R. ODonnell (producer/writer/director)

R. ODonnell began in the entertainment industry as a professional ventriloquist. He ran away with the Sells & Gray 3 ring circus at the tender age of 14. In high school he won a scholarship to attend the Pennsylvania Governor's School of the Arts in theatre.

In New York, he co-authored the book, music and lyrics (Dianne Adams) for the off-Broadway musical One & One that played The Bert Wheeler Theatre in the Carter Hotel, 43rd and Broadway. It received three ASCAP "Most Popular" Music Awards and was later recorded by actor Nathan Lane.

For the world's largest theater, Radio City Music Hall, R. co-wrote their hit mega-review Manhattan Showboat, celebrating over 100 years of American entertainment.

As a choreographer he staged the New York productions of Todd Curtis' Our World, Jim McDowell's Rapunzel and the Dragons, and Dick Hyman's Joan and the Devil.

Billed as The Double R, with Richard LaGravenese, R. co-penned and performed in several off-off-Broadway offerings including Spare Parts and Dangerously Funny.

In Chicago, R. is co-founder of the highly acclaimed equity theater company New Age Vaudeville. Throughout its run, R. produced, wrote and directed numerous productions starring Megan Cavanagh, including the cult-hits Elmore & Gwendolyn Putts - The Neighbors Next Door and The TV Dinner Hour (the later featured ImrovOlympic and Second City founder Del Close). Rick Kogan of the Chicago Tribune hailed both productions as "Among the most polished and clever productions of the season, a pair of devilishly inventive shows that won over critics and audiences alike."

As a stand-up comic, R. has played numerous clubs including Zanies, The Chicago Improv, and Yuk Yuks in Toronto, as well as featuring for celebrated comics Chris Rock, Bill Maher, Brian Regan, Rick Overton, and the late, great Bill Hicks.

R. co-produced the New Variety, which played at the lush 500 seat Chicago Improv Comedy Club for over 2 years. He was responsible for changing a faltering 3-ring comedy presentation to a successful variety format. The New Variety, which was hailed by the Chicago Tribune as "A cabaret for the 90's!"-was a fast-paced, ever-changing volley of acts that included award-winning jugglers, fire-eaters, comics, and sketch comedy groups including the all girl Nude Coffee, the all gay The Boys in the Bathroom, and the all improv The Upright Citizens Brigade. Dr. Boom (who literally blew things up onstage) was the highlight of the evening.

For Fox 32 Chicago, R. produced comedy segments for their New Years Eve special Twisted, featuring Matt Besser (Comedy Central's The Upright Citizens Brigade) as well as writing and directing commercials starring Besser ala "Ernie Kovacs" for McDonalds, Ford Motors, Jiffy Lube, and Ameritech.

He went on to Executive Produce and host R. Rated on Fox 32, a comedy anthology featuring short works by The Annoyance Theater with Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live), Mick Napier (Second City), and Stephnie Weir (Mad TV), along with Tim Kazurinsky (Saturday Night Live), among many other independent film and video makers.

For the past five years he was heavily involved in domestic film/DVD distribution with regards to the world-renowned Janus Film Library, The Criterion Collection, and The Merchant Ivory Collection. R. supervised the media campaigns for over 200 DVD titles as well as media placement and events for such celebrated directors as Buck Henry, Jim Jarmusch, Albert Maysles, Lars von Trier, Liv Ullmann, Milos Forman, Spike Lee, and Terry Gilliam.

Ondrej Nekvasils (Production Designer, Prague)

One of Prague's top theater and film designers with The Illusionist, Children of Dune, and Anne Frank: The Whole Story.

Klaus Fuxj..ger (Director of Photography)

Klaus Fuxj..ger is an award-winning director of photography. He was first camera on Van Helsing (2004), The Prince & Me (2004), The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003), Blade II (2002), Hart's War (2002), A Knight's Tale (2001) and Cinematographer on Kinderspiel (2005), The Student of Prague (2004), Derri..re les volets (2003), Vyhn..n.. z r..je (2001), Minulost (1998), Bila hora (1997), and The Last Fighter (1996).

Mark Van der Gaag (Associate Producer)

Mark Van der Gaag is an accomplished entrepreneur, artist, and motivational speaker/coach. He is founder and president of the highly successful Core Power Coaching, designed to coach individuals, groups, and organizations toward personal and professional fulfillment. For the Global Renaissance Alliance (Marianne Williamson) Van der Gaag was a Global Peace Circle Coordinator/Training Facilitator helping to design and facilitate the international program of satellite groups called GRA Peace Circles, and was also a liaison for the organization. He was founder/CEO of Rise Up Corporation, which designed and franchised climbing walls in numerous amusement parks throughout the east coast, and Van der Gaag Wood works, which manufactured handmade wood products for private and commercial use. He is currently recording his first CD of original songs, produced by R. Productions for a fall 2007 release.

Edward Colarik (Associate Producer)

Edward Colarik's talent as a multi media visual artist speaks to the unbelievable wide range of his creativity. He has an international following of collectors from Australia, Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Taiwan, and of course the USA. People from all over the world connect to the universal hallmark of his works.

All of his adult life he has been a creator, artist, fashion designer, and TV & film producer. One of his most enjoyable experiences was teaching his highly rated film course at UCLA for four years. He has worked on more than 100 film and TV projects. He co-founded National American Entertainment Corporation; a production and distribution company for feature films and TV shows.

Claudia Sullivan (Associate Producer)

For the past ten years, Claudia Sullivan was Marketing Coordinator for Home Vision Entertainment whose clients included the world-renowned The Criterion and Merchant Ivory Collections. While assisting R. ODonnell (Director of PR,) Ms. Sulivan helped supervise the media campaigns for over 200 DVD titles as well as media placement and events for such celebrated directors as Buck Henry, Jim Jarmusch, Ron Mann, Albert Maysles, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Lars von Trier, Liv Ullmann, Michael Apted, Michael Bay, Milos Forman, Spike Lee, and Terry Gilliam.

Bistro Films (Production House, Prague)

Bistro Films is a dynamic award winning Production Company that was incorporated by two experienced producers both with a common ideal, To combine commercial work with film and documentary production.

Based in the heart of Europe, Prague - Czech Republic, Bistro represents local and international directors producing commercials, films, documentaries and music videos for all markets.

Maya Kvetny (Casting, Prague)

Easily regarded as one of the most innovative and successful casting agencies in Prague, Kvetny Casting has worked with numerous Production companies including Bistro Films, Dawson Productions, Still King Productions, and Bohemian Productions on such films as Hellboy, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Brothers Grimm, Blade II, and Chasing Liberty to name a few.

Adams and McDowell (composers)

Dianne Adams & James McDowell, a husband and wife team, have been collaborating as composers/lyricists for over 25 years.

Dianne is a native of West Virginia and former Manhattan resident, has a diverse musical background. As both composer/lyricist and musical director/arranger, her credits include Broadway, television, and the worlds largest theater Radio City Music Hall. She is the recipient of numerous ASCAP awards, three of which were at the age of 19 for the score of her first off-Broadway musical, One and One co-authored with R. O'Donnell. Dianne has participated in a multitude of NYC productions, most notably as Associate Conductor and Vocal Arranger of the Broadway Musical, Starmites, which received six Tony nominations, including Best Musical. As musical director, coach and pianist, she has worked with Grammy Award-winning artist Cleo Laine, as well as Tony-Recipient Nathan Lane (The Producers). She was nominated for the 2002 Helen Hayes Award in the category of Outstanding Musical Direction for the production of Tazewell Thompson's Constant Star at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., as well as the recipient of the 2004 Barrymore Award, as well as winner of The 2006 Beverly Hills /Hollywood NAACP Theatre Award.

While living in Manhattan, Dianne met husband/collaborator James McDowell. As a team they have written, produced and arranged for the Broadway stage and cast recordings, including their highly acclaimed musical The Wind in the Willows (written with adapter/co-lyricist Gerardine Clark). Willows moved from Syracuse Stage for a limited run at The New Victory Theatre on Broadway, and broke all previous box office records.

Marc Summers (Casting, London)

Mark Summers of Casting Unlimited has worked with artists such as Madonna, Robbie Williams, George Michael & Richard Ashcroft and is an award-winning casting director for film, TV, pop promos and commercials.

Jiri Ptacek (Line Producer, Prague)

One of Prague's top film producers with Niceho nelituji, Best Before the End, and Rychl.. pohyby oc.. (Rapid Eye Movement).