Jason Schuler is the artistic director and founder of the Operating Theater. He has directed their productions of The Garden of Forked Tongues, Van Driver, Are You ALIVE?!, FLAT and The Doctor Schüler Medicine Show. He is the author of The Garden of Forked Tongues, Van Driver and Are You ALIVE?!, and co-author of FLAT. He has also directed plays at New York City venues including: The Lamb’s Theater, HERE, Obie Award-Winning Little Theater at Tonic, PS122’s Avant-Garde-Arama, The Culture Project, Catch Series at Galapagos, Center Stage NY, The Brick. At Miramax Films, he directed special shoots for the festival promos for Shakespeare in Love and Dogma. He has performed at numerous venues throughout New York City including The Kitchen, PS122, Dixon Place, HERE Arts Center and The Gershwin Hotel, regionally in Los Angeles at El Cid and MET theater, in Dallas, Pittsburgh, and at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. He holds a bachelor's degree drama and film from NYU's Experimental Theater Wing and Department of Film & Television.

Dori Ann Scagnelli is the managing producer and a founding member of the Operating Theater. She began her creative journey at the New School University where she studied film. While attending school, she began working in theater and was completely captivated by the process and energy of the stage leading her to produce indie theater for the past eleven years. Dori Ann has collaborated on numerous projects throughout New York City including: short films, music videos, film festivals, art installations, film and television news editing. Producing credits include FLAT! at The Moral Values and The Moral The Merrier Festivals at The Brick Theater, Are You ALIVE?! at Little Theater at Tonic, The Phoenix Artspace, Catch Series at Galapagos, and Avant-Garde-Arama at PS 122; The Present Perfect at The Brick Theater and two productions of Van Driver at The Cherry Lane Theater's Cherry Pit Late Nite series.

Kourtney Rutherford is an actress, writer and director. Her stage work has been performed at The Kitchen, Brooklyn Arts Exchange, The New York International Fringe Festival, and the Collapsable Hole. A graduate of the Experimental Theater Wing at NYU, Kourtney has performed nationally and internationally with the Obie award winning company Big Dance Theater. She is a founding member of the Operating Theater and has collaborated with the company on numerous productions.

Tim Donovan Jr. is a founding member of The Operating Theater and has appeared in many of their productions including The Garden of Forked Tongues, The Present Perfect, Van Driver, and FLAT. He has worked with many artists including Jenny Seastone Stern, Kourtney Rutherford, and Richard Sylvarnes. His films include Charlie by Salvatore Interlandi, Feeling Better Now by Keren Atzmon, Bring The War Home by Smokey Nelson, Hal Hartley’s Fay Grim, and Richard Foreman’s Planet Earth: Dreams. He is a long time collaborator with DJ Mendel appearing in many of his projects like Vagabondage, Wake Up and Waltz, and Tom, Dick, and Harry. Together they designed both Rosanne Cash’s Black Cadilac Tour and Eileen Ivers’ Beyond The Bog Road Tour. He is a graduate of the SUNY New Paltz Theater Department.

Keith Chandler’s favorite roles include Charles Albert in The Garden of Forked Tongues, Lysander in the Off Broadway hit Fools In Love, Pontagnac in An Absolute Turkey (dir. Nina Garcia), Dan Henniman in Lee Blessing’s Down The Road, and a medley of madmen in An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein. He is currently in pre-production for Titania, a film written and directed by Lisa Stock, produced by In By The Eye Films.

Off-Broadway: Perdita, Missionaries, Doonesbury Flashbacks. Off-Off: A Bird Like Other Birds, FLAT, Murder of the Seas. Regional: Tantalus, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, The Nerd. Nat’l and Internat’l: Scooby-Doo Live in Stagefright, Royal Caribbean: Krooz Komics. Pierre is an alumni of the Experimental Theater Wing at NYU and the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver.

Kenny Finkle (playwright) is the author of Indoor/Outdoor, (DR2 Theatre, Hangar Theatre, Summer Play Festival, Trinity Rep, among others). His work has been seen at The Old Globe, Playwrights Horizons, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Portland Stage and the Atlantic Theatre Company, et al.  He is a recipient of a NYFA fellowship, a NYSCA grant and the University of Illinois’ Inner Voices prize. He is a graduate of Columbia University’s MFA Playwriting program and a New York University’s Experimental Theatre Wing.

first appeared with the Operating Theater as Julie/Julie in FLAT, for which she also drew the animation. Lured in by its unique brand of metaphysics and public television nostalgia, she came back for a double dip in the second installation of Van Driver, where she appeared as Allegra 'Peapod' Ramtha II, a shamaness with a penchant for plastic surgery. Alison has appeared in over fifteen features films, most notably Gus Van Sant's To Die For and the indie hit All Over Me, for which she received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress in 1997. More recent work has includes Todd Haynes' I'm Not There and David O Russel's The Fighter, slated for release in fall 2010. Alison lives in Cambridge, MA, and recreates famous movie scenes on video in her spare time. http://alisonfolland.com.

Christine Holt hails from Las Vegas, which explains her affinity for feathers and shiney objects. The majority of her career has been dedicated to working with up and coming writers on new, cutting edge, thought provoking material. She has been seen onstage at theaters such as HERE, PS 122, Dance Theater Workshop, Cherry Lane Theater and the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis. She has had the pleasure of working with the likes of Moises Kufman, Andrea Kleine, Kenny Finkle and Penny Arcade. Her latest project is the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter which she hopes will be a fruitful endeavor. She graduated with a BFA from NYU's Experimental Theater Wing.

Eben Moore has collaborated with Operating Theater on FLAT and The Van Driver Experience. He performed in Sibyl Kempson's The Wytche of Problymm Plantation and Crime or Emergency at Dixon Place. He is currently involved with the Upright Citizens Brigade theater, and can be seen performing with the independent troop Marty. He was also seen in the independent film Suits with Steve Carell and Robert Klein in which he played Robert De Mole.

Elizabeth Stine last appeared with Dr. Schüler in at his lectures on Exploring the Multiverse at Pete's Candy Store and Little Theater at Dixon Place. She has performed with several improv groups at the People's Improv Theater, UCB and Above Kleptomania. She has been featured in the Operating Theater's productions of The Garden of Forked Tongues and Van Driver. She is also a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist for several bands and hopes one day to be big in Japan. She holds a BFA in Drama from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.

Evelyn Sullivan’s favorite roles include Ilga in Transylvania is for Lovers, Gloriana in Cocktails at the Centre of the Earth, Shiela in The Boys Next Door, and Waki in Noh Oedipus. As a founding member of the Figment Theatre Company she produces original one-act festivals, including: Robot Uprising, Monster Uprising, and Superhero Uprising (Spring 2011). She earned her theater degree at Towson University, Maryland. When not acting, Ms. Sullivan enjoys studying Tribal Fusion Bellydance with Sarah Johanssen Locke, performing with the Alchemy Tribal Collective.

was last seen in the Operating Theater’s production of The Garden of Forked Tongues. At The Kitchen she was the near-sighted pianist in Mike Taylor’s Not Knowing. She was a collaborator in the six year Off-Broadway run of The Donkey Show directed by Diane Paulus, originating Tytania/Sander in New York, London, and Madrid. New York stage appearances include: Swimming With Watermelons (Vineyard Theatre), Anon (Atlantic Theater), Much Ado About Nothing (McCarter Theater), as Prince Gengi in Thousand Years Waiting (PS122), The Karaoke Show (China Club), Love, The Greatest Enchantment (dir. Andrei Serban) and The Trojan Women: A Love Story (dir. Tina Landau). Training: MFA Columbia. She is a founder of CreateUrLife where she facilitates acting education with Tom Brangle. Upcoming film: A Bird in the Hand.

Peter Hœrburger (lighting designer): The Erotic Diary of Anne Frank, Gaugleprixtown (Studio 42); We Are Being Held (Coffee Cup Theatre Co.); Boise, St. Crispin’s Day (Rattlestick); Fear (Naked Angels); Present Perfect (Winner NYIT Award); Shout! (National Tour); Marvin’s Room, HurlyBurly, Crimes of the Heart, Taste of Honey, Bedroom Farce (T. Schreiber Studio); Peter Pan, Tom Jones, Waiting for Godot, The Foreigner, The Orchard, Towards Zero (Dorset Theater Festival); Back to Society, Uncensored 08, 10, Fresh Play Festival 08 & 09 (MCC Youth Co.).Recent ALD Credits: Stuffed and Unstrung (Henson Alternative); Beauty and the Beast (National Tour); Brighton Beach Memoirs, Broadway Bound (Netherlander Theatre); Accent on Youth (MTC); 13 The Musical (Jacobs Theatre); A Catered Affair (Kerr Theatre); Dr Atomic (Met Opera). Peter holds a BFA from the Conservatory of Theatre Arts and Film at Purchase College.

Helene Montagna (stage manager) has worked backstage in theatre for the past twenty-five years, performing every behind the scenes role from stage crew to stage manager to director. For the Operating Theater, she stage managed Van Driver in 2008 at the Cherry Lane. Also a playwright, Helene's one act drama Moving Day was produced in April 2010 at the Kraine Theater (By & By Productions). Two of her short plays, Momentary Blindness and The Intervention were produced by Sundog Theatre's Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry '09 and '10. Helene's work has been read and workshopped at Sea View Playwright's Theatre, Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre, The Playwrights Group and Primary Stages. She is an alumnus of LAByrinth Theater's Master class and has studied playwriting with Richard Caliban, David Caudle, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Jose Rivera and Dan O'Brien.

Jennifer Paar (costume designer): Recent design credits include: Transatlantica, The Garden of Forked Tongues, ’Tis Pity She's a Whore (Toy Box Theater Company), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Stonington Opera House, ME), Conni’s Avant Garde Restaurant (The Ohio Theatre), Futurity, The Musical with The Lisps (Joe’s Pub), Bus Stop (Ramapo College, NJ), Angels in America- Millennium Approaches (Juniata College, PA), When It Stands Still (Toy Box Theatre Company), Rabbit Hole (Premiere Stages, NJ), A Few Good Men (Cortland Repertory Theatre, NY), Every Day Above Ground with Sabooge Theatre Company (PS 122), and Thrill Me (The York Theatre). Jennifer received her MFA in costume design from NYU.

Nellie Millbrook made her stage debut in the Operating Theater production of Are You ALIVE?! at P.S. 122's Avant-Garde-A-Rama and later appeared in The Van Driver Experience at Cherry Lane Theater's Cherry Pit Late Night as 'Starshine' the Psychic Chicken. She enjoyed cracked corn, preening and paper towels. Other pasttimes included pecking at herself in a mirror and listening to jazz music. To read Nelly's life story please click here.

Resident Members

• Jason Schuler, artistic director, director, writer, performer*
• Dori Ann Scagnelli, managing producer*
• Kourtney Rutherford, writer, director, producer, performer*
• Tim Donovan Jr., performer, assoc. producer*
• Keith Chandler, performer, video editor
• Pierre-Marc Diennet, performer
• Jason Ellis, performer, musician
  
• Kenny Finkle, writer
• Alison Folland, performer, designer, artist
• Peter Hœrburger, lighting designer
• Christine Holt, performer
• Harry Meatbahl, performer, meatball
• Nellie Millbrook, performer, psychic, egg-layer
• Helene Montagna, stage manager
• Eben Moore, performer
• Elizabeth Stine, performer
• Anna Wilson, performer

*founding member

We are also proud to thank the following, talented artists for their collaboration:

• Love Ablan, writer
• Megan Biddle, artist, designer
• Carolyn Bonanni, scenic artist
• Keith Caputo, composer, musician
• Kim L. Carter, sound designer
• Brian Chic, performer, bullwhip artist
• Carmine Covelli, performer
• Tim Cummings, writer
• Catherine Davenport, animator
• Stacy Dawson Stearns, performer
• Sean Day, performer
• Ivan Delaforce, musician
• Andrew Dinwiddie, performer
• Kevin Doyle, director
• Dashielle Eaves, performer
• Joseph Farnham III, videographer
• Alexis Fedor, performer
• Lauren Fritz, video editor
• Dan Forgione, animator
• Charles Graytok, stage manager
• Thomas Guiffre, performer
• James Harrell, composer, musician
  
• Heathe!, rock band
• Tallula Henderson, performer
• David Michael Holmes, performer
• Adam Hyland, performer
• The Irregars, rock band
• Christine Joaquin, performer
• Ilyana Kadushin, vocalist
• Jessica Kaman, performer
• Sibyl Kempson, writer
• Jacqueline Kirk LeClaire, performer, hypnotist
• Becky Kupersmith, musician
• Gian Marco Lo Forte, set designer
• Mathieu Loraine Dignard, performer
• Michael Lucid, performer, video artist
• Alessandro Magania, performer
• Kirk Marcoe, writer
• D.J. Mendel, performer
• Emily Mendelsohn, producer
• Christian Meoli, performer
• Pat Murano, music cons., sound designer
• Katie Mushlin, performer
• Lori Ann Napolitano, musician
• Ken Nintzel, Artist
• Okwui Okpokwasili, performer
• Jake Oliver, writer
• Jennifer Paar, costume designer
• James Papadopoulos, video artist
• Kerry Plant, make-up artist
• Sarah Elizabeth Pencheff, performer
• James Rich, performer
• Jenny Seastone Stern, performer
• Chris Skeens, set designer
• Jessika Sobanski, media designer
• Alex Staggs, performer
• Jonathon Stearns, video artist, musician
• Megan Stevenson, performer
• Evelyn Sullivan, performer
• Skyler Sullivan, performer
• Matt Szwed, sound designer
• Mike Taylor, writer, video cons., musician
• Damaris Web, producer
• Chris Wild, performer
• Jonathan M. Woodward, performer
• Corey Wright, performer
• John Wyszniewski, performer
• Jon Leon Torn, writer
• Wendy Yang, costume designer
• Chris Yon, performer
• Jennifer Zern, writer

Special thanks to the following people who have helped to make our art possible:

• Angelina Fiordellisi
• Seri Lawrence
• Janio Marrero
• Robert Honeywell
• Michael Gardner
• Big Dance Theater
• Stacy Dawson Stearns
• Damaris Web
• Salley May
• Teatro IATI
• Fractured Atlas
• Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
• Toy Box Theatre Co.
• New York Theatre Workshop

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