The Survival

Achiro P. Olwoch is a Ugandan writer, playwright and screenwriter currently living in exile in New York. She tells stories that start conversations, often writing about subjects that her part of the world calls forbidden. A former air hostess who hates flying, Achiro knows full well how to turn uncomfortable situations into a story.

Nadia Guevara (she/her) is a director with credits at Keen Theatre, Red Bull, National Queer Theatre, New York Stage and Film, LaMaMa Experimental Theatre Club, Dallas Theatre Center, McCarter Theatre Center, Signature Theatre (DC), The Kennedy Center, La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe, San Diego Repertory Theatre, Fulton Theatre, and others, and at various universities as a guest director. Recent directing credits: Cell (Keen Theatre), Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale (Imagination Stage – Helen Hayes recommended), Water by the Spoonful (Texas Tech), Spring Awakening, Fefu and Her Friends (American University), “N” (Keegan Theatre). Nominations: Outstanding Lead Performance, San Diego Critics Circle. Awards: Actor of the Year, San Diego Critics Circle, 2018. Proud recipient of the 2022-2044 Drama League Stage Directing Fellowship. www.nadiaguevara.com IG@nadiaguevaradc

National Queer Theater (NQT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theater company based in New York City, dedicated to celebrating the brilliance of generations of LGBTQ+ artists and providing a home for unheard storytellers and activists.

Tyler Bey (he/they) is an actor and writer from the Fordham Theatre class of 2024. Originally from Atlanta, he is a poet and producer-in-training. He is a recent graduate of the Link program, the Shakespeare and Co. Intensive, and the Hangar Theatre Acting Fellowship. TV: FBI: Most Wanted (CBS), American Sports Story (FX).

Jha’Neal Blue (she/her) is an actress, filmmaker, award-winning poet, and playwright from West Baltimore. A proud queer Black woman whose work challenges societal norms. Notable roles include Chelle in Detroit ’67 and Nina in Sunset Baby. Recently she served as Associate Director for Fat Ham at the Old Globe Theater. Passionate about storytelling since her beginnings in Baltimore’s poetry scene as an international slam champion, she aims to provoke discussion for change. Continuing her commitment, she starts her Acting MFA at CalArts this fall, focusing on projects driving societal progress.

R. Jahan (he/they) is a Chicago native and graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy’s Studio Acting Program. Regional: Slave Play (Gary); The Scottsboro Boys (Olen). Off-Broadway: The Importance of Being Earnestly LGBTQ+ (Daughter/Dancer 2). Other: National Queer Theater’s Criminal Queerness Festival at Lincoln Center: Waiting for Gordon (Gordon). Ecstatic to share the truth of black/queer narratives. Special thanks to my mentor, the late Yvonne Nesbitt, and my family (biological and chosen).

Janet Kilonzo (she/her) is a Kenyan-Rwandese actor based in NYC. Trained at the National Youth Theatre and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Janet has gone on to work with the likes of WP Theatre, Irish Repertory Theater, Arts and Climate Initiative, and National Queer Theatre. She recently performed at the The World Voices Festival, helming the role of Nata from Achiro P. Olwoch’s The Kind Killer. Janet is thrilled for this performance and thanks her friends and family for their unwavering support. www.janetkilonzo.com

Ash Mayers (she/her) is very grateful to make her debut with NQT! Training includes Brooklyn College (BFA Acting), Atlantic Acting School, and UCB Training Center. Ash has performed at The Gallery Players, Jack, Public Theater, and various comedy venues throughout NYC. She is so glad you’re here. www.ashmayers.com

Kkuumba (she/her) is a NYC based actor pleased to make her PAC NYC and Criminal Queerness Festival debut. Her previous works include Theatre: Earth To Venus Role Jade Malone NYTF, The Lady of Larkspur Lotion Mrs. Wire NPH, Doubt Mrs Muller NPH. Film: We Meet Again Maria Stokes 2024, Carte Fatou 2023 LA. She also did an Independent Film and two documentaries that are not yet released.
Education: Neighborhood Playhouse School of The Theatre (2 yr conservative), HB Studio, The Acting Studio, BS Lehman College(CUNY).

Riw (pronounced Ree-you) (he/they) is a set and costume designer, animator and Chef from Bangkok, Thailand. He/They has worked at Yale Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage, The Old Globe, Drury Lane Theatre, Asolo Rep, The Acting Company, 59E59, Edinburgh Fringe, Primary Stages, Hartford Stage, Baltimore Center Stage, The Public Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music amongst others. Broadway Associate Set Design: Pass Over, & Juliet, Parade.

Jason A. Goodwin (he/him) is a NY-based costume designer and scenic artist. Born and raised in Virginia, Jason moved to New York to attend NYU, where he graduated with a BFA in drama from Tisch’s production & design studio. Since leaving University, Jason has supported projects on and off Broadway, including Disney’s Aladdin (national tour), Tina – The Tina Turner Musical (national tour), Back to the Future: The Musical, Hell’s Kitchen at the Public Theatre, Disney’s Hercules in Hamburg, Germany, and All of Me at The New Group.

Moneé Stamp (she/her) is a third-generation Caribbean immigrant born and raised in Long Island, New York. She was previously lighting designer for the Criminal Queerness Festival at Lincoln Center with National Queer Theater. She received her BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design and her MFA from Ohio University. She has managed juggling being a full-time mom, owning her own business, freelancing, and using her art to help other BIPOC feel represented. Recently, she designed God’s Way (Braata Productions) and Panther Women.

Ryan Gamblin (they/them) is a sound designer, composer, and performance-maker based in Brooklyn, NY, working across performance, installation, and music. Their work centers around the use of original composition, found media, and system manipulation. They have worked with artists including Faye Driscoll, Big Dance Theater, The Civilians, 600 Highwaymen, Talking Band, Mallory Catlett / Restless NYC, Jess Barbagallo, Stacy Grossfield, Theater Mitu, and many others. Member, TSDCA. RyanGamblin.com

Maria Mukuka (she/her) is a Greek/Zambian actor, educator, and dialect coach. She has worked on numerous Off-Broadway productions both as an actor and dialect coach at renowned theaters including The Public Theater/Shakespeare in the Park, La MaMa ETC, Irondale, The Tank, and others. Additionally, Maria works in her home country of Zambia, adapting classics into contemporary Zambian plays. Maria is a lecturer of acting at Brooklyn College, where she received her MFA in acting.

Ann C. James (she/they), sensitivity specialist, debuted as the first Black intimacy coordinator on Broadway for Pass Over. Recently, her company Intimacy Coordinators of Color was awarded a Special Citation from the Obie Awards. Broadway: Lempicka, Hamilton, Parade, Sweeney Todd, Heart of Rock and Roll, The Outsiders, Jelly’s Last Jam.

Begüm “Begsy” Inal (they/she) is a gender non-conforming theater artist born and raised in Turkey. Begsy graduated from Columbia University’s Dramaturgy MFA and brings their multi-disciplinary work and Turkish delight to many sides of performance—stage, props, and costume designing; writing; and dramaturging arts pieces. Begsy is an artistic associate at La MaMa ETC and works on different mediums of performance centered around marginalized voices. They were the dramaturg for National Queer Theater’s 4th and 5th Annual Criminal Queerness Festival at the Lincoln Center. Begsy is currently working on their new caffeinated and transformational project Magic Coffee Shop.

Joseph Hayes (he/him) is a casting director who is at the forefront of creating and inciting the change that is inevitable in our industry. TV: The Bear (Hulu), Emperor of Ocean Park (MGM+), Mr. Throwback (Peacock), Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (Paramount+). Film: Alto Knights. Broadway: Chicago, Hadestown, Six, Dear Evan Hansen, The Phantom of the Opera, Aladdin, and Sing Street. National Tour: Hairspray, Sound of Music, Les Misérables, Cats, and Aida.

Vaibu Mohan (she/her) is a writer, musician, dancer, director, and producer specializing in bringing South Asian forms of storytelling and theater making into the Western sphere. She founded the Work in Progress series (54 Below), giving early career writers a place to present their work. As a Bharatnatyam performer and creator, Mohan creates pieces stretching the genre and exploring connections between disparate artforms. Mohan has performed at 54 Below, Greenroom 42, La Mama Theater, Lincoln Center, and Midnight Theater. She is a graduate of the NYU Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program.

Rose Oser (she/they) is a Brooklyn-based theatremaker from the Bay Area. They worked at Z Space from 2017-2022 where they rose from Associate Artistic Director to Producing Director, and produced The Red Shades: A Trans Superhero Rock Opera and the Problematic Play Festival (LMDA Bly Award). Librettist: Shoshana in December (Custom Made, Relentless Award Honorable Mention 2022, NEA ArtWorks recipient) and Tinderella: the modern musical (FaultLine, Custom Made, Portland’5). Producer and host: Tinder Disrupt and Poly Poly Oxen Free. Resident dramaturg at The Grove at Goodspeed. More at www.roseoser.com.

Adam Odsess-Rubin (he/him) is the Founding Artistic Director of National Queer Theater (NQT) and Co-Founder of the acclaimed Criminal Queerness Festival. At NQT, Odsess-Rubin has presented work with Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, NYTW, NYC Pride, and MCC Theater. He has published work in Howlround and The Teaching Artist Journal on queer theater education, and is a 2020 Mayor’s Grant for Cultural Impact awardee and AM NY LGBTQ+ Power Player. BA: UC Santa Cruz MA: NYU.

Jordan Danielle Baptiste (she/her) is a junior theater major at Barnard College, concentrating in stage management and production. She is known as the creature of the theater as she has willingly and fully immersed herself within the theatre community at Barnumbia. Her past acting includes Fedra: Queen of Haiti and Inspired by French Cinema (Barnard Theatre), Anthony and Cleopatra (KCST). Her past crew credits were prop assistant for One Flea Spare and as assistant stage manager for Twelfth Night (Barnard Theatre). She has recently made her directorial debut in BTExCUP production of Is God Is.