Composer/lyricist/playwright AMY ENGELHARDT scored OBA Best New Musical nominee/Richard Rodgers Award/O’Neill Finalist/sold-out smash BASTARD JONESat the cell theatre NYC (Resident Artist), TRIPTYCH (NY Transit Museum), ANNIE DREAM WILL DO (Prospect Musicals), CARL SAGAN’S CONTACT (lyrics, CenterStage, Puget Sound Theatre Award), A COMEDY OF ERAS (music/lyrics, ACT Seattle w/Flying Karamazov Brothers), THE COMPLETELY TRUE STORY OF WEST HIGH'S 66TH ANNUAL CHARITY LOCK-IN, OR... STEVE (with librettist/co-lyricist Molly Horan (workshop fall 2024) and A COLLECTIBLE SENSATION (O'Neill semi-finalist/Kleban Prize Finalist) with librettist/co-lyricist Arianna Rose (workshop January 2025). Her solo show IMPACT won the Jury Prize for Best Score at the National Women’s Theatre Festival and has been presented at the Edinburgh Fringe, Providence (RI) Fringe, Chicago Circus & Performing Arts Festival, Bethany Arts Community, NAMBA Arts and most recently The Tank NYC. Amy performs extensively in the US as a singer/ songwriter, including “sub-lebrity” appearances in Judith Owen & Harry Shearer’s annual CHRISTMAS WITHOUT TEARS. And as Mother Superior of the Chattering Order of St. Beryl in Amazon Prime’s GOOD OMENS immersive promo campaign (Winner: 7 Clio Awards), she led an army of Satanic, singing nuns through London, NYC, Hollywood and Austin, then produced their EP UNHOLY NIGHT for Amazon Music. Amy is mixing a third solo album (FINISH WHAT YOU) which she still insists will be released in 2020. From 1998-2012, Amy was the sole female vocalist/writer for Grammy-nominated, genre-busting band The Bobs.

KIRA SIMRING (Director) has been the Artistic Director of Nancy Manocherian's the cell since its inception in 2006. A professional director for 20 years, Kira has worked closely with writers to develop and realize their work. Recent directing credits include the premieres of Yes! Reflections of Molly Bloom (Irish Rep) Crackskull Row by Honor Molloy (New York Times Critics’ Pick), Hard Times: An American Musical by Larry Kirwan (New York Times Critics’ Pick), and The McGowan Trilogy by Seamus Scanlon (New York and UK Premieres). She received a BA in Anthropology from Smith College and an MFA at The New School for Drama.

IMPACT was incubated at

Nancy Manocherian’s cell theatre in NYC

Polish cellist JULIANNA ANTCZAK has a love for nature, great food and the arts, having grown up in a multigenerational home filled with every genre of music. Her cello studies began in Poland. Moving to the UK led to eight formative years at Chetham’s School of Music, studying under David Smith. Masterclasses and lessons with wonderful cellists such as Roel Dieltiens, Raphael Wallfisch, Louise Hopkins, Josephine Knight and Mats Lidström have greatly influenced her playing. Julianna has had the joy to perform baroque music in Italy, chamber music in Spain and has felt inspired when playing the music to Encanto for family audiences. In January Julianna was cover cellist for Roald Dahl’s The Witches at the National Theatre. Most recently, she was part of Zach Thompson’s debut album (due next January) which combines folk and jazz roots. Julianna will be performing a duo recital in March as part of the Iris Axon Concert Series featuring Rachmaninov’s beloved cello and piano sonata. Julianna plays an Amati copy cello made for her by Wojciech Topa in the Polish mountains, with a fine contemporary bow made by Paul Sadka in Paris. She is immensely grateful for the financial support of the Finzi and MacFarlane Walker Trusts, as well as the Open Music and Wolfson Foundations.

EMMA SHIELD is a London based Percussionist, Performer and Teacher who trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Born in Cambridge it took an attempt at Physics A Level to know that the opportunity to do music as a career was beckoning. She enjoyed a wonderful four years studying in Wales under LSO timpanist Patrick King, with opportunities to play with world leading players such as Colin Currie and Sidiki Dembele whilst she was there. Now she enjoys a varied career of chamber, orchestral and teaching work across the country and further afield. 

THIS PRODUCTION WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT:

JEFF RUBIN & LESLIE NAUGHTON

JEFFREY & MARJIE COOPERSMITH

DUNCAN CLARKE PR

DANIEL CAINER

BARONS COURT THEATRE

SOUND/LIGHTING TECH LEO BACICA

PURCHASE THE MUSIC FROM IMPACT HERE or in the lobby.

IMMENSE THANKS: Alex Stein, Colin & Judith Dorrance, Kim Cirillo Wickham, Renee Boulanger, Ron & Jeannine Boulanger, Mike Blaha & Nigel Miles-Thomas

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IMPACT will be presented in London's Voila Festival 15-17 November, 2024. Send your UK friends HERE!