Meet The Stars and Crew
Unlike other workplace comedies in which the cast stand around talking to each other not doing their jobs, Here to There is about people actually doing their jobs while trying to pacify the cast of characters who ride the ferry. Sometimes gloriously rewarding, sometimes tear- inducing frustrating, the crew’s interactions with each other and the public provides the basis for comedy.
Melissa Archer
MELISSA ARCHER (Second Mate Casey Cardwell): Almost as soon as Melissa was born in Dallas, Texas, she was destined and determined to follow in the footsteps of her idol, Lucille Ball. Very quickly, Melissa was cast as Natalie Buchanan, one of the most beloved characters on ABC's long-running daytime drama "One Life To Live." Melissa joined the show in July 2001 and stayed right through the digital on-line edition of the drama which ended in 2013...over twelve happy years in Llanview. Except when her ex-husband almost cut out her heart to use in a transplant. Or when she was wrongly accused for pushing her stepfather out a window. Or when an ex-husband popped out of a coffin at his own funeral. Post-OLTL, life calmed down but Melissa continued to work steadily in film and television. Her movie credits include "Excuse Me for Living," "West End," "Coach of the Year," "South 32," and "Their Killer Affair." On television, Melissa had roles on "Days of Our Lives," "The Bay," and "Beacon Hill." She is also the producer and star of "Viral," a pilot for an on-line series, for which she won an Indie Award for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy. In her free time, she enjoys Jailbreaking iOS, fixing iPhones and iPads, inventing, and writing and directing short films. She regularly accesses Amazon because she is convinced that Vitameatavegamin is actually a product for purchase. And she has implored the "Here To There" writers never to have Casey kidnapped or burned at the stake. Visit her website at www.melissaarcher.com.
David A. Gregory
DAVID A. GREGORY (First Mate Andrew McGinniss): David grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska, on a steady cinematic diet of Jerry Lewis, Donald O’Connor, and Neil Simon with dreams of one day being a vaudeville comedian in New York City. But the news of dead vaudeville hadn’t gotten to Alaska, so David settled on playing bad-boy-heartthrob-turned-sterling-example-of-humanity Robert Ford on ABC’s “One Life to Live” as part of the soap’s final television cast (2009-2012). Since then he’s starred on a number of cancelled shows and a national commercial for Airborne as “Sebastian, Beloved Romance Novel Hero.” He writes plays in his spare time, just to prove that the brain is mightier than the brawn. He can also be found giving a different impression of who he really is on social media. @davidagreg
Andrew Trischitta
ANDREW TRISCHITTA (Seaman Danny Raguseo): With “Here To There,” Andrew continues with the theme of water that has flowed through most of his life. He grew up on the Jersey shore, either biking to the beach with surfboard in hand or fishing with his two brothers. Andrew soon used the Lincoln Tunnel to go under the Hudson River to begin his career acting in commercials and modeling. He quickly took on the contract role of Jack Manning on ABC’s long running “One Life to Live,” where he won a Young Actor’s Award for a storyline revolving around the sensitive topic of bullying and teen suicide. Another ocean soon beckoned when Andrew entered college and earned a spot as a major in the Theater, Film and Television Department at UCLA, where he worked both on the stage and behind the scenes using a power tool or a hammer. While in college, Andrew had the lead role of Patrick in a stage performance of “The Kentucky Cycle” as well as playing the recurring character of Travis Montgomery in the web series “Youthful Daze.” As Danny Raguseo, Andrew branches out to another body of water---Puget Sound. Andrew knows how to bring life to any party and is also adept at mixing a drink or two…with and without water.
Karen Egidio
KAREN “NOOCH” EGIDIO (Kay): Nooch has been entertaining audiences for over four decades in theater, television, and stand-up comedy clubs in both Boston and Los Angeles. She has been a regular performer at the Improv, the Comedy Store, the Laugh Factory, and the Ice House. Her film credits include “Bukowski” with James Franco, “The Unexpected Guest of Clancy Burnham,” “Tornado Lane,” and Disney’s “Celtic Pride.” On television, Nooch had recurring comedic roles in sketches on both “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” along with appearances on “The Price Is Right,” “Live with Regis and Kelly,” and “Good Morning America.” She has performed at and created events to raise funds for the Los Angeles American Medical Women’s Association Mobile Van project, which has traveled within a 200 mile radius of Los Angeles to help women with no health care benefits.
Kimberly Wallis
KIMBERLY WALLIS (Liz Wallach): Kimberly is best known for movies like "The Maker" and "Outta Time”. She has also appeared in the daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives” and many other series including "Fresh Off the Boat" & "CSI: New York.” Wallis is an accomplished theatre actress having sang and danced her way through “Funny Girl” and flexed her daring physical comedy skills in the British farce “Run for Your Wife.” Kimberly has been married to Jeremy Licht since 2007 and they have two children.
Hannes Phinney
HANNES PHINNEY (Dr. Tom Evans): Hannes was born in Milwaukee and doesn’t care who knows it. He most recently starred in the award winning film “Saving Santa,” which was featured at the Golden State Film Festival. His numerous TV credits include “House,” “The Tonight Show,” “Breaking Vegas” and more commercials than you can shake a stick at. He hopes that one day soon he can go out in public without having an anxiety attack.
Dan Ponce
DAN PONCE (Raul Schmidt): Dan was born in Waltham, Massachusetts and moved to Los Angeles with his family at the age of 5. It wasn't long after that he began working in commercials and live shows and before long, movies and episodic television. Along with a semi-recurring role on "Knots Landing" and guest spots on "Family Ties" and others, Dan most proudly played the adoptive son of the Fonz on the final episodes of “Happy Days.” He was later cast as one of the sons in “The Hogan Family,” which ran on both NBC and CBS over a period of six years. His more recent credits include a guest spot on "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" and a featured role in "Man Of The Year", a completely improvised feature film. He currently resides in Los Angeles, with his wife and two children and is enjoying fatherhood.
Lucy Swinson
LUCY SWINSON (Teenage Casey): Lucy is a college student at Chapman University working towards her BFA in Theatre Performance. She has been performing in the Bay Area since she was 7 years old. Most notably playing Wendy in “Peter Pan” at The Berkeley Playhouse, Kate Murphey in “Titanic” at 42nd Street Moon, and singing “For Good” with Kristin Chenoweth and Stephen Schwartz at the SF Gay Men’s Chorus Gala. She hopes everyone is staying safe, happy, and healthy!
Ben Ferren
BEN FERREN (Teenage Andrew): A recent graduate of Virginia Tech, Ben is an actor with ten plus years of acting experience who has moved to Los Angeles to begin acting in Film and Television. He loves creating a character and working with fun, kind, hardworking, and talented people.
Isabel Stallings
ISABEL STALLINGS (Melanie): Isabel is a graduate of Chapman University earning a BFA in Theatre Performance. Her Chapman University Theatre Department credits include “Theory of Relativity,” “Equality,” and “Lysistrata.” Isabel is also the co-president of a student theatre group called Cross The Line, centering around shows that promote theatre for social change. In addition to her participation in the Theatre Department, Isabel is also involved in student film projects, in both acting and assisting in casting.
Robert W. Heck
ROBERT W. HECK (Stage Direction Voiceover/Various Roles): A multiple Emmy-winning performer, writer, actor, and education professional, Bob has worked for clients ranging from government entities and Fortune 500 companies to non-profits and charitable organizations. Beginning as an actor in the New York theatrical scene, Bob’s performing and writing skills led to movie roles, stage work, industrial films, training videos, concert narrations, trade shows, voiceovers, a resident artist’s position and ten regional Emmy awards as “Bob the Vid Tech” for Maryland Public Television.
Ned E. Davis
NED E. DAVIS (Co-Creator/Co-Executive Producers): Born in Indiana and the son of a prominent surgeon, Ned E. Davis likely would have gone into medicine in the Midwest. But not when your stepmother is Madelyn Pugh Davis, one of the creator/writers of "I Love Lucy." Instead, your family moves to the show business capital of the world and you suddenly see Desi Arnaz in a tuxedo wandering around your living room. Or Ozzie and Harriet Nelson showing up for a Christmas party. Or on a yacht playing backgammon...and losing miserably to Lucille Ball. Given such a star-studded youth and a subsequent education at UCLA, Ned was destined to work in television. Over the years, Ned championed a career behind the scenes at such TV programs as "The Colbys," "The Cavanaughs," "Mr. President (George C. Scott/Madeline Kahn)," and "Linc's." Ned's longest TV tenure was with the Emmy Award-winning "Murphy Brown" as an assistant director, producer, and director for nine seasons. This was followed by a stint as one of the production executives at LMNO Productions. After years of ensuring that sound stages ran efficiently, Ned expanded those talents to his own local community of Westlake Village, California, where he is in his fourth term on the city council. Indeed, Ned has even been the Mayor there for three terms. It was a chance notion in the early 90s to move his growing family away from the rat race of the 405 Freeway to the more tranquil Seattle that introduced Ned to the enigmatic and magical ferry system there. While that relocation never completely materialized, Ned used that experience to introduce writers Chris Lunz and Len Klatt to the comedic possibilities now embedded in "Here To There."
Chris Lunz and Len Klatt
CHRIS LUNZ AND LEN KLATT (Co-Creators/Writers/Co-Executive Producers): The creative team of Klatt and Lunz, or Lunz and Klatt as Chris prefers, began in New York when Times Square was still full of theaters playing kung fu movies and women of ill repute working the street corners. Len decided to give up his dream of being a game show host and its promise of a lifetime of Botany 500 suits, and called his reclusive friend Chris, who was trying to decide between buying a villa along Spain’s Costa del Sol and a chateau in St. Moritz. Len said, “Let’s write comedy scripts,” and Chris said, “okay.” A chance meeting with former newscaster Linda Ellerbee resulted in Len and Chris developing a sitcom for Nickelodeon (long story). But, alas, just before film went into the camera, one studio bought another, and a whole bunch of people got fired, leaving Len and Chris to say, “Hmm. This is not good.” The kid sitcom did land Len and Chris an agent in Los Angeles, so they moved there where they expected to begin working straight away. Except the agent promptly closed her shop to open a yoga studio in Ojai. Still, they had some wacky adventures and interviews along the way. One relationship that did develop was being the plucky pair being mentored by the legendary writing team of Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll Jr. (the creators and writers of some show called “I Love Lucy”). Madelyn gave great pointers, while Bob, at lunch meetings, ate French fries off Chris’s plate. Madelyn introduced Len and Chris to her son Ned Davis, who was involved in television production for many years. Ned had an idea for a sitcom, based on a certain aspect of his life. Ned pitched the idea with such passion and a clear direction, Len and Chris couldn’t wait to start fleshing out the details. Five hundred versions and many late nights and arguments later, the guys had created an outstanding product that is ready for a visionary to sponsor. Chris thinks Len has a really big hearty laugh that makes you want to join in and laugh at whatever he is laughing at. Len thinks Chris is funny and fresh, like young Spanky from the “Our Gang” comedies of centuries ago. Chris is also very good with children and dogs.
Jeremy Licht
JEREMY LICHT (Supervising Producer/Director): Jeremy began his acting career at the ripe old age of 5. He started out doing print ads and commercials, then movies-of-the-week and eventually the feature film “Twilight Zone: The Movie” where he played the role of Anthony, the “kid who wished his sister into Cartoonland.” A year later, he secured the role of Mark Hogan on “The Hogan Family,” which ran for 5 ½ seasons. When the sitcom wrapped, he went to school at USC and began a career in financial services. He currently has a thriving insurance business in California, and is grateful to be directing the first three episodes of “Here To There.” He lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife, Kimberly, their two children, Jordan and Casey, and their dog Bo.
Kim Wozniak
KIM WOZNIAK (Line Producer): Kim always had a passion for film and TV production and this propelled her from South Holland, IL to Columbia College-Chicago to Los Angeles. After a brief stint at Norman Lear's Act III Communications, she landed at Disney's House of Mouse, where she worked the financial end on such films as "Dead Poets Society," "Hocus Pocus,” and “Pretty Woman.” Upon turning in her mouse ears at Disney, Kim worked behind-the-scenes on several small films freelancing before ultimately moving to Showtime original programming. While there, she worked on 31 films, mini-series and TV series. She also ventured into co-producing a world premiere play "Golden Watch Chain" at the Globe Theater in Los Angeles. Kim is a member of the TV Academy where she produced a number of event panels. Kim continues to expand her talents by now tackling the back room of a virtual sitcom where budgets are more manageable when you’re not paying for Craft Services and Starwaggons.