Theater is thrilled to announce The Unbounded Bounce! We are crazy happy to announce our very first mainstage production! The world premiere of a original musical about a man going sane. Serenade By Rachel Sheinkin and Nils Olaf Dolven Directed by April Nickell And featuring the Members of Unbounded Theater Lyricist and bookwriter Rachel Sheinkin , Tony Award winner for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, teams up with composer Nils Olaf Dolven to tell the captivating story of a young artist who comes to the city, and his adventures and struggles there. Performances will be from December 1-15 at Teatro La Tea. Join our mailing list if you don't want to miss it! -This Season "If you really want to help the American theater, don't be an actress, dahling. Be an audience." - Tallulah Bankhead Stay tuned for more info on our productions, our Plays in Context Series, and our Member Showcase Series. Or join our mailing list to make sure you're in the loop! (That bold should again be clickable, sending people to the page where they can give us their name and email address.) -------- SERVICE "Each of us must work for his own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful." - Marie Curie Unbounded Theater is in the process of developing performance-based outreach programming for the following: - NYC public schools and afterschool programs - Assisted living centers and hospitals - Prisons - International drama therapy programs Each of our productions will be partnered with community or relief organizations to find creative ways to raise awareness. We will also offer free or discounted tickets to people who don't generally have access to theater. Unbounded is thrilled to have developed our first service program! Our outreach for the elderly: Unbounded Radio Theater! Our members perform a radio play just as it aired over 50 years ago, complete with sound effects, commercial interruptions and a little music from times gone by... Audiences can listen with their eyes closed, watch with their eyes open--we even ask a few seniors to help! After every performance, we spend time with our audience, chatting with them, answering their questions, and listening to their stories, perhaps even stories from memories jogged by our radio play! -------- MEMBERSHIP -Our Members "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." - Mother Teresa APRIL NICKELL (Founder, Managing Artistic Director) first knew she was a director when she staged a performance of Let’s Hear It For The Boy in third grade. She directed some more in high school, including a mainstage production of Twelve Angry Jurors (there weren't enough boys for Twelve Angry Men). April entered Pepperdine University on an acting scholarship, but continued to direct. She went on to work regionally as an assistant director, then moved to New York to participate in the Lincoln Center Theatre Directors Lab. She has directed in New York City for the Neva Theater Company and Haven Productions, and has collaborated on Anika's solo show, Shafrika, The White Girl, since its conception. But beyond directing, April has worn a wide variety of hats in the theater. She has served as a script consultant on many plays and films. She has stage managed in regional theaters. She has toured the U.S. , Scotland and Israel as a technical director for the Reduced Shakespeare Company. She has associate produced Off-Broadway. She has taught theater in NYC public schools, and used drama therapy with public school children whose lives were affected by 9/11. She works as an acting coach. April has come to realize that this diverse theater background was actually a straight path toward becoming Managing Artistic Director of Unbounded Theater, a company that she has been dreaming of for years. ANIKA LARSEN (Co-Founder, Founding Member) made her performance debut singing carols with her brothers and sisters for the guests at her parents' annual Christmas parties (her mom thought they were the Von Trapps). Since then she has been in Rent and All Shook Up on Broadway. Off-Broadway she played an angry, teenage, mechanical-bull-rider in Zanna, Don't!, the true love found in How to Save the World and Find True Love in 90 Minutes, and a girl pirate named Juan in Miracle Brothers at the Vineyard Theatre. Anika continues to develop her solo show, Shafrika,The White Girl, about growing up with 9 brothers and sisters from different countries and races. She majored in theater at Yale, and is a proud member of Actor's Equity. MIKE FARFALLA (Founding Member, Sound Designer) is from Tempe , AZ , and he moved to NYC when he was 18. His Broadway credits include Curtains (Asst. Design), Spring Awakening (Production Sound), Grey Gardens (Production Sound), Pajama Game (Production Engineer), All Shook Up (Asst. Design), 12 Angry Men (Asst. Design). Mike's other New York credits include Indoor/Outdoor (SPF), But I'm A Cheerleader (NYMTF), Bonnie and Clyde (NYMTF). His international work includes Hello Broadway (Singapore/Taiwan). Mike is honored to be a part of such a wonderful company, and great group of people. He also would like to thank all of his family and friends for their support. JOSHUA HENRY (Founding Member, Actor) grew up in Miami , FL. He graduated with a bachelor of music degree in musical theater from the University of Miami . He was recently seen as Judas in Godspell at the Papermill Playhouse and is currently starring in the new Off-Broadway musical In the Heights. Past roles include Flick in Violet, Nick in Baby, and Harold Hill in The Music Man. Joshua thanks God and family for their support and is excited to face the challenges ahead. AMANDA HUNT (Founding Member, Actor) is originally from Atlanta , GA , where she graduated from Piedmont College with a BA in Theatre. She also studied at The British American Drama Academy in Oxford , England . In New York , she has studied extensively with The Barrow Group and has taken improv with Gotham City Improv. She is a singer-songwriter and was in a band called Somewherefound. She has done many plays, independent films, and commercials. Favorite roles include Luisa in The Fantastiks, Feste in Twelfth Night, Cookie in Neil Simon's Rumors and Brenda in Soul Searching, a new rock opera. Amanda is also a teaching artist. She is very grateful for the love and encouragement of her husband Lee, a true Godsend. KEVIN SMITH KIRKWOOD (Founding Member, Actor) is a native of Toledo , Ohio , where at a young age he was attracted to music and the arts. At 10, he began studying alto and tenor saxophone and singing in his choir. Throughout high school, he went on to perform in the theater program at St. John’s Jesuit High School and with such groups as the Toledo All City Choir, OMEA Honors Choir, All Ohio Youth Choir, and even professionally with a vocal group he formed called Trinity. At Fordham University , while receiving a B.A. in Fine Arts (Music Concentration and a Theater Arts Minor), Kevin co-formed and conducted the award winning Fordham Glee Club. Since graduating, Kevin has gone on to work professionally in the theater while still finding time to conduct the choir at Community United Methodist Church in Jackson Heights and for wonderful service focused arts projects like Unbounded Theater. His acting credits include: B-way: 25th Annual Putmam County Spelling Bee. Off-B-way: How to Save the World…90 Minutes, Dragapella! Starring the Kinsey Sicks. Off-Off: It’s Karate, Kid! The Musical (NY IT Award Nom. Outstanding Lead Actor), Sunfish (A New Musical), Izzy! A Dizzy Musical Fairy Tale. Tours : Jesus Christ Superstar (European), Godspell (2001 Nat. Tour), Grease (w/Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka). Fav. Regional: Songs for a New World (Actor’s Playhouse), Aida (Actor’s Playhouse), Grease (Carousel), Big River, The Wiz, Batboy, West Side Story, and Gypsy (all at the Weathervane, NH). I dedicate my work with Unbounded to the Jesuits who taught me the importance of service in our lives. Art is Power! TELLY LEUNG (Founding Member, Actor) was born and raised in Brooklyn , New York and holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University . Broadway credits include: 2002 revival of Flower Drum Song, 2005 Roundabout revival of Sondheim's Pacific Overtures, and Rent (Steve, Angel u/s). He originated the role of Boq in the Chicago production of Wicked. Other credits include: Godspell (Papermill Playhouse), Children of Eden (Fords Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon; Sacramento Music Circus), Miss Saigon (Thuy; PCLO), The King and I (Lun Tha; NCT, starring Lou Diamond Phillips), Sweeney Todd (Toby; Four Season Theatre). Recordings include Flower Drum Song (DRG records), Pacific Overtures (PS Classics), Wall to Wall Sondheim: Live From Symphony Space, and his own EP of original Pop/R&B music, Getaway, on Mopptopp Records. www.tellyonline.net NICOLE LEWIS (Founding Member, Actor) is from Jamaica --not the one in the Caribbean, the one in Queens . She is a graduate of Yale University and the MFA program at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco . As an actress and singer she has performed in the Broadway productions Lennon and Rent (as Joanne Jefferson), as well as the Off- and Off-Off-Broadway productions of The Me Nobody Knows, Sidd, Irrationals, Ponies, It’s Karate, Kid!, and Boy Gets Girl (MTC). Regionally, such shows as The Tempest, The Threepenny Opera, The Wiz, Once on This Island and Ain’t Misbehavin’ have been favorites. Having spent an incomparable semester at The University of Capetown School of Music and Ballet studying South African music, theatre and dance, she would love to go back, and even extend her travels elsewhere. Nicole is a commercial and voiceover artist, in addition to currently writing a play with music with Dr. Jeremy Fenn-Smith based on the life of jazz great Billy Strayhorn. KELLY MCCREARY (Founding Member, Actor) can currently be seen in Merrimack Repertory Theatre's production of Secret Order by Bob Clyman. She has performed regionally at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Kennedy Center, Arden Theatre Company, Sundance Theater Lab, and the Chautauqua Theatre Company, and in New York with Slant Theatre Company. Kelly is a graduate of Barnard College , and has trained at the British American Drama Academy in London and The Actor's Center in New York . Kelly hails from Milwaukee , WI , and recommends Roots Restaurant, if ever you're in the neighborhood. EILEEN RIVERA (Founding Member, Actor) hails from both New York City and San Francisco . She has been a professional actress for almost 15 years and is a budding writer. Partial acting credits: Off-Broadway: Sides: The Fear Is Real (Culture Project), Dogeaters (Public/NYSF), Shanghai Lil's, Cambodia Agonistes (Pan Asian Rep). Regional: The Long Season (Perseverance Theatre), Shanghai Lil's (Pan Asian Rep). Off-Off-Broadway: Go Robot Go (NY Int'l Fringe Festival), Karaoke Stories (Imua! Theatre Co.), Little Pitfall (Immigrants' Theatre Project), and several shows with the National Asian-American Theater Company as well as Ma-Yi Theater Company. TV: "Law & Order: Criminal Intent", "Law & Order", "All My Children." Eileen recently wrote her first novel, Parallel's Patriarch, as well as a short-film screenplay Blind Dates (working title). She is currently developing a performance-art piece called My Turn. Training: Boston University School of Theatre Arts. Member of Actors' Equity since 1997. www.eileenrivera.com ANDREA VARGA (Founding Member, Costume Designer) is originally from Utah . She recently designed Urinetown and The Importance of Being Earnest at SUNY New Paltz, where she is a faculty member. For several years she has also been a designer and assistant designer in New York City . Her work includes the Cimerosa opera L'Italiana in Londra (Manhattan School of Music), Phenomenon ( Here Arts Center with Nerve Ensemble), The Ghost of Firs Nikolaich (Chekhov Festival), Titus Andronicus (Gilgamesh Theatre Group), Three Days of Rain (Neva Theatre Co.), and two seasons of Director’s Projects for The Drama League. Regional work includes Fiddler on the Roof (Utah Festival Opera) and The Wizard of Oz ( San Jose , CA ). Current television work: "It Takes A Thief" (Discovery Channel). In addition she has spent over 6 years working as designer Zack Brown’s assistant at The American Ballet Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C., The Arena Stage, Pittsburgh Ballet, Houston Grand Opera and many other venues. -Becoming a Member Unbounded Theater is never more concerned with product than with people, believing that investment in people is the best way to ensure an excellent product. Unbounded Members are theater artists--actors, directors, writers, designers, stage managers, musicians--who have committed to participating in every Unbounded production and in Unbounded outreach programming. Members are chosen through auditions/interviews with the Managing Artistic Director, and approved through a vote by the active membership. Potential members are encouraged to become Friends first, in order to see if Unbounded is a good fit. Unbounded Friends work with Unbounded on productions and outreach in exchange for comp tickets, discounted classes and workshops, or with the goal of becoming a Member. Interested in becoming a Friend? Email us at friends@unboundedtheater.org for more info. -------- INVOLVEMENT "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead Service Participation Want to come and volunteer with us? Kick us an email at volunteer@unboundedtheater.org! Membership Want to become a Member? Click here. Want to become a Friend? Click here. Just want to join our mailing list? Click here! -------- SUPPORT "If beings knew, as I know, the results of sharing gifts, they would not enjoy their gifts without sharing them with others." - Buddha Feel moved to help us in our mission? Please donate now! A foundation called ASTEP (Artists Striving To End Poverty) has generously offered to umbrella us under their 501c3 tax exemption status while we are getting our own non-profit status. (Hey, check out their website! www.createsomethinggood.org) Please make checks payable to ASTEP, and be sure to write "For Unbounded Theater" in the memo space. Also be sure that we have your address so that we can send you a letter of receipt for your taxes. Then send to: Unbounded Theater P.O. Box 36-20937, PACC New York, NY 10129 Or, you can use a credit card online at http://www.thefield.org/t-sponsoranartist.aspx Under Artist's Name, please enter April Nickell, and under Artist's Group/Company Name, please enter Unbounded Theater. Your gift will be received with Unbounded Appreciation! And please feel free to join our mailing list! "The Field", and then change the content in the footnote to (in italics and the same little font size as now): The Field is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization serving the New York City performing arts community. Contributions made to The Field and earmarked for Unbounded Theater are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information about The Field contact: The Field, 161 6th Ave , NY , NY 10013 , (212)255-2053, www.thefield.org, email: info@thefield.org. A copy of The Field's latest annual report may be obtained, upon request, from The Field or from the Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, NY, NY 10271. Unbounded BUZZ -Instead of what's there, 2 pictures from benefit with text (or just text for now): Like a luxury cruise liner, we have launched! Like a southern debutante, we have come out! Like New Jersey Transit into Penn Station, we have arrived! On June 18th, we gave our very first performance: An Unbounded Benefit! Our members sang songs from Serenade, the new musical that will be our first mainstage production in December, and we told the world a little bit about ourselves... Also, we got our very first press! Check it out! http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=19000 http://www.playbill.com/news/article/108554.html