YANN MARTEL ( Novelist ) is a Canadian writer. He is the author of a collection of short stories and four novels, most notably Life of Pi , for which he won the 2002 Man Booker Prize. Writing credits include: The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios , Self , Life of Pi , Beatrice and Virgil , The High Mountains of Portugal and the non-fiction collection 101 Letters to a Prime Minister: The Complete Letters to Stephen Harper. Martel is presently at work on Son of Nobody , a novel about the Trojan War. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with the writer Alice Kuipers and their four children.
LOLITA CHAKRABARTI ( Playwright ) is an actress and award-winning playwright. She won an Olivier, WhatsOnStage and UK Theatre Award for Best New Play for Life of Pi . Her adaptation of Hamnet recently opened at The RSC and London’s West End. Her debut play Red Velvet earned her the Evening Standard Charles Wintour Award and The Critics’ Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright and an Olivier Award nomination. Other writing includes Hymn, Invisible Cities, Calmer , dramaturg on Message In A Bottle and Sylvia . Lolita trained at RADA and has worked as an actress on stage and screen for 35 years.
MAX WEBSTER ( Director ) is a Tony & Olivier Award nominated director specializing in new work, opera, and live music events. Theatre credits include: The Importance of Being Earnest (Upcoming, National Theatre); Macbeth (Donmar & West End); Henry V (Donmar); Antigone, As You Like It and Twelfth Night (Regent’s Park); Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (Old Vic/San Diego Old Globe/Minneapolis Children’s Theatre); The Jungle Book (Fiery Angel); Fanny and Alexander, Cover My Tracks (Old Vic); The Twits (Leicester Curve); The Winter’s Tale (Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh); The Sea of Fertility, Mary Stuart (Parco Tokyo); Much Ado About Nothing (Globe); Orlando, To Kill a Mockingbird, My Young and Foolish Heart (Royal Exchange, Manchester); James and the Giant Peach, My Generation (Leeds Playhouse). Opera: La Bohème (Göteborgsoperan, Sweden) and The Merry Widow (ENO).
ASHLEY BROOKE MONROE ( Tour Director ). Broadway: Life of Pi, Indecent, Fun Home, The Glass Menagerie . Broadway National tour: Hamilton (resident director). Off-Broadway: All of Me (The New Group), Julius Caesar (CSC), Death Cruise (Access Theater), The Goree All-Girl String Band (Theatre Row). Regional: All of Me (Barrington Stage Company), Fun Home (Cape Rep), Indecent (Huntington, Center Theatre Group).
TIM HATLEY ( Scenic Design and Costume Design ) Broadway/West End: Starlight Express 2024, Back to the Future: The Musical, Life of Pi, Dreamgirls, Travesties, Ghosts, Vincent in Brixton, Temple, Bodyguard, Shrek, Spamalot, Humble Boy, Private Lives, The Crucible, The Pajama Game, Carmen, Don Quixote, My Fair Lady, Singin’ in the Rain . Film credits include Closer, Notes on a Scandal , and Stage Beauty . Winner of three Tony Awards and three Olivier Awards for Best Design. timhatley.com
FINN CALDWELL ( Co-Puppet Design, Puppetry/ Movement Director ) is an Olivier Award winning director, designer and performer; he is a co-artistic director of Gyre & Gimble, where his co-director/ puppet designer credits include The Four Seasons: A Reimagining (Globe), The Hartlepool Monkey (U.K. tour) and The Elephantom (National Theatre/West End). As puppet co-designer/director: The Wicker Husband (Watermill), The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic/West End), Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (Old Vic/San Diego Old Globe/Minneapolis Children’s Theatre) and Running Wild (Chichester/Regent’s Park/U.K. tour). As director of puppetry/movement: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Angels in America, The Light Princess and War Horse (all National Theatre/West End). As director, credits include: Ex Machina (NIDA, Australia) and Lardo (Old Red Lion).
NICK BARNES ( Co-Puppet Design ) began making puppets at university and afterwards at the Slade School of Fine Arts, incorporating puppets into his theatre designs for opera and theatre. He subsequently formed the puppetry company Blind Summit Theatre, devising and performing in shows which toured internationally from the Edinburgh
Fringe to the Metropolitan Opera and co-directed the puppetry for the London Olympic Games opening ceremony. Nick now runs his puppet making studio in Hove. Follow Nick’s work at
ANDRZEJ GOULDING ( Video & Animation Design ). Video designs include & Juliet, Room, Groundhog Day (Broadway); Starlight Express, Just For One Day , Life of Pi, The Drifters Girl, & Juliet, Message in a Bottle, Sylvia, The Unfriend, Eureka Day, Pressure (West End); People, Places and Things (St Ann’s Warehouse); Henry V, Coriolanus (Donmar Warehouse, NT Live); The Da Vinci Code (U.K. tour); Burn (Joyce Theater); The Machine (Park Avenue Armory), Message in a Bottle (tour).
TIM LUTKIN ( Lighting Design ). Tony and two- time Olivier Award winner. Broadway: Back the Future: The Musical, Life of Pi . Select West End: The Crucible, Back to the Future, Fiddler on the Roof, Noises Off, Strangers on a Train, Close to You, The Full Monty, Present Laughter, Chimerica, Quiz, Lungs, A Number, Elf, Big . National Theatre: Under Milk Wood, Antony and Cleopatra, LesBlancs, Jack Absolute Flys Again.
TIM DEILING ( Lighting Design ). West End credits: SIX, Knights of the Rose, American Idiot, Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Vanities the Musical . He’s also lit many U.K. tours including Club Tropicana, Our House, HMS Pinafore and Summer Holiday . He’s worked on many plays/musicals at regional U.K. theatres and throughout Europe. He’s also worked for many years as an associate to Ken Billington and The National Theater in London. Tim is an American living in London.
CAROLYN DOWNING ( Sound Design ) is an award-winning sound designer working internationally in a variety of fields with creativity and collaboration at the heart of her work. Carolyn’s work includes The Commonwealth Games 2022 Opening Ceremony, Birmingham; Jean Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure exhibition; The Normal Heart for the National Theater; Downstate at National Theatre, Steppenwolf Playwrights Horizons; Henry V for Donmar; Summer and Smoke (Olivier nomination 2019) and Chimerica for Sonia Friedman Productions (Olivier award 2015).
DAVID BRIAN BROWN ( Wig Design ) . Broadway highlights: Drama Desk Awards for Mrs. Doubtfire and War Paint . Moulin Rouge!, Life of Pi, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Frozen, She Loves Me (Drama Desk nomination), Shrek, Legally Blonde, Spamalot, Nine, Sweet Smell of Success, Aida, Chicago, Sideshow . Film credits: “Angels in America” (Emmy nominated), Too Wong Foo….
ANDREW T. MACKAY ( Original Music ) is an Olivier Award-nominated composer and the co-founder of Bombay Dub Orchestra. He studied at the London College of Music. His music often fuses orchestra with traditional elements from the project’s region and has scored many films in India and around the globe. Life of Pi was Andrew’s first theatre score, followed by Henry V (Donmar) with Kit Harington. The soundtrack to Life of Pi is available on all streaming platforms.
JACK BRADLEY ( Dramaturgy ) is a dramaturg, translator and playwright. As literary manager at the National Theatre (1994-2007) he advised Richard Eyre, Trevor Nunn and Nicholas Hytner on new plays. For Sonia Friedman Productions since 2007 shows include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ; Mean Girls ; and New York, New York. For Tricycle Theatre (2007-2012): The Great Game, The Bomb-A Partial History, The Riots. And for Simon Friend, other work: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Jack has conducted writing workshops around the world.
SCARLET WILDERINK ( Global Associate Puppetry & Movement Director ) (she/her/hers) one of the Olivier award winning puppeteers in the original West End cast of Life of Pi; then set up the ART, Broadway and Toronto productions. Regional: Life of Pi, Mirvish Theatre, American Repertory Theatre. West End: War Horse, New London Theatre; Life of Pi, Wyndham’s Theatre (Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor); Pinocchio, National Theatre. Off-West End: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Southwark Playhouse; Putting It Together, The Other Palace . U.K. regional: The Wicker Husband and Watership Down , Watermill Theatre; Treasure Island, Stephen Joseph Theatre.U.K. tour: The Comedy of Errors & A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Running Wild. International: Cabaret , MAC Theatre. Education: Guildford School of Acting. Actors’ Equity Association member.
JON HOCHE ( U.S. Associate Puppetry & Movement Director/Resident Director/Fight Captain ). Broadway: Life of Pi (Richard Parker puppeteer), King Kong (Voice of King Kong/ Puppeteer). Off-Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey 2 puppeteer); Soft Power (The Public Theater, Grammy-nominated); Vietgone, Poor Yella Rednecks (Manhattan Theatre Club); Soul Samurai , The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G (Ma-Yi Theater/Vampire Cowboys Theater); Hello, From the Children of Planet Earth (Playwrights Realm). National tour: War Horse (Puppeteer/Puppet Captain). TV: “Hello Tomorrow!” (Apple TV+) @ JonHoche
ARC ( Casting ). 150+ productions across the globe & 13 Artios Awards for Casting. Broadway/NY Past & Present Productions include: A Wonderful World, Life of Pi, Chicago the Musical, Disney’s The Lion King & Beauty and the Beast, Hadestown, Lost in Yonkers, Great Comet of 1812, Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, 39 Steps, Pippin, La Cage aux Folles . TV/Film: Netflix, 20th Century Fox, NBC, Lionsgate, Disney Channel. West End/U.K.: Sister Act, Hadestown, Thriller Live, Menier Chocolate Factory. Tours: 1776, Girl From The North Country, Hairspray, Waitress, Urinetown, Finding Neverland, Into the Woods, We Will Rock You . Regional: A.R.T., Berkeley Rep, Alley, Bay Street, Goodspeed, Hollywood Bowl, McCarter, Signature. ARC, Part of RWS Global. IG: castingbyarc
BOND THEATRICAL ( Tour Booking, Marketing & Publicity ) is an independently-owned theatrical booking, marketing and publicity company representing award-winning Broadway shows and live entertainment properties. BOND connects artists and audiences by forming strategic, authentic and profitable partnerships between producers and presenters across North America. For a complete list of current projects, please visit BondTheatrical.com
KATIE CORTEZ ( Company Manager ) National Tours: To Kill a Mockingbird, 1776, Waitress, The Prom, The Phantom of the Opera, Finding Neverland, Bullets Over Broadway , Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
FRANK DEMING II ( Assosciate Company Manager ). National Tours: Mean Girls, To Kill a Mockingbird (ACM), Pretty Woman (ACM), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (CSM). Regional: Virginia Theatre Festival (CM), New Harmony Theatre (CM). Graduate of the University of Montevallo. Proudly mentored by Jen and Marcus Lane, Katie Cortez, and Jack Stephens.
KELSEY TIPPINS ( Production Stage Manager ) (she/they). National Tours: Mrs. Doubtfire, Pretty Woman the Musical, The Prom, Once On This Island , A Bronx Tale , Finding Neverland , Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage , Disney’s Beauty and the Beast , Elf The Musical , and Shrek The Musical . Favorite regional: The Muny, Weston Playhouse and Piedmont Opera. For Ace. @ kelseytippins
MATTHEW BROOKS ( Stage Manager ) (he/him). National Tours: Company ; Jesus Christ Superstar ; A Christmas Story ; An Officer and a Gentleman ; Xanadu ; and Rosie Revere, Engineer and Friends . Regional: Asolo Repertory Theatre; New York Stage and Film’s Powerhouse Theatre; Connecticut Repertory Theatre; Colorado Shakespeare Festival; and the Dorset Theatre Festival. Thanks to Kelsey, Heather, my parents, and mi amore Nia most of all. Proud AEA member and graduate of the University of Illinois. matthewibbrooks.com
FOUAD HASSAN ( Assistant Stage Manager ) (he/him) is a blind and Arab stage manager, proud of both. Fouad dedicates his work to beautiful Arabs who rarely see ourselves and our real stories represented. With credits including Broadway’s Hamilton and The Kite Runner , and Off-Broadway’s We Live in Cairo , Fouad strives to foster spaces of community, care, and visibility for all.
GENTRY & ASSOCIATES ( General Manager ) has managed nearly 250 national and international touring theatrical productions over the past 25 years. Current and upcoming productions include A Beautiful Noise, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, Come From Away, Funny Girl, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Mean Girls, Peter Pan, Cameron Mackintosh presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera , To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Wiz.
HANNA OSMOLSKA ( Executive Producer ) has general managed Life of Pi in London’s West End (Wyndham’s Theatre), on UK tour and on international engagements. She is also the Executive Director of Simon Friend Entertainment whose current and recent productions include Paranormal Activity, Here You Come Again, The Girl on the Train and The Height of the Storm.
SETH WENIG ( Executive Producer ) has been with NETworks since its inception in 1995. He spearheaded the international tours of Fosse starring Ben Vereen and Ruthie Henshall. Seth has produced the Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific and the National Theatre production of War Horse. Together with Cameron Mackintosh, Seth served as Executive Producer for both the US and UK tours of the National Theatre’s My Fair Lady , the 25th Anniversary US tour of Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera tour, Miss Saigon. Currently, Funny Girl, The Book of Mormon, and Life of Pi . He is most proud of his greatest productions – Marlo and Camden.
SIMON FRIEND ( Producer ) has commissioned, developed and lead produced many productions in the U.K. including Life of Pi , which arrived on Broadway last year after a long run in London’s West End - the production won 3 Tonys and 5 Oliviers. This year has included world premiere productions of Minority Report based on Philip K. Dick’s story, and Paranormal Activity based on the Paramount Pictures films, the enormously successful new Dolly Parton musical Here You Come Again across the U.K. and in London, and the forthcoming new play Second Best . Recent West End credits: The Real Thing , Life of Pi , Bad Jews, The Starry Messenger, The Girl on the Train, The Height of the Storm (also Broadway) and Admissions, amongst many others. Simon also produced the Academy Award-winning film The Father.
DARYL ROTH ( Producer ) holds the singular distinction of producing seven Pulitzer Prize- winning plays: Anna in the Tropics, August: Osage County, Clybourne Park, How I Learned to Drive, Proof, Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women and Wit. The proud recipient of 13 Tony Awards and London’s Olivier Award, over 130 productions including Kinky Boots, Into the Woods, Indecent, Left on Tenth and The Normal Heart. Trustee, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Lincoln Center Theater. Honored to have been inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.
HAL LUFTIG ( Producer ). Winner of five Tony Awards and two Olivier Awards, Hal Luftig has worked on and off Broadway for the past 35 years. Broadway includes Here Lies Love, Plaza Suite, American Utopia, Kinky Boots, Children of a Lesser God, Legally Blonde, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Diary of Anne Frank and Angels in America. Off-Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish; Scotland, PA (Roundabout); Here Lies Love (The Public). Upcoming: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Becoming Nancy and Scotland, PA (Broadway).
MARK GORDON PICTURES ( Producer ). Broadway: Romeo + Juliet , Life of Pi , The Piano Lesson , POTUS . Off-Broadway/Regional: Teeth , Highway Patrol, Nollywood Dreams, The Buddy System. UK: People, Places and Things , Brace Brace , Punch , School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play . Film: Saving Private Ryan, Speed, The Day After Tomorrow, 2012, Murder on the Orient Express, Source Code, Molly’s Game, Steve Jobs, The Patrio t. Television: “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Criminal Minds,” “Ray Donovan,” “Designated Survivor,” “Quantico,” “Private Practice,” “The Rookie.”
NETWORKS PRESENTATIONS ( Producer ) is an industry-leading producer of touring theatrical productions, committed to delivering quality entertainment to audiences worldwide for more than 25 years. Current and upcoming productions include A Beautiful Noise, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, Come From Away, Funny Girl, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Mean Girls, Peter Pan, Cameron Mackintosh presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera , To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Wiz.
42ND.CLUB ( Co-Producer ) is a seven-time Tony Award-winning network of Broadway producers and investors. Productions include & Juliet, Hadestown and Moulin Rouge!. In development: Alice in Neverland . Producers: Phil & Claire Kenny, Winston Hatta (@buddybroadway) and Miles & Bonnie Romney.www.42nd.club
KATE AND BILL FISHEL ( Co-Producer ) live in the Pacific Palisades with their three sons Mike, John, and Andy and their own representative of the divine through love, fear, and survival: Wally Washington Fishel.
HARRIET NEWMAN LEVE ( Co-Producer ) has won four Tony Awards. Productions include Ain’t Too Proud, Beautiful, An American in Paris, Hedwig, War Horse, The 39 Steps, The Mountaintop, A Little Night Music, La Cage aux Folles, The Norman Conquests, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Crucible and Stomp.
KUHN DODANI ( Co-Producer ). Eric Kuhn is a Tony Award-winning producer between New York and London and co-CEO and co-founder of Folk Media Group. Nik Dodani is an actor, filmmaker, and producer who serves as CEO of Cosmic Pomegranate and co-founder of The Salon.
PLAYING FIELD ( Co-Producer ). Combining our knowledge of theatre and capital, Playing Field is dedicated to accelerating the creation of world class theatre through the early-stage development, late- stage investment and production of a wide variety of projects in London, nationally and internationally. Work includes The Lehman Trilogy, Back to the Future, Life of Pi, War Horse, Starlight Express, Dear England, Stranger Things, The Motive and the Cue, Moulin Rouge, Merrily We Roll Along, Funny Girl, Patriots and Jerusalem . playingfield.co.uk
AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATER ( Co-Producer ) at Harvard University, led by Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director Diane Paulus and Executive Director Kelvin Dinkins, Jr., produces groundbreaking work to catalyze dialogue and transformation. Tony-winning/nominated productions: Jagged Little Pill, Waitress, Great Comet, All the Way, The Glass Menagerie, Pippin, Once, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, 1776 national tour (2022/23 Broadway); Sleep No More (NYC).
SHEFFIELD THEATRES ( Co-Producer ) is the largest U.K. producing theatre complex outside London, comprising the Crucible, Lyceum and Playhouse. Celebrated for creating bold new work, recent hits include Life of Pi, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Standing at the Sky’s Edge.
