Will Vinton

Writer / Producer

Animator, director, and producer, Will Vinton’s “Claymation” techniques have made an indelible impact on the field of stop motion animation and entertainment at large. Will Vinton, best known as the father of “Claymation” and pop culture characters with his innovative work in 3D animation, takes his award-winning character development, imaginative visual effects and cinematic talent to the stage for the first time with THE KISS. 

As an American animator and filmmaker, Vinton was best known for creating The California Raisins, Eminems Blue and Yellow, The Adventure’s of Mark Twain. Vinton won an Oscar for his ground-breaking film, Closed Mondays, along with more nominations for The Creation, and The Great Cognito. Vinton received 5 Emmy nominations and two wins for classics such as Claymation Easter, Claymation Christmas Celebration, and primetime television series Gary and Mike, and Eddie Murphey’s The PJs.

THE KISS was Vinton’s final creative endeavor, and through the completion and exhibition of the stage production, we honor Will’s spirit and commemorate his dedication to fantastic characters, moving music, and transformational stories.

David Pomeranz

Lyricist / Composer

David Pomeranz's recording and songwriting projects have earned him a total of 22 platinum and 18 gold albums - selling over 40 million records worldwide. 

His songs have been recorded and performed by a wide range of major artists including Barry Manilow  (who's renditions of David's  "TRYIN' TO GET THE FEELING AGAIN"  and  "THE OLD SONGS"  were both Number One hits), Bette Midler, Richie Sambora (of  Bon Jovi), Freddie Mercury, Cliff Richard, The Hollies, Ann Wilson (of Heart), The Carpenters, Phoebe Snow, Kenny Rogers, Lea Salonga, Glen Campbell, Isaac Hayes, John Denver, Missy Elliott and The Muppets.

David’s own critically-acclaimed solo albums include, “IT'S IN EVERY ONE OF US"  (Arista), "THE TRUTH OF US"  (Atlantic), “TIME TO FLY” (Decca) (featuring jazz greats Chick Corea and Billy Cobham) and "BORN FOR YOU – HIS BEST AND MORE"  (MCA/Universal). His songs have been in numerous Motion Pictures (“BIG", starring Tom Hanks and “KING KONG”) and he is an Emmy Award Nominee for his song work on Television. Musical Theater being a lifelong passion, David’s musicals have opened on Broadway (“SCANDALOUS” - co-written with Kathie Lee Gifford and David Friedman), Off-Broadway (“UNDER THE BRIDGE”) and in the West End Of London (“TIME” and “A TALE OF TWO CITIES”.) His Pop Opera,“LITTLE TRAMP”, based on the life of Charlie Chaplin, was produced in the U.K. and released on Warner Records as a Celebrity studio album featuring Richard Harris, Mel Brooks, Petula Clark, Tim Curry, Treat Williams, Peter Duncan, Lea Salonga and David, himself. 

One of the achievements of which he is most proud, is having had the chance  to collaborate on “THE KISS” with genius filmmaker, artist and innovator, Will Vinton. 

Greg Tamblyn

Producer / Director / Writer

Greg has been involved in Portland theatre for over 25 years as an award winning Producer, Director and Writer living with his family in Lake Oswego, OR. Under his production company “Pixie Dust Productions”, Greg has directed and produced the I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change , the award winning 2003 production of Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz,  Legally Blonde, La Cage Aux Folles , Billy Elliot , the Portland premiere of The Full Monty the award winning Beauty and the Beast for which he won the first “Best Producer” Drammy award in 2010. Greg directed and co-produced the World Premiere of Marv Ross’s critically successful original Native American Musical The Ghosts of Celilo for Artist Repertory Theatre. In 2008 & 2011.Greg revised the production of The Full Monty at Lakewood Theatre where he has also directed the award winning La Cage Aux Folles, Ragtime and Man Of La Mancha for which he received a PAMPTA for Best Director. Greg collaborated on Hedwig and the Angry Inch for Triangle Productions where he also directed The Rocky Horror Show and received a 2011 Drammy award for Best Director. Greg was honored with a 2004 Drammy Award for directing The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe, for the Oregon Children’s Theatre, which also won for best production. Listed are only a few other productions Greg has directed: Little Shop of Horrors, West Side Story, Anything Goes, Funny Girl, (Drammy Award Winner), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Drammy Award Winner). Greg has worked with Thomas Lauderdale and “Pink Martini” directing the Sequential Musical Fable “Oregon! Oregon!” to celebrate Oregon’s 150th Birthday and is currently their Tour Manger. Greg is the Executive Producer of the Singing Christmas Tree and stages Ten Grand’s with pianist Michael Allen Harrison in Portland. Greg shares his life with his beautiful wife Erin, creative Stepson Preston and is most proud of his amazing daughters Ariel & Aurora.

Greg is excited to be a part of this amazing creative team and is honored to have had the chance to work with the heart of this production, Will Vinton developing this magical musical. 

Jesse Vinton

Writer / Filmmaker

Jesse Vinton is an award winning filmmaker and writer, specializing in visually evocative storytelling. Before his fathers passing, Jesse committed to fulfilling his dads final creative wish, joining forces with Pomeranz and Tamblyn to complete a new draft of THE KISS and shepherd the musical to the stage. Jesse brings a youthful, contemporary sensibility to the story, coming from a background creating commercials, music videos, narrative films.

Jesse has led creative for many of the world's most innovative brands, working both in-house at creative studios and as an independent entrepreneur. His film “Masks of Desire” won the audience choice award at Holly Shorts in LA, and he co-wrote the film “Waiting Game," which won the Portland 48 Hour Film Festival, Rotterdam, and was then accepted into the 2020 Cannes Short Film Corner. His credits include adidas, Under Armour, The North Face and Microsoft and he’s also in development on his first feature film.