Past Performance:

Introducing Mr. Charles Dickens

The Emerson Theater Collaborative presents Albert Cremin's one-man show Introducing Mr. Charles Dickens, in which, he portrays as many as 35 characters, including the great writer himeself. Mr. Cremin has been performing the piece for twenty years. The show, which includes passages from Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, The Pickwick Papers, and The Old Curiosity Shop, had a successful run in NYC at The Lark Studio Theatre.

Mr. Cremin was honored by his Alma Mater when his performance was featured at Emerson College to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Southwick Recital, a tradition celebrating the Art of Oral Interpretation.

Cast

Albert Cremin is an actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, director, producer, teacher, coach, and designer. He is currently featured in a short film at www.philistinerecords.com. As an acting company member of Plays for Living in New York, Albert played many roles in their list of touring educational productions; stage-managed, directed, and was production manager for numerous plays on tour.

He made his equity debut in Pennsylvania playing Felix in Neil Simon's The Odd Couple and performed at The Lark Studio Theatre, Manhattan, in his one-man show, Introducing Mr. Charles Dickens. Albert has also been a regular guest performer at �Sundays at 7�, The Irish Arts Center, NYC. In New York he was a featured performer aside Brian Stokes Mitchell in a benefit performance at The Schimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and acted in Brooklyn with a number of young theatre companies including The Sackett Group and Rising Phoenix Repertory.

A veteran actor from Boston, he received his B.A. and M.A. in Theater Education from Emerson College, where he was recipient of The Carol Burnett Award for the Performing Arts. In the New England premiere of Terrence McNally's Love! Valour! Compassion! for Speakeasy Stage, he played the dual role of John/James, portrayed Mendy in another McNally play, The Lisbon Traviata, for Triangle Theatre Co., Boston and Franz Woyzeck in Bruckner's unfinished work, Woyzeck as part of his graduate acting thesis. In musical genres, he portrayed William Gilbert in Mr. Gilbert & Mr. Sullivan a musical revue which he performed in Connecticut and The Berkshires. He performed at the Charles Playhouse in Boston in The Decline and Fall of the Entire World as Seen Through the Eyes of Cole Porter and at The Next Move Theatre, Boston, in Starting Here Starting Now. In New England clubs and on all major New England television stations he sang and danced in the cabaret act Cremin & Carlson. For years, Mr. Cremin made his living in Boston as actor, singer, dancer, director, choreographer, producer, and teacher. He chaired the theatre department at a state college and was guest artist at many educational institutions. During this time, he had the pleasure of working with many talented young people including Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who he coached and directed. For his work with young actors Albert Cremin has received numerous awards from a variety of public and private school departments, city, state and federal educational programs, town councils, and The Massachusetts State Senate. In addition to coaching privately, Mr. Cremin has taught numerous classes in Improvisation Technique at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.

He has taught and directed theatre on every level and in extreme venues ranging from creative dramatics and movement with children pre K-12 at settlement houses, public and private schools, The Industrial School for Crippled Children, and The Fernald School for the Blind, to working with the elderly (Massachusetts Elderhostel Program), and using drama as a rehabilitative tool at the Charles Street Jail, Boston, MA and the pre school unit at The Massachusetts Deptartment of Mental Health.

Past experience also includes:

• Chairman, Drama Department: Northern Essex Community College, MA
• Head, Drama Program: Watertown Public Schools, MA
• Founder, Artistic Director: Performers' Studio, Boston, MA

Awards of Merit for outstanding theatre work with young people from:

• Board of Selectmen, Watertown, MA
• Community Interaction through Youth Program, Boston, MA
• The Massachusetts State Senate
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mr. Cremin has directed and choreographed productions for Emerson College, Cambridge Public Schools, Northeastern University, Project Star (H.E.W. summer theatre program, Somerville, MA). Numerous public and private schools and community theatre groups, rock bands, nightclub acts, etc. throughout Massachusetts.

He has directed Plays that won, for two consecutive years, the State Finals at the Massachusetts Drama Festival, sponsored by the Boston Globe, has been a Finalist Judge (Talent) at Miss Connecticut Pageant and served as Head writer for screenplay development of an adult animated TV series for B3 Solutions in New York.

The following is a partial list of productions Directed and/or Choreographed by Albert Cremin (*refers to numerous productions of same show):
All My Sons, The Best Man, Servant of two Masters, Vain Beauty, Lovers, The Cave of Salamanca, Carnival, HMS Pinafore, Carousel, Babes in Toyland, Gypsy, Sweet Charity*, Celebration, Music Man, Pajama Game*, Can Can, Guys & Dolls*, Last Sweet Days of Isaac, Fables & Tales*, Company, Roar of the Greasepaint Smell of the Crowd*, Promises Promises, The Good Doctor, Lullaby of Swing, Once Upon A Mattress*

Musicians

David Smith is a Junior at Norwich Free Academy and is an accomplished flute and piano player with seven years of experience at each under his belt. He is currently playing flute for the South Eastern Connecticut Youth Symphonic Orchestra and performs regularly at many local churches. Marta Green and Lorraine Perry have instructed him in the flute. He is also an actor-in-training and played Jack in Three River Community College's SPAG player's production of Into the Woods last summer.

David is happy to be playing in a professional production with the Emerson Theater Collaborative and wishes to thank his parents for all of their support.

Richard Simpson began his journey with the violin in the sixth grade under the direction of Nathan Peters and Jed Fritzmeier as part of the award winning Chelsea Michigan Middle School and subsequently the Chelsea High School Orchestras. He has served as Concertmaster of the Chelsea Middle School Orchestra (2005-2006) and Concertmaster of the Chelsea High School Concert Orchestra (2006-2007). Richard has studied privately under Nathan Peters, winning ribbons in Solo and Ensemble competitions (2004, 2005, 2006).

Richard is currently a junior at East Lyme High School and studies the violin and viola under Gabriel Kastelle.

The Village Trio is a all woodwind ensemble that performs music ranging from classical to contemporary.

Ashley Crawford (flute) plays with The Village Trio and is the Instrumental Music Director at Montville High School. Enthusiast of many genres of music, including jazz, Ashley is an active participant in the regional music scene. Ashley earned her Bachelor's Degree from Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford.

Russ Becker (clarinet) is an all around maestro of music; composer, jazz musician, classical musician and player of woodwind instruments. Among many groups Russ is a part of, including The Village Trio, he leads his very own �Russ Becker Quartet�, most often playing his own original compositions. Russ' educational background includes Hartford Conservatory and the University of Bridgeport.

Carl Chudy (bassoon) plays with The Village Trio and repairs brass and woodwind musical instruments. He received his Bachelors degree in music from Barrington College and his Master of Arts Degree from Hunter College.

Production Staff

DirectorDeborah Cothren O'Neill
Executive ProducerCamilla Ross
Executive ProducerLisa Giordano