Meet the Next to Normal Cast

From YMTC Producing Artistic Director Jennifer Boesing:

I have always thought of YMTC not just as a training ground for young artists but as a kind of home for working artists, actors, teachers, directors to come back to.

Something that I’ve been dreaming about for years is a professional production, in which local professional actors– some YMTC teaching artists, some YMTC alumni– would perform in a show and have our current students shadow them. The students would be in on the process of a professional show from the ground up, watching, learning, under-studying (in the true sense of that word) and would perform their own invited dress rehearsal on the set.

Thanks to an incredibly generous producer, many generous sponsors and our incredibly hard-working Board of Directors who backed me up on this vision all the way, Next to Normal—our first YMTC+ professional production—is our vision coming to fruition. A dream come true.

And I am doubly excited to get to work as an actor under the direction of an artist of the caliber of Susannah Martin, alongside this incredible cast, some of whom I’ve taught and mentored myself, and from whom I will now learn.

I’m so looking forward to this adventure!

From Guest Director Susannah Martin:

Jennifer and I have been trying to make a project like this happen for some time. She has directed every single YMTC show to date, and I am incredibly honored to be the first guest director.

There aren’t too many actor/singers I imagine being able to take on the part of the Wife, and I’m super excited to direct Jennifer. And, I know I am going to learn a lot from her, especially when it comes to performing the incredibly complex music in this show. She implicitly understands how to act a song; it will be exciting for her to both demonstrate that to the young performers, and perform.

I worked with a shadow cast twice before, when I directed at Town Hall Theater in Lafayette. I also brought the concept to the production of Assassins I did at Shotgun Players of Berkeley – it was young artists from YMTC as the shadow cast, and it was my first collaboration with Jennifer and YMTC. This is a wonderful opportunity for young performers to learn from a professional process by shadowing a professional actor and being an understudy. As YMTC is a training program for young artists, it made absolute sense for the first YMTC+ professional show to have a shadow cast.

From our Resident Music Director David Möschler:

One of the things I love most about working with YMTC is our commitment to embracing challenging shows with young artists. Next To Normal is one of those shows that challenges not just the audience but performers as well, and it’s thrilling to have the chance to perform this with our alumni alongside other professional Bay Area artists. And, it is with great excitement that we bring this powerful story to life with guest director Susannah Martin, one of my favorite collaborators over the years.

Meet the Next To Normal Cast

Danny Cozart (Husband)	Jennifer Boesing (Wife)	Kevin Singer (Son)	Celeste Kamiya (Daughter)
	Daniel Barrington Rubio (Doctors)	David Crane (Boyfriend)
Shadow Cast
Alex Kolm (Husband)	Lena Sibony (Wife)	Ben Tripp (Son)	Lucy Swinson (Daughter)
	Henry Braff (Doctors)	Christiano Delgado (Boyfriend)

Main Cast Biographies

Danny Cozart (Husband) is excited to be making his debut with YMTC and to be working with Susannah and Dave again after playing John Hinkley Jr. in Assassins at Shotgun Players. Danny recently took some time off the stage to direct Avenue Q & Urinetown at Berkeley Playhouse. Local credits include, Yan the Elder in Yeast Nation & Sam Byck in Assassins (Ray of Light) Norbert in Trailer Park (OMG) Cinderella’s Prince in Into The Woods, Franz Libkind in The Producers, Man 2 in Songs for a New World & The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz (Diablo Theatre Company) Jamie in The Last FIve Years (Masquers) John Wilkes Booth in Assassins (Solano College) Corny Collins in Hairspray & Bobby in Urinetown (Tri-Valley Rep) Sammy in The Wedding Singer & Barfee in Spelling Bee (Willows) Pseudolus in Forum (Ohlone Summerfest) Lockstock in Urinetown & Bottom in Midsummer (Los Positas College) Danny would like to thank his family Marisa, Sawyer and Emery for all their love and support.

Jennifer Boesing (Wife) began working professionally as a singer/actor in Minneapolis at the age of nine, where she performed and originated roles with At the Foot of the Mountain Theater Company, Mabou Mines Theater, Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater, The Red Eye Theater, Illusion Theater, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Minnesota Opera. Jennifer graduated from the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater in New York City, where she studied acting with Sanford Meisner and Richard Pinter. In 2002 she earned a Masters in Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she received the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Operatic Performance. Locally, she has performed opera, oratorio, and new music theater; her professional credits include work with San Francisco Opera Center, San Francisco Lyric Opera, Pocket Opera, Golden Gate Men’s Chorus, Gold Coast Chamber Players, Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, Berkeley Opera, Oakland East Bay Symphony, Oakland Opera Theater, Festival Opera, and North Bay Opera. Most recently, Boesing has returned to her roots in musical theater with the role of Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast with the Mountain Play. She teaches voice privately (since 1998) in addition to her on-going role as a founder and Producing Artistic Director of YMTC.

Kevin Singer (Son) is thrilled to be a part of YMTC+’s first professional production of Next to Normal after working with some of these amazing youngsters during Shotgun Players’ Assassins, in which he played the Balladeer. Known locally for sharp comedic performances, regional theatre-goers may have seen him recently at New Conservatory Theatre Center in It’s Only a Play. Kevin also appeared in the San Francisco premiere of Silence! The Musical with Ray of Light Theatre and was nominated for a TBA Award for his performance as Princeton in Berkeley Playhouse’s production of Avenue Q. In the eight years he has lived by the Bay, he’s worked with dozens of regional companies, including Magic Theatre, Shotgun Players, Berkeley Playhouse, SF Oasis, We Players, Bay Area Musicals, Faultline Theater, Douglas Morrisson Theatre, Cinnabar Theater, and Boxcar Theatre. When he’s not engaging in tomfoolery on stage, Kevin works as a communications consultant with local political campaigns and progressive non-profits.

Celeste Kamiya (Daughter) is an actress, singer, and theatre educator from San Francisco. She trained as a singer with the San Francisco Girls Chorus and is a proud YMTC alumnus, having performed in many wonderful shows with the company. Her favorite YMTC roles include Emma Goldman in Ragtime, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and Dot in Sunday in the Park with George. Celeste holds a BA in Theater from Eugene Lang College at The New School, and she spent her junior year studying acting at the British American Drama Academy in London, where she studied with Pippa Nixon, Annabel Leventon, and Fiona Shaw. Her favorite roles during her time in college include Woman 2 in Songs for a New World and Pinchwife in The Country Wife. She wouldn’t be where or who she is without her family, the loves of her life.

Daniel Barrington Rubio (Doctors) is thrilled to be joining YMTC for the first time. Recent Credits: Sleeping Beauty (FFAE), Noises Off (PCRT), The Biggest Gift (FFAE), Billy Elliot the Musical (CCMT). Other Credits: Love’s Labour’s Lost (Marin Shakes), Seussical the Musical (BAM), Beauty & the Beast (Mountain Play), Grease (CCMT), Billy Elliot the Musical (Berkeley Playhouse). Daniel received his training from Pacific Conservatory Theatre. He would like to thank his family and friends for their unending support and love. Up next: Beauty & the Beast at Sierra Repertory Theatre.

David Crane (Boyfriend), a proud YMTC Alum, is ecstatic to be returning to YMTC for their first ever professional production. A Berkeley native and UCLA’s Ray Bolger Musical Theater Program graduate, he was last on a YMTC stage as the demonic DJ in Dave Malloy’s Don’t Stop Me.  He recently originated the role of Aaron in Stephen Schwartz’s The Prince Of Egypt at Theatreworks Silicon Valley. Recent Credits: The Glass Menagerie (Tom) at Sacramento Theatre Company, West Side Story (Bernardo) and Hair (Berger) at The Mountain Play in Marin, and 110 in the Shade (Jimmy) at Actor’s Co-op Hollywood. You can also catch him online in numerous BuzzFeed sketches. www.davidtcrane.com

Shadow Cast Biographies

Alex Kolm (Shadow Cast-Husband) is a senior at Campolindo High School. Alex is thrilled to be a part of the shadow cast and eager to watch and learn from the pros. Recent roles with YMTC include Skye Masterson in Guys & Dolls and Greg in A Chorus Line. Alex will attend the University of Redlands after high school, where he will continue his pursuit of theatre.

Lena Sibony (Shadow Cast-Wife) is a sophomore at Diablo Valley College. She recently performed in the DVC production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Lena is a proud YMTC student, and has been with the company since the age of 12. Some of the favorite roles she played are Old Lady in Sunday in the Park with George, Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret and Sarah in Company. She is overjoyed to be working with this wonderful cast on this moving and powerful show.

Ben Tripp (Shadow Cast-Son) is so excited to be in his first production with YMTC! He is a sophomore at San Francisco University High School and has always loved music and theater. Some of the favorite roles he has performed are Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, and Jack in Into the Woods.

Lucy Swinson (Shadow Cast-Daughter) is in the 11th grade at Oakland School for The Arts. She is so excited for this amazing opportunity to be in her 6th YMTC show in their first shadow cast! She most recently appeared with YMTC as Maggie in A Chorus Line. She would like to thank the cast and directors for this amazing chance and wonderful experience. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Henry Braff (Shadow Cast-Doctors) is a senior at Bentley Upper School. He is overjoyed to be back for his second production at YMTC following his debut as Moritz Stiefel in Spring Awakening. Other favorite past roles include Austin in Sam Shepherd’s True West and The Man in Will Eno’s The Flu Season. Henry will attend Boston University’s College of Fine Arts in the fall of 2018. He thanks his friends, family, and anyone who supports live theatre, and truly hopes you’ll enjoy the show.

Christiano Delgado (Boyfriend) is an 11th grade student at Oakland Technical High School. He is galvanized to be appearing in his fifth YMTC show. Past shows include The Most Happy Fella, A Chorus Line (cut dancer) and Guys and Dolls (Nathan Detroit). He would love to thank his mom, Ryan, his family and his friends for all the support and solicitude, and prays that you enjoy the show.