CLIFF WAGNER

(Music/Lyrics)

Cliff Wagner, originally from Mississippi, gained nation wide exposure on FOX TVs “The Next Great American Band” and played to over 10 million people each week with his band The Old #7 . They not only appeared on six of the final shows but finished 7th out of 8,000 bands who originally tried out for the show. This was due to the huge number of fans who showed their support each week by voting to keep Cliff Wagner on the show.

Soon after Cliff and the boys recorded "Hobo's Lullaby". The album debuted at #35 on the AMA Americana chart and shortly rose to #28 ! Also appealing to international audience the album climbed to #9 on the Euro Americana chart.

The band is also featured in an episode of "Justified" that came out on FX in October of 2010. They performed Cliff's song "Castleneck" while wearing the original costumes from "Oh Brother Where Art Thou". In 2012 the band recorded "Country Funk" which became part of the songbook for the Bluegrass musical “Paradise” written by Cliff Wagner, Bill Robertson, and Tom Sage. The show was produced by The Ruskin theater in January of 2013 and sold out every show until it closed on May 4th. Following that production of the “Paradise”, Cliff, Bill and Tom went into further development on show with some broadway heavyweights and in process have added 4 new numbers to the “Paradise“ songbook.

BILL ROBERTSON

(Book/Lyrics)

Bill has been writing comedy/drama for the theater, film, television, radio, and print for the past twenty years. Besides working on the revival of "Paradise" for the Ruskin, he recently has collaborated with Tom Sage on writing two films for A&E and the Lifetime Movie Network.

He is a Writer/Producer on the upcoming feature film, "Lincoln Perry" being produced by Higher Purpose Entertainment in 2018-2019.

Bill & Tom also have a tragic-comedy, "The Roses" which will be staged in Los Angeles in 2018-2019.

Prior experience was writing on the NY PBS kids show “Ditty Doodle Works”, contributing Comedy Writer for radio personality Rick Dees, and an Associate Editor for National Lampoon Magazine, as well as the Head of Development for AMI, Mark Harris’s (Crash, and Gods and Monsters) production company optioning material, and driving script development.

While living in Boston he founded and was the Head Writer/Director for the off-beat sketch comedy troupe “Heavily Medicated Fairy Tales” which performed regularly at the Duplex in NY and Boston Comedy Clubs for several years.

TOM SAGE

(Book/Lyrics)

Tom collaborated with Bill Robertson and Cliff Wagner to bring the re-boot of their divine bluegrass comedy, “Paradise” to the Ruskin Theatre where it had debuted. His first play, “The Roses” which Tom co-wrote with Bill Robertson, was produced in Hollywood and was recently read as part of Theatre of Note’s McKinley Fest. Tom has optioned several screenplays with Los Angeles/NY production companies, and was a script consultant on the award winning short film, “Night Deposit”.

Tom was a Staff Writer for the PBS kids show “Ditty Doodle Works”, a contributing Writer for Rick Dee’s nationally syndicated radio show, and an Associate Editor for National Lampoon Magazine. He was a Writer/Performer of live sketch comedy shows including the show “Heavily Medicated Fairy Tales”, regularly appearing in New York and Boston. Tom worked as a Writer and Senior Segment Producer on the groundbreaking Reality TV show “Blind Date”. He is currently working with Bill Robertson as Staff Writers for ReelOne, which has produced one of their films for LMN and is currently in pre-production of a second. Tom is also co-writing another play with Bill Robertson, the tragic-comedy, “Wake”.

Kevin Frost & Geric Frost

(Original Stage Producers)

As owners of Rio Entertainment Complex and Concert Venue  in Stockholm, Sweden they produced numerous concert events and benefit shows, most notably with bands Alcazar,  Shirley Klamp and Lena. Later both attended Film School together at NYFA Hollywood.

Soon after they opened Last Bastion Entertainment.  credits including "A Good Year For The Roses" for stage and their first feature film "Spork" went on to win multiple International and US awards  including Tribeca Audience Choice.

In 2013 they launched Paradise at the Ruskin with an amazing cast, crew and writers.  After 5 years they are thrilled and honored to yet again be back with their Paradise Family in the home that started it all, The Ruskin!

Tor Campbell (Choreographer)

As Tor “eased on down the road” in a Tin Man Suit (which was tight as hell by the way) at the age of 12, he realized two things: first that the costume designer should have gotten him a bigger suit and second, he wanted to somehow find a way to ease on down that road more than just one time.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin he continued to dance throughout high school and starred in 42nd Street, a play that features tap dancing; this was ironic given he had never tapped a day in his life! Fortunately, tap came easy for Tor and he soon realized that dance was in his soul.  

After high school Tor continued to pursue dancing and choreography at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City where he starred in many musicals including Dreamgirls, Tap Dance Kid and Fame. Upon graduating, Tor went on tour with The Wiz in New York City but this time he did not play the Tin Man, he starred as “The Wiz” and was directed by the acclaimed George Faison (original choreographer of The Wiz). More recently Tor returned from Macau, China where he was the lead choreographer for the Venetian Hotel.  

Tor’s choreography and experience has spanned the globe, provided a wealth of exposure to different cultures, technique and dance movement. As a result, he is a versatile instructor who has created his own unique style combining many genres of dance including funk, hip-hop, african and jazz. Tor is known for his creative, innovative, trend-setting dance classes and fluid music mixes. It is his masterful combination of music and easy to follow dance instruction that make him the number one dance instructor at Your Neighborhood Studio in Culver City.   

Tor now resides in LA where he works full-time as a choreographer for TV/Film and stage and professor of Musical Theater at UCIRVINE.    

For more information please visit: www.torcampbell.com. 

Jim Doyle (Musical Director) is a founding member of the critically acclaimed Hot Club of Los Angeles and also serves as the band’s producer. His credits as a lauded drummer/percussionist sideman and session musician include work with Jackson Browne, Brian Setzer, Paul Overstreet, Joan Osborne, Tim Armstrong, John Nau, Jeff Turmes and Charlie Terrell among many others. Jim’s drums can also be heard on film and TV soundtracks, as well as in commercials. He also produces and records a wide array of artists and bands in his recording studio, Doyle Audio.

John Groover McDuffie (Band Member) is pleased as punch to be back at the Ruskin for this production of Paradise. John is a multi-talented musician/vocalist accomplished on all manner of guitars. McDuffie’s resume reads like a veritable “Who’s He?” of the LA music scene. He is musical director and guitarist for pop icon Rita Coolidge and performs with a wide variety artists in the LA area, and is available for weddings and Bar Mitzvahs.

Gregory Boaz (Band Member) is an electric and upright bassist from Los Angeles. An eclectic musician who’s talent stretches from his early punk days with Tex & The Horseheads and Thelonious Monster, to playing, recording, and touring with the who's who of West Coast Americana, Country and Blues.  He has circled the globe countless times performing with various artists such as Dale Watson, James Intveld, Rosie Flores, Wanda Jackson, John Mayall, Mick Taylor, and a 13 year stint with Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men.  Decades later, whether in the studio, or on the live stage, the joy he has for music can still be felt in every note he plays.

Devitt Feeley (Band Member) is a versatile singer/songwriter, guitarist, mandolinist and bass player based in Los Angeles.  He began his musical journey at the age of 14, studying string bass in public school learning to play jazz and symphony  music. On the weekends, he was teaching himself guitar and mandolin in bluegrass, folk, rock,and other genres. After graduating high school early, Devitt joined a rock band and toured the midwest prior to studying at Berklee School of Music.

 Since 2009, Devitt has been the lead singer and mandolin/guitarist for Rockyneck Bluegrass Band.  As lead vocalist for Rockyneck Bluegrass Band, the group won first place in the 2009 Topanga Banjo and Fiddle "Band Contest". In January of 2012 they took first place in the California Bluegrass Association's." Great 48 Showcase Showdown", which earned them the prize of playing the Grass Valley Father's Day Festival in Northern California on all stages including the main stage this past season. Competing against the top bluegrass bands from across the state, Rocky Neck has gained fans and  notoriety by playing festivals and public venues such as  the Las Vegas Bluegrass Festival, CBA's Father's Day Festival, the Calico Spring Festival and the Summergrass Bluegrass Festival amoung many other public venues.