Meet the Artists

Cassandra Medley (Playwright of Cell) Cassandra Medley's plays have been produced all over the U.S., and also in Canada and South Africa. Most recent works: My Soul Is Not Rested (Illusion Theater), libretto for Fannie Lou Hamer Opera (The Trilogy Opera Company of New Jersey), March 13, 2020 (Martha's Vineyard Theater), Celebrating Our Community, Gatekeepers Collective, 2020, and Mrs. Palmer's Honey (Bread and Roses Theater), Cell (Playing On Air), Take My Advice, Survive, Cell (Molelo Theater), American Slavery Project, Cell, Daughter (Ensemble Studio Theatre), Noon Day Sun (Diverse City Theatre Company), Relativity (Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Ensemble Studio Theatre). Relativity won the Audelco "August Wilson Playwriting" Award, featured on Science Friday, National Public Radio, published by Broadway Play Publishing. Additional awards: 2023 Helen Merrill Playwright Award, "Going to the River Writers" Life Achievement Award, Ensemble Studio Theatre 25th Anniversary Award for Theatre Excellence, Theatrefest Regional Playwriting Award for Best Play, New Professional Theatre Award, and the Marilyn Simpson Award. She was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Award in Playwriting. Cassandra is a retired Professor of Playwriting at Sarah Lawrence College, taught at New York University, and has also served as guest artist at Columbia University, the University of Iowa Playwrights Workshop and Seattle University. Cassandra worked as a staff writer for ABC Television’s One Life to Live from 1995-97. She is a playwright member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre, New River Dramatists, and the Dramatists Guild.

Lynn Nottage (Playwright of Poof!) is the first woman in history to win two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama. Her plays have been produced widely in the United States and throughout the world. Recent work includes the libretto for the opera Intimate Apparel (LCT), the book for the musical MJ (Broadway), Clyde’s (Broadway, 2ST), and the book for The Secret Life of Bees. Other credits include the libretto for Intimate Apparel the Opera ( Lincoln Center Theater) and co-curating the performance installation The Watering Hole (Signature Theater); Mlima’s Tale; Sweat (Pulitzer Prize, Obie, Evening Standard Award, Susan Smith Blackburn Prize); By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (Lilly Award); Ruined (Pulitzer Prize, Obie, Lortel, NY Drama Critics’ Circle, AUDELCO, Drama Desk and OCC awards); Intimate Apparel (American Theatre Critics and NY Drama Critics' Circle). TV: Writer/Producer of She's Gotta Have It (Netflix), Consulting Producer on Dickinson (Apple TV+). Awards: PEN/Laura Pels Master Dramatist Award, Doris Duke Artist Award, American Academy of Arts and Letters Award, MacArthur “Genius Grant'' Fellowship. She is an Associate Professor at Columbia University School of the Arts, and is a member of the Theater Hall of Fame and the Dramatists Guild.

Nadia Guevara (Director of Cell) Recent credits: Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale (Imagination Stage), Water by the Spoonful (Texas Tech University), Spring Awakening, Fefu and Her Friends (American University), "N" (Keegan Theatre), Palabras de encanto: Tales of Borikén (Academy of Classical Acting at George Washington University), Little Women (Johns Hopkins University), Guadalupe in the Guest Room, Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans: A Salsa Fairy Tale (NVA), El encuentro (Old Globe). Readings: DREAMing Out Loud (National Queer Theatre) Short New Play Festival (Red Bull Theatre), L'HÔTEL (Fulton Theatre), Azul (San Diego Rep/LNFP). Associate/Assistant/Resident Director: The Poisoner (La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club/Uncommon Productions), A Wrinkle in Time (New York Stage and Film), Acoustic Rooster, Show Way (The Kennedy Center), Knight of the Burning Pestle (Red Bull), The Wolves (McCarter Theatre Center), The Odyssey (Dallas Theatre Center/Dallas Public Works), Daphne’s Dive (Signature Theatre), Put Your House in Order (La Jolla Playhouse). Upcoming: The Survival (National Queer Theatre at PACNYC). Proud recipient of the 2022-2024 Drama League Stage Directing Fellowship. www.nadiaguevara.com IG@nadiaguevaradc

Ibi Owolabi (Director of Poof!) is the current Drama League Stage Directing Fellow, with a residency at Manhattan Theatre Club that led to her recent Broadway debut as the AD on Cost of Living. Her work has been seen at 7 Stages, Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Theatre Emory, The Weird Sisters Theatre Project, and the DC Black Theatre Festival. Ibi is a graduate of Georgia Southern University, the Actors Express directing internship, and the Kenny Leon fellowship. Ibi's recent productions include The Bluest Eye at Synchronicity Theatre, Intimate Apparel at Actor's Express, the world premiere of Good Bad People at True Colors’ Theatre, and The Light at University of South Carolina. “To my wonderful family, I love you.”

Lynnette R. Freeman (Cerise in Cell) is a Jamaican/Black-American actor, narrator/voice-over artist, full spectrum birth doula, Educator, Director, and dialect coach who believes in the transformative power of storytelling. Some notable acting credits include Jodi in People, Places & Things at Studio Theatre DC; Sweat at the Guthrie Theater; Hindsight at Fault Line Theatre; The White Card at Penumbra Theatre; By the Way, Meet Vera Stark at Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center; Lost Lake and The Skin of Our Teeth at Berkshire Theatre Group; An Act of God at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater; Travisville and Kentucky at Ensemble Studio Theatre; and A Raisin in the Sun at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre and Trinity Rep. Lynnette is a member of Actors Equity Association, SAG/AFTRA, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Actors Center, Professional Audiobook Narrators Association, The League of Professional Theatre Women and Is a Fault Line Theatre Associate Artist. Her voice can be heard narrating Charmaine’s Wilkerson’s bestselling book Black Cake as well as on the TV show based on the novel. You can find more of Lynnette’s narration performances on Audible or wherever audiobooks are sold. On social media at @lynnetterfreeman (FB & IG) / www.lynnetterfreeman.com. (Brown-Trinity MFA).

Nicole Michelle Haskins (Rene in Cell) is so excited to be a part of this year’s DirectorFest. Regional Theatre Credits: The Color Purple (Muny Theatre - St. Louis Theatre Circle Winner), The Color Purple (Drury Lane Theatre - Jeff Award Winner), U.S. Premiere of Hopelessly Devoted (Piven Theatre), Caroline, or Change (Firebrand Theatre - Black Theatre Alliance Award Nomination), Spitfire Grill (Refuge Theatre Project - Jeff Award Nomination), The Wiz (Kokandy Productions - Black Theatre Alliance Award Nom., Jeff Award Nom., TimeOut Chicago Theatre Award Nom.), The Music Man, Father Comes Home from the Wars Parts 1, 2 & 3, How to Catch Creation (Goodman Theatre), World Premiere of HeLa (Sideshow Theatre). School at Steppenwolf Acting Fellow, Associate Artist with Black Lives, Black Words International Theatre Collective, and MOSAIC Youth Theatre of Detroit Alum. “Big Love to my fam!” @NicoleMichelleHaskins

Abigail C. Onwunali (Loureen in Poof!) is a multi-faceted Nigerian-American theater maker who recently graduated from The David Geffen School of Drama at Yale in acting. A few of her acting credits include Jocelyn Bioh’s JaJa’s African Hair Braiding at the Manhattan Theater Club; The Half-God of Rainfall and for the honey you gotta say when at New York Theater Workshop. She is a graduated acting fellow of Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Mentorship Program and a 2022 Princess Grace Award winner. Abigail’s play, Jewel, was one of the 2021 Red Bull Theater’s Short New Play Festival winners, and her slam poems have been viewed worldwide.

Taji Senior (Gwen in Cell) “Please consider visiting the Freedom For Immigrants website or donating to the National Bail Fund Network to help end pretrial and immigration detention.” Taji is an actor, writer, and creative arts worker from Philadelphia, PA and Amarillo, TX. Off-Broadway: Bernarda’s Daughters (The New Group/National Black Theatre), Mary Gets Hers (u/s, Playwright’s Realm) Regional: Nightbird (Austin Playhouse). Her solo performance, ‘A’ (What the Black Girl Found While Searching for God) was produced as a radio play by The Parsnip Ship (NY), and her solo performance, devour., was an official selection of LadyFest 2019 produced by The Tank NYC. She holds an MFA in Acting from UCLA and a BA in Journalism from Texas Tech University.

Omolade Wey (Florence in Poof!) is excited to be participating in DirectorFest! Regional: The Three Musketeers (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Stick Fly, A Wrinkle in Time, The Skin of Our Teeth, As You Like It, Everybody, Julius Caesar (PlayMakers Rep). She received her MFA from UNC/PlayMakers' Professional Actor Training Program. Many thanks to her amazing friends, family & God, for the prayers, support and blessings. Instagram: @omoladewey

Alexandra Vasquez Dheming (Lighting Designer) is a Lighting Designer from El Salvador based in Queens, NYC. Collaborators include SLM Dances, Nélida Tirado, Calpulli Mexican Dance, New York Theatre Ballet, Gay Men's Chorus, Big Dance Theater, Trusty Sidekick among others. Her work has been seen nationally (Lincoln Center, Jacob's Pillow, Park Avenue Armory, Guggenheim Museum, Baryshnikov Arts Center, CPR, PSNY, the Highline, BAM, Rattlestick, Skirball, Kaufman Music Center, NYLA, Museo del Barrio, New England Conservatory of Music, Theatreworks, Works and Process, Boston Celebrity Series, Festival Flamenco Albuquerque), and internationally (København Danser, Museo Guggenheim Bilbao, Cannes Film Festival, Oceania Cruises). Alex has been a commissioned artist for the Park Avenue Armory's Sound & Color: The Future of Race in Design Symposium (2023); Performance Space New York’s “Arts Workers are Artists Too” (2024). BFA Savannah College of Art and Design, Wingspace mentee, Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas alum; Playwright Realm's International Theatermakers Award recipient (2021). www.alexvasquezdheming.com @alxvsquezdhming

Mary Garrigan (Assistant Stage Manager for Cell) Off-Broadway: Fish (Keen Company & WorkingTheater), Dig (Primary Stages), Belfast Girls (Irish Repertory Theatre), Powerhouse (Manhattan Repertory Theatre); Other Select Credits: The Brothers Size (Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre), The Orchard (Arlekin Players), The Cape Cod Theatre Project ‘22; Othello (New Place Players), The American Academy of Dramatic Arts Company ‘22. Mary is a proud graduate of Marymount Manhattan College class of 2020. She is thrilled to be a part of such a special festival and to work alongside so many incredible artists both onstage and behind the scenes!

Parker Krey (Technical Director) is a freelance designer & technician with a focus on scenic & lighting elements, originally from Virginia. A graduate of Wagner College he gained his degree in Theatre & Speech with a concentration in Design, Technology, & Management. Recent credits include The Great Divide (Technical Director, Boomerang Theatre Company), Straight Forward (Technical Director, Pivotal Productions), The Prom (Assoc. LD, Wagner College), A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder (PTD, Wagner College).

Yi-Hsuan (Ant) Ma (Scenic Designer) is an international scenic and production designer, now based in New York and DC. Ant's approach to design is interdisciplinary and poetic. Her theatrical installation work, Samuel at The Tank, has been nominated for a Notable Effects Show at the Hewes Design Awards. Off-Broadway selected credits: Usus(The Clubbed Thumb) at Wild Project; Smart at Ensemble Theater; The Slow Dance at 59E59; The Great Divide at HERE ART; Robin and Me at Theater Row; Bloom Bloom Pow at ART/NY. Outside of NYC: You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown at Weston Theater(VT), Much Ado About Nothing at Opera Arts House(ME), and As You Like It at Catskill Mountain(NY). Associate/Assistant credit: The Ally at Public Theatre; The Best We Could at MTC; Wolf Play at MCC Theater. Check her works: ant-setdesign.com

Michal V. Mendelson (Production Stage Manager for Cell) is thrilled to work with such a wonderful team! Her NY credits include: Transport Group, Lucille Lortel, Primary Stages, Theater Breaking Through Barriers, St. Ann's Warehouse, Pomegranate Arts, Rattlestick Theater, The Flea Theater, New Georges, Red Fern Theatre, TerraNova Collective, New Dramatists, The Pearl Theatre, Studio 42, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Dog-Run Rep, and Worth Street Theatre. Regionally, she has worked at The Powerhouse Theater @ Vassar, The Kennedy Center, Studio Theatre, and Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre. She is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association.

Caitlyn Murphy (Props Designer) is a New York-based props and scenic designer for theatre and film. Recent props credits: Stargazers, Stew (Page 73), Covenant (RTC), White Chip (MCC), God of Carnage (TBTB), Crumbs From the Table of Joy (Keen Company), Patience (2ST), Snow in Midsummer (CSC), SuperHero (Houses on the Moon), Out of Time (NAATCO/ The Public), Las Borinqueñas, Redwood, SMART, Where You Are Now, Georgia Mertching is Dead, Behind the Sheet (EST), Porto (WP Theater). CaitlynMurphyDesign.com

Eric Nightengale (Production Manager) is a founding member of Concrete Temple Theatre, The Acme Corporation, and Anthropological Theatricals. He served as artistic director of 78th Street Theatre Lab from 1995 thru 2008. Technical credits include work with Keen Company, Theatre Breaking Through Barriers, PS21, Penguin Rep, The Brick, 59E59, Dixon Place, Minetta Lane, La MaMa, The Acting Company, Symphony Space, Cherry Lane Theatre, St. Clements, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Barrow Group, HERE, Classic Stage Company, Victory Gardens Theatre, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago Dramatists Workshop, and Second City. Radio drama credits include The Chronicles of Wallace Sprague, Dog Psychiatrist, available on all podcast platforms, as well as work broadcast nationally over NPR affiliate stations and in the UK over BBC channel 4. His work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has resulted in five Fringe First awards, four adaptations for BBC radio, two Best Ensemble awards, several Off-Broadway productions and a London transfer.

Marcia Pendelton / Walk Tall Girl Productions (Audience Development Consultant) is a boutique marketing, audience development, and group sales agency for the performing arts with a special emphasis placed on the theater. Founded in 2000 by Marcia Pendelton, the company makes the arts available to the widest possible audience. WTGP has worked to bring new audiences to productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway and beyond. In addition to bringing people into the performance space, Pendelton produces and hosts the popular radio show and podcast "Backstage Stories," heard weekly on WBAI New York (99.5 FM, streaming at wbai.org, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts).

Caroline Ragland (Assistant Stage Manager for Poof!) is thrilled to join the Keen and Drama League families for DirectorFest! Off-Broadway: Candida at Theatre Row; Goldie, Max & Milk at 59e59; Housewives of Secaucus, Metamorphosis at Actors Temple Theatre; Rearview Mirror at Theatre Center; All Hallow's Eve (Dir. Martin P. Robinson) at Connelly Theatre. Regional/Touring: Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 at ZACH Theatre; Copenhagen at Berkshire Theatre Group; As You Like It at Shakespeare on the Sound; The Notebook (Developmental Workshop), Short Shakespeare! Macbeth at Chicago Shakespeare; Next to Normal, The Little Mermaid Jr., A Peter Rabbit Tale at Mill Mountain Theatre; Tiny Beautiful Things at Theatre SilCo; Nine, Pippin, Head Over Heels, Ubu Rock, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth at New Studio on Broadway; Fourscore and Seven Years Ago, My Heart in a Suitcase, Judy Moody and Stink with ArtsPower. BFA in Musical Theatre from CCPA at Roosevelt University. www.carolineragland.com

Eden Segbefia (Sound Designer; they/them) is a sound designer based in Brooklyn, NY. They are thrilled to be creating alongside the brilliant artists on the team! Off-Broadway: Partnership (Mint Theater Company), The War Letters (WP Theater and ThisThistle Media). Regional: The Importance of Being Earnest (New School), Brought Up (The Performance Project @ University Settlement), The Penelopiad, The Appeal, and Twelfth Night (Barnard College), If You Like Me At My Worst, Echo in a Diner, and Fucking A (Columbia University MFA), Dr. Ride's American Beach House (Columbia University Players), Hilma and Waldo (Lake Lucille Project). edensegbefia.com

“Curly” Karen Schleifer (Production Stage Manager for Poof!) is thrilled to be back working on DirectorFest! Selected credits include (*denotes world premiere): Off-Broadway: SMALL (@59E59, Penguin Rep & Chita Rivera in assn. w/ Ted Snowdon & Flying Carpet Theatre Co.), The Panic of ’29* (LessThanRent / 59E59). Regional: SMALL (Lyric Theatre of OK), SMALL (People’s Light Theatre) The Shot* (NJ Rep), Secret Hour* (Capital Rep Theatre), SMALL* (Penguin Rep Theatre), To The Moon* (Creede Rep Theatre), King Lear, Pericles, As You Like It* (San Francisco Shakespeare Festival), Scrooge In Love (42nd Street Moon), Hello Again (The Drama League’s Directorfest), Driving Miss Daisy (The Laguna Playhouse), Jews, Christians & Screwing Stalin* (The Matrix). Awards Shows: (Annual) Drama League Awards & (Annual) Drama League Gala (The Drama League). An accomplished singer-songwriter (@shotguncurly), she “Kate/Molly” for 2 years in the original Broadway production of Annie! B.A. (SUNY Purchase). Proud member AEA/SAG-AFTRA. She dedicates her theatrical career to Jennifer Straniere.

tbd casting co., Stephanie Yankwitt, CSA and Nia Smith (Casting) With Keen Company: Crumbs From The Table of Joy; Fish. Select Credits, tv/film:  In The Summers (Lexicon/Exile, 2024 Sundance Grand Jury Prize), "Growing Up" (Disney+). Broadway: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. Current/Recent/Upcoming in NYC: Public Obscenities (TFANA), Here There Are Blueberries (NYTW/Tectonic), Isabel (NAATCO), and The Fires (Soho Rep). Regional work includes Derecho, Primary Trust (La Jolla Playhouse), A View From The Bridge (Long Wharf Theatre), and Babbitt (Shakespeare Theatre Company). Resident casting office for Soho Rep & Tectonic Theater Project. tbdcastingco.com @tbdcastingco

Dan Wang (Costume Designer) is an international costume designer for film and stage originally from China. She is currently working in New York City. She has designed more than 30 projects, including musicals, plays, feature films, short films, commercials, and TV series.

Yun Yen (Associate Set Designer; she/her) is a Taiwanese scenic designer and scenic artist. Recent theatre credits include Cry it Out (Available Light Theatre), The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Worthington Community Theatre). Yun’s approach to design is intersectional and based on social and political research that reflects the core of stories and characters. This is her first off-Broadway set design debut! All thanks to her best boss and mentor, Ant Ma. She holds dual degrees in Theatre and Political Science from Ohio State University.

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