Cast & Crew

The Subway Characters

Veronica Dang (Mary Frick) is an actress/model/comedian/former scientist and creator/writer/director/star of Subway: The Series (phew!). After studying at UCB and NYU, she played a range of characters on TV including a sweatshop worker on Saturday Night Live, FBI Tech on The Following starring Kevin Bacon and geeky hipster who finds the dead body on Law & Order: SVU. Veronica also appeared on Comedy Central and in indie films, including Sweet Lorraine starring Oscar winner Tatum O'Neal. She directed breast cancer drama Scars which received nominations for "Best Play" and "Best Actress" in Between Us Productions' Take Ten Festival and is currently directing comedy play Birds Should Fly Free in the 2014 New York International Fringe Festival. Veronica can also be seen in a comedy club talking about Yellow Fever and Little Orphan Annie.

For more info, check out www.iVeronicaDang.com

Christopher Wren (David Ho), a 2008 graduate of AMDA in New York City, is also a professionally trained saxophonist, guitarist, drummer, harmonica player, puppeteer and touring stand-up comedian. Some favorite theatre credits include Aladdin The 3D Musical Adventure (Ali Baba), Sound of Music (Rolf), The Civil War (Bill), Chuckleball (Various Sports Stars), Fame The Musical (Goodie) and God Loves My People Best (Herman Keiser). You can also catch Christopher on the Investigate Discovery channel in an episode of Dates From Hell, the political viral video series Dumb Ass, the web series for Shopbop.com, the Chuckleball viral video series and in his comedic podcast The Chris Wren Vocal Hour. He is also a part of the improv troupe Playing With Reality and can be found doing stand-up at all the local clubs in NYC.

For all things Chris Wren check out www.christophercwren.com
For his podcast go to http://thechriswrenvocalhour.podbean.com

Teruaki Akai was born and raised in Japan. He is a 2012 AMDA graduate in New York City majoring in musical theater. He is also highly trained as a soccer player and skateboarder. As he just started out with acting, he has mostly done some students films and striving to be a triple threat everyday. He can be reached at [email protected]

Denise Ashlynd is a NY-based actor who brings over 30 years of professional experience to her work in film, television, commercials, voice-over, and theatre. A Florida native, she graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University with a B.F.A. degree in Music Theatre. On stage, she has performed leading roles Off-Broadway, in U.S. tours, regionally, and throughout 13 countries in Europe in productions of “Man of La Mancha” (starring John Raitt), “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and Alan Johnson’s “West Side Story” to name just a few. Denise’s most recent credits include “The Comedy Awards” with Andy Samberg & The Lonely Island (Comedy Central), and the Indie Feature Film “Snow.” For more info, check out www.DeniseAshlynd.com … oh, and … stand clear of the closing doors, please.

Ken Burmeister was born in New York and raised in New Jersey. He has found his true calling as an Actor/Comedian. An experienced improviser & stand up comic, Ken uses these skills to bring his characters to life. He has appeared on MTV, Spike TV and on The Onion's Week in Review. Ken also produces his own films with his writing partner Actor/Comic Mike Bocchetti through their production company "Blasted Films." www.kenburmeister.com

Melissa Jourdana Cole has appeared in short films at New York University, Columbia University, Brooklyn College and the Art Institute of New York City. She recently portrayed a jilted pageant contestant in the comedy web series "Math Warriors" and donned a headdress in the viral experimental short "Reactions in Time and Space." Melissa has also performed as part of visual media artist Jessica Ann Peavy's five hour storytelling performance art piece "Utterance" in galleries throughout New York City. For more than three years, she has hosted and produced the DoSomething.org grant-winning program "The Melissa Cole Show" for Manhattan Neighborhood Network. The acclaimed series was featured during MTV's Increase Your Green campaign, and Melissa appeared on MTV's "It's On with Alexa Chung." Today she continues to hone her craft at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City. She is the former Miss Earth New York 2010, and placed second runner up to the Miss Long Island crown in 2009. A Long Island native, Melissa is a New York University alumna with a degree in broadcast journalism and politics. melissajourdanacole.com

Isaiah Frizzelle is an actor from New Jersey and somewhat of a busy body. When he’s not acting he’s usually writing and filming his own projects or playing the guitar singing his heart out until somewhat yells to keep it down. Born on April Fools day, It has been written in stone that he chose the path of an actor. With a double degree in Psychology and Film, he’s always looking for a new perspective other than the norm both as an actor and filmmaker. isaiahfrizzelle.com

Brandon Gardner is an improviser and writer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City and tours nationally with the UCB TourCo All-Stars. He performs weeks with the UCB mainstage shows The Curfew and Improv Nerds. Brandon was active on UCB sketch teams for several years and has recently written the one-act play The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln: A Comedy for the UCB stage. Outside of UCB, Brandon has written for the Culture Project and co-wrote part of Skype Duet which was performed at New World Stages. He is a collaborating writer on the webseries A Minority Report (www.aminorityreport.com) and a senior improv instructor at the UCB Training Center.

Melanie Gretchen is a theater, film and TV actress in New York City. Following graduation from the University of Denver, she attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Atlantic Theater Company's Acting School. On stage, she has played Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet" with Primary Stages/ESPA, Mustardseed in "Midsummer Night's Dream" with Pulse Ensemble Theatre, and Lucius in “Julius Caesar” with the Inwood Shakespeare Festival. www.melaniegretchen.com

Dan Haft has an MFA in Acting from Brooklyn College. He is thrilled to be playing Samuel Frick, father of Mary Frick in "Subway: The Series," and thanks Veronica for casting him. Most recently, he created the role of Joey in the premiere of "Resistance" by Armand Ruhlman, directed by Jason Jacobs, at the Metropolitan Playhouse. Dan can be seen as Gavriel in Michael Weinstein's independent short film, "If The Trees Could Talk," due for completion this fall. Past roles include "The Notorious Bettie Page," "Law and Order: SVU," "True West," and the award winning short film "Kin of You," written and directed by Sean Devaney. Dan lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Ellen, and two sons, Sander and Benjamin.

Ben Hauck is author of the groundbreaking 2012 book Long-Form Improv: The Complete Guide to Creating Characters, Sustaining Scenes, and Performing Extraordinary Harolds and an actor based in NYC. For his leading work in the subversive web series on casting workshops The Infinite Need, he took home 10 iNeed Awards including Best Male Comedy Performance and Best Male Improvised Performance. In addition to performing on the stage and screen, Ben performs comic improvised sermons as "The Reverend Raymond Nader," and he's regularly training for marathons. http://benhauck.com/

Elizabeth June (SAG-AFTRA, AEA) holds an MFA from the Actors Studio Drama School. TV Credits include Criminal Minds and As The World Turns. Theatre Credits include The Colored Museum, Balm in Gilead, Jesus Christ Superstar, Mother Courage, Seven Guitars and countless others. As co-founder of SilverLox Films, along with husband, Jason, June produces short films that have been featured in film festivals nationwide including the SAG Short Film Showcase. www.elizabethjune.com

Danielle Montezinos most recently worked opposite Nina Arianda, Griffin Dunne and Michael Pitt in the Upcoming Feature, Rob The Mob. Film/TV/Web: Stand By, Lawyer, MD, Mother Eve's Secret Garden of Sensual Sisterhood the Web Series, City Girl (which she wrote and stars) and Blue Bloods. Theater credits: Mother Eve's Secret Garden of Sensual Sisterhood ( Fringe NYC, Midtown International Festival, LA Comedy Festival, The PIT), Carapace Isle (LA Premiere), Tony And Tina’s Wedding (off-Broadway), We Love You, Johnny Hero (Fringe NYC), The Overdevelopment of Scott (Abingdon), Love’s Labour’s Lost(dir. Liesl Tommy), Rocket Boys (ASCAP Workshop). Various Voice Overs, Stand-up comedy, Improv & Sketch Comedy around NYC . Thanks to Veronica, so happy to work on Subway: The Series! For more info: www.daniellemontezinos.com

Matthew Peter Murphy is an LA based actor but was living in NY when Subway: The Series was filmed. Matthew was painfully shy as a child and did not start acting until he was 27, but despite his late start he is keeping himself busy. He has worked on multiple other webseries, several black box theatre productions all around LA, a featured role on Nurse Jackie, and a new project "Please Tell Me I'm Adopted" which stars Marion Ross and should be released in late 2015.

Ava Paloma is from Pittsburgh, PA. She studied acting at Point Park College and Marymount Manhattan. She just recently completed training with Bill Esper at the William Esper Studio. She can been seen in: (TV) Gossip Girl, Elementary, Momsters and Person of Interest. (Film) Reaching Home, Siren Call, Triangle, Amber (Webseries) My New Roommate, Going Up?. She also studied at UCB. For more info visit avapaloma.com

Eric Robertson is a NY-based writer, director and actor originally from Canada. Eric has performed all over the world, including right here on Broadway. He is a founding member of Suspicious Package Films, whose works can be seen on Funny Or Die, and range anywhere form 77% to 96% funny. He is currently directing Dogface Theatricals' production of "Savage In Limbo" by John Patrick Shanley, running in October 2012 at the Parkside Lounge. His own full length play, a collection of hilarious short plays all set at the gym, called "Gym Shorts," will see its world premier in early 2013. For more info, go to www.ericsrobertson.com.

Celey Schumer was born & raised in rural Vermont. Celey was drawn to performance and learned to make her own fun at an early age. She grew up, quite literally, in a movie theatre; working for her family in their independent 3 screen and still has the popcorn-oil scars to prove it. She has been an event host, teacher, and general ring-leader in many walks of life--entering the professional acting industry after realizing the world obviously needs more actors and less engineers. She spends her free time playing sports, making art, making forts, cooking, reading epic fantasy, and watching movies over and over again. You can learn more at celeyschumer.wix.com/celey

Tawny Sorensen is a New York native with a BA in Theatre from Fordham University at Lincoln Centre and an MFA from the Actors Studio/ New School for Drama. Recent theatre credits include Life of Leisure (Fordham Alumni Workshop) and Fire Escape (Richmond Shepard Theatre). Her television appearances include The Daily Show (Comedy Central), Pan Am (ABC), Guiding Light (CBS), and Explorer: Moment of Death (National Geographic). She has recently been cast in her first feature film Wake-Up In New York by writer/director David Spaltro. In addition to acting, several of her original plays have been produced by Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Spare Change Theatre, and Short Play Lab in New York City.

Lorin Taylor is a performer/photographer/graphic artist. She will not only be appearing in Subway: The Series but also created the logo, various artwork and took the production stills of the shoots. Lorin is an improvisor and comedian who co-hosts the monthly variety show the Comickaze Comedy Hour at the Parkside Lounge. She's been in other web series including The Authority but never before has had the opportunity to have wig hair glued to her armpits. For this and more Lorin would like to thank Veronica and Subway: The Series.

Matt Tremblay was born in Les Escoumins, Quebec, Canada, Matt grew up in the wilderness hunting, fishing and trapping for a living. After discovering a love of the arts, he was admitted in a Performing Arts High School. After graduating, he moved to New York where he became a certified dance teacher and has been teaching & dancing throughout the U.S. and Canada. His credits include : Nicki Minaj, LMFAO, Shaggy, Big Sean, John West, Tamer Hosny, Disney, MTV, The Tyra Banks Show, ABC's Good Morning America, Dr. Oz, Powerade, Gossip Girl, Smash, BodyGlide, The Winter Olympics Ceremonies just to name a few.

Megan Venzin is a writer, actress and improvisor hailing from the bluegrass state. She was most recently seen on the Upright Citizens Brigade stage in the cast of LaRontage! You can find her tearing up late-night NYC comedy spots with her improv team The Mannequin Room, or on stages across the country performing her hit two-woman fringe show, A Night of Well-Adjusted Ladies. Credits: Ensemble in LaRontage! (Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre), Potter in It's A 10-Minute Life (The Brick Theatre/Animal Engine), Maggie in Lend Me A Tenor (Public Theatre of Kentucky).

Musicians

Cathy Grier is a singer songwriter guitarist, performing with the Music Under New York program since 1999, she is known as NYC Subway Girl. Her groovy folked-up blues provides a perfect soundtrack to the daily commuters’ journey. Her website NYCSubwayGirl.com features “The Inspiration Project,” where she spontaneously interviews people about what inspires them. Above ground, Cathy has opened for Laura Nyro and Joan Armatrading, received an MTV basement tape award, and has performed at Avery Fisher Hall, BAM and had been featured on CBS Sunday Morning. Cathy’s career has spanned the globe. Cathy is one of our featured Subway musicians found performing on the platform in Grand Central.

Natalia Paruz aka Saw Lady has spent over a decade bringing the rare art form of playing music on a carpenter's saw to audiences around the world. She performed at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden & Lincoln Center, but her favorite place to play is the NYC subway, where she has been playing since 1995. TV: FOX (Good Day New York), ABC (Good Morning America), NBC (New York Live), MTV (Andy Milonakis Show), VH1 (Behind the Music), History Channel (Tool Box). Film: 'Dummy' with Adrian Brody and ‘The Heart is a Drumm Machine’. Natalia's saw can be heard on the soundtracks of films such as Another Earth/Mike Cahill, El Carnaval Sodoma/Arthuro Ripstein, American Carny/Nick Basile, and I Sell the Dead/Glenn McQuaid . Radio: NPR (A Prairie Home Companion), WNYC, XM Satelite Radio, WBAI & WFMU. Natalia received citations of honor from the New York City Council, the New York State Senate, New York State Assembly, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a medal of honor from Paris, France. She was chosen by Time Out New York, the Village Voice, the New York Press and the New York Resident for their Best of New York lists. For more info: www.SawLady.com

Ian Wehrle is an active composer and arranger and a founding member of the Ultrasonic rock orchestra. He has recently finished work for the NBC Olympics, various music direction and sound design for theater. He is credited at the Food Network, MTV, and FOX and is continually in development of new musicals and television music. Ian co-wrote with Veronica Dang an original song "Summer in the Subway" for the webseries.

He can be reached at [email protected]

Crew

Andrew E. Wagner (Director-Producer) is an Emmy Award winning producer (LZ Lambeau www.lzlambeau.org) and guest director for Subway: The Series. His company Wide Angle Productions (www.wideangleprod.com) specializes in Event and Television production. His credits include work on two Super Bowl halftime shows, Dave Matthews in Central Park, and many docu-series tv shows. Andy is a member of the Producers Guild of America.

Adam Lim (Director of Photography) is a Filmmaker/Actor, born and raised in New York City. In 2004 he left his corporate job of more than seven years, to pursue a career in film. An emerging voice in independent cinema, Adam created Navajo Productions(www.navajoproductions.com), a company committed to developing and producing the work of new artists, through special collaborations. Also a noted actor (www.adamlim.com), Adam studied acting under the guidance of Bethann Hardison, and is a graduate of the Black Nexxus, and the William Esper Studio. He has traveled to Hong Kong to work as a print/commercial model, under the management of Meage Chu (Dreamodels). He has appeared on billboards/ads/commercials with Verizon FIOS, IBM and Nikon.

David Allen (Director of Photography) is a freelance videographer based out of NJ. Since receiving his BA in Radio and Television from Ryerson University, he has worked on projects ranging from music videos to documentaries. His documentary work has screened at 3 film festivals in 2012, and had the honor of being the DP for the first 3 episodes of Subway: The Series. You can view more of David's work at www.uproareast.com

Sabrina Hilpp is a Production Coordinator based out of New York. She began her career as a production assistant and has worked on music videos, independent features, and web series. She would like to thank Subway: The Series for inspiring and challenging her. She can be reached at [email protected].

Scott Wasserman has been a professional stylist for over ten years and studied at the L'Oreal Academy in Soho, New York City, with the top technicians in the business. Scott works with top photographers on editorial and fine art photography and does hair for television, film, special events and fashion shows, including MTV, HBO, NY1 - News, Vera Wang for the Today Show, Cosmopolitan, Rachel Fine for the Bonus Show (aka) Howard Stern TV, Nik Pace of America's Next Top model, Jane Magazine, Teen People, In Style, BET, UPN 9 News, Stuff Magazine, Hollywood Reporter, Luis Durant - Fashion Designer, Suze Rotolo - Author, A FREEWHEELIN' TIME, Jasleyne the Winner of America's Next Top Model, Roisin Murphy - Singer, UNVogue, Secrets of New York TV Show, and many others. Scott owns Hair & the City in Manhattan. scotthair.com.