aboutus

ABOUT US

L.A. theater as social dialogue

Founding Executive Artistic Director of needtheater for which he has directed Birdy by Naomi Wallace and Horse Country by CJ Hopkins, as well as produced the physical-theater piece LaLaLa (which appeared this year at EdgeFest, the REDCAT Spring Studio Series, the Son of Semele Ensemble Theatre, and the A+D Museum). Matt is also an Associate Director with ArtSpot LA , which converts temporarily available real estate into artist spaces, and a Founding Director of the National Independent Theater Collective (NITC), which provides independent theatre artists access to national audiences through guest productions and artistic exchange. Back in New York, Matt served for three years as the President of the BAT Theater Company, the resident company of actors at the Flea Theater, where he worked with Jim Simpson, Elizabeth Swados, Mac Wellman, AR Gurney, Josh Fox, and Sigourney Weaver. Matt B. Wells is a native Los Angelino, and received his B.S. in Theater from Northwestern University.

Charity is thrilled to be making her Producing debut with needtheatre's production of Birdy. She is first an actor, having started her career as a child in Birmingham, Alabama in commercials, plays, and fashion shows. She took a break from professional acting to focus on her education and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. While living there, she attended Oglethorpe University and pursued her professional acting career once more. She now lives in Burbank, California and is continuing her artistic pursuits not only through the amazing needtheater but through voice over work and small/large screen ventures. Charity has always been an outgoing and cheerful person who is able to quickly tap into other outlets to create unique characters. She's thrilled to have found a home with such an intelligent and dedicated group of talented stage actors in Los Angeles.

Daniel Burrows is a graduate of Syracuse University's Musical Theater Program. He is in a serious relationship with Los Angeles and they are ready to take it to the next level. He is a big fish in what would seem to be a big sea but dan's eyesight is not so good under water. Dan wears glasses. Dan Has recently finished The greatest movie ever, "Whiffleball" look for it on line. He has worked with The American Shakespeare Center (Sebastian, Richmond, Quince). He has a background in Classical Theater and a forground in what will someday be classical.

After graduating Emerson College with a BA in Theater Studies: Acting and Directing, and causing a ruckus with his solo show Flesh Eating Leftists, Jayk Gallagher split from Boston to LA in 2004. Since then he's produced comedic work for the internet and Current TV, appeared in TV shows on the E! Network and MTV, and national commercials and print ads for Diet Dr Pepper, Wendy's, Yellowpages.com, Fry's Electronics, Jeep, Sun Microsystems and Verizon. As a Resident Artist with needtheater, Jayk is grateful to return to his roots writing, directing, producing and performing theater as a catalyst for positive social change.

Alison Kantrowich is a URI (Rhode Island) Alum with her degree in Costume Design and Acting. She came to Hollywood from Long Island, NY in 2006 to continue her education at FIDM in Fashion Design. Alison has been working with Needtheater since the fall of 2007 when she designed the costumes for "Birdy" and joined the team as a Resident Artist. Other design credits include: Les Liasions Dangereuses, La Cage Aux Folles, Once Upon a Mattress, Beauty and the Beast, etc. She enjoys being immersed in the passion of the arts, and hopes that Needtheater will grow stronger with every performance opportunity.

Josh Mann -- played the title role in the West Coast premiere of Birdy with Needtheater. Film and TV credits include: The Treatment, Distrust (which he also wrote), and many other shorts and independents. Josh appeared in the Off Broadway premiere of The Booth Variations, and was also a member of the Bat Theater Company in Tribeca, where he was directed in several shows by Jim Simpson, Mac Wellman, Leigh Silverman, and Simon Hammerstein. Josh has acted in many plays with companies such as Theater East, ICAP, The California Shakespeare Festival, La Mama Etc., The National Shakespeare Company, and many others. Josh studies improv with the Groundlings and trained with Wynn Handman at Carnegie Hall.

Michael Wells is a composer, music director, sound designer, and performer. He has created Sound Designs and Original Music for several needtheater shows, including Horse Country and Birdy. Additionally, Mike has worked with Collaboration Town in New York and the Olney Theater Center outside of Washington DC. He holds a BFA from Boston University, works as the Musical Director of “Kids on Stage,” and is thrilled to be a needtheater Resident Artist.

Matt B. Wells    (Artistic Director)

Charity Pirkle    

Daniel Burrows    

Jayk Gallagher 

Josh Mann

In order to bridge the diverse communities of Los Angeles with theater that speaks to our daily lives, needtheater produces performances that bring about social dialogue and expand the role of theater in society.

Michael Wells

Alison Kantrowich