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Matthew Lightsey Composer / Lyricist
Matthew Lightsey was born with a passion for music and performing, putting on shows and concerts for his family since age 3. In 4th grade his brother took him to a HS production of “the Iliad, the Odyssey and all of Greek mythology in 90 minutes or less.” He knew exactly what he wanted to do. His first role the next year was Lumiere in "Beauty and the Beast" after which he was always in school and local theaters. From local productions with Debbie Plezia to his parents driving him to every Long Island city, Matthew was in shows acting, working lighting and even helping as a stagehand. Late in high school he started writing what would would go on to be his first Off Broadway musical "The Composer's Melody” in 2020. He started working on music for a second musical, but tragically was taken too soon from us for that dream to come to fruition. His spirit and love for the stage live on in all the people's lives he touched and we honor the legacy he left.
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John Paul Louis Composer / Musical Director
John Paul Louis is a composer and music director for the Christmas Express. John has experience writing and music directing two other shows with his partner and best friend Matthew Lightsey. John has vowed to continue the work he and Matt had started all those years ago. John also releases music online separately from his musical theater work with Matt.
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Claude Solnik Book Writer
A journalist, playwright and musical book writer, Claude Solnik’s plays have been named by reviewers as among the top ten of the year in New York City. His works include dramas, comedies and musicals covering a wide range of stories and subject matters, from history to mythology to stories based on events and those purely imagined. He is grateful to have had the privilege of collaborating with Matthew Lightsey and John Paul Louis on this such and for such beautiful music and lyrics. He would like to thank director Robert Liebowitz for his leadership and craft, and his belief that theater matters, the cast and entire crew as well as Crystal Field and the TNC staff for helping bring Christmas to the stage a little early this year.
