Gregory Fletcher: The Man Who Wears MANY Hats

Gregory Fletcher (gregoryfletcher.com) is a native of Dallas, Texas, a resident of New York City, a graduate of California State University at Northridge with a BA in Theater Arts, of Columbia University with a MFA in Directing, and of Boston University with a MA in Playwriting. Currently, Fletcher works freelance as an AEA stage manager, author, playwright, and director. Fletcher has also taught various theater courses at the university level (full time for 11 years). As an AEA stage manager, Fletcher has worked on 18 Off-Broadway productions, one national tour, six NYC workshops of new musicals, and six regional productions. For complete details, please see Stage Management Resume. As a playwright, Fletcher has been produced with 12 Off-Off Broadway productions; plus, regionally in Boston, Miami, Moscow (Idaho), and Provincetown. A complete list of plays and productions can be found under Playwriting Resume and descriptions and synopses at the National Play Exchange. As a director, Fletcher has directed nine Off-Off-Broadway productions; plus many staged readings of new plays and musicals. Regionally, Fletcher has directed five productions as well as fifteen university productions. As an assistant-to-the-director, Fletcher worked with Sir Peter Hall (2x) and Adrian Hall (2x). See Directing Resume for a complete list of credits. As a published author, Fletcher’s credits include four essays, two short stories, a craft book, several short plays, and a YA novel. For a complete list, see Publishing Resume. Awards include the Mark Twain Prize for Comic Playwriting and the National Ten-Minute Play Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, and a first runner up for the David Mark Cohen National Playwriting Award from the Association of Theatre in Higher Education. Fletcher was a playwriting grantee at the Sundance Theatre Lab, a nominee for Outstanding Original Short Script for the New York IT Awards, and a national finalist for the Heideman Award and the Reva Shiner Comedy Award.

”Breathe” Stephanie Rose Talks News12 Long Island, Mindfulness, And Life

Stephanie Rose (stephanierose.tv)(IG:@stephanierosetv) is the traffic correspondent for News12 Long Island! She is also a "yogi" and mindfulness teacher. We discuss her career path up to this point along with lessons she has learned along the way! Stephanie shares some incredibly great insight into her EARLY morning routine along with the ways in which she views life. I found there were some wonderful take-aways from this conversation. Enjoy! 

”Humanity” Douglas Lyons Talks Acting, Writing, And Teaching

Douglas Lyons (douglaslyons.net)(IG:@chocolatehipster) is an actor, writer, teacher, producer, creator, lover of life, and just a really great guy! We discuss his multiple projects that are in the works. Through this conversation you get a real sense of how much work Douglas is actually putting into his projects. The man is non-stop! I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did having it with him! Enjoy! 

”The Disruptor” JASON STYRES, CSA Talks Theatre And Life

Jason Styres (IG:@jasonstyrescsa)(jasonstyrescsa.com) is a casting director whose work is currently represented internationally. He has, in a relatively short time, come to work in every facet of the industry: theatre, film, television, commercials, live events, company consultation, and more.  He and his team place an emphasis on creating an environment for teams, producers, and performers to effectively and efficiently put together exemplary groups of collaborative artists in order for a project realize its fullest potential. All the while never sacrificing the humanity of the process.Most recently, he was appointed to the New York board for the Casting Society of America, in addition to being named one of the "industry players you need to know" by Backstage.  He cast such projects as the Tony Award Best Musical A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder (Broadway & 1st National Tour, and 2nd National Tour), the hit Off-Broadway comedy Puffs, Or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic & Magic, the current national tours of Bartlett Sher’s productions of Fiddler on the Roof and The King & I, Josh Prince’s breakthrough Dance Lab NY (FKA, Broadway Dance Lab), Magic Mike Live in both Las Vegas and London (alongside Channing Tatum & Alison Faulk), Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella (National Tour), Dames at Sea (Broadway), The Lion King (Broadway & National Tour), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (National Tour), Trip of Love (Off-Broadway), Nice Work If You Can Get It (Broadway), and for over 15 different productions for the prestigious New York City Center Encores! series. He has worked with such directors and choreographers as Darko Tresnjak, Camille A. Brown, Josh Prince, Warren Carlyle, Josh Bergasse, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marc Bruni, Casey Nicholaw, Kathleen Marshall, Josh Rhodes, John Doyle, Randy Skinner, and James Lapine — amongst many, many others. Other credits include Hartford Stage, New York Philharmonic, the York Theatre Company, Shakespeare Theatre Company (DC), San Francisco Symphony, Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS), TUTS Underground, Queensbury Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, and various other theatres.
He cast the three-time Emmy nominated production of Carousel (NY Philharmonic/PBS), the smash-hit television show So You Think You Can Dance, and the highly praised HBO documentary Six by Sondheim. Some recent favorite projects include Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The Prancing Elites Project, and How You Look At It — a brand new dance short by Wendy Seyb, currently gathering awards across the country in various film festivals.  He also worked with Nathan Mitchell and Alexander McQueen/Document Journal on their highly lauded immersive project for New York Fashion Week (S/S 2017).
His upcoming projects include The Apple Boys (HERE Arts Center), Midnight at the Never Get (York Theatre), a brand new developmental work with Camille A. Brown (in conjunction with the Jerome Robbins Foundation and the Baryshnikov Arts Center), a collaboration with the Astoria Performing Arts Center, the next incarnation of the award-winning show Pedro Pan (previously seen at NYMF and Fringe)... as well as some other exciting new projects yet to be announced.Outside of his normal work in casting, he is a proud supporter/friend of the Cancer Support Community, serving as their casting consultant for their galas and benefits, serves as guest faculty for Broadway Dance Center and the Quest Intensive, as well as several universities and colleges across the nation.

”Be You.” Ace Young: Living Life More Beautifully

Ace Young (TW:@IAMACEYOUNG)(IG:@aceyoung) is an artist and one of the kindest human beings I've ever met. His career has brought him all over the world and we end up having this conversation on the Jersey Shore following a production of Aida. Our chat takes you through his career and to the mindset he lives in that I feel all of us can learn from. I do hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did having the conversation.

”Be Bold. Be Brave. Embrace The Unknown.” Phil LaDuca And His Shoes

Phil Laduca (laducashoes.com)chats about his life path to the creation of his shoes. We have a fantastic conversation of his world coming full circle in terms of meeting other creatives in entertainment. Phil has a wonderful outlook on life that he very openly shares. I hope you enjoy this episode and keep on keepin' on!! 

”The KickStarter Guy” and ”The Go Getter” Justin Giddings and Nathan Reid

Justin Giddings (thekickstarterguy.com) and Nathan Reid (IG: @nreid276) are both forces to be reckoned with. We discuss their lives paths and what has brought them to their current endeavors. The three of us have some wonderful banter as we explore what is really holding one back from reaching their potential. Enjoy!

”You Can Do It” Stephanie Cowan talks Happiness, Social Media Strategy, and So Much More!!

Stephanie Cowan (IG:@stephaniecowan)(theblondewiththesmile.com) is a photographer and social media strategist. We discuss her life path to this self made career. Stephanie has some wonderful stories regarding creating your own future. There are some excellent take-aways regarding your own instagram account and ways to maintain a "presence" on social media. I hope you enjoy this conversation! 

”The Words You Speak Are The House You Live In” Rory McGregor on Directing

Rory McGregor (IG:@rorydmcgregor) is in the next generation of directors. He is currently working on Sea Wall / A Life as the associate director and much more. Rory has a wonderful outlook on life that is extremely beneficial to working in the entertainment industry. We cover the beginning of directing for him and what subsequently led to him working in NYC as a director. I hope you enjoy! 

Merri Sugarman on Humanity, Perspective, and Casting

Merri Sugarman is a casting director with Tara Rubin Casting and talk about it all. Merri shares her journey into casting, what brought her to the west coast and back! This conversation takes some wonderful twists and turns as we discuss what's important in life, what to have perspective on, and what Merri has learned as a result. Initially an actress ('Les Miserables', 'Aspects of Love', et al.), Merri found herself out West some years back where she quickly made a name for herself at Liberman/Hirschfeld, then Liberman/Patton Casting, working on such shows as "NewsRadio", "The Larry Sanders Show" and the Miramax feature film "Playing By Heart", starring Sean Connery and Angelina Jolie. In 2000, Merri moved to Dreamworks Studios as the Casting Executive in chargeof TV Pilots and Series- including "Spin City", and the critically acclaimed "The Job", starring Denis Leary. She was then offered a position as the Director of Casting for Dramas and Movies at ABC Television, overseeing the casting of "Alias", "NYPD Blue", "The Practice" and the 'made for television movies’ "Gilda Radner - It's Always Something" and "The Music Man", starring Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth, to name just a few.
Merri then returned to the East Coast to teach and coach actors – something she still does (and loves) as time permits, when Tara Rubin offered her a Casting Director position where she’s been happily ensconced ever since, working on, among many others - the Broadway productions, touring and international companies of SPAMALOT, JERSEY BOYS, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, LES MISERABLES, HOW TO SUCCEED…, SCHOOL OF ROCK, MISS SAIGON & A BRONX TALE and the upcoming AIN'T TOO PROUD for Broadway. Her Off-Broadway casting credits include Clueless the Musical for New York's Signature Theater and Joe Iconis' The Black Suits for Center Theater Group in L.A. She also casts for many theaters regionally – including Chicago Lyric Opera, The Old Globe and The LaJolla Playhouse. She is the very proud CD of the critically acclaimed web series SUBMISSIONS ONLY and also boasts many TV & film projects, workshops and readings – including the new musical TREVOR – based on the Oscar winning short film.
 
In other news, she has been a Big Sister to Jenny via the amazing Big Brothers/Big Sisters program for the last 18 years, is an alumni officer of the professional sorority Kappa Gamma Chi (BFA in Musical Theater - Emerson College), a member of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, has been a Tony Voter for the past four years and is a proud member of CSA (Casting Society of America).  
 
Enjoy!