PASSING STRANGE

He/Him

BOOK, MUSIC & LYRICS

Stew is the critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, founder, and leader of The Negro Problem, a pop-rock combo from Los Angeles whose works include “Post Minstrel Syndrome” (1997), “Joys and Concerns” (1999), and “Welcome Black” (2002). Along with Heidi Rodewald, he cofounded the Afro-Baroque cabaret ensemble known as STEW. Their works include “Guest Host” (2000), “The Naked Dutch Painter” (2002), and “Something Deeper Than These Changes” (2003). He was an artist-in-residence at the California Institute of the Arts (2004-2005), Sundance Theater Lab (2004-2005), Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab (2005), and Sundance Director’s Lab (2005). Stew is also the composer of “Gary Come Home” for the “SpongeBob SquarePants” cartoon.

She/Her

MUSIC

Heidi Rodewald has spent over a decade as a performer, arranger, producer, and composer for both The Negro Problem and the multi- disciplinary ensemble known as Stew. She co-wrote the musical Passing Strange, which premiered at Berkeley Rep/The Public Theatre (2006-2007) and then transferred to Broadway in 2008, where it was nominated for seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Orchestrations. The show has been honored with the Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical and the 2008 Obie Award for Best New American Theater Piece. She composed music for Karen Kandel’s Portraits: Night and Day (2004) and co-wrote with Stew the screenplay “We Can See Today,” Sundance Screenwriters Lab/Director’s Lab (2005). She wrote and performed with seminal female punk band Wednesday Week.

He/Him

DIRECTOR

Dean Drieberg is Resident Director of Hamilton Australia and Co-Artistic Director of Watch This where he co-directed Sunday In The Park With George with Sonya Suares, receiving two Green Room Award nominations for Best Direction and Multimedia Design. For Antipodes, he previously directed a development of Michelle Gould's 107 and a reading of Harrison David Rivers' This Bitter Earth. For StageArt, he directed bare: The Musical and the Australian Premiere of Memphis The Musical. Dean has worked on over 20 national tours such as Madiba, Matador, The 39 Steps and Bombshells, playing at over 50 venues around Australia and New Zealand.

Photo by Nathan Lang

She/Her

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, EQUITY & INCLUSION SUPPORT OFFICER

Cessalee Stovall is an Intimacy Director, Director, Cultural Consultant and Equity, Access and Inclusion Specialist and she is an unapologetic champion for the physical, psychological and cultural safety of all humans in our industry. As an Intimacy Director. Cessalee has trained with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, Intimacy Directors of Color and Theatrical Intimacy Education and studied under Intimacy Coordinators Australia. As an actor, Cessalee is a proud union member who has worked in film, TV and theatre in Australia and the US. Cessalee is the founder of Stage A Change, Mama to Alula and wife of Scott. Photo by Laura Hale.

She/They

MUSICAL DIRECTOR, CONDUCTOR & KEYS

Marissa Saroca is a singer/musician/actor with an extensive recording, songwriting, coaching, and live performance career. They have released two original albums and was on Team Lea (Salonga) of The Voice of the Philippines. Acting highlights: Ensemble in Ghost and Shrek (Manila), Gabriella in High School Musical (Newcastle Entertainment Centre), Ensemble/'Seasons Of Love' soloist/cover for Maureen & Joanne in Rent (Sydney Opera House), The Arbiter in Chess (Civic Theatre Newcastle), and the title character in Lizzie (Hayes Theatre, Sydney). Photo by Keane Fletcher.

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CHOREOGRAPHER

Loredo Malcolm started training at age nine at Ashe Caribbean Performing Arts in Jamaica. In 2009, he made it into the top nine on So You Think You Can Dance. Theatre credits include The Lion King (Australia, Shanghai and London's West End), Chicago (Singapore and Hong Kong), Hairspray, Wicked, Mame, Follies, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (The Production Company), The Book of Mormon (Australian tour), and is currently in Hamilton (Michael Cassel Group). Loredo is Director/Owner of Locreado Dance Company Australia and is a proud member of MEAA. @Loredomalcolm www.loredomalcolm.com

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DIALECT COACH

Mark Wong is a Malaysian-born, Melbourne-based voice, speech and accent coach. Trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, Mark teaches voice and speech at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA Theatre). His production coaching credits include Next to Normal (Pursued by Bear), The Phantom of the Opera (Ballarat Lyric Theatre Company), Titanic The Musical (StageArt), The Color Purple (StageArt), and One Man, Two Guvnors (Heidelberg Theatre Company).

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SET & COSTUME DESIGNER

Bianca Pardo is a passionate Melbourne/Naarm based designer and maker. Her credits in 2018 include costume roles on The Gallery Workout with the NGV, The Dressmaker and School of Rock. Throughout 2019, her graduate year at the Victorian College of the Arts, she was the Set Designer for Fucking A and Costume Designer for Mad Forest. Bianca also interned with Semafor Theatre and Ceská Televize in Prague and with Set and Costume Designer Christina Smith. In 2021, Bianca designed for two femme-ВІРОС projects, TakeBack! and Ngarngk: Giver of Life. This year, Bianca dressed for Jagged Little Pill and is now dressing for Hamilton. Photo by Amanda Hitten.

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LIGHTING DESIGNER

Sam's diverse Lighting Design work has taken him from large scale events to intimate cabaret experiences. His Lighting Design credits include: Ngaire: Takeover 2.0 Tour, Carols by Cabaret (LPD/Hayes Theatre Co.), Queens Feast at Sydney Town Hall (Sydney Solstice), Anything Goes, The Odd Couple, Monty Python's Spamalot, Vicar of Dibley II: Born Again (Players Theatre Inc.), Comedy Kiki, Big Thick Energy, Bloom Festival and Thirsty Thursdays with Andrew Bukenya (Darlinghurst Theatre Company). In his design for music, he has worked with artists such as Odette, Huck Hastings, Hot Potato Band, Amanda Palmer, HANDSOME, Baby et Lulu and Banofee. Photo by Nick Wylie.

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SOUND DESIGNER

Evan Drill is a Melbourne-based sound designer, working mainly in music theatre. Design credits include Ghost Quartet (Antipodes Theatre), Heathers (Australian Tour), Madiba (Aus/NZ tour). As a mix engineer, Evan has toured productions of Girl From The North Country, Kinky Boots, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia! & Barnum. In the Cabaret world, Evan was part of the team which began the Melbourne Cabaret Festival, and was technical manager of the Butterfly Club for many vears, helping desian the city venue. He recently toured the world's largest Spiegeltent around Australia as head of sound.