CRAIG BENNETT (Judge Richter/Harlan) has appeared on Broadway in South Pacific (Hassinger), A Tale of Two Cities (Jerry Cruncher), Miss Saigon (Schultz), and in national tours of The Light in the Piazza (Signor Naccarelli), Mamma Mia! (Bill Austin), Ragtime (Willie Conklin), and Les Miserables (Combeferre, Thenardier). Regional credits include the Goodman Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and North Shore Music Theatre.  Much love to Sala and Mako.

DAVID BENOIT (Tony/Dr. Charlie/Blaine Gibbons) is excited to again be part of Brennan and Leydorf's Citizen Ruth, after helping them workshop the show in Las Vegas. BROADWAY: Avenue Q (Nicky/Trekkie), Les Miserables, Dance of the Vampires. TOURS: Les Miz (Thenardier), Avenue Q, All Shook Up (Earl) The Captain's Daughter (Hermitage, St. Petersburg Russia). OFF-BROADWAY: Forbidden Broadway, The Big Bang, Forever Plaid (Sparky) Forbidden Hollywood (Chicago company). David will be appearing as Mr. Zero in Adding Machine this fall at the Studio Theater in D.C. Enjoy the Show! 

ZACK COLLONA (Matthew Stoney/Eric) played Matthew and Eric in the Woolly Mammoth workshop. Credits include the first national tour of The Brand New Kid (Kennedy Center), and work with Arena Stage, Ford’s, and Studio Theatre in DC. His New York experience is limited to helping Joel Schumacher use his phone correctly and mentioning to Lady Gaga that the duct tape covering her nipple had fallen off. Thus he would like to thank Mark, Michael, and Howard for giving him his first real NYC credit!

JANET DICKINSON (Hardware Saleswoman/Diane Siegler) B’way: How the Grinch stole Christmas. Nat’l Tour: How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Off-B’way: Happiness (LCT, Dir. Susan Stroman); Forbidden Broadway Rude Awakening (cast recording and 2008 Drama Desk Award). Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know, Bush Is Bad. Regional: City Theatre, Pittsburgh, The Huntington, Marcus Center, Struther’s Library Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Human Race, Cape Fear Regional, The Mountain Playhouse. Janet is originally from Bemidji, Minnesota.

SHERRI L. EDELEN (Little Girl/Gail Stoney) first played Gail in the Woolly Mammoth workshop last year. National Tours: Big, Nunsense. Regional: Sunday in the Park with George, Merrily We Roll Along (Kennedy Center); Elegies: A Song Cycle (Philadelphia Theatre Company); Caroline or Change, Our Town (Arden Theatre); Side Show (Helen Hayes Award), Les Miserables (Helen Hayes Award), Urinetown (Signature Theatre); Design for Living (Shakespeare Theatre Company); Cabaret (Arena Stage); The Music Man, Annie Get Your Gun (Stages St. Louis).

TARA GIORDANO (Cheryl Stoney/Sonia/Cindy Lindstrom/Nurse Opal) is happy to be collaborating with Leydorf and Brennan again after working on early stages of Citizen Ruth (Woolly Mammoth) and The Fisher King (NYTW). Giordano, who played Shelley in the DC premiere of Batboy: The Musical, has also performed with NYMF, Arena Stage, McCarter Theatre, Kennedy Center, and more. Upcoming: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, dir. by Aaron Posner (California Shakespeare/Two River Theater co-production). She is a graduate of Middlebury College.

ANNIE GOLDEN (Kathleen/Briana/Farmer/Jesse Dove) can be seen on the silver screen come Valentine's Day, 2010, opposite Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor in I Love You, Phillip Morris—keep those screenplays coming!—and back on Broadway by fall 2010 in the musical adaptation of A Christmas Story. Annie is glad to be representing chick rock icons in Citizen Ruth. Typecasting?!

MARYA GRANDY (Cynta/Nurse Pat/Rachel) B’way: Les Misérables (2006 Revival, Original Cast). Off-B’way: Damn Yankees (Encores!), The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Drama Desk Nom.), The Water Coolers (coauthor). Regional: Gypsy, Beehive, Smokey Joe’s Café, The Honky Tonk Angels, Working. Television and Film: “Rescue Me,” “Conviction,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: SVU,” Denis Leary’s Merry F***ing Christmas, Love Streams. Recordings: The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Original Cast Recording), Superwoman (Five Floor Monica). BA from Yale University. For Tim.

JOEL HURT JONES (Little Boy/Norm Stoney) Joel Jones has appeared on stages in fifteen states, in numerous television shows (“Law & Order,” “Scrubs,” “Judging Amy,” etc.), in several films (Rat Race, Showtime, Our American Husband, etc.), on radio (commercials), and in video games. He has written professionally for television (Rocky & Bullwinkle’s Christmoose Special) and with comedy partner Jason Kravits won an award at the Aspen Comedy Festival. Thanks Maria!

GREG KATA (Guy/Officer Bundy/Stoner/Kirk/Peter) did the Vegas workshop of Citizen Ruth. He does not have a website and has never appeared on any incarnation of Law & Order. He has just completed a long run in Mamma Mia! and can be seen as a recurring character on the Sci-Fi Channel improv series “Scare Tactics.” An NYU grad, Greg is an accomplished director/choreographer and has just completed writing his first play, Viewer Discretion Advised. Thanks Michael, Mark, Kimmy, Mom, Dad, Penny, and friends.

GARRETT LONG (Ruth Stoops) has been with Citizen Ruth for the NYTW, Vegas, and Woolly Mammoth workshops. She is currently in South Pacific at LCT (Sue Yeager, Nellie US). Long originated the role of Percy in The Spitfire Grill (Playwrights Horizons) which won her Drama Desk and Drama League nominations. Other favorites include Gertrude McFuzz in Suessical (First National Tour), Grizabella in Cats (Music Theatre of Wichita),Mary in Of Thee I Sing (Papermill Playhouse), Amalia in She Loves Me (The Guthrie) and Nellie in Floyd Collins (Signature Theatre). She is a very proud citizen of Ruth! Very. www.garrettlong.com

DENNIS STOWE (Officer Iverson/Larry Jarvik/Cameraman/TV Salesman) was in Citizen Ruth’s first workshop at NYTW. He s currently playing Papa Bear/thelonius in Shrek: The Musical. Other B’way: The Apple Tree, The Wedding Singer, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Wonderful Town, and Man of LaMancha. Other NY: Jerry Springer the Opera (Carnegie Hall), Stairway to Paradise (Encores), and numerous benefits, including Dreamgirls and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas for the Actors Fund. Selected regional and tours: Here Lies Jenny with Bebe Neuwirth (Post St. Theatre), West Side Story (Bernardo), Copacabana, and Five Guys Named Moe. Film: Across the Universe, Preachin’ to the Choir. God bless and Enjoy!!!

CHRISTOPHER ALLEN (Producer) is a co-producer of the current Broadway production of Burn the Floor. He is also developing first Broadway revivals of Paint Your Wagon and Same Time Next Year, and, with Franco Dragone, One Love, a new show based on Harold Arlen’s music library. In Las Vegas, Allen produced Beehive, Tap Dogs, and Opus, featuring Michael Bublé. Allen has produced many television documentaries, including Justin Timberlake’s Behind the Tour and Making Sexy Back, Behind the Pain for 3 Days Grace, Released, featuring Pink, and Live at the Palms with John Legend, for iTunes. He’s also done videos for Black Eyed Peas, the Doobie Brothers and Mark McGrath, and produces many recognizable national and international television commercials.

CHRISTOPHER AKERLIND (Lighting Designer) B’way: Top Girls, 110 in the Shade (Tony nom.), Shining City, Well, Awake and Sing!  (Tony nom.), Rabbit Hole, A Touch of the Poet, In My Life, The Light in the Piazza (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics awards), Reckless, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Seven Guitars (Tony nom.), Philadelphia Here I Come!, The Piano Lesson, among others. Recent: Herringbone (La Jolla), The Seagull (A.R.T.), Kafeneion (Athens/Epidaurus Festival); Garden of Earthly Delights (Minetta Lane); Orpheus X (Edinburgh and Hong Kong Festivals); Kaos (NYTW). Awards: Obie for Sustained Excellence, Michael Merritt Award, etc.

JIM BELK (Musical Arrangements) graduated from Millikin University with a degree in Commercial Music and recently received his Masters in Jazz Composition and Theory from UNLV. An accomplished musician, he has been playing professionally for over 20 years both in the US and internationally. Belk has been based out of Las Vegas since 1995 and played many of the Broadway musicals that have taken up residence there over the past decade.

MICHAEL BRENNAN (Music) In addition to Citizen Ruth, Brennan has also written the score, with librettist Mark Leydorf, to a musical adaptation of The Fisher King. He is also currently writing the score to a new aquatic spectacular to premier on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s “Oasis of the Seas” in late November. Also, Brennan is the music supervisor and arranger for the upcoming One Love...Imagining Harold Arlen. For this project, he has completely reimagined the songs of legendary composer Harold Arlen for an evening of beautiful imagery and dance. Co-produced by Franco Dragone and Christopher Allen, the show is workshopping at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle in December. As a music director, his credits include Le Réve, Mama Mia!, and Avenue Q.

DAVID BULLARD (Sound Designer) Sound Design: On Golden Pond, National Tour; The Unexpected Man, New York and L.A. Broadway Associate: West Side Story, Xanadu (also Nat’l Tour), A Catered Affair, Gypsy, Radio Golf, Sweeney Todd, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (plus Boston and Nat’l Tour). Various live recordings for the Metropolitan Opera, The Raconteurs, Cream, Tim McGraw, MTV, and NBC. Live studio work for Steve Reich. Audio designer for 2008 NBC Upfront “The Universal Experience.”

DAVID W. CALDWELL (Producer and General Manager) has enjoyed his association with Richard Frankel Production for the past 17 years, and is currently a co-producer of Burn The Floor on Broadway. Caldwell was involved with the Vegas productions of Hairspray, The Producers, and STOMP. Prior to Vegas, he was the New York General Manager on Broadway of The Rocky Horror Show and Kat and the Kings. Off-Broadway credits include managing STOMP, Tap Dogs, Jeffrey, and many other wonderful productions. Before joining the legit theatre scene, Caldwell was Executive in Charge of Production for EVENTURES. Prior to that, he was Director of Finance at Radio City Music Hall and had the honor of working on The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The Easter Show, “The Grammy Awards,” Siegfried and Roy, “Night of 100 Stars II and III,” “Comic Relief,” “Wheel of Fortune,” “Hollywood Squares,” and the “Super Bowl Half-time XXIII.”

SHAWN DUAN (Projections Designer) has worked as a projections designer, consultant, programmer, and assistant for various shows on Broadway, Off-Broadway, downtown, nationally, and for corporate clients. Select work includes Impressionism (Broadway, assistant), Milk and Honey (Amherst, assoc.), Icarus of Ohio (NYU, designer), Undercurrent (Alvin Ailey, programmer), Romeo and Juliet (Houston, assist.), and Newton Business Programs (consultant). Duan has also designed lighting and sound for various shows at NYU and in downtown theater.

ANDREW GRAHAM (Music Director/Keyboard) Nat’l tours: Avenue Q (1st Nat’l), Pippin, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Oliver, Seussical the Musical (starring Cathy Rigby), The Music Man, Footloose, as well as the European tours of Grease and Hair. Regionally he has music directed Aida and Annie (starring Beth Leavel) at the MUNY, Aida and Fame (starring Jonathan Groff) at North Shore Music Theatre, Miss Saigon and Aida at Gateway Playhouse and Avenue Q and Spamalot (starring John O’Hurley) at the Las Vegas Wynn Casino. He holds degrees in music from both Capital University in Ohio and Trinity College of Music in London.

JESS HARTMAN (Assistant Choreographer) has had the honor of working with some of the best directors, choreographers, and stars of the Broadway world, including Gregory Hines, Donna McKechnie, Ann Reinking, and Jerry Mitchell. Some of her credits include The Boy From Oz on Broadway starring Hugh Jackman (associate choreographer/dance captain/swing); Showtune Off-Broadway (assistant director and choreographer to Joey McKneely); as well as working with Tony-nominated Broadway choreographer Dan Knechtges on Der Schuh das Manitu in Berlin. Hartman has also choreographed for the Hangar Theatre and the NYC Festival “Break Out in Song,” which premiered in July 2009. Up next, she is working on a new show called Give It Up!

ERIN KENNEDY LUNSFORD (Hair/Makeup/Wig Designer) Recent NYC: That Pretty Pretty... (Rattlestick), Women Beware Women (Red Bull), The Spy (The Acting Company), A Boy’s Life (Second Stage), BAAL (Columbia University), Jerry Springer: the Opera (Carnegie Hall); Walmartopia (Minetta Lane). Also in NYC: Playwrights Horizons, Signature Theatre Company, MCC, The MINT, Atlantic Theatre Company, Century Center and Primary Stages, among others. Regional: New York Stage and Film, Westport Playhouse, Philadelphia Theater Company, Two Rivers, Syracuse Stages, University of Michigan Opera, and Drama and Music Theatre of Wichita. She is also a hair supervisor on Broadway.

DAN KNECHTGES (Choreographer) B’way: Xanadu (Tony Nomination) 110 in the Shade (Roundabout), Spelling Bee (Lortel Nomination). Off B’way: Vanities, Spelling Bee. International: Der Schuh das Manitu (Berlin). Regional: Xanadu (LaJolla), Godspell (Paper Mill), The Boys from Syracuse (Centerstage), Vanities (Theatreworks, CA), The Girl in the Frame (Goodspeed), The Wiz, Cats, My Fair Lady, Chalk Circle, Sound of Music, Oklahoma! (Hangar Theatre), Mame, Angel Street, A Funny Thing…(Surflight Theatre), Don Giovanni (Indianapolis Opera), Carousel, West Side Story (Opera Illinois), The Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore (Blue Hill Troupe). TV/Film: “It’s a Wonderful Night” (Fatboy Slim), Palindromes (Todd Solondz). BFA in Musical Theatre from Otterbein College; member of Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, SDC; www.danknechtges.com.

MARK LEYDORF (Book and Lyrics/Graphics) has written two musicals with Michael Brennan, The Fisher King and Citizen Ruth. Adapted from films, both have been well received in workshops at NYTW and Washington’s Woolly Mammoth. He next project: an adaptation of Zola’s Nana. As an actor, Leydorf has performed on Broadway (The Ritz), TV (Law and Order: SVU), the Strip (he met Brennan doing Mamma Mia! in Las Vegas), dozens of downtown companies, and many regional theaters. BA in English from Yale College; proud member of the Dramatists Guild and Actors’ Equity; www.markleydorf.com.

JOHN MCNULTY, PAT MARCUS, AND CARRIE ROHM (Garrett Long’s Hair) come to Citizen Ruth from the brilliant South Pacific team at Lincoln Center.

NEIL PATEL (Set Designer) has worked extensively on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in regional theater, and for opera houses in the United States and abroad. He has been honored with an Obie for sustained excellence twice. He is the production designer for HBO’s “In Treatment.”

CLINT RAMOS (Costume Designer) Recent: sets and/or costumes for The Good Negro (Public Theater), The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism with a Key to the Scriptures (Guthrie). NYC: Second Stage, Public/NYSF, NYTW, Culture Project, Vineyard, Mint, Ma-Yi, Women’s Project, Red Bull, SPFNY, Foundry, Play Company, others. Regional: ART, Asolo, Dallas Theater Center, CenterStage, Williamstown, Roundhouse, Shakespeare NJ, Folger, La Jolla, Opera Theatre St. Louis, Opera Boston, others. International: Barbican (London), O’Reilly (Dublin), Kanon (St. Petersburg), Rijksteatern (Stockholm), Thalia (Bucharest), Teatro Pilipino (Manila), others. Honors: 2009 TDF Irene Sharaff, ATW Henry Hewes Award, 2008 Drama Desk nom., NYTW Design Fellowship, Audelco, Elliot Norton, Upcoming: A Life in the Theatre (Alliance), Galileo (Asolo), Into the Woods (Kansas City Rep), Ruined (Oregon Shakespeare).

BRIDGET SANTANIELLO (Prop Designer) is very excited to be working on her first show with the Fringe. She is currently a Junior in the Design/Technology conservatory at SUNY: Purchase with a concentration in scenic design. Previous works include Tin Pan Alley Rag, Last Days of Judas Iscariot, The Glass Menagerie, Gianni Schicci, Suor Angelica, Confessions, The Tempest, All in the Timing, Book of Days, Marisol, Time of Your Life.

HOWARD SHALWITZ (Director) is co-founder and Artistic Director of the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, DC, now entering its 30th season of launching provocative plays for the American stage. He directed the Woolly workshop of Ruth last year. He has directed dozens of new works—by Harry Kondoleon, Nicky Silver, Amy Freed, Doug Wright, Bridget Carpenter, Sheila Callaghan, and many others. Shalwitz has also directed plays for Playwrights Horizons, NYTW, Arena Stage, Milwaukee Rep, and other leading regional companies.

PETER VAN VLIET (Assistant Stage Manager) Assistant Stage Manager for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Tender. Other productions include Oliver!, Love Janis, Wonderful Town, and Tap Dogs, in a variety of technical positions.Bio

NICOLE WEE (Assistant Costume Designer) is thrilled to be working with Clint once more, and with the cast and crew of Citizen Ruth for the first time.  Previous costume designs include: Six Degrees of Separation, The Constant Wife, The Play About the Baby, and Ruthless! The Musical.  MFA from Tisch School of the Arts; www.nicolewee.com.

SARAH WHARTON (Assistant Director) is currently studying theater at NYU and is a member of the Stella Adler Studio Company. She comes to this project via her work at Woolly Mammoth Theater Company this summer. Many thanks to all for this incredible opportunity!

DEE WICKERT (Production Stage Manager) Tours: The Full Monty, Blue’s Clues, Dora the Explorer, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Off-Broadway: BE by Mayumana (Drama Desk nom.), Frequency Hopping, Mindgame, Tender.

Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor, and everyone at Buena Vista; Jim Nicola, Linda Chapman, and everyone at NYTW; Sarah Denhardt, Taryn Colberg-Staples, and everyone at Woolly Mammoth; Pam MacKinnon, Steve Cosson, Dan Stuart, Mark Rucker, and Scott Thompson; Ben Feldman, Mark Subius, Hal Goldberg, Hugh Hayes, Brian Nitzkin, and Alan Filderman; the Leydorfs, the Brennans, Brian Burke, Mike Levesque, and Eric Sawyer; Wendy Marcus and everyone at Self; everyone at Le Réve, Wynn Las Vegas. The folks from the Vortex and the Minetta Lane, and, of course, Elena Holy, Kristine Ayers, and everyone at the fabulous Fringe.