Cast Set for COPPÉLIA AT THE ANIMATRONIC PIZZA ARCADE Industry Reading

Casting has been announced for a workshop reading of COPPÉLIA AT THE ANIMATRONIC PIZZA ARCADE, a new musical with Book & Lyrics by Kit Goldstein Grant and Music by Lucas Hal-Jones. A public performance will be presented as part of the The PG Exploration Festival at The Marjorie S Dean Little Theatre in New York City at 7:30pm on Saturday, May 2nd.

The cast features Chloe Calhoun, Ailey MacDavid, Aidan Olmo, Amanda Ribnick, Nino Ruggeri, Alex Seaman, and James Wei-Yuan Wong. The production is directed by Joey Murray, music directed by Jonathon Lynch, and stage managed by Nikita Chernin.

For information on The Playground Experiment: www.theplaygroundexperiment.com

Coppélia at the Animatronic Pizza Arcade is an adaptation of the 19th-century French ballet Coppélia, set in a 1985 Chuck E. Cheese-style animatronic pizza arcade, Charlie Cheddar's. Hilda and Franz are tweens who have been friends since childhood. It's Franz's 12th birthday today, and he's having a party at Charlie Cheddar's - and the only person who showed up is Hilda. When Franz falls in love with a suspiciously flawless ballet dancer and is threatened by an evil plot, Hilda must use her wits to save Franz and herself - while sorting out what it means to be the "perfect" girl.

Production Team Bios:

Joey Murray (DIRECTOR / CASTING) is a theatre, music video, and creative director whose work has been seen internationally and on major stages across the United States. New York directing credits include productions Off-Broadway and with the New York Musical Festival (NYMF), including Illuminati Lizards from Outer Space (Signature Theatre) and '68: A New American Musical (Theatre Row). Regional and touring highlights include the 50th Anniversary production of Hair, Cabaret, Godspell, Disney's Tarzan, Footloose, The Robber Bridegroom, The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Fordham University), Polkadots: The Musical (regional tour/Queens Theatre), The Broadway Dolls International Tour, Holidays at the Hard Rock! (featuring Linda Eder), and Associate Director for the Broadway-bound production of CAN-CAN at Paper Mill Playhouse. Murray has also developed new works at the New York Fringe Festival, HERE Arts Center, Theatre at St. Clements, New York Theatre Barn, Joe's Pub, and more. In leadership roles, he has served as Executive Creative Director at Element Music and as Artistic Director and Resident Casting Director at Jenny Wiley Theatre. He is a frequent guest speaker, lecturer, and coach in New York City and at universities throughout the nation. Graduate of Catholic University. www.joeymurraycreative.com

Jonathon Lynch (MUSIC DIRECTOR):

Jonathon was music director of Micro-Face: The Musical! (NPR) and his multi-award winning podcast, Bite-Sized Broadway; assistant music director of Finding Neverland (pre-Broadway workshop); music director of The Giant Hoax (Theater Row) & The City Club (Minetta Lane); and music director at AMDA and the 92NY. He's a fellow at the Lincoln Center Performing Arts Library for composing The Carousel of Inevitability and Certain Foreboding and his award-winning Baroque Cycle performed across the country. Jonathon's a member of the TNNY Writers Lab, and an alum of Northwestern University & the BMI workshop. Love to María and Elixabete.

Nikita Chernin (STAGE MANAGER):

Nikita Chernin is an award-winning New York-based stage manager, production manager, and producer working across new musicals, plays, and developmental processes. His work focuses on building efficient, collaborative rooms and translating complex creative ideas into clear, executable systems, from first read through production. He has served as Production Stage Manager on a range of projects spanning classical work and new writing, and is particularly drawn to pieces that are formally inventive, socially engaged, or still in development. In addition to stage management, Nikita regularly leads production management efforts, overseeing budgets, logistics, staffing, and cross-team coordination for fast-moving projects. Select credits include SLAM FRANK, Take Me to Dollywood, and Dirty Books, along with productions of The Wedding Singer, Little Shop of Horrors, Blood at the Root, The Cherry Orchard, Frankenstein, Dracula, and Keely and Du. He is a member of the Stage Managers' Association and is especially passionate about supporting new work and helping artists build ambitious projects from the ground up. Follow him on Instagram at @n6chernin

Kit Goldstein Grant (BOOK & LYRICS):

Kit Goldstein Grant is a New York City-based composer, lyricist and librettist. Her short musical TIME TRAVEL MAKES COMPLETE sense is published by MTI. She wrote the musical MICRO-FACE, for NPR podcast PLANET MONEY, and her musicals have been seen in South Africa (THE NOSE) and at various venues in NYC including Theater Row (THE GIANT HOAX). Five of her musicals for young audiences have toured schools with the Schenectady Theatre for Children, including IT'S RAINING TAMALES!, which is published by YouthPLAYS. Kit has studied at Juilliard, the BMI Musical Theatre Writing Workshop, and holds a M.M. in Composition from Brooklyn College. She is also a teaching artist, working with New York City Children's Theater, the Metropolitan Opera, and with her own company, Paper Kite Arts. Kit is a member of ASCAP, the Dramatist's Guild, Composers Collective, and Theatre Now New York's Musical Writers Lab - www.tnny.org. www.kitgoldstein.com

Lucas Hal-Jones (MUSIC):

Lucas Hal-Jones is a British musical theatre composer and lyricist from the UK, whose work has been received professionally on both sides of the Atlantic, including Off-Broadway, Off-West End, the Edinburgh Fringe and on the television series "Broadway Bound" (sponsored by AMDA), and has been performed by various stars of the West End and International Artists. Lucas' lyrics are featured on the upcoming album of a major celebrity singer (tba) described as the UK's best-selling classical artist. lucashaljones.wordpress.com

Cast Bios:

Aidan Olmo (FRANZ):

Aidan Olmo (Franz) Aidan is thrilled to be a part of Coppélia at the Animatronic Pizza Arcade! Aidan is a junior at the Manhattan School of Music. Other theater productions include Pippin (Pippin) Manhattan School of Music, Into The Woods (Rapunzel's Prince) Manhattan School Of Music, The Premiere of Good Luck In Space (Swing/ Lieutenant William White) Manhattan School Of Music, Legally Blonde (Warner Huntington III) Scenework Studios, Anastasia (Ensemble) Sceneworks Studio, Be More Chill (The Squip) Little Fall Of Rain Productions, The Prom (Kevin) Ghost Light Theater Company. Aidan is so excited to be working with such a talented cast and crew.

Amanda Ribnick (HILDA):

Amanda Ribnick is a NYC-based performer, songwriter and composer/lyricist who has a penchant for writing music for IPs that she 100% does not have the rights to work on (teehee!). Amanda was Playbill's Featured Songwriter of the Month and won the Knight New Work Award for her musical web-series, Underground. Favorite roles include Annabeth in The Lightning Thief, Eva in Bring It On, and Teresa in Circle Mirror Transformation. Amanda has cultivated an online presence with her original songs and is currently working on her first EP, MURPHY's LAW. Say hi! @amandaribnick on TikTok and Instagram.

Nino Ruggeri (CHARLIE CHEDDAR / DR. COPPÉLIUS)

Nino is an NYC based theatre performer who is thrilled to be joining the cast of Coppelia at the Animatronic Pizza Arcade. Other credits include Broadway Christmas Wonderland (Tokyo Theater Orb), Hot Flashbacks: The Musical (Golden Gays Nat'l Tour), Cinderella (Westport County Playhouse) and A Bronx Tale (Argyle Theater). Nino sends love to his friends and family and tons of thanks to Kit, Joey and Luke for bringing him on! @theninoruggeri/ninoruggeri.com

Alex Seaman (ANIMATRONIC / ENSEMBLE)

Alex Seaman is a current Junior at Marymount Manhattan College studying Musical Theatre. Originally, Alex is from the 'burbs of Philadelphia. Previously, he has been in Cabaret at SoL Summer Theatre, Fame! at Marymount Manhattan College, and the new musical what we do written by Justin S. Fischer. He would like to thank his wonderful family and mentors that have provided endless support and love.

Chloe Calhoun (ANIMATRONIC / ENSEMBLE)

Chloe is an NYC based performer and proud greasy pizza defender. Recently a Lead Featured Vocalist aboard Holland America Line. Other favorite theatre credits: Bull Durham (Theatre Raleigh), Footloose, A Chorus Line (North Coast Theater Fest), West Side Story, Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia! (NC Theatre). Upcoming: Mean Girls (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina). Graduate of Rider University.

James Wei-Yuan Wong (ANIMATRONIC / ENSEMBLE)

James Wei-Yuan Wong is a Taiwanese-American actor, born and raised in Florence, South Carolina, and currently residing in New York City. Credits include Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Pioneer), The Rocky Horror Show (Pioneer), and Into the Woods (U of U). Readings/Workshops: Luxury Problems, The Tale of the Gifted Prince, Sound of the Silk Road, Book of Wonder, and Where We Are. University of Utah BFA, SCGSAH. He is a big fan of cats, Nintendo, and Studio Ghibli. He would love to thank his friends, family, and manager, Julia, all of whom he would not be here without their support! @jamesweiyuan

Ailey MacDavid (COPPÉLIA / ENSEMBLE):

Ailey MacDavid is a freelance dancer and choreographer based in NYC. Off-Broadway: Nietzsche: The Musical (Off-Brand Opera). Theater: Starcadia (See Humans). Concert Dance: Cat Cogliandro, PeiJu Chien-Pott, Carolyn Dorfman. Education: The Ailey School/Fordham University B.F.A. program. In their free time, they like to play the drums, birdwatch, and read books they borrow from their friends!