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 TE’A!

AUGUST DANNEHL

August Dannehl is an actor, student, veteran, and aspiring filmmaker living in New York City. He has been ensconced in the art of acting ever since he could speak as both of his parents were professional actors. Throughout his childhood, August was involved with various acting groups all over the country and ended up realizing his passion for film while attending high school in New Jersey. With close proximity to NYC, August had the chance to show one of his short films on a big screen at the Urban Visionaries Film Festival in 2004. After high school, August left for the Navy and now, being back in NYC, he is thrilled to be able to focus on his passion for the arts. August is a film student at Columbia University.

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.

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.

NALINI SHARMA

Nalini has a long list of hometowns across the world as part of her upbringing but has finally settled in New York. She is currently a BAT, the resident acting company at The Obie Award Winning Flea Theater, and currently performing in " #Serials".  She has been part of several workshop readings in NY (New Georges, New Dramatists,The Lark, Second Stage). Regional/Off-Broadway: The Great Recession at The Flea, 365 Series by Susan Lori-Parks at The Public, Vital Theatre Co.,Gorilla Rep Shakespeare, People's Light & Theater Company. Thank you Dad, Mom, Abhi, Raja and my dearest friends for all the love. Training: The Maggie Flanigan Studio. Really excited to be a part of TE'A NYC's Veterans Project!