Austentatious was created by a like-minded group of theater artists who began their collaboration at Goldsmiths, University of London. Hailing from the UK, USA, and Canada, these artists each bring a unique background and aesthetic orientation to their work. Members of the writing team – Matt Board, Jane Caplow, Kate Galvin, Luisa Hinchliff and Joe Slabe – aim to be leaders in the music theater world. Together they developed AmDram the Musical, which has since been produced under the title Austentatious.
Matt Board
(Book, Music, Lyrics)is an exciting new composer, lyricist and playwright working in musical theatre. In addition to co-writing the score and book for Austentatious, Matt’s work includes: book, music and lyrics for the one-act, two-woman musical Two’s A Crowd, which featured in the 2008 Perfect Pitch New Musicals Festival in London; music and additional lyrics for the short film The Dance To War (Catsnake Films); and incidental music for the new play Juvenilia. His songs have become a regular highlight of the Snappy Title cabaret evenings in London. His new children’s musical, Ella And The Dragophant, will be premiering in the UK in 2011. Matt’s work has played to sell-out audiences and to critical acclaim across the Atlantic. Matt holds an MA in Musical Theatre Composition from Goldsmith’s College, University of London.
Jane Caplow
(Book)is the Director of Creative Development for Davenport Theatrical Enterprises in New York City. She also serves on the reading committee and awards jury for the New York Musical Theatre Festival. She has a MA degree in Musical Theatre (producing) from Goldsmiths College, University of London, and a BA in Theatre from the University of Minnesota. Other companies she has worked with include The Flying Foot Forum, Nautilus Music-Theater, Theatre Latte Da, and Minneapolis Musical Theatre.
Kate Galvin
(Book)is currently the Casting Director and Assistant to the Producing Artistic Director at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, where she has also performed and worked as an assistant director. In 2012 she will be directing Proof at the Walnut and on tour, other directing credits include The Blue Room, The Wind in the Willows and a developmental reading of the new musical The Average Achievers Club. Kate serves on the board of 11th Hour Theatre Company, now celebrating its 6th year producing new and contemporary musicals in Philadelphia. She is very involved in the National Alliance for Musical Theatre and has worked in various capacities at Roundabout Theatre Company, Theatre at Monmouth and TheatreFest. Kate holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Performance from NYU and a Master’s of Arts in Musical Theatre (Producing) from Goldsmiths, University of London.
Luisa Hinchliff
(Book)works as a Director, Assistant Director and Choreographer. Recent credits include directing I Just Called at Old Red Lion Theatre (winner of Best Actor award at Off Cut Festival), assistant directing on Lulu at Headlong/Gate Theatre, choreography for Romeo and Juliet at Leicester Square Theatre. Luisa is currently working with Suzanne Firth, developing a new piece of dance theatre to be premiered at The Place.
Joe Slabe
(Book, Music & Lyrics)is a Calgary writer and composer who obtained his Masters Degree in musical theatre composition from the University of London. Joe collaborated with four of his classmates on the musical Austentatious. In addition, Joe wrote a musical adaptation of Robert Munsch’s The Paper Bag Princess, which was produced in Calgary in both 2003 and 2004. Joe is also in demand as a musical director. Recent credits include: Forte Musical Theatre Guild’s but this IS my day job… , Alberta Theatre Projects’ Seussical the Musical, Lunchbox Theatre’s In Flanders Field and Theatre Calgary’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, for which he received a Betty Mitchell Award for outstanding musical direction in 2010. Joe is the founding artistic director of Forte Musical Theatre Guild and received the 2004 Greg Bond Award for outstanding contributions to musical theatre in Calgary.