FATS WALLER My dad, Thomas Waller, was born in Greenwich Village in 1904, and reared in Harlem. His parents were deeply religious; to his father, jazz was the devil's music. Dad studied classical piano and played church organ. He began his professional career as organist at the Lincoln Theatre on 135th Street. In 1920, he met his mentor, the great stride pianist James P. Johnson, and soon be came a prized attraction at Harlem rent parties, and one of the most respected musicians in New York. With the success of his songs for the musicals Keep Shufflin’ and Hot Chocolates, and a Victor recording contract, the stage was set for Fats Waller. A man of gargantuan appetites, dad's overindulgence in food, liquor and loving is a legend. He never slowed down through all the years of one-night stands, big-time radio, triumphant concert tours of Europe, and Hollywood films. He died aboard the Santa Fe Chief near Kansas City in 1943. Dad raised the art of stride piano to its highest level, and was one of the inventors of swing music. He was a prolific composer, a great comedian and a brilliant singer and musician - talents which made him one of the first black superstars in America.-by Maurice Waller, Co-author with Anthony Calabrese, of Fats Waller, Schirmer Books, 1977 

William H. Grant III (Lighting Designer) With NSMT: Pacific Overtures. Elsewhere: Mr. Grant has designed lighting for Dance, Opera and Theater all over the world. He has designed extensively for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater Company, the Philadelphia Drama Guild, and the Cleveland Playhouse. He has designed for other Regional and Off Broadway companies. His designs have appeared at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts where he designed Dreams and Pearl written, choreographed and directed by Debbie Allen, Soul Possessed, written and directed by Debbie Allen for the Alliance Theater and at the Geffen Play House where he designed Harriet's Return, starring Debbie Allen. Mr. Grant has designed for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival since 1990. His design history with Kent Gash includes: Ain’t Misbehavin, Five Guys Named Moe, Home, Harriet's Return, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, A Lovely Sunday for Creve Couer, 12th Night, Guys and Dolls, Godspell and Shakespeare's R & J. Mr. Grant has designed for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The American Ballet Theater, and has been resident lighting designer for The Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco) for over 25 years. He taught lighting design at City College of New York, and is the author of A Basic Handbook of Stage Lighting.” Mr. Grant has his own harp repair service and is principal harpist with the Bergen Philharmonic.

Byron Easley (Associate Director/Choreographer) With NSMT: Debut. Elsewhere: A native New Yorker, Byron is delighted tobe making his NSMT debut. Recent credits include Crowns (Associate Director/Choreographer) at the Denver Center, Jelly’s Last Jam, tick, tick...BOOM! and Five Guys Named Moe (co-choreographer) at Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. Choreographer and/or Assistant Choreographer credits include the Broadway bound revival of Purlie for City Center Encores, Pasadena Playhouse and The Goodman Theatre, Ain't Misbehavin for Trinity Repertory Company, Hartford Stage and Playhouse on the Green, Spunk for Two River Theatre Company, Sophisticated Ladies for Pioneer Theatre Company, and Electra for Queens College. Performing credits include Broadway companies ofFosse, Play On,Oh Kay andThe Tap Dance Kid. Off-Broadway productions of Miss Ever's Boys (Audelco Nomination), On The Town and A Midsummer Night's Dream , both for the New York Shakespeare Festival, and Strike Up The Band for City Center Encores.In addition to numerous national tours, his credits include regional theatre productions, industrials, commercials and TV specials. "Peace and Love."

Alicia D. Reece (Stage Manager) With NSMT: Damn Yankees, 2005 Musical Season. A proud native of Watseka, IL, “Lish” is honored to be returning to NSMT. A sampling of Alicia’s credits include the Off-Broadway successes of BUG and Orson’s Shadow, the Asian tour of Cabaret as well as seasons at Playhouse on the Square (Memphis, TN), The Children’s Theatre (Cincinnati), and The Barn Theatre (Augusta, MI). “Thanks to BFord for the opportunity and the confidence.” Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

Robert L. Rucinski (Assistant Musical Director, Rehearsal Accompanist) With NSMT: Damn Yankees, Camelot, Cinderella, Fame, Christmas Carol '04 & ‘05. Elsewhere: Robert is very excited to be working with NSMT again. He was the music director for Worcester Foothills' production of Miss Saigon and for several shows including A Chorus Line (Laurie Gamache, dir.) at Reagle Players (Waltham, MA). Other music directing experiences include a summer at the Arundel Barn Playhouse in Maine, and several productions, including Jekyll & Hyde, and Les Misérables SE, with Booth Productions (Worcester, MA). He conducted the MIT Concert Band for several years, and has taught at The Bromfield School (Harvard, MA) and the Walnut Hill School (Natick, MA). A native of Jersey City, NJ, now currently living in Arlington, MA, Robert is a freelance musician working out of Boston and New York City.