Ahkai Franklin is a New York city native. He has taught, performed, and produced throughout the tri-state area and beyond for over two decades. Ahkai continues to teach and perform and can be seen in the movie Barry (Netflix 2016) and in the collection of shorts, Pixar in Real Life (Disney+).
Anna Frankl-Duval is a London-born, Brooklyn-based actor and voiceover artist. She trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts New York. Some of her voiceover work includes voicing national and international commercials for Palo Alto Networks, 23andMe, Slack, and Abbott Medical, as well as a series of augmented reality children’s books for BooksARalive called Meet the Animals. Her off-mic work spans both film and theatre, including Anarchy at NPTC, the fierce leader of a resistance group in The Resistance, a baffled British Embassy employee in American Deportation, and writing, producing, and starring in If Only, which screened at festivals worldwide, picking up several award nominations, including one for Anna for Best Acting at the Festival of Cinema NYC. www.annafranklduval.com
Austin Jennings Boykin is NY based actor + writer + comedian + teaching artist + cat dad. He's been seen on television shows like FX's "Fleishman Is in Trouble", HBO's "The Gilded Age", and Amazon's "Hunters". He's also performed regionally and in NY at Williamstown, Shakespeare & Co, Tennessee Williams Festival, The Signature Theatre (NY), Provincetown Theater, The Secret Theatre and more. Training: William Esper, University of NC School of the Arts. Super stoked to be working with Mainstages again!
Ben Rivers born & raised in NYC. He studied drama at Laguardia-The High School of Performing arts in NY. Ben has appeared in many productions throughout his career including “Sesame Street”, “Native Son” and the Hit N.Y.C stage play “Platanos & Collard Greens”. Ben has been a featured player of Mainstages shows, workshops & gameshows for over 10 years! Ben enjoys Improv and creating new things. His performance this summer is dedicated to his two sons Elijah & Ari.
Ella Smith is a Brooklyn based Actress, Writer, and Teacher! She's a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, during which she studied at the Stella Adler Studio and at RADA in London. Ella has appeared on FX's Pose and HBO's The Deuce and wrote/produced/acted in her own web series titled This is B.S. which is now streaming on Broad.stream! When not working or creating, Ella practices yoga and aerial silks. @hey_ellasmith
Hazen Cuyler is an award-winning actor and director and the Artistic Director and Founder of The Greenhouse Ensemble. His production of The Unspeakable Passion of Mitch Devoe won all eligible awards including best director (Hazen), best writer (Frank Tangredi) and best actor at the LIC One Act Festival (out of 50 plays). His production of Twelfth Night was nominated for Best Comedy by the NY Shakespeare Awards. He is honored to be a 2023 Fellow at Lucid Body House and has won or been nominated for several awards regionally. Hazen has trained extensively under Austin Pendleton, Aleksey Burago, Fay Simpson, Jack Garfein, Patsy Rodenburg, and many others. He teaches acting at The Greenhouse Ensemble and is an outspoken advocate for establishing better communication and connections between independent theatre artists. Greenhouse focuses much of their work on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where Hazen lives. www.hazencuyler.com
Heidi Gleichauf is a Brooklyn-based actress, improviser, singer, educator and visual artist. She currently tours nationwide with “Broadway’s Next Hit Musical”, a musical improv comedy show. You may recognize her voice from videos for TBTV Kids and Dreamworks TV on youtube. She has a BFA from Hofstra University and originally hails from Franklin, Massachusetts. When not performing, Heidi enjoys finding four leaf clovers.
James DiSandro is a Brooklyn-based actor from Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating from Kenyon College with a B.A. in Drama and Philosophy, he moved to New York City in hopes of pursuing a career in the performing arts. James will appear in the New York Theatre Festival in the spring and is incredibly excited to be joining the Mainstages family!
Jason received his BS in Educational Theater from New York University. Jason is a former member of ASTEP (Artists Striving to End Poverty) and has made an impact on theater education here in the city as an educator for MCC Theater Company, where he assistant directed a student production of “UnCensored,” as well as directing intensives and educational initiatives for The New Victory Theater in Times Square. Jason has taken educational values on the road by taking on Theater Director roles at Ensemble Theater Community in Eagles Mere, PA and with mainstages at Crane Lake Camp in West Stockbridge, MA where he directed “Once Upon a Mattress” and “Seussical Jr.”
Jonathan Arana originally from Southern California and has been a teaching artist for over 10 years. He has taught kids all over the country and is thrilled to be a part of Mainstages here in NYC!
Kelsey Kline is a native Floridian who received her degree from Rollins College in Theatre Arts with a triple emphasis in Directing, Musical Theatre, and Performance, as well as a minor in Dance. Nowadays you can find Kelsey performing at Universal Orlando, Legoland Florida, the Orlando Repertory Theatre and more! Kelsey believes in using theatre as a tool for education and confidence-building in children no matter the age. She hopes that once her students become adults that her time with them has helped them become confident, responsible, life-long learners.
Maggie Connick is a recent alum from West Texas A&M with a BFA in Acting. She is a traveling teaching artist/performer. Recently she traveled the North West teaching kids the amazing art of theatre. Maggie is excited to start the incredible work here in New York. Theatre is an amazing art for children to development and grow.
Mary is an actor/voice-over artist and theatre educator who is delighted to join the talented team of teaching artists at Mainstages. As an actor she has performed in theatre, film, TV, animation, audio dramas, radio, and video games. A few of her recent credits include the one woman play An Evening With Lola Montez that originally premiered at Capital Fringe, It’s A Wonderful Life at Arkansas Rep, a streamed performance of the play Near Nellie Bly, and the audio dramas Newfield, and Frontier Gentleman. She can be heard voicing various characters on Disney, LeapFrog, Audible, and the Center For New American Media. She is also a regular performer on the award-winning radio play series Fireside Mystery Theatre, The NoSleep Podcast, The Wicked Library and To the Manor Borne By Robots. Proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA, and Irish Equity. marymurphyonline.com
Paola (Pao) Lehman is thrilled to be a part of the Mainstages family! From a young age, they discovered the magic that could come from theatre. Pao, born in Chicago, has been working in theatre since middle school, around the great city of Chicago, other midwest cities and is beginning to do so in New York CIty. They are excited to share their love for theatre from collaboration to putting up the show. The art of showmanship is something Pao is eager to teach to young performers. They want to show these young theatre artists that they have the power to create magic from their own imaginations.
Raquel is an actress, improviser, and voiceover artist in NYC. When she is isn't performing she absolutely loves making memories with her family & friends! The life of the party, and usually the host of them too!
Sabrina has performed and taught all across the country and around the world, specializing in dance, singing and acting. She loves the outdoors, meeting new people, and trying new things!
Sarah has spent the last few years as a teaching artist and performer in Philadelphia and NYC. She has taught Pre- K, Musical Theatre, and is involved heavily in Jewish education including work with mainstages as the Theater Director for Camp Twelve Trails, a director, and a performer. Sarah graduated with a BFA in Theatre Arts from The University of the Arts.
