Press Release 1
What do actor Johnny Alonso (Baltimore/ LA Actor from Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill and Gotham), 90s R&B singer Christopher Williams (singer and actor from New Jack City), Teen Singer Parijita Bastola (Baltimore’s National Anthem singer and Severna Park’s contestant from the 22nd year of The Voice, on Team John Legend), Teen Singer Kique Gomez (also from the 22nd year of The Voice, on Team Gwen Stefani), and that little girl who went viral dancing to the Lil Jon song on Tik Tok, Veronica Mitchell (The VV Show), all have in common?
They are all part of the cast of the new series, Rosemary Street, about life in North Baltimore!!
Rosemary Street Series is a SAG-AFTRA New Media contracted series about Teenagers, the Arts, Neighbors and Aging Rock Stars in North Baltimore. It's a series that accentuates the heart of what Baltimore truly is - a Diverse, Joyful, Artistic Village!! Where Neighbors celebrate birthdays, share in the ups and downs of life, and truly support each other.
(Photo above - by Richard Chisolm) Maggie (on left, played by Laura Dowling Shea) presents Dolores (on right, played by Towanda Underdue) with her famous Long Island Iced Tea as they celebrate Dolores' birthday.
The first three episodes were filmed in the late spring / early summer of 2023, and consisted of a 10-12 person crew from the Baltimore-DC area. The first two episodes will be coming out this January, 2024. The 3rd will be out the 1st week of February, 2024.
Director of Photography, Richard Chisolm is an Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker and cinematographer with over thirty years of production experience. Based in Baltimore, he has shot films and television programs on a wide variety of subjects in the US and abroad and has worked for PBS, National Geographic, BBC, Discovery Channel, HBO, and many other broadcast entities.
Sound Mixer, Dwayne Dell, has been in the business for over 40 years. He’s a Veteran Location Production Sound Mixer specializing in commercials, documentaries, TV series, corporate, and political ads. Both Richard and Dwayne worked together on the Award-Winning web series, Turf Valley Web Series, also filmed in Maryland.
Other members of the crew, including: Makeup & Hair Stylists Gina W Bateman, Nicole Ferguson, Aja McDaniels, Sound Mixer Steve Saada, Boom Operators Chris Jones and Gabby Sturgeon, Set Dressers Amy Panzer, and Jamie Askin, Gaffers Matt Brennon and Michael Black, and craft services specialist Malar Wigfall have worked on shows like The Wire, House of Cards, Forrest Gump, Wonder Woman 1984, Without Remorse, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (among the many), and their years of experience have truly contributed to the quality of the Rosemary Street Production.
(L - R) Co-Director/ Actor Johnny Alonso, Boom Operator Chris Jones, Actress Olivia Flowers and Assistant Camera Max Burkhardt stand by as DP Richard Chisolm sets up the next angle with actresses Laura Dowling Shea and Towanda Underdue in Charles Village. Still taken by Michael Black.
The core cast consisted of Talent from Baltimore, DC, Virginia, New York, LA, North Carolina and Florida as well as many Mid-Atlantic background Talent.
In this pic, Actress, Co-Producer Marlena Neal (Left) poses with Co-Director, Co-Producer, Actor Johnny Alonso (Right) in front of one of the main sets of the 1st episode. Still taken by Michael Black.
The series was created and written by Elena Moscatt, a 56 year resident of Charles Village and 30 year veteran of the film industry in the Mid-Atlantic area. Elena graduated from The Park School in 83’ and attended Goucher College and MICA in the 80s and early 90s. She joined I.A.T.S.E. Local 487 in 1992 and worked in the craft services and wardrobe departments ever since. She worked as key crafty on all 5 seasons of The Wire, and in the craft services department of House of Cards all six seasons, as well as other projects. In 1990, she also worked as Kevin Bacon’s personal assistant.
She created a web series called Jamie’s Way in 1998, before Facebook, Youtube and Myspace even existed. It was about the trials and tribulations of Junior high/ high school life, and featured a teen cast, including her God-Daughter Krysten Klipa. The cast are in their 30s now, and may be making appearances in Rosemary Street! It became the 1st scripted series on the web.
Both stills courtesy of Elena Moscatt. (Banner above) Teen actresses Danielle Faurot (as April) and Krysten Klipa (as Jamie). (Pic to the right) Krysten Klipa, Elena Moscatt and Danielle Faurot in 1999, on set at Towson University.
In 2017, she created the Baltimore Next Media Webfest, a festival dedicated to showcasing and rewarding the very best in Web Series, Short Films, Screenplays and Podcasts. The festival will be going into its 8th year in October, 2024.
Rosemary Street is the Spin-Off of Jamie’s Way, spinning into a series about Jamie’s Rockstar Uncle Asher, played by Actor, Co-Directer, Co-Producer Johnny Alonso.
Johnny Alonso is an American actor. He was born in New York and raised in Baltimore City. Well known nationally and internationally for his subtle approach and intense style of character acting, most notably for his breakout 6 episode recurring role as Joey D, the hard nosed, no nonsense band manager on One Tree Hill. Some of his other credits include: Outer Banks, Gotham, One Tree Hill, What Death Leaves Behind. Straight off the WB/CW Network soundstage, Johnny landed the top host slot for the Emmy award winning series NASA 360 which led him to shoot 14 episodes worldwide. Johnny Alonso went on to star in the critically acclaimed Coffin film franchise (Coffin. Coffin II, Coffin III) as the charming anti hero, charismatic, cunning mastermind Trick. Johnny helped to produce the franchise, taking the series to a whole other level with limited national theatrical release, national distribution thru Redbox and other streaming platforms. He has been working as a host and producer with Elena Moscatt since 2009 on the Music and Entertainment Press Series, Click On This TV.
Stills taken by DP Richard Chisolm. (Above) Asher Daniels (Played by Johnny Alonso) at the bar with his band mates. (Below) Oldest teen daughter Stashi (played by Aubrey Nicole Dittmar) receives exciting news, while step-mom Angela (Paula Black) and her father Asher (Johnny Alonso) look on.
In Rosemary Street, Johnny plays the aging rockstar / music teacher, Asher Daniels. Asher is married to his 2nd wife, Angela (Played by Paula Black), and is raising his two teen daughters (from his first marriage) and his 7 year old son (with Angela). Music runs through their blood - both daughters are singers and attend a Performing Arts High School, and the 7 yr old already plays drums and Bass.
Johnny can also be seen in a new horror movie called The Haunting of Cottonwood, which will be premiering at the Senator Theatre on January 25th. His youngest teen daughter in Rosemary Street, Carson Jean Holley also plays his daughter in The Haunting of Cottonwood. He met her while making the film, and worked so well with her on the film, that he convinced Elena to write a part for Carson in Rosemary Street. And what a part!! Casey Daniels is the Rebel with Multiple Causes! And boy, does she “cause the trouble” in and on Rosemary Street! You can see this Father/ Daughter (on Camera) duo in both Rosemary Street and The Haunting of Cottonwood! Please come to the screening on January 25th!! Visit his website for more details: http://www.johnnyalonso.com
Still to the left, taken by Laura Holley of actor Johnny Alonso and actress Carson Jean Holley. Still on the right, Official Movie Poster of The Haunting of Cottonwood, Courtesy of Michael Mclaren, Espukus.com
Other notable cast members in Rosemary Street include Parijita Bastola and Kique Gomez. Parijita Bastola has become the 2023 Pride of Baltimore! She’s a teen singer from Severna Park, Maryland, who made it to the top 8th round during the 22nd season of The Voice, as she sang as part of John Legend’s team. She made Voice history for being the show's first Nepali American Contestant. She met her boyfriend, Kique Gomez on The Voice, he was competing as part of Gwen Stefani’s team and made it to the Top 10 round.
Parijita and Kique play Petra Baskola and Joey Duskin, a couple who are best friends and classmates with Asher’s daughter, Stashi Daniels (Aubrey Nicole Dittmar). They go to a Performing Arts High School in Baltimore. They are Seniors in High School, about to graduate in a few months.
Still taken by Elena Moscatt. Teen Cast (L to R) include: Kique Gomez as Joey Duskin, Parijita Bastola as Petra Baskola, Aubrey Nicole Dittmar as Stashi Daniels, and Carson Jean Holley as Casey Daniels. The teens filmed at the 32nd street lot in Charles Village. Still below: Courtesy of Christopher Williams facebook page. R & B singer / Actor Christopher Williams.
Parijita sang the National Anthem for the 2023 Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens Opening Days. She also sang the National Anthem for the Raven’s 1st Play-Offs game on January 20th against the Texans.
1990s R & B Singer and actor Christopher Williams (New Jack City), will be playing Mr. Ed Slater, the Vocalist Teacher at the high school. He will be coaching the teen singers and helping them prepare their “Senior Performances”. The finale episode of the 1st season of Rosemary should be very exciting - there are so many musical artists involved in the series! Christopher will be making his 1st appearance on the show in episode 4, “Third Wheel”, which will start filming this winter.
Christopher’s single "I'm Dreamin'", from the New Jack City soundtrack, became a No. 1 single on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts. He also acted in New Jack City. Christopher has played a main character in the stage play The Clean-up Womanwritten by JD Lawrence, alongside actresses Telma Hopkins and Jackée. He appeared in the stage plays Guilty Until Proven Innocent starring K-Ci & JoJo, and The Man of Her Dreams starring Shirley Murdock and Dave Hollister of Blackstreet fame.
The first three episodes were filmed in the Charles Village and Mount Vernon areas. Some of the locations included the Baltimore Landmarks, Ted’s Music Shop on Centre Street and The Depot on Charles Street.
Ted’s Music Shop has been around since the 1930s, and has been the “must go to” shop for musicians of all levels for years. Owner Fernando and his brother both landed cameos in the Music Shop scenes, the location where Asher Daniels (Johnny Alonso) works in the series.
The Depot played the role of “The Beer Depot” bar, a place where Asher and his friends frequent for Happy Hour. The Depot has been around since the 80s, and has become a popular hangout for locals and traveling musicians. Owner Patrick also has a cameo in the bar scene, relating to Asher and friends.
Still Above - taken by Elena Moscatt. Cast and crew at the Ted’s Music shop set.
Still below taken by Melissa Dawn Perry. Many cast and crew members met at the Hotel Indigo for a sneak peek of Episodes 1 & 2 of Rosemary Street Series on Nov 5th, 2023.
There was a sneak peek of episodes 1 & 2 at the Baltimore Next Media Webfest on November, 5th, 2023. Many of the cast and crew members came out for the screening and the after party, which was held at Last Call in the Mount Vernon Marketplace. The three episodes will officially come out this month, January, and early February, 2024 on the official website, as well as on the Youtube website.
Episodes 4 thru 6 will be filmed this winter and spring, 2024. Some of the new characters include: Christopher Williams as Mr. Slater, the vocal coach to the older teens, Stashi Daniels (played by Aubrey Dittmar), Petra Baskola (played by Parijita Bastola) and Joey Duskin (played by Kique Gomez).
Dolores Hunter is played by SAG-AFTRA actress Towanda Underdue. She is a SAG AFTRA National Board Member, and also works as a JHU SOM SP Education Trainer with the Johns Hopkins Medical School. She’s an Award winning Actress/Writer/Voice Artist/Producer known for projects such as House of Cards, Black Oaks, and the new feature film, Last Night at Terrace Lanes.
Two new characters that will be introduced in episode 4 will be Jaxon Hunter, played by Jordan 'Lil JJ' Jones Jr. and Harpo Hunter, played by teen actress and influencer Varonica Mitchell from the VV Show. They will play a brother/sister duo, and grandchildren to Dolores Hunter.
Lil JJ is an upcoming star born to shine bright. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Jordan Jones Jr aka Lil JJ has loved music since an early age. Lil JJ breaks away from the general stereotypes of rappers and has proven to be a role model for others his age. Some artists that inspire Lil JJ include Ybs Skola, Drake, Lil Baby, and of course his cousin Beezy. The release of his first single "Yea Yea" has had a great reception, with responses from Power 105.1's DJ Envy, Music Exec Tay Kelly, and others in the music industry. While music is his passion, Lil JJ also looks forward to playing Jaxon Hunter in Rosemary Street, and has recently become a brand ambassador for the well-known clothing store Macys as well as Polo Ralph Lauren and Polo Drip.
Sensational Teen Actress, Comedian, Host, Teen Influencer Varonica Mitchell from The VV Show will be joining the cast of Rosemary Street Web Series as Harpo Hunter, Dolores Hunter's granddaughter, and Jaxon Hunter's younger sister.
Varonica has a way of interpreting movie scenes and skits hilariously and effortlessly with her own spin on things. She has developed clean kid friendly For-All-Ages stand up comedy bits with original characters all on her own.
On TikTok, she danced and lip synced perfectly to the Lil Jon song, “Snap Yo Fingers” and the rest is history!! “Let Me See You Do It, Aye!”
She was invited onto the Jennifer Hudson show, and met Lil Jon in person! She now has accumulated over 2 million social media followers among all of her social media platforms combined, with her top viewing videos reaching well over 20 million views to date.
Varonica has done theater, stage plays, stand up comedy, movies, short films, music videos, and even trained other actors. She is proud to be a youth comedian, actress and a successful Christian kid friendly content creator and viral social media personality.
The first three episodes will be coming out strategically on the official Rosemary Street website as well as the Rosemary Street Series Youtube Site shortly. The announcement and the 1st episode will drop this spring. There will be a zoom/facebook live press conference when the 3rd episode drops. Some of the cast members will even perform! Stay Tuned for these announcements!! Look for more news about the filming of the next three episodes on the official website at: http://www.rosemarystreetseries.tv
