| RONALD P. SMOLIN Director, Author Prior to Talk Show, Mr Smolin made his professional debut as playwright and director with Final Breath, a comedy-drama about life and death, which premiered in Philadelphia at the Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5 in December 2002. Mr Smolin is president of Coronet Books Inc. and Trans-Atlantic Publications Inc., book publishing and importing firms located in Philadelphia. He also heads the development-stage company, Fat Hat Films Inc., as well as Fat Hat Productions, with plans to produce new works for theatre and film. He is the former editor of the Directory of High-Technology Corporations and co-author of the $25,000 Challenge, a trivia book. He has also worked in public information capacities for the Newark, NJ, War on Poverty Program and the New York City Human Resources Administration. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the Pennsylvania State University. |
| TED GONTARSKI Lighting Design & Sound Engineering Ted's long and varied career has embraced several of his loves: broadcasting, industrial photography, voiceover announcing and technical theater. He produced and directed for television stations in his native Boston as well as in his adopted home, Philadelphia. His voice has been heard in hundreds of commercials and industrial videos. He's provided photographic imagery for advertising agencies and corporations throughout the Delaware Valley. But his passion has always been the theater. He's designed lighting and/or sound for professional, industrial, institutional and community productions from New England to New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He designed the lighting and sound for Final Breath, in its world premier at the Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5 in December 2002. His other clients have included North Shore Music Theater, Monmouth Conservatory Opera Workshop, Berkshire Theater Festival, Media Theater, Town & Country Players, Horizon Dance Alliance and the US Mint, to name just a few. Although accustomed to larger venues, Ted is intrigued by this new work presented in such intimate surroundings. Here, with perhaps greater nuance, can the elements of light and sound enhance the efforts of playwright and actor. |
| JOHN PATRICK HUNT Assistant Director Mr Hunt was assistant director and lighting & sound technician for Final Breath, at the Walnut Street Theatre Sudio 5 in December 2002. John is the lead product support engineer at the Institute for Scientific Information in Philadelphia. He has an honors degree in the humanities from York University, where he was a member of the Belle and Masque Theatrical Society in Toronto, Ontario. He has also studied graduate education in writing at the University of Pennsylvania. John is an avid supporter of the theatrical and creative arts in Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York. He is currently pursuing a master of liberal arts at Temple University. |