Cast

SHERZ ALETAHA (Ensemble) Sherz (sounds like more than one Cher) is thrilled to be back in DISASTER! She previously appeared in it's sold out run at the Triad. Other NY credits include SPRING ALIVE (also on cast album), BEYOND THE iCHATTER, and numerous concerts and readings. She can also be seen as Lauren in the award winning web series WING WOMEN. Love and gratitude to cast, crew, family, friends, and agents.

CHARITY DAWSON ("Levora") is thrilled to be making her Off broadway debut with such a wonderful

group of people! A graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (NYC), some of her favorite credits include the national tour of DREAMGIRLS (Efffie White), THE COLOR PURPLE (Church Lady Darlene/CelieUS), UNBEATABLE (Ally), SMOKEY JOES CAFE (BJ), AIDA (Aida) and THE WIZ (Evilene). She wants to send a huge thanks to the entire creative team for giving her such an awesome opportunity and to her family and friends for their continued love and support. With God ALL things are possible. Enjoy the show!

JOHN TREACY EGAN ("Tony") Broadway credits include NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, SISTER ACT, BYE BYE BIRDIE, THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE PRODUCERS, JEKYLL & HYDE, Off-Broadway, WHEN PIGS FLY!, IT MUST BE HIM and BATBOY The Musical. Television credits include BOARDWALK EMPIRE, NURSE JACKIE, 30 ROCK, CUPID, LAW & ORDER, LATE NIGHT with CONAN O’BRIEN and the films LAST NIGHT, and THE PRODUCERS. He can be heard on many theatrical recordings as well as his own solo CDs Count the Stars and On Christmas Morning are available on itunes and cdbaby.com.

SAUM ESKANDANI (Ensemble) Saum is excited to be back in NYC returning to The Barracuda after his previous voyage with DISASTER! at the Triad! Off-Broadway: A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, IDOL: THE MUSICAL. National Tour: WONDERFUL TOWN Workshops: DISASTER!, ON A CLEAR DAY... Regional: NY Stage and Film, White Plains Performing Arts Center. Outside of acting, Saum works as photographer/videographer/field producer for various televised poker programs including THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER on ESPN. He has also recorded vocals on various albums, working most recently with The Mowgli's on their debut album WAITING FOR THE DAWN. Love to family, friends, and the amazing creative team for this delightfully collaborative journey!

MATT FARCHER (Chad) is beyond stoked to join the cast of DISASTER! Matt was last seen in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST as Gaston and "TREASURE ISLAND A NEW MUSICAL" at Arkansas rep.

Other favorites include: myths and hymns (prospect theater), Floyd Collins (Homer) Oklahoma (curly) and South Pacific (cable). Matt studied BFA musical theater at pace university. Thank you Seth, Jack, and the rest of the company and crew for believing in him and giving him a chance to join this Rediculous spectacle that is DISASTER! All my love to the my family and friends.

TOM RIIS FARRELL ("Maury") Broadway: CHICAGO, CORAM BOY, DIRTY BLONDE (Helen Hayes Award; Joseph Jefferson Award nomination); WRONG MOUNTAIN, 1776. Off-Broadway: Al Pacino's THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI (National Actors' Theatre, dir. Simon McBurney), LI'L ABNER (Encores!, dir. Christopher Ashley), MARY ROSE (Vineyard, dir. Tina Landau), THE SLUG BEARERS OF KAYROL ISLAND (Vineyard, dir. Bob McGrath). Regional: BETTY'S SUMMER VACATION (Bay Street, dir. Trip Cullman); CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION with Sandy Duncan (George Street, dir. Anders Cato); A CHRISTMAS CAROL (McCarter, dir. Michael Unger); RAG AND BONE (Long Wharf, dir. Tina Landau); ONCE IN A LIFETIME (Williamstown, dir. Michael Greif). TV: ELEMENTARY, THE AMERICANS, BLUE BLOODS, THE GOOD WIFE, FRINGE BROTHERHOOD, five L&O's, two CRIMINAL INTENTS, ED, SPIN CITY, NYPD BLUE. Film: THE BOURNE LEGACY, ALL GOOD THINGS, TRUST THE MAN, THE STEPFORD WIVES,ALOMOST FAMOUS, THE OUT-OF-TOWWNERS, DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, SCENT OF A WOMAN (upcoming: LULLABY with Richard Jenkins, Anne Archer and Terrence Howard; THAT AWKWARD MOMENT with Zac Efron).

ASHANTI J'ARIA (Understudy) is a New York Native and Fordham University Lincoln Center graduate. Credits: Broadway: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (Understudy) booth singer. Off-Broadway: THE LAST SMOKER IN AMERICA, THE MIKADO, FAIR LIBERTY'S CALL (world premiere and soundtrack) MY BIG GAY ITALIAN WEDDING (recorded vocals/soundtrack). Regional/New York: THE KINK IN MY HAIR (American premiere NAACP theatre award winner) LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, BEEHIVE, HAIR, GUYS AND DOLLS, CROWNS, AIN'T MISBEHAVIN (with Richard Maltby Jr) CAROLINE OR CHANGE New World stages ‘Next Broadway sensation competition’ finalist. Television: THE GOOD WIFE, ONE LIFE TO LIVE, FAMILY MATTERS. Ashanti was featured on AMERICAN IDOL after having “gone to Hollywood” twice. Her footage was shown on Oprah. She’s a lead singer in the funk rock group WhaChiChoo www.wachichoo.com. She is so proud to be a part if this production.

MAGGIE MCDOWELL (Ensemble) is thrilled to join DISASTER! Recent credits: Annie Oakley in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (Fireside Theatre) Doralee in 9 to 5 (Theatre by the Sea) and PINKALICIOUS! Off-B'way. Other roles include: Janet in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, Hope in URINETOWN, and Cinderella in INTO THE WOODS. Proud Belmont University alum. Thank you to The Mine, Jack and Seth, and the Disaster team and cast. Love to her family and friends for their continuous support, especially her husband, Stephen. www.maggiemcdowell.net

MICHELE RAGUSA ("Jackie") This past summer she starred in both SPAMALOT and GYPSY – now that’s something!!! She last starred on B’Way as Elizabeth in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, succeeding Megan Mullally. Other Broadway: URINETOWN, RAGTIME, A CLASS ACT, TITANIC, CYRANO. Off-Broadway: ADRIFT IN MACAO – Primary Stages- Lortel and Drama League noms as well as the Barrymore Award. Regional Credits: SINGING IN THE RAIN (Lina Lamont) – The MUNY; INTO THE WOODS (The Witch) – Kansas City Rep. - dir. Moises Kaufman; ANNIE (Miss Hannigan) – TUTS, KISS ME KATE (Kate) - Paper Mill – dir. James Brennan; THE DROWSY CHAPERONE (The Chaperone) – Flat Rock Playhouse; COMPANY (Sarah) – GeVa Theatre; BAD DATES (Haley) - Studio Arena – dir. Scott Schwartz; SHE LOVES ME (Amalia) – Paper Mill – dir. James Brennan; BOEING, BOEING (Gabriella) – Engeman Theatre – dir. BT McNicholl; GUYS and DOLLS (Adelaide) – Rabin Award - Dallas Theatre Center; NOISES OFF (Belinda) – Studio Arena; SWEENEY TODD, (Beggar Wmn) – Portland Center Stage; SIDE…SONDHEIM – Berkshire Theatre Festival; LEND ME A TENOR (Maria) – Portland Stage/Engeman Theatre; ME AND MY GIRL (Jacquie) – Goodspeed – dir. Scott Schwartz; NUNSENSE (Sr. Amnesia)-Sacramento Music Circus. She is also seen as star vocalist with symphonies across the country. www.micheleragusa.com

ROBB SAPP ("Scott") Broadway: Pinocchio in SHREK, Boq in WICKED; Off-Broadway: Mick Jagger/Marcello in HAPPINESS (Lincoln Center, dir. Susan Stroman), Tank in ZANNA, DON’T! (cast recording), Turkey in JOHNNY GUITAR (cast recording), Marvin in ENTER LAUGHING (cast recording); National Tours/Regional: Ed in THE LION KING, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, The MUNY, Paper Mill Playhouse, Goodspeed Musicals, Mark Taper Forum, Music Theatre of Wichita, Syracuse Stage, Capital Rep, Indiana Rep. Robb holds a BFA from Syracuse University and co-founded the Brooklyn-based creative studio dirty sugar.

JENNIFER SIMARD ("Sister Mary") On Broadway, Jennifer starred as Rona opposite Mo Rocca in THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. She also originated the Wicked Witch in SHREK the Musical and recently enjoyed time in the convent at SISTER ACT. Off-Broadway, she originated roles in I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT NOW CHANGE, THE THING ABOUT MEN, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY and has recently enjoyed a run as Edna in the play UNBROKEN CIRCLE. Her theater nominations for featured actress/performer include 1 Lucille Lortel, 1 Drama League and 3 Drama Desks. In television, she has worked onTHE KING OF QUEENS, LAW & ORDER and LAW & ORDER SVU. In film, she had featured roles in THE FLINTSTONES VIVA ROCK VEGAS, WISH YOU WERE DEAD and the upcoming Liam Neeson action thriller, NON-STOP.

MARY TESTA ("Shirley") Most recently appeared in the opera ANNA NICOLE, which opened the new wave festival at BAM. Winner of 2012 Drama Desk Award for three decades of outstanding work and for QUEEN OF THE MIST. Broadway: GUYS & DOLLS, XANADU (Drama Desk nomination), CHICAGO, 42^nd STREET (Tony Nomination), MARIE CHRISTINE (Cast Album),ON THE TOWN (Tony Nomination) …FORUM (Cast Album), THE RINK, MARILYN, BARNUM. Also, ENCORES! THE ZEIGFELD FOLLIES OF 1936 (Cast Album). Off-Broadway: QUEEN OF THE MIST (Drama League and Lucille Lortel nominations), LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE, REGRETS ONLY, SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE (Drama Desk & Drama League Nomination -- Cast Album), FIRST LADY SUITE (Drama Desk nomination), STRING OF PEARLS (Drama Desk Nomination), THE VAGINA MONOLGUES,FROM ABOVE (Obie),LUCKY STIFF, A NEW BRAIN (Cast Album), TARTUFFE,ON THE TOWN (Obie Award),SCAPIN (CSC), IN TROUSERS (Cast Album). Film: FRANNY, EAT PRAY LOVE, THE BOUNTY HUMTER, STAY, TONY N’ TINA'S WEDDING, THE BUSINESS OF STRANGERS, THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS, SLEEPERS, etc. Television: TWO BROKE GIRLS, OVER UNDER, WHITE COLLAR, NURSE JACKIE, WHOOPI, SEX AND THE CITY, LAW AND ORDER and others.

JONAH VERDON ("Ben"/"Lisa") is thrilled to make his New York debut in DISASTER!. Jonah previously appeared in the North American Premiere of ZORRO (The Alliance Theatre), CARMEN (The Atlanta Opera),THE KING AND I (Theater of the Stars), and LA BOHEME (The Atlanta Opera). He appeared in the feature film PARENTAL GUIDANCE and the short film LIBRETTO. Jonah is a proud member of Carnegie Hall Musical Exchange. He enjoys computer programming, mountain biking, and duct tape engineering. Jonah is SO thankful for his supportive-beyond-words family, teachers, and mentors at Broadway Dreams Foundation, Atlanta Workshop Players, and CHME. And Jonah is especially grateful to Seth, Jack, and the rest of this awesome team for the amazing opportunity. www.JonahVerdon.com