A journey across America in words, music, and images by Martina Saltamacchia, José Medina, TJ Berden, Michele Averchi, and Jonathan Ghaly. Music by Jonathan Fields and Christopher Vath. Images by Lee Jeffries, Randy Halverson, and Patrick Witty.
American sounds and voices of hope, desolation and longing furtively stolen from the accounts of men and women who, in facing the unexpected, discover the unknown self.
Grand piano courtesy of Steinway & Sons
A special thanks to Michael and Sharon Mollerus whose generous support has made this performance possible.
CHRISTOPHER VATH, Composer
Born in New Orleans, pianist-composer Chris Vath has had a varied career in music. He has been a piano soloist with orchestras in Louisiana, Michigan and New York, performed solo recitals in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, played for Pope Benedict at his summer residence, composed and performed for the advertising industry (Cingular, Mercedes Benz, Anderson Consulting), published choral works, and taught piano and chamber music. He lives in Brooklyn, where he teaches piano and works in liturgical music. The Girl from Hong Kong is his fourth in a list of theatrical concerts for the New York Encounter which includes The Katrina Letters, Invasion, and Fatherhood.
JONATHAN FIELDS, Composer
Jonathan Fields is a New York based composer. He has composed and arranged music for hundreds of television spots in his tenure with David Horowitz Music Associates as well as for his company L-Sid Productions. Throughout his career he has worked with a variety of artists including Phillip Glass, Glen Branca, The Bang on a Can All Stars, The Big Apple Circus, The Yale Jazz Ensemble and Blue Lou Marini. He has composed and collaborated on many projects for independent film, documentary film, dance and theater. Recent works include, Adam’s Dance with Jamel Gaines' Creative Outlet Dance, The Psalms with David Horowitz et al., and Fatherhood. He lives in Brooklyn where he teaches guitar and works in liturgical music.
MARTINA SALTAMACCHIA, Director
Martina Saltamacchia is Associate Professor of Medieval History and Director of Medieval/Renaissance Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She holds a Ph.D. in Economic and Social History (Bocconi University, Milan, Italy) and a Ph.D. in Medieval History (Rutgers University, NJ). On the stories of the people who built the Cathedral of Milan, she has published Milano: Un Popolo e il suo Duomo (2007) and Costruire Cattedrali (2011).
JOE HOOVER, S.J., Director
Joe Hoover is a writer, actor, poetry editor at America Media and drama teacher at Brooklyn Jesuit Prep. His plays have been produced at the Davenport Theatre, John Houseman Studio Too and the Midtown International Theatre Festival. He is founder of Xavier Theatre and Film company and is a Jesuit brother. (Joehoover.net)
SEAN CARVAJAL, Actor
Sean Carvajal recently made his Broadway debut in King Lear. His Off-Broadway credits include Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, for which he won the Signature Theatre, Lucille Lortel, Obie, Drama Desk, and Clarence Derwent Awards; Seven Spots on the Sun, Tell Hector I Miss Him, Queen Latina and Her Power Posse, Ghetto Babylon, Lissabon, and Holy Land. His other theatre credits include Water by The Spoonful, Seven Spots on the Sun, Between Riverside and Crazy. On TV, he can be seen in Crashing (HBO). Proud member of the LAByrinth Theater Company, he is a member of Actor's Equity Association.
KEVIN COLLINS, Actor
Kevin Collins made his New York theatre debut with The Peter Hall Company at BAM. His other theatre credits include plays at the Irish Rep, EST, Lyric Belfast, Abbey Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, Sherover Theatre Jerusalem, and in London’s West End. Kevin’s film work includes Munich, Baby Mama, Infinite Justice, The Other Guys, and Everybody’s Fine. TV credits include guest star roles in The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, L&O SVU, Shades of Blue, Person of Interest, Believe, Unforgettable, Mysteries of Laura, and Gossip Girl. His audiobooks include My Share of the Task, Trauma, No God No Civilization, and Vernon God Little. He is a Member of Actor's Equity Association.
MELISSA PETERSEN, Actress
Melissa is thrilled to be a part of The Girl from Hong Kong. Past roles include Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker, Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. She has studied with George Loizides and most recently with Eric Paeper at The Barrow Group in Manhattan. She lives in Brooklyn.
MESSERET STROMAN WHEELER, Actress
Messeret is an Audelco Award-winning actor, and 3-time nominee. Her theatre credits include Fast Blood, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Insurrection: Holding History, and Blue. On TV, she can be seen on The Sopranos, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, and in commercials like Disney World, IKEA, Brawny, and more. Her voice can be heard in Soul Men, Damages, and Boardwalk Empire, commercials for Advil, Verizon, Huggies, Kellogg’s, and the video games Red Dead Revolver, Grand Theft Auto and The Warriors. She is the Associate Producer/Social Media Manager of The American Slavery Project. She is an original board member of Shamel Pitts’ TRIBE and is married to actor Ed Wheeler. She is a Member of Actor's Equity Association. www.Messeret.me
NICHOLAS HUTAK, Light Designer
Nicholas is a 2-time Emmy award-winning Director of Photography and Lighting Designer with over 40 years’ experience working in television, live events and feature films. This variety of disciplines has taken him on an international journey using light, shadow and movement to tell a story. Over the past 20 years, he has designed and consulted on over 120 international and national news sets and environments using practical solutions that achieve the perfect balance of function, efficiency and aesthetics.
