Meet the 'War Words' Team
MICHELLE KHOLOS BROOKS
Playwright
Michelle (she/her) is an award-winning playwright. Awards include: H*tler’s Tasters (Susan Glaspell Award, Best of Edinburgh Fringe-The Stage, Must Watch-LA Times), Kalamazoo (Riva Shiner Comedy Award), Hostage (Woodward/Newman Drama Award Finalist, The Fratti-Newman Political Play Contest and a Showcase Finalist-National New Play Network), Chair (2nd Place-Firehouse Theatre Festival of New American Plays). Her plays have been produced and/or developed at Skylight Theatre (Hostage) Centenary Stage (H*tler’s Tasters), Pacific Resident Theatre, Adirondack Theatre Festival, Bloomington Playwright’s Project (Kalamazoo), The Colony Theatre (Family Planning), Florida Rep, Boston Court, Road Theatre, Wordsmyth Theatre, Barrow Group, Bay Street, Venue 9, Wings Theatre, Laurel Grove, Drama West, Vox Humana Theatre, iTheatre Collaborative, New Light Theater Project, 59E59 Theaters, Greenside (Edinburgh Fringe), Adobe Rose, Electric Lodge. Publications include Dramatists Play Service, Room literary magazine and The Daily Beast. Brooks earned a B.A. from Emerson College and an M.F.A. in Fiction from Otis College of Art and Design. She is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America, The Playwright’s Center and Pacific Resident Theatre. In addition, she is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. MichelleKholosBrooks.com
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For NLTP: H*tler's Tasters
SARAH NORRIS
Director
Sarah is an award-winning director based in NY. Favorite playwright collaborators include Michelle Kholos Brooks, Michael Aguirre, Ahsan Ali, Lisa Jill Anderson, Stephen Brown, Amina Henry, Ross Howard, Jayme McGhan, and Owen Panettieri. As a director, select credits include: H*tler's Tasters (TimeOut NY Critics' Pick, Best of the Edinburgh Fringe; featured in the NY Times, Chicago Tribune, LA Times and the BBC), Everything is Super Great (TimeOut NY Critics' Pick), This Wrestling Place (w/ Executive Producer Ben Folds), Picture Ourselves in Latvia (Best of Theater, The L Magazine). Other highlights include: New Light Theater Project, Guild Hall of East Hamptons, Pleasance Theatre (Edinburgh), Greenside Theatre (Edinburgh), Bottom Dog Theatre (Ireland), Adelaide Fringe Festival (Australia), 59E59 Theaters, LAByrinth Theatre, Working Theater, Electric Lodge (LA), Chicago Dramatists, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, The Flea Theater, Zeiders American Dream Theater, Calliope Stage, Forestburgh Playhouse, and Pendragon Theatre. SarahNorris.org
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For NLTP (select directing): The Lights Are On, Friends With Amenities, H*tler's Tasters, Everything Is Super Great, The Great Novel, The Jackson C. Frank Listening Party w/ Special Guests, In the Soundless Awe, Picture Ourselves in Latvia
DAVID ALAN BASCHE
John
David (he/him) on stage, two of David’s most notable performances were starring in the Naked Angels production of the Drama Desk Nominated play SnakeBit, and performing for over a year with Eli Wallach in the original New York production of Visiting Mr. Green. Regional: Williamstown, Hartford Stage, New Jersey Shakespeare, Rhode Island Playwright’s Theatre, Iowa Shakespeare, Hartford Theatre Works, Yale School of Drama Cabaret, Boston Majestic Theatre, White River Theatre Festival. TV: 5 seasons playing Dr. Stuart Gardner (lead) on The Exes, Lipstick Jungle, The Starter Wife, Oh Grow Up. Other TV appearances: Lioness: Special Ops, Bluff City Law, NCIS: New Orleans, Bull, The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, Chicago PD, Blindspot, all of the Law & Order shows, and "the crab on the floor" for Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock. Film: Real Steel, The Adjustment Bureau, War of the Worlds, Full Frontal, UNITED 93. You can also see David in the feature films Equity & Egg which he produced with his wife Alysia Reiner, and despite that they somehow stayed married.
NLTP debut
MAGGIE BOFILL
Jennifer
Maggie (she/her) Actor/Playwright: Founding member LAByrinth Theater; Member of Ensemble Studio Theater. THEATER: NYLON (Marisol, BlockChain, Dir. Knudd Adams), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (St. Monica, LABytrinth, Dir. Phillip Seymour Hoffman), American Mariachi (Soyla, Alley Theater, Dir. KJ Sanchez), Laughs In Spanish (Estella, Denver Center, Dir. Lisa Portes, Henry Award Nominee), A Dolls House Part 2 (Nora, Long Wharf, Dir. Will Davis). TV: Smash, High Town, The Path, Law & Order: SVU. Short Film: Cuban American Gothic (featuring, written & co-produced by Maggie) - nationally aired on PBS and now streaming on Latino Public Broadcasting/PataDePerro Productions.
https://lpbp.org/programs/cuban-american-gothic/
NLTP debut
DONALD CALLISTE
Nate
Donald (he/him) is a United States Army Veteran who completed 4 years of service and unconventionally transitioned into a dynamic theatre, television and film actor. With no prior experience Donald Calliste first acting job was featured in a major hit film and after being on set with A list actors, Donald started with a few acting workshops and then decided to commit to the Susan Batson school for 4 years, completing the program and eventually putting up a one man show portraying Marvin Gaye. Donald then went on to act in many theatre projects, perfecting and honing his skills in which he continues today. Along with being a martial artist and avid reader Donald is also addicted to blueberry donuts. Instagram: DonCalliste / Facebook: DCCtheActor
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NLTP debut
JOHN J. CONCADO
Matt
John (he/him) is a native New Yorker & bilingual Argentinian-American with a soft spot for everything Lionel Messi. John is grateful to be part of such worthwhile and important work. He has been involved with War Words since an early reading on The Intrepid where he was honored by the presence of some of the brave soldiers represented in this play. Mamá, te adoro. Papá, portate bien y Emily, te quiero tanto. Recent Theatre: Romeo y Julieta, starring Lupita Nyong’o (The Public Theater); Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train (Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre); Anna in the Tropics (Barrington Stage); The Enclave (Rattlestick Theater); The Forest (O’Neill Theater Center); Locusts Have No King (INTAR). Recent Film: Paris is in Harlem (touring festivals now); Orgami; The Rainbow Experiment; 42 Seconds of Happiness; Argentinian Intervention. Recent TV: CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted; HBO’s The Deuce. Lots of voiceovers, commercials and video games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Dead Space 3 to name a few. To see more of his work and for the latest info: JohnConcado.com or follow on IG @concado.
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NLTP debut
JENNEAN FARMER
Amy
Jennean (she/her) a proud Memphis, TN native, Jennean is an Operation Iraqi Freedom War Veteran and served eight years in the military. She later went on to receive her MFA in Acting from The New School for Drama in New York City. NYC Credits: Cullud Wattah, Ain't No Mo' (The Public Theater), Toni Stone (Roundabout Theatre). Regional: The Ripple, The Wave That Carried Me Home (Yale Repertory Theatre), Her Portmanteau (George Street Playhouse), Mlima's Tale (Westport Country Playhouse). Television/Film: The Good Nurse, A Thousand and One, The Secret Art of Human Flight, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Dead Ringers, Evil, That Damn Michael Che, New Amsterdam, FBI on CBS, and One Tree Hill.
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NLTP debut
BETHANY GERAGHTY
Kimberely
Bethany (she/her) is an award-winning actor, with an MFA from The New School for Drama. Originally from Elmhurst,IL, Bethany came to New York via Ireland and is a Resident Artist with New Light Theater Project. Select credits include: Fish Food for Feelings, Ampathy, Whiskey Pants (MTAE), Jump It (FringeNYC) and Brainpeople (Paper Rain Productions). Film and Web credits include Asunder: One Flesh Divided, MEET: the Webseries, Give It Time and Jane be Jane. bethanygeraghty.com
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For NLTP (select): Meaningful Conversation, Still Dance the Stars, Strange Country, Monte Cristo, In the Soundless Awe, A Midsummer Night's Dream, SIDD
BRANDON JONES
Steve
Brandon (he/him) is thrilled to be amplifying War Words. His credits include Dr. Keith Griffith in The Waiting Room (Lyric Theater); Don Adriano de Armado in Love's Labour's Lost (Play On Shakespeare Podcast); Alex in Kim’s Convenience (TheatreSquared); Orsino in Twelfth Night (KC Rep); Lt. Cutting in Valley Forge (First Flight Theatre Co.); Brother Boxer in The Amen Corner (Classic Stage Company); David in The Sting of White Roses (NC Black Rep); Pete/John in ReEntry (Actors Theatre of Louisville); King in The Mountaintop (Capital Rep). Film/Television credits include Danny in Same Same (Webseries), Sterling in Wildflowers (Cantanto Films), Marcus Christianson in Brothers Incorporated (Tubi), Clare's Boyfriend in Francis of Brooklyn (Amazon). He holds an BFA in acting from the University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music. For my son and best friend, Gavin.
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For NLTP: According to the Chorus, In the Soundless Awe
KEVIN LOREQUE
Dan F.
Kevin (he/him) Recent TV: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Godfather of Harlem, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Daredevil and Pose; a lead role in the feature film, Small Time on Amazon Prime. Theatre includes: I Am My Own Wife tour (Africa, UK, USA), Broadway tours of Cats (Rum Tum Tugger) and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Papa Who). Regional Theatre includes: Lead roles in The Elephant Man, Sleuth, Year One, Beautiful, Cabaret, A Man of No Importance, Spamalot, Man of La Mancha, among others. Represented by the Bloc Agency.
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NLTP debut
MATTHEW NIKITOW
James
Matthew (he/him) s honored and thrilled to be making his Off-Broadway debut in War Words. Television credits include NBC’s “Law & Order Special Victims Unit”. Recent films include “How it Goes” (Dir. Ryan Espinosa). He is also a graduate of the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England. Nikitow was born and raised in Denver, CO.
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NLTP debut.
HAYTHEM NOOR
Janis
Haythem (he/him) is a New Yorker originally from Cairo, Egypt. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the City University of New York and has honed his craft studying the Meisner acting technique at Esper Studio under the tutelage of William Esper.
TV: “Ramy”, “Homeland”, “Madam Secretary”, “Law & Order”, “Without a Trace”, “Third Watch”, and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”. The NYTS called his performance in Misha Schulman's Desert Sunrise "haunting and caustic.” Additionally, Noor's extensive volunteer work as an interpreter for refugees over the past decade has provided him with profound understanding and empathy, qualities that he seamlessly brings to his portrayal of Janis in this extraordinary production, War Words. He feels both thrilled and honored to be a part of this exceptional play.
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NLTP debut.
ALYSIA REINER
Emily
Alysia (she/her) is best known as SAG award winning "FIG” on all 7 seasons of Orange Is the New Black, and for originating Agent Sadie Deever in 2023 Emmy Award nominated Ms. Marvel. She recently finished her 5th season as Sunny on Better Things, her 2nd season as Kathryn in STARZ’s Shining Vale with Courtney Cox & Greg Kinnear, and 2 seasons as Kiki on The Deuce. Films currently making the festival circuit: The Feeling That The Time for Doing Something Has Passed (Cannes,TIFF, NYFF 2023), Stampede Ventures' feature film, Going Places (Cinequest 2023), & Ramona At Midlife (BFF 2023). Other highlights: Sideways, Broad City (Emmy Award winning episode), How To Get Away with Murder, O Horizon (David Strathairn & Maria Bakalova). Alysia has at the Sundance Lab to The Royal Court Theatre from the Apollo Theatre to the Edinburgh Festival (where she won a critics choice award). She starred in the NY premiere of Pentecost by David Edgar, and An Oak Tree with Tim Crouch (Special Obie Award). Others: June Miller in Anais Nin: One Of Her Lives; Wasps in Bed, My H8 Letter to the Gr8 American Theatre (The Public), Jesus in Manhattan (EST) and more.
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NLTP debut.
JOSHUA DAVID ROBINSON
Nash
JDR (they/he) is humbled and honored to be a part of bringing War Words into the world. Broadway: The Minutes. Off-Broadway: Arden of Faversham (Red Bull), The Unbelieving (The Civilians), X: Or Betty Shabazz vs The Nation (St. Clements), Sense of an Ending (59E59 Theaters), The Convent of Pleasure (Cherry Lane), Twelfth Night (TFANA) Regional: The Lehman Trilogy (The Huntington Theatre), JQA (Arena Stage), Sherwood: Adventures of Robin Hood, Three Sisters, (PlayMakers Repertory), Love’s Labour’s Lost (The Folger), Secret Hour (Capital Repertory), A Connecticut Yankee (The Guthrie), All the Way (Cleveland Playhouse). Podcast: When Crit Happens, Omagoshakee High. They are a member of The Actors Center and hold an MFA in acting from NYU Tisch. They are always working to use the art of storytelling as a means to engage with their community and as a vehicle for social change. @JDRloves_U.
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NLTP debut.
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JOHN SICILIANO
Pete
John (he/him) is originally from Pittsburgh, PA, where he studied Theater and Journalism while serving as the captain of the soccer team at Point Park University. A car accident, in which he was a passenger in a jeep, resulted in the amputation of his right leg
above the knee. Two years later, he broke the 200-meter Record and represented Team USA in the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta. Upon returning to LA, he pursued his MFA at The University of
Southern California on The Swim with Mike Scholarship and authored a play about his life titled Siciliano. The play ran in Maine, NYC, LA, and was featured on 60 Minutes, People Magazine, USA Today, Wired, and The Fox Family show Courage.
Select TV: ER, Law and Order SVU, The Rookie, Grey’s Anatomy, Blue Bloods, FBI, Heels, Workaholics, Over There, NCIS, NCIS Los Angeles, Workaholics, Scrubs, and LAX. Film: SpongeBob SquarePants The Movie, End Games, The Chair, Absolute Dominion. He works with numerous non-profits, including: The Challenged Athletes Foundation, The Angel City Games, ASPIRE, Camp No Limits, DS USA, and The Wounded Warriors.
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NLTP debut.
JAKOB VON EICKEL
Danny
Jakob (he/him) was born in Toronto, raised in Washington DC, educated at Sarah Lawrence, escaped to Russia, fled to Berlin, and finally returned to New York City where he lives in Brooklyn with his family. TV: “The Blacklist”, “Blindspot”, “Person of Interest”, “White Collar”, “Pan Am”, “The Americans”, “Madam Secretary”, “Elementary,” HBO's ​”Doll & Em”, “Spanish Class”, “​B.U.T.S”, “Poker Face.” Film: “Daytime Noon.” Theater: The Clearing (59E59 Theaters), Superior Donuts (Dorset Playhouse), Fringe of Humanity (Access Theatre), The Agony of I.B. (Rip Torn House). He is a founding member of the theatre company Primitive Grace. Voiceover: “Fierce: Stories of Women Who Changed the World”, “Supreme: The Battle for Roe”, “James Patterson’s Coldest Case.” Jakob is presently concluding his master’s degree at NYU in drama therapy and is honored to be a part of this original production as he believes in the absolute importance of sharing these stories.
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NLTP debut.
JANET BENTLEY
Sound Designer
Jan (they/them) is a multidisciplinary theater artist with an MFA from the University of Iowa. Select credits: the orchard (Off-Broadway/Baryshnikov Arts Center), Candlelight (Nylon Fusion), (a)loft modulation (american vicarious), Basement (nominated for two NYIT Awards), Mr. Chekhov and Mr. Porter (Medicine Show). Film & streaming: Less Than Or Equal To (Fair Housing Justice Center), Jewish Plays Project (2020-2022 seasons). rolypolyproductions.com
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For NLTP: The Lights Are On, Friends With Amenities, According to the Chorus, The End of Hester, Calendar Girl, Brecht: Call and Respond, Everything is Super Great, Life x 3
MADELEINE BLOSSOM
Production Stage Manager
Madeleine (she/her) is a New York-based AEA stage manager and actor originally from California. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Drew University and a certificate of Mental Health First Aid from The National Council. Madeleine also studied with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators through their Stage Managing Intimacy course, along with similar workshops relating to safety and well-being while making art. Regional: Sweeney Todd, Kings, & The Velveteen Rabbit (South Coast Repertory), Fly By Night, Evita, & God of Carnage (Southern Colorado Repertory Theater).
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For NLTP: According to the Chorus, Ink'dWell
JULIA SQUIER
Costume Designer
Julia (she/they) is an NY/NJ based costume designer with a BFA in Theatrical Costume Production and Design from Marymount Manhattan College. Recent costume design credits include Our Town, Sleeping Beauty: Sort of, Muppet Cabaret (Pendragon
Theatre); Lysistrata, Mr. Burns, Urinetown (Marymount Manhattan College); My Father’s Play (Alchemical Studios); Let’s Dance! (Transcendence Theater Co.); The Winter’s Tale (NY Shakespeare Exchange); Other credits include assistant costume design for
(pray) (Ars Nova) and costume coordinator for Hamlet, The Harder They Come, A Raisin in the Sun, Fat Ham (The Public Theater). Juliasquier.com
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NLTP debut
BRIAN DUDKIEWICZ
Scenic Designer
Brian (he/him) is an award-winning designer whose work has been seen at some of the largest theaters across the United States, Canada, and Asia. In addition to theater, Brian designs immersive experiences for sporting events. He holds an MFA in Set Design from the Yale School of Drama and a BSc in Architecture from McGill University. This marks Brian's 14th production with the company! Feel free to check out samples of work and see his adorable son on Instagram @briandud1
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For NLTP: The Lights Are On, According to the Chorus, Everything is Super Great, Imagining Madoff (Theatre Row), The American Tradition, Life x 3, Hal & Bee, Time Stands Still, Breeders, Omega Kids, Sight Unseen, The Ross Howard Festival: Two of Us and Arthur & Esther, Strange Country, In the Soundless Awe, No One Loves Us Here
KLEO MITROKOSTAS
Producing Associate
Kleo (she/her) is an NYC-based actor and producer. Recent theater credits include Circle, Mirror, Transformation; The Muppet Cabaret; Our Town (Pendragon Theatre), The Wolves (NYU Tisch), and Sweet Charity (Cotuit Center for the Arts). NYU BFA Drama ‘24. KleoMitrokostas.com
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For NLTP: The Lights Are On, According to the Chorus, Friends With Amenities
DANIELLE PECCHIOLI
Props/Scenic Assistant
Danielle (she/her) is a sophomore Design and Tech Major at Adelphi University. Recent credits include: Pendragon Theatre’s The Muppet Cabaret (Assistant Stage Manager), Adelphi University’s Vanities (Assistant Stage Manager), Melancholy Play (Assistant Stage Manager), and GPAA’s Puffs the Play (Technical Director/Scenic and Props Designer). Danielle would like to thank Sarah for this incredible opportunity as well as the cast and crew for a fantastic show! Break a leg!
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For NLTP: The Lights Are On, Friends With Amenities
ELAINE WONG
Lighting Designer
Elaine (she/they) is from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and received her MFA in Lighting Design from Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts. She is currently a Project Manager with MossLED, a freelance lighting designer, and the resident Lighting Designer with Resolve Productions NY. Previously, she served for four seasons as the Resident Lighting Designer for the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, and for five years as a Faculty Master Electrician for Montclair State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance. Her previous design work has been seen with Resolve Productions, New Light Theater Project, Box Period Productions, Thingamajig Theatre Company, Mile Square Theatre, The Flea, Snapped Productions, American Theater Group, The State Repertory Opera of NJ, The Princeton Festival, Access Theatre, Black Angus Productions, LSNelson Productions, and others. ElaineWong-lx.weebly.com
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For NLTP: Everything is Super Great, The American Tradition, Bubba
GAMA VALLE
Casting Director
Gama (él/he) is a New York based director, playwright, screenwriter, children's book author and casting director. He holds an M.F.A in Directing from The New School and a B.A. in Drama from University of Puerto Rico. His Spanish language debut picture book, PITU LE BAILA AL AMAR (Pitu Dances to the Sea) is an International Latino Book Awards winner. He is a recipient of the Van Lier Directing Fellowship at Repertorio Español. Gama received the First Prize in playwriting from Puerto Rico’s Institute of Culture for his play “Queishd&Dilit”. ​Directing credits include: The Lesson, L’Amfiparnaso, I Catch You Dreaming, Among Who, Whom and Ever, Jump It, In Love but Discreet, The Girl Who Used to Die Often. @gamavalle
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For NLTP (casting): The Lights Are On, I Wanna F*ck Like Romeo & Juliet, The End of Hester, The Great Novel, The American Tradition