Mark is a New York-based director/creator, and the Artistic Director of Parallel Exit, a 2008 Drama Desk Award nominee for Unique Theatrical Experience. With Parallel Exit, he has created eight original works of physical theatre and received several grants and awards. Mark’s work has been seen in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia, at festivals such as the Festival of Dreams in Austria, the COS Festival in Spain, the We Love Dance Festival in Japan, the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in the United States, and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland (Awarded: Spirit of the Fringe). In New York City, he has presented work at The New Victory Theater, Lincoln Center, 59E59 Theaters, the Duke on 42nd Street, Symphony Space, the Guggenheim Museum, Ars Nova, and PS 122. Mark also works as a freelance director of productions in the United States and Canada.
 

  Mark Lonergan, Artistic Director

  Mike Dobson, Performer/ Creator

Percussionist Mike Dobson enjoys a career of highly diverse performance opportunities. Classically trained with degrees from Mannes College and The Hartt School,  Mike has performed with orchestras such as the Westfield Symphony, New Haven Symphony, Waterbury Symphony, and Bridgeport Symphony. Mike has performed in Parallel Exit’s productions of CUT TO THE CHASE, EXIT! STAGE LEFT!, TIME STEP, and the forthcoming ROOM 17B. Mike has also toured with Circus Smirkus as percussionist and music director.  Other circuses include the Big Apple Circus and the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus. He has also played in off-Broadway productions of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, Political Idol, and Target Margin’s Old Comedy. Other credits include master percussionist Glen Velez; jazz virtuosos Ira Sullivan, Nester Torres, and Dave Samuels; comedian Mike Myers; and pop icon Paul Anka. He has been heard on NPR radio as well as CBS, MTV, and NBC television. Mike has also appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman.
 

  Danny Gardner, Performer/ Creator

Danny is ecstatic to be joining Parallel Exit!  Danny Gardner began his dance training in Reading, PA at the Marie Shaw School of Dance under the tutelage of John Kalina. Danny graduated from Ithaca College with a BFA in musical theatre. Some of his favorite credits include: The National Tour of 42nd Street, Pounding Nails Into the Floor With My Forehead at the Kitchen Theatre, Singin' in the Rain, High Button Shoes, and Half a Sixpence (all three at Goodspeed Opera House), Mercury with Superhero Clubhouse, Thoroughly Modern Millie at Sacramento Music Circus, Genesius: A New Musical at TADA! Theatre and Irving Berlin's White Christmas at Theatre Under Stars.
 
Joel Jeske is a professional clown, actor, physical comedian, director, teacher, writer and creator of his own theater shows. He has appeared in major feature films including Two for the Money with Al Pacino and Two Weeks Notice with Sandra Bullock. On television, Joel was featured in Sex in the City, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Live with Regis and Kelly. Joel is a creator and performer for the physical theatre company Parallel Exit. He created and starred in Parallel Exit’s Off-Broadway hits THIS WAY THAT WAY and CUT TO THE CHASE. Joel was nominated along with Parallel Exit for a Drama Desk award in 2008 for creating the show CUT TO THE CHASE. As a clown, Joel toured and created clown acts for Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus and hosted The Big Apple Circus 2006-07 production of STEP RIGHT UP!  Joel teaches circus and clown with The Big Apple Circus and Cirque Du Jour both internationally and at home in New York. Joel and his wife Juliet can be seen all around the New York area with their business Red Noses New York, www.rednosesnyc.com. Joel was honored as Clown of the Year 2007 at the Golden Nose awards.
 

  Joel Jeske, Performer/ Creator

  Ryan Kasprzak, Performer/ Creator

Ryan has teamed with Parallel Exit for several recent productions including TIME STEP, THIS WAY THAT WAY, and CUT TO THE CHASE, a 2008 Drama Desk nominee for Unique Theatrical Experience.  Ryan recently appeared with his brother Evan on Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance.” He was nominated for a New York Innovative Theater Award for Outstanding Choreography and served as dance captain for the International Tour of Fosse. Ryan has been honored to perform with such legendary entertainers as Liza Minelli, Ann Reinking, Ben Vereen, Gregory Hines, Jimmy Slyde, and the Nicholas Brothers. Visit www.ryankasprzak.com.
 

  Steve Lucas, Set Designer

Steve has designed sets and lighting for more than 250 productions of theatre, dance and performance art. His work has been seen in venues throughout Canada and the United States as well as throughout Europe, Asia and Australia. Steve is the Artistic Director of Theatre 2.0, with which he conceived and directed the award-winning Breath[e], which played Toronto, the Institute of Contemporary Art in London and the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh. Theatre 2.0 has also created live performances for the Shadow Ball at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Steve has received several awards including a MECCA award and four Dora Awards for his set and lighting designs. He has also been nominated for several of Canada’s most prestigious awards, including the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre, and twenty-nine Dora Awards. For more information, please visit stevelucasdesign.com.
 

  Brent McBeth, Performer/ Creator

Brent McBeth is a performer, teacher and choreographer who grew up near Houston, Texas. He joined Parallel Exit in 2006 with the creation of TIME STEP and continues to create and perform new works with this amazing company. After graduating from Sam Houston State University with a B.F.A. in Musical Theater, he toured internationally as dance captain of the Broadway musical Fosse, starring Ben Vereen and Ruthie Henshall. Other performance credits include: No, No Nanette and Face the Music (City Center Encore!); TIME STEP (New Victory Theater); ROOM 17B (59E59 Theater); EXIT, STAGE LEFT (Lincoln Center Institute); Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (cast recording); Thank You, Gregory! (with Maurice Hines)
 
Derek began his dance training at Clark Academy of Performing Arts in Rochester and Buffalo, where he took master classes from such tap greats as Savion Glover, Ted Levy, and Van "The Man" Porter. He received a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance from Niagara University, and his credits include National Tours of Kiss Me Kate (Bill Calhoun), Showboat, Cinderella, and Funny Girl, as well as the Italian Tour of West Side Story. New York credits include New York Fringe Festival, American Theater of Actors, York Theater, Actors’ Playground, and Merkin Concert Hall. Derek continues to study tap with teachers such as Barbara Duffy, Randy Skinner, Roxane Butterfly, Max Pollack, and Jason Samuels Smith, and he regularly attends tap jams in New York. He is on faculty at Steps On Broadway and also teaches at Broadway Dance Center. He is currently performing as Andy Lee in Randy Skinner’s 42nd Street at the Westchester Broadway Theatre.
 

  Derek Roland, Performer/ Creator

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Olivia has worked for Parallel Exit on several productions including This Way, That Way; Cut to the Chase, Time Step, and Exit Stage Left, and has enjoyed the opportunity to assist the company while on tour in the U.S. and at international festivals in Spain and Austria.  Olivia has also worked for such companies as the Asolo Theater in Sarasota, FL, Cortland Repertory Theater, the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theater, Target Margin Theatre Company, The Oberon Theatre Ensemble, and Astoria Performing Arts Center.
 

  Olivia O’Brien, Stage Manager