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Gerald Koch, Agent  Panelist on 1/23/19

Gerald Koch of AMT Artists has been a talent agent in New York and Los Angeles for over 38 years covering TV, film, and theatre.

Over the years he has helped launch the careers of Tim Robbins, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Cooper, Jack Black, Halle Berry, Bebe Neuwirth, Benjamin McKenzie, Harriet Harris, Gary Beach, and Sutton Foster among others.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in theatre from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

He also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in directing form the University of Minnesota with a double minor in British drama and Scandinavian literature.

Prior to becoming a talent agent, Gerry was a successful director. His professional credits included dinner theatre, summer stock, children's theatre, community theatre, educational theatre and nightclubs.
He has been married for over 43 years to former actress turned music teacher, Bonnie Urseth, and they have a daughter, Emily, who is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University. Emily made her Broadway debut as Elphaba, The Wicked Witch of the West, in WICKED. She recently completed a year and a half on the First National Tour of WAITRESS.

AMT Artists has clients appearing in the following films: KNIVES OUT, THE GLORIAS, MISS HAVISHAM EFFECT, GREEN BOOK, GRANDDADDY DAY CARE, and DEADWOOD.

Television, Regulars, Recurrings, and MOWS: GENERAL HOSPITAL, IN CONTEMPT, THE AFFAIR, BARRY, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, RUNAWAYS, PROVEN INNOCENT, SNEAKY PETE, and TRANSPARENT.

Theatre: PARADISE in Austin,Texas, RAGTIME at The Pasadena Playhouse (two clients), WICKED National Tour, THE BROTHERS PARANORMAL in Minneapolis, THE WOLVES at Echo Theatre Company, DRIVING MISS DAISY at Laguna Playhouse, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD on Broadway, WHITE CHRISTMAS National Tour, and 1776 at La Mirada.


 

Anthony Boyer, Agent  Panelist on 2/6/19


After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Music Theory and Composition from Kent State University, Anthony Boyer began his professional life as a music director, conductor, accompanist, and orchestrator in opera and musical theatre before landing on the agency side at Stage 9, where he worked for six years. When the company merged with DDO in November 2013, he took over the entire west coast theatrical department. Anthony specializes in developing west coast theatre actors for bicoastal careers, with clients working in national tours and on Broadway, as well as regional theatres across the country.


 

 

Kirsten Chandler, Director / Choreographer  Panelist on 3/13/19

Kirsten has served at the helm as director/choreographer of many recent productions, including San Diego Musical Theatre’s upcoming Crazy for You, 5 Star Theatricals’ critically-acclaimed Shrek, Panic Productions’ Inspecting Carol (for which she received a Broadway World nomination for Best Director), Farley Cadena’s stirring one-woman show Stroke of Luck, San Diego Musical Theatre’s South Pacific, Cabrillo Music Theatre’s Damn Yankees and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Musical Theatre Guild’s Sugar, Triumph of Love, Chess, Little Women, and Bat Boy, CSUN’s Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, 5 Star Theatricals’ Shrek, and AMDA’s Spring Awakening and Fame. She spent many years on the other side of the footlights, starring in such productions as The Rocky Horror Show (revival), The Marvelous Wonderettes (original cast), Little Shop of Horrors, Sweet Charity, Scarlet Pimpernel, Ragtime, I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change, and Lulu. She provided the singing voice of Pocahontas for Disney for many years, and can be heard as Princess Daria in the animated feature Princess and the Pea. Kirsten is a proud member of the faculty at AMDA Los Angeles, an even prouder wife to Stan, and proudest mom to two amazing boys, Addie and Tucker.


Christian Lebano, Director / Artistic Director of the Sierra Madre Playhouse  Panelist on 4/3/19

Christian Lebano has been the Artistic Director of Sierra Madre Playhouse since 2014. He has produced, directed or acted in over 27 shows since becoming associated with SMP in 2011. He has built SMP into one of the leading Intimate Theaters in Los Angeles. Under his leadership it has earned 2 Ovation Awards out of 8 nominations for 6 different shows; its first LATimes Critic’s Choice listing; and many Broadway World and Stage Scene LA awards and nominations. He initiated SMP’s “Field Trip Series” of TYA plays for schools six years ago which has drawn participation from 11 school districts. This year he will direct Stuart Little for a March opening. He started the “Off the Page” Free Reading Series which has performed over 30 readings so far – three of which have moved to full productions. At SMP he directed The Gin Game (Ovation Recommended, Broadway World Nominated); A Christmas Story 2018 & 2017; Deathtrap (Ovation Award – Best Set Design);    The Glass Menagerie (Ovation Recommended & Nominated); Driving Miss Daisy (Ovation Recommended, CBS Top 5 Directors LA); Woman in Mind (LATimes Critic’s Choice, Broadway World Nominated Best Director); A Wrinkle in Time; Battledrum; 4000 Miles (Broadway World Nominated Best Director). He will direct Little Women for California School for the Arts in October. As an actor at SMP he played Sean in Bee-luther-hatchee, Jerry in God’s Man in Texas, Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird (Broadway World – Best Actor Nomination), and the Stage Manager in Our Town. At other theaters: Elliot in Opus at the Fountain Theater (LA Weekly nomination – Best Actor; Ovation Nomination Best Ensemble & Play; LADCC & Garland Best Ensemble & Nomination for Best Play). He has performed at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival,    Utah Shakespearean Festival, American Players Theater, International City Theater (Long Beach), Court Theater (Chicago), and PCPA among other regional theaters. He trained at the PTTP at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he was a classmate of Joshua Finkel.

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