MEET THE CREATIVE Team
SHIMMY BRAUN (Book & Lyrics/ Producer)
is a theatre and film producer, who in following his dreams, has recently added playwright to his credits with Five: The Parody Musical and Faygele (in production). Theatre producing credits include Anthony Rapps’ Without You (Outer Critics Award nomination), The Secret Garden and Hester Street. Other recent projects include Life of Pi and Good Night, Oscar, and current Broadway revivals of The Wiz, Spamalot and Merrily We Roll Along. Film production includes the documentary Conversion and the feature film Bleed Like Me (in production). Shimmy thanks his parents, Shoni, Shraga, Tzvi, Ryan and Luther for their unconditional love and support. Shimmy also thanks Visceral Entertainment, Theater 555 and all involved for their miracle work in getting Five on stage. Special thank you to Kevin McCollum, Tom Fishwick and my team at CCM, Mary Lu Roffe, Jason Turchin, Mark Kennedy Smith and my co-writer and close friend, Moshiel Newman Daphna. Get out and vote! Love and kindness to all!
MOSHIEL NEWMAN DAPHNA (Book & Lyrics/Producer)
is grateful to be making his double debut with Five: The Parody Musical. His unconventional journey, from theological seminary in Israel to a BFA in photo and video from the School of Visual Arts, shapes his unique perspective and adds vibrant color to his life and writing. Beyond his artistic pursuits, Moshiel is a fervent community advocate, he traversed the globe under his drag persona Lady SinAGaga and now holds the title of Mr. SoCal Leather 2023. Moshiel enthusiastically promotes the significance of intersectionality, identity and queer joy, uplifting these values in every facet of his artistic expression. He extends sincere thanks to the Five family, Visceral team and co-conspirator Shimmy, recognizing the unwavering support of his partner, parents, family, friends and HP. He would like to dedicate this to the little Orthodox boy, who just wanted to get on a stage.
BILLY RECCE (Music & Lyrics)
s a billboard-charting composer, lyricist and playwright. One of the most prolific young musical theatre writers of his generation, Billy has written or co-written songs for Bernadette Peters, Mandy Patinkin, Laura Benanti, Jessica Vosk, Lillias White, Titus Burgess and more. His songs have been performed by symphony orchestras and across the globe. Off-Broadway/ NYC: A Musical About Star Wars (music, lyrics), Singfeld! (music, orchestrations), Lighthouse: An Immersive Drinking Musical (music supervision, orchestrations, additional songs), Balloon Boy: The Musical (book, music, lyrics), Petunia’s Playhouse (music and lyrics). Upcoming: Fowl Play: A New Musical Comedy (book, music, lyrics) and Little Black Book (book, music, lyrics). Via Broadway Records, Little Black Book’s acclaimed concept album is available everywhere. Two-time MAC Award winner, 2022 Jonathan Larson Grant finalist, Orchard Project member, Relentless Award semi-finalist, Eugene O’Neill finalist, NAMT finalist, two-time Wallowitch Award finalist, EST/Sloan Project Commission awardee. Billyrecce.com
JEN WINEMAN (Director/Choreographer)
Selected NYC credits include Dog Man: The Musical (New World Stages/Lucille Lortel Theatre), Retraction (Theatre Row), Less Than 50% (59E59); Surfer Girl (Animus), My Heart Is in the East (La Mama), Fable (NYMF), F#%king Up Everything (Elektra Theater). Selected regional credits include As You Like It (American Shakespeare Center); Tiny Beautiful Things (Merrimack Rep); Game On (Pittsburgh CLO); Shakespeare in Love (Virginia Rep); Into the West (Tantrum Theater); Baskerville (Dorset Theatre Festival); The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Asolo Rep and Miami New Drama); Sweeney Todd (Playmakers Rep); The 39 Steps, Shipwrecked (Triad Stage). Touring productions include Dog Man: The Musical (national tours in the US, Canada and Australia), Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Asolo Repertory Theatre). Upcoming: the world premiere of Dangerous Days (Miami New Drama). BA Vassar College, MFA Yale School of Drama. Much love to Bedirhan, Melik and Esmeray. jenwineman.com @winemanjen