Megan Hilty Will be the First Guest on AMERICAN BLEND, 6/17

James Michael Angelo and Tiffany Haas are thrilled to announce that Megan Hilty (Smash, Sean Saves the World, Wicked and Nine to Five on Broadway) will be the very first guest on their new talk show, AMERICAN BLEND. The pilot episode will hit the web on Tuesday, June 17th on the AMERICAN BLEND website, (www.americanblend.tv). The duo plans to turn the talk show into a weekly series beginning in the fall of 2014, future guests will be announced soon. The series is co-hosted by Mr. Angelo and Ms. Haas.

AMERICAN BLEND will film each episode in a different coffee shop in and around New York City. The premiere episode, including the interview with Ms. Hilty fresh off her hit concert series at the Carlyle, was filmed at Rex Coffee at 864 10th Avenue (between 56th and 57th Streets) in Manhattan.

AMERICAN BLEND is touted as "A highly caffeinated look at life, politics, entertainment, good hair, and the American Dream". Through weekly episodes in small-business coffee shops, James and Tiffany explore what it means to define, pursue, and live the Dream in today's America. With lots of silly fun (including an on-the-street Miss America-inspired talent competition in the first episode) and featuring a different guest every week, James and Tiffany will ask the questions that trouble us all over our morning coffee: What can I do about that issue plaguing the nation? How do I go after my dreams? What does it mean to be an American? How is my hair?

AMERICAN BLEND was created by Tiffany and James with the help of Director and co-producer Adam Fitzgerald. The pilot episode was shot and edited by Blake Drummond with the help and generosity of Rex Coffee owner, Peter Crippen. Episode 1 with Megan Hilty will air on www.americanblend.tv beginning Tuesday, June 17th at 9:00 AM.

BIOS:

James Michael Angelo (Co-Host) is a writer, actor, host and public speaker in New York City. He is the author of the forthcoming memoir Life After Amway, an inside look at growing up in the inner circles of the Amway business. James wrote and performed this story as an Off-Broadway, one-man show for five years directed by Jennifer Maloney-Prezioso and has written an adapted screenplay version and blogs at Lifeafteramway.blogspot.com about life in a success obsessed American society. James is also a freelance blogger for the Huffington Post writing various articles including Teachers: The Front Line of the War on Bullying and Reimagining the American Dream, both of which can be accessed via his blog or at huffingtonpost.com. James founded the New York City chapter of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Education Network) in July of 2011. He served as the board's Chair until 2013 when he stepped down and became Director of Educator Programming. In this role James brings professional development workshops into schools to support and train educators on how to create a safe space in the classroom. James' other public speaking credits include guest speaker at the 2013 New York Pride Rally opening for Lady GaGa and corporate workshops for fortune 500 companies in which James combines his exploration of the American pursuit for success and his experience with GLSEN to create a better work environment for all. James is represented by Jeff Ourvan at The Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency.

Tiffany Haas (Co-Host) is a self proclaimed fashionista and lover of fine coffee. She is currently in the Broadway production of Wicked, after touring the country as "Glinda" the Good Witch. She toured with The Drowsy Chaperone and has performed with numerous symphony orchestras across the country including, Alabama Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Southwest Florida Philharmonic, Sun Valley Symphony, Cincinnati Pops and the Omaha Symphony. Growing up in her mother's dance studio, The Academy of Dance, Tiffany began dancing at the age of three. But, it all began with her first cabaret performance at the age of five, where she regularly subjected visitors to a show in front of the fireplace featuring songs from "Annie." She then auditioned and began performing regularly with the Virginia Opera Children's Chorus and soon developed her love of Opera. Originally from Yorktown, Virginia, Tiffany received a BFA from the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music where she studied Opera and Musical Theater. During her time in Cincinnati, she won the title of Miss Ohio 2002 and went on to compete in the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Tiffany has been a National Spokesperson for Operation Smile and joined the team of doctors on a medical mission to Venezuela where they provided life-changing surgeries for countless children and adults. This organization is very near and dear to her heart and to date, Tiffany has helped her mother's dance studio raise enough money to bring smiles to 769 children around the globe. Along with a colleague, Tiffany has written and created a concert "Cheek to Cheek: A Broadway Romance" featuring the American Songbook that they perform throughout NYC and will be expanding to various symphonies throughout country. A designer and entrepreneur, she is preparing to launch her new line of cosmetic and accessory bags, FullBeat by Tiffany Haas, later this year. Stay tuned.

Adam Fitzgerald (Director) is the Artistic Director of kef theatrical productions and a founding partner of FIFTY2&NINE. With kef Adam recently directed Ken Urban's The Awake (New York Times Critic's Pick), Methtacular! (Time Out NY Critics' Pick), Killing Women (with Lisa Brescia) and Lyric is Waiting. Other recent NYC directing credits include Songs for a More Funnier World (NYMF), Getting the Business and A Dish for the Gods ( both for Rachel Reiner Productions) Marc Castle's Friends and Relations, Michael I Walker's Letter from Algeria (GroundUp) and the concerts of Ali Ewoldt and Adam Jacobs' Heart Full of Love at Town Hall and Carner and Gregor's Island Song at 92Y. Adam was the 2008-09 Directing Resident at Playwrights Horizons assisting Wilson Milam, Bartlett Sher and Kate Whoriskey on plays by Nicky Silver (Three Changes with Maura Tierney), Craig Lucas (Prayer for My Enemy with Victoria Clark, Michele Pawk and Jonathan Groff) and Christina Anderson (Inked Baby with LaChanze) and served as the 2007-08 Artistic Associate at Playhouse West where his production of Defiance garnered Critics Circle nominations for both Best Director and Best Production and was named in the Contra Costa Times top productions of the year. With FIFTY2&NINE, Adam wrote and directed the PSA for the Ad Council and GLSEN which won a national Talent House competition judged by Brett Ratner and Tom Ford and directed FIFTY2&NINE's first web series, Conversations w/My Ex for GWIST TV. www.directorfitz.com

Blake Drummond (Director of Photography, Editor) is a filmmaker and independent videographer/editor. Last year, he completed working on "Conversations w/ My Ex", a GWIST web series he co-created with Adam Fitzgerald and has produced work for several production companies, non-profits, and on-air personalities. He is an avid coffee drinker. Past production credits include 30 ROCK, UGLY BETTY, and WHITE COLLAR. www.blaked.com