Who We Are
How we build the house
REMARKABLE STORIES SPARKING TRANSFORMATIVE CONVERSATIONS
Houses on the Moon Theater Company is a home for unheard stories. Our projects begin with relationship building, collaboration, and partnership with grassroots community organizations to identify an urgent social need; a vital untold story that must be heard. Our creation process includes extensive research, first-person storytelling workshops, and interviews, and our work is presented Off Broadway as well as in non-traditional spaces throughout New York City, the US, and internationally. Whether they are LGBTQ asylum seekers, undocumented youth, individuals impacted by gun violence or families grappling with mass incarceration, we collaborate with communities to theatrically amplify their untold stories, create awareness, offer support, and ultimately foster a more empathetic world.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
Houses on the Moon Theater Company was founded in 2001 with the mission of amplifying unheard voices and the vision of dispelling ignorance and isolation to create a safe and equitable space for all humans, regardless of their race, culture, religion, gender, sexuality, or immigration status. We are committed to this mission and strive to always lead with these values.
We recognize that we exist within a society that suffers greatly from systemic racism and an unjust power structure, and that we as an organization must continually work to embody our core principles, actively combat oppression, and support true equity. As we continue our mission, we are continuing our growth.
Houses on the Moon has always been centered around artists, the artistic process, and the diverse communities and non-traditional audiences we serve. As our company continues to grow and evolve, we pledge a commitment to the following:
- Expanding our Staff and Board of Directors to include more BIPOC individuals/members, and prioritizing equity, diversity, and inclusion in our hiring practices.
- Continuing to amplify unheard stories through the creation, development, and production of BIPOC-led artistic projects.
- Mindfully curating and employing artistic and production teams for each of our projects that reflect the voices, cultures, perspectives, and lived experiences these stories depict.
- Creating space and being intentional with conversations between our administrative activities and Board meetings to address diversity, equity, inclusion, hierarchy of human value, and bias in our work culture; building safe and brave constructive channels through which staff, artists, and Board members may voice their concerns and/or report instances of discrimination.
- Ensuring our work’s accessibility by providing accommodations for audiences, artists, and participants of all physical abilities and neurological diversities.
STAFF
Emily Joy Weiner
Co-Founder & Artistic Director
Emily Joy Weiner is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Houses on the Moon Theater Company, a NYC based 501c3 not for profit. Since the company’s inception in 2001 she has been creating, developing, performing, producing and directing new works that address the complex and sensitive issues of our time. Emily has been a facilitator of creative theater making workshops throughout the NYC public school system for the past 25 years, specializing in programs with teenagers and young adults going through the criminal justice system. In most recent years Emily directed the Off-Broadway production of THE SANTA CLOSET at Teatro Circulo, guided the company through its production of DE NOVO at Next Door at NYTW, directed the world premiere of THE ASSIGNMENT at the ART/New York Theatres and continues to guide the touring, live storytelling production of gUN COUNTRY. She has performed all over NYC and beyond with some highlights including OTHELLO at the West End Theater, COMING THROUGH at the American Place Theatre, FINDING THE WORDS at the Lucille Lortel, AN EPIDOG with Mabou Mines and FEFU AND HER FRIENDS at Williamstown Theatre Festival. She co-developed and toured a one-woman adaptation of Faulkner’s AS I LAY DYING with the late Wynn Handman of The American Place Theatre whom she studied with for many years. The League of Professional Theatre Women recently honored Emily with the Josephine Abady award for her work with Houses in the creation of multicultural works. Her play, SHARED SENTENCES, had its Off Broadway world premiere in Fall 2022.
Aaliytha stevens
Director of Strategic Planning & Cultural Affairs
AALIYTHA STEVENS is the Founder of Ashé Collective, a consulting firm specializing in Audience Development and Operational Strategy. She serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at Art House, and the Director of Strategic Planning and Cultural Affairs at Houses on the Moon Theater Company. Additionally, she is the Co-founder of Building Community, a values-driven Multimedia Communications company dedicated to being architects of transformation and collective prosperity.
Prior to these ventures, Aaliytha served as the Chief Operating Officer at Spotco, a global theatrical design and advertising agency, where she worked for 21 years.
Aaliytha is passionate about philanthropic giving so she founded Essential Development Group Inc, a not-for-profit focused on community development activities and uplifting youth. As such, she developed the Bedford to Broadway program in collaboration with LIU Brooklyn’s Liberty Partnership. She also dedicates time to developing fair workplace practices, and equity and diversity throughout the Broadway industry (and beyond). Aaliytha is a trendsetter and cultural shaper, improving statistics from the root up. As such, she is on the boards of the Black Theatre Coalition (BTC) and the New Heritage Theatre Group. She’s a member of the advisory council of National Black Theatre’s (NBT) Catalyst Seeding Permanence, and The Theatre Leadership Project (TTLP). She co-chairs the Multicultural Task Force at the Broadway League while sitting on their EDI and Business Development Committees. Proudly, she is a member of the Broadway Women’s Alliance (BWA) and Women of Color in the Arts (WOCA).
Meghan Dunne
Development Manager
Meghan Dunne is an arts administrator and grant writer for dance, film, literature, music, theatre, and arts education organizations and has secured support for artists from dozens of private foundations and from local, state, national, and international governments. Productions that Meghan has managed have been presented by Brooklyn Academy of Music, Irish Arts Center, The Kitchen, The Joyce Theater, and New York University, among others. Her creative writing and text adaptations have been featured in the work of choreographers Seán Curran and Benjamin Freedman. BFA magna cum laude, Ohio University; MBA with Distinction, LIU Brooklyn. meghandunne.com
Devon Miller
General Manager
Devon Miller (he/him) is a career-long arts administrator focusing on community engagement, access, public policy, and racial equity within the arts. In addition to serving as the General Manager for Houses on the Moon, Devon is also an Associate General Manager with Foresight Theatrical. He most recently served as the Director of Education and Community Partnerships for Dallas Summer Musicals where he was responsible for overseeing the organization’s education and engagement activities and working with organizational leaders on transforming the organization into a more actively anti-racist institution. A Dallas native, Devon has spent his career programing and fundraising for arts and social service organizations, working to bring about impactful change throughout North Texas communities. He received his B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Communication Studies from Southern Methodist University where he focused his studies on political communication.
Robb Leigh Davis
Education Director
Robb Leigh Davis is a Brooklyn-based artist/educator. Creatively developing at the intersections of politics, race and sexuality, his educational projects are rooted in social justice through literacy and language arts. He is creator of the performance series Meditation on Theme and has worked extensively within NYC schools directing K-12 programming and the development of curriculum and protocols. He served as Director of Arts & Culture for the LGBT Center of NY and was a selected playwright for the Tectonic Theater Project’s LGBT Theater Artists of Color Training Lab. In partnership with Brooklyn College/GLARE (GLBTQ Advocacy in Research & Education) he has presented commissioned performances for the National Network for Education Renewal Conferences in CT and TX and the Shepard Symposium on Social Justice in WY. His work has been presented as part of the Dixon Place HOT! Festival, the NY Fringe Festival, The Vanderbilt Republic and Midheaven Network. His creative works include AMERICANBLACKOUT, Syndrome, The Glam Factor, The Homosexual Agenda and We the People.
Jeffrey Solomon
Co-Founder, Director of Storytelling
Jeff wrote and directed two of the Houses touring plays, BUILDING HOUSES ON THE MOON (Lucille Lortel, City Theatre, Pittsburgh, Winner: Best Play for an Ensemble, Columbus National Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival) and DE NOVO. (59E59 St. Theaters, Americas Off Broadway Festival, Tour of El Salvador) He is also the author of TARA’S CROSSING, which appeared at the Queens Theatre’s Immigrant Voice’s Project and its world premiere run at the Tenement Theatre in New York. DE NOVO and TARA’S CROSSING are presented widely in Law Schools as a training tool on asylum and refugee issues. As a solo performer and playwright Mr. Solomon’s MOTHER/SON premiered at HERE Art Center in New York and he received a Joseph Jefferson Nomination for Best Actor for the same performance in Chicago at the Bailiwick Rep. The play has toured the U.S., U.K. India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Australia and is used widely as a diversity training tool at colleges, universities, houses of worship and corporations. MOTHER/SON won the Audience Favorite, Best Playwriting and Best Male Solo Performer at the National Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival and Mr. Solomon won Best Male Performance at the Absolut Gay Theatre Festival in Dublin, Ireland. His other solo play SANTA CLAUS IS COMING OUT premiered at the Bailiwick in Chicago, ran Off Broadway the Kirk Playhouse and has toured nationally including the Diversionary Theatre in San Diego where it won a StageSceneLA’s Best Of 2010-2011 Award for Best Solo Performance. The play also received the Best of the National Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival. As head-writer for the CityKids Foundation in New York his theatrical works for young audiences appeared on Broadway at the St. James Theater, Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, community settings nationally and on the Oprah, Donahue and Arsenio shows. Jeffrey Solomon created an issue-based Saturday morning television program on A.B.C. called “CityKids” for Jim Henson Productions, and was also a staff writer for the same series. His pilot episode was nominated for an Emmy Award as Best Children’s Special as well as winning an Ollie Award for excellence in Children’s Programming and a Golden Rose Award for Human Values.
Emily Cordes
Communications Manager
Emily Cordes is an NYC-based actress, writer, theatre-maker, and arts marketer/fundraiser. She hails from Pittsburgh, PA and is a graduate of Smith College and Columbia University. She has performed in various plays, films, and web productions throughout the tri-state area, and co-created devised theatre with such groups as No Dominion Theatre Company and The Laboratory of Soul.
Emily is a founding member of the feminist theatre group Tapestry Collective. In this role, she has co-written, produced, and performed in several devised plays, including “StellaMaris” (2017) and “#SoSadSoSexy” (2022); the latter of which was made possible with support from the Puffin Foundation, premiered Off-Broadway to sold-out houses at The Tank in NYC, and received positive press from such online publications as StageBuddy and Thinking Theater NYC. In October 2020 she co-produced “NYSeeing 2020,” an evening of virtual monologues to benefit the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and the Artist Relief Fund, and performed in the showcase as Theodora in Fengar Gael’s “Bat Scat Fever.”
Emily’s poetry collections “Queen of Swords” (2023) & “Armful of Poppies” (2021) were published by Read or Green Books, and her poem “Burn” was featured in the anthology “Love Letters to Gaia.” (Eds. Mirelle Crocco, Nick Correa, et al). She has been a featured guest on the 105 Way and Poets of The East podcasts, and has hosted and facilitated writing workshops for such online platforms as Phynnecabulary, Poetry Global Network, and The Word Is Write.
Emily is a staff writer for the blog Theatre Is Easy, and her articles and theatre reviews have been featured in Howlround, CultureBot, and The Theatre Times. http://bit.ly/EmilyCordes
Jeremy Keith Hunter
Graphic Designer and Video Editor
Hailing out of the DMV; Jeremy is an interdisciplinary artist with a strong focus in theatre; acting; writing; and graphic design. His talents stretch far and wide: as a lyricist and occasional rapper, director, event planner and organizer. Jeremy received his formal training in the arts while attending the College of Southern Maryland and has performed with academic institutions all around the DMV; including Howard University, Bowie State University, Georgetown University, and American University. Currently a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Jeremy has over 15+ years of graphic design experience.
Genroy Richards, RAFS
Accounting
Genroy A. Richards founded Richards Accounting & Financial Services in 2005 and currently operates the company. He is a trusted strategic advisor to personal tax clients and also business owners in service-based industries, non-profit organizations, and professional practices to individuals. Genroy focuses on helping a broad range of small to medium size organizations such as churches, private schools, day care centers and restaurants in addition to many others. .Genroy holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Hunter College, a Master of Science Degree in Administration from Central Michigan University, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed to practice in the State of New York. Genroy is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He conducts business under its Code of Professional Conduct to maintain the highest degree of integrity in his practice. Genroy is also a member of The New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Over a 19 year period, Genroy has held several key positions in the field of accounting with several major organizations. Though RAFS is located in the Mid-County section of Brooklyn making us your Brooklyn accountant of choice, we also serve the five boroughs. Genroy is married with four children, is fluent in Spanish, and is a recent 2014 inductee of The Latino American Who’s Who for exemplary service in the community.
Jeanine Hall, Quant Solutions
Bookkeeping
Jeanine Hall has 15 years of experience helping business owners gain control of their day-to-day finances. She brings her tactical knowledge in financial management to organizations to untangle complicated or messy financials. Enabling the owners to know and understand their company’s financial position and future trajectories. Whether it’s an artist’s live workspace, or a multi-national media production company, her straightforward, collaborative, and honest approach is a breath of fresh air to all her clients.
SpotCo
Media Consultant
SpotCo has played a leading role in developing Broadway’s most iconic brands, from the stenciled typography of Rent to the strikingly bold star of Hamilton. We are a team of storytellers and research nerds, digital gurus and media-buying mavens — all driven by both brains and guts. We take laughter seriously and leave our egos at the door. We celebrate diversity because we know it makes us stronger. We are passionate about what we do, and compassionate in how we do it. We believe our end goal is to enrich the lives of audiences from all around the world. And that is what motivates us.
Artists
Tessie Herrasti
Tessie Herrasti is a multifaceted actress, writer, and filmmaker who uses her diverse talents and experiences to create diverse stories. Born in Mexico and based in NYC, she has a unique background that blends her love for languages and community with her expertise in drama, conflict resolution, and expressive art facilitation. She is passionate about promoting mental health awareness, justice, and equality through her work. Tessie has performed professionally on stage and in film in various cities around the world, including Mexico, Paris, Los Angeles, Sydney, El Paso, and New York. She is currently developing a TV series, Jewels of Light, based on her original novel, and a short proof of concept that has received over 26 awards, including Best Female Empowerment Short, Best Fantasy Short, and an honorable mention for original story. The main theme, composed by Omar El Deeb (The Mandalorian, The Sound of Silence) with her lyrics, won Best Original Soundtrack and Best Original Song. Her dream is to turn her project 85’ into a theater piece that pays tribute to the devastating earthquake in Mexico City. She is a certified Social-Emotional Arts Facilitator and a frequent staff member for the Expressive Therapies Summit for Mental Health. She believes that compassion and kindness are the keys to positive change. She has studied at The National Dramatic Art Conservatory in Mexico City, The Tom Todoroff Acting Conservatory in New York, The Acting Class with David Gideon (Lee Strasberg’s Mentee), and Shakespeare with Mary Lou Rosato and Andrew Wade. She has also completed the Drama Therapy Principles with international Drama Therapist Armand Volkas. In her free time, you can find her playing the Irish harp, reading and exploring her curiosity for myths and folklore from different cultures and playing goofy inventing songs for her cat Lenu. She is thrilled and grateful to join Hotel Happy as her first Equity Contract and to collaborate with its amazing team of creative artists.
Eddie McGee
Eddie McGee, a Long Island local, didn’t let life’s twists hold him back. After losing his left leg at 11, Eddie earned a college scholarship, playing wheelchair basketball and studying broadcasting and theater. In 2000, he snagged his first lead role in “Drop Dead Roses,” opening doors to soap operas, music videos, and feature films. Magazine covers and noteworthy TV appearances followed, including roles in The Equalizer, Hunters, FBI: Most Wanted, Chicago Med & Law & Order. He currently has a recurring role on ABC’s “911.” Off-screen Eddie works as a voice over artist and is excited for the release of “The Creepy School Bus” audio books (also starring Christina Hendricks & Erika Alexander), based off his own YouTube Channel “Don’t Turn Around”
Annelise Cepero
Annelise Cepero (she/her)- New York native and New York Theatre debut! Annelise is over the moon to be part of this production! TV/Film: Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, Holiday Harmony on MAX, Extrapolations on Apple TV+, Pose on FX, Awayy in competition at SXSW 2022, 911 on Fox, Law and Order: SVU, Blue Bloods, and Chicago PD. Theatre: Smokey Joe’s Cafe, The Prince Of Egypt, and Murder Ballad. BFA from Montclair State University. Love to Darius, Mom, and Amalia! @annelisecepero
Yadira Guevara Prip
Yadira Guevara Prip is an NYC based actor known for her roles on SEE (Apple TV+) and Star Trek Discovery (CBS). Her most recent theatre credits are Tell Hector I Miss Him and Street Children which was New York Times Critic’s Pick. She is delighted to be working with Houses on the Moon on their production of Hotel Happy. IG: @yerbnends
Ed Herbstman
Ed is an actor and writer originally from Chicago where he did a lot of improvising at iO and The Second City. Recent Theater credits include: What Else Is True? (Egg&Spoon), Kindness Committee, Six Feet (both RiverArts) — Film/TV: Imaginary Friends, Hustlers, The Big Sick, White House Plumbers, Manifest, Search Party. He’s written for Pixar, Public Radio and Da Ali G Show. Ed co-founded Magnet Theater, and teaches improvisation for the Syracuse Tepper Semester and Columbia University. He’s also a volunteer firefighter in Hastings-On-Hudson, NY, where he lives with his family. IG: eduardo73 FB: edherbstman
Isabella Orrego
Isabella Orrego is a Colombian born and raised Actress. She came to the USA in 2019 to get her bachelor’s degree in Acting and to pursue her career as a performer. She is very excited to make her off-Broadway debut with this production and to portray a Colombian character. Last year she had the incredible opportunity to be Angel in the production of Alma, at The Spot Performing Arts in Sun Valley, Idaho. Her college credits include Calpurnia in Julius Caesar, “M” in Red Bike, and the ensemble in The Trojan Woman and The Other Shore. Outside of Theatre she enjoys spending time with her family back home, cooking and baking and takes great pride on her sourdough. She is a proud Ithaca College Graduate and family-oriented person. Insta @isabellaorregom; Tiktok @isabellaom
LIDIA PORTO
LIDIA PORTO is a Los Angeles based actor who was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. She started her career in Houston, TX, acting in and directing plays, and appearing in commercials, industrials and TV shows like Prison Break, Friday Night Lights and Walker, Texas Ranger, and films like Mike Judge’s Idiocracy and Extract.
In 2013 she moved to Los Angeles, CA. Recent films include Horrible Bosses 2, Running Wild, Dope and Queenpins. She is best known as sexy Cartel boss Amara de Escalones in Get Shorty on MGM+, and no-nonsense nanny/housekeeper Lupe in Home Economics on ABC, hulu and Disney+.
The Gulf Coast Film and TV Festival awarded her it’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2022 she received the International Actor Award from the Bilingual International Film Festival. She has one son, and is happy to be here!
Socials: Lidia Porto/@lalidiaporto/@lalidiaporto/@piliporti
Michael Frederic
Very, very happy to be part of this exciting world premiere. National Tour: The Great Divorce. New York: After (59E59), The New Morality, The Lucky One (The Mint), Bill W and Dr Bob (Soho Playhouse), The Eyes of Others (New Ohio), Summer and Smoke (Theatre Row), Night Over Taos (INTAR – dir. Estelle Parsons). Regional: Dorset Theater Festival, Public Theatre of Maine, Premiere Stages (Best Actor, BroadwayWorld.com), Penguin Rep, Hudson Stage Company, Fulton Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Florida Studio Theatre, Two River Theatre, Round House Theatre, Playmakers Rep, Stageworks/Hudson. TV: Law & Order: Organized Crime, Bull, The Blacklist, Odd Mom Out, Royal Pains. A big thank you to my always-supportive wife and family and to all of you here for supporting live theater. MFA from UNC-Chapel Hill. www.michaelfrederic.com
Socials: FB — Michael Frederic, IG — @frederic.michael
Matt Acheson
Puppet Director
Matt is a puppet and theater artist who was based in Brooklyn for 20 years and now lives in Pittsburgh. He is a founder of AchesonWalsh Studios, a kinetic creation studio providing design, fabrication, direction and performance services, whose clients include Amazon Studios, Broadway, Radio City Music Hall Lincoln Center Theater, The Alliance Theater and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Long Wharf Theatre, Radio City Music Hall, Disney Cruise Lines, Cirque Du Soleil, and the Yale School of Drama. Matt has had the pleasure of working with many exceptional artists including Basil Twist, Dan Hurlin, Mabou Mines, Lee Breuer, Paula Vogel, Chris Green, Metropolitan Opera, The Swedish Marionette Cottage, MTV, Lake Simons and Nami Yamamoto and directed and curated The Puppet Lab, an experimental puppet festival at St. Ann’s Warehouse for over a decade. He was the Puppetry Director for Warhorse, during its run at Lincoln Center Theater and for the North American tour. Matt designed, built, and directed the marionettes for Rinna Groff’s Compulsion, original production directed by Oscar Eustis and the recently remounted production of Compulsion directed by Johanna Gruenhut at Theater J in DC.
Estefanía Fadul
Director
Estefanía Fadul (Director) – Estefanía Fadul is a Brooklyn-based Colombian-American director, and co-Artistic Director of Ensemble Studio Theatre. Recent projects include the world premieres of Eva Luna by Caridad Svich (Repertorio Español), The Garbologists by Lindsay Joelle (Philadelphia Theater Company), Carla’s Quince created with The Voting Project (Drama League Award nomination), Zoom Intervention by Noelle Viñas (Weston Playhouse, NYTimes Critics Pick), The Same Day by Stefan Ivanov (Sfumato Theatre, Bulgaria), and C. Quintana’s Azul (Southern Rep) and Scissoring (INTAR). Estefanía has developed new work off-Broadway and regionally at the Public Theater, Playwrights’ Realm, NYTW, Chautauqua, Audible, Goodspeed, Juilliard, and more. She is the inaugural recipient of New York Stage and Film’s Pfaelzer Award, and an alumna of directing fellowships at Clubbed Thumb, the Drama League, O’Neill/NNPN, Williamstown, and Repertorio Español. She serves on the Drama League’s Board of Directors, and is a member of the Leadership Circle of the Center for Performance and Civic Practice, the Latinx Theatre Commons advisory committee, the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, and SDC.
Yadira De La Riva
Yadira De La Riva is a theater artist from El Paso, Texas/Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Alumna of UCSC and NYU, Yadira wrote, performed and produced One Journey, a one-woman show exploring US/Mexico border identity that toured throughout the U.S. and along the U.S./Mexico border. Her recent credits include: Carla’s Quince (Virtual-Drama League Award Nominated), Zoongoro Bailongo (New York Children’s Theater), Papo’s Variety Store (LATEA Theater), La Negra (BRIC), Noche de Alebrijes (Art Vallarta), Alonzo (2019 New York Latino Film Festival), NERO (Kyoung Pacific Beat), Shared Sentences (Houses on the Moon) and The Diamond (People’s Theatre Project). www.yadiradelariva.com
Lisa Rothe
Lisa Rothe is a NY based freelance theater director, acting /vocal coach and educator. She was nominated for SDC’s Joe A. Callaway Award for Direction for Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata, produced by Epic Theatre Ensemble in NYC. The play was also nominated for a Drama Desk award for Best Solo Performance by actor Joel de la Fuente and the Tony Award winning TheatreWorks/Silicon Valley production recently won 3 Theatre Bay Area Awards for Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Performer and Outstanding Production. Other productions at The Cultch Historic Theatre in Vancouver, Barrington Stages, The Guthrie Theater, ACT in Seattle, Playmakers Repertory Theatre, the Honolulu Theatre for Youth, the SoloNova Festival in NYC, and was produced by Hang A Tale at the Sheen Center in NYC. Previously the Director of New Works at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Lisa was thrilled to produce the 4th annual Origins KC New Works Festival. Alongside Angel Desai and Grace Zandarski, Lisa was a coArtistic Director of The Actor’s Center in NYC for the three years. She is also a recent co-President of the League of Professional Theatre Women, is on the Artistic Advisory Council of Epic Theatre Ensemble, on the Advisory Boards of Houses on the Moon and the Detroit Public Theatre, a Usual Suspect with New York Theatre Workshop, an Artistic Affiliate and Audrey Fellow with New Georges, a Drama League alum, a fox Fellow alum and a member of the National Theater Conference. Lisa received her MFA from NYU’s Graduate Acting Program and was subsequently invited by Zelda Fichandler to be part of the inaugural year of NYU’s Directing program for alumni of the MFA Acting program. She also studied with the legendary Joseph Chaikin in his workshop for actors and directors.
Nikomeh Anderson
Tee
Nikomeh Anderson (They/He/Sir/Nik) is a BK/Lenape land based Professional Actor, Multidisciplinary Performer + Content Creator, Teaching Artist + Holistic Facilitator, Erotic Creative + Intimacy Captain. They are an Event + Creative Project Producer with their Black Trans+Queer, Nuerodiverse+Disabled collective house and artistic collaborative, Community Oasis Igniting Liberation. Their primary artistic mediums are movement, poetry, acting, music/singing, and energywork. Holistic Embodiment, Consent, Healing+Disability justice, Anti-Capitalist Colonialism, Climate Justice, Pleasure Activism and Liberation thru Relationships + Community Care are central to their creative mission. Recent acting credits: The Players Theatre, WP Theatre, Center Theatre Group IG:@wickedsirnik linktr.ee/wickedsirnik
Raphael Nash Thompson
Harold
RAPHAEL NASH THOMPSON Broadway: The Sign In Sidney Brustein’s Window (The Village Crier, Inc). Off-Broadway: Shared Sentences (Houses On The Moon Theater), Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Heartbreak House (Gingold Theatrical Group), F*cking A (Signature Theatre), Pericles (dir. Trevor Nunn, Theatre for a New Audience), Pericles, Volpone, The Witch of Edmonton, Edward II (Red Bull Theater). Regional: Miss You Like Hell (Center Stage), The Guard (City Theatre), All the Days (McCarter Theatre), Richard III (Shakespeare Theatre Company, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival), Julius Caesar (Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis), Othello, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Coriolanus, Much Ado About Nothing, (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), Electra (Hartford Stage), Paul Robeson (TheaterWorks), Ajax (dir. Peter Sellars, American National Theater), The Threepenny Opera (Wilma Theater), Gal Baby (dir. Kenny Leon, Alliance Theater). Film: Searching for Bobby Fischer, Kiss of Death, Clockers. TV: Search Party (HBO Max), Elementary (CBS), Ed (NBC), Third Watch (NBC), Soul Food (Showtime).
David Anzuelo
Sebastian
David Anzuelo – Off Broadway theater: Halfway Bitches Go Straight To Heaven (Labyrinth/Atlantic) Fish Men; Se Llama Cristina (Intar). Intimacy (New Group). Regional: Mother Road (Arena); Our Town; 12 Angry Men (Northern Stage). Mother F*cker With the Hat (Kitchen Theater). Oedipus El Rey (Woolly Mammoth). Frost/Nixon (Rep Theater of St. Louis). Stand-up Tragedy (Joseph Jefferson Award, Best Supporting Actor, Apple Tree Theater). Film: “A New York Christmas Wedding”; “A Walk Among The Tombstones:; “Remember Me”. TV: “Succession”; “Blue Bloods”; “Elementary”; “The Americans”; “Deadbeat”; “Person of Interest”; “Law & Order”; “NYC-22”. He’s a member of Labyrinth Theater Company.
Glynis Bell
Barbara
GLYNIS BELL was a member of John Houseman’s Acting Company with Kevin Kline and Patti Lupone. Her Broadway credits include: The Ferryman, Angels in America, A Dolls House Part 2, Therese Raquin, Looped and My Fair Lady. Glynis toured the country in The Vagina Monologues. She has performed in countless regional theatres where her favorite roles included: Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Sister Aloysius in Doubt, Silda in Other Desert Cities along with leads in 23 of Shakespeare’s plays. Glynis has been in three iterations of “Law And Order”playing Judges, lawyers, doctors and various mothers.
Valisia Lekae
Valisia is an award winning actress who has graced the Broadway stage in
numerous Tony Nominated productions such as The Three Penny Opera, 110
in the Shade , Ragtime and The Book of Mormon. Her starring role as Diana
Ross in Motown the Musical garnered her a Grammy Nomination, Tony
Nomination, Theatre World Award, Drama League Nomination and an Outer
Critics Circle nomination. Valisia won a Joseph Jefferson Award and was
nominated for a Black Theatre Alliance Award for her portrayal of Sarah in
Ragtime at the Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago. Off Broadway Valisia starred
as Lorraine Hansberry in Sweet Lorraine (Lorraine Hansberry) and Almost
Heaven, The John Denver Musical. In 2020, Valisia Executive Produced &
starred as Lorraine Hansberry in the virtual production of Scenes From Sweet
Lorraine which was a benefit for Stand Up To Cancer and the Equity in the
Arts & Culture Committee of the Brooklyn NAACP. Some of her regional
credits include Rock and Roll Man (Lavern Baker), Mark Twain’s River of
Song, Oklahoma (Laurey), Caroline or Change (Emmie), Dreamgirls (Deena
Jones), Godspell (Joanne), Big River (Alice’s Daughter) and Little Shop of
Horrors (Chiffon), to which she was nominated for a Kevin Kline Award. She
has toured with the USO and the National touring companies of All Shook Up
(Lorraine) and Mamma Mia (Lisa). She has been a part of countless
workshops and readings in the New York City area. Some of her television
credits include FBI: Wanted, The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, Live at the Lincoln
Center (Camelot) and the 60th and 67th Annual Tony Awards. Valisia is an
ovarian cancer survivor and has been honored by the NOCC, OCRA and
Look Good Feel Better. She also served as the spokesperson for the NOCC
and has been the keynote speaker for cancer organizations across the country.
Her journey has been featured in Elle.com, Vogue.com, Vanity Fair
Magazine, Essence Magazine, Parade Magazine, USA Today, NY Times and
many other publications. She has been honored three times by her alma
mater, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. twitter/ instagram @valisialekae
www.valisialekae.com.
SJ Hannah
SJ Hannah was last seen onstage at The Orlando Shakespeare Festival in GTFOH. Other productions include On Striver’s Row (Metropolitan Playhouse), The First Deep Breath (National Black Theatre), Meaningful Conversation (New Light Theater Project), Basement (Shetler Studios), Invisible Life, The Musical, at the legendary Apollo Theater, and The Lion King (national tour). He dedicates this performance to his mom, the perfect fan.
Bryce Michael Wood
Bryce Michael Wood graduated from the University of Notre Dame with his Bachelors and was a Division–I Athlete for the Fighting Irish. Most recently he received his MFA in Acting from UCONN under the direction of Dale AJ Rose. His recent credits include, but aren’t limited to: King Lear at Shakespeare & Co, TopDog/Underdog at Shakespeare & Co., Glory at the New School, Othello at the Brick Theater, Gloria at Asolo Repertory Theater, The Royale at The Hippodrome Theater, Smart People at both The Geva & Kitchen Theatre, Welcome to Fear City at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival, and Row, where he starred as Muhammed Ali at Goodspeed Opera House. While attending UCONN he was in a multitude of Connecticut Rep. Productions.
Jeorge Bennett Watson
Jeorge Bennett Watson is a 30+ year grizzled, yet affably handsome veteran of the theater, TV/film and VO wars, who’s extremely grateful to HOUSES ON THE MOON for this opportunity to bring this important work to life. He is a recent graduate of the 2020-2021 Atlantic Acting School Evening Conservatory and studies continuously with Susan Batson, Carl Ford, Jake Harders and the faculty of Completely Ridiculous as acting and accent coaches. He is represented by Avalon Artists Group, theatrically, Innovative Artists, commercially as well as VO work, is managed by RedLetter Entertainment, domestically and by Crawford Talents, internationally. He is a father of two beautiful/excellent humans and is a self-taught bass player. Excelsior!
Jose Aranda
MFA in Acting from Brooklyn College and BFA in Acting from The North Carolina School of the Arts. Theatre credits include Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (Angel); DeNovo (Edgar); Two Gentlemen of Verona (Valentine); The Learned Ladies (Clitandre); Signature Theatre, Yemaya’s Belly (Jesus); Greenwich Street Playhouse, Waiting for Lefty (Agate Keller); Washington Square Theatre, Macbeth (Malcolm); City Center, 29 Lives (Narrator); Teatro Mexhico, Muerte (Andres); DC Arts, Sonnets for an Old Century (various roles); Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Light in the Storm (Daniel); 14th Street Playhouse, Indian Wants the Bronx (Joey)/One Armed Man (McHenry). Jose has taught acting at Manhattanville College, Brooklyn College, acting and voice at Brooklyn College MFA program, and University of The North Carolina School of the Arts where he has also directed. Jose has also been a teaching artist for the company Enact since 1999.
Camilo Almonacid
Camilo Almonacid is a multi-talented artist based in New York City with over ten years of experience creating dynamic stories that explore the diverse voices of America. Some of his notable plays include The Assignment (A.R.T/NY Theatres 2017), Westpine Myopes (Rita Goldberg Award 2014), Checkin In (Irv Zarkower Award 2012), For the Flies (Here Arts 2015), Church Of Why Not (Theatre 167 2015), After the Crowds (Queen’s Museum, NY times Critics Pick 2014), and Shithole (Here Arts 2010). In addition to being a playwright, he is also a skilled freelance writer who has collaborated on branded content projects with major media outlets like Netflix, Remezcla, and Vice Media. Camilo Almonacid holds a BFA in acting from Rutgers University and an MFA in Playwriting from Hunter College. He is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild. You can find more information about his work at camiloalmonacid.com.
Jenny Bacon
Jenny Bacon has been performing professionally for many years; she has created characters in the room with some of the masters of the American Theater, among them, Sam Shepard, Tony Kushner, Sarah Ruhl, Theresa Rebeck, Lisa Kron, David Rabe, and many others. She has worked with groundbreaking directors to execute their vision, Ivo van Hove, JoAnne Akalaitis, Daniel Aukin, Walter Bobbie, Robert Falls, Mary Zimmerman, Daniel Fish, and many, many others, garnering awards across America and a Herald Angel Award from the Edinburgh Festival. She has appeared on American television playing a variety of unfortunate souls in horrific circumstances, and has had an absolutely wonderful time doing it.
Erick Betancourt
Erick Betancourt was recently seen in Our Lady of 121st dir: Phylicia Rashad, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (NY Times Critic’s Pick) dir: Mark Brokaw; Julius Caesar (Delacorte) dir: Oskar Eustis; Shakespeare Trilogy (NY Times Critic’s Pick) dir: Phyllida Lloyd; Last Days of Judas Iscariot dir: Estelle Parsons; Other theater credits: The Assignment (Inaugural Season A.R.T.NY/Theaters); Exposure (NYC Premiere); Reboot: Queen Latina (Cherry Lane), Three Sisters; Lady (Actors Studio Drama School Repertory); Dominica: The Fat Ugly Ho (LAByrinth Theatre Intensive) & Regional Work: Romeo and Juliet (Trinity Rep Co.) Film Credits: “11:55” & “Missing William” TV Credits: “Law & Order SVU” “Blacklist:Redemption” “Master of None” “Sneaky Pete.” Training: MFA: Actors Studio Drama School. BFA: University of Rhode Island. Erick is Lifetime Member of the Actors Studio.
Sean Carvajal
De Novo (Houses on the Moon Theater Company), Ghetto Babylon (59E59), Lissabon (LaMaMa), Holy Land (HERE Arts Center), Seven Spots on The Sun (Cincinnati Playhouse), Dominica, That Fat Ugly Ho (LAByrinth Intensive Ensemble), Between Riverside and Crazy (Studio Theatre), Water By The Spoonful (Premiere Stages), Tell Hector I Miss Him (Atlantic Theater), Seven Spots On The Sun (Rattle Stick Theater)
Brenda Currin
Brenda Currin, Obie award winner (My Sister in This House by Wendy Kesselman), began her proud association with Houses on the Moon in 2011 doing a workshop (at the Flying E Ranch out west!) of Lucy Thurber’s play, Derivations. Brenda later helped gather the stories of transgender youth, TRANSformations and is one of the storytellers in gUN COUNTRY. For the Midtown International Fringe Festival she is rehearsing playing a new play Mr. Toole, playing the mother, Thelma Toole. She was recently seen as Beulah Binnings in Orpheus Descending, directed by Austin Pendleton in New York and Jef Hall- Also in New Orleans, she played Violet Venable in Southern Rep’s production of Suddenly Last Summer, directed by Aimée Hayes. Films: In Cold Blood (Nancy Clutter), The World According to Garp (Pooh), Reds, Taps, and cult classic C.H.U.D. Her many theater appearances in NYC and beyond include Mrs. Constable In the Summer House by Jane Bowles (Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival); and Mother in Doubtless by Albert Innaurato (59E59Theaters). Adapted along with David Kaplan, director, Brenda performed their acclaimed June Recital and A Fire Was In My Head (adapted by Kaplan) based on Eudora Welty’s work in New York, throughout the country and in Europe. At the 92nd St. Y she, Olympia Dukakis and Estelle Parsons did Welty’s “Asphodel”. In 1996 Brenda received her Master degree in anthropology from Hunter College, and co-founded WHAT GIRLS KNOW, a national theater program for the healthy development of adolescent girls.
Will Coley
Will is an independent radio and podcast producer based in Harlem, NY. Will first learned of the potential of storytelling as an advocate and community organizer working with refugees and asylum seekers first in his home state of North Carolina, then Zimbabwe, the U.K., New Jersey, and California. He has created digital campaigns with nonprofit organizations and witnessed the impact that personal stories have on shifting larger narratives about immigrant and refugee rights. Will produced a podcast series, Indefensible, in collaboration with people facing deportation. Will’s audio stories have aired on NPR News, 99% Invisible, BBC World Service, and Georgia Public Broadcasting among others.
Carlo D’Amore
Carlo is an award-winning actor, a playwright, a Drama Desk Nominated director, a producer, as well as an experience designer and the creative director and founder of Live in Theater Productions (LIT LLC). The work of LIT has been experienced by hundreds of thousands in between New York City, Madrid, Spain, and Austin Texas.
BROADWAY ACTING CREDITS: “Summer and Smoke” The Roundabout Theater Company, directed by David Warren “Latinologues” Helen Hayes Theater directed by Cheech Marin.
OFF-BROADWAY ACTING CREDITS: The Lark, Urban Stages, Repertorio Espanol, Ensemble Studio Theater, Manhattan Playhouse, Lucille Lortel Theater, Rattlestick Theater, Intar, Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, The Theater at Riverside Church, 59E59, The TBG theater, The NY-Historical Society, Houses On The Moon Theater Company, & Live in Theater.
REGIONAL ACTING CREDITS: San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Magic Theater, The Sacramento Theater Company, San Jose Repertory Theater, San Diego Repertory Theatre, The San Francisco Playhouse, Theater Rhino. Penguin Rep, Passages Theater Company.
FILM AND TELEVISION: When In Rome” by Touchstone Pictures, “I the Sinner” (Yo Pecador) in Bogotá, Colombia. “Fly Trap” & “The Tool” by Miles Kahn. “State Property 2” by Lionsgate Films. “Strapped” & “Beautiful Something” By Altar Boy Productions HBO’s “OZ”, “Pan Am” by ABC. “Kurt” by Polish cinematographer Łukasz Swaryczewski. DIRECTING CREDITS: “Voices From Guantanamo” for Actors and Poets Group. “De Novo” for Houses on The Moon, Central America tour. The interactive site-specific hits “The Ryan Case 1873”, “Lombardi Case 1975’, “The Murder of Venus Xtravaganza 1988”, “Fierce & Deadly 1988”, “The Pinkertonian Mystery”, “The Trial of Typhoid Mary 1915”, “J&K 1965 – An immersive love story” “Spirit of the Torch”, “Open Mind – A Simulife” for Meow Wolf, for SXSW Festival 2018.
Rudy De La Cruz
Rudy De La Cruz is an actor and comedian whose credits include Comedy Central’s “Broad City”, Netflix’s “The Punisher”, and NBC’s “Law and Order: SVU”. Having earned a BFA at NYU Tisch, Rudy seeks to use his classical training and experience to challenge people’s preconceived notions and bring about positive social change. He would like to thank Devin, his friends, and his family for their constant support. He also thanks YOU for taking the time to support theater, positive social change, and for helping to give a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. This is how we make change.
Ian Eaton
Ian Eaton has appeared in various plays, TV shows (Law & Order and HBO’s OZ) and independent films (SIGNS HE MADE AT HOME). Theatrical roles include Charlie Parker in FLIGHT (Metropolitan Theatre), Esteban in DAY OF THE KINGS (Intar), TARA’S CROSSING (Lucille Lortel) and OTHELLO (Clarion Theater). He last appeared in Arizona Theatre Company’s “Master Harold and the Boys” and received critical acclaim for his portrayal as Sam. Ian is a proud member of Only Make Believe, a non-profit organization that creates and performs interactive theater for children in hospitals and care facilities. He has been a dedicated member of Houses on the Moon’s artistic family since 2005.
Dashiell Eaves
Broadway: A Time To Kill; A Behanding In Spokane; Coram Boy; The Lieutenant of Inishmore; James Joyce’s The Dead; 1776; The Sound of Music. TV: “Mindhunter,” “Gotham,” “Limitless,” “Blue Bloods,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “The Good Wife,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Third Watch.”
Zuleyma Guevara
Ms. Guevara’s stage credits include the latest performance run of DE NOVO, the world premiere of UNCOMMON SENSE for Tectonic Theatre Project. Theater credits include the New Jersey premier of Water by the Spoonful, Columbia Stages’ La Paloma Prisoner and The Hour of The Star, the world premier of SEVEN SPOTS ON THE SUN at the Cincinnati Playhouse and Working Theatres production of LA RUTA. TV/Film credits include SONIA’S CHOICE for the #imhere campaign, LEGEND OF THE 13 SUNS for Kraft, LAW & ORDER, CBS pilot LIMITLESS, Fox’s GOTHAM-THE RED QUEEN, ROPE ART, DANNY BOY, NEW YORK STATE OF MIND and the soon to be released THIRD TRINITY.
Cristina Hernandez
Cristina Hernandez is a New York City teaching artist with Enact, and site director for a middle school in the Bronx. She hails from the Dominican Republic and was raised in the Bronx. She is an actress, writer, and director. Cristina got her start with the CityKids Repertory Company, of which she is a founding member. With CityKids, she helped develop original theater to educate youth about issues including racism, violence, child abuse, animal cruelty, and the environment; she toured the US doing environmental education on the Earth Train. She was also featured on the Jim Henson CityKids show on ABC-TV. She has been seen on the Oprah Winfrey show, and has been in numerous plays, readings, and public service videos. She was last seen in De Novo at Houses on The Moon Theater Company, the Writer’s in Performance workshop, and is currently working on her one woman show. She uses her comedic talents to make learning fun. She has travelled throughout Spain to promote an independent film that dealt in part with mental health issues, and recently completed a public health education video for Metropolitan Hospital.
Andrew Ingkavet
Many moons ago, Andrew Ingkavet helped found this company and continues to contribute music (and designed the logo!) With over 30 years experience as educator, designer, composer & entrepreneur, he was a VJ for MTV-Asia, an award-winning composer for theater & film and is currently CEO/Founder of the Musicolor Method® (https://themusicolormethod.com) a unique approach to music education, now taught throughout the world. Andrew holds a BA Music from NYU with post-grad studies at Mannes College of Music, ASCAP/NYU Film Scoring Workshop, SVA and The Juilliard School. Let’s continue to shoot for the moon with theater that awakens…
Michael A. Jones
Michael A. Jones is an actor/writer/teacher. He holds a Theatre Arts degree as well as a Masters of Arts in Education degree. As a writer, he is the author of several stage and screenplays. As an actor, Jones’ credits include numerous stageplays, two for which he’s earned Audelco Awards and several films. He currently teaches theater to junior high school students and teaches conflict resolution throughout New York City.
Jeremy Kamps
Jeremy J. Kamps is a Houses on the Moon Architect, playwright-in-residence for Esperance Theater Company and Spectrum Theater Ensemble. He is an alum of the Public Theater Emerging Writers Fellowship and current Fellow for the NYC Center for Fiction. His work has been produced/developed with Joe’s Pub, The Fountain Theater (LA), Company Cypher at the National Black Theatre of Harlem, Ugly Rhino, and New York Theatre Workshop. Awards and Recognition include: Theater RAW Playwriting nominee (LA 2018), The William Saroyan Human Rights Award Finalist 2016. MFA: NYU.
Karen Kandell
Karen is Co-Artistic Director of Mabou Mines. Most recently, Recycling: Washi Tales, co-creator/collaborative writer/performer (Asia Society, 2016). Awards/Nominations: OBIE (Peter & Wendy, Talk, Mabou Mines’ Lear), Dramalogue, Connecticut Critics Circle, Craig Noel, Edinburgh’s Herald Angel, Helen Hayes nomination, Drama League Citation (Peter & Wendy), 2016 Lucille Lortel nomination (Futurity).
Amir Khafagy
Amir Khafagy is Arab-Rican journalist, essayist, activist, and performer based in New York City. His work has been featured in City Limits, In These Times, Shelterforce, Jacobin, City Lab, The Indypendent, Counterpunch, and The Hampton Institute. Amir holds a MA/BA in Urban Affairs from Queens College.
Elaine Lane
In 1998 Elaine Lane lost her son to gun violence. In that year 3,792 youth under the age of 19 was killed due to gun violence, according to the Center for Disease Control. The loss of her only child took a heavy toll on her life. After years of suffering with grief, she founded David’s Shoes a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation. The program’s mission is to reduce teen violence by encouraging children and youth to honor life. She has developed various programs that give opportunity to students to reflect positively about their lives. In addition, she established a book scholarship and mentoring program for young males from at – risk communities.
Kimmarie ELLE
Kimmarie Elle is an educator, actor, dancer and choreographer. She is in her 4th year of being a full time dance teacher in NYC charter schools. As an original cast member of the Off-Broadway hit STOMP, she appeared on Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, Late Night with David Letterman, The 68TH Annual Academy Awards, and in the HBO film STOMP OUT LOUD. As a choreographer, her work has been seen at P.S. 122, the Zipper Theater, and other venues throughout New York City. She is a mom, an activist and loves being a contributing member of The Architects for Houses On the Moon.
Raliegh Neal
Raliegh has 50 years of music exposure, beginning at the age of 4 with his father teaching him the Ukulele. Raliegh attended University of Miami Music School which then launched a career of over 3 decades of playing the piano and sharing the stage of musical legends like Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, Omar Lye-Fook, Nile Rogers, John Mayer, Guru, Stacy Lattisaw, Be Be Winans, Malik Yoba and countless others. In 2006 Raliegh joined Michael Franti & Spearhead for a 9 year run touring worldwide through Europe, South America, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, the continental U.S,. and Canada. As a Composer, Raliegh has an eclectic catalog of pieces registered with ASCAP that are played around the world. Some of his creative efforts specialize in “youth empowerment” and have appeared on Nickelodeon and ABC’s Saturday morning children’s programs. Raliegh also has over 12 years experience working with inner-city youth in the field of Youth Development through the Arts. Hired as the Music Director for The CityKids Foundation, Raliegh had the opportunity to cultivate the musical and performance talent of hundreds of youth through theme-based performances touching on teen pregnancy, racism, culture and relationships. He was the Music Composer for the Emmy nominated TV show “CityKids,” a project involving the Jim Henson Company. At present Raliegh is an Artist Master Teacher with the People’s Conservatory in Oakland. Some of his classes are general music, Piano, Guitar, Bass, computer music and music composition. He enjoys scoring for TV, podcasts and films, providing session work, and performing with artists world wide as well as with his own Steely Dan tribute band, “The Dans of Steel.”
Paola Poucel
Paola Poucel is an actress, singer, and voiceover artist and is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. Her career began in Mexico at the Theater Company of the State of Puebla in classics like Fuenteovejuna, Otelo, and The Would Be Gentleman. Other favorite credits include: Fame (Serena) and Notredame de Paris (Fleur du Lys). Paola has starred in original new works like the opera rock Amusia in Salamanca Spain, and the experimental plays Esperadoras and Losers. In New York she has participated in numerous theater projects including: De Novo (Kim Salinas), Cinderella (Cinderella), Interpreting a Dream (Ivania) and Rosa de Dos Aromas (Gabriela) . Overseas productions include: El Sexo del Che in Buenos Aires, Argentina and the Spanish version of De Novo in San Salvador, El Salvador. After several short films, her feature debut Ilegales premiered at the 2010 HBO Latino Film Festival to great reviews. The film is now available on DVD, Netlix and Amazon. After a sucessful run in the festival circuit, her most recent shortfilm Text Amy (which she starred and produced) is part of the rotation of the “Emerging Latino Filmmakers” at FUSE TV. Furthermore, Paola has developed a distinctive voiceover career working for brands such as Kmart, Aveeno, TD Bank, Nickelodeon’s Dora and Friends, Dora the Explorer, Payless, Cricket Wireless, Neutrogena, Nintendo, Subway, DSW, Publix and Microsoft. Paola is also a member of SAG-AFTRA, IFP, and NYWIFT.
Joanne Solomon
Joanne Solomon is a writer, story teller, performer and aerialist. She recently had a reading of her one person show ” Hurtling” as part of the Houses on the Moon’s new playwrites reading series. She is a Moth main stage performer and was in the off broadway show De La Guarda. Recent written work can be found in Longreads and The Awl. Joanne has been thrilled to work on a few projects with Houses but most recently has been honored to be involved in the Architects program. She hopes to do a run of her show late fall of 2018.
Manny Ureña
Manny Ureña is an actor of Dominican descent, born and raised in Corona, Queens. He fell in love with the creative process while studying acting at prestigious William Esper Studio in New York City. Notable credits include De Novo (Next Door at NYTW) Blue Bloods (CBS), See You Yesterday (Netflix), Pimp (starring Keke Palmer) and a major supporting role in the upcoming indie feature Barrio Boy.
Board Of Directors
RASHAD CHAMBERS (Secretary)
Talent Manager and Broadway Producer
KEVIN CONNOR
Managing Producer, Hal Luftig Productions
R. ERIN CRAIG
Theater & Film Producer, La Vie Productions
JANE DUBIN (Chair)
Broadway and Off-Broadway Producer
MELVINA DOUSE
Artist and Creative Producer
AMY GOTTLIEB (Vice President)
Associate Regional Director, American Friend Service Committee’s Northeast Office
JEREMY HANDELMAN
Commercial theater producer, video producer & videographer, Off the Leash Productions
JENNIFER ISAACSON
Producer
JEFFREY ROSENSTOCK
Assistant Vice President for External and Governmental Relations, Queens College
SUSAN SHAH
Managing Director of Racial Justice at Trinity Church Wall Street
JEFFREY SOLOMON
Playwright, Co-Founder of Houses on the Moon
MELISSA SPRINGS (Treasurer)
Financial Manager
EMILY JOY WEINER (Vice President)
Artistic Director and Co-Founder, Houses on the Moon
Advisory Board
WARREN ADAMS
Writer, Director, Choreographer
DR. CATHERINE CERULLI
JAMIE DEROY
Broadway and Off-Broadway Producer, Performer
SUSAN GRIFFIN
Marketing Strategist and Branding and Communication Designer
DINA JANIS
Artistic Director of the Vermont Public Theater /Drama Faculty- Bennington College
HAL LUFTIG
Broadway and Off-Broadway Producer
NELLE NUGENT
Broadway and Off-Broadway Producer
LISA ROTHE
Director
DAVID ROTHENBERG
Founder of The Fortune Society
DREW TAGLIABUE
Former Executive Director of PFLAG/NYC
CHERYL WIESENFELD
Broadway and Off-Broadway Producer