THE CAST
JENNY STRASSBURG
THE MOM
BRENDA BRAXTON
THE MYSTIC
LINCOLN COHEN
THE BOY
FRENIE ACOBA
THE SISTER
BRANDON JONES
THE DAD
NICKY TORCHIA
SPIRIT CHILD
JENNY STRASSBURG
THE MOM
Jenny Strassburg (The Mom) Off Broadway: Kowalski (The Duke on 42nd Street), Sideways (Peccadillo Theatre Co), Life Sucks (Wheelhouse Theatre), Echoes of the War (The Mint), Macbeth (NY Classical Theatre). Selected regional credits: Shakespeare in Love, Sex with Strangers, Venus in Fur (Capital Rep); The Great Gatsby, Taming of the Shrew, The Miracle Worker (Alabama Shakes. Fest.); A Streetcar Named Desire (VA Stage), Pride and Prejudice (Pioneer Theatre Co), Tender Rain (Syracuse Stage). TV/Film credits include: “FBI: Most Wanted,” “The Equalizer,” “Bull,” "Law and Order: SVU," "The Best Man". Love to Willa, Jack, Loren, and Penny.
BRENDA BRAXTON
THE MYSTIC
Brenda Braxton (The Mystic) Tony Award nominee and Grammy winner for Broadway’s Smokey Joe's Café. Other Broadway credits include Velma Kelly in Chicago The Musical, Jelly’s Last Jam, Cats, Legs Diamond and the original production of Dreamgirls. Her TV credits include “Nurse Jackie”, “Smash” and Partner Madeline Gilford on “The Good Fight” on Paramount +. She is the author of The Little Black Book of Backstage Etiquette.
LINCOLN COHEN
THE BOY
Lincoln Cohen (The Boy) is ecstatic to be in New Light Theater Project‘s production of Mystic Conversations after playing The Boy in the reading of the play. He made his Broadway debut in the Tony winning production of Appropriate (Ainsley). Other recent credits include: “PBS/Sesame Street’s Together We Can,” Fun Home 10th Anniversary Concert (John Bechdel), Shabbat on Broadway, Showtime’s “Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas?” and readings of Millions, The Member of the Wedding, Judgment Day, and Stork Derby. He was a winner of the 2023 Hal Leonard Vocal Competition (Children’s Musical Theatre) and is a member of the Broadway Youth Ensemble. When not performing, Lincoln enjoys playing basketball and cheering for the NY Knicks for whom he sang the national anthem at Madison Square Garden.
FRENIE ACOBA
THE SISTER
Frenie Acoba (The Sister) is honored to work with this cast and crew! Theatre credits: Matilda (Original Broadway cast), Runaways (Encores! New York City Center), South Pacific (National Tour), Judy (New Ohio), The King and I (Dallas Summer Musicals), Mother Jones (NYMF). TV credits include: FBI, Gossip Girl, Tony's, David Letterman, The View, Good Morning America, the 2013 Macy’s Day Parade. Other special appearances: 54 below, NAAP New music concert, US Open Opening ceremony National Anthem Singer, UNICEF Spokesman. Recent graduate of NYU Tisch. Thank you to Calli Company, Carson Kolker, Stephanie Klapper Casting, and my family!
BRANDON JONES
THE DAD
Brandon Jones (The Dad) is thrilled to be back on stage with his New Light family. His credits include Steve in War Words (NY Rep/Library of Congress), Dr. Keith Griffith in The Waiting Room (Lyric Theater); Don Adriano de Armado in Love's Labour's Lost (Play On Shakespeare Podcast); Peter in According to the Chorus (New Light Theater Project/59E59); Alex in Kim’s Convenience(TheatreSquared); Orsino in Twelfth Night (KC Rep); Lt. Cutting in Valley Forge (First Flight Theatre Co.); Brother Boxer in The Amen Corner (Classic Stage Company); David in The Sting of White Roses (NC Black Rep); Pete/John in ReEntry (Actors Theatre of Louisville); King in The Mountaintop (Capital Rep); Marine in In The Soundless Awe, and Adam in meet you at the Galaxy Diner (New Light Theater Project). Film/Television credits include Danny in Same Same(Webseries), Sterling in Wildflowers (Cantanto Films), Marcus Christianson in Brothers Incorporated (Tubi), Clare's Boyfriend in Francis of Brooklyn (Amazon). His feature-length documentary directorial debut The Weight On Our Shoulders (White Hawk Films/Big Buffalo Industries) is scheduled for release this spring. He holds an BFA in acting from the University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music. His work in this show is dedicated, as always, to his son, Gavin.
NICKY TORCHIA
SPIRIT CHILD
Nicky Torchia (Spirit Child) Broadway: King and I, Kinky Boots. National Tour: Elf, A Christmas Story. TV/Film: The Goldfinch (WB/Young Tom Cable/Dir. John Crowley), Law & Order: Organized Crime (NBC Uni/Eli Stabler - 5 Seasons), Black Mirror (Netflix/Dir. Jodie Foster), Bull (CBS), Forever (ABC). Nicky is a graduate of William Esper Studio and a Finalist at The Actor’s Studio. He greatly appreciates Mom and Dad’s support, his team’s energy and commitment, and his cat Chet.
CREATIVE TEAM
JULIA BARRY BELL
PLAYWRIGHT
JOEY BRENNEMAN
DIRECTOR
SARAH NORRIS
ARTISTIC DIR. / PRODUCER
STEPHANIE KLAPPER
CASTING DIRECTOR
DANA WEINTRAUB
SCENIC
BOBBI RENE´FULLERTON
LIGHTING
JAN BENTLEY
SOUND
ANDY EVAN COHEN
SOUND
GHISLAINE SABITI
COSTUMES
CAROLINE RAGLAND
STAGE MANAGER
ALLISON HOHMAN
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
NICOLE POWELL
CHILD GUARDIAN
CREATIVE TEAM
JULIA BARRY BELL
PLAYWRIGHT
Julia Barry Bell, known as “The Mom,” is the playwright behind Mystic Conversations, an original Off-Broadway production premiering in Spring 2025. Presented by New Light Theater Project, the play grew from Julia’s deeply personal experience, first shared through a blog that sparked discussions on life's mysteries. These reflections later evolved into a novel before taking their current form as a play. With a multifaceted background in illustration, graphic design, and journalism – including work as a stringer for The Associated Press – Julia brings a unique perspective to her storytelling. Her creative journey shapes the heartfelt narrative of Mystic Conversations, which explores spirituality with both insight and wit. The play delves into a wide range of intuitive abilities to promote respectful dialogue around psychic phenomena, particularly in children. This poignant and thought-provoking work aims to shed light on the unseen realities that shape our lives.
JuliaBarryBell.com
JOEY BRENNEMAN
DIRECTOR
Joey Brenneman (Director) is a curious and creative beast who explores her artistry through a variety of media. She is thrilled to be working with New Light Theater again where she previously directed A Burial Place by Owen Panettieri. Other collaborations with Panettieri are Vestments of the Gods and The Timing of a Day. Other directing credits include Truth Values (by Gioia DiCari), Two Girls (by Gabrielle Maisels) and Better Left Unsaid which Joey also wrote. Joey’s other playwright credits include Uncorked, Off, Fast Break and Of Loss & Grace. Joey will be taking a new play, Escape the Noise, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe which she devised with a group of young actors at The Shoreline Theater Academy. Recently, Joey performed in Tea Artistry’s Being Chaka at Burning Coal Theater in NC. Favorite acting credits include Three Days of Rain (Nan/Lina) Proof (Catherine) and Collected Stories (Lisa). Joey is also a co-host and lead writer on the podcast, Before We Die. Love to her family and so much gratitude for the Mystic Conversations team.
SARAH NORRIS
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / PRODUCER
Sarah is an award-winning theater director and producer based in New York. Her work has been seen around the country including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Houston, and around the world in Scotland, Australia, England and Ireland. Select producer and production credits include: Playwrights Horizons (I Am My Own Wife Off-Broadway and Tony Winning Broadway transfer), Disney Theatrical Productions, Bisno Productions (Hughie on Broadway w/ Forest Whitaker; My Report to the World w/ David Strathairn). She served as the Artistic Director of Access Theater from 2016-2018, creating the Artist Residency and Access Association Series program, which provided subsidized and free performance space to NYC artists including Primitive Grace (Paul Calderon & David Zayas), Elevator Repair Service, and Bedlam, to name a few. Since 2021, she has served as the Artistic Director of Pendragon Theatre, located in the Adirondacks (upstate NY). Pendragon was named Favorite Theatre in Central New York by BroadwayWorld for the 2022 & 2023
seasons and named Best of the Mountains
by the Adirondack Daily Enterprise for the 2021, 2022, & 2023 seasons. She is the Founding Artistic Director of New Light Theater Project, an Off-Broadway company dedicated to an ensemble of artists that has mounted over 40 world premieres. Highlights include: two Drama Desk nominations for The Greatest Hits Down Route 66 and
According to the Chorus, The American Tradition
(TimeOut NY Critics Pick; Best of Theater - Slant Magazine; "The gleefully anachronistic show...has a rambunctious punk-rock energy that’s all too rare on our increasingly sanitized stages" - The New Yorker); H*tler's Tasters (sold out run; featured around the country and Edinburgh, Scotland);
Imagining Madoff (sold out run; featured in This Week in Arts - NY Times; "Engrossing and philosophically lively" - The New Yorker);
Breeders ("Both ridiculously and strangely moving!" - Jesse Green, NY Times; TimeOut NY Critics Pick; "An unexpected marvelous new comedy" - Huffington Post); A Burial Place (featured on NY1); and countless other productions. New Light is a Co-op Resident Company of the renowned 59E59 Theaters. As a theater director, select credits include: The Greatest Hits Down Route 66 (Drama Desk nom, 15 Off-Broadway BroadwayWorld noms, 'Best of 2024' from Travel Style Magic), H*tler's Tasters
(4 Stage Raw Awards, including Direction; 6 Scenie Awards from StageSceneLA, including Outstanding Direction of a Comedy-Drama; 'Top 20 of 2024' from Angeles Stage; TimeOut NY Critics' Pick, Best of the Edinburgh Fringe; featured in the NY Times, Chicago Tribune, LA Times and the BBC),War Words
(The Library of Congress), Everything is Super Great (TimeOut NY Critics' Pick), This Wrestling Place (w/ Executive Producer Ben Folds), Picture Ourselves in Latvia (Best of Theater, The L Magazine). Other highlights include: NewYorkRep, Guild Hall of East Hampton, Pleasance Theatre (Edinburgh), Greenside Theatre (Edinburgh), Bottom Dog Theatre (Ireland), Adelaide Fringe Festival (Australia), 59E59 Theaters, LAByrinth Theatre, Working Theater, Electric Lodge (LA), Chicago Dramatists, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, A.D. Players (Houston), The Flea Theater, Zeiders American Dream Theater, Calliope Stage, Forestburgh Playhouse, and Pendragon Theatre. Sarah served on the Artistic Advisory Board of The Artist Co-Op, worked with Theatre Communications Group (TCG), served on the Program Evaluation Working Group for NNPN (National New Play Network) and spent a year as the Interim Artistic Director for NewYorkRep, where she was deeply honored to be named a 2023 "Women Who Have Impacted Theatre" Recipient. sarahnorris.org
STEPHANIE KLAPPER
CASTING DIRECTOR
Stephanie Klapper (Casting Director)’s award-winning work is frequently seen on Broadway, off-Broadway, regionally, on concert stages, film, television, and streaming media. Select recent credits include Mint Theater, Primary Stages, New York Classical Theatre, Arena Stage, Capital Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Clarence Brown Theatre and more as well as Elf Quest, audio movie, Ranked, the musical/HBO Documentary; Lazytown for tv. SKC is known for their limitless imagination and creativity, as well as connecting creative, caring people to each other to make extraordinary things happen. SKC is committed to expanding diversity, education, equity, and inclusion in the business. Member: Casting Society; Board Member: Casting Society Cares, Preliminary judge Jimmy Awards.
klappercasting.com
DANA WEINTRAUB
SCENIC
Dana Weintraub (Scenic Designer) is a Scenic and Props designer working in and around New York City. Dana received her BA from SUNY New Paltz and her MFA from Carnegie Mellon University. Set design credits: A Christmas Carol (Theatre Row, EPIC Players), Margaritaville (Forestburgh Playhouse), and Entertaining Mr. Sloane (The Gene Frankel Theatre). Prop design credits: Dear Jack, Dear Louise (59E59), Steel Man (Penguin Repertory Theatre) and Seussical (upcoming; EPIC Players). danarweintraub.com
BOBBI RENE´ FULLERTON
LIGHTING
Dana Weintraub (Scenic Designer) is a Scenic and Props designer working in and around New York City. Dana received her BA from SUNY New Paltz and her MFA from Carnegie Mellon University. Set design credits: A Christmas Carol (Theatre Row, EPIC Players), Margaritaville (Forestburgh Playhouse), and Entertaining Mr. Sloane (The Gene Frankel Theatre). Prop design credits: Dear Jack, Dear Louise (59E59), Steel Man (Penguin Repertory Theatre) and Seussical (upcoming; EPIC Players). Instagram
JAN BENTLEY
SOUND
ANDY EVAN COHEN
SOUND
The Roly Polys are Janet Bentley (they/them) and Andy Evan Cohen (he/him). NLTP credits: Room 1214, According to the Chorus, The Lights Are On (Henry Hewes Design Awardsnomination), Calendar Girl, Brecht: Call and Response, and many others. Other select credits: the orchard (Off-Broadway/Baryshnikov Arts Center), Candlelight and The Big Funk (Nylon Fusion), (a)loft modulation (american vicarious – Audelco Awards nomination), Basement (nominated for two NYIT Awards), Mr. Chekhov and Mr. Porter (Medicine Show). Film & Streaming: We Dissent: Voices For Reproductive Rights (ReproFreedom Arts), LessThan Or Equal To (Fair Housing Justice Center), Jewish Plays Project (2020-2022 seasons). RolyPolyProductions.com
GHISLAINE SABITI
COSTUMES
Ghislaine Sabiti (Costume Designer) is a Congolese-born French American multidisciplinary artist and costume designer. Raised on the outskirts of Paris, she graduated from the Atelier Chardon Savard Fashion School, where she studied glass and fine art. In New York, Sabiti was nominated for the Brooklyn Fashion Academy and won an award at the Dupont De Nemours hosiery design competition for DIM Company. Her opera credits include Amore Opera’s Rigoletto, Elixir of Love, La Bohème, Don Giovanni, and Hansel and Gretel. Her Off-Broadway projects feature productions with the Apollo Harlem Club, Labyrinth Theater Company, and the New York International Fringe Festival. Her film and stage experience in both Paris and New York include serving as the wardrobe supervisor for the films Dinner Guest Teaser and Running Dog, as well as being the Costume Designer for Tarab, Found in Time, and One Last Time, Illusions and Mirrors, SuiYork.
AboutTheArtist and Instagram
CAROLINE RAGLAND
STAGE MANAGER
Caroline Ragland (Production Stage Manager) is an award-winning stage manager and multidisciplinary artist. OFF-BROADWAY: Candida, POOF! at Theatre Row; Goldie, Max & Milk at 59e59; Housewives of Secaucus, Metamorphosis at Actors Temple Theatre; Rearview Mirror at Theatre Center; All Hallow's Eve (Dir. Martin P. Robinson) at Connelly Theater. REGIONAL/TOURING: Everything That Never Happened at Baltimore Center Stage; Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 at ZACH Theatre (B Iden Payne Award Winner for Outstanding Stage Management); The Weir, Copenhagen at Berkshire Theatre Group; As You Like It at Shakespeare on the Sound; The Notebook (Developmental Workshop), Short Shakespeare! Macbeth at Chicago Shakespeare; Next to Normal, The Little Mermaid Jr., A Peter Rabbit Tale at Mill Mountain Theatre; Nine, Pippin, Head Over Heels, Ubu Rock, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth at New Studio on Broadway; Fourscore and Seven Years Ago, My Heart in a Suitcase, Judy Moody and Stink with ArtsPower. BFA in Musical Theatre from CCPA at Roosevelt University..carolineragland.com
ALLISON HOHMAN
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Allison Hohman (Assistant Stage Manager) is a Stage Manager, Designer, and Producer based in New York City. She began her career as the Production Stage Manager of the historic 13th Street Repertory Theatre and saw them through their 40th season before Covid closed their doors for good. There she worked on multiple world premieres and was able to cultivate her love for new works along with her love of learning from artists from every experience level. She now works as a stage manager and designer for theater companies all over New York City and specializes in new and developmental works. She's also proud to be the Founder and Artistic Director of Rogue Theater Festival which prides itself on being a ‘mom and pops’ theater festival for playwrights from all walks of life. Going into its seventh year, Rogue has presented over 100 brand new works and shared space with over 500 artists in New York City and beyond. She is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and The Stage Managers Association. When not working, Allison is exploring all this world has to offer and constantly hunting for the best barbecue spot in town. You can find out more at allisonleahhohman.com and go Rogue with her at roguetheaterfestival.com
NICOLE POWELL
CHILD GUARDIAN
Nicole Powell (Child Guardian) has most recently been the Child Guardian for Ashes & Ink (AMT Theater) and JOY: A New True Musical (Fall 2024 Reading). You may have run into her at A Beautiful Noise on Broadway, where she was the VIP Concierge “Caroline.” She currently works as a Marketing Associate and VIP Concierge for JOY: A New True Musical, running Off-Broadway this summer! Proud AEA member.
nicoleabarcapowell.com
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