Official BrooklynONEtheater Website
You'd be delusional to think anything else is more fun!
*Executive Director
Tom Kane - TK is a writer for the Brooklyn Eagle, a local broadsheet newspaper. He is currently the COMMUNITY EDITOR of the Bay Ridge Eagle with his own column "Citizen Kane" that is available on Thursdays at any newsstand in Bay Ridge. Inspired by his 10th grade english teacher, Dr. Fran Giordano, who was able to persuade young Thomas to "put down on paper" his daily disruption of schoolwork, and by fellow thespian Edward Mayrose, who dared Thomas to "step up to the plate and do what you love". Thank you both. Thanks to my cohort, partner and friend Anthony Marino. Thanks also to my family, and especially wife Ellen, baby, you're the greatest... how sweet it is.
*Artistic Director
Anthony Marino - Received his degree in Theatre Performance from Wagner College in 2004. At Wagner he appeared in many productions, most notably Brutus in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Anthony is all too familiar with Brooklyn Dramatics, having performed with most groups in the area. Anthony is also a proud member of the exclusive vocal ensemble group The Rhapsody Players. Anthony is an actor first and is always participating in developing works for both stage and film. When not creating works for BrooklynOne, he is the resident theatre teacher and director for The Homewood School PS/IS 180 where he mentors children from K-7 in the art of theatre making. He also directs at least one major main stage production a year there while handling fundraising, public relations and outreach work for the school. An avid supporter of the arts, Anthony hopes on continuing his teaching works through BrooklynOne.
Joseph Appel - Joseph Appel has been directing, musical directing, (and sometimes performing in) shows for several years. He is the founder of The Our Lady of Guadalupe Youth Theatre Company where he has presented 23 shows since the group was founded in 1997. Joe is a proud teacher at his alma mater, Xaverian High School, where he runs the school's Honors Program and has served as managing director of the Xaverian Dramatics Program for the past several years
Michael Coluccio - Michael has been active in Community Theatre and Brooklyn Civic Affairs for over 20 years. He is the founder and resident artistic director of the Sts. Simon and Jude Players, where he has directed and produced dozens of major musicals, comedies and musical revues. Most recently, Michael has put directing and producing on the back burner to concentrate on his playwriting. His full-length play, "ORDAINED" is a semi-autobiographical story of a young man in search of his place in society and the church and has received critical acclaim in various readings around New York. He is also a member of the "Dramatists Guild of America” and a "Teaching Artist with the "Roundabout Theatre Company". Besides doing all this "theatre" stuff, Michael holds two jobs. He is the Director of the Ft. Hamilton/St. John's Senior Nutrition Program right here at BrooklynOne’s home base at St. John's Episcopal Church. He is also a "Vision Therapist" working with Drs. Cooper and Colavito with offices in Brooklyn and Manhattan. A member of the College of Optometrists of Vision Development, Michael holds a Master of Arts degree from NYU and a Master of Science degree from Central Michigan University. Michael was also honored to be the inaugural recipient of the "Vince Mazza Award" which was bestowed upon him by Brooklyn One Theatre and Senator Marty Golden for his support and advocacy of arts in the community. He would like to thank Tom Kane and Anthony Marino for asking him to join them in this most worthwhile endeavor!
Andrew Gerardi - Andrew Gerardi is twenty-five years old, and has been pursuing music and entertainment professionally for three years. Andrew's music has been featured in independent films, CMT (“True Grit-Ronald Reagan”), VH1 (“Best Week Ever”) and on PBS (focusing on September 11th featuring his song “Waste of a Beautiful Day”), as well as radio stations across the country. Often with just a microphone and guitar, Andrew began performing as a solo artist in NYC. He has since become a regularly featured showcase at some of New York’s most popular underground clubs most notably: The Hard Rock Café (Los Angeles), Crash Mansion, The Knitting Factory’s Main Stage (NY), The Cutting Room and many more. Andrew's ability to capture the moments that define a person's life, intelligent and thoughtful lyrics creates both meaning and realism. His sound has transcended generations while their presence appeals to mass audiences everywhere they go. Andrew is happy to be apart of BrooklynONE.
John Heffernan - A musical performer since childhood, John Heffernan was born and raised in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. At the age of 11, under the tutelage of Maestro Aldo Bruschi, John played the starring role in Gian Carlo Menotti's opera, AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS. He continued his early vocal career in several other productions with The Kings Forum for Performing Artists, notably Puccini's TOSCA and Lionel Bart's musical, “OLIVER!”. In recent years, John has performed as one of "The Three Irish Tenors of St. Patrick's." Additionally, this locally famed trio has performed in countless concerts and musical reviews. As a member of Narrows Community Theater, John has played memorable roles as Sky Masterson in GUYS AND DOLLS, Cornelius in HELLO DOLLY, Sid Sorokin in PAJAMA GAME, Beau in MAME, as well as the narrator in WE'RE STILL HERE and CELEBRATION OF SONG. John also shares the stage with the Rockaway Theater Company's annual "Rockaway Cafe," where he has sung everything from Doo Wop, Motown, The Beatles, and popular standards. John is the Rhapsody Players founder and producer.
Vinny Iannelli - Graduate of Xaverian High School Class of 2003 currently enrolled at NYU '08 and assistant music director of Xaverian.
Arlene Keating - A Bay Ridge native is delighted to be a part of the BrooklynONE Board of Directors since its inception. She first started acting in 1970 with Larry Thomas in Fort Hamilton High School’s production of BYE BYE BIRDIE, (of course Larry was Birdie), and has been performing ever since. Arlene was a member of the OLA Theater Group, and has been with Narrows Community Theater for over 25 years as a Past President, and original member of the NCT Broadway Ensemble. As an avid community volunteer, she currently serves as 1st Vice President of the Bay Ridge Community Council, Secretary of the Ragamuffin Parade Committee, and on the Board of the Bay Ridge Lion’s Club. She is also the 2007 recipient of the BrooklynONE prestigious Vince Mazza Award.
Anthony Vigorito - Anthony is a NYC schoolteacher entering his 27th year of service to our children. He is also a poet who has studied under Brooklyn Poet Laureate Ken Siegelman. Besides being BrooklynONE's Yellowhook Poets Associate Director, he is also a six-year member of the Brooklyn Poetry Outreach program, which is run out of Barnes & Nobles in Park Slope.
