Cori Thomas (Playwright) is a lifetime artist member of Ensemble Studio Theatre and has participated in most programs at Page 73. She is thrilled that her two artistic homes are co-producing When January Feels Like Summer. Her plays have been developed or produced by: EST, Going To The River, P73, City Theatre Co. Pittsburgh, Sundance Theatre Lab, The Goodman Theatre, Pillsbury House Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Mixed Blood, Playwrights Realm, Partial Comfort, New Black Fest, New Georges, Penumbra….She has been a Sundance Fellow and a MacDowell Fellow. Commissions: NYSCA, The Sloan Foundation, P73, EST, Pillsbury House Theatre, South Coast Rep.This play received the 2011 American Theatre Critics Osborn Award for best new play. Chuck Patterson directed its first readings at EST, Sundance, and directed the World Premiere at Pittsburgh City Theatre Co. His indelible enthusiasm, encouragement, and playful spirit will live forever in this play which is lovingly and gratefully dedicated to him.
(Director) For Women’s Project Theater: Jessica dickey’s Row After Row, Catherine Trieschmann’s How the World Began (in association with South Coast Rep), Sheila Callaghan’s Lascivious Something (with Cherry Lane), Trista Baldwin’s Sand. Off-Broadway: Jessica Dickey’s Charles Ives Take Me Home (Rattlestick Productions), Lloyd Suh’s Jesus in India (MaYi Theatre & Magic Theatre, SF), Judith Thompson’s Palace of the End (Epic Theatre), Sheila Callaghan’s Dead City (New Georges). Regional world premiere credits include: Rajiv Joseph’s Monster at the Door (Alley Theatre), Stefanie Zadravec’s Electric Baby (Quantum Theatre, PA). Ari Roth’s Andy and the Shadows (Theatre J), Caridad Svich’s Instructions For Breathing (Passage Theatre), Niko Tsakalakos and Janet Allard’s Pool Boy (Barrington Stage). A graduate of Carnegie Mellon, Daniella has been the Artistic Program Director of the Lark Play Development Center and the New Works Program Director of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. She is an NYTW Usual Suspect, an EST Member, a member of the Lark’s Board of Directors and a WP Lab alum.
Dion Graham (Joe). Broadway: Machinal, Not About Nightingales (also London’s Royal National Theatre); International: The Gospel At Colonus (Edinburgh Int’l Festival), Pillars (Ibsen Conference, Norway); Off-Broadway: On The Levee, Lobby Hero (Lortel nom.), 10 Things To Do Before I Die, A Hard Heart, Washington Square Moves, 2, A View Of The Dome, Watbanaland, Elliot Loves among others. Premieres and classics at numerous leading regional theatres. Film/TV: The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty, Thirteen Conversations About One Thing, Asbury Park, “The Wire” (Rupert Bond), “The Good Wife”, “Gossip Girl”, “NYPD Blue”, “Homicide”, “Hoop Life”, “Hack”, “Law & Order” (all three) and more. Series narrator for A&E’s “The First 48”.
Mahira Kakkar (Nirmala) NY credits include: Ragged Claws (Cherry Lane), Clive (The New Group), Harper Regan (Atlantic Theatre), Opus (Primary Stages), Ms. Witherspoon (Playwrights Horizons). Has worked regionally at Hartford Stage, The Magic Theatre, Denver Center, Baltimore CenterStage, McCarter Theater, Guthrie, Arden Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Film and TV: Hank and Asha (Audience Favorite- Slamdance 2013, Best Actress-Napa Valley Film Festival), “Blue Bloods”, “Law and Order:CI”, “The Big C”, Hechki, Life of Pi. Proud member of Hero Theater Company and The Actors Center. Training: Juilliard.
Carter Redwood Carter (Jeron) is thrilled to be joining EST for When January Feels Like Summer after having done the World Premiere at City Theatre in Pittsburgh 4 years ago! A Pittsburgh native, Carter is a Princess Grace Theater Honorarium and a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University where he was the recipient of the prestigious John Arthur Kennedy Acting Award. He has also trained at the Drama Centre London. Off-Broadway: Gertrude Stein Saints (FringeNYC, La Mama, Abrons Arts Center) Film: Underdogs, Blood First, Not Cool. Check out his web-series “Redwood Time” on YouTube! Many thanks to his team of superheroes!www.carterredwood.com
Debargo Sanyal (Ishan/Indira) Stage: NYC- Invasion! (The Play Company), Bunty Berman Presents (The New Group), Queens Boulevard (Signature Theatre Company), Bird in the Hand (Fulcrum Theater), Your Boyfriend May Be Imaginary (The Management), After (Partial Comfort Productions), Telethon (Clubbed Thumb), Women of Trachis (Target Margin), Port Authority Throw Down (Working Theater), Bumbug-The Musical (Laughistan), Looking for the Pony (Vital Theater), I_NY (Ma-Yi), Commedia Dell Smartass (New Georges), Barriers (Desipina), Millicent Scowlworthy (SPF), Indian Ink (Alter Ego Productions). Chicago- Disconnect (Victory Gardens). Pittsburgh- When January Feels Like Summer (City Theatre). Minneapolis- Brahmani (Mixed Blood). Feature film: The Magic of Belle Isle (opposite Morgan Freeman, director: Rob Reiner), Everybody’s Fine (opposite Robert De Niro), The Normals, Today’s Special, Bert and Arnie’s Guide to Friendship, Made for Each Other, Drawing with Chalk, Red Hook, Fort Tilden, Sita Sings the Blues. Television: Guest appearances on “Law & Order”, “Blue Bloods”, “Damages”, “NYC 22”, “L&O: Special Victims Unit”, “The Sopranos”, “Running Wilde”, “All My Children”, “L&O: Criminal Intent”, “The Unusuals”, national commercials.
Maurice Williams (Devaun). I am beyond excited to be making my hometown debut in Cori’s beautiful love letter to New York City. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the love & training I received at Temple University (BA) & UCSD (MFA). I have to thank my amazing reps (everyone at Innovative Artists & Matthew Lesher at Insight), my friends who believe in me more than I believe in myself & my family who are simultaneously my support system & my motivation. For every dream ever dreamed in a small apartment in Queens. J.MP.R – 1.Zr.iV – MyN.r – .X. .Doable.
The Ensemble Studio Theatre – William Carden, Artistic Director, Paul Slee, Executive Director – was founded in the belief that extraordinary support yields extraordinary work. We are a dynamic and expanding company of artists committed to the discovery and nurturing of new voices and the continued support and growth of artists throughout their creative lives. Through our unique collaborative process we develop and produce original, provocative, and authentic new plays that engage and challenge our audience and audiences across the country. When January Feels Like Summer is the First production this season on the Ensemble Studio Theatre mainstage. www.estnyc.org
