Epic Theatre Ensemble Promotes Melissa Friedman And James Wallert To Co-Artistic Directors

Epic Theatre Ensemble, a diverse group of artists and collaborators who empower students through theater to address social issues, particularly in the New York City public schools they serve, today announced two promotions to its executive leadership team. Co-founders Melissa Friedman and James Wallert have been named as Co-Artistic Directors.

The promotions reflect their strength in leadership at Epic Theatre in both developing and managing programs for the schools and in their work as actors in developing and directing new plays for the group. The new roles also reflect the growth at the theatre group, with a number of actor/educators joining the team, lending their experience to help students develop important skills that they can carry beyond graduation.

A recent example of the work Epic has produced with students that demonstrates its focus on relevant social issues is Laundry City. The student-written play discusses the impact of school segregation in shaping NYC's students development.

With over 17 years of experience at Epic, Friedman focus her efforts in increasing critical think thinking skills of the students from Urban Assembly School for the Performing Arts in Harlem. Her expertise in performing arts combined with her passion to address social justice issues has allowed Friedman to develop a unique curriculum that aims for personal and professional development through the arts scope. Friedman is also a long time Epic Off-Broadway performer, having participated in Hannah and Martin with David Strathairn, Einstein's Gift with Aasif Mandvi, and A Hard Heart with Kathleen Chalfant as well as all of Epic's "NEA Shakespeare for a New Generation," to name a few. She has directed 13 Shakespeare Remix productions for Epic and received the 2009 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House.

As an actor with more than 20 years of experience, Wallert has appeared Off-Broadway in Richard III, Dispatches from (A)mended America, Macbeth, Mahida's, among others. Wallert has curated and administered Epic's Forum Series (funded by the New York Council for the Humanities), serving over 25,000 audience members. He is currently the lead teaching artist and site manager at Chelsea Career and Technical Education High School, where he oversees Epic's sequential learning program.

"We look forward to continuing to empower youth to challenge the status quo and create discussion around current social justice issues through theatre," said Friedman and Wallert. "With our new positions and working along our expanded team of actor/mentors, we hope to reach more students and address today's most important social issues as themes for our productions. We look forward to new and engaging productions in our school theatre programs and our own Off-Broadway plays in the months and years ahead."

Melissa received a BA from Oberlin College and MFA from The Old Globe University of San Diego. James holds a MFA - Acting from Old Globe/University of San Diego and a BA in Theatre from University of Kansas.

About Epic's Co-founders

Melissa Friedman has performed in numerous Epic Off-Broadway productions including HANNAH AND MARTIN with David Strathairn, EINSTEIN'S GIFT with Aasif Mandvi, and A HARD HEART with Kathleen Chalfant as well as all of Epic's "NEA Shakespeare for a New Generation" productions, playing Emilia in OTHELLO, Lady M in MACBETH, Queen Elizabeth in RICHARD III and Mariana in MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

Other credits include AN IDEAL HUSBAND at Tennessee Rep, LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO at Fulton Opera, Beatrice in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING with Irondale, a witch to Victor Garber's MACBETH and Lady Mortimer in Jack O'Brien's production of HENRY IV at The Old Globe. Melissa has directed 13 Shakespeare Remix productions for which, on behalf of Epic, she received the 2009 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. Before co-founding Epic, Melissa worked as a Lead Teaching Artist with many NYC theatres including Roundabout, BAM's Shakespeare Teaches program, and Theatre for a New Audience. She co-developed Epic's Citizen Artist curriculum and currently acts as a Lead Teaching Artist in Epic's partner schools and outreach programs. Melissa received her BA from Oberlin College and MFA from The Old Globe University of San Diego.

As an actor, James Wallert has appeared Off-Broadway in Richard III, Dispatches from (A)mended America, Macbeth, Mahida's Extra Key to Heaven, A Hard Heart, Widowers' Houses, Einstein's Gift, Hannah and Martin, Little Eyolf, Habitat, and Time and the Conways. TV and Film credits include FOX Television's Time of Your Life, ITV's Future States, and Ambition's Debt. James has had three original musicals workshopped with Epic including Don't Fear the Pop (at Smith College), POP'd (at the American Theatre of Actors), and A Night in Seville (at East 13th Street Theatre). In 2015, James received a Smithsonian Fellowship at the National Air and Space Museum to research his play The Winning Side. He has directed Macbeth, Henry VI, Twelfth Night, Henry IV, and Romeo and Juliet for Epic's Shakespeare Remix (winner of the 2009 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award). Since Co-Founding Epic Theatre Ensemble in 2001, James has curated and administered Epic's Forum Series (funded by the New York Council for the Humanities), serving over 25,000 audience members. He is currently the lead teaching artist and site manager at Chelsea Career and Technical Education High School, where he oversees Epic's sequential learning program. MFA- Acting, Old Globe/University of San Diego; BA- Theatre, University of Kansas.