Dance Nation

Brigid Cleary (Ashlee) has performed in 40+ shows over 40+ years at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER, ranging from the back half of a camel in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. The Crucible, The Diary of Anne Frank, Da, Doubt, The Savannah Disputation, Noises Off, Sight Unseen, Broken Glass, A Life, Shadow of a Gunman, Miss Firecracker Contest, Crimes of the Heart, House of Blue Leaves, Lucky Stiff, The Nerd, Fallen Angels, Illegal Motion. REGIONAL: Mark Taper Forum: Expecting Isabel (Ovation award, Garland nominee), reprising roles created at Arena Stage. Also Arena Stage: Animal Crackers, M Butterfly, The Women, The Royal Family, Light up the Sky, Revengers’ Comedies, The Marriage of Bette and Boo, American Splendor. Meadowbrook Theatre, Totem Pole Playhouse, Okoboji Summer Theatre: On Golden Pond, Over the River and Through the Woods. Kennedy Center: Shear Madness, Signature Theatre: Escaped Alone, Woolly Mammoth/Theater J: co-production Homebody/Kabul Theater J: Sons of the Prophet, Sotto Voce, Bal Masque. Ford’s Theatre: A Christmas Carol, The Orphans’ Revenge. RoundHouse Theatre: Becky Shaw, A Sleeping Country, Baby with the Bathwater. Studio Theatre: The Cripple of Inishmaan, Rhinoceros, The Women, Lips Together, Teeth Apart. Taffety Punk: The Trojan Women (Hecuba) A four-time Helen Hayes nominee, Brigid has a BA in Drama from Catholic University and toured with the National Players.

Louis E. Davis (Luke) is excited to making his OLNEY THEATRE CENTER debut. Previous credits include WSC Avant Bard: Topdog/Underdog (Booth) [2020 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play – Helen]; Theater Alliance: Word Becomes Flesh (Ensemble) & Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea (Robby); Folger Theatre: The Merry Wives of Windsor (Host) & Second Shepard’s Play (Ensemble). Solas Nua’s: The Frederick Douglass Project (Ensemble); Imagination Stage’s The Freshest Snow Whyte (Pop Lock). Mosaic Theater Co.: Charm (Donnie). TV: We Own This City (HBO). Instagram: thekid_kinglou

Megan Graves she/her(Sofia) is delighted to return to OLNEY THEATRE CENTER, where her previous credits include: The Thanksgiving Play and Oil [Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Play]. REGIONAL: Virginia Repertory Theatre: Peter and the Starcatcher. DC AREA: Arena Stage: The Great Society, The Little Foxes; Woolly Mammoth Theatre: Gloria [Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Play]; Folger Theatre: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Second Shepherd’s Play, King John, Love’s Labor’s Lost; Studio Theatre: Translations; Mosaic Theater Company: Marys Seacole; Constellation Theatre Company: Taking Steps, Peter and the Starcatcher [Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Play, nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play]. UPCOMING: Round House Theatre: The Tempest. EDUCATION: BFA in Acting from Shenandoah Conservatory.

Yesenia Iglesias (Vanessa/The Moms) is excited to be making her OLNEY THEATRE CENTER debut! Regional: Signature: Daphne’s Dive, Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity; Shakespeare: Hamlet, King Charles III; ACT/SideCountry Theatre: Passing Strange. D.C. Area: Kennedy Center: Kid Prince and Pablo; Folger Shakespeare: Love’s Labor’s Lost; Round House: The Legend of Georgia McBride; Constellation: The Caucasian Chalk Circle; The Arabian Nights; Imagination Stage:The Smartest Girl in the World. Other: Seattle Children’s: Mwindo; Seattle Shakespeare: Henry V. EDUCATION: University of Washington. Instagram: j_sound_yesi

Jasmine Joy (Amina) Jasmine is thrilled to make her OLNEY THEATRE CENTER debut! Local credits include: 1st Stage: The Mamalogues; Imagination Stage: Corduroy, The Snow Queen; Theater Alliance: A Chorus Within Her; Constellation Theater: Moon Man Walk; The Kennedy Center TYA: A Wind In The Door (u/s), Keegan Theatre - Womxn’s Fire Festival, Venus Theatre: The Powers that Be, #solestories; Peter’s Alley: The Gulf. Jasmine’s inspiration comes from her beautiful daughter. Much love to her partner, friends, and family. You can visit Jasmine’s website at www.jasminejoybrooks.com. You can look forward to seeing Jasmine in the Hula Hoopin’ Queen at Imagination Stage winter of 2023.

Shubhangi Kuchibhotla (Connie) is excited to make her OLNEY THEATRE CENTER debut! Regional credits include: Greater Boston Theatre Company: Miss Holmes Returns (Priya Singh); Imagination Stage: P.Nokio - A hip hop Musical
(Cat/Machine Master); New York theatre fest - Chaos Collective: Medusa (Medusa); Her Majesty and sons: Twelfth Night (Oliva); Everyman Theatre: Be here now (Luanne Cooper); Arena Stage: Right to be Forgotten (Sarita Imari); Constellation Theatre: White Snake (Ensemble). Education: BFA in Acting and BA in Business Tech from University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Instagram/tiktok: @shubhyk. Website: www.kshubhangi.com

Ashley D. Nguyen (Zuzu) is ecstatic to be making her debut at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER. Previous credits include: DC AREA: Keegan Theatre: Shakespeare in Love (Viola de Lesseps); Creative Cauldron: Into the Woods (Little Red); Studio Theatre: White Pearl (Ruki Minami u/s – US World Premier); Catholic University: A Little Night Music (Fredrika Armfeldt), The Wolves (#8), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marcy Park). EDUCATION: BM in Musical Theatre from Catholic University. Instagram: @ashley.d.nguyen

MaryBeth Wise (Maeve) is happy to be back at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER. Previous Olney Theatre Center credits include: The Miracle Worker (Annie Sullivan) [Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play], In the Mood (Jennifer)[World Premiere], The Rivals (Julia), Tartuffe (Dorine), Equus (Dora Strang), Romeo and Juliet (Nurse), The Laramie Project (Police Officer/ensemble) and many others. DC AREA: Arena Stage: The Importance of Being Earnest (Reverend Chasuble); Woolly Mammoth: The Mineola Twins (Jim/Sarah); The Studio Theatre: Frozen (Agnetha Gottmunsdotir); Round House Theatre: How to Write a New Book for the Bible (Mary), Midwives (Sybil); Theater J: Body Awareness (Joyce); Rep Stage: Vita and Virginia (Vita Sackville-West); Potomac Theatre Project: Piaf (Toine/Marlene), Perfect Pie (Patsy). Ford’s Theatre: A Christmas Carol (Mrs. Cratchit), Inherit the Wind [with James Whitmore and Robert Prosky]; Theatre Lab: King Lear (Goneril) NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL TOURS: The National Players: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena), Nicholas Nickleby (Mrs. Squeers, Mrs. Crumles), The Miracle Worker (Annie Sullivan), Twelfth Night (Olivia); Kennedy Center Theatre for Young Audiences: Little Women (Marmee), My Lord What a Morning (Registrar/Ensemble); Music Tours Incorporated: The Wizard of Oz (Wicked Witch) [Korean Tour] FILM: Sally Pacholok.TV: Veep, The Wire. EDUCATION: BA in English/Theatre from Barry University, MFA in Acting from The Catholic University of America.

Michael Wood (Dance Teacher Pat) Previous OLNEY THEATRE CENTER credits: Singin’ in the Rain, Miss You Like Hell, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; Applause Series’ Dessa Rose, Pippin. DC AREA: Imagination Stage: Cinderella; Rep Stage: The 39 Steps; Her Majesty & Sons: Twelfth Night; ACA/Shakespeare Theatre: Coriolanus, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. EDUCATION: M.F.A. in Classical Acting from Shakespeare Theatre/GW; B.A. in French and English/Theatre from Bowdoin College; Ecole Jacques Lecoq; Théâtre du Soleil under Ariane Mnouchkine. UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS: Olney Theatre Center: Beauty and the Beast; Ford’s Theater: Shout, Sister, Shout! TheMichaelWood.com Instagram: @michaelthewood For my big sisters, who first inspired me to dance!

Clare Barron is a playwright and performer from Wenatchee, Washington. Her play Dance Nation received its world premiere at Playwrights Horizons in May 2018 and subsequently its UK premiere at the Almeida Theatre in London. It was a 2019 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama and is the recipient of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and The Relentless Award established in honor of Philip Seymour Hoffman. Other plays include: You Got Older (Page 73; Steppenwolf) which received two Obie Awards for Playwriting and Performance, a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Play, and was a Susan Smith Blackburn finalist and the #1 most-recommended play on the Kilroys’ List; I’ll Never Love Again (The Bushwick Starr); and Baby Screams Miracle (Clubbed Thumb; Woolly Mammoth). She is the recipient of a Whiting Award for Drama, the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award at The Vineyard, and the Page 73 Fellowship; and is a member of New Dramatists.

Jenna Place (Director): joined OLNEY THEATRE CENTER’s full-time staff as Associate Artistic Director/Casting Director in 2017. Olney Theatre Center: Walk Two Moons (National Players), Twelfth Night (National Players), The Giver (National Players), Kiss of The Spiderwoman (Applause Series); Anyone Can Whistle (Applause Series). DC AREA: Theater J: Tuesdays With Morrie; Rep Stage: The Heidi Chronicles; Theater Alliance: Flood City; Adventure Theater: The Velveteen Rabbit; Forum Theatre: What Every Girl Should Know; Monumental Theatre: Urinetown; Imagination Stage MTC: Lucky Stiff; Catholic University: The Wolves; American University: JQA; George Washington University: The Oregon Trail (Upcoming). EDUCATION: BA George Washington University; 2013-2014 Olney Theatre Center Artistic Apprentice. Jenna is also a freelance casting director in the DMV where she is currently the resident casting director at Theater J. Past casting has included work at Imagination Stage, Adventure Theatre MTC, Mosaic Theater Company, Forum Theatre, Studio Theatre, the Lab for Global Performances and Politics, and more.

Nikki Mirza (Choreographer/Asst. Director) is delighted to be at OLNEY THEATRE CENTER with this uninhibited story. Some credits include: REGIONAL: Goodspeed Opera House (upcoming): Christmas in Connecticut (Asst. Director); La Jolla Playhouse: Bhangin’ It (Asst. Director, Swing), Light Years Away (Cal); Weathervane Playhouse: 9 to 5 (Director/Choreographer); San Diego Repertory Theatre: Black Pearl Sings! (Asst. Director). DC AREA: NextStop Theatre Company: Every Brilliant Thing (Director), Matilda (Choreographer); 1st Stage: Secret Things (Choreographer/Asst. Director). TEACHING: Born 2 Dance studio; Olney Theatre Center’s Musical Theatre Intensive; Levine Music Theatre.

Paige Hathaway she/her (Scenic Design) is a scenic designer based in the Washington, DC area. Previous OLNEY THEATRE CENTER credits include: Godspell, South Pacific, Every Brilliant Thing; DC AREA: Arena Stage: The Right to be Forgotten; Signature: Rent, Ain’t Misbehavin’, John, The Gulf; Woolly Mammoth: Familiar; Theater J: Nathan the Wise, Talley’s Folly, Becoming Dr. Ruth; Round House Theatre: School Girls..., Curious Incident..., The Book of Will; Kennedy Center: Me... Jane. REGIONAL: The Muny: Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Matilda, Cinderella; Cleveland Play House: The Three Musketeers; Asolo Rep: Sweat. UPCOMING: Arena Stage: The High Ground; Theater J: Intimate Apparel; Everyman: Baskerville. EDUCATION: University of Oklahoma: BFA in Scenic Design; University of Maryland: MFA in Scenic Design. Local USA 829. Instagram: @paigehathawaydesign Website: www.paigehathawaydesign.com

Moyenda Kulemeka (Costume Designer) Moyenda Kulemeka is a Costume Designer based in DC. Recent credits include: John Proctor Is The Villain at Studio Theatre; Daphne’s Dive and Detroit ‘67 at Signature Theatre; In His Hands, Marys Seacole and Fabulation, Or The Re-Education Of Undine at Mosaic Theater; The Phlebotomist and The Brothers Size at 1st Stage; A Chorus Within Her at Theater Alliance; Cinderella at Synetic Theater; Working, A Musical presented on Black Lives Matter Plaza; and La Tía Julia Y El Escribidor and Exquisita Agonía at GALA Hispanic Theatre, among others. Moyenda holds a BA in Theatre from the University of Maryland and is a proud member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829, IATSE. Photos of her work can be found at moyendadesigns.com

Sarah Tundermann (Lighting Designer) is happy to be returning to OLNEY THEATRE CENTER. Previous Olney credits include National Players tours 68 - 72, The Royale (co-production with 1st Stage), Tiger Style, Elf (Projection Design), and Annie. REGIONAL: Mlima’s Tale (1st Stage); Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Thumbelina, Zomo, Charlotte’s Web (Imagination Stage); Berta Berta, Cry it Out, Queens Girl Black in the Green Mountains (Everyman Theatre); Super Cello, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus (Kennedy Center & National Tour); She the People (Second City at Woolly Mammoth); Twilight Los Angeles: 1992, Things That Are Round (REP Stage). EDUCATION: MFA in lighting design from the University of Maryland.

Kenny Neal (Sound Designer) is a Helen Hayes Award recipient (The Royale at Olney Theatre Center/1st Stage) and seven-time nominated sound designer, composer and arranger. DC AREA: OLNEY THEATRE CENTER (The Royale, Oil); The Kennedy Center (She a Gem, Digging Up Dessa); Signature Theatre (The Upstairs Department, Daphne’s Dive, Easy Women Smoking Loose Cigarettes, Heisenberg, John, The Gulf); Studio Theatre (Straight White Men, Jumpers for Goalposts, Choir Boy); Prologue Theatre (Recent Tragic Events); Constellation Theatre Company (The Master and Margarita); Theater Alliance (Klytemnestra); 1st Stage (Airness, columbinus, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, Well, Floyd Collins, Old Wicked Songs, Bat Boy); Factory 449 (Agnes of God); Taffety Punk (Pramkicker, Mom Baby God); as well as production for NextStop Theatre, WSC Avant Bard, The Welders, Rorschach Theatre, Imagination Stage, and Adventure Theatre MTC. EDUCATION: BA in Music History & Composition from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Mallory Shear (Intimacy and Violence Director) is thrilled to be joining OLNEY THEATRE CENTER for their production of Dance Nation.  Some credits include: DC AREA: Keegan Theatre: Shakespeare In Love (Intimacy Choreographer); Arena Stage: Seven Guitars (Asst. Fight Choreographer), Jubilee (Asst. Fight Choreographer);  We Happy Few: La Llorona (Upcoming: Fight & Intimacy Choreographer); CSC: 12th Night (Upcoming: Asst. Fight & Intimacy Choreographer); St. Mary’s College: Head Over Heels (Fight & Intimacy Choreographer), The Lost Girl (Fight & Intimacy Choreographer), Macbeth (Fight & Intimacy Choreographer).  TEACHING:  Signature Theatre; Shakespeare Theatre Company; Camp Arena Stage, Levine Music; Landon School. Mallory is a proud Associate Member of SDC.