CHRISTOPHER DARBASSIE
(SOUND DESIGN & EDITING, he/they) is a New York based interdisciplinary artist. The first generation Trinidadian American aims to give breath to Black people in storytelling and beyond. Interested in the discoveries of what it means to honor a life, Chris is charged to cultivate the exploration of alternate ways to exist, and in turn alternate ways to create. As a dramaturg, visual artist, and designer Chris has serviced devised works and theatrical productions in collaboration with National Black Theater, The Movement Theater Company, Criminal Queerness Festival, The Bushwick Starr, The Atlantic, Long Wharf Theater, Theater for a New Audience., and Playwrights Horizons. Notable sound design credits include Derek Fordjour’s Fly Away at Petzel Gallery, Jeremy O. Harris’s Black Exhibition at Bushwick Starr, and Neptune at Dixon Place and The Brooklyn Museum. Wingspace 2019-2020 Sound Design Fellow. www.darbassiedesign.com
JOURNEY BROWN-SAINTEL
(VIBE CONTRIBUTOR, she/her) is a New York-based theater, screen, and voiceover actress. She is also a casting director for indie animation. Journey is currently earning her BFA in Drama at New York University; she is very grateful for the creative outlet and sisterhood that viBeCompany has provided her with.
LAYLANIE FARRIS
(VIBE CONTRIBUTOR, she/her) was born and raised in Far Rockaway, Queens. The second oldest of five girls, Laylanie is currently a health monitor at an after-school Beacon program called Police Athletic League on Far Rockaway’s peninsula, having worked at this program for about six years. It has been a journey of personal growth while experiencing all the age groups. She has a deep desire to put energy, time and love into my community by mentoring and guiding youth and teaching them academics and building relationships to help mold them into their best selves. Laylanie is grateful for being a part of a program that serves the community; gives our young people a safe place to be and have fun. As a part of viBeCompany; she continues to learn the power of speaking her truth no matter how raw it can be. This creative writing and theatre production journey has made her realize just how beautiful, powerful, and authentic art is.
Kziana Flores
(VIBE CONTRIBUTOR, she/her) was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She attended Junior High School 302 and earned a passion for theatre arts. It started in sixth grade, when she auditioned for the drama club’s musical production of “Grease”. She earned a small role with less than 5 lines and a dance number. This didn’t stop her from pursuing this love for acting, and she eventually worked up to larger roles by the eighth grade. As far as her high school career, Kziana went to a local high school that didn’t focus on the arts due to the fear of not being good enough for acting schools and also not being able to afford them. However, whenever the opportunity came up to perform, she did just that. She participated in almost all of the school’s winter talent shows and either sang or danced with a group of friends. When she applied to college, the love of acting was still there and she majored in Theatre and received her Associates Degree from BMCC in 2018. After taking a semester off, she missed being on stage, as she didn’t take up many opportunities at her first college. She then attended York College in 2019, and is now pursing her Bachelor’s Degree. She will be obtaining it this summer after completing all of her elective courses. She has performed at York College as the lead role in David Mamet’s “Oleanna” in Fall 2019, that helped her score a nomination for a scholarship by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. In 2020, she directed and stage managed two plays for her school’s theatre department. Currently, Kziana is working with a group of friends in writing, acting, and producing their original short film debuting this summer. She is also a performer for ViBe Theater Experience which helps tap into her creative, poetic side that she never pursued. She’s always working on her craft and hopes to win an Oscar for all of her hard work one day.
Michelan Le’Monier
(VIBE CONTRIBUTOR, she/her) – Michelan “Mi·I·Mi” Le’Monier is an artist, administrator, and facilitator whose growth stems from giving as much into her environment and community as she receives. She found viBe Theater Experience in the year of 2012 and performed her first viBe show as a participant of the viBeSolos program. From there, she took part in many viBe performances and in the summer of 2017, became a dedicated employee; growing from intern to Administrative Apprentice in 2018. Gradually becoming the Operations Assistant in 2019, and becoming the first Programs Manager of viBe in 2020, and is now very proud to be viBe’s Operations Director.
Soneela Nankani
(NARRATION; she/her) is a classically trained actress who has performed in theaters all over the country as well as in films and television. She is an ensemble member of the award-winning Sojourn Theatre. Soneela is an award-winning narrator with 250+ titles. She also narrates articles for publications including The New York Times and The New Yorker. She’s passionate about lifting up South Asian and Black experiences as part of her work both in and out of the studio. She has garnered 16 Earphone awards, and Audie and SOVAS nominations. Her audiobooks have been featured in Best Audiobooks lists by AudioFile Magazine (2016, 2019, 2020) and The Washington Post (2018, 2020). Most recently, Soneela was awarded the Golden Voice Lifetime Achievement Honor by AudioFile magazine.
Alexandria Russell
(VIBE CONTRIBUTOR, she/her) Alexandria “Meena” Russell is a mother, author, playwright, and co-founder of Alstroemeria Studios. As a single mother, one of her many passions is speaking out for the stigmas that follow black and brown single mothers. When Meena’s not binge watching Blue’s Clues and You with her daughter, she’s either finding inspiration for her next piece, enjoying music from her favorite k-pop artists, or gaming. She’s currently working on her first book of poetry ‘Second Place, Half Best’.
