THE PULSE PROJECT BIOS
PLAYWRIGHTS
SHERRY BOKSER represented members of New York’s public-sector unions for more than 25 years, and has since given voice to the stories living in her head. With the Best of Intentions received a staged reading at 360 Repco in NYC, and additional co-written work received staged readings at NYC’s National Comedy Theatre, L.A.’s Odyssey Theatre, and the Burbank Senior Arts Colony, and recognition at the Great Plains Theatre Conference, Castillo Theatre’s Mario Fratti-Fred Newman Political Play Contest, Reverie Production’s Next Generation Playwrights Contest, and the Women Playwrights’ International Conference. Sherry is a member of the Dramatists Guild and the International Centre for Women Playwrights.
THOM FOGARTY is the Artistic Director of 360repco, in New York City. After performing for 30+ years, since 2010 he has directed and produced 20+ productions. He’s the writer of Ten Tall Tales About The Men I Love (2013), an adaptation of Lillian Smith’s Strange Fruit (2016), and Patient Lover Friend (2017 is currently in development). The Pulse Project is the type of social justice theatre Fogarty seeks in all his endeavors. He is an Associate Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and member of the Drama League and Dramatists Guild.
ALYSON MEAD studied at Yale, the Slade School of Art, NYU’s Tisch School and with Tectonic Theatre Project. Her plays have been staged at theaters around the country, including La MaMa, St. Mark's Church, Pasadena Playhouse, Venus Theatre, the Hudson, Atwater Village Theater, Sacred Fools and Elephant Stages, among others. She was awarded residencies at Ragdale, Can Serrat and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, won the Bridge Initiative’s Playwriting Award and the Henley-Rose Award, and was a finalist for the Kenneth Branagh Award for New Dramatic Writing. She is a member of the Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative and the Dramatists Guild.
AMY MERRILL is a Boston-area playwright and producer. In development: THE SQUARE, a play about a veteran of the Iraq War and his struggle to react to an event he witnessed in Baghdad right before coming home. Amy is very pleased to be working with Alyson, Sherry and Thom on The Pulse Project. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild.
ACTORS
C Bain (The DJ) is a Brooklyn based gender-liminal writer-performer. His book of poetry, Debridement, was a finalist for the 2016 Publishing Triangle Awards. An Artistic Associate with Sacred Circle Theatre Company, he studies acting at the Studio with Brad Calcaterra and is a member of the Actors Center. Recent acting credits include Much the Miller’s Son in Flux Theatre Ensemble’s Marian: the True Tale of Robin Hood and the Queen in Threadbare Theatre Workshop’s treatment of T S. Eliot’s the Waste Land. He holds a mental health focused master’s degree and works extensively with embodiment, trauma and sexuality. But he’d rather just dance with you. More at tiresiasprojekt.com
Matt Cohn (The Reader) is a New York-based actor and producer, and Co-Founder/Managing Director of Vox Theater. He recently developed and performed in Seen/By Everyone, at HERE Arts Center in New York. Other select New York credits include: Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night's Dream (New Place Players); The Country Wife (Odyssey Prod.s); Henry V (Kill Mike, Use…); The Reluctant Lesbian (Vox Theater/NY Int’l Fringe); The Next War (Vox Theater). Regional: The Importance of Being Earnest (Northern Stage); Measure for Measure (Elm Shakespeare); Rhinoceros (Mighty Theater); Legendary Romance (World Premiere) and A Little Night Music (New London Barn Playhouse). He is a graduate of Dartmouth College, with a degree in Theater and Philosophy.
Janice Danielle (The Professor) is a Native New Yorker, born in Brooklyn. Actress/Comedian and proud TransWoman, she serves on the Sag/Aftra LGBT Committee and Sag/Aftra National Diversity Advisory group. Janice currently studies at The Studio in NYC under the direction of Brad Calcaterra. www.facebook.com/MsJaniceDanielle
Joslyn DeFreece (The First Responder) is a NYC based film, television and stage actor represented by JB Talent. She has been an advocate for the LGBTQ community since arriving in New York 15 years ago. You may recognize her from recent appearances on The Daily Show, Comedy Central and New Day on CNN. She is also the star of the feature film Carl(a), now out on iTunes and Amazon Prime. She is a member of The Studio under the helm of Brad Calcaterra.
Lulu Fogarty (The Celebrator) is a founding member of 360repco and thrilled to make her first 360repco appearance as a writer with Happy New Regime: April Fools! Her first play Lillian Smith: Being Heard has been produced at Dixon Place, Theater Row, Syracuse Stage and Judson. She is currently working on a play about power, oppression and the search for identity, based on interviews she conducted while living in Taiwan in 2013. Her blog, the Woke Villager, is her new project to inspire political action through creativity and mindfulness. www.lulufogarty.com, @thewokevillager
Paige Gilbert (The Graduate) More than ever, our nation needs artists to break the cycle of self hatred. It is such an honor and blessing to keep alive the souls that were forever changed at Pulse. Special thanks to Brad Calcaterra & The Studio.
Nicholas Gorham (The Drag Queen) is a Canadian born Actor and Performance Artist living in New York. Nicholas attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and now studies under Brad Calcaterra at theSTUDIO. Their work has been presented at La MaMa, E.T.C., Joe's pub, The Wild Project and The Slipper Room and they have appeared at The Kitchen, Town Hall, Abrons Arts Center, The New Museum, and The Museum of Art and Design. Recent projects in NYC include Street Children at The New Ohio Theatre, Future ST at The Broad Museum, and Broads at The Duplex Cabaret.
Adriel Irizarry (The Slayer)After completing his studies at the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in New York, Adriel, found his creative home at THE STUDIO in NYC under the tutelage of Brad Calcaterra. While at THE STUDIO he has collaborated with fellow actors to create the films, TROUBLED YOUTH, 101, DEMONS INSIDE, and BREAKING THE CYCLE. Other film credits include BUSINESS, THE HISTORY OF SAM SWOPE: PALING POET, and SAME PAPER, DIFFERENT DAY. Stage credits include Prologue Theatre Group's Patria Libre, the AMDA Songbook, and the NY showcases: YOU ARE NOW FREE TO MOVE ABOUT THE CABIN and DEEP BLUE SEA. Special thanks to Brad Calcaterra & all the members of ACTOUT, and to Thom Fogarty for including me in his vision of THE PULSE TRAGEDY.
Washington Kirk (The Army Hero) Off-Broadway: Nollywood Dreams (by Jocelyn Bioh)(Cherry Lane); Lower Ninth (by Beau Willimon)(u/s); Classic Kitchen Timer (by/dir. Adam Rapp); and American Sexy (by Trista Baldwin)(The Flea); Zoohouse (by Aurin Squire); Melanintervention (by Chisa Hutchinson)(NBT). Regional: The Brothers Size (dir. Tea Alagic)(ATL); In the Red & Brown Water (dir. Gregory Wallace); His Girl Friday (dir. Chris Ashley)(La Jolla); and the titular role in Othello (dir. Michael Socrates Moran)(Ubuntu). Television: Law & Order: CI, Divorce, The Breaks. Creator of the upcoming web-series F.D.B. (Food & Drink Boulevard). MFA: University of California-San Diego. Thank you, Thom, as always, for inviting me to participate.
Jamel Tyre Mack (The Survivor) is from a small city Upstate, called Elmira, NY. He went to a two year college for theatre, and then later on transferred to CUNY Brooklyn to finish his degree. Since leaving school, he has been taking countless acting classes in IMPROV, On-Camera work and so one. He's done various short and indie films, a commercial for Battlefield 4, the video game and has written and produced his own films as well. He thanks his mentors Kyle LoConti, Maggie Reed, and Brad Calcaterra for the foundation given to him. And to his grandmother and mother for all of the support given as well.
Jolene Marquez (The Student) is a proud Student at The Studio, has been seen in the NY/NY Festival a series of reading at The Labyrinth Theater Company, Queer stages reading of women Behind Bars and Commercials for Verizon. She's grateful for the support of her family, her friend Rachal Burkhardt and friends at the Studio.
Sam Morales (The Lover) Off Broadway: Measure for Measure, The Skin of Our Teeth, Pericles (TFANA). Regional: A Tale for Winter, The Tavern, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Comedy of Errors (Scranton Shakespeare Festival). Words cannot adequately describe how honored she is to be a part of something as meaningful and important as THE PULSE PROJECT.
Jonelle Robinson (The Bartender) is honored to be a part of such an important project. National commercial credits: Purell, MyHeritageDNA.com, and Johnson & Johnson Bandaids. She is also the creator of PiT Theatrical, a non-profit geared towards teens in conjunction with The Jeanne Rimsky Theater in Port Washington, NY. BFA in acting from Ithaca College. My heart goes out to the survivors and family/friends of the victims involved in the Pulse tragedy; my hope is that we continue to move forward with gained sympathy and empathy for all people. @jo_to_the
Tracy Thompson (The Mother) is a highly motivated dynamic and unique woman who blends her professionalism and humanitarian with compassion and love with acting. Tracy enjoys sharing her talent and skill performances as an artist that cultivates her audience with voice-overs, dancing, singing and comedy. Currently, Tracy is a student with Brad Calcaterra, where she is continuing to build on her skills and strengthen her talent. Tracy won best actor for her performance in the I-Phone Festival featuring “Weed Money”, which is currently on you-tube.
Amos Wolff (The Blood Donor) has worked extensively in the Broadway/Off-Broadway scene for the past decade, most recently in the critically acclaimed production of THE HAIRY APE at The Park Avenue Armory. He is very proud to be a part of this reading. For more information about Amos check out www.amoswolff.com.
Alisha Woods (The Nurse) is a New York City based actress, comedian and writer. With equal parts talent for drama and comedy, it is clear to see why she is an industry up-and-coming artist to be watched. She is currently in the pre-production stages of filming a pilot she wrote titled Serve(d).