AMANDA MARIKAR

Amanda Marikar is an actress and singer living in NYC. She caught the acting bug at age 7, performing in many musicals and plays throughout childhood. Amanda graduated Summa Cum Laude (Phi Beta Kappa) from Barnard College, Columbia University with a B.A. in English and Theatre, having spent one year at St. Peter’s College, Oxford University. She then completed the Two-Year Acting Conservatory at the Maggie Flanigan Studio, under Maggie Flanigan. Amanda has also spent summers with the British American Drama Academy (BADA), the Chautauqua Theater Company, and the Moscow Art Theatre (MXAT). Amanda is a member of the Fire Dept Theatre Co. (Volunteer Firefighter), and has interned and worked for MCC Theater. Past roles include: Iraqi Woman in At War: American Playwrights Respond to Iraq (with Bebe Neuwirth, Denis O’Hare, David Strathairn) at 45 Bleecker St Theatre, Lucy in Quake (Finborough Theatre, London; UK Premiere), Sonya in Uncle Vanya (with MXAT), Bebe in A Chorus Line (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), and readings for MCC Theater and the Rattlestick Theatre Co. Most recently, Amanda appeared in 7even, 7even, 7even, an evening of new ten-minute plays at Jimmy’s 43. Amanda is thrilled to have joined The TE’A Project!

ANNA LAMADRID

Anna Lamadrid is excited to be a new member of TE'A. She was recently seen as Kimberly in Group by Daniel McCoy and directed by Heidi Handelsman for the NYC Fringe Festival. She originated the role Teacher Alice in the world premiere of Hell and High Water: or Lessons for When the Sky Falls directed by Lorca Peress for MultiStages. She has participated in readings/workshops for The Lark, The Flea, INTAR, PS122, The Fire Dept, NYU and Repertorio Espanol. She is also a member of INTAR's Actors Collective and a BAT for The Flea's 2009-10 Season. Training: Maggie Flanigan Studio. Thanks to Wreckio for giving me an artistic home in the city and my friends and family for being so supportive. For more information, check her out at anna-lamadrid.com

ASHLEY WILLIAMS

Ashley C. Williams is the star of the controversial horror film The Human Centipede. The film is winner of four Best Film Awards from International film festivals, has an upcoming theatrical and on-demand release with IFC starting April 28th and is the recipient of the Best Ensemble Cast award from the S.A. International Film Festival. Ashley has an extensive background in theater and musical theater and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City where she received the Charles Jehlinger Award for Best Actress (the highest honor from the Academy). As an actress, she has toured the New York and New England area for the last five years with a number of theater companies including La Mama E.T.C., The Theater Engagement & Action Project, the Nitestar Program and the United Nations Y-Peer Project. In 2008, Ashley was a Guest Director and Political Theater Trainer for the Bulgaria U.N. Y-Peer International Theater in Education Trainings. Ashley is co-founder and Vice-President of Mind The Art Entertainment, a NYC based Arts and Entertainment Company where she’s produced and starred in new work of varying art forms in venues such as The New York International Fringe Festival, La MaMa E.T.C and the Cherry Lane Theaters. Recently, Ashley played Juliet in a new revolutionary version of Romeo and Juliet at La MaMa E.T.C. under the direction of the renowned Dario D’Ambrosi as well as produced and starred in Mind The Art’s ‘Anthology’ series at La MaMa’s club theater to sold out audiences. Upcoming: 2010 New York International Fringe Festival, reuniting with Dario D’Ambrosi in the new musical A Voyage into the World of Madness and starring in the new off-Broadway production of Holiday in Hell by Charles O’Hara. Ashley is also awaiting the theatrical release of the feature film Empty and the original cast recording of Spellbound- A Musical Adventure.

CHRISTIAN DE GRE

Born in Mexico City, Christian De Gré is a Producer, Director, Actor, Composer, Playwright and Orchestrator currently residing in NYC. De Gré currently serves as President and Executive Producer for Mind The Art Entertainment. As a performer he has been in a number of plays and musicals throughout North and Latin America, the Caribbean, North Africa and Eastern Europe and has been a judge for numerous international festivals. In the last few years De Gré traveled to Bulgaria and Tunisia to aid in the training and directing of performers from over thirty countries as the Theater for Social Change Partner of the United Nations- International Y-Peer Network. De Gré currently works as a Composer and Musical Director for a number of production companies including the NiteStar Program, City at Peace and is the creator of the innovative Cabaret series What If? De Gré served as Producer and Assistant Director for the art film Broken Crayons and was the Executive Producer of the world premiere of May-December with The Nose and Clammy at the 2009 NYC International Fringe Festival. De Gré studied acting and theater at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC), music at the New England Music Conservatory (Maine) and fine arts through Cambridge University (Cayman Islands). He is a self taught composer and orchestrator and has written and directed a number of his own productions over the last eight years including his co-written musical fantasy Spellbound- A Musical Adventure. De Gré is currently Consulting Producer for the feature film Dreams of the Youth, Director of the existentialist comedy Die and Artistic Director of La Mama ETC presents: A Mind The Art Anthology.

CHUKWUMA OBASI

A New York native, Chuk began to pursue the performing arts as a freshman at St. Raymond high school for Boys in Bronx, NY. After graduating from SUNY Geneseo in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in communication (double minor in musical theatre and dance), he began his professional performing arts career with the Rochester Children's Theatre. Since then, he has performed in various regional, Off-off Broadway, touring, and film/television productions in Rochester, Syracuse, Washington DC, and New York City among other regions. At this point his resume includes work in acting, dance, choreography, slam poetry, music writing/performance, and so on… Chuk joined the TE’A NY Company as it began in 2009 and has since become the TE’A Artistic Coordinator. Chuk also currently serves as the company choreographer for The NiteStar Program, and as the Director of the Dance Division for Mind the Art Entertainment.

CRYSTAL QUALLO

Actress, singer, songwriter, dancer Crystal Quallo also known as Elena Chime has been performing since elementary school. Born and raised in Queens, New York she is an all around entertainer and has been professionally performing for more than 10 years. You can find her on stage and in front of the camera as well as behind the scenes. She lent her talents for 3 years as a member of the Spark Peer Players. A New York City Board of Education theater program that dealt with teen issues before closing its doors. She then joined The NiteStar Program in 2004, a non-profit organization that performs shows for at risk inner-city adolescents, teens and young adults. During this time she performed in and around New York City, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey as well as upstate New York. She stayed with NiteStar for 3 years and served as a mentor actor for 1 year. Some of her more memorable shows were for the Housing Authority of New York City, Smith College, St. John the Divine on World AIDS Day of 2005, and the United Nations on World AIDS Day of 2006. She has also performed for "Make Music New York" sponsored by Time Out magazine in celebration of the 1st day of summer. Today she performs for different companies including Zinc Professional Consultants, which helps teach life skills through theater to collegiate as well as professional WNBA, NBA and NFL athletes. This has taken her from New York to Baltimore and different areas in Florida. Her passion is in creating and the stage. "Evoking emotion in my audience whether it be to cry or laugh is priceless. Any project that helps spread awareness, promotes positive change and involves my passion... is a dream come true."

FELIPE AGUILAR IV

Felipe (some call him Flip) began his career in second grade when he donned yellow yarn and a paper plate to play the King of the Jungle. He is an accomplished vocalist with many years of training and numerous awards. Raised in Dallas, TX he performed in many plays and musicals until he moved to New York City in 2004 to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. He graduated in 2006 and soon after became a member of the theatre company Nitestar for whom he has written and performed for 3 years. He is also one half of the children's party duo Ham and Burger as well as doing various other projects (film, vocal recording, etc). He has accomplished many things since his time in the city including performing for the United Nations, MTV, and Radio City Music Hall. He considers this show to be among them and is immensely proud to be a part of it.

JOe REESE

Joseph Reese attended East Carolina University, where he double majored in Professional Acting and Musical Theatre. He has many performing and technical credits, but among his favorites are Aaron the Moor in Titus Andronicus, Coalhouse in Ragtime, Miles Gloriosus in Funny Thing... and Pentheus in The Bacchai. Joseph is very excited to be joining a company with a purpose that he can get behind and a talented cast to push it forward. It is a dream of his to use theatre to better the state of the world and those that are in it, and it is both an honor and a pleasure to have such a wonderful group with which to make that happen. Joseph holds the position of Financial Officer and Director of Arts and Networking Events for Mind The Art Entertainment.

FRED JOHNSON

Fred Johnson has spent the past 16 years presenting international seminars on the power of creative expression as a tool for personal wellbeing and healing. As a student for 9 years of a master teacher from the West African natural healing indigenous music traditions, he brings to the contemporary world a fusion of ancient sound traditions coupled with 21st century science on the power of the vibration universe. Johnson has been involved in the development of global programs in America, Europe and the Middle East, bringing people together from diversified spiritual and cultural backgrounds to create artistic forums for learning, sharing, reconciliation, vision and hope. A highly regarded artist, visionary and spiritual teacher, Johnson inspires people to be conduits of justice, joy, truth and creative potential. He brings this expertise and commitment to his role as Artistic Director of Creative Content for Intersections. In addition to developing Intersections’ creative arts offerings, Fred helps with the development of programs to strengthen marginalized communities in the New York City area.

CHeryl paley

A native of Chicago, Cheryl began directing original issue-based theatre twenty years ago. This is her ninth season as Artistic Director for NiteStar, directing their productions of Everybody’s Doin’ It, Reality Show (for high school audiences), Reality Show (for NYU and Fordham University), The Rec and Drama dot com for school-based audiences, One Last Chance for the Ethical Culture Society’s Rainbow Warriors Youth Theatre and The Living Quilt, Pandemic and Whatcha lookin’ at? for adult audiences. She also co-directed 3 productions of Vagina Monologues with Dr. Berlin for the Center for Comprehensive Care of St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital with HIV-positive women and their caregivers. Through NiteStar Cheryl has directed pieces for the United Nations, the Mayor’s Office on Domestic Violence, the New York State Attorney General’s Office and SAYSO in Union Square Park. Prior to NiteStar she was Stage Director for the NYC SPARK Program’s Arts-in-Counseling Team. In that capacity she directed their youth theatre, SPARK Peer Players for eleven seasons and created an adult ensemble, Family Arts Forum, acting as Artistic Director for five seasons, creating and directing over 25 original short plays. Cheryl holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech/Theatre from Northwestern University, a Master’s Degree from the NYU Gallatin School and spent a season as an apprentice at the Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, assisting Artistic Director John Jory for the second New Plays (Humana) Festival production of Find Me. She continues a long-term professional partnership with playwright Fernando Manon for his plays Theft in the Family and Caldera. Cheryl also writes a monthly feature for International Family Magazine’s “New Global Family” column: internationalfamilymag.com. Cheryl lives in Washington Heights with her daughter Zoe.