Dr. Edward W. Hardy (born January 12, 1992) is a critically acclaimed Black and Puerto Rican composer, music director, virtuoso violinist, and violist, and is one of the foremost exponents of solo violin repertoire for theatrical productions. At the age of 25, "Hardy [was] one of the youngest composers to ever be accepted into the Exploring the Metropolis Con Edison Composer Residency and one of the most prominent composer/ violinists in New York City" (BroadwayWorld). “Edward W. Hardy, who composed the omnipresent music, plays the violin superbly” (The New York Times). He has “Vigor, Control And Expressiveness," (The Post and ... read more
STRANGEMEN THEATRE COMPANY (THE WOODSMAN; ON THE HEAD OF A PIN) is a young non-profit theatre company based in New York City, originally founded in 2010 by graduates of the SUNY Purchase Acting Conservatory. With a focus on original storytelling, new plays, and company-devised work, Strangemen endeavors to foster collaboration between multi-disciplinary artists, and to provide an artistic home for up-and-coming creators from diverse theatrical backgrounds who share a passion for mining the heart and truth of each story told. For more information, visit us at www.strangemencompany.com, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @strangemenco and on Facebook at Strangemen ... read more
CLAIRE KARPEN (Cinderella, Granny). NY: David Ives's The Heir Apparent dir. John Rando (CSC) Regional: Into the Woods (Old Globe/McCarter/Fiasco), The 60's Project (Goodspeed), The Last Five Years (Stamford Center for the Arts), Richard III, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, Comedy of Errors (Trinity Rep). Writing: Hardcore West Virginia (2012 ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop, written with Mike Pettry). Directing: The Woodsman (59E59), Henry IV Part I, Trelawny of the Wells, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune and A Little Night Music (Juilliard), Voices in My Head (Ars Nova). Training: Juilliard and Brown University. ... read more
Based in New York City, James Ortiz is a director, actor, writer, designer, and puppeteer. He was the recipient of the 2016 OBIE Award for Puppet Design for his critically acclaimed Off-Broadway show, The Woodsman.
Ortiz is co-artistic director of Strangemen & Company, which was founded in 2010 by graduates of the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Purchase.
Through spectacular life-size puppetry and original music by violinist Edward W. Hardy, the ensemble of Strangemen & Co. presented an inventive take on one of America’s original fairy tales. The Woodsman (which featured nine Purchase alums) debuted in 2012 at Standard ToyKraft in Brooklyn, ... read more
