Company Bios


Mark Lonergan, Artistic Director

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 seven 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 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 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.


Mike Dobson, Creator/Performer

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, Scandia Symphony, Waterbury Symphony, and Bridgeport Symphony at such prestigious venues as Carnegie hall, Lincoln Center, and Ozawa Hall at The Tanglewood Institute. For the past four seasons, Mike has toured with Circus Smirkus as percussionist and assistant music director. He has also played in off-Broadway productions of Political Idol, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, and Target Margin’s Old Comedy. Other theatre credits include New York’s own Bindlestiff Family Circus and the Goodspeed production of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Mike’s versatility is revealed in the multi-genre list of outstanding and unique artists he has performed with, including master percussionist Glen Velez; jazz virtuosos Ira Sullivan, Nester Torres, and Dave Samuels; and pop icon Paul Anka. Visit www.mikedobsonmusic.com.


Joel Jeske, Creator/Performer

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 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. 


Ryan Kasprzak, Creator/Performer

Ryan has teamed with Parallel Exit for several recent productions including CUT TO THE CHASE, a 2008 Drama Desk nominee for Unique Theatrical Experience. Ryan appeared with Tony Award winner Sutton Foster in Broadway Under the Stars recorded live in Central Park for CBS television.  He was recently nominated for a New York Innovative Theater Award for Outstanding Choreography and performed as a soloist at the historic West Virginia Dance Festival.  He has served as dance captain and soloist for the National and International companies of Fosse and has been honored to perform with such legendary entertainers as Liza Minelli, Ann Reinking, Ben Vereen, Gregory Hines, Jimmy Slyde, and the Nicholas Brothers.  Ryan is also a member of the resident faculty at the Broadway Theatre Project in Tampa, Florida.  Visit www.ryankasprzak.com.


Steve Lucas, Designer

Mr. Lucas has designed sets and lighting for more than 200 productions of theatre, dance and performance art. His work has been seen in venues throughout Canada and the United States as well as in London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, The Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Estonia and Australia. He has had the good fortune to have worked with choreographers and companies like Christopher House, Peter Chin, Kate Alton, Peggy Baker, Toronto Dance Theatre, Red Sky Performance and The Guangdong Modern Dance Company of China. Steve has been nominated for several of Canada's most prestigious awards including the Simonvitch Prize in Theatre, the Pauline McGibbon award, and the K.M. Hunter award. He has also received twenty-nine Dora Mavor Moore award nominations and has won four times. Steve lives near Shelburne, with his wife Jenn and his greatest design yet - their almost two year old son Griffin. Visit www.stevelucasdesign.com.


Brent McBeth, Creator/Performer

Brent McBeth is a proud member of Actor's Equity. After completing a B.F.A. in Musical Theater from Sam Houston State University, Brent toured internationally in Fosse, starring Ben Vereen and Ruthie Henshall. Recent credits include: No, No, Nanette and Face The Music (City Center Encores); Cabaret (Emcee, New Hampshire Theater Award); Guys and Dolls (Harry the Horse); Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Cast Recording and Tour).


Derek Roland, Creator/Performer

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 has taught at Broadway Dance Center and STEPS, as well as master classes at universities and studios across the United States.  He is currently creating a tap show with Parallel Exit called TIME STEP and is on faculty at New Dance Group.