Who We Are

Jamie Rose Bukowski graduated from the Pace University School of Performing Arts, with a B.A. in Stage Management. She’s had the pleasure of working with HOTM since 2016. Some other credits include: US TOUR: A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage, Rockin’ Road to Dublin. NYC: Día Y Noche (Labyrinth Theatre Group,) Pound (Theatre Row,) Pillowtalk (The Tank,) SOLSTICE PARTY! (Live Source Theatre Group), Otello and Macbeth (LoftOpera), and DISENCHANTED! (Theatre at St. Clement’s.) She has also PSMed for Drunk Shakespeare, Live In Theater, AMDA, and Quisisana Musical Theatre Resort.

Bleu Zephra Santiago (pronouns: they/them) is a Jack of All Trades in the theater and very excited to be joining HOTM for another wonderful production. Some of their credits include: Boombox Burlesque: a Hip Hop Burlesque Festival, SM (Signature Theater, 2023); Dia Y Noche, ASM (Labyrinth, 2023); Share Sentences, ASM (HOTM, 2022); high functioning x.0, SM (HERE, 2022); GUMIHO, SM (moxiearts, 2022); Micro-face: a podcast musical, SM (Planet Money x NPR, 2022); In the Name of the Mother Tree, PSM (Double Edge Theater, 2021); Mad Deep BK: QPOC Drag Kings and Burlesque show, SM (The Cell Theater, 2021); Girl of Glass, SM (American Theatre of Actors, 2018); Jack of Cups, PSM (The Flea, 2018); Infinite Love Party, SM (The Bushwick Starr, 2018).

UptownWorks Sound is a dynamic team of designers that creates collaboratively for theatre, film, podcasts, music production and other media. Select sound design highlights include Working: A Musical (CUBoulder); Tiny Father (Barrington Stage/Chautauqua); BMLD (NBT); Avaaz (South Coast Rep); Singularity Play (HarvardTDM); Black Odyssey (Classic Stage); Chicken & Biscuits (Asolo Rep); Espejos:Clean (Hartford Stage/Syracuse Stage); Which Way To The Stage (Signature DC); the ripple, the wave…(Berkeley Rep/Goodman); Complicity Island (Audible); Blues Clues & You! (Round Room Live); Queen (Long Wharf Theater/A.R.T.NY); Choir Boy and Today is my Birthday (Yale Rep); Fires in the Mirror (Baltimore Center Stage/Long Wharf Theatre); already there (The REACH, Kennedy Center): First Down (59E59). This design was led by Daniela Hart (uptownworksnyc.com), Bailey Trierweiler (btsounddesign.com) and Noel Nichols (noelnicholsdesign.com). Daniela, Noel & Bailey received their MFAs in Sound Design from Yale School of Drama.

Haydee Zelideth Antuñano is a Chicana artist and costume designer. Clothes carry on public conversations with others and share stories about who we are, who we are not, and who we wish to be. They are a means of exploring how image can open up perceptions of race, class, socioeconomic status, and more – all of which is what most interests her. She grew up on both sides of the Mexican border and these experiences inform her point of view and how she approaches her work, giving depth, dimension and color to the specificities of someone’s life. www.haydeezelideth.com

Carolina Ortiz Herrera (Lighting Design) is a Mexican-born and New York-based Lighting Designer for theater, opera, and dance. Broadway: Good Night, Oscar (Belasco & Goodman Theatre); Regional: American Mariachi (Alley Theatre & Arizona Theatre Company); Born with Teeth (Guthrie & Alley Theatre); Native Gardens (Dallas Theatre Center); Everything Rises (BAM & Royce Hall); 4000 Miles, Doubt, A Parable (Westport Country Playhouse); I & You (Bristol Riverside Theatre); Macbeth, Until the Flood (Merrimack Theatre Repertory); All’s Well That Ends Well (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); The Railroad Children (Northern Stage); Seven Guitars (Yale Repertory Theatre). Other theatre: Hedda Gabler & Winter’s Tale (Bedlam Theatre Company); Yellowman, an Audelco Awards Best Lighting Design Nominee (Billie Holiday Theatre); Sweeney Todd (Yale Dramat); Titus Andronicus,and The Skin of Our Teeth (Yale University Theatre). Dance & Opera: Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (Minneapolis Opera); I as Another (BAC); Florencia en el Amazonas (Shubert Theatre); The Silent Lyre (Lighten Theatre); and The Cunning Little Vixen (Opera Theatre of Yale). Carolina is the Lighting Director for Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, and she worked as a Lighting Supervisor for the Santa Fe Opera for three seasons. Member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. Education: MFA, Yale School of Drama. www.carolinaeortiz.com

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 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 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 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.

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, 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 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 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 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 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.

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.” 

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 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.

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 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 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 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 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.

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 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 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 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 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 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.