Herb Benjamin (Titus, RESERVOIR) is a storytelling enthusiast. As a Co-Founder/Artistic Director of Unworldly Ensemble, he’s been able to step behind the curtain directing and producing numerous shows like JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN. Recently, Herb’s directorial feature film debut, The Medea, was released. Herb is a proud native of New Orleans and a firm believer in community. Training: Stella Adler Studio Of Acting www.unworldlyensemble.theater

Ollie Corchado (Marcus, RESERVOIR) is an actor/writer based out of New York City and is beyond excited to be performing in an indoor theatre again, even more so to be debuting with Theatre East! New York Credits: KING LEAR (New York Classical Theatre); A SPIDER’S WEB (Wet Paint New Play Festival); COUNTING PEDESTALS (Metropolitan Playhouse); ROMEO AND JULIET (Shakespeare Forum); MY FATHER’S HEART (Wet Paint New Play Festival); NOT ABOUT NIGHTINGALES (Empirical Stage). Regional: ROMEO AND JULIET (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival); INDIAN HEAD (Luna Stage); PETER AND THE STARCATCHER (Milwaukee Rep. & Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park); A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park). TV/Film: Blue Bloods (CBS); Bound (Paralysis Productions) Stalked Someone’s Watching (Investigation Discovery). Co-creator of the web series En Route. Zoom performances with the following companies: The Show Must Go Online; The Tank NYC; Greenhouse Ensemble; Metropolitan Playhouse.

Trey Cruz (Chris, CORTLANDT) is an actor from the Lower East Side. A graduate of the Stella Adler Studio two-year evening conservatory. While taking classes he has had the opportunity to work with an amazing director in Lanie Zapoy, shooting a film called The Subject. He has also had the opportunity to work with the Harold Clurman Laboratory Theatre performing a play called WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU, written and directed by the wonderful Jan Rosenberg. More recently he has featured in various short films directed by Jordan Sims, all currently being submitted to festivals. With theater slowly opening its doors again he is eager to make his way back to the stage. He is grateful for another opportunity to grace the stage and for his family and close friends for the continuous support they have shown, he would like to take the time to thank all those for making these wonderful experiences possible.

Erin Despanie (Brian, THE BROOKLYN WAY) is a Native of Lafayette, Louisiana. He's always been passionate about acting and mental health, which prompted him to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. During his duration at the University of Louisiana, Erin performed in plays such as THE CHERRY ORCHARD, VANYA, SONYA, MASHA, SPIKE, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, ANGELS IN AMERICA, and BEYOND THERAPY. Upon completion of his stay at ULL, Erin earned a bachelor's degree in psychology of Science, and a Bachelor's Degree in Performing Arts. He then moved to New York to pursue acting, where he performed in an original play titled DEATH AND BOTANY, and IN CHORUS. Erin continues to strive towards his goal of being a working actor.

Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy* (Playwright, THE BROOKLYN WAY/ Director, DECKHAND) is an actress, playwright, director, and producer. Recent directing work: BYE CHARLIE, BYE LANE (Theatre East), THE CATASTROPHE CLUB (Sea Dog Theater), ROMEO AND JULIET (Smith Street). Recent acting credits: HOLY GHOSTS (Theatre East), RICHARD III (NYIT Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role nomination, Smith Street Stage). Recent writing work: TOGETHER (Theatre East). She is a recipient of the Theatre Hall of Fame’s 2017 Emerging Theatre Artist Award, one of Gingold Theatrical Group’s 2018/2019 Speakers’ Corner playwrights, and a co-director of The Amoralists’ 2020/21 season of ‘Wright Club. She is also one of the Sheen Center’s 2020 Playwrighting Fellows and lives in Brooklyn with her dog Bentley, who is a tiny, majestic beast. AEA, DGA www.shaunbfauntleroy.com

Tom Green* (The Stranger, he/him, CORTLANDT): Recent productions—In NYC: HOLY GHOSTS and A NAME FOR A GHOST TO MUTTER (Theatre East). In Austin, TX: A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2, THE ANTIPODES, and THE NIGHT ALIVE (Hyde Park Theatre); FIXING TIMON OF ATHENS and FIXING KING JOHN (Rude Mechs); THE CLEAN HOUSE and TAKE ME OUT (Zach Scott). TV: Friday Night Lights.

Christa Kimlicko Jones* (Director, THE BROOKLYN WAY/ El, DECKHAND) was most recently seen in AWAKE AND SING with the Harold Clurman Lab Theater. She has been working on an adaptation of Anna Karenina (annA) and looks forward to sharing it with audiences soon. Other NYC credits: THE SEAGULL and THE WHALE (also with HC Lab). A NAME FOR A GHOST TO MUTTER, THE SOLDIER DREAMS (Theatre East). THREE SISTERS, UNCLE VANYA (HC Lab). UMBRELLA, HARVEST (Alchemy Theatre Company). Other NY credits: THE WOMAN STANDING ON THE MOON, OUR TOWN. Regionally: CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (Austin Playhouse); HEDDA GABLER, DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS (B. Iden Payne Award), FOOL FOR LOVE (the dirigo group). Christa teaches at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC, where she is also the Director of the Teen Conservatory and Young Artists Programs. She is a member of V.A.S.T.A., League of Professional Theatre Women, and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. She received her MFA in Acting from the University of Texas at Austin. ChristaKJones.com

Judson Jones* (Director, REQUIEM FOR A BAR) is an award-winning producer and director who has had the privilege of collaborating on the premieres of Tim Blake Nelson’s EYE OF GOD, Christopher Durang’s THE VIETNAMIZATON OF NEW JERSEY (NY Times Critic Pick), David Crawford’s HARVEST (Smith & Kraus Best New Plays of 2008; Back Stage Critic’s Pick), Bennett Windheim’s NORMALCY, Megan O’Brien’s THE JUNGLE BOOK, Daniel MacIvor’s THE SOLDIER DREAMS, and DEVIL AND THE DEEP with Air Supply‘s Graham Russell. Regional producing credits include: THE JINN (The American Theatre Critics Award) HEDDA, BASH, and DESIRE. His directing credits include: HOLY GHOSTS, NAME FOR A GHOST TO MUTTER, and THE SOLDIER DREAMS (Theatre East), HARVEST (Alchemy Theatre Company), BASH (the dirigo group), S-MAN (Scriptworks), THE ELF and GIFT (Salvage Vanguard Theatre). He serves on the Board of Directors for Texas Dramatists, is a member of Actors’ Equity and SAG/AFTRA, and an instructor at the Kanbar Institute of Film & Television, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.

Toni Kwadzogah (Dot, THE BROOKLYN WAY) is an actor and writer. Recent acting credits include Stevie in THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA?, Vera Stark in BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, and Karen in SPEED THE PLOW. She is a recent graduate of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, and has an undergrad degree in English from Rutgers University, with focuses in Comparative Literature and Film Study. Her adaptation of Medea, titled "The Medea", is currently available to stream.

Robert Lee Leng (Rob, COURTLANDT) is a multi-ethnic - multi-cultural Actor / Writer / Poet based in NYC. He has worked in Theatre, major films, and TV. A passionate artist, light-hearted fool, and flawed human being.

Julio Lourido (Julián, REQUIEM FOR A BAR) is an Ecuadorian actor based in New York. He graduated from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and often studies at The Barrow Group under Seth Barrish. Julio has acted in numerous plays, independent films, commercials, and soaps. He also wrote, produced, and starred in a one-man show adaptation of THE TELL-TALE HEART, performed at the Artspoken Theater in Miami, FL. His recent credits include the role of Griffin in Maisa Chiang’s stage reading of SHOW AND TELL at The Barrow Group, and a lead role in an upcoming feature film set to shoot in Spring of 2022. Julio is thrilled and grateful to be playing Julian in this exciting production.

Julia Rae Maldonado (Playwright, REQUIEM FOR A BAR) is a Bronx-based playwright and actor from San Antonio, Texas. Her work has been developed & produced by companies including the LAByrinth Theatre, Theatre East & Label Grey (Germany). She’s also the author of a collection of short plays for teens commissioned and produced by the Stella Adler Studio. Her play JUNTOS was a finalist in the 2021 Samuel French OOB Festival and her play BUSKERS! a Finalist for the Heideman Award National 10-Minute Play Contest (Actors Theatre Louisville). Her short play REAL LIFE is included in Gary Garrison’s A (More) Perfect 10 & A Younger 10. She is also the creator and head writer of the interactive Instagram series KARULA’S DREAM SHOW LIVE (originally developed in the 5x5 Drama Series). She is a founding member of the girlSOUP collective, a faculty member at the Actor’s Studio Drama School, and a member of the Dramatist Guild. BFA - NYU Tisch, MFA - Actor's Studio Drama School.www.juliaraemaldonado.com

Angelica McEwan (Assistant Stage Manager) Professional theatre credits include: MADELINE’S CHRISTMAS, Actors Playhouse; DELI, Theatre east, NY. SMU credits include: LETTERS FROM CUBA (Enrique), MACHINAL (Young Woman, ensemble), PHOEBE IN WINTER (Bogget), New Visions New Voices (2019). Stage Management Credits: Theatre East/ SMU Collaboration, Shakespeare Quartets at Southern Methodist University.

Zach Murphy (Director, CORTLANDT) Lighting Design: FALLING AND LOVING (Associate, CITI/STREB), A THOUSAND THOUGHTS (Associate, Kronos Quartet), An Octoroon (Actor’s Express), REQUIEM FOR TESLA (Rude Mechs), Sacai NY Nike Fashion Show (Nike), BEYOND BABEL (Associate, Hideaway Circus), THE PITMAN PAINTERS (Associate, MTC), SHUTTER SISTERS (The Old Globe), Emerging from the Cave (Director of the film, Sundance Institute), podcast BardQuest Empire (producer), Creative Director, Bang Interrobang www.banginterrobang.com

Matthew Napoli* (Carl, DECKHAND) is happily returning to Theatre East and their new space. Matthew appeared in HOLY GHOSTS directed by Artistic Director Judson Jones. Other New York credits include DUTCH COURAGE at Wings Theater, WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN Westside Theater, THIS PROPERTY IS CONDEMNED The Metropolitan Playhouse, and workshops with HB Studios. Matthew has also appeared with The Metropolitan Opera, The New Orleans Opera, and The Virginia Opera as a dancer and actor. Film and TV, Across the Universe, New York Love Story. Love to Brent and my Theatre East family for getting me through this pandemic.

Michaela Obro-Ababio (Dorothy, THE BROOKLYN WAY) is a Ghanaian-American actor and writer. She holds a BFA in Drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts- with training from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Michaela did not always know that she needed to be an artist, but she did know that she needed to heal the world. Through spending her formative years in Ghana and experiencing and witnessing the complexities, delicacies, and radiance of blackness everywhere she has lived, Michaela now knows just how she will heal the world. Luckily for her, spreading healing also means having the time of her life on-stage, on-screen, and at her writer's desk.
Michaela is very passionate about telling stories that amplify voices that are often silenced within our society; stories that illuminate humanity. She hopes her passion will encourage and uplift others in the same way that those before her uplifted her. When not acting, Michaela enjoys reading, skateboarding, watching cartoons, and drinking chai tea.

Dan O’Neil (Playwright, DECKHAND)is an NYC-based writer who grew up on a farm in northwestern Minnesota, where he learned to drive a tractor, use a chainsaw, and identify various star constellations. Recent work includes: THE NINE O’CLOCK PROBLEM, produced by Theater In Quarantine, THE ALLEGED CHILDREN OF DARKNESS, developed through Art House Productions reading series (Finalist for Seven Devils Playwrights Conference, Semi-Finalist for Bay Area Playwright’s Festival); librettist on THE HOUSE OF INFLUENCE, an experimental opera composed by Alec Hall and performed in a parking garage in Harlem; BEAR SLAYER, presented through a Project Residency by Ars Nova, developed during ANT Fest; THE WIND FARMER, which received a production at Barter Theater and was a finalist for the ACTA/Steinberg Award for Best New Play and NNPN’s Smith Prize for Best New Political play. Read more HERE.

Oliver Palmer (Playwright, CORTLANDT) loves Theatre East. Theater: AMERICAN BUFFALO (Dorset Theater Festival dir. John Gould Rubin), OVER THERE (Harold Clurman LAB Productions dir. Scott Illingworth and Bill Bowers), THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI (Stella Adler Studio dir. John Gould Rubin), TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, TITUS ANDRONICUS, HENRY V, ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Shakespeare in the Square), CORIOLANUS (Combative Theater Co.), AS YOU LIKE IT (No Stone Productions), HAMLET (Playwrights Horizons Theater School), RICHARD III & THE TEMPEST (Smith Street Stage). Tv: Daredevil, Orange is the New Black. Film: Life After You, Faith Community. Oliver grew up on a farm in Daviess County, KY, and owes his work to its community. More at olivercpalmer.com.

Bianca Puorto (Director, RESERVOIR) is a director and production designer from Montreal, Canada, who splits her time between New York and Los Angeles. Directing credits include: ROGER AND VANESSA by Brett C. Leonard and TWO ROOMS by Lee Blessing. New works include: LESTER COLLINS TAKES FIVE by Mel Nieves, WIMBERLEY by Julia Rae Maldonado, TRIGGERED by Thomas Dunn, and LITTLE LIGHTS by Lacy Marie Meyer. She also had the honor of directing the premier of OH, DANNY BOY, a new play by Edward Allan Baker. Bianca assistant directed HURRICANE PARTY, under Maria Dizzia, at The Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City.
Production Design credits include: Multi-award winning short film DOLORES based on a play by Edward Allan Baker (United Latino International Film Festival, Culver City Film FestivalBarcelona International Film Festival, WINNER), CYCLONE (Coney Island Film Festival, WINNER, Golden Short Film Festival, Rome Independent Prisma Awards, Indie Awards Buenos Aires, Indie Short Awards Cannes) & the recently completed UNBRIDALED.
Bianca is a member of Barefoot Theatre Company and the Labyrinth Theater Company Intensive Ensemble. She has also worked extensively with The Collective NY, Theatre East, and the Tribeca Film & TV Festivals.

Kelsey Sheppard* (Michaela, REQUIEM FOR A BAR) is a New York-based actor, singer, and tap dancer! She’s thrilled to be working again with Theatre East IN PERSON after previously appearing in HOLY GHOSTS (Urban Stages), NORMALCY (Peter Jay Sharp Theater), and former installments of the 5X5! Proud member of SAG-AFTRA.

Kathleen Simmonds (Jess, REQUIEM FOR A BAR) an actress, filmmaker, and reformed lawyer holds a Masters of Fine Arts from the Actors Studio Drama School and is a Lifetime Member of The Actors Studio. Off-Broadway debut: GOLDEN BOY (Lorna) directed by Aaron Latham. Other chosen credits: TWELFTH NIGHT (Olivia) and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Helena) for Shakespeare in Bryant Park by The Drilling Company. Filmmaker credits: Woe Is She secured a distribution deal with GoIndieTV and their associated ROKU channel; attended the 90th Oscars with a short film on diversity in Hollywood; Line Producer, Associate Producer, and Casting Director for documentaries on HBO Max, Discovery+, Netflix, Amazon, and Sundance AMC; Reversing Roe currently streaming on Netflix and nominated for 2 Emmy Awards in 2019.  Kathleen has also been a moderator, panelist, and jury member at the Chelsea Film Festival, NYC2Paris Film Festival, and NYC WebFest.
www.kathleensimmonds.com @kathleensimmo

Violette Trotter (Emily, she/they, DECKHAND) is thrilled to be making her Theater East debut as Emily in DECKHAND for the 5X5 Drama Series. Recent theater credits include: Ophelia in HAMLET(Stella Adler Company Tour), Frances in BHUTAN, Abigail in THE COLUMNIST, Jessica in THE RUNAWAYS, Choragos in OEDIPUS REX (Stella Adler Studio of Acting), #8 in THE WOLVES, Wendy in THE WENDY: A TALE OF PETER PAN, 2nd Witch/3rd Murderer in MACBETH, Farrah in SHE KILLS MONSTERS (Interlochen Center for the Arts). She is a proud graduate of both Interlochen Arts Academy ‘18 and The Stella Adler Studio of Acting ‘21. Love and gratitude to her family, Bobby, The Villager boys, Jud & Christa, Kiara, Domo, AFC fam, Nico, and the LAMDA boys.

Travis Tate (Playwright, RESERVOIR) is a queer, black playwright, poet, and performer from Austin, Texas. Their poetry has appeared in “Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review”, “Underblong”, “Mr. Ma’am”, among other publications. Their plays include IT’S A TRAVESTY! ONE NIGHT WITH JAZZIE MERCADO, MOTHERWITCH, and QUEEN OF THE NIGHT. You can find more about them at travisltate.com.