About

Off the Leesh is the non-profit offspring company to On the Leesh Productions, a New York based company devoted to the production of innovative, energetic, and challenging film and theater. Off the Leesh is interested in pushing the limits of new performance ideas and subject matter, of visual experimentation and provacative writing, all in a safe space where projects are not limited by convention or the pressure to be "finished." Off the Leesh exists to help writers and artists move their work off the page and onto a stage where work is allowed to be in development, and audiences and collaborators recognize the excitement of this step.

The primary members of Off the Leesh Productions are:

Matthew G. Rashid

President

Under his tenure Off the Leesh has Produced, Sin: A New Fangled Spectacle or Legendary Vice, Matt Cube: A night of Stand-up; Two Matt's and an Indian: Hurricane Relief for Katrina, Committed, Chanteclar, Belly, and Break: Surviving the Recovering (starring Frank Wood). Matthew is very proud of the creative and social risks that Off the Leesh has taken in such a short time and looks forward to bringing the same thought provoking, and most of all entertaining material to the public in the years to come.

Jessica Arinella

Vice President

Jessica Arinella is the founder and creator of The Naked Angels Lab. Last winter she produced The Opposite of Fear which ran in conjunction with the Naked Angel's latest Issues Project Fear. Jessica has also produced theatrical benefits for the Salvation Army and helped with project ALS.

Alicia Arinella

Producer

For the past seven years, Alicia Arinella has worked in various aspects of Film and Theatrical production. Her credits include: stage management for regional and off-off Broadway theater, publicity and promotional work for Fine Line Features and New Line Cinema, editing and production coordinating for Asset Pictures and cineBlast!, associate producing for Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Noggin and Granada Kids, and producing projects for Little Airplane Productions, Playhouse Disney, and the Naked Angels Theater Company.

Julie Tortorici

Producer

Julie Tortorici graduated from the Atlantic Theater Company's two-year professional conservatory in May 2002. There she was seen in Museum, Balm in Gilead, and Every Dog. Since then, she produced, directed and acted in From the Minds of Babes, an evening of five original comedic one-acts. She was also seen in Atlantic Theater's children's production of The Phantom Tollbooth. This past summer, Julie's one-woman show, Belly, was featured in the New York Fringe Festival. In addition, Julie recently finished a run of her new play, Committed, as well as her film short, Table for Three, (both produced by Off the Leesh Productions). She is currently producing the hilarious improv group, Teen Movie High.

Jessica Jahn

Resident Costume Designer

Jessica lives and works in New York City, designing for theatre, film/television and dance. She has had the opportunity to work with directors Todd Haynes ("Far From Heaven"), Alan Rudolph ("Secret Lives of Dentists"), and Gabriel Barre, and has assisted Sandy Powell ("Gangs of New York", "Far From Heaven"), Amy Westcott ("Rodger Dodger", "Best Little Thief) and Constance Hoffman ("The Green Bird"). Jessica has also worked with choreographers Eva Silverstein (Silverbrown Dance Co.) and Terry Creach (Creach and Co.). Her most recent projects include the Naked Angels "Democracy", Terranova Collective's "Buck Fever", Opera North's (UK) "Cosi Fan Tutte", and Glimmerglass Opera's "Fancuilla del West", as well as various productions for Off the Leesh. Jessica has a little cat Emma that keeps her company on rainy nights, and they both really like David Bowie.

Jessica Cekala

Resident Graphic Designer

Jessica's bio to come!