I am a poet, teacher, and editor living in Oakland, California. I have a BA from Vassar College, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing (Poetry) from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and a Ph.D. in English Literature from The University of California, Berkeley. With Lyn Hejinian and Claire Marie Stancek, I co-founded and co-edit Nion Editions. I am the author of two books of poetry published by The Song Cave: My Enemies (2013) and Yeah No (2018), as well as several chapbooks. I was previously in residence at Catwalk in 2014, and it was instrumental in the inception of my second book. This year at Catwalk, I will continue work on my third book of poetry, as well as work on a triptych lyric essay based on my doctoral dissertation. (While I do not have a personal website or social media, work can be found here, a review here, and Nion Editions’ website is here.)

The Royal Ravens explores the adventures (and misadventures) of the Ravens of the Tower of London. A central theme in the story is reaching for your dreams despite humble beginnings and seemingly insurmountable odds; that being true to oneself is the only way to find one's place in the world. The animated musical takes a deep dive into the popular ecosystem strategy called “rewilding” as a proponent.

Affiliation: Vassar

Christine Claudel is a graduate of the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program (GMTWP) at New York University. The musical KISSED (with book/lyrics by Christine and music by Gianni Onori) received a staged reading at Tisch under the direction of West Hyler with music direction by Daniel Sefik. KISSED was selected as a 2022 semi-finalist for the O’Neill National Musical Theatre Conference. Christine’s work as a playwright and lyricist has received productions/performances at the Playwrights’ Center of San Francisco’s 24-Hour Play Fest, the Green Room 42, and the Global Forms Theater Project presented by Rattlestick Playwrights Theater.

Affiliation: NYU/TISCH

Thomas Jacobsen currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Voice and Musical Theatre at the University of Minnesota. He works as a composer, voice teacher, and director. He is a member of the Musical Theatre Educators Alliance with a BFA in vocal performance and musical theatre from the University of Wisconsin, and an MFA in musical theatre writing from NYU.

Affiliation: NYU/TISCH

Hello! -- My name is Conor. I am originally from Minneapolis, MN but have been based in NYC since 2019. I am an artist primarily working in painting and drawing. My painting practice is diaristic and concerned with issues relating to visuality, image-making, and narrative art. While in residence I will be painting and drawing outside, reading, and enjoying time spent amongst flora.

Affiliation: Columbia

Gabriel Gekoskie (he/him, b. 2001) is a composer, sound artist, and educator based in State College, PA. Delving into the intricacies of the human experience and exploring the absurd, his creative portfolio spans diverse mediums. Gekoskie's cohesive musical methodology draws inspiration from contemporary phenomena—short attention spans, mass communication, and heightened individualism in the information age. His work resonates with the complexities of modern existence, offering a poignant reflection on the interplay between technology and the human psyche. During his residency at Catwalk this 2024 season, Gekoskie will craft a new work for wind ensemble based heavily on Baruch Spinoza’s Ethics, Demonstrated in Geometrical Order. Gekoskie will utilize field recordings from the Hudson valley to elucidate the naturalist ideas in this book, mixed with his own reactions to these philosophies. 

https://www.gabrielgekoskie.com/

Affiliation: Penn State