cast

Writer/Composer/Director/Lead Producer

Eli was born and raised in Los Angeles to his mother Mary, a therapist for special needs children, and father, Jon, also known as

"Bowzer" from the retro 50's nostalgia TV show/most random band to play Woodstock, "Sha Na Na." After enduring this not remotely strange childhood, Eli graduated from Columbia University with a degree in English and Creative Writing. Upon graduation, Eli toured the country with his father, singing in casinos ranging from the 10,000 seat "Mohegan Sun Arena" to the utterly depressing "Boomtown Casino" in Biloxi, Mississippi. After moving back to LA in 2007 to pursue a career in Hollywood, Eli gave up the glamorous world of television production for the even more glamorous world of political campaigning, moving to Las Vegas' largest and hottest county to

organize for radical fringe candidate, Barack Obama, whom we've never heard from since. After the campaign, Eli coordinated Veter- an's Affairs for Obama's 2009 Inaugural Committee and interned for ABC's Special Investigative Unit, where he was shoved by disgraced bamboozler, Bernie Madoff. Later, Eli transitioned back to scripted television, writing episodes of FX's "Lights Out" and

NBC's "Prime Suspect," before moving onto variety television, including the Emmy's, the ESPY's, the Emmy nominated "ACLU: Stand For Rights with Tom Hanks" and the Writer's Guild Award nominated "Maya and Marty" with Maya Rudolph and Martin Short. Most recently, Eli has entered the highly lucrative world of musical theater and contributed material to the fraudulently "won" Biden campaign. Eli resides in Los Angeles with his wonderful and far more talented wife, Joanna, their spectacular daughter, Ivy, their newly-arrived sweetheart of a son, Charlie, and their old toothless dog, Leon.

Lead Producer

Driven by purpose, connection and joy, Monica Saunders-Weinberg's portfolio and impact spans business, residential development, commercial real estate, investment, philanthropy and the performing arts.

Monica is currently Co-Owner and Joint Deputy Vice-Chair of Terrace Tower Group (TTG) - a global real estate and investment conglomerate operating out of Sydney, New York and Portland - where she began as a board member 26 years ago. In addition to her role at TTG, where she works alongside her husband and TTG’s CEO, Richard Weinberg, Monica is a passionate supporter of the performing arts. Through her production company Hana Black Productions, she has developed projects for film and television, recently becoming a shareholder in fellow Australian, Bruna Papandrea's, renowned production company, Made Up Stories. The pair is part of the producing team for the film, Addition, which recently premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, and they are currently developing a film adaptation of Fiona McIntosh’s best-selling book, The Pearl Thief.

In addition to her business and artistic endeavours, Monica has furthered the philanthropic legacy of her late father, John Saunders, supporting numerous charities both as an individual and through The Saunders Family Foundation, for which she has served as Chair and Executive Director for the last 26 years. She is also a founding partner of The Growth Project, which connects business leaders with charities to help maximise their impact on the world. She is also a Founding Angel and dedicated board member of Feel The Magic, a charity that supports grieving kids and families.

This wealth of diverse experience has led Monica to her current role as Lead Producer of 44, where alongside producing partner and writer/director, Eli Bauman, she has used her creative instincts and business acumen to help bring an artistic vision to life, as well as her philanthropic passion to maximize its social impact. With sold-out runs in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, this off-beat political satire is set to continue its success with performances scheduled throughout the United States and abroad in 2025.

Monica resides between Sydney and LA, where she loves to bring family and friends together through cooking and entertaining. Her life's greatest joy is her three teenage boys - Brooklyn, Ashton and Hudson.

Producer

Steve McKeever, founder and CEO of Hidden Beach Recordings, has been recognized as “one of the top 50 African-American power brokers in entertainment” by Black Enterprise magazine. A producer since college at the University of Illinois, Steve began his career producing concerts as a musician in a popular local band and then for the university as a member of the Illini Union Board, as well as producing radio programs at the U of I station. He then became Head of Programming for the illustrious speakers' forum program at Harvard Law School. After practicing entertainment law at elite law firms, he joined PolyGram as Head of West Coast Business Affairs, where he discovered and produced Robin Harris’ iconic Bebe's Kids. At 29, Steve was tapped to be Senior Vice President, Head of A&R and General Manager at Motown Records, where he became the architect for a newly diversified artist line-up and signed such platinum artists as Queen Latifah and Zhane, while overseeing the albums of superstar acts like Boyz II Men, Johnny Gill, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, and Shanice Wilson (It was his connection to Shanice, playing Michelle Obama in 44 which led him to this production). He eventually rose to Executive Vice President of Talent and Creative Affairs and spearheaded the company’s growth in new business ventures, such as founding his brainchild, MoJazz Records, which became an internationally recognized brand and the highest ROI division of Motown. Steve’s leadership at Motown saw over $700M in recording sales and positioned him as a champion of positive entertainment imagery, which lead to him being called to testify before the U.S. Senate on the subject. In 1997, he founded Hidden Beach Recordings to be a beacon to artists and projects taking the road less traveled with Michael Jordan as lead investor. The label launched Grammy winner Jill Scott, Darius Rucker’s solo career, and the Billboard-topping Unwrapped series, while working with several iconic artists signed to the label, such as Bebe Winans and Brenda Russell, and guest artists such as Prince and Stevie Wonder. Hidden Beach has provided internships and mentoring for over 750 interns. Steve made history by producing the first-ever presidential campaign music album and was later tapped by the 2008 Presidential Inaugural Committee to produce the first-ever official music collection. Hidden Beach Recordings will be releasing the amazing soundtrack to 44. Steve also served as Executive Producer for the nationally televised MLK Memorial unveiling on the DC National Mall. He sits on boards including Ares Capital Corp (Nominating & Governance Chair) was elected twice as a Governor of the Grammys and was the former Chair of College Bound. Known for his counsel to influential artists and leaders, Steve lives in Malibu. He is married to U.S. Ambassador Candace Bond, with whom he shares two human children, Brent and Maddox, and one four-legged child, Nelson, a lovable Vizsla.

Music Director

Born in Santa Monica, California. An enriched soulful style was developed by singing and playing the piano and trumpet in church. As a lead member in two of Los Angeles' most seminal acts, Fishbone and The Untouchables, it provided the opportunity to showcase my

wide range for developing, arranging and producing skills for some of today's top artists. The live rock band that keeps 44's non-stop rhythmic R&B sounds and hard-hitting beats going i s Los Angeles-based House of Vibe helmed by music director, music co-producer, and keyboardist, Anthony "Brew" Brewster. The band, who has worked with the likes of Justin Timberlake, Fishbone, Chali-2na, Citizen Cope, De La Soul, and The Untouchables to name a few, features Phillip "Fish" Fisher (drums); Corey Cofield (bass); Kris Hawkins and Conrad Bauer (guitar) and Greg Raymond (keyboard).

Choreographer

James Alsop most recently contributed choreography to the Renaissance World Tour and you can see her movement direction on Kim Kardashian and Emma Roberts on the most current season of "American Horror Story: Delicate." The Whitney Houston biopic "I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY" marks her feature film choreographic debut. She choreographed the acclaimed Peacock musical TV series "Girls5eva," executive produced by Tina Fey as well as the number 1 Netflix series "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story." Her choreography has also been featured on "Pose," "Soundtrack," "Gossip Girl" and the upcoming season of "Emily in Paris." Her work can also be seen in the Kerry Washington sitcom "Unprisoned." She began her career as co-choreographer of Beyoncé's videos, tour, and promotional materials for "Who Run the World (Girls)," "Dance For You" and "Love on Top." She also assisted in choreographing "Booty" by Jennifer Lopez and worked with Paul Thomas Anderson for the HAIM music video "Just A Little of Your Love." After choreographing the entire season of "Maya & Marty," she was asked by Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond to choreograph season three of "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" and has since worked for shows on NBC, Showtime, Netflix, and others. When not working with top stars, she teaches around the country and world, educating young artists and dancers to b e who they are in their art form and love it.

Sound Designer

Jonathan Burke is a theatrical sound designer, engineer and educator with thirty-two years of sound design and engineering experience in the UK, Hong Kong and the United States. He began his career as a teenager in England working on the BBC’s Domesday project at Cambridge University. Shortly thereafter he moved to Hong Kong, where he attended the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, School of Theatre and Entertainment Arts.

While living in Hong Kong he worked on numerous productions, played guitar in a band and worked in a recording studio for a Chinese film company, dubbing Chinese films into English. A move to the United States led to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Jonathan continued his study of theatrical sound design and served as the resident sound designer for Pittsburgh’s City Theater Company and the Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival. On the East coast he also fell in love, got married, and earned two degrees—before the long cold winters became too much and he headed west to Los Angeles, where he has lived for the last 23 years.

Jonathan is currently head of the sound design program, academic administrator and lecturer for the School of Theater, Film and Television at UCLA.  His designs have been heard at Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA Opera, The Geffen Playhouse, The Getty Center, Royce Hall and numerous other venues throughout Southern California. He is also owner of JABWORKS, a theatrical sound rental, design and consulting company.

Casting Director

(Michael Donovan, CSA, Richie Ferris, CSA) Michael Donovan is the recipient of 9 Artios awards, presented by the Casting Society of America for Outstanding Achievement in casting. Richie Ferris has 3 Artios awards. They have cast more than 1,000 shows produced at such venues as the Ahmanson Theatre,

Mark Taper Forum, the Hollywood Bowl, Pasadena Playhouse, the Kirk Douglas Theatre, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Laguna Playhouse, International City Theatre, Ebony Repertory Theatre, the El Portal Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, the Getty Villa, the Ricardo Montalban Theatre, the Garry Marshall Theatre,

Boston Court, the Soraya Performing Arts

Center, the 24th St. Theatre, San Francisco Symphony, both the Palazzo and Paris in Las Vegas, Arizona Theatre Company, Arkansas Rep, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, Indiana Rep, Totem Pole Playhouse, and the Trouba-

dour Wembley Park in London – as well as several national tours, numerous films, TV series and commercials.

Lighting Designer

JARED A. SAYEG - Lighting Designer is a nine-time Ovation Award Nominee and Winner of the Ovation, StageRaw, Garland and LADCC Kinetic Lighting Awards. Broadway designs: The Illusionists (Neil Simon Theatre, US Tours), Bravo Bernstein (Hudson Theatre), Gotham Glory at Carnegie Hall. Regional: Center Theatre Group, Pasadena Playhouse, 5 th Avenue Theatre, Sacramento Music Circus, 5 Star Theatricals, International City Theatre, Reprise, Ensemble Theatre

Company, Laguna Playhouse, Virginia Stage Company, The Colony &

Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. On the West-End he designed

Rolling with Laughter at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Jared was on the design teams for the Broadway productions of PRIMO, The Woman in White, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the national tour of Blithe Spirit starring Angela Lansbury. Other designs include productions for Holland America Line & Norwegian Cruise Lines, and in 2008 had the honor of lighting Pope Benedict XVI for the Papal Rally in NYC. Jared is principal designer for the USA International Ballet Competition and has overseen the last four competitions. His architectural designs are seen regularly in restaurants and exhibits as well as the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific. Jared is a member of the International Association of Lighting Designers; he became the youngest member of the United Scenic Artists-Local 829 and

serves as Vice-Chair the executive board.

Production Stage

Manager

is excited to be rejoining the 44 company. Recent credits include: Did You See What Walter Paisley Did Today (La Mirada Theatre), The Wonderful Winter of Oz (Laguna Playhouse), Saturday Explorer Series (24th Street Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (TACFA), Into the Woods (College of the Canyons), Cries and Whispers (CalArts

CNP), Little Women (Digital Workshop).

MFA, California Institute of the Arts.