About the Cast

Tyler Hanes – Cassidy Clarke

Tyler Hanes is currently appearing in the Broadway production of Hairspray in the role of Fender.  Other Broadway work has included Sweet Charity, The Frogs, The Boy from Oz, Urban Cowboy, and Oklahoma!  Tyler appeared in the national tours of Fosse (first national), The Will Rogers Follies.  In 2005, Tyler performed the lead role of Ren McCormick in the Chicago production of Footloose for director David H. Bell. Tyler’s television work has included a recurring role on “One Life to Live.”

James Katharine Flynn – Jessica Clarke

James Katharine Flynn has most recently completed work on the feature film "Orphans" directed by Ry Russo-Young.  In this film she plays the lead role of Sonia, an alcoholic recluse sheltering herself from her parents’ death.  Currently this film is in negotiations with various film festivals.  She has also starred in the feature "In The Blood" playing a young, innocent student who is coming to terms with her own psychic abilities.  The avant-garde film "Marion" in which she played one of the lead roles just recently won "Best Experimental Short" at the Chicago Film Festival.  James has been seen on "As the World Turns" as a troubled young mother and has been featured on "Growing Up Gotti" in which she taught Ms. Victoria Gotti figure skating.  She has also been featured in an "ABC News Now" segment on figure skating. She has performed in several other films including "Heartburn", "In A World", "Good Day Mr. Felts", "Sanguinary", and "It All Goes In" which won "Best Comedic Short" at the Pan-Asian Film Festival.  James has appeared in several national commercials as well as on stages across New York City including Second Stage and City Centre.  She has a B.A. from Princeton University, was born in Manhattan, and currently resides in Los Angeles.

Alison Fraser – Helen

Alison Fraser is a nationally acclaimed performer who has appeared in concert at such venues as Carnegie Hall, The White House, Town Hall, The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, The Tisch Center for the Arts, The Folger Shakespeare Library, The Wilma, The Emelin, and Symphony Space.  She is a two time Tony Award nominee for The Secret Garden and Romance/Romance, a Drama Desk Award nominee for The Secret Garden, and a Carbonell Award winner Romance/Romance.  She is the first ever recipient of Philadelphia’s Barrymore Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of The Blonde in Marion Adler, Scott Wentworth and Craig Boehmler’s film noir musical Gunmetal Blues.  Her two solo CDs New York Romance and Men In My Life (Original Cast Records) have five star ratings on Amazon.com, and New York Romance was a Grammy finalist.

This season at Primary Stages under the direction of Michael Morris, Alison created the role of Jessie Nuncle in Terrence McNally’s play Dedication or the Stuff of Dreams playing opposite Nathan Lane and Marian Seldes.  Last season she received a Best Supporting Actress Award for playing Chloe in Lips Together, Teeth Apart at the George Street Playhouse, and this season she returned there to play Diana in Lend Me A Tenor, directed by David Saint.

On Broadway she originated such roles as Martha in The Secret Garden, Josefine/Monica in Romance/Romance, and Dorine in Tartuffe: Born Again, and she was Helena Landless in The Mystery of Edwin Drood.  Off Broadway she was the original Trina in William Finn’s March of the Falsettos and In Trousers (Playwrights Horizons) for which she also provided vocal orchestrations, Miss Drumgoole in Todd Rundgren and Joe Orton’s Up Against It (New York Shakespeare Festival), Uta in Charles Busch and Rusty Magee’s The Green Heart (Manhattan Theater Club), Connie/Petula/Brenda in Beehive at the historic Village Gate, and Marion Ames in Swingtime Canteen.  She was in the American premiere of the Olivier Award winning Honk! playing Ida, and created the role of Celia in the American premiere of the Australian musical Prodigal.

Ms. Fraser was honored to have created the title character in the world premiere of Christopher McGovern’s musical Lizzie Borden, and recently she appeared with cabaret great Andrea Marcovicci in Ted Sperling’s highly praised production of Lady in the Dark at The Prince Theatre in Philadelphia.  She has also co-starred with such luminaries as Marian Seldes, Tony Randall, Jack Klugman, Mandy Patinkin, Nathan Lane, Scott Bakula, Elaine Stritch, George Rose, Rebecca Luker, Mary Testa, Howard McGillin, and John Cameron Mitchell.

Her many recordings include, in addition to her two solo CDs, The Secret Garden, Romance/Romance, Beehive, Standup Shakespeare (featuring Three Mo’ Tenors’ Thomas Young), March of the Falsettos, Falsettos, In Trousers, Swingtime Canteen, Lizzie Borden, Quel Fromage, Our Heart Sings, Prodigal, Sweet Appreciation featuring Rusty Magee and Lewis Black, Rebecca Luker’s Leaving Home, Jeepers Creepers, Broadway Musicals of 1951, The Broadway Musicals: Cut-Outs, and audiobooks by such authors as Eric Van Lustbader, Judith Krantz, Julie Garwood, Sandra Brown, Linda Lael Miller, Margaret Mitchell, R.L. Stine, and Jude Deveraux.  She is featured on the newly released audiobook From the Ashes, a series of spiritual and political essays pertaining to the September 11th attack on America, and can be heard on the unabridged audiobook of Chris Bohjalian’s The Buffalo Soldier.  She has also been heard on literally thousands of television and radio advertisements.

Ms. Fraser is a favorite of children everywhere because of her many appearances as flamboyant but clueless authoress Babs Caplan on the award winning Children’s Television Workshop series Between the Lions on PBS, and she has appeared on Law and Order SVU and Third Watch.  Her feature films include Jack and His Friends, Spectropia, Me and Him, Mixing Nia, In the Blood, and The Thing About My Folks playing opposite Paul Reiser and Peter Falk.  She can also be see in the new Bright Eyes music video directed by John Cameron Mitchell.  She is a published journalist – her profile of the late great Anthony Newley was featured in TimeOut Magazine.

Ms. Fraser lives on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and Shawnee-On-The-Delaware Pennsylvania with her son Nat, and she is the widow of the late composer and performer Rusty Magee.

(www.sweetappreciation.com)

Robert Dionne – Michael

Robert Dionne was last seen in a Hollywood stage production of "Troilus and Cressida" playing the role of Achilles.  Some of his film credits include: "In The Blood," "A Terrorist Ate My Brain," and "Walking on the Sky."  Robert has also starred as the confused detective, Mike Fantini on CBS day time’s "Guiding Light."    His most recent completed film is the independent short, "Tormenting Job," awaiting release in various film festivals.  Robert is a native New Yorker, but has recently relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a film career.

Carlos Alberto Valencia – Victor

Born in Colombia, raised in New York.  Studied method with Catherine Gaffigan, subsequently ending a five-year period of professional training with Bill Esper.  Some credits include, Stage: Blanco/White [IATI/Pregones], Prodigal Kiss [INTAR], Pleasant Avenue [Repertorio Español], Los Nutcrackers [BAAD], Tiembla [Pregones], The Night of the Iguana [Guthrie Theatre], Querido [Pregones], Drawn and Quartered [INTAR], A to B* [INTAR], Home Suite Home [Performance Space 122].  Film and Television: Celebrity [Dir. Woody Allen], Carlito’s Way [Dir. Brian DePalma], Lenny Rose [ABC], Sex and The City [HBO], The Sopranos [HBO], Dellaventura [CBS].  Independent Film: In the Blood [Dir. Lou Peterson], Amores Locos [Dir. Gonzalo A. Iniesta], Behind the Closet Door [Dir. Stefan Prager], Animus [Dir. Alexis Estevez].  Special thanks to Lou Peterson and Sean Cassity for the opportunity to be a part of IN THE BLOOD.

Graeme Malcolm - Dean

Graeme appeared on Broadway in AIDA, THE KING AND I and as Gallimard

in the National Tour of M. BUTTERFLY. Off-Broadway credits include WASTE at Theatre for a New Audience HAPGOOD and DEATH AND THE KING’S HORSEMAN at Lincoln Center Theatre, ARISTOCRATS and PRIN at Manhattan Theatre Club, SPREAD EAGLE at the WPA, A FOOL’S ERRAND at New York

Theatre Workshop, and K (a one-man show about Franz Kafka) at American Jewish Theatre.  Graeme appeared in NOISES OFF at the Paper Mill Playhouse and ELECTRA at the famed Actors Studio. He created the lead role of “Joseph” in Arthur Kopit’s Y2K at the Actors’ Theatre of Louisville.  Other regional credits include TRAVESTIES at Longwharf, PENTECOST and SAFE IN HELL at Yale Repertory, UNDER MILK WOOD at Hartford Stage, BETRAYAL at the McCarter Theatre, and Henry in THE REAL THING at Portland Stage.  TV credits include LAW & ORDER, FOLLOW THE RIVER, MR. HALPERN AND MR. JOHNSON  (with Laurence Olivier) for Channel Four in the U.K., and as Arthur and Merlin in THE MABINOGI.  On film he has appeared in NATIONAL TREASURE, EVERYTHING’S JAKE, THE EDEN MYTH, A FURTHER GESTURE, and THE ADVENTURES OF SEBASTIAN COLE.  He has recorded more than three hundred audio books for The American Foundation for the Blind, Random House, Simon and Schuster, the BBC and others.

About the Filmmakers

Lou Peterson – Writer/Director

As a directing concentrate coming from Columbia University's Graduate Film Program, Lou Peterson has written, directed, and produced several award-winning short films that have played at festivals around the world. He has also produced several graphic novels and animated works including Urban Electric, an animated series developed for Warner Brothers. Lou has written four other feature screenplays besides IN THE BLOOD and has worked on projects with writer Tracy Stern of NBC's Law & Order, and Chris Provenzano, freelance writer for Seinfeld and The Simpsons.

Sean Cassity – Producer

Sean Cassity earned his BA in Creative Writing and Psychology at the University of Arizona, which naturally led to a finance career as a media and telecom analyst at Moody’s Investor’s Service in lower Manhattan.  As an analyst, Sean covered such industry leaders as Viacom, Verizon, Comcast and AT&T.  He also initiated ratings on Infinity Broadcasting, Cingular Wireless, AT&T Wireless and Young & Rubicam.  Early in the process of earning his MBA at Columbia Business School, Sean decided to combine his story telling urges and his business capacity and produce movies.  He added several MFA classes at Columbia University’s Graduate Film Program to his schedule and learned filmmaking from the bolts up by working as an office PA in prep and a set PA during production on back-to-back indie features, “The Hebrew Hammer” and “Death of a Dynasty.”  He also coordinated postproduction for the 2004 Sundance Dramatic Competition selection “Evergreen.”  At Sundance he assisted “Evergreen’s” producers and coordinated the attending talent.  Sean’s industry experience includes internships with ContentFilm, Salty Features and Miramax, where he donated his efforts while developing and producing his own projects.  He currently provides freelance marketing support for Samuel Goldwyn Films and Roadside Attractions.  Sean has produced two short films.  His first feature production, In the Blood, premieres this summer at NewFest in New York and Outfest in Los Angeles.

Aaron Medick – Cinematographer

Emmy nominated cinematographer Aaron Medick started his professional career in lighting after graduating from New York University's film program. Aaron gaffed commercials, music videos, television shows and feature films, while working his way into the cinematographer's chair. In 1999 he became the director of photography for the Disney Channel's "The Book of Pooh" which earned him his Emmy nomination. Since it's conclusion in late 2001, Aaron has shot television pilots, Mongo, Monkey King, Jules, and The Extended Family. He lensed feature films, In the Blood, The Park Shark Chronicles, Sarbanes Oxley, and Cascade.

In late 2003, Aaron Medick created Steady Cine Inc., a NYC based company providing Steadicam and Director of Photography services. Aaron has been the steadicam operator for 48HRS:Hard Evidence (2 seasons), MSNBC promos, Tiger Schulman’s Karate commercials, Warsteiner beer Commercial, ESPN promos with Kiefer Sutherland, and the feature film My Brother.

Aaron has also been the DP of commercials for best Selling Novels Unexpected Blessing by Barbara Taylor Bradford and Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich. He has shot urban Jewelry Spots for Benny and Co. and Baby J and Co.

He has a been the DP of Music videos for Drag-on, Joe Budden, Tracy Bonham, H2O, and The Dept. of Eagles.

He was a camera operator on Comedy Central's Crank Yankers (3 seasons) and PBS’s Sesame Street (3 seasons) and Session’s@AOL.

Donna DeSeta – Casting Director

Donna DeSeta began her professional life as an actress and performer, the training and discipline of which have remained assets in all of her professional endeavors.

A” temporary" position at Stewart Models, one of the big three of the period, became permanent when she realized how much enjoyment she received from discovering, developing, and guiding the talent. She remained with the company eventually becoming Executive Vice President of the four corporations under the Stewart umbrella.

She left Stewart to open her own business as a casting director and quickly won the confidence of most of the directors, advertising agency producers and creative heads with whom she worked. Many of them remain loyal clients to this day.

She has been involved with over 20 theatrically released films starring among others Will Smith, Keanu Reeves, Eminem, Gene Hackman, Anthony Quinn, Christopher Walken, Gerard Depardieu and Jackie Chan.

In theater she has cast for such giants as Harold Prince and Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber and commercially for such top music video directors as Paul Hunter and Hype Williams.

Her reputation as commercial casting director is unparalleled. The most prominent film, television, and music video directors have come to rely on her expertise when casting their projects.

David Cady – Casting Director

David Cady has over twenty years of experience in several areas of show business, beginning his professional career as an actor in the 1981 Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along," directed by Harold Prince. Subsequent acting roles took him to regional theaters around the US and Canada. In 1986 David left acting to pursue a casting career. His first affiliation was with Bonnie Timmermann, with whom he worked on "Dirty Dancing," "Ironweed," "Beverly Hills Cop II" and the TV series "Miami Vice" and "Crime Story." Off-Broadway he was the casting director of Randy Newman's "The Middle of Nowhere." David learned commercial casting at Grey Advertising, where he worked for three years prior to joining DeSeta Casting in 1991. David works with Ms. DeSeta on all film and theater projects, including the world premieres of Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Whistle Down the Wind" and "The Petrified Prince" for the NY Shakespeare Festival, both of which were directed by Mr. Prince.

Sasha Gordon – Composer

Sasha Gordon was born in St. Petersburg, Russia where she began studying piano at the age of five.  After immigrating to the United States, she continued her musical studies at the Mannes School of Music.  Later, as a student at Brown University, Gordon composed an original musical and began scoring independent films.  She also continued studying piano and performed several piano concertos with the Brown symphony orchestra.  Upon graduation, Gordon pursued her Masters degree at the Mannes College of Music and was commissioned to write an original score to William Wellman's 1927 Oscar-winning "Wings."  The score was debuted live in New York City and Paris.  Gordon has scored several independent films and documentaries as well as co-directed an operatic short film that debuted at the Avignon Film Festival.

Amy C. Bradshaw – Costume Designer

Recent film credits include Kettle of Fish (Michael Mailer Films), starring Matthew Modine and Gina Gershon;  Flannel Pajamas (Gigantic Pictures), starring Julianne Nicholson and Justin Kirk;  The Quality of Light (Philadelphia Film Partners) starring Blythe Danner and Frederic Forrest;  Nightmare (Merlion Entertainment) and Satellite (Gigantic Pictures).  For NBC, Amy designed Apollo at 70: a hot night in Harlem.  Off-Broadway costume designs:  Ladies of the Corridor (Peccadillo Theatre Company; Counselor-at-Law (Peccadillo Theatre Company) and Misterman (Irish Arts Center).  Other theatrical costume design includes Drifting Elegant (New Repertory Theatre, MA); Funhouse Mirror (Boston Playwrights Theatre);  Random Acts (New School for Drama) and Happy End (artist-in-residence, Denison University).  Amy received her MFA from Brandeis University and is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.