Meet Team Numesthesia

David S. Kessler - Writer & Performer

David S. Kessler has written numerous sonnets, including one in 45 minutes for WNYC’s The Next Big Thing, songs for the short-lived Fidel’s Marching Marimba Band, three novels for nobody in particular, and numerous scientific papers. He spent almost four decades at the National Zoo, many of them as a small mammal biologist. Wombat Drool, his 2015 Capital Fringe show, was a surprise hit, playing to sold-out audiences. He had another inexplicable hit with One Mutual Happiness (created with Rich O'Meara) at the 2016 Capital Fringe Festival.

He is eternally grateful to Team Numesthesia, an amazing group of creative professionals.  He is overwhelmed by the generosity of the DC area theater community and humbled by their welcoming embrace. Love and gratitude to his wife, Patricia, and his son, Benjamin, for their support and encouragement.

Rich O'Meara - Composer & Musician

Rich O’Meara is most known for his compositions for marimba, which are performed throughout the world. His work has been featured on the NPR program “New Sounds” and in the PBS documentary “The Music Instinct, Science and Song”. He has received four ASCAP Plus awards.

He is co-founder of Silent Orchestra, a duo (with Carlos Garza) that creates and performs new music for classic silent films. Their work is part of many recent films and stage collaborations as well (including Fringe Fest 2014). Rich has performed with Colla Parte, Dan Deacon, Sandbox Percussion, Kwo’m Percussion Group, Trio O, One Earth Percussion Theatre, the Contemporary Music Forum, and has played jazz, rock and experimental music with many local artists. Last year he composed and performed the music for One Mutual Happiness. This is his second Uncle Funsy Productions collaboration. He particularly enjoys joining with inspiring musicians to create freely improvised music.

http://www.silentorchestra.com/

http://www.facebook.com/richomeara

http://www.souncloud.com/richomeara

Ryan S. Taylor - Director

Ryan S. Taylor is a stage director and producer based in Washington, DC.  Directing credits include The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Pickle Pea Productions, Young Playwrights Theatre, The Source Festival, Capital Fringe, Rorschach Theatre, Journeymen Theater Ensemble, DC Queer Theater Festival, and the Flashpoint Mead Theater Lab, among others. Ryan is also Founding Artistic Director of The Washington Rogues, for which he has directed six productions, including three world premieres. Assisting credits include Rorschach Theater and Forum Theater & Dance. Ryan is a two-time recipient of Cultural DC's Flashpoint Mead Theater Lab grant and is a 2015-2017 DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Fellow.  BA, Guilford College.  Website: www.ryanstaylor.com On Twitter @RSTStatusReport

Kevin O'Meara - Composer & Musician

Kevin O'Meara is a musician and artist currently residing in Baltimore, Maryland. As a drummer, he has performed in 21 countries and with too many groups to mention here. His most visible work has been with the Dan Deacon Ensemble, both in the live setting and on the records Bromst and America. Kevin has spent much time as an active member of the musical communities of  Washington DC and Baltimore.

Neil McFadden - Light and Projection Design

Neil’s sound and lighting designs have been heard (or seen) in many area theatres, including Arena Stage, Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Olney Theatre, Adventure Theatre, Rep Stage, Everyman Theatre, Flying V (where he is a company member), Venus Theatre, and Round House Theatre (where he was the Resident Sound Designer and for eleven years). A ten-time nominee, Neil received the Helen Hayes Award for his design of Round House’s Heathen Valley. Neil is also a musician and composer: he has played in many area shows; he also performs regularly with his rock/blues band Mike’s Garage, and as a solo acoustic performer. Love to Elizabeth.

Joe Musumeci - Light and Projection Design

Joe Musumeci has been a set, lighting and projection designer for 30 years. Though he speaks in barely a whisper, his work loudly proclaims his artistry. He has produced designs for many theaters, including Round House, Flying V, WSC Avant Bard, Woolly Mammoth, Adventure and Metro Stage. He is currently a member of Flying V Theatre Company, Operations Manager of the Kreeger Auditorium, and proprietor of ProScenia Design. Last year he designed the lighting, projections, and set for One Mutual Happiness. A glutton for punishment, he once again bestows his talents upon Uncle Funsy Productions. Many years ago he lived three houses away from David S. Kessler and barely managed to escape with most of his sanity intact.

Philip da Costa - Stage Manager

Phil da Costa is excited to be joining the team of Numestheia and returning to Capital Fringe for another excellent production. Phil is a performer and technician, and is director of communication for Convergence Theatre and the production manager for Flying V. Upcoming you can see Phil onstage at Imagination Stage this fall in Smartest Girl. Much love to his perpetual support KC. Information, an online resume, past production photos, head shots, and more can be found at www.philipdc.com

Quoc M. Tran - Stage Manager

Quoc M. Tran is excited to be joining Team Numesthesia. Quoc is a freelance DC-based technician and performer. This Capital Fringe season Quoc’s light design work has been seen in Clickb@it (Naked Theatre Company), Release: A Rock Opera (DC Dogs), Life, Death, & Everything In-Between (Portsmouth Theatre Lab). Previous Capital Fringe work includes stage managing The House of Yes (THE Theatre Company). Quoc is currently pursuing a BM in Musical Theatre from The Catholic University of America. Information, resume, productions photos, and contact information can be found at quocmtran.com

Juliana Schoettler - Assistant Stage Manager

Juliana Schoettler is an actor and writer local to the Washington, DC area. After years of attending the Fringe, she managed a venue last year where she had the pleasure of working with David Kessler and the amazing group of people on Team Happiness. This year, she's thrilled to be a member of Team Numesthesia and to help David and the gang share another incredible story with the world.

Aubri O'Connor - Graphic Design & Marketing

Aubri O'Connor is the Artistic and Executive Director for Nu Sass Productions. Aubri's recent credits include 43 1/2: The Greatest Deaths of Shakespeare's Tragedies (Nu Sass), 22 Boom (Nu Sass), The Greatest Science Fiction Show No One's Ever Seen (Grain of Sand), Stone Tape Party (Nu Sass), and No Exit (Nu Sass). She will never stop thanking her father, her family, and her alma mater Oberlin for helping her get here.

Melissa Arnoff - Marketing

Melissa Arnoff got her start in marketing at WHFS 99.1 FM radio promoting great music and launching the ‘HFS-tival. From there, she worked in the Czech Republic and Atlanta before returning to her roots in the DC area to do public relations and marketing. She first met numesthesiac David Kessler when she began volunteering at the National Zoo where he was a biologist. She’s grateful to David for inviting her along for the Uncle Funsy Productions' ride this year, as well as for everything he’s taught her about red pandas, naked mole rats, and the DC theater scene.

Jesse Shipley - Costume Designer

Jesse Shipley recently designed costumes for the Alden’s The Stinky Cheese Man. Other Costume Design/Construction credits: Washington Rogues (Agents of Azeroth, Straight Faced Lies, Campsite Rule, In the Forest She Grew Fangs, Mitzi’s Abortion, Eight), Alden Theater (The Stinky Cheese Man, Sideway Stories from Wayside School, Totally RED, Miss Nelson is Missing, Charlotte’s Web, Raggedy Ann and Andy), Adventure Theater (Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr.), Molotov (Blood Sweat and Fears, Lovecraft: The Nightmare Suit), Keegan Theater (Dogfight), Victorian Lyric Opera Co. (Ruddigore, Haddon Hall), Flying V (Flying V Fights: Love is a Battlefield), Doorway Arts Ensemble (Morning Miranda). Additional credits: Wardrobe: Round House Theater (Stage Kiss), Royal Farms Arena (Disney of Ice: Treasure Trove, Cirque du Soleil: Verikai), The Hippodrome (The Bodyguard, Motown: The Musical, Book of Mormon, Wicked: Tour II), The Lyric (Annie, Alvin Ailey), Holton Arms School (Twelfth Night, The Crucible), No Rules Theater Co. (Peter Pan: The Boy Who Hated Mothers), Studio Theater (Penelope). Construction: Round House (Or, Miss Bennet Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Stage Kiss), Troika (Sister Act, 42nd Street, Annie, Wizard of Oz), Imagination Stage (Sinbad: The Untold Tale), Theater J (Yentl), No Rules Theater Co. (Peter Pan: The Boy Who Hated Mothers), Wolf Trapp Opera (2008 Season). Properties Design credits: Factory 449 (The Saint Plays), Washington Rogues (Agents of Azeroth, Straight Faced Lies, In the Forest She Grew Fangs, Mitzi’s Abortion, Eight).