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Jeffrey Coyle: Director
Jeffrey is a multiple award-wining theater director and performer and has been working professionally since graduating with a B.F.A. from the University at Buffalo in 2006. He has worked as a performer, director, stage hand, designer, technician, and stage manager at many of WNY’s theater companies, including Irish Classical Theatre Co., Shakespeare in Delaware Park, MusicalFare Theatre, American Repertory Theatre of WNY, Subversive Theatre Collective, Kavinoky Theatre, Theatre of Youth, O’Connell & Co., Alleyway Theatre, Shea’s 710 Theatre, Road Less Traveled Productions, Buffalo Opera Unlimited, New Pheonix Theatre, Buffalo United Artists, Unique Theatre Co., Jewish Repertory Theatre, Lancaster Opera House, and Theatre In the Mist. Jeffrey is a nine-time Buffalo ARTIE Awards nominee and has won for his direction of FLOYD COLLINS, BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, and UNINETOWN, THE MUSICAL, as well as for Supporting Actor in THE FULL MONTY. Love, as always, to mom, dad, Erin, and now William!
Mike Doben: Director
Mike is the Co-Artistic Director of Buffalo United Artists, Buffalo’s only exclusively LGBTQIA+ theater company. He is also the Executive Director of 1666 Theatrical Productions. Mike has worked at Subversive Theatre Collective where he directed FAHRENHEIT 451 and MERCURY FUR. For the latter he garnered an Artie nomination for Outstanding Direction of a Play. Mike has also worked on the Road Less Traveled production staff in the capacity of Stage Manager and Assistant Director. He is thankful to be a part of First Look Buffalo’s first full season of theater, owing special thanks to Bob Rusch and Drew McCabe for the opportunity.
Drew Fornarola - Director
Drew Fornarola is a playwright, songwriter, and occasional director from New York City, and is the artistic director of Starring Buffalo. He has written for DreamWorks’ Shrek and VeggieTales franchises, and his play STRAIGHT, a New York Times Critics’ Pick off-Broadway, is now in development as a major motion picture. Other credits include Tilly the Trickster (written with SNL’s Molly Shannon), which has been performed around the world, and Hershey’s Unwrapped, the 2019 IAAPA show of the year, which has played over 1,000 performances at Hershey Park. Next up: Tiananmen, premiering at Phoenix Theater Company in 2023. Drew has headlined concerts around the world including Lincoln Center, 54 Below, London Theater Workshop, and Broadway au Carre (Paris). Recent directing credits include Little Shop of Horrors starring Tony Award-Winner Matt Doyle, and Sunday in the Park… starring Tony Award-Nominee Josh Young. Graduate of Princeton, Fordham, and the BMI Workshop. @drew-fornarola www.drewfornarola.com
Dan Hope - Director
Dan Hope is an attorney based in New York. He currently
serves as lead counsel for the creative, advertising, marketing and media division of a global professional services and technology company. For many years before becoming an attorney, Dan was an active member of the New York City theater community, where
he acted, wrote, directed, produced and founded theater companies. Dan
loves spending time with his wife and kids, traveling, cooking and woodworking. He’s a proud Buffalo native with deep roots in the city and is
delighted to be part of the First Look Buffalo board.
Camilla Maxwell - Director
Camilla Maxwell (Head of Director's Wing) has a Bachelor of Media in writing from Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia), and is conservatory trained from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. She also has an Advanced Acting Degree from the Australian College of Theatre and Television - ACTT, (Sydney). Masterclass graduate in Auditioning techniques at The Australian Theatre for Young People - ATYP (Sydney). Studied commedia dell’arte and Physical Theatre Direction at the Actors Centre of Australia - ACA (Sydney). Theatre Performance and Practice: The art of directing, producing and writing theatre and television at the Australian College of Theatre and Television - ACTT (Sydney). And is a two time participant in the Australians In Film “Untapped Talent” career development program (Hollywood).
Her Directorial style is a group theatre based approach focusing on a combination of Meisner, Strasberg and Uta Hagen. Some directing credits include:- The Tea Party, by Sean Abley (Rehearsed Reading) First Look Theatre. Shakespeare's Women produced at Macquarie University (AUS); Chun Li produced at The Lion Theatre on Theatre Row (Manhattan); Brit Bits produced at Mind The Gap Theatre (Manhattan), 6 years consecutively (2007-2013). The Real Thing produced at The Players Theatre (New York City); Cosi, by Louis Nowra produced by Dramac (Sydney) and more...
Camilla was also Director of Voice Over talent and Content Producer at Juice 1073.1 radio station, (Gold Coast).
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Drew McCabe - Director
Drew (director) - an multiple Artie Award nominee for both directing and writing, over the past 13 seasons he has directed 49 productions across WNY. A 2007 graduate of the University at Buffalo where he studied Japanese and Theater, Drew is happy to be returning to First Look where he previously directed COPS AND FRIENDS OF COPS. Other favorite regional productions under his directorial eye include IT'S ONLY A PLAY, SHE KILLS MONSTERS, THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, THE PRIDE, CANNIBAL! THE MUSICAL and ORGAZMO. It is widely speculated that Drew has one of the largest retro videogames collections in WNY, in fact, when he’s not directing, he is religiously practicing on his Dig-Dug arcade machine for high scores. He would like to thank his cast and crew for their hard work, his wife Jenny for her love and support, and his emotional support soccer team, the New York Red Bulls.
VANESSA SHEVAT - Director
(Director THE MEAN BOY ON MOVING DAY and JUST SIGN) graduated from Niagara University in 2017 with a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance. She is excited and grateful to have the opportunity to direct two plays with First Look Buffalo, and is so proud of the cast and crew for all their hard work. Some of her favorite stage roles include The Widow in TAMING OF THE SHREW by William Shakespeare and Goneril in CINDERELLA WALTZ by Don Nigro. Vanessa has also made appearances in commercials and films which include THE FIRST PURGE, BIG TIME ADOLESCENCE, CROSSBREED, and SEX APPEAL.
Kayla Victoria Reuman (Reu) - Director
Kayla is a Buffalo actor and director who graduated from Niagara University with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Theater Performance. Kayla is a resident director with First Look Buffalo. Some of Kayla’s favorite past work includes directing Sylvia by A.R. Gurney and The Exorcism of Princess Bubblehead by Maddison Sedlor as well as playing Rose in FALL FROM THE GRACE OF GOD with A.R.T., Holly Seabe in Anton in Show Business at Niagara University and performing throughout England as Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Kayla would like to thank family, friends, and Amanda Garry.