ELISE MAURINE MILNER, CEO/Founder of Hanging Cow Productions is first a writer, then a producer & a director, occasionally an actress, but always pursuing her dreams! She began her humble creative endeavors in the small town of Virginia City in rural Nevada with a population of just 600 people! After conquering high school, college, and local community theater productions, Elise was ready to take on the world! Elise at 17 years old left Nevada & went on to study writing, acting, theatre/TV production, and broadcasting for 3 years in San Francisco and for 5 years in Los Angeles. She has worked diligently and ambitiously in every aspect of the entertainment industry from performing on stage & in television and film, to being a disc jockey and news producer for KGLE Radio (West Coast) and even helped launch and develop a television pilot for Universal Studios, Hollywood. When she came to New York City in 1999, similarly to Madonna, (knowing no one in the city and having big dreams with just 22 cents in the bank) Elise was (excitedly) culture shocked and quickly realized she had to create her own opportunities from the ground up if she were going to take a bite out of the Big Apple! She was cast as a repertory member in a small theater company where she helped develop and performed original works on stage – all while watching and learning the ropes of how a boutique production company operated. Sadly that company folded a year later, but she began to piece together how she could start her own company bigger and better! She began writing & producing her own work full time under Hanging Cow Productions. (The company name she formed in High School from both a type-o and in honor of Elise’s love for horses and livestock, having grown up as an avid 4-H er!)
Elise’s early Off Broadway regional shows were a mix of several audience interactive, parody comedies including “Who Killed Mama Souprano?” “My Big Fat GEEK Wedding!” “The Agagamy Award Show,” and “Greased Lightning, A Comedy High School Reunion!” some of which STILL perform regionally around the NY area! Since then she has been more focused on traditional, thought provoking dramatic works. To date, Elise has written 17 full scale plays and musicals, all of which she single-handedly successfully produced on Off Broadway stages in New York City and beyond! Those titles include “The Sixth Session,” “The Accidental Awakening,” “An Awkward Inheritance,” “An Arrangement of Euphoric Illusions,” “Ascension Underground,” “All Because of Infidelity,” “12 Steps the Musical!” “All We Really Know is That We Exist,” and “The Answers to Apathy,” which received critical acclaim from Broadway producer Hugh Hayes who called Elise “the real deal” and compared her to esteemed playwright Beth Henley (Crimes of the Heart.) Although Elise has also been compared to Neil Labute for tackling social taboos and creating raw and edgy dialogue, she considers her work her own unique style and often writes predominantly uncensored characters grappling with their flaws and mortality often from a spiritual perspective.
Elise has now produced and directed over 400 theatrical performances coast to coast,
including a very special theatrical debut performance in 2021 in her hometown of Virginia City, Nevada! “An Awkward Inheritance,” (a play AND a future television comedy about northern Nevada) marked her first show back (post-pandemic) in a 200 year old opera house!
Elise is currently working on two new exciting plays for 2025… “Appropriate Behavior,” and “After Life.” She is also licensing her shows to national and international theaters and entertainment venues while she currently continues to write NEW and original works for theatre, film, and television.
Elise is completely SELF made, most every production she has produced has come from creating her own opportunities through her own fundraising. She is also the founder and creator of the Backdoor to Broadway Boot camp Beginner Producer’s Workshop, where she teaches her production skills to budding producers. From rags to ramen and to one day riches, Elise is a true inspiration and community teacher and business leader whose passion and drive is unmatched by most, yet she is humbled and SO grateful for every step and every person she has encountered along the way to help make her art a success. Though she is already living her dreams, her final goal in the works…. to conquer Broadway and television!
In her spare time, Elise enjoys and rides her horse “One Tall Sully” which she keeps in the Hudson Valley. She frequently travels abroad regularly with her hubby & BFF Suzanne Lynn, & she is a pre-bronze ice dancing partner in training with her gold medalist ice dance coach. Elise couldn’t do what she does without her loyal team below… the phenomenal artists that make up this company are highly regarded and deeply appreciated for all the talent they bring to our productions…
Meet the rest of our extraordinary TEAM!
ELISA RENEE BOLDIZAR (Permanent Company Member) is our CFO and Sr. Executive responsible for managing finances and marketing for Hanging Cow. Her emphasis is on economic strategies and forecasting while ensuring limited liability for the company. Elisha has a knack for keeping her finger on the pulse. California native, born and raised in the Los Angeles area, Elisa currently maintains residency in California with frequent commutes to New York during live productions. Elise and Elisa met in 1998, while both attending college in Los Angeles and have remained friends, business associates and partners (in crime!) ever since. Elisha has been involved in managing and investing in Real Estate for more than 18 years. Her hobbies include, concerts, cooking for family and friends, skiing, and boating.
ROBERT MARK, (Permanent Compay Member) co-director and performer, has a degree in the performing arts and started his acting career in 1997 with musicals Bye Bye Birdie, Fiddler on the Roof, A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum, Best Little Whore House in Texas, and Damn Yankees. Robert was also cast in Can’noli Happen and the documentary Pleasant Days (An East Harlem Story) as a producer. Robert also starred in the Guido Monologues which had a tremendous off Broadway run and the originally written show The Smoking Section. Robert has performed in “12 Steps the Musical,” “The Sixth Session,” “An Awkward Inheritance,” “The Accidental Awakening” and “Who Killed Mama Souprano?!” all previous Hanging Cow, hit shows! Robert has had a long standing friendship with Elise Milner. Robert would like to thank Hanging Cow, his family, friends, and beautiful wife Kimberly for their support in Living his Dream!!!
CHRISTOPHER BERLINO (Permanent Company Member) is our stage photographer, and sound/lighting tech! Originally a Studio Art major in college on Long Island where he was raised, his artistic expertise at the time was painting and sculpture. In 2001, he took a serious interest in photography and avidly began his photography business. Chris photographs everything and everyone in the NYC-tri state area and beyond in all areas of digital photography from glamour, weddings, red carpet/VIP events, acting/modeling portfolios, and travel and photo journalism. Chris is thrilled to be working with his talented wife Elise as in house tech and has taken on a true love for the theater since working with his wife full time since 2019. He and Elise have traveled the world from Europe to Australia honing his craft as a photographer and an artist. He is excited to work on theatrical projects with his soulmate and best friend, and his dear friends behind the scenes! In his spare time he enjoys horseback riding, roller skating, long walks on the beach, dog walks, cat walks, and cooking woks! Here is to living life fully! Click here to view his website!
SUZANNE LYNN, (Permanent Company Member) head production assistant and set designer, has known Elise longer than just about anyone! Suzanne and Elise were childhood best friends and met in 1982! Now they have finally fused their creative expertise to form a theatrical team for the Hanging Cow! Suzanne, based in Reno, Nevada, is a full time artist who creates sculptures, signs, plaques, personalized keepsakes, and her own line of body care! Suzanne has been so happy to revive her love and expertise in theater! Production credits include the Nevada production of “An Awkward Inheritance” (2022) the New York production of “Angels Among Us,” (2022) and the NYC production of “All Because of Infidelity.” She is looking forward to an exciting 2025 season!
TORI KRAESE, (Permanent Company Member) stage manager, and assistant director, is also an aspiring off-broadway producer who is finally reuniting with the theatre world after being derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 2020 with degrees in Producing & Management, Psychology, and Business Management. Outside of Hanging Cow Productions, she works for a high end interior design firm by day and front of house at New York Theatre Workshop by night. Production credits include “Good News” (2020) at the Theresa Lang Theatre and “The Birds and the BS with Jordan Roth” web series (2018-2019). Tori is so excited to be a permanent part of HCP fam!
CAITLYN GEILER (Permanent Company Member) actress and casting assistant, is a graduate of The Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Caitlyn has been in 3 Off Broadway Productions, and multiple award winning short films including Luperca Returns, and Out of Boredom. Originally from Cape Cod, MA, Caitlyn participated in over 25 theater productions between the ages of 8 and 18 with The Barnstable High School Drama club, voted Best High School Theater in New England, and featured on The WB’s web series, High Drama: Against all Oz. There, she not only learned about performing, but was trained in stage craft, set painting, and costuming. Most recent credits include Hanging Cow’s All We Really Know is That We Exist, and The Answers to Apathy, and the short film, Were Flutter: Quest for Truth.
MARIE ZACCAGNINO (Permanent Company Member) lives in Manhattan New York and is an Alumni of Pace University Performing Arts BFA in Acting for Film, Television, Voice-Overs & Commercials Class of 2018. She has recently been cast in the new Amazon Prime Series “Mob Mentality” as the reoccurring role of “Lisa Visconti” premiering September of 2025 on Prime Video! She will also be playing the role of “Raven” in Hanging Cow Productions “Angels Among Us” December 3-8, 2024 at The American Theatre of Actors! She has also performed in, “A Sketch of New York” , “Lysistrata”, “12 Angry Women”, “The Laramie Project”, “A Seussified Christmas Carol” as well as the musical “Candyland”! She is also a teaching artist with Bloom Performing Arts! She is so passionate about her craft! Being onstage and in front of the camera are two of her most favorite places to be in the world! She is the happiest when she is performing. She made her Off Broadway debut in Hanging Cows production “All We Really Know Is That we Exist” as the role of “Funky”! And she wants to thank Elise for giving her the opportunity to be part of such an incredible company, as she is now a proud long term member of Hanging Cow Productions! And thank you to her family and friends for their endless support!
CONSTANCE CHRISTIE (Permanent Company Member) is proud to be a part of the Hanging Cow Theatre Company! Over the past year she was in seven shows with Hanging Cow Productions. She additionally performed in two other plays and played a supporting role in a feature film. Constance began her acting career after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from SUNY Stony Brook. After performing in several films and Off-Broadway productions, in 2009 Constance left New York to go Thomas M. Cooley law school in Michigan. While Constance always believed her theatrical foundation helped with her litigation concentration during law school and later, in her legal career, the desire to perform continually pulled at her. Constance decided to stop silencing her love of the arts and performing. She training again and has been performing consistently since her return.
GARY VARGAS (Permanent Company Member) an actor born and raised in the Bronx, had acted in 5 Off Broadway shows with Hanging Cow Productions! Gary was recently seen in “Who Killed Mama Souprano,” “All We Really Know is That We Exist,” and “All Because Of … Infidelity” at the American Theatre for Actors. He took his first acting class just over 3 years ago at Westchester Community College and has fallen in love with performing and has not looked back. He is a Human Resources Manager for a Not-For-Profit organization in New York. However, acting is a passion for him that he finally found the courage to pursue! A few of Gary’s biggest inspirations are Tom Hanks, Gary Oldman, Paul Giamatti, and Walton Goggins. When Gary is not working his day job or passion, he is performing non-stop for his wife and child. His hobbies include motorcycle riding, off-roading trails, and reading graphic novels. Gary is extremely excited to be part of this production! He would like to thank Hanging Cow Productions for taking a shot with him and giving him the opportunity to pursue his dream, making him feel like family! He wants to thank his biggest supporter, his wife, who continues to give him the push to pursue his dream, along with his son, who he hopes to grow up to pursue his dreams no matter what life throws at him. He dedicates this performance to his mother, Sadie Vargas: “I hope I’m making you proud as you look down from above.”