
Team Touch

Lori Goodman (Playwright) is thrilled that Touch, a tribute to her beautiful mother Claire, is being produced here at the Tank. Lori’s work has been performed throughout the US and internationally. Her play Reservations for Two was a winner of the Samuel French Short Play Festival, 1989. Other productions and awards: Tribal Attire, winner of the Two Good Dogs Festival, NYC, 2023 and selected for Pick of the Vine Festival, CA 2024; Touch, a second-round judges’ selection, Austin Film Festival 2021. Lori is a member of the Dramatists Guild and New Circle Theatre Company. Her work can be read at: https://newplayexchange.org/users/8464/lori-goodman.

Janice L. Goldberg (Director) directs a lot of new plays and sometimes she wins awards, like The Kennedy Center Gold Medallion Award for her work with original scripts. Recent: Liberty Talks! at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre, B’way World Boston Best Play Director nominee, Emma Goldman Sherman’s FUKT, “staged by Janice L. Goldberg who deserves more attention” …nytheatre-wire; I Of The Storm, “a spectacular show”…Broadway World and Remembrance Day; “executed with glorious finesse”... NYTheatre Guide; Rose Colored Glass (co-written with Susan Bigelow) is published by Concord Theatricals, Inc. and has had productions all over the US and Europe. Janice served as Producing Artistic Co-Director of AND Theatre Company in NYC, overseeing the development of over 100 new plays. Member: SDC, Dramatist’s Guild, New Circle Theatre Company, Honor Roll, League of Professional Theater Women, Jewish Theatre Circle. Faculty member of the Dramatists Guild Institute. www.JaniceLGoldberg.com

June Ballinger (Maureen) has performed on Broadway, off-Broadway and in numerous regional theatres across the country. Television and film include “Only Murders in the Building”, “The Blacklist”, “Law & Order” and” L&O SVU”, Netflix’s Monster and numerous short films. Most recently June performed the role of Nancy Cunard in Telling Tales Out of School at the New Federal Theatre, which won the Audelco Award for outstanding ensemble. June wrote and performed her solo play Remembrance Day, directed by Janice L. Goldberg. June is a company member of The Actors Center in NYC and member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre. www.JuneBallinger.com

Willie C Carpenter (Bob) – Theatre: Since Africa (The Old Globe), Two Trains Running (The Old Globe), Blue (Paper Mill Playhouse). Television: “Found,” “Godfather of Harlem,” “Women of the Movement,” “Reacher,” “Hightown,” “Bull,” “The Village,” “The Wonder Years,” “Law & Order.” Film: Woodstockers, Eugene the Marine, First Shift, The Independent, The Block Island Sound, 40-Love, The Scottish Play, Monster, Collateral Beauty, Ode to Joy, Brawl on Cell Block 99.

Alex Brightwell (Jim) is delighted to be telling this beautiful story! Selected Theatre: The Tempest (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Three Sisters (Two River Theater), A Christmas Carol (McCarter Theatre, ’22, ’23 & ’24), Chicken & Biscuits (Bristol Riverside Theatre), Every Brilliant Thing (Cleveland Play House), The Sea Lady (Metropolitan Playhouse), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, One Man Two Guvnors, As You Like It, An Octoroon, Untitled Russia Play (Chautauqua Theater Company), Golden Age (Guthrie Theater). Education: BFA: University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater; MFA: Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House.

Allyson Kaye Daniel (Anna) she/her is happy to join this wonderful cast here at The Tank. A DC native, she is proud to have lived and worked in New York City as both a teacher and performer for over a decade. Broadway: The Wiz Revival, 1776. National Tours: The Wiz, Elf, The Color Purple. Select TV/Film: “Manifest,” “Law & Order: SVU,” Power: Book III. Special thanks to Janice, Lori, Jen and my team at G&G Talent. Everlasting love to my supportive family and friends. @akayedaniel

Carole Forman (Betty) originated the part of Betty at New Circle Theatre in 2023. In the forthcoming feature film, Bring Them Back, (Willinger) Carole reprises her stage role of Trudy, performed at TNC last May. Other film roles include Feygl, a Kindertransport survivor in Clara (Lombroso) shown at the Chelsea Film Festival; the title character Mamale (Goodman/Zaagar); Bubbe (speaking Yiddish) in 40 Nichols (Gorenberg); and the irascible Miss Ruby in Key Lime Pie (Delgado). Carole was in the Broadway production of Strider (adapted from Tolstoy). A Jewish Spiritual Storyteller, she has shared stories around the U.S. and Canada to people of all backgrounds. “As a widow myself, I am astonished at how Touch is so spot on. And as a human being I’m grateful to give voice to our deep need for Touch!” AEA, SAG-Aftra (Carole Sue Forman), carolefor@msn.com

Joe Gately (Husband/Stan/Morris) - THE TANK debut. NYC Theater: Life Boat (Theater 54), Babes in Arms (Musicals Tonight), Triangle (59E59), Rudolf II, The Velvet Oratorio (UTC #61). Regional Theater: All Shook Up (Westchester Broadway), Mamma Mia (Finger Lakes), Guys and Dolls (Maine State, Ogunquit), Women in Jeopardy (Pioneer Theatre), Elf, the Musical (Patchogue, Engeman, Fulton), Spamalot (New London Barn), Human Error, Good People(Public/ME), God of Carnage (Northern Stage, New Harmony), Time Stands Still (Sierra Rep), Annie (New Stage). Film: The Tributaries, Affluenza, The Manchurian Candidate. Television: “Wu Tang: An American Saga,” “Prodigal Son,” “New Amsterdam,” “Black List,” “Person of Interest,” "White Collar," "Blue Bloods," "Sex and the City." 40 year member of Actors' Equity. www.JoeGately.com

Stacey Scotte (Sally/Wife) is delighted to be a part—or rather, two parts—of Touch. Off-Broadway – Strictly Personal, Eat the Runt, Boobs! The Musical. Regional favorites – August: Osage County (Ivy), The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Reba),Annie (Miss Hannigan), Ruthless! (Myrna Thorn), Hairspray (Prudy), Mame (Mrs. Upson), La Cage aux Folles (Mme Dindon), Mary Poppins (Miss Andrew), at such venues as Riverside Theatre, Goodspeed, Sacramento Music Circus, Florida Studio Theatre, Florida Rep, The Fireside Theatre. Also, 2023-24 Asia Tour of Sister Act. Television and film – “The Blacklist,” “Succession,” “30 Rock,” Julie & Julia, Me & Will, Judy’s Child (short). www.staceyscotte.com

JEN RUDIN, CSA, is an award-winning casting director and author of the book Confessions of a Casting Director, published by HarperCollins. She spent seven years as casting director/executive at The Walt Disney Company, casting such beloved animated feature films as The Incredibles, Chicken Little, The Princess and the Frog, and oversaw all the casting for the Broadway and domestic tours for The Lion King, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, and High School Musical: On Tour. Recent casting credits include the Netflix animated series Arcane and Dead End: Paranormal Park and Sesame Street. Jen also cast the late Peter Bogdanovich’s final film, She’s Funny That Way. www.jenrudin.com and @rudinj on Instagram.

Michael Abrams (Lighting Designer) has designed numerous shows all over the country, including Off-Broadway, Off-Off Broadway, Regional, Tour and Cruise Ship venues. Select Design credits include: I of the Storm, Music Man, The Merry Widow, The Salvage Shop, My Favorite Year, Twelfth Night, The Last Starfighter, Midsummer Nights Dream, FUKT, Occupation: Dragonslayer, American Nocturne, She Loves Me, Amadeus, Quartet, Last Five Years, Jekyll & Hyde, Scarlet Pimpernel, Parade, King and I, Children of Eden, Annie, Forever Plaid, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamCoat, Singing in the Rain, Anything Goes, and A Christmas Carol. In addition to designing shows, Michael is a professional photographer that has been published nationally and internationally.

Noelle S. LeBlanc (Production Stage Manager) is a theatrical jack of all trades. Growing up in a theatre, she has stepped into almost every role and enjoyed learning all of the ins and outs of theatre work. Primarily, Noelle works as a developmental book editor and dramaturg while also appearing on the stage from time to time. She is passionate about helping people tell stories and is incredibly grateful to continue to help share Lori Goodman’s wonderful play Touch with the world.

William English (Stage Manager) began studying acting at Hunter College 7 years ago. His first role was that of 'The Captain' in Eugene O'Neill's The Long Voyage Home, which was staged aboard the open decks of South Street Seaport Museum‘s tallship, Wavertree. Recently, his focus has been on acting in independent films. Midlife, Dragon Eats Eagle, and The Great Dismal are all streaming on Amazon & Tubi. William is a member of New Circle Theatre Co., a NYC based company dedicated solely to the development of new plays and of Stag & Lion Theatre Co., a classical theatre company, also based in New York City. IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11688716/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

Jonas Harrison (Set Designer) is an NYC based scenic designer. He is proud to be a part of TOUCH as his New York design debut. Recent credits include Tova and Micromégas (Irma Freeman Center PGH), Lonely Planet, Constellations, and Charity Case (Carnegie Mellon), and a six show run for the College Light Opera Company’s 54th season. Upcoming work includes The Brothers Karamazov (The New American Ensemble), Rock of Ages (Timber Lake Playhouse), and Macbeth:1987 (Unusual Suspects Productions NYC), the debut production of an emerging theater company in which he is the resident scenic designer and department head. BFA, CMU. jonasharrisondesign.com

Iman Rose Louis-Jeune, (Sound Designer) (she/her/hers) is an interdisciplinary artist, designer, and curator from Brooklyn, NY with over ten years of technical experience. Pulling from her Caribbean heritage and diverse religious upbringing, she's interested in the creation and facilitation of making cathartic and impactful work through movement, lens-based media, design and production. She’s had the opportunity to work with: ZCO/Dance Project, Owning Dissonance Collective, AfroFlow Yoga, The Chelsea Factory, Telluride Film Festival, Womanimation Festival, LMCC, TBWA \ Chiat \ Day NY all in a lighting design and versatile technical production capacity.