Cast and Creative Team

Our Man In Chocolate
a new romantic comedic play

Written and Directed
by Frank John Verderame

"...I hold the world, Gratiano, a stage where every man must play a part. And mine a sad one." From Merchant of Venice (I,i,77-79) - favorite quote of Richard Cahill, fiancee of Dr. Perri Muster and the victim of their relationship.

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Jasmine Spiess

Mike Hill

Special Thanks to:

Vincent Joseph Manzo

Cheri Wicks (Dr. Perri Muster)is a native of Lewistown, Montana. Favorite New York theater roles include:Claire in Fuddy Meers, Mercy in Greyhounds, Agnes in The Shadow Box, Estelle in No Exit, and Queen Margaret in Henry VI, part III. Television credits include Sex and theCity, The Sopranos, One Life To Live and Law & Order. Always – immeasurable gratitude to her husband, John Shaw, her family, friends and teachers for their love and support.

Jasmine Spiess (Laurel Dearborn) Jasmine Spiess is thrilled to be part of “Our Man In Chocolate”! A graduate of the American Musical and DramaticAcademy, she has performed onstage in New York City and in regional venues. Favorite roles include: Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and Guenevere in Camelot. Jasmine has appeared on Nickelodeon, as well as the recent movie, “Music and Lyrics”. She also just happened to hail the “Cash Cab” recently and won $800…but that’s not really an acting credit. It was just fun and if you happen to be a game show junkie, you might recognize her! For more information about Jasmine, you can visit: www.jasminespiess.com. Many thanks to the cast, crew and all of the amazing people who support her everyday (You know who you are!).

Mike Hill
(Jacques Fortza) Mike is honored and humbled to make his second appearance at The Manhattan Theatre Source, now as Jacques. Mike graduated from Penn State University with a BA in Acting, and also studied acting at William Esper Studios. He would like to thank his family, everyone involved with this production, his supporters and anyone who has ever challenged him. Contact Mike at www.myspace.com/mikeallenhill

Tod Engle(Richard Cahill) Tod has appeared in three N.Y. Fringe Festivals and in "A Collapse" and "The Truth About Love" here at the Manhattan Theatre Source. Tod has appeared on Television in guest roles on "Law And Order SVU", "Hope and Faith" ,"The Sopranos" and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien". His numerous films include one of the lead roles in "Love in The Age of Dion", an Indie feature which has been in five film festivals. Tod would like to thank Frank and Vinnie for keeping him aboard this five year journey of "Our Man in Chocolate".

OUR CREATIVE TEAM

Frank John Verderame, author and director of "Our Man in Chocolate" is a playwright, screenwriter and lyricist whose other works include the children's musical "A Song For Oby", the historical drama "A Message for the Band",the comedic screenplays "The Deodorant King", "You Left Me Sore", and "The Take-off", the Halloween drama "The Spin-Off", and the future-set short one act "Counting on My Fingers", a critic's choice selection at the 25th annual Off-off Broadway festival.

Vincent Joseph Manzo,
composer of "But Darling..." has scored works for both traditional instruments and electronic musical interfaces. His musical interests include traditional and electro-acoustic composition as well as algorithmic composition, modal theory, artificial intelligence and interactive music systems.

In 2007, he earned his Master's In Music from New York University (Magna Cum Laude) concentrating in algorithmic composition, electro-acoustic music and interactive music systems and a B.A. in K-12 MusicEducation from Kean University(Cum Laude)with a concentration in classical guitar performance.

He has composed numerous electro-acoustic and algorithmic compositions and has composed a wealth of chamber music including works for classical guitar and bowed string instruments. He has composed numerous scores for live theatre including Hamlet(2006) and Sleeping Beauty (2007), both commissioned by Kean University.

www.vincemanzo.com

Annie Marks,
producer of "Our Man In Chocolate".Annie's plays include: The Best It's Ever Looked (produced at the Chernuchin Theater, as a Sam French finalist, 2002; the Chelsea Playhouse and several other venues, 2002), Cocktails (the Patio in the East Village, 2003 - sold out for its two-week run), Choking on Happiness (co-writer; the Cherry Lane Theater, as part of the 2004 Fringe - one of the Village Voice's 14 Festival "Voice Choices"). Before moving to NY in 2001, she served as artistic director of StageWrite! in Raleigh, NC, a developmental theater group for NC residents, and enjoyed producing and directing the embryonic work of many talented local authors. She has an MA in English and BA in philosophy.

Vinent Marano, co-producer,(Director of) A Collapse(Fringe’06), Choking on Happiness: Homesick/The Best It’s Ever Looked(Fringe 2004) the award-winning productions of Tim Nolan’s The Way Out (Fringe, 2003) and Acts of Contrition (Fringe, 2004). He is also directing Present Tense Production’s of Wrong Barbarians at this year’s festival. An actor, writer and producer as well, Vincent got his start with The Family, MTC and Circle Rep. He has studied at the Roundabout and Terry Schrieber Studios and worked with the Drama Project, directing over fifty production or staged reading in the New York City area. At the Classic Stage Company he produced the critically acclaimed Box Office of the Damned (with the then unknown Kristin Chenoweth), was a resident director at Belmont Italian American Playhouse; producing or directing a dozen plays, including early works by Julia Jordan, and a series of Italian language productions of Pirandello, Dario Fo and Eduardo De Fillipo. Vincent was the General Manager of Chelsea Playhouse (until its literal demise in 2003) where he directed or co-produced shows by the TWEED (Caged Heat and The Postman Always Comes Twice staring Varla Jean Merman), Present Tense Productions (as director in residence), the Epiphany Theatre, El Extreme, Absolute Theater and Riverside Theatre Company. He’s currently developing several new plays and his new translation of La Mandragola by Machiavelli premiered at the Manhattan Theatre Source in January 2006.

Lauren Aronsen,stage manager, Credits include: Some Unfortunate Hour, Grandmotherf*cker and the Seducers, HOWL! Festival, Estrogenius, The Black and Blue Ball, Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (30 Plays in 60 Minutes), Brit Bits, The Inconstant Infection, Oh Happy Three!, Meet John Doe. Sometimes, Lauren does sound design. Other times, she sleeps. Lauren is also thrilled to be working at the Daryl Roth Theater (www.fuerzabruta.net ) and she loves chocolate.

Dominick Peluso,assitant stage manager, property master,