Something In The Gamel - Creative Team

Win one for the Gipper!

DAVID BELL

For the last thirty years, David H. Bell's career has spanned a wide range of International and National projects as a director, choreographer, and author. As Artistic Director of the historic Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., David inaugurated such World Premiere musicals as ELMER GANTRY, A CHRISTMAS CAROL (adapter), and HOT MIKADO (author-winner Helen Hayes Award, BEST DIRECTOR). His work at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, the Marriott Theatre, and Drury Lane Oakbrook in Chicago has earned him 44 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations (winning the award 11 times). In New York City, David has directed both on and off Broadway, including the DIFFA TRIBUTE TO EDITH HEAD (Michael Douglas, Lauren Bacall, Julianne Moore, etc.), HEARTSTRINGS (Sandy Duncan, Patti LuPone, Salt N' Peppa, Sara Gilbert), and GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY at Carnegie Hall (Richard Kiley, Jule Styne, Carol Channing, Jerry Orback, Chita Rivera, Jerry Herman, George Abbott, etc.). Internationally, David has worked on London's West End on HOT MIKADO (author- Laurence Olivier Award Nominee), Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, Berlin, Barcelona (for the 1992 Olympic Closing Ceremonies), the HARLEM GOSPEL SINGERS, and the DIRTY DANCING CONCERT TOUR. As associate director to Kenny Leon at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre, David directed over twenty productions. David was the book writer with Craig Carnelia for ACTOR, LAWYER, INDIAN CHIEF and Studs Terkel's THE GOOD WAR. David currently heads the Music Theatre Program at Northwestern University.
davidhbell.com

MICHAEL MAHLER

Michael Mahler is the award-winning Chicago-based composer/lyricist of DIARY OF A WIMPY KID; OCTOBER SKY; HERO (Jeff Award); THE MAN WHO MURDERED SHERLOCK HOLMES (Jeff Award); WONDERLAND: ALICE’S ROCK & ROLL ADVENTURE; SOMETHING IN THE GAME; PAINTED ALICE; HOW CAN YOU RUN WITH A SHELL ON YOUR BACK? and others. He contributed additional lyrics to Cameron Mackintosh's London and Broadway revivals of MISS SAIGON and served as the original English lyricist of Boublil and Schönberg's LA REVOLUTION FRANCAISE. Projects in development include SECRET OF MY SUCCESS and GRAVEDIGGERS’ HAMLET. Visit www.michaelmahler.com

BUDDY FARMER

Buddy is a native of Florida and graduate of the University of Alabama. His first play, “COACHES," received critical acclaim in Los Angeles and toured to Notre Dame, Milwaukee, San Francisco and Phoenix (SUPER BOWL XXX). It was the first play ever performed at The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He wrote the book for the musical, “KNUTE ROCKNE- ALL-AMERICAN,” which received several Jefferson Award nominations and has had numerous Equity productions including the 2018 AMTP (American Musical Theatre Project) at Northwestern under the new title of , “SOMETHING IN THE GAME.” His play, “JOEY & MARE,” was the 2018 winner of the Show-Off International Playwriting Festival in California receiving a production at The Camino Real Playhouse. It was also selected as part of the 2018 OC-Centric New Play Festival and is received a production at Chapman University in August, 2018. Another play, “THE BARBECUE,” was runner up in the New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest and received a production at the 13th Street Repertory Company in New York in 2013. Other plays include the award winning, “ALABAMA BAGGAGE” (Ohio State Playwriting Competition & New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest), “THE VIAGRA MONOLOGUES, “FORE” and the short play, “HELP.” He is currently directing and co-producing the documentary film, “SEND CHOCOLATE & MARLBOROS.” Buddy is an active member of The Dramatists Guild, The Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights and the Orange County Playwrights Association. He resides in Laguna Beach with his wonderful wife Pamela and their two rescue pups, Lilly and Teddy.

GREG SCHAFFERT

Greg Schaffert is a theatrical Producer who has spent the last 40 years working in every facet of the theatre. In the last 15 years he has produced: PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Broadway (5 Tony Awards) plus Tour & Off-Broadway; NEXT TO NORMAL (Pulitzer); BURN THE FLOOR; ALL SHOOK UP. Off-Broadway: BAT BOY THE MUSICAL (Drama Desk); STRIKING 12 (Lortel Award); MAGNETIC NORTH; GREAT WALL; HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD & FIND TRUE LOVE in 90 minutes. Regional: Paul Gordon’s ANALOG & VINYL (Weston Playhouse); George Stiles’ THREE MUSKETEERS (Chicago Shakes, North Shore); HOMESTEAD CROSSING (Berkshire, Merrimac Rep, Portland Stage); NO WAKE (Berkshire); THE GIRL IN THE FRAME (Goodspeed, Adirondack Theatre Festival); ACE (Signature). In Development: Broadway revival of BAT BOY; SOMETHING IN THE GAME; ATLANTIS; HOT MESS IN MANHATTAN; PAINTED ALICE. Visit gregschaffert.com

JOHN A. GIRARDI

In 1999, John A Girardi (Jack) saw a performance of Buddy Farmer’s stage play COACHES. This led Jack to become the hands on Executive Producer of the musical through workshops in Southern California, Chicago and the production of KNUTE ROCKNE: ALL AMERICAN at Theatre in the Center in Muncie, Indiana. As the show has developed to become SOMETHING IN THE GAME, Jack, and his production company, Coaches LLC, has guided the show through its development lab at the American Musical Theatre Project at Northwestern University, its presentations in Chicago and the University of Notre Dame, and its future productions in theatres around the country. When he is not listening to the SOMETHING IN THE GAME soundtrack, Girardi is a civil trial attorney with the firm of Girardi & Keese in Los Angeles.