Sabrina Mandell is the founding Artistic co-Director and Visionary Tornado of Happenstance Theater. She has written, produced and performed prolifically since the company was established in 2006. She was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Actress in 2017. As the company's Executive Director she has created and maintained a sustainable structure for operating the organization, and as the costume designer she has won two Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Costume Design. Sabrina performed for 10 years with the Big Apple Circus’ Clown Care Program in DC and Baltimore.
Brandon T. Gorin makes digital folk art on his cellphone because he always has it with him. Mostly his art is for looking at but it is a little bit about thinking about. He works as the assistant technical director at the Milburn Stone Theatre at Cecil College and does stand-up comedy in the tristate area.
Khristian Weeks works primarily with phenomena - sonic, visual, kinetic, and situational - as distinct from the making of objects. His background is in music, first as an instrumentalist and improviser, eventually exploring composition and sound installation. Weeks earned a bachelor's degree from The New England Conservatory of Music in 1995 (and he has a BM to prove it), but not before taking a few years off of this schooling to re-examine his life-trajectory...to live a little. In 1990, he found a job caring for infants.
Dirk was born in Trinidad, grew up in NY and has been based in Baltimore since 2002. For the last 30 years he has worked as a visual artist, art teacher, performing artist (puppetry and theater), and a graphic designer. In 2016 Dirk founded String Theory Theater, a puppetry troupe in which he performs with his daughters.
In 2009 he opened his independent label NU Revolution Entertainment. Since its inception, distribution and licensing deals with INgrooves, United Masters, Redeye, and APM Music helped the company flourish!
Praised for “astounding technical vocal ability, solid song interpretation and stage presence,” soprano Annie Gill continues to gain recognition as a distinctive and versatile artist. Particularly excelling in the repertoire of Mozart and Puccini, Ms. Gill has been commended for "a glorious voice - opulent from top to bottom,” and possesses an extensive variety of vocal colors in her expressive full lyric soprano.
MAD Dance is Kitty Clark and Ray C. Shaw, based in Maryland’s Washington and Frederick Counties. Drawing on improvisational and somatic practices, the duo manifests deeply intimate work. Whether dancing on the stage, in parks, in parking lots, or in art galleries, they consider dance from the perspective of being experienced,older, and authentic movers. Their work is subtle, intimate, and sensitive, and solidified by undeniable chemistry. Kitty and Ray create immersive environments in which non-linear communication thrives.
Annalisa Dias is a Goan-American citizen artist, community organizer, and award-winning theatre maker working at the intersection of racial justice and care for the earth. She is Director of Artistic Partnerships & Innovation at Baltimore Center Stage. Annalisa is also a Co-Founder of Groundwater Arts. Prior to joining BCS, Annalisa was a Producing Playwright and Acting Creative Producer with The Welders, a DC playwright's collective; and a Co-Founder of the DC Coalition for Theatre & Social Justice.
Alex and Olmsted (Alex Vernon and Sarah Olmsted Thomas) is an internationally acclaimed puppet theater and filmmaking company based in Maryland. They have toured at festivals in Denmark, South Korea, and Canada, and have performed at numerous venues within the United States.