Spring 2012 Forum

WHO'S WHO IN THE SPRING 2012 WRITER/DIRECTOR FORUM

MEGAN MCSWEENEY (AD/SM) is an actor/director from Columbus Ohio with a BFA in Acting from Wright State. She has directed 100 Saints You Should Know and Back to Canvassing, a One Woman Musical. Megan is trilled to be back with Looking Glass after interning with the company last summer. Thanks to everyone for making this a great experience.

JULIANNE ROSS (AD/SM) is a director and writer who moved to New York after volunteering for six months in rural Namibia (big difference). She recently wrote for the TinyRhino Festival at Ugly Rhino Productions, and is the Artistic Intern at Signature Theatre Company. B.A. in Comparative Literature from Harvard.

RYAN METZLER (Light Designer) ) - formerly Lighting Designer in Residence for Looking Glass Theatre and formerly the Resident Light Designer for the Planet Connections Festivity. Work in New York includes projects at Theatre Row, Altered Stages, the WorkShop, chashama, the Wings Theatre, Theatre 3, Second Stage and others. Ryan is proud to have lighted benefit productions for BC/EFA, the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation, the Society for Ethical Culture, the PM3 Foundation and others. After five years of collaboration, Ryan would like to extend his gratitude to the Looking Glass community for their constant support, friendship and, above all, integrity

Winfluence

GABRIELLE FOX (Playwright) has had her plays produced throughout New York City and the metropolitan region. Theatres include Looking Glass Theatre (Gin Joint, Spring 2011 Forum) the American Theatre of Actors, Gene Frankel Theatre, The Robert Moss Theater, Richmond Shepard Theatre, Baruch Performing Arts Center, and the Axial Theatre. Her work has been nominated in the Strawberry One Act Festival, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity and the Writer’s Digest. Member of the Dramatists Guild. gabriellefoxwrites.com

EMILY ANTENUCCI (Director) is delighted to be working at Looking Glass again, having assistant directed/stage managed Calamity Jane Battles the Horrible Hoopsnakes last fall. Recent assistant directing credits include Romeo and Juliet and Spring's Awakening with New York Shakespeare Exchange. She holds a B.A. in Drama from Vassar College. She is often seen with tote bags and headphones and enjoys frilly skirts. Many thanks to the very talented and dedicated Forum artists and the indomitable Looking Glass Staff!.

MICHELE O’BRIEN (Ellen) recently graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY, where she was able to direct, and to perform a variety of roles, including: the Angel (Angels in America), Hero (Much Ado About Nothing), and Mahala (Homebody/Kabul). Thanks to Looking Glass and Emily for this opportunity!

ALEXIS ROBBINS (Mandy) -- This is Alexis' first production with Looking Glass and she is delighted to be part of the Forum. She earned her BFA in Theatre from Boston University. Favorite credits include: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Puck), Enchated April (Lotty), Rimers of Eldridge (Eva), and Dancing at Lugnasa (Rose), and The Beaux's Stratagem (Cherry). Love to family and friends.

The More the Merrier

MARY FLANAGAN (Playwright) received her MFA in Playwriting from the Actors Studio Drama School of New School University, NYC in 2004. Previous plays done at The Looking Glass include; Back in the Box, One Wagon, One Boathouse, One Body and Angels. Mary is delighted to be part of the Spring Forum and wishes to dedicate this show to her dad for always believing in her and encouraging her to follow her dreams.

JENN WOMACK (Director) -- Past Looking Glass Forum/Reading Series credits: Do These Jeans Make My Butt Look Massive (by Donna Latham) and FRANKIE AINT COMIN HOME, or The One That Got Away (by Aliza Shane). New York: Assassins, Urinetown! The Musical, The Golem of My Eye (by Courtney Baron), I'll Do It Tomorrow (by Michael Roderick/David Mallamud) and various readings for the NY Playwright Madness Festival and ESPA/Primary Stages. Non-New York: The Big Bang, The Rocky Horror Show, The House of Yes, Moon Over Buffalo, Uncommon Women and Others, and Fiddler on the Roof. By day, Jenn is an entertainment attorney for NBCUniversal. Click here for more about Jenn...

LEON AXT (Gordon) is glad to be involved in his first production at Looking Glass. This is his first year in the New York school of Life and he is proud to say that he is getting by. May you watch it and be pleased, or horribly upset. Either works for him.

MARC CORNES (Chris) is thrilled to be a part of the Forum, and excited to be a part of a new work. Much thanks to all my friends and family for all the love and support.

DAVID EDEN (Jack) has performed in several workshops in New York City, including at HB Studios and Lee Cohn Acting Studio. He has studied acting at a variety of schools, including at the Einhorn School of Performing Arts at Primary Stages, and is excited for this opportunity to participate in the Writer/Director Forum at Looking Glass Theatre.

JAKE GREEN (Kenneth) is an actor, writer, and small business owner, in addition to being a spring acting intern at Looking Glass, where he is glad to have met so many lovely and talented people. He recently completed the latest session of Fiasco Theater's Free Training Initiative, and in July, he will appear as Isaac in the Inwood Shakespeare Festival's production of The Golem.

WINSTON SHAW (Stephen) is a native of Santa Fe, NM. He attended college at Sarah Lawrence, where he studied theater. Winston's New York credits include Spark, a play by Angela Santillo produced at the Access Theater and The Scheme of the Super Bullies, a children's musical by Ross Wade, produced at the Little Theater as part of the New York Children's Theater Festival. He currently performs improv at the PIT in Manhattan and is the creator of the web series “This Week in the World!”

STACY ANN STRANG (Tina) is thrilled to be doing her fourth production at the Looking Glass. She has been in two Spring Forums in Double Cross and Leap Year as well as the Calamity! Staged Reading in Everybody Dressed as Cowboys. Most recently Stacy Ann was in the world premiere of the wonderful play You Love Myself by Sean David DeMers. She is thankful to Jenn and the talented cast and AD/SMs for this fun opportunity. Love to bug.

GREGORY WOOL (Mike) is thrilled to be a part of his first production with Looking Glass Theatre, and for the chance to work with Jenn again. New York Theatre: Macbeth (Pulse Ensemble Theatre); Assassins (5th Floor Productions); The Choice (Theater for the New City); And Away! (Gene Frankel Theatre); Grand Unified (Ugly Rhino Productions). Regional: As You Like It (Cincinnati Outdoor Classics); House of Blue Leaves (Falcon Theatre).

Jinxed

K. ALEXA MAVROMATIS (Playwright) She holds an MFA in Playwriting from Boston University, and a BA in Drama from the University of Georgia. Her play The Back Room was the 2008 third place winner of the David Mark Cohen National Playwriting Award, presented by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and the Association for Theatre in Higher Education. Alexa’s short plays – including Bastard (a finalist for the Actors Theatre of Louisville’s Heideman Award in 2008), Bone China (anthologized by Smith & Kraus, and to be included in the new edition of Bedford/St. Martin’s Creative Writing: Four Genres in Brief), and True Blue – have been produced across the country and internationally, including the Looking Glass Winter 2011 Forum.

TAYLOR REYNOLDS (Director) is delighted to finally direct at Looking Glass after being an AD/SM for The Angel Play and the Winter 2011 Forum. She is originally from Chicago, where she directed a production of Annie at Hanna Saks High School last spring. She holds a BFA in Directing from Carnegie Mellon University, where her senior thesis production was In the Blood. Click here for more about Taylor...

ERIN HEALANI CHUNG (Meatloaf) is proud to be in her first show at Looking Glass Theatre where she is also currently an acting intern. She recently moved to New York from Hawai'i after earning her BA in theatre from the University of Hawai'i - Manoa. Her favorite roles include Ophelia in Hamlet and Tracy from Don Nigro's Seascape with Sharks and Dancer.

ZECA RICHA (Stringbean) is an actor from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, graduated at Lè Monde Theatre School (RJ) and NYFA (NY). He started as a young actor at the age of 12. Since then he acted in several plays like Sand Captains (SP), Godspell (RJ) and Something Outrageous (NY), films like Last Stop 174 and hosted his own TV show in Brazil. He'd like to thank Looking Glass Theatre for the opportunity to be back to the stage which is his big passion.

RIA T. DiLULLO (AD/SM) is very excited to be working with Looking Glass Theatre. She graduated Cum Laude from Brown in 2011 with a degree in American Civilization. Having worked on 20 different shows while an undergraduate in all kinds of capacities, from actor to technical assistant, from stage manager to dramaturg and director to designer, this is her first theatre experience back in her hometown of New York City, and couldn’t be happier about it! Many thanks to Looking Glass Theatre for the opportunity to work with some talented women and to my parents for their constant support.

PAULA GATES (AD/SM) spent her early life immersed in the performing arts until she was advised to do something respectable. After becoming a lawyer and suburban housewife she realized that respectability is overrated and is delighted to mark her return to the stage as an AD/SM with Looking Glass Theatre. Having recently completed a professional program in arts management, she looks forward to spending the rest of her working life with eccentric creative types. She lives in Greater Philadelphia with her very respectable husband, somewhat respectable eleven year-old, three undignified cats and five tawdry goats.

PORSCHE MCGOVERN (Light Designer) is a New York-based lighting designer. Most recently at Looking Glass, she was lighting designer for East of the Sun, West of the Moon. Selected designs include Parker and Dizzy's Fabulous Journey to the End of the Rainbow (NY Fringe), Twelfth Night on a Brooklyn rooftop, Orpheus Descending in a Greenwich Village church, and the 6th Annual Bring a Weasel and a Pint of Blood Festival. Some of her honors include Oregon Shakespeare Festival Richard L. Hay Fellowship in Lighting Design, ETC-LDI Sponsorship, USITT Young Designers’ Forum, Clambake, and the Prague Quadrennial American Student Exhibition. Porsche holds an MFA in Lighting Design from California Institute of the Arts and a BA from St. Lawrence University. PorscheLighting.com

Aphrodite at the ER

NANCY GALL-CLAYTON (Playwright) is thrilled to have a play on stage at Looking Glass Theatre again. She has been a Visiting Artist at Ohio State University and a Tennessee Williams Scholar at Sewanee Writers' Conference. Her plays have been seen in 20 states, Canada, and Australia. She is published by Dramatic, Smith & Kraus, and Meriwether. Nancy is a member of Dramatists Guild and the International Centre for Women Playwrights.

GINA FEMIA (Director) - As a director, Gina has worked with MCC, the Summer Shorts Festival and Looking Glass Theatre. She has been assistant director to John Dillon (Tarftuffe, Sarah Lawrence College) and Merri Milwe (Fit, 59E59 Theater). She recently directed a reading of Kipper the Airedale by Ally Scully at the Green Point Gallery as well as a workshop reading of her own play Starlight at TheaterLab. MFA, Sarah Lawrence College.

KELLEY EVANS (Aphrodite) is currently an acting intern at Looking Glass and thrilled to be part of this production under the genius of Gina Femia. Home grown roots of the San Francisco Bay Area, she has spent the last four years falling in love with New York City and all its idiosyncrasies. A recent graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, she holds a BFA in Theatre. Some previous stage credits include Political Snorts, Believers, Talk Radio. She is also an company member of Rising Sun Performance Company and studies improv at Upright Citizens Brigade.

BILLY ROBERTS (Bud) is an actor living in New York City. This is his second Looking Glass Forum and he is very excited about that fact. Favorite roles include Man in Sidewalk Cracks (Forum) and The Adding Clerk in Machinal. When Billy isn't acting he is performing with his improv troupe Fishstick Rodeo. And when he isn't doing THAT he is wondering whether speaking in the third person in a bio is passe. Thanks to Gina for being such a supportive director. Love to Mara.

The Third Bride

BRIANNA KELLER (Playwright) is thrilled to be participating in the Looking Glass Writer/Director Forum! She is a 2010 graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, earning a BA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in playwriting. The Third Bride is her first NYC-produced play. She has worked extensively in wardrobe at the Metropolitan Opera, in addition to managing a private screening room in Midtown Manhattan.

KATHERINE SOMMER (Director) is so happy to return for her fourth time as a director in the Looking Glass Writer/Director Forum. She is a (not-so-recent-anymore) graduate of Skidmore College and is enjoying exploring all the wonderfully rewarding theatrical experiences in and around NYC. Katherine feels very lucky to have such talented people in her life, and is very grateful to Brianna for trusting and joining her on this project. She would also like to thank her friends and family for the ongoing love and support, and this wonderful cast and crew for all their hard work and dedication!

JAKE CULLENS (Count de Ville) is honored to be a part of the Looking Glass Spring Forum. Jake is a graduate of The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University, and has performed in film, television and theatre in New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. Some past credits include: Orange Flower Water, Amicable Parting, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Julius Caesar, A Few Good Men, Barefoot in the Park, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Taming of the Shrew, and The Foreigner. Thank you to Katherine, the cast and crew, and Anne for her love and support. Click here for more about Jake...

ROSEMARY GLENNON (Johanna Von Hagenauer) is a recent graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University where she received a BA in Theatre Arts. Past credits include Girl in Veronica’s Room (Bickford Theatre), Bo Peep in Babes in Toyland and Bernice in The Code Breaker (Growing Stage Theatre). She is absolutely thrilled to be a part of The Third Bride. Click here for more about Rosemary...

LEANNE MERCADANTE (Baroness Maria Carolina Von Lutgendorff) is a current Looking Glass acting intern. She is a versatile performer who has been working professionally in New York for the past few years. She recently returned from a tour of Romeo and Juliet as Juliet with Theatre as Advocacy, a production which served as part of an LGBT advocacy and awareness campaign in NC. See her this July in The Tempest with her theatre company Perchance to Dream Theatre. Thanks to Looking Glass and the people who are working so hard on this fabulous Forum. Click here for more about Leanne...

Bait

JOANNA PIUCCI (Playwright) is a playwright and poet living in New York City. Her plays have been presented at the Love Creek Short Play Festival (NYC), the Cold Cuts reading series by Ten Grand and a Burger Productions (NYC), Carrollwood Players’ One-Act Weekend (Tampa, FL), and the Image & Style Outreach Project (Fernandina Beach, FL), and published in Best Stage Scenes of 2000 (ed. Beard, 2002, Smith & Kraus). Her poems have appeared in numerous literary magazines as well as Listening with the Ear of the Heart: Writers at St. Peter’s (eds. Margoshes and Sopher, 2003, St. Peter’s Press).

CAROLINE ANGELL (Director) - Directing: Shotz (aMios, NYC), Mulan, The Jungle Book (The Theatre Lab, DC) High School Musical 2 (Regional Premiere, Academy of the Holy Cross, MD), The King is Dead (workshop American University/Highwire Theatre), Little Gives, Whisper Rings, and Tempted (The Kennedy Center Page to Stage), Working (Imagination Stage), Violet (Kensington Arts Theatre), and Perf 101, Godspell, and To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday (American University). Assistant Directing: Olney Theatre Center, Folger Shakespeare Theatre, Imagination Stage, Metro Stage. B.A.:Musical Theatre, American University. Caroline previous was an AD/SM for the Winter 2011 Forum. ILYDDMGB&E!

MEGHANN GARMANY (Chloe) was most recently seen in the reading of When Danny Comes Back for Us at The Drilling Co, as part of the LPTW series, Thirty Plays Celebrate Thirty Years. Other credits include Burial at Thebes, Romeo & Juliet, Eurydice, Abingdon Square, and Her Sexy Outfit in association with Ridge Theater. She is a member of the acting company in Playwrights Gallery at Arthur Seelin Theatre. Ms. Garmany holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Virginia Tech. Click here for more about Meghann...

MICHAEL KREITZINGER (Driver) is very excited to take part in the Forum and to be performing in Bait. Other NYC credits include Spark (Access Theater), Certificate of Death (Rattlestick), and The Body of Evaporation (37 ARTS). Favorite roles include Katurian in The Pillowman, El Gallo in The Fantasticks and Guido Contini in Nine. Thank you to my family and friends for their constant support and love.

RACHEL STEPHENSON SHEFF (Maggie) is currently studying musical theatre at NYU Tisch’s New Studio on Broadway. Past credits include a reading of the new musical Crush in NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program and New Studio’s production of The Secret Garden, in which she appeared as Rose Lennox. This is her first show at Looking Glass Theatre and she is thrilled to be a part of this dynamic and talented cast. She is proud to support a theatre where women are empowered and encouraged to create. Thank you to all my family, both here in New York and back home in Canada!

It's Just the Radio

REGINA ROBBINS (Playwright) is no stranger to Looking Glass, having directed in the Forum four times. She has also directed for Manhattan Theatre Source, Six Figures Theatre, and Untitled Theatre Co. #61. Playwriting credits include Suicide Machines (staged reading, Directors' Company), Not a Dream (Looking Glass Forum/Six Figures), and Enter Attendant, Disguised (Expanded Arts). Regina has also written and directed three short films; they have been screened at festivals around the U.S. Click here for more about Regina...

ANAIS KOIVISTO (Director) is excited to continue her work with Looking Glass Theatre! Previous Looking Glass credits: The Tower (Fugly Staged Reading Series), The Golden Ticket (Writer/Director Forum). Other credits include The Saint Plays (Seiche Productions), GUT Symmetries at the Huntington Light Lab, Speed Shakespeare – Hamlet, R&J (Theatre Artists’ Conspiracy), and Misreadings (SOTA). Anais holds a BFA from Boston University and has studied at LAMDA and ACT.

JENNIFER FERGUSON (Elaine/Sandi/Cheryl) is a current Looking Glass intern and is thrilled to join the cast for It’s Just the Radio, her first production since moving to NYC in March! A recent graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University, (BFA- Theatre Performance), Jennifer could be seen in various roles such as La Marquise de Merteuil in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Carly in reasons to be pretty, Laura Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie, and various ensemble roles in The Who’s Tommy, Psycho Beach Party, and Return to the Upright Position at the Firehouse Theatre.

EMILY KARPIUK (Deb) is a recent graduate from the Boston Conservatory, with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. Most recently Emily performed with the Hampton Theatre Co., having played Marie Louise in My Three Angels. Emily has sailed the seas as a featured singer with Royal Caribbean International, and toured the U.S. and performed in NYC with Brother Joscephus and The Love Revival Revolution Orchestra. Emily is thrilled to be returning to Looking Glass Theatre, having been an intern, performed new works such as The Life And Death of Joshua Zweig (Forum) and several of their staged readings. Click here for more about Emily....

EMILY REIDER (Gail/Jackie/Mel) is from Raleigh, NC. She is happy to be making her Looking Glass debut with such a talented group of women. Favorite roles include: Gina in As I Am Fully Known (NY Fringe/ The 8 o’clocks), Jen in SECCA (Burning Coal Theatre Co.), Myrhinne in Lysistrata (Phare Play Productions) and always Brooke in Noises Off! (Triad Stage). She is a graduate of UNC-Greensboro and would like to thank her family, friends and husband-to-be for all of their support.

SHANNA SARTORI (AD/SM) holds her BA in acting and directing from Keene State College in New Hampshire where she grew up. She’s appeared in a number of Indie films, most recently Straight on till Morning. Her favorite role is Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest. She is very pleased to be making her assistant directing debut with the Looking Glass Forum.

AMBER EMORY (AD/SM) is excited to be a part of her first Writer/Directing Forum with Looking Glass Theatre. She recently graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in theater and concentration in directing. Her last production was her thesis Looking Glass, an ensemble-devised piece. She assistant directed As You Like It (Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival), Dead Man's Cell Phone (Simpatico Theater Company), Medeaplays and Hamlet Machine (Renegade Theater Company) and Robin Hood (Arden Theatre Company), in addition to many productions at Temple University. She would like to thank her mom and grandparents for their continued support in all her crazy endeavors.

ARTEM KREIMER (Light Design) recently moved to New York, having just graduated Washington University in St. Louis. He is a designer, an actor, and a statistician and is studying at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting this summer. He recently designed Deuteranomaly for the Plannet Connections Festivity. In St. Louis, he designed for the Wash U Performing Arts Department - most recently Radio Free Emerson and Anatol - as well as for The Slaughter Project. He remounted one of the pieces from The Slaughter Project's CARAVAN at the 4th Annual Emerson Spring to Dance Festival. He is a proud recipient John G. Jutkowitz Prize in Performing Arts.

The World

KARIN DIANN WILLIAMS (Playwright) is an Artistic Associate at Looking Glass where audiences have seen her plays Head, Time Troll, and Spirits! among others. Her work has also been produced by San Diego's Fritz Theater (where she served as playwright-in-residence from 1992-2001), the Gertrude Stein Repertory Theatre Digital Performance Institute, Art House Productions, Lamia Ink!, the Midtown International Theatre Festival, the Strawberry One Act Festival, Collaboraction Theater, Boston Theaterworks, Space 55 and many more. As a Partner in the motion media company CulpepperWilliams, she wrote and produced The Captive (Webby People's Choice Award & NYTVF “Best Web Series” Award) and the independent feature Jordan. Her plays are available through Original Works Publishing and YouthPlays.

ASHLEY MARIE SCOLES (Director) is very excited to be back in the Forum. In previous Forums, she directed Risk and He Says His Name is John. She recently made her directing debut at The Drilling Company with Health Debt. Of the shows she has directed, her favorite is The Dixie Swim Club at the Warehouse Theatre. Ashley would like to thank everyone for their hard work and commitment to this project.

V. ORION DELWATERMAN (Ian) is happy to back at the Looking Glass. Originally from San Francisco, Orion has performed in multiple productions throughout New York including The Memo, Hamlet, The Laramie Project, Babylon and Babylon. Orion sends love to his friends and family who always have his back. Smile sunshine!

ASHLEY LOPEZ (Diana) is a recent New York transplant. A 2011 graduate of Louisiana State University, she studied public relations and dance while training in theater, yoga and aerial silks. She is a SpringboardNYC 2010 alumna, and currently an acting intern at Looking Glass. Favorite roles include Carrie in Carousel, Elaine in Arsenic and Old Lace and Miss Moskowitz in The Electronic N*gger, ironically another woman older than Ashley mired in the mundane. Ashley would like to thank the cast and crew of The World for their fabulous talent and Alex and Aldo for their loving support.

EVAN MALTBY (Jeremy) is thrilled to be taking part in his first Writer/Director Forum at Looking Glass Theatre. Favorite roles include Antipholus of Syracuse (Comedy of Errors), Bobby (Company), Jerry (Zoo Story), and Daniel (Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr, abridged). Training: SITI Company (Saratoga, NY), Shakespeare & Company (Lenox, MA). An NYC-native and sometimes-poet, Evan is a proud member of the Beautiful Soup Theater Collective, and an actor and peer educator with The NiteStar Program, a theater-based educational organization that teaches about sexual and social health in schools throughout the city.

JENNY VALLANCOURT (Tracy) is thrilled to be returning to Looking Glass after completing her Winter 2012 Acting Internship! She is a recent graduate of Barnard College, where she studied English and Theatre. Barnard credits include Melancholy Play, Dirty Hands, and Cahoot's Macbeth. Most recently she performed in The Parachute Jump as part of the Midwinter Madness Play Festival. She is a member of the New Jersey Repertory Company, where she performed in the world-premiere productions of Bookends and October 1962. She will return to NJ Rep this August for Release Point. Jenny would like to note that this is the third pregnant teenager she has played since graduating from college. Thanks to Ashley for the opportunity!

Monstrous Love

ROSEMARY FOLEY (Playwright) has written over seventy plays. Works by Women chose her as one of the “Ten Best Women Playwrights.” Her plays have won awards and been finalists in many festivals. One of her recent plays, Oh, Promise Me, was produced as a film and was screened at the Big Apple Film Festival in New York City. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild, Theatre Artists Workshop, and is a former member of Equity and the Screen Actors Guild.

ARIELLE PARKAS (Director) has been working off-off-Broadway since 2009. Beginning as dramaturg for In The Red Room written by Gordon Farrell, she went on to direct the one-act play Prying by Jamie Gerardi. Last spring she co-directed Threshold: Six True Stories From Girls Who Broke The Rules as part of the emerging Red Anthology Trilogy being developed by Red Productions in the Upstairs Cabaret at People Lounge. She is the founder of the experimental theater company Tent Peg Theater, through which she had produced and directed the original works ConcealHer and Jacob Monroe Hates Clowns. Arielle was also an assistant director/stage manager for Looking Glass Theatre’s mainstage production of The Angel Play this Spring.

ALEXANDRA HIOTAKIS (The Facilitator) is proud to be in her third Forum production at Looking Glass Theatre. She spent over 10 years traveling and performing only to come back to her love, New York City. Her most recent roles include Ms. K in Pedestrian Casualty (Forum), Sutton’s Mom & Coach in The Secret Life of Girls, and V-Day 2011 NYC The Vagina Monologues. She is also currently filming The Vigilante in the role of Mrs. Parker. Alexandra is also the Community Outreach Supervisor for Looking Glass Theatre. Thanks to all of her friends and amazing family for the love and support. Peace and Love! Click here for more about Alexandra...

PETER MARTIN (The Prince) is thrilled to be working with Looking Glass! New York credits: Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, Under Milk Wood (Bakerloo Theatre Project); A Resounding Tinkle (Access Theater); Less Than Three (Producers’ Club); and Everything in the Garden (John Houseman Theater). Regional: Speech and Debate (4th Wall). Love and thanks to family and friends.

Layer Cake

CHRISTINA NEUBRAND (Creator/Director) thrilled to be directing with for the Looking Glass Forum again. She is a teaching artist in the New York public schools and has worked with a variety of theatre companies both in NYC and her hometown, Dallas, TX. Favorite companies include The Drama Club, Red Thread, Spellbound, Brooklyn Family Theatre, Theatre Britain, MBS Productions, Untitled Theatre Company, Theatre Three and of course, Looking Glass Theatre. Christina would like to thank the Layer Cake ensemble for offering their creative spirits to this experimental, original, devised piece of theatre. In the words of Marilyn Monroe, “We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets.”

KARYN JOY DEYOUNG (Creator/Nancy) is super stoked to be making her performing debut at Looking Glass! Her most recent work has been seen as a director in the Looking Glass Winter Forum with Friends, at HERE Arts performing in Lush Valley, director of Multi-Talented for Write Act Rep Eastside, and director for Who Is Jordan Bishop? with Dalliance Theatre. Be sure to check out Week 4 of this Forum where Karyn will be directing The Fallen. Also, keep your eyes peeled for Karyn's illustration debut in a new comic: The Parrot, coming to an internet near you in August 2012! Click here for more about Karyn...

KATIE ISSEL PITRE (Creator/Ruth) is a multidisciplinary artist and educator. She gained her MA in Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities from NYU and works within diverse communities throughout the boroughs of New York as a teaching artist. She is involved as a devising actor in The United Folktale Project in conjunction with The Abrons Art Center/Henry Street Settlement, and has performed in similar devised and interview theatre such as The Class Project, directed by Joe Salvatore. She is pleased to work as a writer and actor for Layer Cake and thanks the Looking Glass Forum for this opportunity.

NICOLE NICHOLSON (Original Music/Ensemble) is thrilled with the journey that Layer Cake has taken her on. She is excited to have jumped out from behind the sound booth, and to finally be back on the stage. Some of her New York credits include: A My Name is Alice, the Young Playwrights Festival, and The Greatest Magic. Her original music compositions were featured in Pedestrian Casualty and Layer Cake. She is delighted to be part of a project that allowed her to push and explore her talents and to have had the opportunity to work with so many talented people.

DANII ALEXIS (Donna), a current Looking Glass acting intern, is super excited about making her NYC stage debut! As a native new yorker who mostly sings (with her cover band Going Somewhere, Jackie?), and does stand up (Eastville, Gotham) getting back in touch with her acting roots. She is estatic about working with the cast of Layer Cake, and is proud to be a part of this Spring Forum!

EVELYN HOLLEY (Magda) holds a BA Theatre from Middlebury College where she received the Drue Cortell Gensler Thesis Award in Women’s Studies for her performance and collaboration in the original multi-media play Horizons. She has most recently studied with the Atlantic Acting School in New York City. Theatre credits include: Facing the Minotaur (Kess); Talking With (French Fries); Savage in Limbo (Denise Savage); The Audition (Selected Best Female Performer); The Laramie Project (Reggie Fluty) and Whose Life is it Anyway? (Dr. Joan Scott). Film Credits include: The Unloveables (Roberta); The Mulatto Diaries (Herself) and Other Voices, Other Years (Clara Armstrong).

DENISE HUGHES (Dottie) is honored to make her NYC acting debut with the fantastic cast of Layer Cake. The native Brooklynite returns to the stage after serving as a health volunteer for 2-½ years in the US Peace Corps in Zambia. She attained her B.A. in Acting from Susquehanna University, followed by several years in the Norfolk, VA theatre scene with 40th Street Stage, Children’s Theatre of Hampton Roads and RipplAffect. Denise would like to thank her family, friends and PetSmart peeps for all their constant support, love and honesty (especially for the interviews!).

JOSH MAHAFFEY (Tracey) is honored to be making his third appearance in a Looking Glass Forum this Spring by being involved in this insightful and challenging exploration. Josh's other Looking Glass projects include Juice and Pedestrian Casualty (Forum) and his intern showcase, The End of the World. Other credits in NYC include 12 Angry Men and Oy! (AlphaNYC productions) and Hamlet (The Brooklyn Heights Players). He is from Columbus, OH, where he got his BFA in acting from Otterbein College. He would like to thank all of his family and friends and, of course, his lady Megan.

AUSTIN YOUNG (Mike) is excited to be participating in such a unique and enlightening production. Austin began his acting career back in the Spring of 2011 performing in a one act festival with his theater company Ticket 2 Eternity Productions. He has since been loving the adventure that has ensued. He feels truly blessed to have such a wonderful opportunity. He would love to thank all his family and friends for their continued love and support.

RACHEL EPSTEIN (AD/SM) is a Junior at NYU's Tisch studying drama, with a recent focus on stage management. She is very excited to have joined Looking Glass Theatre for this Spring’s Forum.

DAISY LONG (Light Design)

The Fallen

RITA LEWIS (Playwright) studied theater at Hunter College, directing at the HB Studio, and dramatic writing at the New School. Imprint recently received a reading at The Abingdon Theatre Company in NY.The Unveiling, a semi-finalist for the 2006 Stanley Drama Award, had a main stage production at the Arena Players Repertory Theatre.Terminal was a semi-final winner at the 10th annual FirstStage one-act play contest in LA.

KARYN JOY DeYOUNG (Director) is super stoked to be directing for a second time at Looking Glass! Her most recent work has been seen as a director in the Winter Forum with Friends, at HERE Arts performing in Lush Valley, director of Multi-Talented for Write Act Rep Eastside, and director for Who Is Jordan Bishop? with Dalliance Theatre. Also, keep your eyes peeled for Karyn's illustration debut in a new comic: The Parrot, coming to an internet near you in August 2012! Click here for more about Karyn...

LAURA HESSE (Lilly), a current Looking Glass acting intern, is an actor who enjoys the finer things in life but doesn't experience them. She prefers red over white. She owns a pair of red toms and loves them anyway. She knows a lot of great people if you're interested. She has vowed to never take a bio seriously and has never broken said vow. Enjoy the show.

JOSHUA KEY-MAGINNIS (Preacher) hails from South Portland, Maine and is a graduate of Wagner College’s BA theater program. He is happy to be in his first Forum with Looking Glass and third overall production! Past credits include the title character in MacChin:The Lamentable Tale of Jay Leno (NYC Fringe), Lupine/Julien in The Learned Ladies (Brooklyn Gallery Players), Flute in Midsummer Night's Dream among many others. Continuously you can see Josh online at stufffilms.com where he performs, writes and directs sketch comedy and is a member of Stuff'd Animals the improv troupe associated with Stuff Comedy. Thanks to friends, family, Erica, and my one audition shirt. This and all performances are for Gigi and Kiki RIP.

ZACHARY ZIMBLER (Joseph) is happy to be back and working with Looking Glass Theatre. This past April he played the Priest in Bella Poynton’s The Angel Play. Most recently he played Paul in Pipeline Theater Company's production of The Ash Girl at the Connelly Theater. He co-produced the award-winning play The Bohemians for the 2010 Frigid Festival, and currently acts, writes and produces digital content for the sketch comedy group, Boy Friends! He is a featured writer on the blog “The Ivester Presents…” and writes a sports column for “Halftime Hennessy.” Thanks and love to Mom, Dad, Sam, and LC.

MAIA AKIVA (Playwright) is a Magical Realism and a Self Help Fiction writer. She’s originally from Israel. Her plays had readings all over the USA. Her plays life and I Hate Love are published by Brooklyn Publishers. This year she is working on her first Novel Single which is a story about a world where being single is the accepted norm. Click here for more about Maia...

MEG DOWLING (Director) graduated from East Stroudsburg University. Recently worked on The Angel Play here at Looking Glass as an AD/SM. Last summer she worked with Calliope Theatre Company on their production of 3 One-Act Plays, as ASM. She also worked with New York Classical Theatre as a production intern on School for Husbands and Henry V. In 2009 interned at People’s Light in Malvern, PA on End Days. College credits include: ASM for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and acting in productions including the one-act, Beauty, and the Shakespearean comedy, As You Like It.

KATIE SHERMAN (Maia) - A proud graduate of Vassar College, Katie has performed many roles within the Vassar Experimental Theater Department. Favorites include Anfisa in Three Sisters, the goddess Athena in the original comedy String Theory, and the famous Captain Hook in an adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. She has also performed in The Mummy’s Tale with the Berkshire Theater Festival, and The Arsonists at the Oval House Theater in London. Since graduating in May 2011, Katie has worked with The New York Neo-Futurists, Number 11 Theater Company, Pleiades Productions, and The Actors Studio.

TRINE BOODE (Maia’s Destiny), a current Looking Glass acting intern, is an actor, director, playwrite who a graduated from The New School with a BA in theater. Favorite roles include Lady Mulligan in William’s Camino Real, Wendla in Spring Awakening and Claire in Fuddy Meers. Her most recent project was producing a one-acts festival tiled “The Head Case Showcase” in which she got to show off her many skills and play a sheep. She is also an associate artist of Serious Play! Theater Ensemble. Trine would like to thank Looking Glass Theatre for introducing her to so many wonderful people! Click here for more about Trine...

Intimacy

DIANE SAMPSON (Playwright) has an M.A. in Creative Writing. She belongs to PlayGround, a group of Bay Area playwrights working in the 10-minute play form and her short plays have been produced as far afield as Miami and Seattle. She was composer/lyricist for two musicals, Oh, Progeny! and Writes and Re-writes. Oh, Progeny! received two Bay Area productions and a staged reading at New York’s York Theatre. Her full-length PlayGround commission, Naked, was given a staged reading in May 2011.

FRANCESCA GALBO (Director) is thrilled to return to Looking Glass Theatre, after participating as an AD/SM in the Winter 2011 Forum. A local New Yorker, she is a graduate of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where she received a BA in English and Theatre with a double concentration in Acting and Directing. In her senior year she directed a Studio Production of 4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane. Other directing credits include: Harold Pinter’sThe Birthday Party, and Jeff Goode’s Murder at Midnight. She has also acted in several Mainstage Productions, where her portrayal of Rita in Wendy Wasserstein’s Uncommon Women earned her an Irene Ryan Award Nomination.

JENNIFER APPLE (EEE) is a recent graduate of Muhlenberg Collegewhere she majored in Theatre (Acting/Directing) with a double minor in CreativeWriting and Philosophy. At Muhlenberg, she appeared in productions of Oklahoma!, Flea in Her Ear, Bat Boy, Blood Wedding, Assassins, and new works A Sound of Living and Like, Whatever. Other favorite performance credits include: Dolores (Dolores), Do Over (Lisa), West Side Story (Anita), Grease (Rizzo), Les Miserables (Eponine), Into the Woods (Witch), The Mikado (Pitti-Sing), and School House Rock, Live! (Dina). She studied PhysicalTheatre & Commedia at the Academia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy andFilm/Screen Acting at Stonestreet Studios. Jennifer is thrilled to be making her Looking Glass debut.

AARON SEGAL (Michael) is making his professional stage debut as Michael in Intimacy. A rising senior at Muhlenberg College, Aaron is majoring in Theatre and Music. Some of his favorite previous credits are as the Lover in 4.48 Psychosis, Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Deputy Governor Danforth in The Crucible, and Adrian in The Tempest. When he is not fulfilling his passion for acting, Aaron is an avid athlete, playing every sport imaginable and following his favorite professional teams. He would like to thank his family for their resounding support.

KEA TREVETT (Carolyn) is a graduate of NYU and a current Looking Glass acting intern. She is thrilled to be performing in her second Writer Director Forum! Thanks to the lovely ladies of Looking Glass for this opportunity, and to T, for all her love and gifts.