Artists & Instructors

	Dan Belzer (Irving Berlin, A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin) grew up in North Dakota and acted in several regional theaters. Since moving to Hollywood, he has appeared in John Carpenter’s Village of the Damned as well as television appearances on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and The Conversation. Dan graduated Magna Cum Laude from Drake University with a BFA degree in Musical Theatre and currently teaches at UCLA.
	Norman L. Berman (Composer, Food For Thought, The Money Mon$ter) Norman L. Berman co-composed the score to the Broadway and off-Broadway productions of Strider for which he garnered the New York Drama Desk Award. He also served as orchestrator and musical director. He was chosen by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green to create and co-direct By Berstein", a musical revue premiering Bernstein's unknown theater music for the Chelsea Theater Center. As composer-in-residence at Circle Repertory Company in New York, Mr. Berman composed scores for over 20 productions ranging from premieres byTennessee Williams, Lanford Wilson, Marsha Norman and Paul Zindel to Shakespearean and Chekhovian classics. For Manhattan Theatre Club, he conceived and directed Unsung Cole, which premiered two dozen songs by Cole Porter. He has been commissioned to score music for most of the prominent regional theaters across the country including, Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Roundabout Theatre, Arena Stage, Folger Theater Company, St. Louis Repertory Company GeVa Theater, Seattle Repertory Company, Taper Two and many more. He is currently composer-in-residence for the classical theater company, A Noise Within, where he has scored some 32 productions ranging from Shakespeare to Lillian Hellman. He received an Ace Award nomination for his work on the film score Traveler's Rest, seen on Showtime Cable Network. His other television scores have been heard on PBS, CBS Cable Television and the Discovery Channel.
	Gigi Bolden (Freedom Child) manages the Amazing Grace Conservatory in Los Angeles and has performed as a dancer and actress in numerous professional stage productions, including Long Time Since Yesterday, Macbeth and For Colored Girls... and was twice nominated for an NAACP Theatre Award. She previously appeared as Rosa Parks in Enrichment Works’ production of Chris Jorie’s play, Spirit in My Soul.


	Vianessa Castaños (actor, Sex-Ed Mega-Plex) has been involved in the performing arts, as either a student or performer, for as long as she can remember. Upon graduating from Florida State University, she worked in the fields of advertising and public relations while studying acting at a conservatory. She appeared in several industrial films and a feature film before moving to Los Angeles. Since then she has toured the U.S. in the critically acclaimed 2009 play "Love Overboard" and appeared in both Spanish and English language projects including performances on international networks such as Mun2, SiTV,TV Axteca and in the feature film Hopelessly in June.
	Cynthia L. Cooper (playwright, How She Played the Game, Sor Juana) is an award-winning journalist and playwright based in New York City. Her play, How They Played the Game was presented in Santa Monica in 2002. For Enrichment Works, she has previously written Go, Girl, Go and co-authored Muslim-American.
	Murphy Cross (Director, Miss Mitchell's Comet; co-director, The Money Mon$ter, Rosie, Pirates!; choreographer, Food For Thought)is a Broadway alumna of A Chorus Line, Pal Joey, Bubbling Brown Sugar and Division Street (with John Lithgow). Along with partner Paul Kreppel, she conceived, directed and produced the Tony-nominated Broadway show, Jay Johnson: The Two and Only and produced the off-Broadway production of The Big Voice: God or Merman. She has directed Sunday's Children All Fall Down; Blinders and The Magic Feather (both featured in Samuel French Short Play Festivals); Lysistrata; Spirit Awakening; Sacrifice; Big Tush, Little Tush; Pinocchio; and Is this America, or What?! She has choreographed for such stars as John Travolta, Debbie Reynolds, Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore. Her short film Blinders garnered several festival awards. Murphy has extensive television credits as an actress including Numbers, Cheers, Night Court, Family Law, and Taxi, where she played Louie's blind blind date.
	Joshua Feinman (Playwright; Odysseus, Voyage of Odysseus) had a recurring role as an FBI agent in the TV series, Sleeper Cell. He recently played the role of a Navy diver in the film Men of Honor with Robert DeNiro and is featured in the upcoming PBS documentary Who's Dancin' Now?, which features him as a dancer trained at the National Dance Institute by the legendary Jacques D'Amboise. For the Education Management Group in Arizona, he appeared as Odysseus and other characters in dozens of closed circuit tv broadcasts supplied to classrooms all over the United States. Mr. Feinman is also certified as a director of stage combat.
	Wyatt Fenner (Multiple Roles, The Sex-Ed Mega-Plex) graduated from the University of Southern California's BFA Acting program. He has appeared at Theaters all around the West and East coasts and has been seen on "Veronica Mars" as well as in the feature films "Make the Yuletide Gay" and the horror-comedy "Cheerbleeders". On television, look for Wyatt as a guest star on "Bones"- a proud member of AEA and SAG.
	Eddie Frierson (Playwright, Christy Mathewson, Matty: Old-time Baseball with Christy Mathewson) is a native of Nashville, Tennessee, who helped pitch his Hillwood High School baseball team to a State Championship in 1977. He then threw for the UCLA Bruins while earning a degree in Theatre Arts -- thus bypassing the dream of a professional baseball career in order to pursue his love for acting. With Matty, Frierson combines the best of both worlds and, as an “honorary Inductee” into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown he has clearly gone farther in baseball through the stage than he ever would have on the field. Frierson scored a triumph off-Broadway with the original production of Matty in 1996 and has appeared in dozens of theatrical productions. He can be heard all over the country as the voice of PETCO stores and has been featured on many tv shows, cartoons and feature films.
	Ruben Garfias (Director, The Sex-Ed Mega-Plex) is a veteran stage performer, who has acted with the San Diego Repertory Theatre, LATC, Odyssey Theater, Nosotros, the San Francisco Mime Troupe, Teatro Campesino and Yale Repertory Theatre. Television audiences have seen him on such shows as Ally McBeal and General Hospital and his film credits include Patriot Games and Predator 2. He has appeared in Enrichment Works productions of Mythos, The Answers to Every Test and Native Beginnings.
	Anna Giannotis (Instructor, Creative Writing/Video Production) is a freelance writer/producer, educator and actress. She is presently Artist-in-Residence at Sheridan Elementary, Cornerstone School, and Bethune Middle School, and a lecturer for Arts Connect. Ms. Giannotis attended the University of Washington and Salve Regina University. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, Actors' Equity Association, and The Greek Heritage Society of Southern California. She has also conducted writing workshops for The Performing Tree, Inc.
	David Guerra (Storyteller, Native Beginnings) received a BFA from UCSB and conducted theater workshops for the East LA Classic Stage Company. He has appeared in several independent films and performed on stage for theatre companies in California and Mexico.
	Chelsea Hackett ( Playwright, Camping/Sex-Ed Mega-Plex) has worked as an actress, dancer, writer, director and producer. She received her MFA in Screenwriting from USC in 2004 and was the Managing Director of the Open Fist Theatre Company from 1998-2001 where she did everything from running the light board to playing Irina in Chekhov’s The Three Sisters. Recent film credits include West Bank Story, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004, and You, written and directed by Melora Hardin.
	Jamie Hobert (Aesop, Aesop’s Fables; Dick Porter, The Money Mon$ter) James is a graduate from UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television. He can be seen on stage every week at the Grove in Hollywood as Uncle Gard & Jiggy Nye in the Los Angeles production of The American Girl Revue. He has been doing theater and film for as long as he can remember. James is thrilled to be a part of Aesop's Fables because it allows him to do what he has always loved: making people laugh.

	Mueen Jahan (Food for Thought: The Message Comes Home) made the leap from school auditorium, where he appeared in Enrichment Works' production of Muslim-American to Broadway stage when he was cast in the hit musical Bombay Dreams. He was nominated for the 1999 LA Ovation Award as Best Featured Actor in a Play. He has appeared in the East LA Classic Theatre productions of Cyrano de Bergerac and Much Ado About Nothing and in several plays in Washington, DC. Mr. Ahmad is a graduate of Shenandoah University and holds an MFA from the University of Cincinnati College and Conservatory of Music. He is originally from Pakistan.

	Paul Kreppel (Director, Aesop's Fables; The Money Mon$ter) directed the 2002 World Premiere of Eli's Birthday and the satirical musical revue Both Barrels, bringing that show to The Goodspeed Opera House and Off-Broadway in 1999. Other directing credits include Godspell, Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, Quirks, Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You Mr. Rosewater and Fascinatin' Rhythmz and, for television, Dave's World, Brotherly Love, Thea, and It's A Living. Mr. Kreppel's Broadway and Off-Broadway acting credits include Godspell, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, and the New York Shakespeare Festival productions of The Comedy of Errors, Agamemnon and Alice In Concert, as well as Jerome Robbins' Broadway. Los Angeles stage appearances include Reprise's Promises, Promises, the Taper's Cabaret Verboten, Yahrzeit and Both Barrels. TV appearances include That 70s Show, ER, Cybill, and S Club 7 LA, but TV audiences remember him best as Sonny Mann, the piano player on the 80s comedy It's A Living. Mr. Kreppel's WetRock Entertainment, Inc., produces theater throughout the Southland with partner Murphy Cross.
	Joyce Lee (Storyteller, The Whole World's A-Talkin') has worked in theatre and education for over 20 years. In New York she trained as an actor at New York University's , Tisch School, Graduate Acting Program, and later as a Resident Professional Teaching Associate at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York she taught acting. She received a Fox Fellowship with which she studied African-traditional theatre in Ghana. Her exploration in Ghana led to the production of her documentary, The Ethnic Groups of Ghana. As a producer she has worked with the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival. Lee won an Audelco Award for her portrayal of Mattie in August Wilson's , Joe Turner's Come and Gone, produced by Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre. With Target Margin Theatre Co. she played Dolly in the OBIE award-winning production of Dubose Heyward's Mamba's Daughters, and appeared in the company's productions of The Marriage of Figaro, Five Hysterical Girl Theorem, and Penthesilea. In the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway play, The Coyote Bleeds, (Tribeca Theatre), she played District Attorney Robinson. Other theatre and TV credits include work at New York's HERE, LaMama ETC., Theatre for a New City, Law and Order, and Ed. In Los Angeles she's worked at The Secret Rose Theatre in North Hollywood, and on CBS's Judging Amy, and Nickolodeon's Drake and Josh.
	Norma Maldonado (Director, The Sex-Ed Mega-Plex) is a native New Yorker who grew up on the stage. Her first professional job was as a young teen in Puerto Rico in the critically acclaimed, "The Me Nobody Knows." Norma has worked ever since with many television guest star and recurring roles on such shows as Desperate Housewives, Boston Public and NYPD Blue. She was a member of "We Tell Stories" for nearly 12 years.
	Bernadette McAllister(Playwright, Freedom Child) received her PhD from Kansas State University and taught theatre arts at Grambling, an historically black college. Previously for Enrichment Works, she directed Spirit In My Soul and appeared in Freedom Child at the Torrance Cultural Center’s Armstrong Theatre.
	Marta McGonagle (Juana Ines, Sor Juana; Sex-Ed Megaplex), known to her family and friends as "ChiChi", was born in the Ancon Republic of Panama to a Costa Rican mother and an Irish father. Being raised as an "army brat," Marta was blessed to travel and live all over the world. Exposed to many different cultures, and art, she developed a love for acting at a very early age and starred in her first play at the age of nine. Starring in several theater productions such as "Marvin's Room", "Revelate", "Steel Magnolias" and "Cinderella Wore Combat Boots", Marta's acting career began to blossom. She went on to star in several independent films such as "Blind", "Larkshead Society", "Free Money" and various Spanish films including "Sobre Tu Cadaver" and "La Bella." Her most recent work includes her roles in upcoming feature films such as Monica in "sideFX ", Isabella in "Red Ridge", Sadie York in "Believe In Me", and Carmen in the highly anticipated comedy feature film "Blue Sombrero" all coming to DVD or a theatre near you. Marta graduated from the University of Texas receiving her Bachelors of Science degree in Public Relations with a concentration in Latin American Media Studies.
	Kelly Meyersfield (Miss Mouse, Aesop's Fables) was trained at the Beverly Hills Playhouse and Rutgers University (BFA). She has appeared West Side Story and The Mystery of Edwin Drood as well as her one-woman show, 15 Minutes of Fem. Ms. Meyerfsield was featured in the film, Hookers, Inc. and played a supporting role in Terror Toons, The Sick and Silly Show.
	Eve Muller (Mother, Sor Juana) has performed in theater, television and motion pictures. Fluent in Spanish and English, Eve has performed for the Bilingual Foundation, Music Center on Tour, Sinergia and Festival Cervantino.
	Myles Nye (playwright, Genital Knowledge/Sex-Ed Megaplex) is a Bay Area native who moved to Los Angeles in 1999 to attend UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television. Since moving to LA he has joined Comedy Sportz, the longest running show in Hollywood, and written and directed three original musicals. Myles was also one of the founding members of The Mike and Ben Show, UCLA TV's first sketch comedy show. He writes two original drama camp plays every summer for the community theater in his old neighborhood and can be seen tap dancing every week at the West LA Farmer's Market. Myles lives in West LA.
	Adriana Rogers (playwright, An About Face/Sex-Ed Mega-Plex) began her theater career in the early 1990s acting in various plays and musicals. With an extreme love for theater and an even bigger love for writing, Adriana began to combine her two passions and started writing for theater. Back in 1992, she wrote the lyrics for a new musical, You Never Can Tell!!, which premiered on an Off-Off Broadway stage in 1997. In 1999, Adriana and her husband Rick wrote three original audience participation mysteries: Zoot Suit Swing Time Murders, Murder at the Sock Hop and Death at the Disco which were performed in the New York tri-state area for five years. In March of 2004, Adriana wrote the book and lyrics to a new musical MADAM based on the life of Madam C.J. Walker. Previously for Enrichment Works, she wrote Rosie, which was also produced at the Whitefire Theatre and by New York’s Urban Stages. Adriana is a member of the Dramatist Guild of America.
	Luis “Buster” Rojas (Multiple Roles, The Sex-Ed Mega-Plex) received a BA in Psychology from UCLA and worked as Life Skills Therapist at a group home.

	Willard Simms (playwright, Native Beginnings) received the first commission ever from the newly formed Denver Center Theare Company to write the State Historical Drama for his home state of Colorado. Mr. Simms has also written two episodes of television mini-series on St. Francis of Assisi and stage biographies of Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci. The founder of Theatre of Will, a local nonprofit organization, he is the author of 11 published plays and the winner of numerous playwriting awards.

	Matt Tagnacchi (Scene Painter, Aesop's Fables, Food For Thought) hales from Boston Massachusetts. A Graduate of Emerson College, Matt started east in animation, designing props and sets for TV spots that include MTV, Captain Crunch and Nestle Quick. Upon relocating to L.A. in 1997, Matt has been Production Designer for feature films, television spots and commercials and Scenic Artist. His current projects include "Weekends at the DL" for Comedy Central and "Beauty and the Geek" for The WB.
	Abraham Tetenbaum (Playwright, A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin; Lyricist, Food For Thought; Book & Lyrics, The Money Mon$ter) is the co-founder and Executive Director of Enrichment Works. He holds a BS from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and an MFA in Playwriting from the University of Minnesota. Tetenbaum has written for Broadway (Crazy He Calls Me), network television (Sisters) and scripted two pilot education projects for the Joy2learn Foundation featuring pianist Alan Gampel and actor Hector Elizondo. He has taught at NYU, Brooklyn College and Hofstra University in addition to GATE programs at Roscomare Road Elementary and Frank D. Parent Elementary. Tetenbaum has also conducted writing and drama workshops for the World Union of Jewish Students in Croatia, Italy and the United Kingdom. His early career was spent at the New York Shakespeare Festival produced by Joseph Papp for whom he served on the Educational Council at Lincoln Center. Tetenbaum is a member of the Dramatists Guild (DG) and the Writers Guild of America, West, Inc. (WGA).
	Danielle Vernengo (Aesop's Fables; Food For Thought; Money Mon$ter) was a series regular on TV's Heartbreak Café and played a leading role in Keenan Ivory Wayans ON UPN. She holds a BA in Theatre from Cal State Fullerton and has performed in several independent films and local stage productions. Ms. Vernengo and her singing partner Lesley Green record music CDs for children.
	Ian Patrick Williams (Playwright, Degas and the Dancer and The STIs; librettist, Food For Thought 1 and 2, A Doggone Musical, Director, Food for Thought 1 and 2, Degas and the Dancer, Sor Juana, and Eco-Slam: Clean World Wrestling) won an Emmy for his play, Bleacher Bums, studied acting at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago and was a member of the Organic Theater Company. Mr. Williams appeared as an actor in previous Enrichment Works plays including Degas and the Dancer, Relatively Speaking: A Visit with Albert Einstein, Raiders of the Lost Tomb and Eco-Slam: Clean World Wrestling. He has appeared in numerous films and tv shows, including Chuck, Dexter, ER and Prison Break.
	Cy Young (Book, Lyrics & Music, Aesop's Fables) began his professional career as a member of the Meryl Abbot Dancers at the Empire room of Chicago's Palmer House. On Broadway, Cy was a principal in Subways Are For Sleeping and performed at Number One Fifth Avenue. He became a regular at New York City's elegant Upstairs At The Downstairs nightclub and can be heard on many Upstairs recordings. Cy toured in the National Company of Once Upon A Mattress playing Prince Dauntless to Buster Keaton's King, then worked with Howard Keel in a tour of On A Clear Day. As an author, Cy has had three plays published by Samuel French: James Skipworth, The Sloth, and Jump, I'll Catch You! Other writing credits include over 40 radio plays for Heartbeart Theatre in Los Angeles and animation scripts for Rankin Bass (Silver Hawks Series). His song, Draw Me A Circle, is on the Barbra Streisand Third Album. In December, 2008, Cy's Aesop's Fables CD was released by Watchfire Music and can be purchased on line @ Watchfiremusic.com. John Wood, reviewing in Kidzmusic. com, wrote ... "this well-produced collection features some of the more well known Aesop stories energetically performed and narrated." Cy is a member of BMI, Actor's Equity, Screen Actor's Guild, The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, The Dramatists Guild of America, Inc., and The Authors League of America. He is a graduate of Northwestern University where he earned a BS in Speech.