Nu Sass Productions promotes marginalized genders in all aspects of theater, especially in those roles traditionally dominated by cis-men. We explore how disregarding prescribed genders can change the overall experience for the audience. We function as a critical foothold in the theatre world for artists who face discrimination and lose opportunities based on their gender, age, body type, or race. Above all, Nu Sass aims to create engaging, thought-provoking art while being a responsible local and global citizen.
Nu Sass Productions was founded by Aubri O’Connor and Emily Todd in 2009.
Nu Sass Founding Members
AUBRI O'CONNOR [FOUNDER]
Aubri O’Connor is co-founder, co-producer, and artistic director for Nu Sass Productions.
[SHe/HER]
Aubri studied theater at Oberlin College (’04), where the esteemed group OMTA taught her how to run a theatre. Aubri is an mba candidate in nonprofit management at the catholic university of america., where she also works as a professional fundraiser for the columbus school of law.
aubri is dedicated to supporting marginalized genders in the arts, and considers herself blessed to work with nu sass every day.
EMILY TODD
[CO-FOUNDER]
Emily Todd is co-founder and producing director emeritus for Nu Sass Productions.
[SHe/HER]
Emily studied theater and psychology at the University of Virginia, where she helped run the largest on-campus student theater organization, in addition to working in the department. Emily believes in the power of art to inspire, connect, and transform each of us.
Board Members
BRIAN FLORES
[PRESIDENT]
[He/HIM]
brian is a technologist turned storyteller who is a strategic communicator by day and music blogger and photographer by night. he fondly remembers his high school drama experience, for which he earned a letter jacket. He is proud of the work Nu sass does to make bold, fearless art and advance equity in the washington-area arts scene.
JOEY DAVIS
[DIRECTOR]
[HE/HIM]
A FORMER NEW YORK CITY EDUCATOR, JOEY HAS TAUGHT STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS IN A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS - INCLUDING ENGLISH AND DRAMA. HE ALSO PERFORMED IN A NUMBER OF NYC THEATRE PRODUCTIONS, MOSTLY SHAKESPEARE. IN DC, HE HAS WORKED WITH HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED STUDENTS ON ISSUES RANGING FROM CONFRONTING RACISM AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CAREER SERVICES AND SCHOOL TRANSITIONING. CURRENTLY, JOEY WORKS FULL-TIME AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS OFFICER FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHERE HE IS ALSO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF AFGE LOCAL 1975. JOEY IS ALWAYS LOOKING TO EXPAND HIS KNOWLEDGE AND IMPACT IN HIS AREA OF LEGAL FOCUS, INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS. JOEY ENJOYS COOKING; HISTORY; MUSIC; LITERATURE; AND JUST SPENDING TIME WITH HIS HUSBAND AND KIDS.
MARIA HEITMANN [DIRECTOR]
[SHE/HER]
Maria received her B.A. in Drama from CUA and is grateful to have called DC her home since moving here in 2017. She is an advocate for the destigmatization of mental illness, and loves to challenge societal “norms'' that, for too long, gave too few a voice. As a young woman, Maria hopes her work with Nu Sass will inspire those who have often felt silenced in theatre recognize the power of their voices and minds. Maria is honored to have this opportunity and incredibly thankful. As always, for Karin. VCL.
MICHAEL NASSER [TREASURER]
[He/HIM]
Mike (Nasser) is a ny native transplanted to dc who works in programming. he serves as the treasurer for nu sass productions.
SHEERIN GRYLOO
[DIRECTOR]
[SHE/HER]
Sheerin was an Economics major and Psychology and Art History minor at The College of William & Mary, and now works as a financial consultant helping the .01% get even richer, despite a brief stint working for Bernie Sanders on Capitol Hill. She is a lover of all things art-related, including architecture, the ballet, and the opera, and worked backstage doing tech for several plays in school. Sheerin is incredibly passionate about women’s advocacy work and gender and minority inclusion in underrepresented fields.
SHEENA KOSHY [DIRECTOR]
[SHE/HER]
Sheena Koshy is passionate about creating spaces that are diverse, inclusive and engaging. A communicator by trade, she has worked for a variety of industries, including public transportation, health insurance and broadcast technology, focussing on bridging gaps between employee/client expectation and experience.
In her spare time, Sheena has been a Fellow with Public Radio International, served on various non-profit boards, and has given a TEDx talk on immigration. A traveler, she has lived in four different countries and visited 21. In a post-COVID world, she hopes that she can keep exploring, for as Ursula Le Guin said, “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end".
Company Members
ALLIE HEIMAN
[SHE/HER]
stage manager, lighting design, intern coordinator
Allie is a DMV-grown teacher and theater artist. During the school year she teaches theater at The Field School in Washington, DC, where she also directs the annual play and theater intensive workshop. Locally she has worked in various capacities for Holton Arms Creative Summer, Nu Sass Productions, Edge of the Universe Players 2, The Welders, and the Bridge at Levine School of Music. Allie approaches all her projects from a viewpoint of creative collaboration, gorgeous moments, and fun times, living for that moment of "click", when all the collaborators in the room are on the same page and the art flows.
BESS KAYE
[SHE/HER]
ACTOR, DIRECTOR, combat choreography
Bess Kaye is a Nu Sass company member and local actor, combat choreographer, and director. She has appeared in 43 1/2 , the Greatest Deaths of Shakespeare’s Tragedies, Stone Tape Party, and The Paper Game with nu sass, and directed All His Sins Remembered for the Kennedy Center Page to Stage Festival in summer 2019. She has performed for 1st Stage, NextStop, Faction of Fools, and Prince Goerge’s County’s Shakespeare in the Parks and has done fight direction for Monumental Theater Company and the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. Bess holds an MFA in Classical Acting from the Shakespeare Theatre at the George Washington University has stayed on as the assistant Stage Combat Instructor for three years running. She teaches stage combat workshops for CSC and for Flying V’s Combat Gym. She is grateful for this stellar cast, her supportive family, and her adorable puppy.
CAELAN TIETZE
(THEY/THEM)
PRODUCTION MANAGER, STAGE MANAGER
FAVORITE STAGE MANAGEMENT CREDITS: Viva Verdi: The Promised End (The In Series), A Slow Bullet (The Coil Project for Capital Fringe '18), A Soldier's Tale and The Emperor of Atlantis (The In Series), Going Dark: A Dark Comedy Anthology (The Coil Project), Ruddigore (Georgetown Gilbert and Sullivan Society), Tartuffe (Perisphere Theatre), Soldier Poet (Theatre Prometheus), Assassins (Pallas Theatre Collective), Let Trump Be Trump (Capital Fringe ‘16, Audience Award for Best Comedy).
TRAINING: BA in Theatre Design/Production and Creative Writing from American University
CHARLES LASKY
[They/THEM]
stage manager, actor
Charles Lasky is a Nu Sass company member, and roaming professional stage manager in the DC area. Charles has worked with many companies outside of Nu Sass including The American Century Theatre, Annapolis Shakespeare Company, Theater Alliance, The Kennedy Center, and Ally Theatre Company.
E-HUI WOO
(she/her)
Lighting design
E-hui is a lighting designer and stage technician mostly based in the DMV area since 2015, creating art primarily in theatre and dance, and more recently theatre for young audiences and the very young. A proud company member of Nu Sass, E-hui's previous designs include: The Ugly One, Exit Carolyn, Marx in Soho, 43½: The Greatest Deaths of Shakespeare's Tragedies, 22 Boom!, and Stone Tape Party: The Re-Mix. www.e-hui.info
ERIK HARRISON
(HE/HIM)
ACTOR, PRODUCER, PLAYWRIGHT
Erik is an actor/writer and cofounder of The Coil Project. Credits include Sing To Me Now (Rorschach), Adult Entertainment (The Klunch), ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore, A King and No King (Brave Spirits), King Kirby, Completely Hollywood (abridged) (Off the Quill), A Bright Room Called Day (Nu Sass), #sexts, It Will All Make Sense in the Morning (The Coil Project). His play, A Slow Bullet, was a 2018 DCMTA Best of Fringe.
JOHN STANGE
(HE/HIM)
ACTOR
John Stange is, coincidentally, really a man of wealth and taste. Albeit vulgar taste. He is coming off of four straight runs of bar plays: You Can't Get a Decent Margarita at the North Pole with Grain of Sand Theatre, R+J: Star Cross'd Death Match with LiveArtDC (twice!), and The Imaginary Invalid with Annapolis Shakespeare. You might have seen him on a normal stage in 1st Stage Theater's production of The Cripple of Inishmaan, or heard him in Lean & Hungry Theater's live audio broadcasts of The Scarlet Letter or Julius Caesar. John is a company member at Grain of Sand and at Lean & Hungry, and a loyal graduate of the The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts' Honors Conservatory, 2009. http://johnstange.actor
KAREN LANGE
[THEY/THEM]
actor, producer
Karen was most recently seen as a singing assassin/terrible stepmother in Ouroboros with TBD Immersive. Selected credits: Dead Dog’s Bone (Nu Sass), The Trojan Women Project (Brave Spirits, Helen Hayes nomination, outstanding ensemble), The Events (Theater Alliance, HHA nomination, Outstanding Play), TAME. (WSC AvantBard); Happy Days (Flashpoint); Assassins (Pallas Theatre); The Carolina Layaway Grail (The Welders); Perfect Arrangement (Source); LIZZIE, Over Her Dead Body (Best Musical, Best show, Capital Fringe), and the Cabaret XXX series (Best Musical, Capital Fringe) (Pinky Swear Productions); A Killing Game (dog & pony dc); A Bright Room Called Day (Nu Sass). She’s Artistic Director of Pinky Swear Productions, a woman-focused theatre company in DC.
JULIA COLPITTS
[She/HER]
Stage manager
Julia moved to DC from Richmond Virginia before heading to illinois for grad school. Her favorite Richmond stage management credits include TheatreLAB's: Mr Burns: A Post-Electric Play and Grand Concourse (Richmond Theatre Critics Circle winner for Best Director, Best Actress in a Play, and Best Play) and Quill Theatre's INFAMY: Remembering Pearl Harbor. She graduated from Kenyon College in May 2016 where she received the Ashford Memorial Award for Excellence in Dramatics. Her favorite collegiate credits include Dry Land, Gidion's Knot, and Moonchildren.
Nu Sass credits include The ugly one and The Veils
LYNN SHARP SPEARS
(SHE/HER)
DIRECTOR, ACTOR, DESIGNER
Lynn loves creating, and has been directing, performing and designing for the past 30 years. Whether turning a Maryland cornfield into a ruin in Afghanistan for a film, or helping actors communicate the emotional intention of a character honestly, Lynn believes in possibilities: the pursuit of finding joy in the moments, and empowering people to find joy in their lives.
MARY MYERS
(SHE/HER)
ACTOR
Mary Myers is an actor and Teaching Artist based in Washington, DC. She first worked with Nu Sass Productions in 2017, when she performed as Karl Marx in Marx in Soho. The performance earned her a Helen Hayes Award Nomination for Lead Actress in a Play, and she was fortunate enough to reprise the role at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She is a company member with Nu Sass, and has also recently performed with 4615 Theatre Company, Adventure Theatre, Imagination Stage, Constellation Theatre Company, The Welders Playwrights' Collective, Pointless Theatre Company, and NextStop Theatre Company. For her performance in NextStop's production of 45 Plays for 45 Presidents, she received the Helen Hayes Award for Supporting Actress in a Play. B.A. in Theatre, The College of William & Mary; Physical Theatre training, St. Mary's University, Twickenham. marymyersactor.com
AMBER GIBSON
[SHE/Her]
actor
Amber A. Gibson is a D.C. based artist, feminist and drinker of many coffees. Previous D.C. area credits include: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Helena) and Two Noble Kinsmen (Queen/Ensemble) withBrave Spirits Theatre and The Imaginary Invalid (Beline) with the Annapolis Shakespeare Company. Amber holds a double degree in Musical Theatre and English from the University of Alabama. For updates or more information check out: amberagibson.weebly.com
ANGELA KAY PIRKO
[she/Her]
ACTOR, DIRECTOR, producer
Angela’s nu sass credits include marx in soho, the veils, no exit, stone tape party, a bright room called day, the paper game, and the veils.
Other credits include:
STC: Much Ado About Nothing (Free For All - Asst.), All’s Well That Ends Well (Free For All - Asst.) . REGIONAL: Lean and Hungry: Alice in Wonderland* (2015); Source Festival: Ten Minute Plays 2014; Federal Theatre Project: Someone to Watch Over Me (Asst.); Spooky Action Theater: The Quantum Suicide of Sophie Miller; Taffety Punk: The Poker Night (Asst.); Peter's Alley Theatre Productions:Proof; Capital Fringe Festival: Breaking Up With ED: Survivors Speak Out On Eating Disorders; Artists’ Bloc January Intensive: Angel; Live Arts Shorts Festival: The Man with the Flower in his Mouth; Virginia Players’ New Works Festival: The Quantum Suicide of Sophie Miller. INSTRUCTOR: Richmond Shakespeare Company: Teaching Artist. TRAINING: Studio Theatre Conservatory, Shakespeare & Company Conservatory 2010, LAMDA Shakespeare Intensive. EDUCATION: BA in Drama from University of Virginia. angelapirko.weebly.com.
DANNY ROVIN
[HE/HIM]
playwright, actor
Danny Rovin has been performing as an actor and poet in the DC metro area since 2009. Favorite show credits include King’s Players: In the Company of De Sade (Dave), Mme. Macbeth (Witch 1/Lady Macduff) Ambassador Theatre: Hopa Tropa Kukerica (Georgi), Summer at Nohant (Theodore Rousseau), Guerilla Manatee Collective: We Need to Talk (Balderdash), Splint (The Author), Nu Sass Productions: Tent of Dreams: An Occuplay (Officer Rush), 43 and ½: The Greatest Deaths of Shakespeare’s Tragedies (Wes Hastings/Danny), Stone tape party (Playwright), 50 ways to date your aubrey (Playwright, danny).
DANIELLE HUTCHINSON
[SHE/HER]
actor
Dannielle is the Academy Registrar for ATMTC Academy. Her previous Nu Sass credits include Dead dog’s bone, The Veils, 22 Boom!, and Tent of Dreams: an Occuplay. She was most recently seen as Fanny in Pinky Swear Productions Blight. She dedicates this show to all those carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.
DAVID S. KESSLER
(he/him)
Writer, ACTOR, Producer
David is an erstwhile Small Mammal Biologist and current Nu Sass Company Member.
Nu Sass and Uncle Funsy Productions: Gwen and Ida: The Object is of No Importance (Writer/Co-Producer) Uncle Funsy Productions, Capital Fringe Festival: Wombat Drool, One Mutual Happiness, Numesthesia (Writer/Performer/Producer) The Arcanists: The Tarot Reading IV, The Tarot Reading V (Medium/Writer/Performer) Pointless Theatre: Forest Treás (Actor) unclefunsy.com
LAOLU FAYESE
(HE/HIM)
MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA
Laolu is a Lead Information Technology Professional serving and helping as Social Media Director for Nu Sass. He was born in Nigeria and moved to the DMV at the age of 10. He looks forward to helping Nu Sass in its goal of bringing amazing female lead theater productions that raise awareness and discussions to the DMV.
MARA SHERMAN
[She/HER]
director, producer
mara is a Northern Virginia based director and playwright.
RECENT CREDITS: The Veils (Nu Sass Productions 2018), A Two Woman Hamlet (Capital Fringe 2018), Dead Dog’s Bone (Nu Sass Productions 2019)
Mara is the proud granddaughter of two Korean War Veterans. Learn more about the forgotten war at kwva.us.
MORIAH WHITEMAN
[She/HER]
actor, eduction director
Moriah is a theatre maker and educator in the DC-Metro area. As an educator she served as Professor of Theatre at Northern Virginia Community College where she worked with diverse populations to develop new works. She hopes to be defined by her passion for the exploratory process of theatre and how it can empower students. As an actor, she has worked with various companies but is always ready to call Nu Sass her home.
RENANA FOX
(SHE/HER)
DIRECTOR, ACTOR, EDUCATOR
Renana is a director and drama teacher who has been working in the DMV for the last decade. Focusing on ensemble and movement-based work, Renana uses her physical approach to explore the multiple avenues into every text she directs. She has worked with a wide range of companies, from the radio dramas of Lean & Hungry Theater to student-performances of Mount Vernon Community Children's Theatre. She has also spent extensive time teaching drama, health, and wellness to young people across the DMV, New York City and Puerto Rico.
TIFFANY GARFINKLE
(SHE/HER)
ACTOR, FOUNDING MEMBER
Tiffany has been working with Nu Sass since day one.
She took the role of Guildenstern in Nu Sass's debut play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in the 2009 Capital Fringe Festival. She then played the role of Ivan (Yvonne) in Art in 2010, the role of Zop in the Best Comedy Priscilla Dreams the Answer at the 2011 Capital Fringe Festival, the role of the valet in no exit in 2017, and countless roles in Staged Readings. Tiffany was also a Company member and Co-Producer from 2009-2011.
RYAN TAYLOR
(HE/HIM)
DIRECTOR, PRODUCER
Ryan S. Taylor is a director and producer based in Miami, Florida with strong roots in Washington, DC. Directing credits include The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Young Playwrights Theatre, Pickle Pea Walks, The Source Festival, Capital Fringe, Rorschach Theatre, Journeymen Theater Ensemble, DC Queer Theater Festival, and the Flashpoint Mead Theater Lab, among others. Ryan is also Founding Artistic Director of The Washington Rogues, for which he has directed six productions, including three world premieres. Assisting credits include Rorschach Theater and Forum Theater & Dance. Ryan is a two-time D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities Artist Fellowship winner. BA, Guilford College.
MX BEAR
(THEY/THEM)
MARKETING
A product of Kokomo-inspired island breezes and breathless conservative machinations, Mik Bear skates the perpetual balance of fruitful intention and earnest fascination for life’s experiences. More of an unobtrusive (and highly analytical) observer until adulthood, Mik studiously ruminated on how social constructs can inspire or dampen interpersonal relationships - a characteristic that would help develop the relationships that they would come to treasure most. Eschewing college, Mik entered early into vocational tech posts for capitalistic pillars. This soon proved unnecessary and redundant to their still unknown true life vision; yet they knew art was needed for their soul.
Shaped in early adulthood by the mean streets of Old Town Alexandria, Mik found a more gratifying situation managing commercial art projects with like-minded nomads, which allowed them to dive into the obscure and more authentic social groups that were closer to their heart than the "What do you do?" powerbroker condition they absconded. The inconspicuous child from school pictures was now someone who stirred excitement and reverent joy in others by helping them turn the pages of past insecurities and emotional abrasions to fresh new canvases where they could choose the colors and textures that defined their truest natures. Mik helped all find a safe place to celebrate their true story.
For the average person manic, self-regarding producers, gambling addicted social group leaders, masterfully poetic neurotic stars, and basement dwelling tech hermits are the stuff of successful movie formulas. For Mik those luminaries are real-life anchors in their most intimate orbit. Now entering a new chapter where work and non-work tranquility finally seem in sync, Mik is ready to spread joy to everyone they meet via karaoke, pounds of jerk meats, and comedic and music video clips.
Past Shows & Accolades
