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Winter 2020

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Robert Arthur Angell, Sebastian (Creative: Internal Support Lead)

Robert Arthur Angell is a writer, actor, and goblin from the swamps of Massachusetts. You may have seen him performing in Shakes on the Rocks, Project Nongenue's Much Ado About Nothing, and (for those of you who knew him before 2018) as a straight male. You may also find him behind the scenes in Project Nongenue and CoLaboratory productions. He contributed a short story to Slightly Unsettling Stories: Volume II, available on Amazon. His favorite color is violet. He lives in Glendale with his aloe plant Chom, his sister Mersina, her succulents, and her turtle Monkey. He would like to thank his parents for supporting him for his whole life, Mersina for supporting him for her whole life, and Nerdstrong Gym for making him comfortable enough with his arms to wear a tank top in Act II, scene 1.

Follow him on the socials at @robertartangell.

"It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end." -Ursula K. LeGuin

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Ryan Brophy*, Orsino

Ryan Brophy makes his PNG debut with What You Will. Regional: Rotterdam (Ovation nomination, Kirk Douglas Theatre). Also in LA: Oppenheimer, Ready Steady Yeti Go, and Justin Tanner's forthcoming Little Theatre (Rogue Machine). USC (B.A. 2018): Romeo and Juliet, The Country Wife, You Can't Take It With You, That Long Damn Dark. British American Drama Academy (LTP 2017): The Love of the Nightingale. Film: we could have danced (Sundance Ignite), Howler (USC), The Gift of the Magi (UCLA). Multimedia: Is the Sky Falling? (dir. Bill T. Jones). Alumnus of YoungArts and Northwestern University's Cherubs program.

Instagram: @rybrophy.

He/him/his.

www.ryanbrophy.com

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Carlo Figlio*, Sir Toby Belch

Carlo Figlio is a so very pleased to be making his debut performance with PNG. Thank you to everyone involved for making me feel so welcomed. It’s been a joy to work with you all! THEATRE: Don Juan in The Last Days of Don Juan (CTL); Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest (Stella Adler Lab Theatre); What’d You Think? (A Light In Dark Places) Palabras Ajenas (REDCAT); Durango 66 (REDCAT); Caught (Firefly Theatre); Warsaw Uprising (CalArts CNP); Arturo Ui in The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui (CalArts). EDUCATION: California Institute of the Arts (BFA) & Stella Adler Academy of Acting (Alumnus).

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Max Havas, Feste

Max Havas is a graduate of the UCLA School of Theater Film and Television where he performed in Bent (Greta), Uncle Vanya (Yefim), and Waitress in Concert (Cal). He also played the role of Critic in a reading of Paderewski in America at the Geffen Playhouse. Thank you to Olivia Buntaine for being a fantastic director and collaborator.

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Darius Levanté, Antonio

Darius Levanté is elated to be apart of the PNG family! Levanté is a former Richmond Virginia native, an actor, dancer, and artist newly settled in Los Angeles. He received training in both Theatre & Dance performance at Virginia Commonwealth University and is continuing his acting training here in LA at the Sanford Meisner Center. Most recently seen in CUFFED, a short film directed by Parker Caston Jr. and performed live as the Masked Meshach in Kanye West’s Nebuchadnezzar. You can see Levanté next with the LA Choreographers Company performing in NYC at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater. When not on stage you can find him expressing his passions through photography and fashion. So much so that he was recently featured in the Lagom Like Minds art show, KINETIC. Mr. Levanté is currently looking for representation so for more info and/or to check out his photography please go to dlevante.com!
#blacklivesmatter | Instagram: @unbothered.tbh

 

 

Erin Manker*, Malvolio

An actor/writer/idiot from Huntington Beach, CA (which means their teeth chatter when they open the fridge) Erin Manker read too much as a child, going up and down stairs, at meals, under the desk at school and under the covers at night (their parents {diamonds of the first water without whom they’d be absolutely nowhere} often executed midnight raids in an attempt to discourage this), when they performed in their first play in elementary school, they discovered acting was like mainlining reading and they haven’t been able to leave it alone since. Since then, they’ve played Medea (in the eponymous play), Gretta Conroy (James Joyce’s The Dead), Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing), Iago (Othello), Emma (another eponymous production of the Jane Austen novel), Gwendolen Fairfax (The Importance of Being Earnest), Frankie Debeau (Oatman Goes South), Jewel (The Giving Key), Jessica (The Fosters) and Laurisa (S.W.A.T.). Erin’s beloved mentor and Shakespeare genius Amy Louise Sebelius passed away much too soon this last year, the loss felt wholly unsurmountable until they encountered the kind, talented, dedicated folks behind Project Nongenue. Their beautiful vision and unwavering support has gone a long way towards healing that particular heartbreak and Erin hopes this is far from their last adventure together.

 

 

Kyra Morling, Viola

Kyra Morling is a multidisciplinary artist and graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles with a B.A. in theater. Her most recent credits include: the film Tall in Another Dimension, Aphrodite in Project Nongenue’s Medusa, and Witch at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Behind the scenes, she recently completed a producing fellowship at Next @ The Braid, and is the Manager of New Works at Project Nongenue!

More at: kyramorling.com.

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Tiana Randall, Olivia

Tiana Randall-Quant, a longtime fan of Project Nongenue, is thrilled to be part of her first  PNG show. As a Los Angeles native, she is grateful to have the opportunity to collaborate on such powerful, subversive, and uplifting work in her hometown. This is her second time in Twelfth Night, which is one of her favorite plays, and she is excited to add this queer retelling to her list of Shakespeare performances. She wants to thank her parents for their constant support and love. Her inspirations include FKA Twigs, SZA, and Prince.

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Gabrielle Sigrist, Jack (Creative: Community Engagement Lead)

Gabrielle Sigrist is an actor and playwright with a BA in Theatre and Philosophy from Seattle University. Since moving to LA she has appeared on stage at The Westchester Playhouse and with the Group Repertory Theatre. Some of her favorite theatre roles include "Ariel" in The Tempest, "Kattrin" in Mother Courage and Her Children, and "Baba Yaga" in her self-written solo show babushka of the deep green. She has also spent her time as the Community Engagement Lead helping us partner with the Latino Equality Alliance on this production - check them out and support the message of this show within our community. Working with Project Nongenue has been the highlight of her year - endless gratitude to the whole cast & team!

gabriellesigrist.com

 

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Emily Tuñon, Maria

Emily Tuñon is an Actress/ Singer/Writer from Houston,TX. She trained at the ever so fun Young Actor's Conservatory at Stages Repertory Theater,  The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and the Acting Conservatory Program at South Coast Repertory Theater. Since the founding of Project Nongenue she has been involved. Highlighted moments with the company include Julius Caesar as The Soothsayer, Get Smart and Get Mad as herself. Her favorite roles include Nylah in Open Fist Theatre Company's premiere of Welcome to your Alternative Reality,  Vicky from NBC's A.P Bio, Sofia in her lastest independent film performance The Sound of Balloons,  and now Maria in What you Will or Twelfth Night with this incredible company #PNG4life. She would love to thank her incredibly supportive cast, friends, and boyfriend for their unwavering love.

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Noga Yechieli Wind, Andrew

Noga Yechieli Wind is a theater maker, actor, clown, drag king, and queer activist from Jerusalem. Her work focuses on merging queer activism and art. Her original show Red And Boiling- Real stories of queer womxn, has performed in multiple festivals abroad as well as Highways and REDCAT in L.A. She previously wrote and directed Let’s Talk Sex Work: A Play which performed at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Noga has worked and volunteered with multiple LGBTQ organizations abroad and in the U.S. She has her BFA in Acting from CalArts and works at UPMT agency where she heads the first queer division in Hollywood.

To learn more visit www.nogawind.com

Follow:@nogayechieli & @thehasadick

 

 

Creative (Winter 2020)

Robert Angell, Internal Support Lead

Please see bio above. 

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Clint Blakely, Music Lead

Clint Blakely is so thrilled to compose music for this beautiful production! He holds a BA in Jazz Voice from USC’s Thornton School of Music. As an actor, favorite recent credits include PNG’s The Tragedy of Medusa,Assassins (Hillcrest Center for the Arts) and Lady Injustice (Whitmore-Lindley Theater). Right now, Clint is probably on a bus somewhere in the Midwest as part of the touring production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. Thanks to Olivia for her vision, trust, and friendship.

Keep up with Clint on Instagram @clintblakely.

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Ryan Brophy*, Producer

Please see bio above.

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Olivia Buntaine, Director

Olivia is a Los Angeles-based writer, theater-artist and teacher. Trained in classical theater (through the British American Drama Academy, Theatricum Botanicum and Antaeus), her passion is creating productions of Shakespeare and other classical works with the purpose of starting conversations about violence against women and other disenfranchised populations. Her original, one-woman play in verse about sexual violence in colleges (Surviving: A Love Story) received the Ruth George Poetry Prize in 2015. Olivia believes that culturally-conscious, feminist, classical theater will save the world, and says Project Nongenue was born somewhere between playing Hamlet as a 16 year old girl and Imogen with a partially shaved head.

Website: www.oliviabuntaine.com

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Yasmine El-Tayeb, Sound Design

Yasmine El-Tayeb is an LA and OC based sound designer and stage manager. This is her first show with PNG and she is very excited to be working on this show! Yasmine has worked in film, theater, and immersive storytelling both in sound and management and hopes to continue to broaden her experience and explore new forms of entertainment. She is always looking for new opportunities to collaborate and create innovative work. Yasmine would like to thank her family and friends for their constant love and support.

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Richard Fong, Set Design

Richard is excited to be working with Project Nongenue for the first time! A San Francisco Bay Area native, Richard is a scenic, projection, and lighting designer and currently works as technical director at Saint Mary’s College High School in Berkeley. Select credits include Gypsy with Bay Area Musicals, Gamers with Hollywood Fringe, Newsies, Hairspray, and Legally Blonde with Paul Revere Players, Bonnie & Clyde with Act III Theatre Ensemble, and California Shakespeare Theater., Set Design

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Taylor Jackson-Ross*, Producer, Stage Manager/Text Coach

Gratitude goes out to all the unsung heroes in production and stage management that keep the show running and keep folks safe and sound. After appearing with Project Nongenue as Brutus in Julius Caesar and Hecuba in The Trojan Women, Ross decided it was time to take a seat on the other side of the production table. It is her privilege to help bring What You Will (or Twelfth Night) to life. Ross has seen first hand the impact that inclusive and thoughtful theater can make on actor and audience alike. She is always proud to fly the PNG flag! Other places you might have spotted TJR include Theatricum Botanicum, The Mainstreet Theatre, Greenway Court Theater, Chase What Flies and as a host at a most curious tea party... 

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Janelle Ketcher, Graphic Designer

Janelle Ketcher is a proud midwest human living in Los Angeles who enjoys working on projects combining creativity and human connection. As a non-profit administrator and cultural worker, she has worn many hats and brings her digital aptitude and love of organizing to develop inventive programs and organizational efficiencies. Personally and creatively, she is interested in the power of graphic information, volunteering in the community, and living a sustainable lifestyle powered by creativity. Janelle holds a BFA in Painting, Art History and Social Practice from the Kansas City Art Institute as well as a Social Emotional Arts Certificate from UCLArts & Healing.

​Instagram: @JanelleKetcher

Website: www.JanelleKetcher.com

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Marie Osterman, Associate Director/Movement Director

Marie is a recent graduate from UCLA for acting and directing. This is her third show with PNG after first teaming up with them as Much Ado’s Don Pedro, and then Medusa in The Tragedy if Medusa. Other favorite credits Venus in Fur (Vanda) and Othello (Desdemona). She is also a freelance movement teacher, focusing in contact improvisation. (Most recent work has been at the Tbilisi contact festival, Freiburg, and youth workshops in San Diego.) She also  knows some stuff about birds! (Not as much as she’d like to—never as much as she’d like to). Big love and thanks to family, friends, and Olivia for giving her a home in this company. 

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Ann Slote, Design Lead

Ann Slote is an LA based video and lighting designer. She has worked in theater and dance in SF, NY, and LA. She mostly works with groups that focus on current social and political issues, in the hopes of making change and educating through storytelling. She loves finding opportunities to collaborate with all types of artists. You can often find her in Berlin. 

annslotedesign.com

@banana_slote

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Gabrielle Sigrist, Community Engagement Lead

Please see bio above.

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Mimi RuthStiver, Dramaturg

Mimi RuthStiver is so excited to be making her Project Nongenue debut! She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Design and Technology with an emphasis in Dramaturgy from Whittier College and has been working steadily in the field since. She has written contextual pieces for A Noise Within and LA Stage Alliance and helped develop on new works for the Son of Semele Solo Creation Festival in 2019. Previous credits include: Big Tits 69 (Son of Semele), Next to Normal (Whittier College), and Dollhouse (Whittier College; Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival - Region VIII Honorable Mention in Dramaturgy). In addition to her theatre work, Mimi has also been noted as a "celebrity death expert," studying the intersection between celebrity culture and the funeral industry. More can be found at www.mimiruthstiver.com or @mimiruthstiver across platforms. 

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Al Washburn, Company Manager

Al is a writer, educator, and artist with a degree from Scripps College and absolutely no formal training in theater. They believe there's very little that's more powerful than marginalized people telling their truths, and for this reason they love supporting Project Nongenue in its vital work. They spend most days talking about relationships, consent, and bodily autonomy with young people. They are thrilled to be this company's "Mr. Clipboard".
Website: www.scarleteen.com

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*Members of the Actors Equity Association

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This production is being presented under the auspices of the Actors’ Equity Association Los Angeles Self-Produced Project Code.