ACCOMPLISHED CREATIVE PRODUCERS AND STAFF

You can be assured that every aspect of your production will be carefully executed from start to finish by the RWS and Associates team. From Broadway to television and film, the RWS and Associates professional foundations and high level of experience clearly set them apart.

Ryan StanaRyan Stana (Executive Producer), named one of the top fifty entrepreneurs in New York City in 2004, is the Founder and CEO of RWS and Associates. Mr. Stana is responsible for guiding the RWS creative staff and developing first-class events and entertainment for his clients. As a finalist for “Entertainment Company of the Year”, RWS is regarded as one the nation’s premiere production companies. Ryan produces, writes, directs, and choreographs award-winning shows and television events which garnered him a 2009 EMMY® Award and numerous IAAPA BIG E! Awards and nominations. His productions have had United States Presidents in attendance and have featured diverse celebrities ranging from Vera Wang, Bob Newhart, Pat Benatar, Queen Latifah, Aaron Carter, to the stars of Sesame Street. Ryan’s continued commitment to the amusement industry allows him to be an active International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) entertainment committee member and has led RWS to be the country’s largest provider of branded stage shows ranging from the children’s property Bob The Builder™to CBS Television’s top-rated The Amazing Race™. As an educator, Mr. Stana has been on faculty at Point Park University, New Jersey City University, Dance America and as a master class instructor for numerous international model and talent conventions. He holds a BFA from the prestigious University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music and Point Park University.

Amy Cannon (Senior Creative Producer) has been working extensively in the entertainment industry for over 15 years. Since its inception, Amy has led the RWS and Associates creative department; conceiving, writing, directing, choreographing, and producing award-winning events and productions nationwide. Her work ranges from theme park and riverboat entertainment, corporate and promotional events, children’s shows, branded character shows, full-scale musicals, and parades. She has worked extensively for companies such as Disney, Opryland, Cedar Fair, and HersheyPark Entertainment. During her performing career, Mrs. Cannon toured with the Broadway show Grease starring Laverne and Shirley’s Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka where she served as dance captain, as well as Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clue’s Live. In addition to touring, she has performed at numerous regional theaters as well as worked alongside Tony Award-winning choreographer, Rob Ashford. Amy is a member of the Actors Equity Association, on the advisory panel of Impact Dance Conventions, and holds a BA from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA.

Tarrah Hirsch (Senior Operations Producer) has worked in all aspects of live entertainment including performing, stage managing, designing and house managing. Tarrah has held positions with the Broadway producing company, Manhattan Theatre Club, FOX, MTV and ABC Film and Video. As an educator, Miss Hirsch has been on the faculty at Art Park in Niagara Falls, NY, Cape Cod Repertory Theater in Brewster, MA and at talent conventions throughout the country. Through her various positions, Tarrah has contributed to three Broadway and four off-Broadway successful opening nights. Miss Hirsch serves on the President’s Council for NEAAPA (New England Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) and, most recently, was the Lead Producer for the EMMY® Award winning production of Macy’s Stars on Broadway. Tarrah is originally from Rochester, NY and graduated with a BFA from Niagara University.

Danielle Kramer (Senior Creative Producer) began her career in the entertainment industry over fifteen years ago and continues to expand her professional career designing and producing. Mrs. Kramer has worked extensively as a performer as well as a Director/Choreographer in the amusement park and cruise ship industry with companies such as the Six Flags Corporation and HersheyPark Entertainment. Danielle is honored to have choreographed the 2009 EMMY® Award winning production, Macy’s Stars on Broadway as well as to have served on the creative teams of many corporate industrials featuring celebrities such as Jay Leno and the late Gregory Hines. Some of her most recent accomplishments include directing and co-choreographing live shows for CBS television as well as multiple IAAPA award winning productions. She has also worked with numerous Broadway performers featured in shows such as Curtains, The Drowsy Chaperone, Wicked, and Nine. Danielle serves as a professional representative at talent conventions nationwide and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA.

Robbie Eicher (Production Manager) a native of Pittsburgh PA, has been involved in the entertainment business for nearly a decade. Robbie began his career with RWS and Associates as a Company Manager/Performer in many of their theme Park, corporate, and retail shows. His extensive theater credits range from regional theaters and benefits to Off Broadway. Mr. Eicher has had the distinct honor of performing on stage at Lincoln Center with theatrical legends such as Julie Andrews, Robert Goulet, Audra McDonald, and Michael Feinstein. As an accomplished pianist, Robbie has musical directed numerous shows and works as a private vocal and audition coach to performers in New York City. Robbie holds a BFA from New York University.

Joey Wartnerchaney (Creative Development) is a nationally recognized film and live performance producer whose motion pictures include Tuscaloosa and Boy Meets Girl, as well as live performances of productions such as Seance; a Multi-Sensory Experience, Carnaval de Fuego, Batman; Carnival of Chaos, and Extreme Family Face Off just to name a few. Mr. Wartnerchaney is a highly respected creative and technical advisor within the theme park industry where he has created award winning productions for the Six Flags Corporation, Cedar Fair, and Knott's Berry Farm. Mr. Wartnerchaney co-founded the production company Homewrecker Films with partners Ben Britten Smith and Rich Volp. Since it's onset in 1999, Homewrecker Films has won two Academy Awards as well as an EMMY® Nomination.

Mike Cannon (Creative Development) has been a writer, director, and choreographer for RWS and Associates since its inception.  Mike, a seasoned actor, has performed across the country as well as in New York City in hit shows such as Mamma Mia, bare (Off Broadway), All Shook Up (Broadway), A Chorus Line (Broadway) as Al Deluca, and currently, West Side Story (Broadway) as Snowboy.  In addition to performing, Mike has also conceived, written and directed for organizations such as Gypsy of the Year and Easter Bonnet to benefit the Broadway Cares Foundation.  He is co-creator and writer of “Broadway Holiday” one of the selections found on the Carols for a Cure 2008 soundtrack and was the opening solo vocal performance for Passing It On, a benefit for Rosie’s Broadway Kids. Mr. Cannon is also a teacher for Broadway Classroom and Camp Broadway New York City as well as a mentor and coach to aspiring young actors.  He holds a BA in Musical Theater from Point Park University and is a member of Actors Equity Association.

Brent Lord (Composer, Music Producer) is a well accomplished composer and music producer who’s stage credits include projects such as Playground (The Jeff Shade Dance Project); Platforms (2007 NYMF dance commission); Go-Go Beach (2006 NYMF) licensed by Theatrical Rights Worldwide; and Ricky Goes Fishing (For Ricky). Mr. Lord’s talents also expand to television with credits spanning from original music for VH1 Rock Docs documentary Last Days of Left Eye (VH1), Latino Beginnings (Logo), and background music for the hit show, Access Hollywood. Film credits include composing and producing the scores to Blind Side (dir. John Daschbach, Digidance Film Festival) and Waking Dreams (starring Ben Shenkman). As audio editor, Brent has recorded and produced the 11-episode online audio sitcom Man of the People, created by Jeremy Desmon, and has produced audio tracks for the 2009 Easter Bonnet Competition as well as Broadway Bares and Gypsy of the Year performances. His audio producing work is also heard on the DVD release of Michael Shaieb's Through a Glass Darkly. Mr. Lord is an alumnus of the NYU Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program.

Michael Shaieb (Composer, Arranger) received his MFA from NYU's Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program in 1999. Prior to moving to New York City, Mike performed for 11 years as a classical pianist in Detroit, MI.  As an accomplished Composer and Arranger, his stage credits include: Through a Glass Darkly, Go-Go Beach (2006 NYMF), licensed through Theatrical Rights Worldwide. Mr. Shaieb's talents also include Choral composing and arranging with projects such as: I Want More Life (text from Tony Kushner's Angels In America: Perestroika), or the 2009 Tony Kushner Festival at the Guthrie Theatre.  In addition, his film and television credits include original music for the VH1 documentary Last Days of Left Eye, background music for various prime-time television shows, ending credits song for the short film Waking Dreams starring Ben Shenkman.  He is also the writer and composer of Carnaval De Fuego, winner of the IAAPA BIG E! Award for Best Overall Production 2008. Other musical projects include The Protagonists with Kevin Del Aguila.

Jens Kramer (Musical Direction and Development) began his professional career as a musician in various theme parks including HersheyPark and Six Flags. Recently, Mr. Kramer toured with the Broadway show Johnny Cash: Ring of Fire as the featured Fiddle, Mandolin and Acoustic Guitar player. In addition, he has played in several orchestras including the prestigious Wausau Symphony Orchestra as well and the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra. Jens has played violin as a featured performer, composer and musician in New York City’s Fringe Festival, The New York City Musical Theater Festival, CBS Radio’s Purgatorio, Rockefeller Center’s Rainbow Room, and the well-known Bitter End in New York City’s West Village. Mr. Kramer is an accomplished Musical Director who has musically directed several Broadway performers from shows such as The Drowsy Chaperone, Chicago, A Chorus Line and West Side Story and whose arranging and directing recently earned him an IAAPA Big E! Award nomination. Jens holds a BFA in music from the University of Wisconsin.

Jeremy Doucette (Production Designer) has designed award winning sets and costumes for over 350 productions worldwide, including plays, musicals, dance concerts, art installations, themed environments, and awards shows. Mr. Doucette’s prestigious international credits include the Asian premiere of Guys & Dolls, Chicago and Broadway Rhythm 2002 in Macau, China as well as the scenic supervisor for Die Zauberflöte at the Beijing and Macau International Music Festivals. For the past seven years, Mr. Doucette has held the esteemed position of Scenic Designer for the nationally telecasted Drama Desk Awards.  While there, he has worked with such illustrious hosts as Chita Rivera, Antonio Banderas, Kristin Chenowith and Harvey Fierstein.  His other New York credits include productions ranging from Dames at Sea and South Pacific to Little Shop of Horrors. Corporately, Mr. Doucette has custom designed special events for prestigious clients such as MasterCard International, Samsung, Royal Bank of Scotland, Quintiles, Google, Bayer Diagnostics, and The U.S. Republican National Convention. In addition to his extensive design work, he is one of the resident designers at Princeton University.  He also served for five years on the theatre faculty at William Patterson University where he held the position of resident scenic designer. Mr. Doucette holds an MFA in design from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University and is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.

John Kristiansen (Costume Designer) has built costumes for numerous award winning Broadway shows including Hair, Xanadu, The Color Purple, Doubt, and Avenue Q. Custom building credits include Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice, Disney’s High School Musical, James Joyce’s The Dead, Dirty Blonde and Dance of The Vampire. In addition to his extensive stage credits, Mr. Kristiansen has worked on numerous films including Merchant Ivory’s the Heights (with Glenn Close), Stephanie Daley (with Tilda Swinton and Amber Tamblyn) Shortbus (with Justin Bond) and the soon to be released Phoebe in Wonderland (with Felicity Huffman and Elle Fanning). Additionally, John designs and creates costumes for world renowned celebrities including Brooks and Dunn, Wynona Judd and Britney Spears.  Further design credits include previous productions for 3DII International, The Barn Theatre, and Western Michigan University, where Mr. Kristiansen taught costume construction prior to relocating to New York City. John holds a BFA in Costume Design from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Shawn Boyle (Lighting Designer) has extensive credits including Associate Projection Designer for the Tony Award winning musical, Wicked, (2nd National Tour, Germany, San Francisco, and Australia) as well as Spamalot (Australia and Las Vegas). Shawn's design highlights include: Berkshire Theater Festival (Red Remembers - Projection Design, The Book Club Play - Projection Design) Cortland Repertory Theater (Damn Yankees, I Hate Hamlet, Once on This Island, A Few Good Men, Johnny Guitar), Imagination Stage (Heidi The Musical), Boston Lyric Stage Company (Shipwrecked!, The Year of Magical Thinking, The Importance of Being Earnest), Musical Theater Ireland (The Last Five Years) and the Atlantic City Ballet (Dracula, The Nutcraker). Shawn holds a BFA from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts, and is a member of the United Scenic Artists 829.

Adam Nemeth (Audio/Video Engineer) has been working in the New York/New Jersey area as an Audio Engineer & Digital Media Technician for the past 13 years.  Starting out in the industry as an Audio Engineer and Technician and then further expanding to video production and multimedia system control.  Adam's extensive audio experiencing includes working with a wide array of talents including Tom Chapin, Janis Ian, J. J. Johnson, Christine Lavin, Wynton Marsalis, Marian McPartland, Marcus Roberts, Livingston Taylor, The Capitol Steps, Al Franken, Gregory Hines, Christie Whitman and many more.  Adam was recently sought after to engineer demos for two new musicals; Summer Stock and At The Back Of the North Wind.  Adam has recently been contracted to work on several projects for American Eagle Outfitters as they implement new multimedia technologies into their retail stores, including their new Times Square location.  An alumnus of William Paterson University's renowned Music Department, Adam holds a BA in Music Studies with a Concentration in Audio Recording/Engineering.

Cast (Our Performers) RWS and Associates is committed to the development and continuing growth of our valued performers through the guidance of our professional staff and with master classes, workshops, and additional performing opportunities. All of the performers at RWS and Associates are treated with the highest respect and are supported with good living conditions, competitive salaries, and open communication. RWS is proud to boast a 0% replacement rate. Current RWS performers are appearing in such Broadway shows as Jersey Boys, Wicked, Mary Poppins, West Side Story, Mamma Mia, South Pacific, and The Lion King. With RWS and Associates the most well-seasoned performers will be entertaining your guests.