
AMT ENTERTAINMENT
AMT has basically two goals. One is to move a show onto Broadway - not because Broadway is the absolute definitive mark of excellence in theater, but because if you're a professional, you want to be at the top. You want to be in the World Series, the Super Bowl, you want to win an Academy Award. It gives you something to strive for and it pushes you to extraordinary lengths. So yes, we want to move a show onto Broadway, but we also want something perhaps even more significant. We want to make a difference in people's lives. We want to do new shows, to encourage new writers and directors. We want to do children's shows, to get the young people involved at an early age. We want to work with other professionals outside of the country, like our spectacular successes with acclaimed director Mauricio Cedeno and the amazing artists of Guadalajara, Mexico. And we want to do cabaret because, well, it's just fun. We want to serve as a regional theater to the people in our immediate area, to draw on their energy and solicit their opinions, because without our audience, we are nothing. So please come with us on this magical carpet ride and let's see where it takes us.
Tony Sportiello
Artistic Director
AMT Theater
MEET THE TEAM

Producer of AMT
AL TAPPER
Al Tapper wears many hats. Besides being Producer of AMT, he considers himself a renaissance man whose various careers as a Broadway composer, lyricist, playwright, humorist, baseball maven, leveraged buyout specialist and philanthropist have woven a rich tapestry of distinction and success. He recently won a prestigious Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting for his exuberant 2013 documentary Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy; this follows his acclaimed 2004 film “Broadway: The Golden Age”. He has written songs and lyrics for numerous musicals, including Sessions, An Evening at the Carlyle, From Where I Stand, National Pastime, All Aboard, The Paparazzi, David and more. He is co-author of two joke books — A Minister, a Priest, and a Rabbi and A Guy Goes into a Bar – and is a notable collector of baseball memorabilia. His musical National Pastime has played in Cooperstown and his latest documentary on the great hitter Ted Williams is available online.

Artistic Director
TOny sportiello
Tony Sportiello is a playwright and producer whose work has been seen all over the country and all over the world. Along with Al Tapper he has written the book for the shows National Pastime, All Aboard, The Paparazzi and Upside Down. National Pastime has played in New York, Washington, Phoenix, Austin, Wilkes Barre, The Major League Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and Guadalajara, Mexico. His play Star Power has been performed in London, Tickets, Please! in Los Angeles and Crossed Wires in China. He produced the musical Sessions, which ran for 300 performances Off Broadway. The ultimate goal is to have a Broadway show but in the meantime he's looking to work with theater artists and colleagues to help make AMT the ultimate 'regional theater' for Hell's Kitchen, bringing original shows, children's theater, cabaret and more to the area.

Technical Director
TAMARA FLANNAGAN
Tamara Flannagan (Technical Director) has performed many roles on and off stage. She received her BFA in Technical Theatre from Florida Atlantic University, where she spent her days building sets, and her nights acting. Her love of Shakespeare began here, performing Hermia and Miranda and later Amiens, Blanch, Lady Capulet and Lady M. She studied with Zoe Caldwell and moved to NY after being offered a full scholarship to study acting at the Circle In The Square Theatre Conservatory. She’s a founding member of The A-Train plays, which ushered in a movement of plays conceived and performed in 24 hours. Behind the curtain, Tamara has held a multitude of positions, both on and off Broadway. Some of her skills include light and set design, master electrician, set construction, set painting, stage management and production stage management, most notably in Oklahoma with the Tulsa Ballet. Outside the theater you might catch her work in the windows of FAO Schwarz, on a flagpole around Rockefeller Center, or in a gallery in the neighborhood. She is very excited to put all her skills to work as a part of the AMT family.

Operations Manager
Julia Carr
New beginnings for AMT and for Julia, as well. An actress with a predilection for alternative theatre/acting forms, she per-formed the title role in Dion Boucicault’s Arrah-na-Pogue at The Kennedy Center. After obtaining her Theater Arts BA in Binghamton, her interests in Biomechanics and Tafiatrenage led her to perform in Germany, London and then as part of Mel Gordon's Mastfor II group. It wasn't until becoming a member of The Gertrude Stein Repertory Theatre, that the emerging influence of IT in theatrical production took focus. Julia ran digital projections and helped produce websites to fund theatre projects, leading to a longtime career in IT Program Management. Returning now to Hell’s Kitchen as a fourth-generation resident, she tries to avoid being Mama Rose to her own acting progeny. Julia has tremendous gratitude for the opportunity to serve as part of the AMT family. Sláinte!

Executive Producer
joan pelzer
Joan Pelzer is an entrepreneur, #thinkertainer, marketer, host, producer and actor. Joan thinks outside the box about how to tell a story. She splits her time as the Executive Producer and Marketing Director for AMT Theater, President and CEO of a digital marketing agency, Joan Pelzer Social, Executive Producer of radio show The Arthur Power Hour, and Vice President of The New York Association, a United Nations NGO.
In partnership with the U.S. Embassy Morocco and American Voices, Joan conducted marketing and production workshops and training for professional Moroccan theater troupes, producers, and students throughout Morocco and in New York City. Does Joan sound familiar? You may have heard her on AM970 The Answer guest hosting The Arthur Aidala Power Hour radio show which she also executive produces. She has also appeared on Follow Me Friday with Joan + Priya, 21st Century Entrepreneur Radio with J.C. Maldonado, and was an on-air brand expert and presenter for ShopNBC and Home Shopping Network on behalf of the Royal Doulton China and Crystal Brand. Joan holds an MBA in Finance and International Business from Fordham University GBA, and a BA in Communications from State University of New York at Oswego. Let's work to #GetStuffDone for us, NYC, and the world.

Youth Artistic Director
MARY LAUREN
Mary Lauren* (Youth Artistic Director) is a passionate and multifaceted artist who loves to tell stories. She has been directing and educating artists for almost 20 years. She has had work seen Off-Broadway and regionally as a Director, Writer, Performer, Producer and Choreographer. She is a proud member of AEA, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. As artistic director of Heart String Theatrical she created the streaming live/filmed piece Loving You Always. Her cabarets have raised money for artists and for organizations including the NAACP and ACLU. She has written several new works including; My Shadow and Me (Cape May Stage) and Start With I Do (Chain One Act Festival) which is an audience choice award winner. She choreographed and was the lead dancer in the film, Dream of Spring which has been featured in festivals all over the world. Recent acting credits include: Louise, Gypsy (The Secret) Donna, Believers (The Workshop Theatre) Sarah, Sarah Was Mine (Cherry Lane) Sophia, Sophia (June Havoc) The Girl, Omotenashi Journey (Carnegie Hall), Helena, Midsummer (Mysterium) and Gertrude, Hamlet (Compass Rose). Some favorite directing/choreography credits include; Fabulous The Musical (Times Square Arts Center), Omotenashi Journey (Carnegie Hall), Hair (The Secret Theatre), Seussical (The Secret Theatre) Thoroughly Modern Millie (The Music Room), and My Shadow and Me (Cape May Stage.) She loves working with young artists and finds inspiration from their exuberance and stories. She has directed over 50 productions with young artists including original pieces and published works; Seussical, Annie, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beauty and the Beast etc. Find out more about her on instagram at MaryLaurenW or on her website at marylaurenonline.com

U.S./Mexican Liaison
Laura Iñiguez
Laura Iñiguez is a Mexican Musical Theatre performer in her natal city Guadalajara. She's been performing for over 15 years, interpreting characters such as Elphaba from "Wicked", Donna from "Mamma Mia!", and Sandy from "Grease". She had the opportunity to be a backup singer for international stars Jon Secada and María del Sol in the Michael Jackson tribute concert "Unity Latin Tribute". Laura has also worked as a producer, participating, among other projects, in bringing the first Off-Broadway musical to Mexico: "Sessions", which founded her relationship with AMT.

Deputy Creative Director
KELLI MAGUIRE
Kelli has performed on Broadway, Off Broadway, regional theater, cabarets, cruise ships, on television and in films. She was in the musical version of It's A Wonderful Life with Brian Stokes Mitchell and David Hyde Pierce. She has worked with AMT several times in the past, originating the roles of Sunshine in Sessions, Mary in National Pastime and Betty in The Paparazzi. She loves teaching singing and acting to young children.

Associate Producer
Gil Brady
Gil Brady has been an associate artist with Algonquin since he starred in National Pastime off-Broadway in 2012. As an actor, he's performed off-Broadway in Sideways and Shear Madness, on the National Tours of White Christmas and Annie, and at dozens of regional theatres including Alabama Shakespeare, Fulton Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Florida Studio Theatre, Capital Rep, Totem Pole Playhouse, Theatresquared, Seven Angels, and The Kennedy Center. He has been a professional educator for over 20 years, working as an artist-in-residence at the prestigious Paper Mill Playhouse, as a founding coach for M.T.C.A. (Musical Theatre College Auditions), a guest-director at St. Joseph's University, and has taught workshops all over the country. He founded his own after-school acting program and regularly judges for STANJ (Speech and Theatre Association of New Jersey). Currently he is an adjunct faculty member at Keene State College in New Hampshire teaching Advanced Acting (with an emphasis on Shakespeare and the Classics).

New Work Development Director
Mimi Warnick
Mimi is a director and artist based in NYC. Mimi chose to study and pursue a career in theater because she has seen and experienced the transformative powers it can have on young people, audiences, and communities. She is very excited that AMT is providing a local theater home for the Midtown Manhattan community. Mimi has an extensive background directing Musical Theatre, New Work, and Theatre for Young Audiences throughout the Northeast and New England areas. A few of Mimi’s NYC directing credits include USED at New York Theater Festival, Love Potion Tango with Village Playwrights, Asst. Director on Hear/Now Live! with Keen Company, and the Asst. Director on The Bachelor Girls with SHE NYC Arts. Mimi was a director on Kerrigan and Lowdermilk’s The Mad Ones digital lab, and has directed at Upper Darby Summer Stage in Philadelphia for the past five seasons. Mimi has also worked in creative and production capacities with Jujamcyn Theaters and Keen Company. Education, BFA Emerson College. mimiwarnick.com