David Shukiar

David received his B.A. in Music from UCLA where he graduated magna cum laude. His musicals include "Benjamin and Judah", "The Forlorn Prince", "The Pitch", and the two-time Burdette Fitzgerald Award winning "Make Believe". He is currently composing the score for "Little Women", a musical based on the book by Louisa Mae Alcott. David was awarded the Carol Burnett Award for Musical Theatre. As an actor, David has toured internationally with "Annie". He premiered the role of Bernard in "Brave New World" for the New York Dramatists Guild. He also played L.A. in Sacramento Light Opera's production "Gypsy". Other regional credits include "Hello Dolly!", "Anything Goes", "Singin' in the Rain", and the "Pirates of Panzance". Some of his favorite roles include Dick in "Dames at Sea", Bellomy in "The Fantasticks", and a New Rhythm Boy in "My One and Only". David has performed on the high seas on board Holland America Line. David was thrilled to premiere the title role of Benjamin/Judah in the New York production of "Benjamin and Judah" and is excited to reprise this role on the West Coast.

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Lori Vander Maten

Lori recieved both her B.A. and her M.F.A. in Theatre from UCLA. It was during her years at UCLA that her partnership with David Shukiar began with their children's musical, "Make Believe", the two-time winner of the Burdette Fitzgerald Award for Theatre for Young Audiences. The team has collaborated on five musicals to date, including "Benjamin & Judah", "The Forlorn Prince", "The Pitch", and their current work-in-progress, "Little Women". Lori's full-length drama, "Seasons", placed fourth in the Samuel Goldwyn Writing Competition, and her full-length drama "Storms Without Warning" was the winner of the Siena College International Playwriting Competition. Her screenplay "Goin' Home" was a semi-finalist in the Walt Disney Fellowship for Writers Competition. She has recently completed work on her newest feature screenplay, "Razha", and is anxious to get back to work on "Little Women".

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Becky Cherlin

Becky is a native San Diegan and a highly-acclaimed Children's Theatre Director. She and her family have been active in Tiferith Israel Synagogue and Beth Tefilah for many years. Growing up, Becky has always been active in the Jewish community and in theater companies around town. Many families recognize Becky from her years of creativity at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center in La Jolla. It was there that she founded the successful J*Company Theatre for Children and Adults. Becky recently returned from a year touring with the Broadway National Company of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". She was the children's choir director for over 1,000 kids across the United States. Upon returning home, Becky formed The APPLAUSE Theate Group.

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