Cast Bios Altered Minds AEA Showcase
SCOTT BARTON* (Lee)
HERO by Phil Darg
Scott Barton played Julian Farrar in Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest, and Guy in Neil LaBute’s No Hard Feelings, for Theater Breaking Through Barriers. He was seen as Fred in Marta Mondelli’s Toscana, or What I Remember at the Cherry Lane Theatre. He played Ken Talley, Jr. in Fifth of July for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He appeared as The Vagrant in the York Theatre Company’s production of The Cherry Orchard.
BONNIE BLACK* (Morah Liora)
LUNATIC by Judy Dodd
Bonnie Black is proud to be a part of this important project with The Alternative Theater Company. Theatre: work in NYC and with regional and stock theaters throughout the country. Televison includes: FBI, Mr. Robot, Law & Order, L&O:CI, recurring on Loving. Recently: the workshop productions of Citizen Wong with Pan Asian Repertory Theatre; Ophelia Barnett in The Queens of the Golden Mask at Ivoryton Playhouse; and the title role in Driving Miss Daisy at Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse.
JUN CHEN (Beth)
IT GETS BETTER by Logann Grayce
Jun has appeared in numerous independent films, web series, and theatre productions, and she was recently cast as a part of the sketch comedy team, American Candy, with whom she is also currently in the midst of filming a television pilot. She started her training at the Barrow Group and continued studying with personal coaches at the Independent Film School and Matthew Corozine Studios. She is a Queens native and still lives in and loves the boro. She invites you to visit www.missjunchen.com to follow along her journey!
MICHAEL SEAN CIRELLI (Jeffrey)
MY THREE O'CLOCK by Douglas E. Davis
Michael Sean Cirelli is an actor, writer and improviser working in NYC. When not posting his wife’s sleeptalking episodes to Instagram, he performs around the city. His solo show This is Like That premiered as part of the Dream Up Festival at Theater for the New City and recently closed Duck at the IRT Theater. Upcoming film projects include Victim No. 6 and Augustus. For more information: michaelseancirelli.com or @michaelseancirelli on FB and Instagram.
KEN COUGHLIN (George/Technical Director & Designer)
INTO THE ARMS by Russ Cusick/ ALTERED MINDS
Ken Coughlin is thrilled to be joining The Alternative Theater Company for this production. Ken is an award winning Actor/Director and a Journeyman Lighting, Set & Sound Designer. Recent stage appearances include Jack, aka Polar Bear in Footprints Of The Polar Bear, Harry Paul Bailey in After The Wake and Jack Baxter in The Bare Truth. Also this year, he has held the position of Technical Director for The Green Room, Belle of Amherst and Inwood Art Works Film Festival & Film Works Alfresco. Love and thanks to his best friend and wife, Phyliss.
RUSS CUSICK* (Joe)
INTO THE ARMS by Russ Cusick
Russ Cusick, (AEA, SAG/AFTRA.) A graduate of Theatre SMU, is thrilled to be working with Drucie and the Alternative Theater Company on ALTERED MINDS. Credits include the MC and Haig in Oh What a Lovely War, Scott in Comfort Zones (director Anthony Newfield), Constable in Henry V (director Mary Lou Rosato), Colonel Montoni in Northanger Abbey, (director Steven Eng). Upcoming: Bob Cratchit in A CHRISTMAS CAROL at MSTD&A. Stay. Please, stay.
MIEKO GAVIA (Courtney)
HERO by Phil Darg
Mieko Gavia is a writer, actress, and all-around oddball from Indianapolis, Indiana. After graduating from Oberlin College with a degree in Theater, Mieko followed the classic scenario of a small-town girl with big-city dreams and hightailed it to NYC. When she’s not acting, writing, or co-running Black Revolutionary Theatre Workshop, Mieko can be spotted foraging in thrift stores, used bookstores or wherever cheap food abounds. You can also catch her at www.miekogavia.org
KATHRYN GERHARDT* (Ruth)
IT GETS BETTER by Logann Grayce
KATHRYN GERHARDT - NY theater credits include: The Truing (NY Fringe Festival), Swimming in the Shallows, and Loose Knit (In The Light Theater), Side Show (Gallery Players), Happening to Your Body, (Estrogenius Festival); Film and TV include: What Would You Do (ABC), The Onion Network (IFC), Two Lovers, and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. Kathryn is a member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA. An artist and photographer, her work can be found on www.eireart.com.
LENORE HARRIS* (Barbara)
MY THREE O'CLOCK by Douglas E. Davis
LENORE HARRIS. Stage, Film,Television actress, her work includes Kill Your Darlings with Daniel Radcliffe and Playing for Time with Vanessa Redgrave. Trained by legendary teachers Stella Adler and Paul Mann of Group Theatre fame. Respected teacher of Speech and Accent Reduction - protege of famed linguist and phonetician Alice Hermes. She coaches privately and teaches at the Susan Batson Studio. Lenore is writing a book on Acting based on Paul Mann’s methodology. Website: LenoreHarris.com
JANEL KOLOSKI (Max)
DRAGGED by Emily Hageman
Janel Koloski is a graduate of The William Esper Studio. She recently made her Apple TV debut in an M. Night Shyamalan series. Recent theater work includes Life in the Rye at Theater for the New City. Janel’s hosted for The Travel Channel, Thrillist, and her own series, Janel’s Awkward Life. She is an advocate for human trafficking survivors. Janel regularly volunteers with the non-profits RestoreNYC and Nomi Network, raising awareness about modern-day slavery.
MIA KYLER (Zane) and Cast Understudy
IT GETS BETTER by Logann Grayce
Mia Kyler is delighted to be working on her first show in the city. She is a student at Barnard College of Columbia University studying theatre and sociology.
JAKE LESH* (Suit)
CROSSROADS OF THE WORLD by Mark Okladek
Jake Lesh is pleased to be returning to The Alternative Theatre Company, where he was last seen in The #metoo Plays. Select NY roles include Mr. Darcy (Hudson Warehouse), Don Armando (Titan Theatre Co.) and Tybalt (The Drilling Company). Lesh has performed in a wide variety of regional theatre, most notably playing the role of Cyrano de Bergerac at the Texas Shakespeare Festival. Proud member of Actor’s Equity! Instagram: jake_fabulesh Website: www.jakelesh.com
DAVID MALINSKY (Cast Understudy/Admin)
ALTERED MINDS -- All Plays
David Malinsky has taken on lead roles in Space Race by Nick Gentile at Dixon Place and Excess Hollywood by Retro Stinga at the Producer’s Club. He is also in the independent films Abby Singer/Songwriter by Onur Tukel and Tormenting the Hen by Theodore Collatos. He loves new writings as well as classics, including the works of Sheridan and Farquhar as well as Shakespeare.
FLORENCE PAPE (Dottie/Dawn)
IT GETS BETTER by Logann Grace/DRAGGED by Emily Hageman
Florence Pape: Principal, Major Pharmaceutical Commercial; Principal, Immersive Installation Facebook Portal. Principal, TwinChef Infomercial; ComedyCentral Mini-Mocks, Comcast Spotlight Commercials, HBO. Film: Wendy, Lovers Kiss (filmed/directed Michael Stever); Theatre: Marti English, Mints(George Cameron Grant)-won Best Actress-ThinkFastFestival, Secret Theatre, Best Play-ManhattanRep.&performed United Solo Theatre Row; Wendy,Grant’s Lovers Kiss, ManhattanRep.,ThinkFastFestival (nomination Best Actress); Mae West, Laugh Supper & Connie Conrad, He’s Your Daddy, ManhattanRep; Doris, Can You Hear Me Now? & Dottie, It Gets Better, Alternative Theater; Others: Lavinia Penniman, Heiress, Marietta Claypoole, Regrets Only, NutleyLittleTheatre; Virginia, Three Viewings, Hackensack Performing Arts, Hoboken Library; Favorite roles Hudson Theatre: Joanne-Company, Martha-Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. florence@fpls.com
PAUL THOMAS RYAN* (Ted/Henry)
HANG-UPS by Brett Hursey/PHONE FRIEND by Jonathan Josephson
Paul Thomas Ryan:Thank you to Celine Havard, Judy Dodd and The Alternative Theater Company for the opportunity to be a part of this project. NYC credits: What Was Lost Tennessee Williams Abingdon Theatre, A Brand New World Max Balbier Theatre Row, Me and
Violet Brooks , Mr. Kane The Robert Moss Theatre, 28 Marchant Avenue, Joe Kennedy Jr. The Clarion Theatre, Other: concerts at Carnegie Hall, The Beacon Theatre, 54 Below, member of Actor’s Equity/ paulthomasryan.com
Proverbs: 3 5-6
SHARON LESSER* (Selena/Tamar)
HANG-UPS by Brett Hursey/LUNATIC by Judy Dodd
Sharon is delighted to be back with The Alternative Theater Company and Altered Minds Off-Broadway: In the Daylight, (McGinn/Cazale Theater), Twelfth Night, Tartuffe, (Pearl Theatre Company), Captivity Narrative (Playwrights Horizons) and Public Service (13th Street Repertory Theatre). TV: The Deuce, Tell Me A Story (CBS All Access), I Love You, But I Lied, (Lifetime), Blue Bloods (CBS). Law & Order SVU, 30 Rock. Film: Drug Mule (Best Actress, Long Island Film Festival), Junction, Off Season (Best Actress, LIIFE), Baystate Blues. Proud member of Actors Equity. www.sharonlesser.com.
JESSICA NEWMAN* (Stage Manager)
ALTERED MINDS -- ALL SHOWS
JILLIE SIMON* (Traci)
PHONE FRIEND by Jonathan Josephson
Jille Simon Off-Broadway: includes Tony & Tina’s Wedding, Blues-Public Theater, playing Marilyn Monroe in Marilyn w/ Jack Mulcahy. Regional: includes Cleveland Playhouse, w/ Marlo Thomas, New .Jersey Shakespeare Festival. Off-Off Broadway: includes La Mama, TNC, Beckett Theater. Improv includes UCB. Recent film: The Incoherents (w/ Annette O'Toole), Prince Harming and shorts Entrapment, Summer of '70. Other film/tv includes Confess, w/ Melissa Leo, A Beautiful Mind, Full Frontal..., As The World Turns. Jillie also wrote/co-directed multi-award-winning short Hungry, co-starring Eric Roberts & award-winning new film A Chance.
JASON YUDOFF (Homeless/Ryan Reyman)
CROSSROADS OF THE WORLD by Mark Okladek/ LUNATIC by Judy Dodd
JASON YUDOFF an actor, musician and 1B from Brooklyn NY, has done 3,000+ voiceover sessions, co-starred as Lars on Fox TV’s Gotham, and his latest film Rock Paper Scissors will premiere this summer. Musically, his solo albums made the Official Grammy Ballots in 12 categories including ‘Album of the Year’ & ‘Best New Artist’, and he has performed for President George W. Bush, at Carnegie Hall and on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’. Most recently The Second Woman at Bam, playing ‘Jason’. JasonYudoff.com for all the things
*Equity Member appearing with permission of Actors’ Equity Association without benefit of an Equity contract in this production