ABOUT US

CITF PRINCIPAL TEAM

 

Linda Purl, Festival Director,    Linda began her career in the theatre in Japan, where she was raised and became the only foreigner to have trained at the Toho Geino Academy. Her studies continued at LAMDA and later at both the Neighborhood Playhouse and Lee Strasberg Institute. Stage credits include Broadway’s Tony nominated The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; Getting and Spending; Off Broadway: The Baby Dance; Hallelujah, Hallelujah!. Regional work: the original production of the Pulitzer Prize winning play Dinner With Friends Humana Festival at Actors Theatre of Louisville; Getting and Spending, Old Globe Theatre; The Road To Mecca (with Miss Julie Harris), The Baby Dance, Long Wharf; John Brown's Body, Lobero Theatre; Nora (with Michael York), All the Way Home (with Miss Kim Hunter), The Three Penny Opera (with Miss Betty Buckley), The Baby Dance (also at the Pasadena Playhouse), Williamstown Theatre Festival; The Real Thing, Hedda Gabler, Mark Taper Forum Rep; Beyond Therapy, Romeo and Juliet, L.A. Public Theatre; A Doll's House, Allied International Productions; The Man Who Could See Through Time, South Coast Repertory; The Merchant of Venice, Globe Theatre; Grease, Sacramento Music Theatre; On a Clear Day , San Bernardino Civic Light Opera; Oliver, The King and I, Toho Imperial Theatre, Tokyo; Love Letters with both Stacey Keach and Desi Arnaz, Jr.; Tusitala Berkshire Theatre Festival; Little Foxes, Footfalls, The Diary of Anne Frank, A Streetcar Named Desire, Rubicon Theatre Company;  The Guys,  Berkeley Rep; Mariana Pineda, Santa Fe Opera; Seven Deadly Sins, Princess Grace Theatre, Monaco; Phaedra in the inaugural performance of the Getty Classical Arena; The Glass Menagerie, Cleveland Playhouse.

Linda has received six Dramalogue Best Actress Awards and two Dramalogue Awards as Best Producer. She has received two Santa Barbara Independent Awards and is a three time nominee of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Award for Best Actress. She is the recipient of the Connecticut Critics' Award for Outstanding Performance in a Play.

As a main stay of television, Linda has starred in over 40 television Movies of the Week, although is probably best known as Charlene Matlock from the series Matlock and as Ashley Pfister, Fonzie’s fiancée, from Happy Days. TV highlights have been Born Free, The Last Days of Pompeii (with Sir Laurence Olivier), The Manions of America (with Pierce Brosnan), Like Normal People the award winning docu-drama about a mentally challenged couple. Linda's feature film credits include Disney's Mighty Joe Young, The Walking Major (with Toshiro Mifune) and Leo and Loree (produced by Ron Howard).

Linda tours with her solo concert Come Rain or Come Shine nationally and internationally. Additionally she is currently touring in a centenary salute to Great American songwriter Johnny Mercer with Lee Lessack and Rhapsody for Two a dancing tribute to romance from the 40’s with Kevin Spirtas. Linda's recordings include Alone Together and Out of this World – Live with Special Guest Artist Desi Arnaz, Jr. She served as Founding Executive Director of the Colorado Festival of World Theatre and Festival Director of the 2008 Rubicon International Theatre Festival.


M. Edgar Rosenblum, Executive Director,  Arts Management Consultant; Site Visitor, National Endowment For The Arts; Auditor, New York State Council on the Arts. Former Executive Director, Theatre For A New Audience, New York. Executive Director of Long Wharf Theatre 1970-1996. With Arvin Brown, Mr. Rosenblum brought Long Wharf Theatre to a position of international prominence. He was involved in every aspect of theatre operations including day-to-day production, fiscal planning, development and marketing. Many Long Wharf productions extended their lives to other stages on Broadway, Off-Broadway and television. This expansion enabled the work of Long Wharf Theatre to reach a larger audience throughout the nation and abroad. Long Wharf Theatre, under Mr. Rosenblum's leadership, was the recipient of many awards, including: The Jujamcyn Theatres Award for development of creative talent in the theatre, 1986, Obie Award for Ensemble performance, 1983; Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre 1978; Tony awards for Long Wharf productions transferred to New York, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1987; Tony Award nominations, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1987, 1994; The Pulitzer Prize for Drama to productions of The Shadow Box and The Gin Game. Other recent positions include, Executive Producer: Stanley by Pam Gems (three Tony nominations, two Outer Critics Circle Awards), 1997; Producing Consultant, Berkshire Theatre Festival, and Consultant, Theatrevision Project, Old Globe Theatre..

In the summer of 1991, Mr. Rosenblum led a delegation to the People's Republic of China to forge an alliance between Long Wharf Theatre and The Shanghai People's Art Theatre. Mr. Rosenblum and Mr. Brown returned to China in 1993 to mount a production (in Chinese) of Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club. The production went on to tour China and won many accolades at the Hong Kong Festival of 1994. Other productions include the Tony Award-winning production of All My Sons by Arthur Miller, David Mamet's American Buffalo (London, New York, Washington DC and San Francisco), Simon Gray's Quartermain 's Terms, The Gin Game, Sizwe Bansi is Dead,  David Storey's The Changing Room, Peter Nichols' The National Health, David Rabe's Streamers and Eugene O'Neill's Hughie (Al Pacino).

Mr. Rosenblum served on the Board of Trustees of the American Arts Alliance, two as Chairman of the Board, Board of Directors of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, founding President , National Corporate Theatre Fund, former President  LORT (League of Resident Theatres) and  the Executive and Negotiating Committees. Mr. Rosenblum has worked as a consultant to the Abbey Theatre (The National Theatre of Ireland) the Arts Councils of Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island and Alaska. He has been a consultant for FEDAPT (the Foundation for Extension and Development of American Professional Theatre) and other arts institutions throughout the United States. He has taught graduate classes in Theatre Administration at the Yale School of Drama. In 1994 he was honored with an "Arts Award" from the New Haven Arts Council. Mr. Rosenblum is the former Producer and Executive Director of the Woodstock Playhouse, Woodstock, NY and the Hudson Valley Repertory Theatre. He has worked in management positions both on and Off-Broadway, as well as for National and International tours.


Joe Peracchio - Festival Producer, Joe is the Founding Artistic Director of Tricklock Company, the internationally acclaimed theatre company in residence at the University of New Mexico, and the founder of the state’s premier annual performing arts event The Revolutions International Theatre Festival in Albuquerque & Santa Fe, now in its 10th season. He founded the The Manoa Project: Statewide Teen Playwriting & Ensemble Apprenticeship Program (6th season), and the Reptilian Lounge Cabaret  (13th season), is the co-creator and producer of the Free Speech Comedy Art Series annually (5th season) in collaboration with Paul Provenza (The Aristocrats), and served as festival producer for 2008’s Rubicon International Theatre Festival, in Ventura.  Stage: His professional directing credits include over a decade of productions including contemporary and classical published plays, world premiere original plays, and his own original writing, and has been seen on stages in New York, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Edinburgh and other cities and universities throughout the U.S., Europe, and Canada.    Recently Joe created, directed, & performed in Café Burlesque-O!  for the Rubicon Theatre Company, played James McNeil Whistler at Playwrights Horizons in NYC opposite Kathleen Chalfant in Whistler’s Mummy, directed by David Schweizer, and has appeared regionally at Seattle Repertory Theatre (The Beard), Baltimore Theatre Project (The Seagull), and Rubicon Theatre Company (You Can’t Take It With You).  He has served as Assistant Director to Moises Kaufman (Carmen), and has worked with numerous other playwrights directing, performing, & producing their work including Neil LaBute (Coax), Mac Wellman (Dracula), Michael McClure (The Beard), & Elana Greenfield (9 Come).  Joe directed and starred in the hit rock-opera Taking the Jesus Pill in Hollywood, directed and produced the hit musical Bukowsical! (Outstanding Musical Award 2007, New York Fringe Festival), and his play The Glorious & Bloodthirsty Billy the Kid has completed three international tours to Edinburgh, Krakow, Prague, Belgrade, Cologne, Calgary, L.A. & Chicago under his direction.  Television & Film: Joe was a series regular in the CW Network’s EASY MONEY (starring Laurie Metcalf) in 2008, including having been a writer and lead actor in the PBS/CBS comedy show Fences, nominated for Emmy Awards for each of its two seasons. Other recent film & TV credits include The New Prince Valliant pilot (Hearst Entertainment), the lead in SMACK (Method Fest nominee: Best Feature), the lead in A Couple of Days & Nights (2007 release), ABC’s Wildfire, and  Into The West directed by Steven Spielberg. Joe was honored by the New Mexico Business Weekly as one of the State’s Top Forty Under 40 Arts Professionals and has been appointed by Mayor Martin Chavez to the Albuquerque Film Advisory Board and the Mayor’s transition team to advise the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Cultural Affairs.


Sharyn Abel, Associate Producer, is a native of Westchester County, New York and attended Western Connecticut State University from 1998 to 2002. In 2002, Sharyn served as Associate Office Manager for Dr. Leonard Mayer. From 2003-2006, she worked as a paralegal in White Plains, New York, for the firm of Bartels and Feureisen, LLP. Sharyn served as Associate Producer for Rubicon International Theatre Festival from 2006-2008.


Sarah Boone, Consulting Producer  joins CITF from Florida where she is currently the Executive Director of Theatre Jacksonville, one of the oldest continuously producing theatres in the country.  Sarah has had a diverse career in television, radio and theatre as a performer, director, producer and manager.  She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and landed her first job as a TV news announcer and commercial producer in northeast Florida before joining ABC Radio National News in New York as an editorial assistant.  She continued her theatrical training in NY studying acting with HB Studio founder Herbert Berghof and musical theatre with Tony award-winning actress Donna McKechnie.  A Rotary Foundation graduate scholarship took her to Scotland’s Glasgow University where she studied contemporary French theatre.  A variety of roles on several Florida stages followed including Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes, Rose in A Shayna Maidel, and Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker.  Sarah was honored to win a theatre teaching fellowship at American University in Washington, DC where she served as an acting instructor in the undergraduate drama program and earned a Master of Arts in Arts Management and Communications with an emphasis in film production.  This degree led to positions as Special Projects Manager at LA’s Geffen Playhouse and Senior House Manager at New York's Westside Theatre.  Sarah has overseen the production of more than 60 plays, musicals and concerts during the past 15 years.  In addition to her producing credits, she has also continued to create and perform in a series of cabaret shows which have included appearances in Florida and in New York at The Duplex, Don’t Tell Mama and The Triad.


Kathleen Parsons, Production Manager,


Davidson & Choy Publicity, (Press Representatives) headed by Judi Davidson and Tim Choy, is one of this region’s leading firms specializing in publicity for the performing arts, entertainment, culture, restaurants and special events. The firm has experience with a wide range of clients -- including on-going organizations, Los Angeles and national touring theatre productions (both long runs and limited engagements in all sized venues) dance, opera, music, authors, and major arts festivals. Since 1992, Davidson & Choy publicity has represented Cirque du Soleil in Los Angeles, including Saltimbanco, Alegria, Quidam, and recently Corteo in Los Angeles and Orange County, and Mystere and Nouvelle Experience in Las Vegas. Current and recent clients include Dance at the Music Center, Opera Pacific, RICHMARK Entertainment at the Wadsworth and Brentwood Theatres, Disney Parks, Walking With Dinosaurs – The Live Experience currently on a national arena tour, Reprise! Broadway’s Best, American Ballet Theatre and Alvin Ailey American Dance. Also the Los Angeles engagements of The Lion King, Hairspray, Mamma Mia!, The Producers and the current Wicked at the Pantages Theatre. Davidson & Choy represented the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival, The Los Angeles Festival, UK/LA Festival and The World Festival of Sacred Music. Authors include Judith Krantz, John Lahr, Lawrence Bergreen and Richard Matheson.


Josh Jacobson, Development Consultant,  Josh is proud to be consulting with CITF, building on his successful career in New York's performing arts sector where he accrued extensive experience in non-profit institutional advancement. In 2008, Josh ended his fourth season as a senior director with Manhattan Theatre Club; a Broadway-producing non-profit theatre company dedicated to the production of contemporary work. As MTC’s Director of Institutional Giving, Josh supported the development of new work, the company’s acclaimed Education Program, and world premiere productions like John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt and David Lindsey-Abaire’s Rabbit Hole – both Pulitzer Prize-winning plays. Josh honed his fundraising skills as Senior Officer for Research at The Juilliard School, working on the $150 million Campaign for Juilliard which sought capital support for scholarships and building renovations. Past positions also include serving as Grants Manager at the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville in North Florida and a stint in the Florida state-level political arena as a campaign consultant and intergovernmental relations associate.


John Lockhart, Development Consultant - John G. Lockhart became President and CEO of People Media when it merged with Halsted Communications, Inc. Prior to working with Halsted Communications, Inc. John was senior vice president and manager of Porter/Novelli’s health care practice in the Western region.  Porter/Novelli is part of Omnicom, a NYSE-traded holding company which owns a number of leading advertising, marketing and public relations firms.  John’s years of experience include work with a number of companies in a variety of industries, including the US Department of the Interior, Gerber Products, Baxter Healthcare, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hoffman-La Roche Pharmaceuticals, Catholic Healthcare West, Kaiser Permanente, AltaMed, Amgen, Avigen, Nestle, Ventura Foods, BHP Billiton, Mentor Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, the City of Los Angeles, and the cities of Calabasas and South Pasadena on housing and development issues.  In the education area John and the People Media team are managing marketing and communications programs for the USC Marshall School of Business, California Lutheran University and St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo.  John is an expert in issues and crisis management, having worked with a medical device manufacturer during an FDA recall, the Seventh-day Adventist Church during the Branch Davidian crisis in Waco, a major Japanese consumer electronics company and a large HMO on employment issues.  John has also worked with several consumer product companies on product tampering issues. In addition to his work at People Media, John serves as a board member for the American Cancer Society, Metro Los Angeles Unit, The Salvation Army’s Metropolitan Los Angeles Advisory Board, the Ventura County Taxpayers Association, and as a Partners Council member for Taking the Reigns, an after school program for at risk girls that teaches them how to ride and care for horses.  John has a B.A. degree in journalism from Marquette University and a certificate in advanced management from the University of Southern California.


Amber Landis, Volunteer Coordinator, a native of Ventura, earned her bachelor's degree in Dramatic Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She worked for the Museum of Ventura County for five years before joining Rubicon Theatre Company’s staff in 2004. She spent a season with Rubicon working backstage and then moved into the development/volunteer coordinator position. She left Rubicon in 2008 to pursue her Master’s in Theatre Arts at California State University, Northridge. Amber’s other passion besides theatre is travel and she is happy to be a part of the California International Theatre Festival.


Lois Fischman, Group Sales Manager, is a native of Chicago and self-described theatre addict. She served as Business Manager for Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura, California, and has an extensive background in bookkeeping, personnel and marketing. A mother of two and grandmother of six, she started at Rubicon as a volunteer in the box office before joining the staff in 2002.


2009 INTERN TEAM

Natalie Silacci    Natalie is thrilled to be involved with the California International Theatre Festival. She is currently a communications major at Saint Mary’s College of California and graduated from La Reina High School in 2008. This summer, in addition to being a CITF intern, she is interning with People Media Group to learn the ropes of the PR world.  In the past, Natalie has interned for Assembly Member Pedro Nava, Served for two terms on the Thousand Oaks Youth Commission, and been has helped to put on such events as “Rock the Oaks” for local talent and the annual Thousand Oaks Therapeutic Dance for people with disabilities. From 2003 to 2008 she studied acting and improv with Ellen Marano at the Stage Door Theatre in Agoura Hills and has performed in many theatre productions such as Brigadoon, Anastasia, and A Christmas Carol. She is excited about her recent election into Saint Mary’s student senate and will begin her term this fall. Natalie is beyond grateful to be in the CITF environment because it combines her two loves: the arts and beautiful cultures.


Ella Martin earned a B.A. in Theatre and Performance Studies from UC Berkeley, where she studied acting, directing, and theatre history and was named a Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholar.  She attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Shakespeare and Contemporary Theatre Drama Summer School and in 2008 she apprenticed at the Rubicon International Theatre Festival.  At last year’s RITF she studied with a tremendous, outstanding faculty, worked with inspiring theater artists from around the world, and performed in Cafe BurlesquO! where she also adapted and directed two one acts based on Chekhov’s plays - The Seagull in 5 Minutes and Naughty Uncle Vanya, as well as helped devise an interlude parodying the work of Anita Berber.   In May, she interned with Directors Lab West.  This summer she can be seen performing as Lucius the boy-slave in Julius Caesar at The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum.  She is proud to be the Marketing and Development Assistant for the brand-new, beautiful Westside venue, The Broad Stage.  In her spare time, she enjoys medieval history, foreign languages, opera and literature.


Jeff Meyer, born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, is currently a Theatre and Psychology double-major at Northwestern University. He was recently selected for the Musical Theatre certificate program at NU. Jeff began singing as a boy soprano at the age of 11 and now continues as a member and producer of Northwestern's all-male a cappella group, Asterik. As a Northwestern freshman, he was cast in the prestigious Dolphin Show’s 2009 production of the 'Wizard of Oz', also garnering roles in the student theatre productions of 'Bent' and 'Mother Courage'. This Fall, he will produce through NU's student theatre group Sit & Spin the musical 'The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee'. Before interning for CITF, he apprenticed with Rubicon International Theatre Festival in 2008--a precursor to CITF--and is incredibly grateful for the friends and life perspective he has acquired (and is still acquiring) from the experiences.


Lucero Garcia is very excited to be interning for the CIT Festival and reuniting with many of her friends from RITF!  Lucero is a graduate of California State University where she earned her BA in Theatre Arts.  There she appeared in varies shows such as Even Steven Goes to War and participated in a Masterclass with master teacher Tim Miller.  Tim Miller lead her and others students to create a show of one man acts named Proof of life.  She also spent a year in the University of Hull (United Kingdom) where she appeared as Dita (The Murder Mystery) and Claire (Rumours). She is currently making her way through the harsh streets of the acting world and interning for both CITF and Domain Public Relations Firm.


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California International Theatre Festival. All rights reserved.