About kef

Mission . Staff . Awards . Press

kef productions is an artist run company producing relevant and exciting theatrical work.  It is our mission to bring to the stage the many voices of our country and of our world.  As producers of theater we are the tellers of stories, and as we tell the stories of many races, religions, ethnicities, sexualities, classes, economic, social and spiritual backgrounds we strive to highlight the uniqueness of each individual story in order to strengthen the unity that makes us human.  As an organization, kef productions will utilize the individual strengths of its members to build a solid artistic institution.

 

kef productions’ mission is to:

 

• Create a team of theatre artists as administrators to run a clearly defined well planned theatrical producing organization.
• Promote artistic, ethnic, cultural, social, economic and sexual diversity.
• Produce theater that is relevant and exciting to both the artists and the audience.
• Present the work of living playwrights, both established and emerging, to a New York audience using the highest caliber of artists we can assemble.
• Create a nurturing environment for our artists where they may simultaneously further the organization and actively pursue their individual careers.
• Maintain the highest possible artistic and production standards.
• Bring affordable theater to our schools and communities.

 

STAFF

Adam Fitzgerald – Artistic Director
Adam Fitzgerald is a founding member of kef productions. With kef: Lyric is Waiting, V, Roll, Corpus Christi, Artists Rising, Michael Pesce’s Old Fashioned Piano Party, Girl in the Goldfish Bowl, The Female Terrorist Project. Other credits: Directing Resident at Playwrights Horizons assisting Wilson Milam, Bartlett Sher and Kate Whoriskey on plays by Nicky Silver (Three Changes with Maura Tierney), Craig Lucas (Prayer for my Enemy with Victoria Clark and Jonathan Groff) and Christina Anderson (Inked Baby with LaChanze); Artistic Associate at Playhouse West (where his production of Defiance garnered Critics Circle nominations for Director and Production; Top Ten Productions of 2007 by the Contra Costa Times); Associate General Manager at Theatre Row. Other directing: EST Youngbloods, 12 Miles West, Diverse City Theater, First Look Theatre Co. (NYU), The SF Theater Festival and the FringeNYC (at the Cherry Lane) and Fringe Encores (at Soho Playhouse) productions of A Contemporary American’s Guide to Modern Marriage © 1959.

Lori Prince – Producing Director, Acting Company Chair
Lori Prince is a founding member of kef productions. She most recently played Lyric in kef’s production of Lyric is Waiting. Other theater credits include: Sarah, Sarah (Manhattan Theatre Club), Pride and Prejudice (Denver Center Theater Company), Rocket City (Alabama Shakespeare Festival) Midusmmer Night's Dream (Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival), Pirandello’s Henry IV (St. Louis Repertory), The Front Page (Playmakers Repertory), Hamlet (Geva Theatre Center), Key West (Geva Theatre Center), Lobby Hero (Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre), The Book of Ruth (Alliance Theatre Company), A View From The Bridge (Theatrefest), Loot and And Then They Came For Me (George Street Playhouse), and Shayna Maidel (The Bickford Theatre). She attended the Sundance Film Festival in 2005 with the ensemble film 212. In 2006 she had a starring role in the film Johnny Montana which won best feature at the Moondance Film Festival. Her TV credits include: Law and Order, Law & Order: SVU and As The World Turns. She has a BFA in Acting from Syracuse University and an Edward J. Greer Award for Classical Acting.

Kimberly Strafford - Director of Outreach and Education
With kef, Kimberly implemented outreach programs for School's Out and 'Tis the !@#$%-ing Season. Teaching-artist residencies include Youth Shakespeare intensive at Rikers Island, and semester-long drama residencies with special-ed and at-risk classrooms throughout NYC public schools. Past programs include: Education/Outreach Officer for The Abbey Theatre-Dublin IRE, Artist-in-residence for the MA Department of Mental Health, Curriculum Director for the Rebel Shakespeare Company, and facilitator for The Young Actors Workshop in Syracuse NY—a theatre group for young adults with Downs Syndrome. Kimberly earned her MA in Theatre Education from Emerson College and a BFA in Acting from Syracuse University. Acting Credits: Love's Labours Lost (Hudson Shakespeare Co), US tour of Walk Two Moons (Theatreworks USA), US tour of The Yellow Dress (Deana's Fund - combating domestic violence and promoting healthy relationships), Cloak and Dagger (The Rough and Tumble Theatre Co), and A Wrinkle In Time (Syracuse Stage). Kimberly is a proud member of AEA.

Adam J. Rosen – Associate Producer
Adam J. Rosen is an attorney and producer in New York City . Credits include: Matt Sigl: Unstuck in Time (Ars Nova, MAC Award), Unlock’d (NYMF, Best of Fest Award), An Evening with Ewalt and Walker (Playwrights Horizons), Inventing Avi (Abingdon Theatre Company), and the independent film “Another Gay Sequel.” Adam holds degrees from Yale University , Pace University , and the New York University School of Law. He practices law in Manhattan , where he participates in pro bono work through Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.

Matthew Menter - Managing Director
Matthew is a producer for both theatre and film. Last summer, he assistant produced MCC Theater’s FreshPlay Festival.  Directing credits include The Rainmaker, Angels in America, Tartuffe, and A Gaggle of Saints.  He has directed and produced for the Hangar Theatre, MCC Theater, New Dramatists, Stagedoor Manor, Cazenovia College, Syracuse University, and the Syracuse International Film Festival. Has assisted on productions of Art, A Raisin in the Sun, Bunnicula, A Hard Heart, Icarus’s Mother, and Dangerous Corner.  Matthew has a Bachelor of Arts in Writing and Directing for Film and Theatre from Binghamton University.

Dan Kolodny - General Manager
Dan Kolodny is currently pursuing his MBA at NYU’s Stern School of Business. After obtaining a BFA in musical theater, Dan has toured the country in Scarlet Pimpernel’s First National (Ozzie), the 40th Anniversary Tour of Fiddler on the Roof (Rabbi) and the History Channel’s 10 Unexpected Days that Changed America (Professor Did-U-Know). Dan has also performed both locally and regionally, his favorite role playing Thomas in both incarnations of kef production’s Corpus Christi. Dan currently works for NYU as a recruiter and human resources generalist.

ARTISTIC ASSOCIATES

Rob Maitner
Rob Maitner has served as a Legal Assistant for both A&E Television Networks and HBO. He is currently a Legal Secretary for the lawfirm of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. As a performer, Rob has performed with kef productions as John the Baptist in Corpus Christi and as Claus in 'Tis the !@#$%-ing Season. Other credits include the world premiere cast of Urinetown!, the New York premiere of A Clockwork Orange and the role of Einstein in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, which was performed for President and Senator Clinton. He is the recipient of a Bistro Award, an NYC Fringe Best Actor Award, a Talkin' Broadway Best Performance Citation and two OOBR Awards.

Rebecca Atwood
Rebecca Atwood has cast television, film, theater, commercial, and voice-over projects with Manhattan Theatre Club, ABC Primetime, Calleri Casting, and Judy Henderson Casting. Past projects include Chicago(Broadway), Mauritius (Broadway), Blackbird (MTC), Our Leading Lady (MTC), Hamlet (CSC), Richard II (CSC), Mistakes Madeline Made (Naked Angels), Merchant Ivory’s The City of Your Final Destination, ABC’s Hope & Faith, and Lifetime’s Angela’s Eyes. She has also worked in stage management for the Atlantic Theater Company and the Summer Play Festival. Rebecca currently holds a position with The Group Entertainment, an independent film production and talent management company, and also writes BizBuzz, the entertainment industry blog.

David Gurland
David currently works as the manager of the Patron Desk at Carnegie Hall where he is involved with organizing Special Events for Patrons, Trustees and Donors attending concerts; involving ticketing, dining, and all concert related activity. In addition, on a daily basis he coordinates needs of the artists within the structure of the concert hall administration. David is also one of the most sought after ‘out’ male vocalists on the New York nightclub scene, having won numerous awards and citations from the New York Critics including a MAC award, three Bistro Awards and a GLAAMY nomination. He released his first CD to rave reviews, and is working on a follow up in 2008.

Steven Strafford
Steven most recently toured Asia as the Herald in Cinderella with Lea Salonga. Prior to that tour, Steven opened Spamalot in Las Vegas playing the roles of Prince Herbert, the Historian, and several others, and toured Europe as Eugene in Grease. Other favorite roles include Costard in Love's Labors Lost, Anthony in Sweeney Todd, and Harold in Inside Out. He is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association and a teaching artist with Live Project.

 

AFFILIATED ARTISTS

Over the years kef has worked with many people who have inspired and challenged us. The following are a few of the artists who have helped shape kef theatrical productions.


Christopher J. Bailey - Design
Larry Bull - Actor
Dina Comolli - Actor
Kati Fitzgerald - Design
Kelli Fox – Actor
Israel Horovitz - Playwright
Joesph Mathers - Technical Support
Kelly McAndrew - Actor
Michael Pesce - Actor/Singer/Musical Director
Mac Rogers - Playwright
Dan Strafford - Multimedia
Madeline Strum - Design/Photography
Sean and Jordana Williams - Composer/Lyricist
 

AWARDS

2006-2007 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance, the cast of "Lebensraum"

 

PRESS

Lyric is Waiting (July 30th – August 28th, 2009)

Lyric Is Waiting New York Times review

Lyric is Waiting promoted on Broadway.com

Lyric Is Waiting promoted on Broadway.com

Article announcing cast of Lyric is Waiting on Playbill.com

Interview with Michael Puzzo , the playwright of Lyric is Waiting, in the Clyde Fitch Report

Interview with Michael Puzzo and the blogger Adam Szymkowicz

Interview with Lori Prince and blogger Zach Calhoon

Interview with Michael Puzzo and Paper Magazine

 

Piano Party (February 19th and February 21st, 2010)

Press release from Broadwayworld.com

 

Killing Women Reading (February 2nd, 2009)

Article announcing cast on Playbill.com

Article announcing cast on Theatermania.com

Article about Killing Women playwright Marisa Wegryzn on Broadwayworld.com

 

Interlopers Reading (November 2nd, 2009)

Article announcing cast on Theatermania.com

 

Artists Rising (December 12th and December 13 th, 2009)

Playbill.com promotes upcoming Artists Rising

 

Lebensraum (December 13th - December 30 th, 2006)

Review in Daily Variety for Lebensraum

 

'Tis the @#$%-ing Season (December 8th – December 21 st, 2005)

Review from Talking Broadway.com

 

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