I was born and raised on Mors, a small Island and traditional farming community in the northwestern part of Denmark. My parents met each other playing lovers in a community play and I was, all through my childhood, dragged along to community theater, music, cabarets, musical reviews, choirs and similar events that my parents were a part of. Early on I developed a passion for music and theater and the community surrounding it. Almost inevitably, I ended up on stage myself before I was a teenager. At the age of twenty, the urge to leave the constrictions of Island life, to personally grow and expand, sent me traveling. I first went to London, then onto the 'seven seas,' working on private yachts all over the world. When I finally arrived in New York City, I immediately felt like I had found my long lost home. I knew it was a place I wanted to stay and build a life. Having great passion for theater and music, both as a creator, performer and as an audience member, building Scandinavian American Theater Company seemed like a perfect opportunity. It would allow me to combine my Danish background and conscience with the courage of ‘The American Way’ that I have acquired over time in New York. I was studied and worked as an actress, singer and teacher in both Denmark and New York and. Dramatically Different is about the quest for happiness wherever you are and I hope the message ring true to all ears alike
Sebastian Nyman Agdur - Director
My first introduction to the artistic world was through acting in theater as a child in my hometown Stockholm, Sweden. It was a place called “Our Theater” and became an after school activity for me. I loved every moment of it. Later, as a teenager, I went to Pinewood Studios in London, where I was able to assist the crew on a film called “Entrapment.” It was a mesmerizing experience for me. I completely fell in love with the atmosphere, especially seeing how a director works with actors. I subsequently got my BA in TV-production at the “Media Institute” in Stockholm. There, I was able to explore and further my experience as a director. I shot short films that made it into film festivals and also took theater-directing classes. When I was 16, I came to New York for the first time. The city, the people and the artistic scene blew me away. I felt at that time that if I wanted to expand and develop as an artist, this would be the place for me. The diversity of New York City is what makes it so extraordinary. It is a great place to learn, exchange ideas and experience new challenges both as an individual and as a group. I am currently a student at Columbia University, studying for my MFA in film and directing.
Charlie Demos – Composer
Vocalist, composer, performance artist. Charlie Demos.
Since he first burst onto the music scene in March 2006, the prolific musical chameleon has already released three chart-topping albums, including his eponymous debut album, from which its first single “Don’t Ever Stop” was featured in Casper Andreas’ film, “A Four Letter Word;”2008’s How to be a Boi, which featured the title song in Rob Williams’ “3-Day Weekend;” and his current album, Anatomy 1.
The music video to the first single from Anatomy 1, “Insane,” shot to the top of the charts shortly after its world premiere, and was named to the LOGO Network’s “Ultimate Queer Videos of All Time” list, as well as being nominated for “Video of the Year.”
He is a fixture in the New York City underground queer music scene blending a new sound of electronic and dark synth with emotional and provoking performance art pieces when he takes the stage. He is also a resident artist with several top-tier burlesque shows such as Auralfixia and Cabaret Cataplexy. On September 21st, "Screaming Underground", Charlie's new EP is available as a FREE download on his site www.charliedemos.com
9/24--CD release party/Live Show: Webster Hall
Vigdis Hentze Olsen - Choreographer
Growing up on The Faroe Islands, surrounded by the ocean and the unpredictable temper of the ancient nature, I grew a strong desire to enter the world of performing arts. With limited possibilities of education on the Faroe Islands, I decided, at the age of 16, to move abroad. After obtaining a Bachelor degree from the Ballet Academy in Sweden. my journey took me to Denmark in 2007, where I entered the National Television competition “So You Think You Can Dance?”. I was honored to be voted the winner of this competition and, as a result, started to garner attention as an extraordinary performer and choreographer. Since my victory, I have developed a bi-coastal (between USA and Europe) career as a freelance dancer and choreographer. I have been working on a wide variety of projects, shifting between the commercial, classical and experimental worlds. In 2008, I received a one-year sponsorship from The Faroese Bank Føroya Banki. My insatiable hunger to expand my artistic ability and my itch for a new playground as a choreographer, lead me to New York City where I now reside. With the endless possibilities in New York, I started to study Meisner acting technique at the William Esper studio. It was my first introduction to the field of acting and it spurred my love for creating physical theater.
Jeffrey Robert Grossman – Film and Photography
Jeffrey Robert Grossman is an established fine-art photographer and is a member of the Mamaroneck Artists Guild. Also a videographer and editor, Jeff graduated from the State University at Albany in 1995 with a self-designed degree in Film as Dramatic Art. Jeff has gone on to work for production companies such as Shooting Stars International and Cossette Productions (2002 Grammy Awards). He appeared briefly in the 2006 Michael Keaton film, Game 6 and is a founding member of Dramatically Different Productions.
Kristen Smart – Multi-Media Design
Kristen Smart is from Lewes, Delaware and holds a BA in English from Middlebury College. She spent the last several years in Chiang Mai, Thailand working for an international school and organizing trips for students from around the world. Currently, Kristen is pursuing a Masters degree at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in the program, Interactive Telecommunications. She is thrilled to be working with such a fantastic group of people.
Olivia Negron – Workshop Director
Olivia Lawrence made her professional debut as Juliet in ’76 at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, and her Broadway debut in ’86 in the arms of Robert De Niro in Cuba and His Teddy Bear. She also appeared on Broadway in Serious Money with Alec Baldwin and Kate Nelligan. She made her film debut at the Sundance Film Festival 1997 in Maria (lead) in Everything Relative. She has appeared at TheatreSource, as The Duchess in the world premiere of My Last Duchess, by Tennessee Williams and as Poncia in The House of Bernarda Alba. Olivia has appeared at numerous regional theatres: The Atlanta Alliance, The Coconut Grove Playhouse, Merrimack Rep, The Philadelphia Theatre Company, and South Coast Rep among them, in classical roles as well as in new works. Most recently, she played Ana in The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, CA,, The Kitchen Theatre in Ithaca, NY and at The Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis, MN.
Her Shakespearean credits include Puck, Desdemona, and Gertrude, and she is the artistic director of Young Shakespeareans, an organization dedicated to giving the experience of playing Shakespeare to elementary school students. Her television work includes various commercials and MOWs, Law and Order SVU, Without a Trace, Family Law with Kathleen Quinlan and Dixie Carter and Law and Order with Jerry Orbach. Olivia also starred as a series regular along with Joy Behar, Hank Azaria and Paul Sands on the CBS pilot The Rock created by Michael Weithorn and by Mark Tinker.
