T H I S I S H O M E A NEW MUSICAL
THECREATIVES
Alex Mackyol
Book, Music, & Lyrics
Bobby Traversa
Producer/Consultant
Alex Mackyol, born in Duluth, MN, and raised in Watertown, WI, is a graduate of AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, CA, with his Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Music. Alex first found his way into music behind the piano, and behind the skins of a drumset. Alex quickly, however, began to explore the world of vocal music and the universe and magic of Musical Theater. It was here where Alex found his true passion. Upon entering high school, Alex made a clear path to the stage, performing in every show produced on the stage over the next four years, cullminating with his senior year, as he directed, choreographed, produced, and played the leading role of 'Tony' in Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story.
One of Alex's first compositions was a commissioned work by Sparling Theatricals, called "Celebrate the Season," produced in 2006. Within this production, Alex was given the opportunity to bring his cantata "The Living Nativity" into a musical production, featuring music of most every genre and style. Currently, Alex is working on several musical productions, mostly with his writing and creative partner Bobby Traversa.
Among Alex's other work, he has composed and published several solo pieces, including "Waiting For Tomorrow," "Hire Me Please!," and "My Ruby." In addition to original compositions, Alex is also a seasoned musical arranger, having arranged for "Remembering The Carpenters," "Clowntown," "A Tribute To Broadway," among others.
"This Is Home" has been a work in progress for nearly six years, given its first reading in the fall of 2008 at 'The Complex' in Hollywood, CA. Since, the production has seen many new faces and many changes. Alex is currently planning on a full concept album of the musical, with studio work beginning in January 2016, and a new staged reading in the spring of 2016.
Bobby Traversa joins the production team for This Is Home, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in the musical theater industry. While with The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), he served as both Musical Theater Librarian and Assistant to the Chair of Musical Theater (the late Michael Sartor). Bobby also led a major library expansion project and acted as a key player in the school's transition from conservatory to accredited university. Professional credits in New York include Broadway Rox (Assistant Stage Manager - National Tour), Songs You Might Have Missed (Creator/Producer - Stage 72), The Sarros: A New Family in Town (Director - The Duplex), and Lark (Director - Manhattan Repertory). As an actor he has mostly been seen on the West Coast. Favorite credits include Norman's Ark (Ford Amphitheater) directed by Disney legend Peter Schneider, the 2008 Ovation-nominated production of Jekyll & Hyde (Cabrillo Music Theatre), a developmental reading of the stage adaptation of the cult film The First Nudie Musical, and a brief stint as a magician in Disneyland's famed Main Street Magic shop. Currently Bobby also serves as the Managing Director of Broadway Theatre Lab, a program organized and powered by Affannato Productions in which emerging artists work with the Stars of Broadway, Film and Television through workshops, MasterClasses, and Industry Panel Discussions. He currently resides in New York City.
Mark Johnson
Sound Designer
Mark Johnson currently works with Diablo Sound. His latest project was Lead on Universal Studio’s Halloween Horror Nights, which he has now been a part of for 5 years. Before that Mark was at South Coast Repertory working as the Audio Engineer, Audio Technician, and designing 6 shows in the 2008-2009 season. Including; The Brand New Kid, Collected Stories, A Year with Frog and Toad, Hard Times, Gold in the Bones, and Peter Pan. Mr. Johnson also was the assistant sound designer for the 2007 world premiere of You, Nero. Other recent work includes The Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare Festival LA (Sound Design); Fences at Pasadena Playhouse (Assistant Sound Design); The Last 5 Years at Pasadena Playhouse (A2); Rock of Ages at Vangurad/Ren Mar Studios (Assistant Sound Design/A2) now on Broadway; and Souvenir at Berkshire Theatre Festival (A1), recently on Broadway. Mr. Johnson has also worked several events at the OC Pavilion and with Diablo Sound on last year’s Halloween Horror Night at Universal Studios and Beverly Hills Holiday install. He holds a BFA in Sound Design from California Institute of the Arts.