CREATIVE TEAM BIOS
MICHAEL GREEN (Conceiver/Book/Lyrics/Music, Producer)
is a world-renowned wine and spirits consultant and educator. For the past 25 years Michael has worked in the wine and spirits trade as an educator, importer, writer, consultant and retailer, including 19 years as Gourmet Magazine’s exclusive Wine and Spirits Consultant. Green is the creator of Wine Down, one of New York’s premier wine tasting parties. Additionally, he has been a guest on Food Network’s Emeril Live and Cooking Live as well as CBS Marketwatch, NPR and Clear Channel radio. He has been featured in many national publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Times-Picayune, Business Week, U.S. News and World Report and House Beautiful. Michael has consulted with many of NYC’s top restaurants, and his varied, lengthy client list includes three-star rated Oceana and Molyvos, as well as Christer’s and Empire Restaurant. He is a proud graduate of the University of Virginia. He resides in New York City. www.michaelgreen.com
TRAVIS KRAMER (Book, Producer)
is the creator and writer/lyricist of It’s Karate, Kid! The Musical (Best Musical, NYIT Awards 2005), co-creator and writer/lyricist of the blaxploitation musical Dial ‘N’ For Negress with Kevin Smith Kirkwood, writer/lyricist of Sex Road to Ruin – a segment from The Paperback Musical, and lyricist of original compositions for the Resonance Ensemble world premiere of Charles L. Mee’s Mail Order Bride. Travis has also written pop culture parodies for Cracked Magazine, illustrated Florida Marlins from A to Z for Barnes & Noble, and designed publicity and props for the Off-Broadway cabarets It’s Me Baby, It’s Kevin! and Impossible Bitch! Other freelance work includes feature articles and editorial illustrations for various trade publications and commissioned tattoo designs. “Cheers!” to a wonderful team of artists and collaborators for bringing this show to life. Viva la buss!
GARY NEGBAUR (Book/Music/Lyrics, Producer)
writes music for theater and film, as well as songs for recording artists. His musical Librarians in Love (co-written with Tony-nominee John Cariani) appeared at the NYC Fringe Festival. He contributed music to the feature film An American Summer. His song, Red Pontiac, was featured on NPR’s Car Talk. As a performing pianist/singer, Gary continues to tour across the U.S., Europe and Australia. His recordings include a CD of original music (Let me explain) as well as a critically acclaimed solo album of standards (Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat) and a children’s CD (Max’s Family Band). Gary’s work continues to be informed by the education he received at Harvard University and the Berklee College of Music. Thanks to the entire Wine Lovers team for this wine-derful journey! www.garynegbaur.com
HOLLY-ANNE RUGGIERO (Lead Producer, Director)
is thrilled to be hoisting at Wine Lovers again after sold out runs at The Triad Theatre in New York and Le Petit Theatre in New Orleans. She has directed and produced dozens of theatrical and multi-media pieces in New York, regionally and throughout Europe. She is currently the Assistant Director on the First National Tour of BRING IT ON – The Musical, Directed and Choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler. Selected Recent directing credits: Hope In Chaos (NY), Dirty Pictures (NY Workshop), Oklahoma (Reagle Players/Boston), Soul Doctor – The Musical Journey of Shlomo Carlebach (Le Petit Theatre), All Shook Up (Ogunquit Playhouse – Starring Sally Struthers), Steel Magnolias (Starring Loni Ackerman), The Wedding Singer, Platforms (NY). Selected Credits: Broadway/National Tour/West End AD Credits: Jersey Boys; Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays; Walking With Dinosaurs; Dracula; Zhivago; As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, Cover Girls. Ms. Ruggiero is currently the book writer and director for Dani Tapper and Phil Benson’s Class Reunion, and Beverly Ross’s City Of Light. She has also written dozens of cabaret and solo shows for Broadway artists and published musicians that have been performed all over the country and on international cruise lines. www.hollyanneruggiero.com
HOLLY CRUZ (Choreographer)
NY credits: Broadway by the Year (Town Hall), Broadway Jukebox (Birdland), Christmas Review (Rainbow Room), Triad Theatre. Regional: Theatre Under the Stars, Fifth Avenue Theatre, North Carolina Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House, Allenberry Playhouse. Cheers and love to her parents and Eddie!
LIZ MULLER (Production Supervisor)
Liz loves Wine Lovers! She is the Co-founder and Artistic Director of PiPE DREAM theatre. Muller is the lyricist for Macbeth A Musical, Briar Rose, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Masque of the Red Death. She has directed and musical directed college and community theatre throughout NY. Currently, Liz is directing 3 Ghosts, an original PiPE DREAM musical to premiere at Theatre Row, December 2011.
JOSHUA PALMER (Production Design)
is a Production Manager and Designer currently working on projects in New York, Maine and New Orleans. Current projects include: Ogunquit Playhouse 2011 Season, Hope In Chaos (New York), Wine Lovers and Class Reunion (New York). Recent Design Credits: 13, Title of Show, Bang The Law, Mr. Marmalade, Little Dog Laughed (Le Petit Theatre).
CHRIS KATEFF (Video Design)
Designs projections and creates artwork for live theater and dance shows. Off-Broadway: The Road to Qatar (York Theatre), Signs of Life (Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater), Wine Lovers (Triad Theater), Die Mommy Die (New World Stages), Esoterica (DR2 Theater). New York Musical Theater Festival: Platforms (2007), Wild About Harry, Ward 9, Cyclone and the Pig Faced Lady (2008), Andy Warhol Was Right (2009). Off-Broadway assistant design: Judy Garland In Concert, Palace of the End and Walmartopia (Leah Gelpe, designer). Broadway Assistant Design: Ring of Fire, Jersey Boys (Michael Clark, designer). Chris is also an actor and
photographer.
WALTER TRARBACH (Sound Design)
Broadway: The Farnsworth Invention and Cymbeline. Off Broadway credits include: The Tin Pan Alley Rag, Becky Shaw, Measure for Pleasure, Satellites, Farragut North, I Love You Because, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, and Mr. Marmalade. National Tours: Story Time Live! and Madagascar Live! Walter is the Associate Sound Designer of Catch Me If You Can and Assistant Sound Designer of Jersey Boys. He is married to photographer Kimberly Witham
NINA SHREIBER (Producer)
Nina answered the call of entrepreneurialism at a young age. Upon graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, she embarked on a European tour of the Rocky Horror Show, where she did the Time-Warp as “Magenta” all across Germany, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Austria, and Italy. Back in the United States, Nina took a job outside the entertainment industry with Student Advantage, the nation’s largest student discount program, where Nina she became one of the top five marketing representatives liaising between the company and college campuses nationwide. In 2002, Nina jumped to the other side of the desk and assumed ownership of the East Coast branch of Acme Talent & Literary, where she steered the careers of a diverse list of artists, including John Lloyd Young, who won the 2006 Best Actor Tony Award for his portrayal of “Frankie Vallie” in the Broadway musical JERSEY BOYS. Since 2009, Nina has worked as academic assistant on a number of Italian Renaissance projects, grants, and online courses, whilst also producing theatrical shows and still managing the creative careers of a dozen A-list New York artists. She lives in the Hudson Valley.