Partitipating Artists' Bios

AKIKO AIZAWA

Akiko Aizawa, a member of SITI Company since 1997, spent seven years as a member of the Suzuki Company of Toga. With SITI: American Document and Antigone among others.

J. ED ARAIZA

A playwright with seven original, full-length plays produced, J.Ed Araiza is member of the SITI Company and has worked at Juilliard and the Yale School of Drama as a movement consultant.

REED BIRNEY

Having won three OBIE Awards, the stage, film and TV actor, Reed Birney recently received a special Drama Desk Award for his versatile and finely nuanced performances over the past thirty-five years.

SARITA CHOUDHURY

Sarita Choudhury began acting in film with Mira Nair's Mississippi Masala and Kama Sutra... then joined Cheek by Jowl in the UK and toured with them for a year in Much Ado About Nothing. She continued with theater work at the New Group and The Play Company and the Jay Sheib Co. while continuing filmwork.

MARIA DIZZIA

Nominated for a Tony award for her performance in In The Next Room, Maria Dizzia recently performed in Cradle and All, appears in film and TV and received her MFA from UCSD.

CARMEN EJOGO

Born in London to a Nigerian father and Scottish mother, Carmen Ejogo works regularly in film and TV, most recently featured in the TV series Chaos and the film Away We Go.

ALVIN EPSTEIN

Having made his Broadway debut with Marcel Marceau in 1956, Alvin Epstein performed in Orson Welles' King Lear, the U.S. premiere of Waiting for Godot and Endgame among many other Broadway and Off-Broadway works.

ALESSANDRA FERRI

Award-winning and internationally known principal ballet dancer, Alessandra Ferri, of The Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, was renowned for her work in full-length dramatic ballets such as Giselle and Romeo and Juliet.

JULIANNA FRANCIS KELLY

Juliana Francis Kelly is an OBIE Award-winning actress who has performed internationally for legendary and emerging auteurs, including Reza Abdoh, Richard Foreman, Anne Bogart, Hal Hartley, Young Jean Lee, Pavol Liska, Meredith Drum, Marie Losier and Guy Maddin.

GIAN MURRAY GIANINO

The newest member of the SITI Company Gian Murray Gianino has performed in Radio Macbeth, bobrauschenbergamaerica, among others. His TV credits include: Painting Abby Long, Hospitality, All My Children.

CRAIG HALL

A soloist at New York City Ballet Mr. Hall has danced and/or originated featured roles in works by George Balanchine, Peter Martins, Jerome Robbins, Christopher Wheeldon and Wayne McGregor.

GABRIELLA HAMORI

Originally from Szarvas, Hungary Gabriella Hámori has gained international recognition for her work in film. She has also worked with the Radnóti Theatre and Örkèny Theatre, both in Budapest.

MARTIN HARVEY

From England, Martin Harvey joined the Royal Ballet in 1997, rising to rank of First Soloist. He left in 2004 to play "Johnny" in the West End's production of Dirty Dancing.

JAYNE HOUDYSHELL

Since the 1970s Jayne Houdyshell has appeared in over 200 plays throughout the U.S., receiving a Tony Award nomination, the 2005 Joseph Jefferson Award and appearing in film and TV.

HOLLY HUNTER

Holly Hunter is known for her leading roles in films such as The Piano (Oscar), The Firm, Broadcast News (Oscar nominations), and her leading role in the TV series Saving Grace.

JENNIFER IKEDA

Jennifer Ikeda has performed in Broadway and Off-Broadway works including Seascape, Top Girls, The Square, has appeared in film and TV and received her B.F.A. from Juilliard.

MARIN IRELAND

Since her Tony-nominated, Theatre World Award-winning Broadway debut in Reasons to be Pretty Marin Ireland has appeared in numerous films and the various Law & Order TV series.

SACHIYO ITO

A premier Japanese dancer in the United States, Sachiyo Ito and her company perform a versatile range of dance and theatrical styles including Kabuki, Noh and Okinawan Court.

MARIANNE JEAN-BAPTISTE

Since her Oscar and Golden Globe nominated role in Secrets and Lies Marianne Jean-Baptiste has appeared other films and had a featured role in the TV series Without a Trace.

MIKEAH ERNEST JENNINGS

Currently with the Jay Scheib Company, Mikéah Ernest Jennings has performed with the Young Jean Lee Theater Co., the Big Art Group/Caden Mason and has appeared in films: Failing Better Now, The Record Deal.

DAVID PATRICK KELLY

David Patrick Kelly has appeared in the films of Walter Hill, David Lynch, Wim Wenders, Spike Lee and Clint Eastwood. He was awarded a special OBIE for sustained excellence.

KEIR KNIGHT

Born in Calgary, Keir Knight has danced with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and La La La Human Steps. Consistently performing work by Édotard Lock, Knight currently performs with Louisa Lecavalier.

PAVEL KRIZ

Pavel Kriz, an award-winning actor and professor of acting from the Czech Republic, performs internationally on stage, in film and TV, most recently performing King Lear and As You Like It in Houston.

ELLEN LAUREN

Ellen Lauren is the Associate Artistic Director for SITI Company, an ongoing faculty member at Juilliard, Associate Director Summer Training Program, Toga, Japan and Fox Fellowship recipient for Distinguished Achievement 2008.

LOUISE LECAVALIER

Canadian dancer, Louise Lecavalier was a member of La La Human Steps for 20 years before winning the Jean A. Chalmers National Award, the Order of Canada and producing her own works.

LOS ANGELES POVERTY DEPARTMENT (AUSTIN HINES, RICCARLO PORTER AND RONALD WALKER)

Los Angeles Poverty Department, founded in 1985 by artist John Malpede, is made up of people who make art, live and work on Skid Row. LAPD creates work that connects the experience of people living in poverty to the social forces that shape their lives and communities. LAPD makes performance, installation, movement, public art and public conversation events. Austin Hines, Riccarlo Porter and Ronald Walker perform regularly with LAPD.

SAVANNAH LOWERY

A soloist at New York City Ballet, Savannah Lowery has danced featured roles in the works of George Balanchine, Peter Martins, Jerome Robbins, Susan Stroman and Christopher Wheeldon.

PATTI LUPONE

Tony, Grammy, Drama Desk and Olivier Award winning singer, actress recently starred in The Seven Deadly Sins at New York City Ballet, in the musicals Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and Gypsy on Broadway.

WILLIAM H. MACY

Having won and been nominated for Emmy's, Golden Globes' and Oscar's William H. Macy is known for his roles in films such as Fargo, Magnolia, Boogie Nights and is currently starring in the Showtime series Shameless.

RUTH MALECZECH

Founding co-artistic director of the theater company Mabou Mines, Ruth Maleczech is recognized for her work on stage, in film and TV and is the recipient of three OBIE Awards.

WILLIAM MAPOTHER

Recognized for his breakout performance in In the Bedroom William Mapother was in films such as Magnolia, Minority Report, The Grudge and in TV most notably the series Lost.

MARLO MARRON

Native New Yorker Marlo Marron recently debuted her last two albums Blind Pony and Stay With Me Awhile. Film credits: Mi Vida Loca, Funny Valentine, Infidel and TV appearances: 100 Centre Street and Moon Over Miami.

JON MORRIS

Jon Morris has performed with Fuerzabruta, Cirque de Soleil, the Jay Scheib Company. His company, The Windmill Factory, presented original works at Robert Wilson's Watermill Center, La MaMa ETC, and the Burning Man Arts Festival.

SAVITRY NAIR

Savitry Nair is a master performer and teacher of the Bharata Natyam style of Classical South Indian Dance, trained by Rukmini Devi; in the Kuchipudi style by Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam.

NATIONAL THEATRE OF THE DEAF (CLAUDIA LIOLIOS, IAN SANBORN)

The National Theatre of the Deaf's mission is to produce theatrically challenging work of the highest quality; to perform these original works in a style that links American Sign Language with the spoken word; to seek, train and employ Deaf artists; to provide community outreach activites that will educate and enlighten the general public, opening their eyes and ears to Deaf culture. Claudia Liolios and Ian Sanborn are members of the National Theatre of the Deaf.

AYESHA T. NGAUJAH

Ayesha T. Ngaujah was last seen in The Wife, by Tommy Smith at Access Theatre and has performed in American Schemes, Eclipsed, Angela's Mixtape, Times 365:24:7, and Van Gogh Café.

FULYA PEKER

A performer, director, poet and painter, born in Central Anatolia Fulya Peker has worked with Richard Foreman at Ontological Hysterical Theater and explored the techniques of Butoh.

ALISON PILL

Following her Tony-nominated performance in The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Alison Pill has appeared in the films Milk, Pieces of April and is currently performing in The House of Blue Leaves on Broadway.

RAJIKA PURI

Internationally acclaimed soloist of Indian classical dance: Bharata Natyam and Odissi, Rajika Puri performs on stage, in film and holds an MA from NYU in movement analysis from a cultural perspective.

RADIOHOLE (MAGGIE HOFFMAN, KOURTNEY RUTHERFORD, ERIN DOUGLASS, ERIC DYER, MARK JAYNES, JIM FINDLAY)

Since its founding in 1998, the performance collective Radiohole has created nine original performances. The company's rich, energetic and irreverent performance style, have led to Radiohole's recognition as one of New York's pre-eminent experimental ensembles. In 2009 Radiohole received The Spalding Gray Award in recognition of their achievements.

ANA REEDER

Broadway actress Ana Reeder performed in Hedda Gabler, Small Tragedy (OBIE Award), in the TV series Law & Order, The Jury, films: Acts of Worship and No Country for Old Men.

ROGER REES

British actor of theater and television, Roger Rees gained recognition for his performances in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby (Tony, Olivier, Emmy Awards), currently stars in the musical The Addams Family on Broadway.

ALAN RICKMAN

Since his beginning at the Royal Shakespeare Company Alan Rickman has performed on the stage as well as in many films including Die Hard, Harry Potter, Sense and Sensibility, Sweeny Todd, and Dogma among others.

LUDIVINE SAGNIER

Acting since the age of 10, French actress Ludivine Sagnier received international recognition for her role in Swimming Pool. Her many film credits include 8 Women (Cesar Award nomination), and one of Claude Chabrole's last films, A Woman Cut in Two.

CATALINA SANDINO MORENO

Known for her Oscar nominated performance debut in Maria Full of Grace the Colombian actress has since appeared in the films Paris, Je T'Aime and Love in the Time of Cholera.

JAY SCHEIB COMPANY (SARITA CHOUDHURY, MIKEAH ERNEST JENNINGS, MARIA MAJOLI, JON MORRIS, AYESHA T. NGAUJAH, TANYA SELVARATNAM, NATALIE THOMAS)

see individual bios

LIEV SCHREIBER

Actor, Producer, Director and Screenwriter, Liev Schreiber has performed on stage: Glengarry Glen Ross (Tony Award), appeared in films such as Salt, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Manchurian Candidate and the TV series CSI.

TANYA SELVARATNAM

Actor, producer, writer and activist Tanya Selvaratnam's current projects include an original short film series for the Sundance Channel; MADE HERE, for HERE; and Jay Scheib's Simulated Cities/Simulated Systems (producer, actor).

SCOTT SHEPHERD

Born in Raleigh, N.C. and raised in Marietta, Ga. Scott Shepherd is recognized for his theatrical vigor and unique performances in the Wooster Group productions of Hamlet, Gatz and Poor Theater.

SHANTALA SHIVALINGAPPA

Shantala Shivalingappa was born in Madras, India and raised in Paris. Dedicated to Kuchipudi she has worked with various artists including her mother, dancer Savitry Nair, Maurice Bejart and Pina Bausch.

SITI COMPANY (AKIKO AIZAWA, J.ED ARAIZA, ELLEN LAUREN, GM GIANINO)

see individual bios

LILI TAYLOR

Originally from Illinois, Lili Taylor began her acting studies at the Piven Theatre Workshop. Her many film credits include Mystic Pizza, Say Anything, I Shot Andy Warhol, and High Fidelity to name a few.

THAI LIKAY STREET THEATRE (BOONPORN POONLUMLERT, WATCHARAPHONG SOONGPANKHAO, SARAYUT PHETSAMRIT)

Likay is popular form of Thai theater. Actors are skilled in improvising not only the dialogue and lyrics but also the plot of a play as well, weaving romantic scenes and fragments of dance, set to music, into a story from a well-known history or court play.

NATALIE THOMAS

Natalie Thomas has performed with the Jay Scheib Company, The Wooster Group, An Films, has appeared in film, TV and is a former company member of William Forsythe's Ballett Frankfurt.

QIAN YI

Known for her leading roles in The Legend of the White Snake, Peony Pavilion at the Shanghai Opera Company, Qian Yi has studied classical Chinese opera (Kunqu) since the age of ten.

ADDITIONAL PARTICIPANTS

Michael J. Arbouet
Aaron Bantum
Adam Boncz
Victory Chappotin
Sarah Choi
Grantham Coleman
Bjorn Dupaty
Maeve Flynn
Michael Gogliucci
Dirvan Chand Gulati
David Kaplan
Bruce Kaye
Margarethe Jane Kelly
J. Rodrigo Lopez-Portillo
Maria Majoli
Robert Medrano
Jo Mei
Alex Montaldo
Christina Pastor
Sophia Pavonetti
Vincent Pavonetti
Emma Polacik
Sam Poon
William Poon
Carolyn Smith
Larry Strong
Nabil Vinas

Crew Credits