Artist Biographies

MAX ALEXANDER-TAYLOR (BEN)

Max trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Theatre credits include The Lion (Southwark Playhouse), Shift+Alt+Right (ALP Musicals), Stages (VAULT Festival), We Need to Talk About Norman (Toulouse-Lautrec), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Iris Theatre), Jones’ Diary (Studio 88), and Jeannie (Finborough Theatre). Workshops include Longitude (Newsroom Theatre Company), Our Last First (NDT Broadgate/ Union Theatre), Erika Mann, Prophet (New Shoes Theatre), Raintown (Dundee Repertory Theatre), Bingo (Stellar Quines Theatre Company), The Bow Maker (National Theatre of Scotland), and The Promised Land (Old Red Lion Theatre). Theatre while training includes Melchior in Spring Awakening, Houdini in Side Show, Various in London Road, Ensemble/understudy American in Chess, and Andrei in The Three Sisters.

BENJAMIN SCHEUER (BOOK, MUSIC, LYRICS) Benjamin Scheuer is an American songwriter. He is the recipient of the 2021 Kleban Prize for Lyrics. Scheuer gave more than 500 performances of The Lion across the United States and the UK, winning a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance and an Off-West End Award for Best New Musical. Filmed at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, his performance of The Lion is available to watch on BroadwayHD.com. Scheuer’s album Songs from The Lion was released alongside four animated music videos, which garnered prizes including Best Commissioned Film at the Annecy Film Festival and two consecutive Public Choice for Best Music Video Awards at the British Animation Awards. Scheuer is the author of two children’s books: Hibernate With Me and Hundred Feet Tall, both illustrated by Jemima Williams. With playwright Melis Aker, he has adapted Hundred Feet Tall into a family musical. With book writer Rick Elice, Scheuer is writing a musical about Peter Roget, creator of Roget’s Thesaurus. With director Polly Findlay, he is developing a new autobiographical musical piece about being a parent. Originally from New York, Scheuer lives in London with his family. @BenjaminScheuer

SEAN DANIELS (DIRECTOR)

Sean is honored to be making his Cincinnati Playhouse debut. His work has been seen in Scotland (Traverse Theatre, Tron, Necessary Space), United Kingdom (St. James, Southwark Playhouse) and was the first American director asked to direct at the Baltic American Playwrights Conference in Hiiumaa, Estonia. In the United States at Manhattan Theatre Club (The Lion, Drama Desk Award and Theatre World Award, nominated for Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle), 59E59 (NYC, I and You, nominated for Outer Critics Circle), Lynn Redgrave Theater (NYC), The Kennedy Center (Washington, DC), St. James (West End, London - The Lion, winner of Best New Musical), and at many wonderful regionals (Old Globe, ACT, Geffen Playhouse, Cleveland Play House, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Long Wharf Theatre, Alliance Theatre, and the Neo-Futurists in Chicago). In addition, Sean has been an Artistic Director at Merrimack Repertory and Dad’s Garage Theatre (which he co-founded); and an Associate Artistic Director at California Shakespeare Theatre and Actors Theatre of Louisville. He is currently the Artistic Director of Arizona Theatre Company.

ALEX STENHOUSE (DIRECTOR)

Training: University of Exeter, Young Vic Directors Programme, National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT). Theatre directing credits include The Lion (Southwark Playhouse, London with Sean Daniels); The Trees of Nature (Canal Cafe Theatre, London); The One (OSO Arts Centre, London); Conversations (OSO, London); Love Among the Penguins (Mardon Hall, Exeter); and [Title of Show] (Thornlea Studios, Exeter). He was Associate Director for Wonderful Town (Opera Holland Park) and Creative Team Assistant for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (UK Tour, which transferred to London Palladium, West End). Assistant Director credits include Private Lives (UK Tour); Seussical (Southwark Playhouse); Theatrical Digs (Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford); My Dad’s Gap Year (The Park Theatre); Shida (The Vaults); Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (Union Theatre); 21 Chump Street (The Courtyard); The Beautiful Game (NYMT, The Other Palace); and Don Jo (Arcola Theatre). Recent film directing credits include Nils Hoffmann featuring Hi Frisco, Julia Church and Bailey’s “Guiding Light” live session (music video); Lily Lyons’ “Don’t” Live Sessions (four music videos); Steven Weston featuring RHODES, Låpsley & Ta ’s Alter the Flow live EP (music video); Calmness’ “Angel” (music video); Benjamin Scheuer’s Abbey Road Live Sessions (12 music videos); Høney’s “Run Away” (music video); Lo-Ke x Shadow Kyd’s “Henny Nights” (music video); Sleeper Service’s “Punctures” (music video); Wildflower (short film); Homebody (short film); and Daisy and Me (online play). Alex was an Associate Director for Flux Theatre’s FLUX GYM. He was part of Shakespeare’s Globe’s Directing Studio and the National Theatre’s Developing Playwrighting course, and he was a script reader for the Hampstead Theatre. Dedicated to Tasha Adkins. www.alexstenhouse.com @alexstenhouse_

SIMON KENNY (SCENIC & COSTUME DESIGNER) Off-Broadway credits include the multi-award-winning Sweeney Todd in a purpose-built pie shop (Barrow Street Theatre, Drama Desk Nomination for “Outstanding Set Design of a Musical”). West End credits include Sweeney Todd (Harrington’s Shaftesbury Avenue); The Selfish Giant, a folk opera by Guy Chambers (Vaudeville Theatre). UK and international credits include Whistle Down The Wind and Assassins (The Watermill Theatre); The Wiz (Hope Mill Theatre); Blue/Orange (Northampton Royal); Ghost Quartet (Boulevard Theatre); Noughts & Crosses (Pilot Theatre/UK tour); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Britten), Le Nozze di Figaro (Nevill Holt Opera); The Gift (Eclipse Theatre Company/UK tour); Cabaret (English Theatre Frankfurt); Red Dust Road (National Theatre of Scotland); Vivienne (Royal Opera House: Linbury Theatre); Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare’s Globe); In The Next Room (or the vibrator play) and Saturday Night Fever (Theatre Royal Bath/UK tour); Island (National Theatre); and Border Force, an immersive installation/performance/ club event for Duckie. Simon’s designs for Black Men Walking (Eclipse Theatre Company) were selected to represent the UK at the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and the V&A Museum.

EMMA CHAPMAN (LIGHTING DESIGNER) Theatre credits include Beauty And The Beast (Rose Theatre, Kingston); The Ruff Tuff Cream Puff Estate Agency (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry); Ghost Quartet (Boulevard Theatre); Rosenbaum’s Rescue (Park Theatre); The Mountaintop (Theatre 503 & Trafalgar Studio); The Painter (Arcola Theatre); Kiss Me Kate (Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris; Theatre de la Ville, Luxembourg, Oper Graz); Utility (Orange Tree Theatre); The Importance of Being Earnest (Theatr Clwyd Cymru); The Human Ear (Paines Plough); Joanne (Clean Break & Soho Theatre); Boi Boi is Dead (Leeds Theatre Trust); Rose

(with Art Malik, Edinburgh Festival Fringe); The Machine Gunners, The Planet and Stuff, and Run (Polka Theatre); Dublin Carol (Donmar Season); Sex with a Stranger (Trafalgar Studios); and Three Sea Plays (Old Vic Tunnels). Opera credits include The Paradis Files (Graeae Theatre Company, UK Tour); Xerxes, Carmen and Cosi Fan Tutte (Royal College of Music); The Pied Piper (Opera North);and Il Turco in Italia (Angers-Nantes Opera and Luxembourg). emmachapman.co.uk

ANDREW JOHNSON (SOUND DESIGNER) Andrew has spent the last 17 years working in sound and the last 13 years working in professional theatre as Production Sound Engineer, Operator, Assistant Sound Designer, Associate Sound Designer, and Sound Designer. Andrew won the Broadway World Fans Choice Award for “Best Sound Design” for The Play That Goes Wrong on Broadway and has also been shortlisted for “Best Sound Design” for Grand Hotel, Mack & Mabel and Titanic in the UK. Andrew’s most recent theatre credits include Violet, Mythic, It Happened In Key West, Harold And Maude, The Woman In White, The Knowledge, The Braille Legacy, Death Takes A Holiday, Christina Bianco - Oh Come All Ye Divas! and Ragtime (Charing Cross Theatre); Titanic (UK & Ireland tour, Charing Cross Theatre & Southwark Playhouse); The Wedding Singer, Secret Garden, Spring Awakening, Merrily We Roll Along and Bad Girls (Urdang Academy); Mamma Mia! and We Will Rock You (Romania tours); Mischief Move Night and Mischief Magic (UK tours 2018); Les Misérables In Concert (Beau Sejour, Guernsey); Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert (ArtsEd); The Grift (Town Hall Hotel, Bethnal Green); The Toxic Avenger (Southwark Playhouse, Edinburgh Festival & Arts Theatre); Brexit The Musical (London & Edinburgh Festival); Tommy (UK tour/Ramps On The Moon Project 2018).

WILLIAM KIRKHAM (ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGNER) William is thrilled to be working with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park again. Previous credits include Little Shop of Horrors in 2017. Regional credits include work with Alliance Theatre, Arena Stage, Arizona Theatre Company, ArtsWest, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Childsplay, Contemporary American Theater Festival, The Hypocrites, Lookingglass Theatre Company, McCarter Theatre Center, Phoenix Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Sideshow Theatre Company, South Coast Repertory, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. William is the Professor of Lighting Design at Arizona State University and he is a proud member of Local USA 829. His work has received Joseph Jefferson and Suzi Bass Awards. wckirkham.com

BRANDON T. HOLMES (STAGE MANAGER)

Brandon is thrilled to return to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park for a fourth season. Playhouse credits include the world premiere of The West End, A Christmas Carol and Steel Magnolias. For eight seasons, he was the Production Stage Manager for Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati where he managed over 40 productions. Highlights with ETC include Fun Home, The Mountaintop, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, An Iliad, Grounded, Violet, Pipeline, The Humans, Skeleton Crew and Hands on a Hardbody. During the summer, he is the Production Stage Manager for The Lexington Theatre Company where he has stage managed productions of Chicago, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Legally Blonde, West Side Story and Newsies. Other regional credits include productions of Hello, Dolly!, The Drowsy Chaperone and Side By Side by Sondheim (LOOK Musical Theatre); Red, White & Broadway,

Golden: MTWichita at 50 (Music Theatre Wichita); and workshops with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Cleveland Play House. Brandon is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Thank you to his family and his husband, A.J, for their continued love and support.

ANDREA L. SHELL (SECOND STAGE MANAGER) Andrea is excited to be celebrating her 22nd season with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, having worked on more than 100 productions, including 22 world premieres. Last season, she also stepped into the role of Production Stage Manager. A highlight of every season for her has been stage managing A Christmas Carol. Favorite Playhouse credits include Murder on the Orient Express;School Girls Or, the African Mean Girls Play; Rooted; Alias Grace; The Last Wide Open; Treasure Island; Mr. Joy; Jane Eyre; Bad Dates; The Revolutionists; I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti; Merrily We Roll Along; As You Like It; The Understudy; Blackbird; Durango; Around the World in 80 Days; Altar Boyz; Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming; Reckless; Ace; The Clean House; A Picasso; One; Abracadabra (2002-2007); The Bible … (abridged); and Dark Paradise. She has also stage managed at Dallas Theater Center, The Old Globe, Cincinnati Ballet, Alliance Theatre, The Second City and Ingenuity Festival of Cleveland. In 2014, Andrea joined the adjunct faculty of Xavier University’s Theatre Program, and in 2018, she became a contributor for Dramatics.org, writing backstage articles for their online content. Andrea is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. She would like to thank her family, friends, Dylan and Scott for their unending support.

ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY (CO-PRODUCER)

Arizona Theatre Company’s performances bring people together to experience essential stories – from reimagined classics to contemporary plays, from original works to innovative musicals – that foster continued conversation beyond the theatre walls. Founded in 1966 and celebrating its 55th season, ATC is led by Kasser Family Artistic Director Sean Daniels and Managing Director Geri Wright. ATC is the only LORT theatre to operate in two major cities and is the preeminent professional theatre in Arizona, recognized as the offi cial State theatre. Not solely a stage to present on, ATC produces world-class productions through world premieres, stage design, costumes, and more. The 55th season centers on thought-provoking dialogue and shared social issues to connect and foster understanding between people. World-Class artists, Drama Desk Winners, New York Times Critics’ Picks, West End favorites, and best-loved Arizona locals join ATC to showcase the highest-quality productions in the state. For more information about ATC, visit atc.org