the CALICO BUFFALO, a musical

  
 

 

  
   

 
EJ Stapleton, author of 'the Calico Buffalo', co-author of 'the Calico Buffalo, a musical', was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1953, the second of five children. There is a story of a babysitter walking in to find him, at two years old, standing in his crib, drawing all over his bedroom wall. Not much has changed since then. EJ was educated through the Boston Public School system and spent most of his time there searching for whatever information he could gather about Art and the artists who generate it.  In 1971, he left for a two-week trip to Italy. He returned in 1973. This began what continues today to be a lifetime of searching.  A lifetime of learning, handshake by handshake, the true heart of the human race. In the mid 1970’s EJ was lucky enough to find himself in the company of Joseph Solman, one of the founders of the American Expressionist movement, in New York City.  Until his death in 2008 at age ninety-nine, Mr. Solman was one of the most active and powerful influences in the art world and a steadfast source of influence and inspiration to all facets of EJ’s work.

EJ once noted a tee shirt on a passing traveler, which had on it a view of the Earth. Above it was written,  “I am not a tourist…I live here.” EJ Stapleton couldn’t agree more. 

  
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Gabriel Folse, co-author of  'the Calico Buffalo, a musical', has performed on stage and in television series, movies of the week, and major motion pictures. His acting experience includes work in Los Angeles for ABC, Universal, and Metromedia, as well as work in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas on a variety of film and television projects. His directorial work includes the award winning, experimental short film, IN GOD WE TRUST.  His television appearances include WALKER TEXAS RANGER, GIDEON OLIVER, and THE YOUNG RIDERS.  Gabe also had a supporting role in Episode Six of INTO THE WEST, a miniseries for TNT.  His feature film appearances include MISS CONGENIALITY, A PERFECT WORLD, and WYATT EARP, among others. His writing experience also includes, one act plays,  feature length scripts, and a novel.

He has served on the Austin Arts Commission, Theater Panel and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and The American Federation of Television and Radio Announcers.

  
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development

Craig George is a freelance director based in New York City. Credits include: Taming of the Shrew (Off-Broadway, The Duke on 42nd Street); The Aperture (World Premiere, Winner of the Kennedy’s Center’s Rosa Parks Playwright Award, Cleveland Public Theatre & The New York International Fringe Festival); Alfred Kinsey: A Love Story (Michael Weller Theater, NYC); Into The Woods (Weathervane Theatre), Twelfth Night; Much Ado About Nothing (Hamptons Shakespeare Festival); Measure for Measure (Cleveland Public Theatre); Macbeth, (The Clurman, Theatre Row). Craig recently developed and directed the new musical, Lighter, which had its first reading at the York Theatre Company and subsequently its world premiere at the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Craig received his MFA from UC Irvine where he was a two year participant in the Focused Research in Objective Drama program conducted by Jerzy Grotowski. He studied acting with Robert Cohen, the Suzuki method of actor training with Kent Kirkpartrick, and voice and speech with Dudley Knight (Fitzmaurice based). As a theater instructor, he has taught acting, voice, speech and movement at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC), The Acting Studio, Los Angeles Theatre Academy and UC Irvine.

 
     
JE Steiner, a lifelong friend of EJ's since the two met in kindergarten, was one of the first champions of this project. JE works as liaison for the advancement of the Calico Buffalo project from within the Los Angeles film community.  
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layout & graphics

Tired of being chosen last, always, for team sports as a child, I turned to the art department for my PE. Fast forward to the realization that the Fine Arts degree I was pursuing wouldn’t put anything but my hands in my pockets, I switch my major to graphic design . . . and found my calling.  Being the late 197O’s, where else to grow creatively (socially) than NYC!  Enrolled in New York School of Interior Design, and fully enjoyed the one semester I spent there.  Snagged a few well paying graphic design projects – with enough work to allow me to stay. One project led to being hired as Creative Director for After Dark magazine, which had just done an entire staff purge and was looking to revamp its image.  While there I had the opportunity to work with photographer/designer Herb Migdol, assisting on both Dance magazine and Jack Lenor Larson textile shoots. The magazine sold  and I returned to Boston and started Stone Design, Ltd.  Had a great run, designing identity programs for clubs, restaurants, real estate project, etc.  until the family business – publishing a trade magazine for the liquor industry – needed me. And there I’ve happily remained, due in a large part (besides the ‘family’ thing) to the free time I have to take on outside projects. One such project, The Calico Buffalo, has been an incredibly satisfying, looooong running learning experience. Very proud to be member of the BOSC Publishing/Calico Buffalo family! Ready for the next act . . .

  
     
     
Laurence began his work in film with Malpaso Productions on “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” Since that time, he has held staff positions in programming and development at CBS Entertainment and at Fox Television Studios as a producer/writer on various series and specials for A&E, AMC, Fox Movie Channel, and Animal Planet.  He has worked as a field producer for “NBC News” and “The Today Show” and held the position of Vice President of Production for von Zerneck/Sertner Films, a Los Angeles based production company, where recent projects have included, “Ambulance Girl,” “Category 7: The End of the World,” “Vampire Bats,” “Queen Sized,” “Racing for Time,” “The Circuit,” “Girl, Positive” and “Flirting with 40.” He is also a member of the digital filmmaking & video production advisory council for the Art Institute of California and a guest lecturer for the film and film/media studies department at UC Riverside.   
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