Erin Oechsel – Creator, Writer
After moving to the big apple last spring, Erin got the idea to write some stories inspired by her adventures…and rookie errors. This is her first web series. Some of her acting credits include shows at The Steppenwolf Theatre, Drury Lane Theater, Actors Theater of Indiana and Farmers Alley. She won the Kennedy Center Distinguished Performance by an Actress in a Musical award for her role in The Circus in Winter. In 2013, she wrote and performed her one-woman comedy cabaret, “Post-Collegiate Shock Syndrome.” It has played at Davenport’s, The Madden Theater and The Metropolitan Room. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Ball State University and is represented by Stewart Talent.
In all her endeavors, her family members play important roles, often literally. In fact, every person in her family makes an appearance in this series, behind or in front of the camera. It took a village to bring this series to life- friends from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Indiana. The project quickly grew to be larger than anticipated and as a result, it turned out to be so much better due to all of the unique talents lent by her peers. She hopes you enjoy NewB!
Alex Oechsel – Director
Alex is a current senior at Ball State University, acquiring skills in film production and theatre. Aspiring to be a director or editor, she has worked on several short films and projects throughout the last 3 years at Ball State. Currently, she is working on a project with Turner Classic Movies to develop a marketing and app campaign for one of their themed months of classic movies. As comfortable in front of the camera as she is behind it, she is so happy to have had the opportunity to be the director on the Indiana NewB team!
Jared Windler – Director, Editor
Jared is from Floyds Knobs, IN and attended Ball State University, where he received his BA in Telecommunications. He now lives in Harlem, New York City where he is a full-time video producer. This is the second web series he has produced and directed, after 2015’s The Living Room. When he’s not making quirky comedy shows, he can be found taking pictures. His favorite things are traveling, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, and watching the Great British Baking Show with his girlfriend, Erin.
Jonathon Lynch – Composer
Jonathon is a musical theatre songwriter/music director currently living in New York City. His steampunk rock operetta Lunacy (book and lyrics by Matt Boresi, dir. Barrie Gelles) was the premier work at Gallery Player’s Overtures New Musical Theatre Workshop series, 2014, and his hip hop musical Slam! (book and lyrics by Danielle Trzcinski, dir. Igor Goldin), was a finalist in the SoundBites musical festival, 2013. His music has also appeared at the Lincoln Center’s Broadway Future Songbook series, New York Theatre Barn, New World Stages, 54 Below, and the 47th St. Theatre.
Recently he was the copyist for Finding Neverland (prod. Harvey Weinstein, dir. Diane Paulus), music director/dance arranger for The City Club (Minetta Lane, prod. Mitchell Maxwell), and orchestrator for various songs by Brian Lowdermilk.
Jonathon is a composer in the advanced BMI Lehman Engel Workshop, was a participant in the Johnny Mercer workshop, is an alum of Northwestern University, and is a faculty music director at the American Music and Dramatic Academy. To find out more, visit jonathonlynchmusic.com. Love to María.
Meg Warner – Actor – Seasons 2 & 3: “Carrie”
Meg’s a Chicago-based actress with the privilege of having worked with Court Theatre, Teatro Vista, Remy Bumppo, A Red Orchid, Rivendell, First Folio, and Oak Park Festival Theatre. Television work includes NBC’s “Chicago P.D.” Meg is a graduate of Ball State University, and is represented by Paonessa Talent Agency.
Eric Martindale – Actor – Seasons 2 & 3: “Nick”
Eric moved to Chicago in August 2011 after graduating the previous year from Ball State University with a degree in Directing. In 2013, Eric co-produced an original work (Empty Bottles) with Straw Dog Theater Company and On Deck Theatre Company. Eric went on to direct another play (Three Days of Rain) at The Den Theatre in 2014.
Jonathan Jensen – Actor – Season 2: “Leslie Spencer”
Jonathan studied Musical Theatre at Ball State University and is proud to be back in Muncie, IN supporting BSU as the Director of Development for the College of Fine Arts. Previously, Jonathan has worked across the country as an arts administrator at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts (Kansas City, MO), Theatre Workshop of Nantucket (Nantucket, MA) and The White Theatre at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City (Overland Park, KS). Though he spends most of his time in the office, or behind the scenes, he loves the rare occasion to get back on-stage or in front of the camera with his friends. #ChirpChirp
Justin Habben – Actor – Seasons 2 & 3: “Catman”
Justin was born in raised in Lafayette, Indiana and lives in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Ball State State University with a BFA in Musical Theatre and has performed with TheatreWorks USA, Bizarre Noir Theatre Co., RWS and Associates, and Cedar Point Live Entertainment. In 2014 he formed Cup of Sugar Theatre Company with his friend Mead Jackson and have put on staged readings and full productions in Manhattan and Brooklyn including The Importance of Being Earnest, Dog Sees God, Gruesome Playground Injuries, Polaroid Stories, and Edges: A Song Cycle.
Katie Novotny – Actor – Seasons 1, 2 & 3: “Jen”
A Catholic girl from the suburbs of Chicago who sought to seek journalistic excellence at the University of Missouri but wound up an ex-Catholic advertising creative. What a cliché. Since returning to Chicago to pursue comedy, she’s graduated from both The Second City Conservatory Program and the iO Training Center. She’s performed at Chicago Sketchfest 2015 & 2016, snagged an award from The Mary Scruggs Works by Women Festival, had a run at Second City’s Donny’s Skybox, written for iO Comedy Network, and took 2nd in iO’s Vidiocy Film Contest. She’s the creator of Guilty the Webseries, a comedic take on what it’s like to deal with Catholic Guilt as an adult living outside the Catholic bubble. Last fall, Season 2 wrapped and was accepted into the NYC Webfest. Being a part of NewB was an honor and a privilege, as she used to run in the hip, cool, high school musical theatre gang with Erin. #GoRedwings. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @kathnovotny or wherever chocolate cake is sold.
David Guiden – Actor – Episodes 3 & 6: “Spider”
David is an award winning actor who has been living in Chicago going on 6 years. In his time here, he has played a variety of roles as well as receiving a Black Theatre Alliance Award…so you can say David is an award winning actor? (Start the bio over again). David is currently working on his own writing and hopes to share his words, his vision, and his passion with you soon. Stay tuned!
David received his BFA in Acting at Ball State University…in Muncie, IN…where he is also from.
Chirp Chirp!
Nathan Stark – Actor Episode 2: “Chaz”
Nathan hails from Central Illinois but now calls New York City home. In addition to NewB, he can be seen as a recurring role on The Good Wife and on the new CBS all-access series, The Good Fight. On stage he was most recently seen in the Palm Beach Dramaworks production of The History Boys. In his spare time, he is an avid runner, a deli connoisseur and eagerly counting the days until he is old enough to play Hamlet.
Jonathan C. Whitney – Actor Episode 5: “Parker”
Jon is from southern Ohio, and has since appeared in several NYC, regional, and collegiate productions, including: Sex Tips for Straight Women From a Gay Man, Off-Broadway (Stefan), The Video Games, Off-Broadway (Scorpion/DK swing), Henry V (Henry V), Taming of the Shrew (Petruchio), Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde), Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (Sherlock Holmes), The Importance of Being Earnest (Jack), Lend Me a Tenor (Tito). He has also appeared in several web series, music videos, video games, and advertisements. BFA, Acting: Ball State University. Jonathancwhitney.com
Nick Pearson – Actor – Episode 1: “Homeless Man”
An Ohio native, Nick has called New York City home for nearly eight years. Having earned his Bachelor’s in Music Education, performing lured him away from his plans to educate the next generations. Since then he has spent two summers at The Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan, performing such roles as “Pedro” in Man of La Mancha, “The Doctor” in A Streetcar Named Desire, “Eddie” in Rocky Horror Show, and “Sir Bedevere/Mrs. Galahad” in Monty Python’s SPAMALOT. Other professional credits include “Moose” in Crazy For You with Prather Entertainment (Dutch Apple and Broadway Palm Dinner Theatres) and “Christmas Present” in A Christmas Carol at Jenny Wiley Theatre. Among his NYC theatre credits are “Jacob” in Becca Schlossberg’s Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, “Jack” in Coffee House, Greenwich Village, and “Man” in Ten Commandments (both by John Doble). Mr. Pearson can be seen as “Best Man” in Victoria Cheri Bennett’s web series ADULTish (seasons 1-3 available on www.adultish.tv) Like most actors, if you look closer enough you can see him in the background of some of your favorite TV shows, specifically for Mr. Pearson HBO’s Bored to Death (starring Jason Schwartzman and Ted Danson) and the feature film New Year’s Eve (directed by Garry Marshall). Along with writing- and producing-partner Katherine Weatherford, Mr. Pearson created How Come I’m Not Famous Yet?(pilot available on YouTube). Currently, the pair are part of the production team behind Greenwood Lake Theatre in Greenwood Lake, NY, having produced and starred in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (September 2016) and The Wizard of Oz(Summer 2017).
Max Henry – Actor Season 2
Max is a New York City-based actor and writer. Yep. He’s one of those. Originally from Minnesota, by way of New Hampshire, Max graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami. He did so while earning a dual degree in Motion Pictures and English, so please, hold your applause. Max began his time in New York at Late Show with David Letterman, recently worked on the Drama Desk Award-winning Queen of the Night, and once had a three-way slow dance with Emma Stone and Alan Cumming. You may now applaud.
Chris Skiles – Camera Operator Season 3 Episode 1
Chris Skiles is a freelance video producer, shooter, and editor residing in Brooklyn, New York. In the past, he’s worked as a producer/content creator for MTV, iHeartRadio, and XXL Magazine. You can see his work on his website www.ctskiles.com and also see a few of his short films playing at festivals around the US, most notably Roadside Assistance : http://www.roadsideassistancemovie.com/awards/.
Ryan Sheets – Gaffer, Location Audio – Episodes 3 & 4
Ryan Sheets is a senior at Ball State University majoring in Video Production. He is primarily a director and editor. His short film “Alone” is currently nominated for Best Short Film in the 2017 iHorror Awards.