John Cal (Writer/Composer/Creative Producer)

For John Cal, creating music has been a lifelong passion. In 1966, he joined his first rock’n’roll garage band and started writing songs. A self-taught musician and vocalist, “Top Forty” AM radio was his inspiration and template. Playing in various cover bands throughout high school and college, he honed his technical skills and developed a deep understanding of pop song composition, musical structure and harmony. Eventually, his musical endeavors focused exclusively on the creative rush of songwriting. Today, John Cal’s song catalog is varied and extensive. He writes both from the heart and for purpose, bridging musical styles and generational tastes. His lyrics are genuine and speak to and for the feelings of many; his melodies contagious and hard to forget. John’s music has always shared life with his business career and his family. Leadership and Business Development being his strengths, John Cal rose to the position of Vice President with several organizations and achieved thirty-five national awards for his accomplishments. In 2007, John moved to the Twin Cities to be close to his daughter Amanda, son-in-law Alex and their most special granddaughters, Avery and Emerson. “Philly,” is based on the true story of one of John Cal’s most talented bands and most memorable times of his life.

 

Rebecca Rizzio (Director/Creative Producer)

Directing credits include: "The Producers" and "The Miracle Worker" for the Phipps Center for the Arts; "girl group" by Carol Critchley, "The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women" and Lisa Loomer’s "Expecting Isabel" for Theatre Unbound; "Annie," Irving Berlin’s
"White Christmas," and the Cabaret Fundraiser for 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons at Lyric Arts of Anoka; and "Nest" for Table Salt Productions. She was a core company member with Theatre Unbound from 2007-2013 where she participated as both director and writer in their Director’s Gym and 24-Hour Xtreme Theatre Smackdown and served as the chair of the board development committee. She also assistant directed their production of "How I Learned to Drive" (dir Maggie Scanlan). Rebecca holds a B.A. from Concordia College where she received a theatre scholarship and an M.A. in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University.

 

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