Jenelle Chu (LINDA WU) Broadway: Bernhardt/Hamlet (Roundabout) and Junk (Lincoln Center Theater). Regional: Ebenezer Scrooge's Big Playhouse Christmas Show (Bucks County Playhouse), Beauty and the Beast (Papermill Playhouse), Vietgone (American Conservatory Theater) and The Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare andCo.). Other NYC credits include These Seven Sicknesses, Serials@TheFlea (The FleaTheater), Good Vibrations, Stuff and Nonsense (52nd Street Project). TV/Film: “White Flags”(AC Pictures), "New Amsterdam," “Madam Secretary,” “Instinct” and “Elementary.” Education: BM, University of Missouri-Kansas City; MFA, Yale School of Drama.
Jeremiah Davison (DIRECTOR) is a Theatre Artist born & raised in Flint, MI and based in Atlanta, GA ranging in the areas of Sound Design, Directing, Producing, & Acting. He has worked with The New Victory Theatre, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Alliance Theatre, Westport Country Playhouse, Actor's Express, & Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre to name a few. He is the Founder & Producer of the GSU Plays in a Day 24 hour Annual Play Festival. Also, Jeremiah has had the privilege of producing and directing multiple short films and sits as the Vice President of Multiband Studios. He is a proud Alum of the University of West Georgia whe; AA, Theatre- Georgia State Perimeter College. Jeremiah would like to thank his family, friends, and mentors for all their support.
William DeMeritt (BOODAH) Regional: Will in Shakespeare In Love (U.S. premiere), Fenton in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Sholem Asch in Indecent at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Orsino in Twelfth Night at Yale Rep. We, The Invisibles at the Humana Festival of New American Plays, Actors Theatre of Louisville. Writer & Co-creator of the one-man show, Origin Story (winner New York Innovative Theatre Award, Best Solo Performance). Sense & Sensibility at Dallas Theatre Center. The Slam Jam at the Upright Citizens’ Brigade Theatre. Off-Broadway: The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World AKA: the Negro Book of the Dead at Signature Theatre Company. Liz Swados' Violence Project at LaMaMa ETC; Mom, How Did You Meet the Beatles? at The Public Theatre. International: Hamlet at the Bridge Lane Theater, London. October in The Chair & Other Fragile Things at the Amsterdam International Fringe Festival. Film:The Normal Heart, The Lennon Report, The Surrogate, Walk With Me, What’s Up, Lovely?, Bad Luck Dandelion. Television: The Flight Attendant (HBOMax), NCIS: New Orleans, Person of Interest, Law&Order:SVU, One Life to Live,The Outs, Guiding Light. Additional Credits: Audiobooks: Underground Airlines (AUDIE nomination, Earphones award winner), The Mortifications, Snapshot, The Wild Ones, The Resisters, the Isaiah Coleridge series. Featured Narrator for The New Yorker & The New York Times on the AUDM app (streaming service for narrated long-form journalism). BFA Marymount Manhattan, MFA Yale School of Drama. @demeritt
www.williamdemeritt.com
Ceci Fernandez (Rehearsal MEGAN/Police Officer) is a Brooklyn-based actor, writer and producer. As an actor, she has worked on stages all over the world, most notably at The Public Theater, New York Theater Workshop, Yale Repertory and The Old Vic Theater Royal. TV and digital credits include The Good Wife, The Exorcist, Temporary Guardian, and Dichos. She’s the co-creator and head writer at @InstaMiniSeries where she produces digital content. She received her MFA from The Yale School of Drama and is a member of New Neighborhood. @itscecifernandez
Eston Fung (JOHN WU) is a Chinese-Filipino actor who is currently based out of New York City. Off Broadway: A Dream Play (NAATCO). Theater: Caught (Firefly Theater & Films/Think Tank Art Gallery); Intersections (Guthrie Theater). Selections from Yale School of Drama: Ubu, Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello, Fucking A, Our Lady of 121st Street, Salt Pepper Ketchup, The Commencement of William Tan. Film: Nickelodeon’s Gym Teacher: The Movie. TV: “Lisey’s Story”, “Tell Me A Story”, "Happy!", “Instinct”, "Royal Pains". Education: Yale School of Drama. www.estonfung.com
Anthony Holiday (RAHEEM/Police Officer) is currently attending the Yale School of Drama, class of 2021/2022, where he will be training in Acting to receive his Masters degree. Where he’s been in productions of “Mr. Burns” by Anne Washburn in the character of Homer and Marge. “Measure for Measure” in the character of Claudio. “Locust” by Chris Núñez in the character of Amos. “Lenny’s fast food kids gang” by Angie B. Jones in the character of Walter “wavy” Jackson. He’s from New Jersey, born and raised. He’s done extensive training at the Atlantic Conservatory as well as Brookdale Community College.
Jerrie Johnson (CECE) is an Actress, Poet, and Arts Activist. She has graduated from the American Conservatory Theater with her MFA in acting and has since been seen in Freeform's Good Trouble. Before the Quarantine she had been filming The Untitled Tracy Oliver Project as a series Regular alongside Grace Byers, Meagan Good, and Shoniqua Shandai. Jerrie also is an advocate for fresh food accessibility in underserved neighborhoods, a spiritual advisor, and a wellness coach. She is currently working on a Memoir on her healing journey as a queer black femme creative. You can follow personal page on Instagram @thejerriejohnson and her wellness page @earthfoodgoddess
Steven Lee Johnson (PAUL) Broadway: To Kill a Mockingbird: Off-Broadway: Nantucket Sleigh Ride (Lincoln Center). Regional: Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Indecent (Yale Repertory Theatre), Mary’s Wedding (Chester Theatre Company), Clybourne Park, Uncle Vanya (Guthrie Theater). Television: “Chicago Fire,” “Masterclass.” Education: BFA, University of Minnesota/Guthrie; MFA, Yale School of Drama.
Reynaldo Piniella (TOMMY) was previously seen Off-Broadway in The Death of the Last Black Man…, Venus (Signature), The Skin of Our Teeth (TFANA), Lockdown (Rattlestick), The Space Between the Letters (The Public/UTR), Terminus (NYTW Next Door) and The Best of Theatreworks (Working Theater). TV credits include Blue Bloods, Sneaky Pete, Flesh & Bone, Greenleaf, The Carrie Diaries, Law & Order: SVU, NYC 22, Us & Them, Louie and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Film credits include Madeline’s Madeline, One Percent More Humid and Broken City. He received the Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowship from TCG and the Thomas Barbour award for playwriting. He will next be seen in the Public Theater’s production of Cymbeline. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ReynaldoRey. www.reynaldopiniella.com
Olivia Louise Tree Plath (STAGE MANAGER) is a Yale School of Drama Graduate. She is a Minnesota native raised in the Kentucky south. Olivia is so pleased and thankful to debut on the online theatre scene with AYE DEFY, where she has felt unmatched guidance and support. She is also working as Josh Wilder's co-pilot with his production company - My Vision Productions & Playwrights Workshop. Olivia's regional theater credits include the production of Heather Raffo's NOURA at The Guthrie Theater and Tori Sampson's Cadillac Crew at Yale Repertory Theatre. She also holds producer and stage management credit with friend, Patricia Fa'asua (creator/producer) for.untitledd.untitledd. an online, pop-up, arts festival. Olivia is forever thankful for the support of her family, friends and love. With power and thanks.
Leslie Roth (Replacement MEGAN/Police Officer) is an actor, director, writer, organizer and teacher who believes in the power of story to heal, transform and expand what is possible. After graduating from Amherst College with a B.A. in dance, theater and gender studies, Leslie moved to NYC and variously developed, devised and acted in new works at The Lark, La MaMa, Primary Stages, The Flea, Target Margin, The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and The Bushwick Starr. Since 2014, Leslie has apprenticed Annie Piper in teaching trauma sensitive yoga, meditation and qi gong. At Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of the Arts, she completed the M.F.A. Acting program and spent 6 months training and performing at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. While in New Jersey, Leslie began working with coLAB Arts, an organization that engages artists, social advocates and communities to create transformative new work. Leslie felt called to join Mirirai in creating AYE DEFY as a space for developing intersectional fluency, supporting hyphenate artists, and prioritizing intentionality and accessibility in our work as storytellers. www.leslieerinroth.com
Vladimir Versailles (STAGE DIRECTIONS) graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a B.A. in Acting & Minor in Musical Theatre. Studied abroad at The British Academy of Dramatic Arts. Off- Broadway: Donogoo (Mint Theater), Through the Yellow Hour (Rattlestick Playwrights Theater), Burning (The New Group), and The Wood (Rattlestick Playwrights Theater). TV Credits: Medal of Honor (Netflix), Public Morals (TNT) Orange is the New Black (Netflix), Person of Interest & The Good Wife (CBS), and Web-Series Hard Times (Youtube/ Issa Rae Prod.) Films Credits: Certified Black Genius (Written & Directed by Oscar Winner John Ridley) The Nomads, Attila, Chatsworth, Sunset Park, Evolution of a Criminal, R&J: in Harlem, Happy Baby, 1982, How to Score Your Life, The Challenger, and Side Effects (Steven Soderbergh). Recipient of the 2013 NBC/ Universal and ABFF Rising Star Award and 2018 Finalist for ABC Discovers Digital Talent Competition!
Josh Wilder (PLAYWRIGHT) is from Philadelphia. His work has been developed; commissioned; and produced at various regional theaters and festivals across the country including The Fire This Time Festival, Classical Theatre of Harlem, New York Theatre Workshop, True Colors Theatre Company, The Kennedy Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, 2015 O'Neill National Playwrights Conference, PlayPenn, Company One, InterAct Theatre Company, and Yale Rep. Past awards include the Holland New Voices Award, The Lorraine Hansberry Award, The Rosa Parks Award, and The ASCAP Cole Porter Prize. Josh is a former Jerome Fellow and the first national recipient of the Jerome Many Voices Fellowship at The Playwrights’ Center. He has been in residence at The Royal Court Theatre ; Sundance at UCross; and served as Co-Artistic Director at The Yale Cabaret for its 50th season. Currently, he’s stationed in Los Angeles. MFA: Yale School of Drama. BFA: Carnegie Mellon.
Jeremiah Davison (DIRECTOR) is a Theatre Artist born & raised in Flint, MI and based in Atlanta, GA ranging in the areas of Sound Design, Directing, Producing, & Acting. He has worked with The New Victory Theatre, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Alliance Theatre, Westport Country Playhouse, Actor's Express, & Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre to name a few. He is the Founder & Producer of the GSU Plays in a Day 24 hour Annual Play Festival. Also, Jeremiah has had the privilege of producing and directing multiple short films and sits as the Vice President of Multiband Studios. He is a proud Alum of the University of West Georgia whe; AA, Theatre- Georgia State Perimeter College. Jeremiah would like to thank his family, friends, and mentors for all their support.
William DeMeritt (BOODAH) Regional: Will in Shakespeare In Love (U.S. premiere), Fenton in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Sholem Asch in Indecent at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Orsino in Twelfth Night at Yale Rep. We, The Invisibles at the Humana Festival of New American Plays, Actors Theatre of Louisville. Writer & Co-creator of the one-man show, Origin Story (winner New York Innovative Theatre Award, Best Solo Performance). Sense & Sensibility at Dallas Theatre Center. The Slam Jam at the Upright Citizens’ Brigade Theatre. Off-Broadway: The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World AKA: the Negro Book of the Dead at Signature Theatre Company. Liz Swados' Violence Project at LaMaMa ETC; Mom, How Did You Meet the Beatles? at The Public Theatre. International: Hamlet at the Bridge Lane Theater, London. October in The Chair & Other Fragile Things at the Amsterdam International Fringe Festival. Film:The Normal Heart, The Lennon Report, The Surrogate, Walk With Me, What’s Up, Lovely?, Bad Luck Dandelion. Television: The Flight Attendant (HBOMax), NCIS: New Orleans, Person of Interest, Law&Order:SVU, One Life to Live,The Outs, Guiding Light. Additional Credits: Audiobooks: Underground Airlines (AUDIE nomination, Earphones award winner), The Mortifications, Snapshot, The Wild Ones, The Resisters, the Isaiah Coleridge series. Featured Narrator for The New Yorker & The New York Times on the AUDM app (streaming service for narrated long-form journalism). BFA Marymount Manhattan, MFA Yale School of Drama. @demeritt
www.williamdemeritt.com
Ceci Fernandez (Rehearsal MEGAN/Police Officer) is a Brooklyn-based actor, writer and producer. As an actor, she has worked on stages all over the world, most notably at The Public Theater, New York Theater Workshop, Yale Repertory and The Old Vic Theater Royal. TV and digital credits include The Good Wife, The Exorcist, Temporary Guardian, and Dichos. She’s the co-creator and head writer at @InstaMiniSeries where she produces digital content. She received her MFA from The Yale School of Drama and is a member of New Neighborhood. @itscecifernandez
Eston Fung (JOHN WU) is a Chinese-Filipino actor who is currently based out of New York City. Off Broadway: A Dream Play (NAATCO). Theater: Caught (Firefly Theater & Films/Think Tank Art Gallery); Intersections (Guthrie Theater). Selections from Yale School of Drama: Ubu, Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello, Fucking A, Our Lady of 121st Street, Salt Pepper Ketchup, The Commencement of William Tan. Film: Nickelodeon’s Gym Teacher: The Movie. TV: “Lisey’s Story”, “Tell Me A Story”, "Happy!", “Instinct”, "Royal Pains". Education: Yale School of Drama. www.estonfung.com
Anthony Holiday (RAHEEM/Police Officer) is currently attending the Yale School of Drama, class of 2021/2022, where he will be training in Acting to receive his Masters degree. Where he’s been in productions of “Mr. Burns” by Anne Washburn in the character of Homer and Marge. “Measure for Measure” in the character of Claudio. “Locust” by Chris Núñez in the character of Amos. “Lenny’s fast food kids gang” by Angie B. Jones in the character of Walter “wavy” Jackson. He’s from New Jersey, born and raised. He’s done extensive training at the Atlantic Conservatory as well as Brookdale Community College.
Jerrie Johnson (CECE) is an Actress, Poet, and Arts Activist. She has graduated from the American Conservatory Theater with her MFA in acting and has since been seen in Freeform's Good Trouble. Before the Quarantine she had been filming The Untitled Tracy Oliver Project as a series Regular alongside Grace Byers, Meagan Good, and Shoniqua Shandai. Jerrie also is an advocate for fresh food accessibility in underserved neighborhoods, a spiritual advisor, and a wellness coach. She is currently working on a Memoir on her healing journey as a queer black femme creative. You can follow personal page on Instagram @thejerriejohnson and her wellness page @earthfoodgoddess
Steven Lee Johnson (PAUL) Broadway: To Kill a Mockingbird: Off-Broadway: Nantucket Sleigh Ride (Lincoln Center). Regional: Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Indecent (Yale Repertory Theatre), Mary’s Wedding (Chester Theatre Company), Clybourne Park, Uncle Vanya (Guthrie Theater). Television: “Chicago Fire,” “Masterclass.” Education: BFA, University of Minnesota/Guthrie; MFA, Yale School of Drama.
Reynaldo Piniella (TOMMY) was previously seen Off-Broadway in The Death of the Last Black Man…, Venus (Signature), The Skin of Our Teeth (TFANA), Lockdown (Rattlestick), The Space Between the Letters (The Public/UTR), Terminus (NYTW Next Door) and The Best of Theatreworks (Working Theater). TV credits include Blue Bloods, Sneaky Pete, Flesh & Bone, Greenleaf, The Carrie Diaries, Law & Order: SVU, NYC 22, Us & Them, Louie and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Film credits include Madeline’s Madeline, One Percent More Humid and Broken City. He received the Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowship from TCG and the Thomas Barbour award for playwriting. He will next be seen in the Public Theater’s production of Cymbeline. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ReynaldoRey. www.reynaldopiniella.com
Olivia Louise Tree Plath (STAGE MANAGER) is a Yale School of Drama Graduate. She is a Minnesota native raised in the Kentucky south. Olivia is so pleased and thankful to debut on the online theatre scene with AYE DEFY, where she has felt unmatched guidance and support. She is also working as Josh Wilder's co-pilot with his production company - My Vision Productions & Playwrights Workshop. Olivia's regional theater credits include the production of Heather Raffo's NOURA at The Guthrie Theater and Tori Sampson's Cadillac Crew at Yale Repertory Theatre. She also holds producer and stage management credit with friend, Patricia Fa'asua (creator/producer) for.untitledd.untitledd. an online, pop-up, arts festival. Olivia is forever thankful for the support of her family, friends and love. With power and thanks.
Leslie Roth (Replacement MEGAN/Police Officer) is an actor, director, writer, organizer and teacher who believes in the power of story to heal, transform and expand what is possible. After graduating from Amherst College with a B.A. in dance, theater and gender studies, Leslie moved to NYC and variously developed, devised and acted in new works at The Lark, La MaMa, Primary Stages, The Flea, Target Margin, The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and The Bushwick Starr. Since 2014, Leslie has apprenticed Annie Piper in teaching trauma sensitive yoga, meditation and qi gong. At Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of the Arts, she completed the M.F.A. Acting program and spent 6 months training and performing at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. While in New Jersey, Leslie began working with coLAB Arts, an organization that engages artists, social advocates and communities to create transformative new work. Leslie felt called to join Mirirai in creating AYE DEFY as a space for developing intersectional fluency, supporting hyphenate artists, and prioritizing intentionality and accessibility in our work as storytellers. www.leslieerinroth.com
Vladimir Versailles (STAGE DIRECTIONS) graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a B.A. in Acting & Minor in Musical Theatre. Studied abroad at The British Academy of Dramatic Arts. Off- Broadway: Donogoo (Mint Theater), Through the Yellow Hour (Rattlestick Playwrights Theater), Burning (The New Group), and The Wood (Rattlestick Playwrights Theater). TV Credits: Medal of Honor (Netflix), Public Morals (TNT) Orange is the New Black (Netflix), Person of Interest & The Good Wife (CBS), and Web-Series Hard Times (Youtube/ Issa Rae Prod.) Films Credits: Certified Black Genius (Written & Directed by Oscar Winner John Ridley) The Nomads, Attila, Chatsworth, Sunset Park, Evolution of a Criminal, R&J: in Harlem, Happy Baby, 1982, How to Score Your Life, The Challenger, and Side Effects (Steven Soderbergh). Recipient of the 2013 NBC/ Universal and ABFF Rising Star Award and 2018 Finalist for ABC Discovers Digital Talent Competition!
Josh Wilder (PLAYWRIGHT) is from Philadelphia. His work has been developed; commissioned; and produced at various regional theaters and festivals across the country including The Fire This Time Festival, Classical Theatre of Harlem, New York Theatre Workshop, True Colors Theatre Company, The Kennedy Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, 2015 O'Neill National Playwrights Conference, PlayPenn, Company One, InterAct Theatre Company, and Yale Rep. Past awards include the Holland New Voices Award, The Lorraine Hansberry Award, The Rosa Parks Award, and The ASCAP Cole Porter Prize. Josh is a former Jerome Fellow and the first national recipient of the Jerome Many Voices Fellowship at The Playwrights’ Center. He has been in residence at The Royal Court Theatre ; Sundance at UCross; and served as Co-Artistic Director at The Yale Cabaret for its 50th season. Currently, he’s stationed in Los Angeles. MFA: Yale School of Drama. BFA: Carnegie Mellon.
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