Creative Team
ALI SKYE BENNET (Playwright) has been writing, performing, and creating theatre since childhood. As a playwright, she has been awarded residency to the HBMG Foundation’s 2018 National Winter Playwrights Retreat, and her first full-length play, RAFETUS, was a 2017 Finalist and 2018 Semi-Finalist for the National Playwrights Conference at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, a Finalist for the 2018-19 Woodward/Newman Drama Award, and a Finalist for the Blue Ink Playwriting Award. As the current Associate Producer of Vineyard Theatre, Ali has helped bring to life new work by some of the most celebrated artists in history, including Paula Vogel, John Kander, Susan Stroman, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Michael Mayer, and countless others. As an actor and dancer, Ali has appeared on stages all over NYC and in dozens of commercials, short films, and guest star roles on TV, and was a member of Labyrinth’s 2012 Intensive Ensemble under the guidance of playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis. Ali is also an award-winning photographer with international publication, documenting her world-travel adventures through photos and journals. She is currently developing a new episodic documentary series with CompassNeedle.
www.aliskyebennet.com
www.aliskyebennet.com
JILL DeARMON (Director) serves as the Artistic Director for Developing Artists. Some of Jill's New York choreography credits include: STOPLESS (LAByrinth Theater Company, Artistic Directors: Philip Seymour Hoffman & John Ortiz), Erin Cressida Wilson's TRAIL OF HER INNER THIGH (Center Stage, NY), John Patrick Shanley's, A WINTER PARTY, A TASTE OF HONEY (Theatre 22), and Vanessa Hidary's CULTURE BANDIT (Nuyorican Poets Cafe). Some of her directing credits include: Mikael De Oliveira’s THE CONSTITUTION (Saudade Theater Company), Craig SirmuMsila Grant’s LOVENESS, Megan Mostyn Brown's WE SAID OUT LOUD, Bree O’conner’s SAM'S CLUB (The Craine). Developing Artists' REBEL VERSES Education Revelation (Hi-ARTs) and ARTIVISM (Vineyard Theatre), and Webb Wilcoxen’s THE FAIRY TALE PROJECT (LAByrinth Theater Company at The Public). Jill is wild and loves all wild life.
VICTORIA WEINBERG (Line Producer) is thrilled to be working on her favorite thing: new work by incredible women. Currently, she is the Associate Producer of Glass Half Full Productions, (GROUNDHOG DAY, KING LEAR, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE) focusing specifically on new work development. She also moonlights in live event production and general management, most recently the American Theatre Wing Gala, PEN America Literary Awards, & the CFDA Awards. She was also the Creative Producer of "Twelve Angry Men" performed by 12 Broadway Women (Dir. Cady Huffman). Perry Street Theatricals / Company management: LITTLE ROCK, MARGERY KEMPE, AQUILA THEATRE. Upcoming: ATLANTIS, a new musical at VA Repertory Theater (dir. Kristin Hanggi) alongside producer Greg Shaffert; and NETWORK starring Bryan Cranston (on Broadway this fall!). She is also the proud dog mother to Tobi, a gorgeous chi-weenie. Follow her @msvictorialeigh. www.ghfproductions.co.uk
LISA R. STAFFORD (Stage Manager) is excited to be part of the Rafetus team! Recent stage management experiences include THE BROTHERS KHAN: AN AMERICAN STORY (Broadway Bound Theatre Festival), VANYA & SONIA & MASHA & SPIKE (Gretna Theatre), THE DRAGON GRISWYND (Dream Up Festival), and THE CHEKHOV DREAMS (Theatre Row). Lisa has stage managed multiple shows for the WorkShop Theater and UP Theatre Company. Lisa also works as a production assistant for the Broadway Stage Management Symposium. BA in Theatre (Catawba College) / M.Ed in theatre education (UNC-Greensboro). Thanks to Kevin, family and friends!
Cast
TORÉE ALEXANDRE (China Girl) Originally hailing from Yonkers, NY, Torée is a recent graduate of Point Park University with a B.F.A. in Acting and a minor in Musical Theatre. She recently wrapped Vampires vs the Bronx, a delightful homedy (horror comedy) film, written and directed by Oz Rodriguez. You may have seen her in Marvel’s “Luke Cage” or in YELLOW CARD, RED CARD at the Women’s Project Theatre, or perhaps you’ve seen her riding her bicycle throughout the boroughs! Torée is so grateful to be a part of this workshop of RAFETUS because it brings awareness to the plight of a critically endangered species pushed to the brink of extinction by human activities. We must honor and protect the creatures we share God’s Green Earth with.
JORDAN KENNETH KAMP (Leo) is a Brooklyn actor/producer who hails from Northeast Ohio. He’s currently in the process of editing his directorial debut, Man Of Joy, a six part long-form short about a man struggling through the emotional states of divorce. Other on-camera work includes the upcoming show from creator Kevin Williamson, “Tell Me A Story” (CBS), “Mysteries Of Laura” (NBC), Untitled Robespierre/Holm Project, a pilot from the creative team of “Obvious Child” (FX & A24) and a small part in Mike Birbiglia’s film, Don’t Think Twice (The Film Arcade). In 2014, he produced and starred in OJ: The Musical (FilmBuff), an award-winning narrative feature that premiered at Michael Moore’s Traverse City Film Festival and went on to screen at over a dozen festivals, including Woodstock Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival and Cleveland International Film Festival. Commercial work includes spots for Visa/NFL, Best Buy, AT&T, and numerous other regional and national commercials on both coasts. He has been a proud member of SAG-AFTRA since 2011 and remains a dedicated and avid member of the NYC independent theater scene.
KATIE LEE HILL (Soft / “Emily Ash”) Theatre highlights: KPOP (Ars Nova/ Ma-Yi/ Woodshed), TWO MILE HOLLOW (WP Theater), LAURA AND THE SEA (Vineyard), FILM CHINOIS (Pan Asian Rep), THE ROSE TATTOO (Williamstown Theatre Festival), THE WILDNESS (Ars Nova/ PlayCo), NERDS (B’way). Television: HBO’s “Succession.” Bands: Sky-Pony & baby chemist. www.katieleehill.com
JAMES SEOL (Eyes / “William Chen”) Broadway: A NAKED GIRL ON THE APPIAN WAY (Roundabout). Off-Broadway: HENRY VI (NAATCO), KPOP (Lucille Lortel Nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical; Ars Nova/Ma-Yi/Woodshed Collective), SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS (Ars Nova), AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (Davenport Theatre). Regional: VIETGONE and THE ORPHAN OF ZHAO (American Conservatory Theatre); THE FOUR IMMIGRANTS and TOKYO FISH STORY (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley); THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (Goodspeed Musicals and Paper Mill Playhouse); ZOMBIE: THE AMERICAN (Woolly Mammoth); HAMLET (Hartford Stage); TIMON OF ATHENS (Shakespeare Theatre Company). James has also worked with New York Theatre Workshop and New Dramatists. He is a proud graduate of the Juilliard School and the University of Virginia.
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MICHELANGELO MILANO (Rough / “Brian Powell”) Michelangelo Milano is an actor and artist living in New York City. TV credits include: “Power,” “Gotham,” and “Law and Order: SVU.” NY theatre credits include: EIGHT SECONDS (Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway Short Play Festival), PROVIDENCE, BALM IN GILEAD (Labyrinth Theatre Company’s NYNY Festival), NEW YORK (The Group Theatre Too), BLIPS! Short Play Festival ({Your Name Here}: A Queer Theater), PASSING THROUGH (Black Lodge Theater), THE UNTITLED GINSBERG PROJECT (developmental workshop), NIKOLAI AND THE OTHERS (staged reading, dir. David Cromer, Lincoln Center Theatre), and New York City Opera’s final production, Rufus Wainwright’s PRIMA DONNA (BAM). Regional credits include: THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED (Unicorn Theatre, KCMO; Stage West, Iowa), A FLEA IN HER EAR (dir. Gary Griffin, Kansas City Rep), A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE (Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, KCMO). Michelangelo stars in Gregory Kennedy’s short film, Three Seconds, and Serious Weasel Comedy’s video sketch, Official Movie Trailer. Michelangelo has studied with Labyrinth Theatre Company, The School at Steppenwolf, Columbia College Chicago, and The American Musical Dramatic Arts Academy. He is first-generation Sicilian-American, born in Chicago, IL, and raised in Kansas City, MO.
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CHARLES GOFORTH (Dr. Long / “Dr. Josef Kohler”) is a New York based actor, director and producer. Off-Broadway acting credits include DEVIL OF CHOICE with Labyrinth Theater Company this past summer at the Cherry Lane Theater; THE ATMOSPHERE OF MEMORY with Ellen Burstyn directed by Pam MacKinnon, also with Labyrinth at The Bank Street Theater; UNDERNEATHMYBED by Florencia Lozano at Rattlestick Playwright’s Theater, directed by Pedro Pascal; and HENRY V by William Shakespeare with NY Classical. Directing credits include DUTCH HEART OF MAN by Bob Glaudini at The Public Theater; RACE, RELIGION, POLITICS by Stephen Adly Guirgis with Philip Seymour Hoffman at HERE Arts Center; THE FLAME KEEPER by Amos Kamil at the 47th Street Theater; FUR by Charlotte Miller at Access Theater with Erin Wilhelmi and Jason Blane. Film credits: Dance Dance Dance and Anna on the Neck. Charles’ producing organization (CompassNeedle.org) is currently developing a new musical, a short film, a new works festival scheduled for 2019, and A SMALL COUNTRY, an exciting new play by Damon Chua. Charles is the recipient of a Drama League Fellowship.
NAOMI LORRAIN (Others) Naomi Lorrain is a NYC-based actor and playwright. She received her B.A. in the History of Science, History of Medicine, and African American Studies from Yale University, and her M.F.A. in Acting from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Plays: A TROJAN WOMAN’S TALE (Villa La Pietra), RIGOR MORTIS (NYU Freeplay Festival), THE BIG O, an adaptation of The Odyssey (Villa La Pietra), #SHELFIES (52nd Street Project), THE QUEEN OF MACON COUNTY (HomeBase Theatre Collective Play Festival). Theater credits include: UNCLE VANYA, ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, PYGMALION, THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE, A BRIGHT ROOM CALLED DAY (NYU Tisch); RESTORATION COMEDY (The Flea); SONG FOR A FUTURE GENERATION, BIG BEND IN THE RED DIRT DESERT (WTF); DAUGHTER OF LOT (Edinburgh Fringe Festival). TV: “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix), “Elementary” (CBS), “The Good Fight” (CBS), “Madam Secretary” (CBS). www.naomilorrain.com
EUNICE BAE (Others) International: PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DESERT (NCL). NYC: I AM THIS FOR YOU (Ars Nova ANTFest). Regional: AUBERGINE (Everyman Theatre); IN THE HEIGHTS (Helen Hayes Award, Best Musical Production) and THE KING AND I (Olney Theatre Center), MISS SAIGON (Signature Theatre / TUTS). Other Regional: TITANIC THE MUSICAL, FUNNY GIRL, 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL, LEGENDS IN CONCERT: WAIKIKI. TV/FILM: Dakota (Feature Film); “Swinging With My Eyes Closed” (Shania Twain Music Video), “The Rainbow Room with Michael Feinstein” (televised event). Education: BFA in Design from Carnegie Mellon University. Proud AEA member. Instagram: @eunicebae
FANG DU (Others) was born in Dandong, China. National Tour: THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (non-eq). Off-Broadway: GOLEM (La Mama), JULIUS CAESAR (CSC), AWESOME 80’S PROM (Webster Hall), WHERE IS MY MAPLE TOWN (Theatre Row). Regional: HENRY V (Arkansas Rep), THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (Fulton Theatre). Film: In A New York Minute, Tomorrow Comes Today. TV: “The Haves and The Have Nots,” “Madam Secretary,” “Mr. Robot,” “If Loving You Is Wrong.” Training: MFA Columbia University; BA, University of Virginia. Proud member of SAG-AFTRA.
