Alan Schmuckler (music and lyrics, screenplay, director, producer, "Alan" and others, music production) writes for the live stage, television, film, podcasts and digital formats. His work has been performed across the US and internationally.
He music, lyrics, score and music production can be heard on Showtime television series Kidding, starring Jim Carrey, Frank Langella, Catherine Keener, and Judy Greer, all of whom perform his work, along with featured soloists Ariana Grande and Dick Van Dyke.
Other current projects: producer and arranger, music series “R&H Goes Pop!” (Concord Music); music and lyrics, Nothing To See Here (Somerled Arts). With Michael Mahler: music, lyrics and music production, My Little Pony 2 animated film (Hasbro); music and lyrics, The Secret of My Success stage musical (NBCUniversal); music and lyrics, Diary of a Wimpy Kid stage musical (Disney Theatricals); lyrics, Night at the Museum stage musical (Kevin McCollum, music by Alan Menken); music and lyrics, The Monster Frankenstein adaptation (Chicago Shakespeare Theater).
Older projects: music and lyrics, Wait Wait Don't Kill Me (Flea Theater, NYC); Days Like Today (Writers Theatre, Glencoe, IL); music and lyrics, The Emperor’s New Clothes (Chicago Shakespeare Theater, published by R&H); music and additional lyrics, We Three Lizas (About Face Theatre, Chicago). With Michael Mahler, co-creator, screenplay, music and lyrics, Boyfred musical television pilot (Shoe Money Productions, Sony, ABC); book, music & lyrics, How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back? (Chicago Shakespeare Theater; theaters & schools nationwide).
Winner, Kleban Prize for Lyric Writing; Webby Award (Best Sound Design/Best Original Music), Sarah Lawrence College International Audio Fiction Award, for musical podcast Wait Wait Don’t Kill Me (Wondery Media).
Residencies: Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters’ Project; Goodspeed Musicals; Weston Playhouse.
Proud graduate, Northwestern University. He lives in New York.
Dave Holstein (story, screenplay) is currently the writer/creator of Showtime’s 2018 dramedy series Kidding,
starring Jim Carrey and Catherine Keener and directed by Michel Gondry. Before that he was a writer/executive producer on the Showtime drama I’m Dying Up Here starring Melissa Leo and HBO’s comedy series The Brink, starring Tim Robbins and Jack Black. He was also a writer/producer on the final season FOX’s Raising Hope and before that spent six years as a writer/producer on Showtime’s Weeds. He has written episodes for the Syfy horror anthology Creepshow and TeenNick’s groundbreaking series Gigantic. He has also developed pilots for Comedy Central, Showtime, CBS and FOX, as well as feature films for Universal Pictures. As a playwright, Dave’s work has been performed in Edinburgh, Sydney, New York, Chicago and elsewhere. His musical adaptation of The Emperor’s New Clothes (with Alan Schmuckler) for the Tony-winning Chicago Shakespeare Theatre received a National Alliance for Musical Theater grant and is published with Rodgers and Hammerstein Theatricals. His podcast musical Wait Wait Don’t Kill Me (also with Alan Schmuckler) received the Sarah Lawrence International Award for Audio Fiction, as well as a 2017 Webby Award. Dave was also a 2014 attendee of the Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals. He is a graduate of Northwestern University.
Omri Anghel (director of photography, editor) has been working as a DJ, music producer, and video creator for the last 2 decades since the late 1990’s.
A DJ and Producer since 1997 with dance music releases and remixes on electronic dance music labels such as Jellybean, Eightball, Twisted, Whoop, Tommy Boy and more, working with artists like Celeda, RuPaul, Assaf Amdursky, Dana International, Darrell Martin and many others, Anghel is an in-demand DJ playing clubs and private events.
Anghel served as director of music, in-house producer, sound designer, video editor, and creative producer for 3 years in the creative department of NYC based tech/media company Interlude (aka Eko), creating interactive video experiences for many clients including Coca Cola, Sony Music, Warner Music, NBA, MTV, and Nickelodeon.
Anghel is a popular creator of comedy shorts for Israel’s prime time TV show “Future TV” as well as a viral web comedic sensation.
JJ Schmuckler (producer) is the global chief growth officer at VMLY&R, where he oversees business development activities and corporate go-to-market strategy. Based in New York, JJ is responsible for driving all stages of the agency’s new business initiatives and works closely with global leadership to drive growth for the agency and its clients.
Before VMLY&R was established in 2018, JJ served as global chief marketing officer at Y&R. Prior to that, he led the brand partnerships team at Interlude, an interactive video company and WPP investment. His clients included smartwater, Kimberly-Clark and MTV, among others.
JJ began his career at Wunderman in 2007 and quickly climbed the ranks in account management, focusing on Wunderman’s technology business where he oversaw key accounts like Dell and Microsoft. In 2011, he joined the Y&R network as chief of staff. In 2012, JJ became managing director of global integration at VML, driving and implementing the agency’s expansion strategy across the globe. He played a key role in driving VML’s growth during this time, opening 13 global offices in two years.
In addition to his role at VMLY&R, JJ also serves on the Marketing Communications Executive Committee at the UJA Federation of New York.
A New York native, JJ is a graduate of Brandeis University and a jazz saxophonist by training. He lives in the Bronx with his wife and two sons.
Jessica Cannizzaro ("Jessie") is a Brooklyn-based actor, writer, and comedian. She was an original cast member of the hit Off-Broadway comedy Puffs (New World Stages), which was filmed and screened in movie theaters nationwide via Fathom Events and is now available on Amazon, iTunes, and BroadwayHD. She was last seen starring in the world premiere of Ken Ludwig’s The Gods of Comedy (McCarter Theatre Center and The Old Globe) opposite two-time Tony-nominee Brad Oscar. Jessie’s face can be seen in multiple national commercials and her voice can be heard everywhere from Audible audiobooks to commercial jingles to Nickelodeon cartoons.
As a writer, Jessie’s work has been seen in comedy festivals nationwide, and her comedic pilot is currently being developed as part of the inaugural Story Institute at Catalyst Content Festival. She writes and performs with her team Infinite Sketch at The Peoples Improv Theater. Her original songs can be heard in commercials, on the stage, and on the screen (most recently in the feature film Selah and The Spades, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival and was released by Amazon Studios).
Jessie was a member of The Flea’s resident acting company "The Bats" and an acting apprentice at Williamstown Theatre Festival. She trained at NYC’s Upright Citizens Brigade and London’s British American Drama Academy. Jessie graduated from Swarthmore College with high honors in Theater and Political Science, and from Space Camp with high honors in model rocketry. She is represented by Marla Haut at Innovative Artists. www.JessieCannizzaro.com
Anthony Reyes (makeup and special effects) discovered his passion for special effects makeup during a production of CATS and has been pursuing a career in the field ever since. In addition to his theatre background and formal training, Anthony has provided makeup services for College Humor, Funny or Die, IMAX, and Broadway shows as well as various MTV, BET and Fuse music videos. He has also had opportunities to showcase his talent in live events for: FX "The Strain" and ESL One, and was a contestant on "Face Off" Season 8. An avid video gamer, Anthony pulls much of his inspiration and design from the games' fantastical elements.