Meet the Team
ELIZABETH SEARLE (LIBRETTO, CONCEPT and BOOK)
Elizabeth first wrote about 'Tonya & Nancy' in her novella CELEBRITIES IN DISGRACE, which the New York Times Book Review called ‘a miniature masterpiece.’ She is the author of four books of fiction: My Body to You, Celebrities in Disgrace, A Four-Sided Bed and most recently GIRL HELD IN HOME. She created both the concept and libretto for both TONYA & NANCY: THE OPERA and TONYA & NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA. The one-act Tonya & Nancy opera, with music by Abigail Al-Doory Cross, has been performed in Boston and at Opera Vista in Houston, TX, where it was chosen as one of the top three new operas of the year. It was produced in Minneapolis/St. Paul in 2010 and in 2014, with Previews 'on ice.' Elizabeth's novel A Four-Sided Bed is now in development as a feature film with Bravo Sierra Pictures, which produced a short film of Elizabeth's Celebrities in Disgrace. The film premiered at the Woods Hole International Film Festival and has screened at festivals around the country. Elizabeth's one-act play Stolen Girl Song was performed in ME and MA in 2013. Elizabeth's theater works have been featured in stories on GOOD MORNING AMERICA, CBS, CNN, NPR, the AP and more. She teaches fiction and scriptwriting at Stonecoast MFA and lives in Arlington, MA with her husband and son.
Elizabeth first wrote about 'Tonya & Nancy' in her novella CELEBRITIES IN DISGRACE, which the New York Times Book Review called ‘a miniature masterpiece.’ She is the author of four books of fiction: My Body to You, Celebrities in Disgrace, A Four-Sided Bed and most recently GIRL HELD IN HOME. She created both the concept and libretto for both TONYA & NANCY: THE OPERA and TONYA & NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA. The one-act Tonya & Nancy opera, with music by Abigail Al-Doory Cross, has been performed in Boston and at Opera Vista in Houston, TX, where it was chosen as one of the top three new operas of the year. It was produced in Minneapolis/St. Paul in 2010 and in 2014, with Previews 'on ice.' Elizabeth's novel A Four-Sided Bed is now in development as a feature film with Bravo Sierra Pictures, which produced a short film of Elizabeth's Celebrities in Disgrace. The film premiered at the Woods Hole International Film Festival and has screened at festivals around the country. Elizabeth's one-act play Stolen Girl Song was performed in ME and MA in 2013. Elizabeth's theater works have been featured in stories on GOOD MORNING AMERICA, CBS, CNN, NPR, the AP and more. She teaches fiction and scriptwriting at Stonecoast MFA and lives in Arlington, MA with her husband and son.
MICHAEL TEOLI (COMPOSER, MUSIC DIRECTOR, AND ADDITIONAL LYRICS)
Michael is an award-winning Film and Theatre Composer based in Los Angeles. Before graduating from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he worked on Howard Shore's Music Team for The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Since then, he has worked on the music for over 50 films. His score to the feature 41 won BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK at the Director's Chair Film Festival in Staten Island, NY. Teoli's first full-length musical, Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera premiered in Portland, OR in 2008, had two stints at A.R.T's Club Oberon in Boston, a NYC reading produced by The Broadway Consortium, and most recently a stint at The King King Hollywood. His second musical, CarnEvil enjoyed a World Premier at Sacred Fools Theatre in Hollywood. Michael provided Music Direction, Arrangements and Additional Music for Doomsday Cabaret and Exorcistic: A Rock Musical Parody each winning BEST MUSICAL at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2012 and 2013 respectively. This past year saw Michael worked on three feature films, several short films and webisodes and released his first album, Absolutely Filthy Trax available on CD Baby. The World Premier of his new musical, The Werewolves of Hollywood Boulevard took place in June 2014 at The Lilian Theater in Los Angeles.
Michael is an award-winning Film and Theatre Composer based in Los Angeles. Before graduating from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he worked on Howard Shore's Music Team for The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Since then, he has worked on the music for over 50 films. His score to the feature 41 won BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK at the Director's Chair Film Festival in Staten Island, NY. Teoli's first full-length musical, Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera premiered in Portland, OR in 2008, had two stints at A.R.T's Club Oberon in Boston, a NYC reading produced by The Broadway Consortium, and most recently a stint at The King King Hollywood. His second musical, CarnEvil enjoyed a World Premier at Sacred Fools Theatre in Hollywood. Michael provided Music Direction, Arrangements and Additional Music for Doomsday Cabaret and Exorcistic: A Rock Musical Parody each winning BEST MUSICAL at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2012 and 2013 respectively. This past year saw Michael worked on three feature films, several short films and webisodes and released his first album, Absolutely Filthy Trax available on CD Baby. The World Premier of his new musical, The Werewolves of Hollywood Boulevard took place in June 2014 at The Lilian Theater in Los Angeles.
PAUL T. BOGHOSIAN/ HARBORSIDE FILMS (PRODUCER)
Paul Boghosian has produced Tonya & Nancy since 2011 and has produced film and theater for many years through his company Harborside Films. He has been working with his close friend Dick Flavin producing special encore presentations of According to Tip at the Lyric Stage in Boston. Boghosian was also the producer of the 2008 production of According to Tip that won the IRNE award for Best New Play in New England. Boghosian has been a long time admirer of Tip O'Neill since he recalls meeting Tip in the 50's while Tip was campaigning at an Armenian picnic in Maynard, MA. Tip said "you're a good hardworking boy" as he was collecting bottles left on the picnic grounds to return for a nickle a piece. He is also working with Dick Flavin on his next production, I Feel a Song Comin' On, a one woman show on the music and times of the brilliant lyricist Dorothy Fields. Boghosian is President and CEO of HarborSide Films and has developed and produced documentaries and public affairs programs for PBS and cable; produced over 50 major TV and video events for private clients; produced two feature films distributed on premium cable in the U.S. and that received wide international distribution. Boghosian has a BA in political Science and Economics from Northeastern University and received his MBA from Columbia University.
Paul Boghosian has produced Tonya & Nancy since 2011 and has produced film and theater for many years through his company Harborside Films. He has been working with his close friend Dick Flavin producing special encore presentations of According to Tip at the Lyric Stage in Boston. Boghosian was also the producer of the 2008 production of According to Tip that won the IRNE award for Best New Play in New England. Boghosian has been a long time admirer of Tip O'Neill since he recalls meeting Tip in the 50's while Tip was campaigning at an Armenian picnic in Maynard, MA. Tip said "you're a good hardworking boy" as he was collecting bottles left on the picnic grounds to return for a nickle a piece. He is also working with Dick Flavin on his next production, I Feel a Song Comin' On, a one woman show on the music and times of the brilliant lyricist Dorothy Fields. Boghosian is President and CEO of HarborSide Films and has developed and produced documentaries and public affairs programs for PBS and cable; produced over 50 major TV and video events for private clients; produced two feature films distributed on premium cable in the U.S. and that received wide international distribution. Boghosian has a BA in political Science and Economics from Northeastern University and received his MBA from Columbia University.
JANET ROSTON (DIRECTOR AND CHOREOGRAPHER)
Janet is an award-winning Director/Choreographer of theater, concert dance, television, live tours and commercials. As Director/ Choreographer in theater Janet has worked on Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera (American Repertory Theater, Boston; King King, Hollywood) based on the stranger than fiction story of skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, MIDSUMMER NIGHT (Lillian Theater, Hollywood and UT Austin) a rock musical version of Shakespeare’s comedy set in a Rock Festival by composers Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda; CarnEvil (Sacred Fools Theater, Hollywood) a rock horror musical; Walk’n Thru the Fire (Hayworth Theater, Los Angeles) a dramatic memoir with text and movement and The Wanting (Highways Performance Space, Santa Monica) the tale of a woman taken in by an isolated cult family told with song, dance, film and puppetry. With her own company, the Los Angeles Rock Opera Company, Janet has been the Director/Choreographer for the rock musical shAme, (King King Nightclub) a goth musical version of The Scarlet Letter, Push Play (Highways) and Possession (Unknown Theater) a Pan-Latino dance musical. Janet has been instrumental in developing these shows, working closely with the writers and composers. For more on Janet, see: www.janetroston.com
Janet is an award-winning Director/Choreographer of theater, concert dance, television, live tours and commercials. As Director/ Choreographer in theater Janet has worked on Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera (American Repertory Theater, Boston; King King, Hollywood) based on the stranger than fiction story of skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, MIDSUMMER NIGHT (Lillian Theater, Hollywood and UT Austin) a rock musical version of Shakespeare’s comedy set in a Rock Festival by composers Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda; CarnEvil (Sacred Fools Theater, Hollywood) a rock horror musical; Walk’n Thru the Fire (Hayworth Theater, Los Angeles) a dramatic memoir with text and movement and The Wanting (Highways Performance Space, Santa Monica) the tale of a woman taken in by an isolated cult family told with song, dance, film and puppetry. With her own company, the Los Angeles Rock Opera Company, Janet has been the Director/Choreographer for the rock musical shAme, (King King Nightclub) a goth musical version of The Scarlet Letter, Push Play (Highways) and Possession (Unknown Theater) a Pan-Latino dance musical. Janet has been instrumental in developing these shows, working closely with the writers and composers. For more on Janet, see: www.janetroston.com