ED WIERZBICKI is the Founder and Artistic Director of the New Zenith Theatre. Since, 1999 he’s guided New England premieres of Cyrano by Jo Roets, Korczak’s Children by Jeffrey Hatcher, The Little Red Riding Hood Show by Russell Davis, The King of Ireland’s Son (producer), and most recently, co-conceiving and directing It’s A Sin to Kill A Mockingbird, an original theatre/dance piece for the NEA’s Big Read initiative in Connecticut. In 2008, he directed the New York premiere of Symphony Pastorale and Fugue Series by Robert Barnett for the NY International Fringe Festival, and in 2006, led the company to Stockholm Sweden to perform three NZT productions and teach theatre workshops to teenage students. Previously for the theatre, he’s both acted and directed, working with the California Young People’s Theatre, San Jose Repertory Company, Hartford Stage, Illustrated Stage, Boston Arts Group, and Theatre Center Philadelphia. With a career long commitment to training actors, he’s also worked with theatre majors at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, and Naugatuck Valley College. A two-time Emmy-nominated television writer and producer, Mr. Wierzbicki regularly creates documentary features and specials on theatre and the arts—profiling acclaimed arts and entertainment professionals for Connecticut Public Broadcasting and other networks. CPTV recently premiered his hour long television special on the late Horton Foote, At Home In Hartford. Mr. Wierzbicki is a graduate of Boston University’s School of Theatre Arts and its College of Communications (BFA, MS).

LARRY J. HUNT
Mr. Hunt is an actor, director, mask-maker, and educator. Since 1977, he has performed throughout the United States, much of Canada, and many other countries including China, Japan, Australia, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Bulgaria, Serbia and England. Since 1980, Larry has produced and performed original theater works under the auspices of MASQUE, an international touring company which he founded. A contributor to NZT since 2001, Larry directed the New England premiere of The King of Ireland’s Son by Paula Wing, and Constitution Now! which he also co-wrote with Steven Washer to tour Connecticut schools. Larry has also created masks and choreographed for NZT productions of The Tempest and Cyrano directed by Ed Wierzbicki, and continues to train the company in masks. A recent challenge was to write and direct a non-verbal mask / puppet version of “Hamlet” with Dunkelfolket Theatre Company in Aalborg, Denmark. Other international collaborations included working with the Stara Zagora State Puppet Theatre in Bulgaria as choreographer for the musical “Animal Farm”, and a collaboration with the Hong Kong, China theatre company, Ming Ri of “Playing With Klee” inspired by the German/ Swiss artist Paul Klee.

ROBERT BARNETT
Mr. Barnett has had the great pleasure to write for theatre, dance, opera, radio theatre, mime, and street theatre (plus a couple of screenplays), though he makes his living in corporate communications. Most recently his plays Symphony Pastorale and Fugue Series made their New York premiere with New Zenith Theatre for the New York International Fringe Festival. Other recent premieres include Luke's Dad and Reckoning Angel, presented at the Ashland New Plays Festival.  His play The Hiroshima Daughter was workshopped at the Sundance Playwrights Lab before going on to production in New York and Los Angeles. Mr. Barnett is the Producing Director of Yale Cabaret Hollywood and also produced L.A.'92 — Three Plays/Three Voices, a theatrical examination of the L.A. Riots, which included his play Olympic Notions & Supply. Mr. Barnett holds an MFA in Playwriting from the Yale School of Drama.

ZACHRY PILAT
Zach is a Performing Arts/Theatre graduate from Naugatuck Valley College where he’s also worked on staff of the Fine Arts Center as a theatre technician and part-time designer since 2005. Zach has contributed to many New Zenith Theatre productions as a lighting designer, stage manager, and technician, most recently coordinating the company’s technical efforts for tours to Stockholm and the New York International Fringe Festival in 2008. For the past three summers, Zach has been also worked on the technical staff at the historic Cape Playhouse on Cape Cod. Most recently, Zach designed lighting for Puck’s Dream, Cyrano, and The Diary of Adam & Eve. In addition to his passion for technical theatre and design, Zach has directed and produced several short films.

CORTNEY BERGIN
Cortney is a graduate of the Naugatuck Valley College Theatre program, and is currently completing her BFA in Educational Theatre with Teaching Certification from Central Connecticut State University. With NZT, she has worked as a workshop teacher, producing assistant and production stage manager for the past 6 years; also designing costumes for Cyrano, Big Love, The Diary of Adam & Eve, and Equus. As an actor, she’s appeared in Symphony Pastorale and Fugue Series by Robert Barnett at the 2008 NY International Fringe Festival, Chris in Dancing at Lughnasa, and Roxanne in the NZT production of Cyrano which toured to Stockholm, Sweden. Other acting credits include Red Noses, Angels in America, The Crucible, King of Ireland’s Son, and The Tempest.

KELLY BRINEY
Kelly has performed extensively in New York and regionally, as well as internationally at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. New York appearances include the NY premier of Fugue with New Zenith Theatre at the New York International Fringe Festival, and Polly Peachum in a critically acclaimed production of Threepenny Opera with Riverside Opera. Kelly has performed with NZT in Dancing at Lughnasa (Kate) and Korczak’s Children (Steffa). Other Connecticut roles include Thea Elvsted (Hedda Gabler) with The Actor’s Nucleus, and Georgie (Country Girl); Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady) and Marion (The Music Man) with the Act Association of The Gary-The Olivia Theater. Favorite regional roles have included Laurie (Oklahoma!) and Hortense (The Boyfriend). Kelly has toured throughout the US and Canada with the New York Sextet (Karlsrud Concerts), and now lives with her family in Naugatuck, CT.

KATIE KEOUGH
A graduate of the Syracuse University School of Music, Katie is a founding member of the New Zenith Theatre. She has also worked at Naugatuck Valley College as a guest director and workshop instructor. For NZT, she’s appeared in the NY premiere of Symphony Pastorale at the NY International Fringe, and in 2006 traveled to Stockholm Sweden in the musical version of The Diary of Adam & Eve (Eve), and NZT’s Puck's Dream (Titania); also leading workshops in theatre for Swedish teens. Other NZT productions include Dancing at Lughnasa (Maggie), The Secret Garden (Martha), The Little Red Riding Hood Show (Mother), Company (Joanne) and Twelfth Night (Maria). Her directing credits include Hello From Bertha, Talk to Me Like the Rain, and The Witness Project. Katie did her early training at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in Hartford.

NAOMI LEE
Naomi is a recent Performing Arts/Theatre graduate of Naugatuck Valley College. While attending, she received the college’s New Zenith Theatre Award in 2007 for her outstanding outreach efforts and work with young audiences, also appearing as Scout in NZT’s original dance/theatre production of It’s A Sin To Kill A Mockingbird for the NEA’s Big Read. She traveled to Stockholm Sweden and appeared as Puck in the 2006 NZT adaptation of Puck’s Dream, and stage managed the company’s NY Fringe Festival appearance in 2008. As an actor, she’s also appeared in productions of Constitution Now!, Big Love, The Witness Project, Tropical Blues, Cafe Cabaret, Talk To Me Like The Rain, Twelfth Night, and Korczak’s Children. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Library Science.

TIMOTHY LEE
Tim Lee is a recent Performing Arts/Theatre graduate of Naugatuck Valley College. While attending, he was active in the Student Government Association, and President of the Stage Society. In addition to receiving the college’s New Zenith Theatre Award in 2007 and 2008 for his outreach efforts and work with young audiences, he was instrumental in securing funding for the NZT’s tour to Stockholm Sweden. As an actor, he’s appeared in productions of Big Love, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Witness Project, Cafe Cabaret, Puck's Dream, Five by Tenn, Twelfth Night, Company, and The Crucible.  Tim has also appeared with the Thomaston Opera House, and works with Masque Theatre.

MAURICIO PITA
Mauricio is currently an Acting major at Marymount Manhattan College and a graduate of Naugatuck Valley College. He has worked with New Zenith Theatre, Abbey of Regina Laudis, Raices Theatrical Group, Hartford Children’s Theatre, Terpsichorean Dance Ensemble, and the Warner Theatre in Torrington, CT. Most recently he participated in the inaugural class of Yale University’s Summer Shakespeare Conservatory for Actors. Mauricio has appeared in productions of La Noche de los Asesinos (Lalo), Big Love (Nikos) and NZT’s production of Korczak’s Children (Igor Newerly). Symphony Pastorale & Fugue Series (Actor 2) for the New York International Fringe Festival 2008. Other work include Chicago (Ensemble/Clerk) and Fiddler On The Roof (Avram).

DOUGLAS SOBON
Douglas is a founding member of the New Zenith Theatre company. His acting credits stretch back 20 years, including independent film work, television, and numerous stage roles, including NZT productions of The Crucible (John Proctor), Cyrano (title role), The Tempest (Prospero), The King of Ireland’s Son (Sean Red), Korczak’s Children (Korczak), and The Water Engine. In addition to directing for both NZT and Naugatuck College, Doug has also assisted in leading youth outreach programs. In 2006 he traveled with New Zenith overseas to Stockholm and the UK, and in 2008 appeared at the New York International Fringe Festival in Symphony Pastorale and Fugue Series by Robert Barnett.

CHRISTOPHER STOKES
As a member of the New Zenith Theatre Chris’ credits include: The Crucible, Twelfth Night, Dancing at Lughnasa, Puck’s Dream--which toured to Stockholm, Sweden, and Robert Barnett’s Symphony Pastorale and Fugue Series, which premiered at the New York International Fringe Festival 2008. Other credits include Company and Twenty-Seven Wagons Full of Cotton at NVCC; Wolfie for the Early Stages program at Central Connecticut State University, and Richard Greenberg’s Life Under Water. Marymount Manhattan College productions include She Stoops to Conquer and Girl Gone.  Education: A.A Fine Arts/Theatre Performance: Naugatuck Valley Community College; B.F.A in Acting, spring 2010, Marymount Manhattan College.

SHANNON SULLIVAN
Shannon is an actor, dancer, and choreographer who recently moved to Connecticut from Florida where she studied performance and earned an Associate’s degree in Arts. In 2008 she appeared with New Zenith for the NY premiere of Fugue Series by Robert Barnett at the New York International Fringe Festival. She has also appeared as Olympia in Big Love by Charles L. Mee; Sabina in the New England premiere of Korczak’s Children by Jeffrey Hatcher; Annabel Glick in Lucky Stiff at Walt Disney World Resort; and as Dainty June in Gyspy at Naugatuck Valley College. While a student at NVCC, Shannon has also created numerous dance pieces for its Dance Department, and also choreographed the NZT production of Dancing at Lughnasa.