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Jenn Freeman, (they/she) Creator/Choreographer/Performer

is an Autistic American choreographer, dance performer and educator based in New York City. Freeman is an O’Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation recipient, a 2022 New England Foundation for the Arts NDP Finalist and the New York State Council on the Arts grant award recipient. Upcoming: a world premiere for Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company. Most recently Freeman was commissioned to set a solo for American Ballet Theatre principal dancer, Cassandra Trenary, that premiered at Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur in 2022. In 2021, Freeman created new work for the Martha Graham Dance Company. In 2018 Freeman produced, directed and choreographed her evening-length world premiere debut: ...it’s time... at the Theater at The 14th St Y in New York City. Freeman's choreography has been commissioned by Marymount Manhattan College, Wayne State University, BYU, and The University of Texas at Austin. For over a decade Jenn has worked as Sonya Tayeh’s associate and resident choreographer in the development of pieces for The Gibney Company, American Ballet Theater, The Martha Graham Dance Company, Unveiling with Moses Sumney and dancers, Florence + the Machine, LA Ballet, The Juilliard School and Cirque du Soleil. Freeman is a graduate of Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. www.jennfreemandance.com IG: @jfreemover

Sonya Tayeh, Creator/Choreographer/Director

is a New York City-based Tony Award-winning choreographer and director. Since paving her professional career, her work has been characterized as a blend of powerful versatility and theatrical range. Selected credits include: Moulin Rouge! (Broadway/Worldwide, dir. Alex Timbers), The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window (Broadway, dir. Anne Kauffman), Sing Street (Huntington Theatre, dir. Rebecca Taichman), Martha Graham Dance Company (Joyce Theatre and World Tour), American Ballet Theatre (What Becomes of Love Film), Unveiling with Moses Sumney and dancers (Fall For Dance/City Center), Rent Live! (Fox Network, dirs. Michael Greif and Alex Rudzinski), The Lucky Ones (Ars Nova, dir. Anne Kauffman), Face the Torrent for Malpaso Dance Co. (commissioned by The Music Center/LA), you'll still call me by name (commissioned by New York Live Arts and Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival), Hundred Days (New York Theatre Workshop, dir. Anne Kauffman), The Skin of Our Teeth (Theatre for a New Audience, dir. Arin Arbus), Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party (City Center Encores!, dir. Leigh Silverman), Kung Fu (Signature Theatre, dir. Leigh Silverman). Tayeh has directed and choreographed for world renowned music artists, including: Florence + the Machine, Miley Cyrus (directed and choreographed The Gypsy Heart Tour), Florence and the Machine (choreographed performances for The Brit Awards, The Voice and American Idol), Kylie Minogue (Aphrodite World Tour). She has gleaned many accolades for her versatile work, including a Tony Award, Two Emmy nominations, Two Drama Desk Awards, an Obie Award and two Lucille Lortel Awards for “Outstanding Choreography.” For more information and upcoming projects visit sonyatayeh.com. IG @sonyatayeh

Holland Andrews, Composer/Performer

is a vocalist, composer and performance artist whose work focuses on the abstraction of operatic and extended-technique voice to build soundscapes encompassing both catharsis and dissonance. Frequently highlighting themes surrounding vulnerability and healing, Andrews arranges music for voice, clarinet and electronics. Andrews harnesses these instruments’ innate qualities of power and elegance to serve as a cohesive vessel for these themes. As a vocalist, their influences stem from a dynamic range including contemporary opera, theatre and jazz, while also cultivating their own unique vocal style which integrates these influences with language disintegration and vocal distortion. Andrews also develops and performs soundscapes for dance, theatre and film, and their work is toured internationally with artists such as Bill T. Jones, Dorothee Munyaneza, Will Rawls and poet Demian Dinéyazhi. Notable musical collaborations include Son Lux, Christina Vantzou, William Brittelle, Methods Body, West Thordson, Peter Broderick, Darian Donovan Thomas and Nils Frahm. 

Rachel Hauck, Scenic Designer

Broadway: Good Night Oscar, Hadestown, How I Learned to Drive, What the Constitution Means to Me and Latin History for Morons. Previously with Sonya Tayeh and Jenn Freeman: you’ll still call me by name (Live Arts/Jacob’s Pillow). Recent work: Good Night Oscar (Goodman), Confederates (Signature), Swept Away (Berkeley Rep), The Wrong Man (MCC), The Garden (La Jolla Playhouse, Baltimore Center Stage), 72 Miles to Go (Roundabout), Hurricane Diane (NYTW), Othello and Twelfth Night (Public Theater/Shakespeare in the Park), The Lucky Ones (Ars Nova). Rachel is the recipient of the Princess Grace and Lilly Awards, Drama Desk and Lortel Award nominations, a Jeff Award for Good Night Oscar, an OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence, a Tony nomination for Good Night Oscar, and a Tony Award for her design of Hadestown.

Márion Talán de la Rosa, Costume Designer

Born in Mexico City, Mexico and residing in Brooklyn, NY, Márion has nurtured her work by collaborating with artists and innovators of dance, drama, music and opera for over two decades. Collaborations include Julia Wolfe, Heather Christian, Caleb Teicher, Chanel DaSilva, Jenn Freeman, Antonio Brown, Esperanza Spalding and Joe Salvatore. Her work has been featured with such renowned companies and venues as Ars Nova, Bang on a Can, The Juilliard School, Gibney Dance Company, Limon Dance Company, Parsons Dance, The New York Philharmonic, The Crossing, Lorelei Ensemble, Guggenheim Works in Process, AMP Dance, Pilobolus, BAM Next Wave Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, The Joyce Theater and The Verbatim Performance Lab. Nominated for the Lucille Lortel Awards, she serves on the board of International Girl’s Ensemble and has been profiled in multiple media outlets including The New York Times, Broadway World, Broadway Blog, Boston Globe, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Broad Street Review. Márion is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. mariontalandelarosa.com

Cha See, Lighting Designer

From Manila, Philippines. La Jolla Playhouse: As You Like It. Off Broadway: You Will Get Sick (Roundabout Theatre Company); The Seagull/Woodstock, NY, One in Two (The New Group); Wet Brain (Playwrights Horizons); The Fever, Lucy, Sorry for Your Loss (Audible Theater); Exception to the Rule (Roundabout Underground); What to Send Up When It Goes Down (Playwrights Horizons, BAM); Soft (MCC), among others. Upcoming: Babbitt (La Jolla Playhouse), Wizard of Oz (Geva Theatre); (pray) (Ars Nova). Training: M.F.A. from NYU Tisch. seelightingdesign.com, @seethruuu. This is for K.

Melanie Chen Cole, Sound Designer

La Jolla Playhouse: At the Old Place. Regional theatre credits include work at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Alley Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cleveland Play House, Dallas Theater Center, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Geffen Playhouse, Goodman Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, Indiana Rep, Milwaukee Rep, Northern Stage, The Old Globe, PlayMakers Rep, South Coast Rep, Studio Theatre and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Education: M.F.A. in Theatre and Dance from UCSD. melaniesound.com, @melaniechencole on Instagram.

Joseph DiGiovanna, Media and Projection Designer

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Joseph has documented some of the most renowned figures and Broadway productions of our time, including Tom Hanks, Willie Nelson, Hamilton and Moulin Rouge! His cinematography credits include Vogue, Vanity Fair, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Universal Music Group and Blue Note Records. His work has premiered at The Venice Film Festival, The New York Film Festival, Billboard.com, NPR.com and MTV. Joseph’s innovative chronicling of the NYC skyline with his 30 Year Time-Lapse project has garnered features on CNN and ABC. He is honored to continue his years-long partnership with Sonya Tayeh and Jenn Freeman, whose past collaborations with Joseph include you’ll still call me by name. @JosephDiGiovanna

Price McGuffey, Drummer/Performer

is an NYC-based percussionist, recording artist and educator with 20 years of experience as a performer. Throughout his years at the Youth Performing Arts School and University of Louisville, Price was recognized nationally for his musical abilities as a multi-instrumentalist and across multiple musical disciplines before choosing to focus his energies as a drummer, earning the opportunities to perform with artists such as Ndugu Chancler, Don Braden, Wycliffe Gordon, Alan Broadbent, META Quintet, Amina Figarova. As a touring artist he has worked with Ben Sollee and Carly Johnson and regularly collaborates as a performer, composer, and arranger with dancer and choreographer Jenn Freeman.

Jenna Hanlon, Stage Manager (she/they)

is a New York City-based Dance Artist/Educator, Theater Technician and Posture Alignment Therapist with The Egoscue Method. Jenna draws inspiration from her acts of daily living; grounding down like earth, rising with the tides and free falling with the wind. Select technical theatre credits include The Joyce Theater (NYC), RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9 winner, Sasha Velour’s Smoke and Mirrors- Head of Electrics + Spot Light Operator (UK/European; US/Canada Tour), Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer the Musical - Assistant Electrician; Spot Light Operator (National Tour), Virgin Voyages - Lighting Contractor.

Matthew Bantock, Assistant Stage Manager

La Jolla Playhouse: The Outsiders, As You Like It, WOW Festival (‘23, ‘22, ‘19), Bhangin’ It, Hoopla!, Escape to Margaritaville, #SuperShinySara, Miss You Like Hell, Tiger Style!. Regional Credits: Cabaret, La Cage aux Folles, Marie and Rosetta, Spamalot, A Little Night Music, A Christmas Carol (Cygnet Theatre); Young Frankenstein, Miracle on 34th Street (‘17, ‘16), Pump Up the Volume (SDMT); An Octoroon (The Wilma); Estuary: an artist/mother story (Kimmel Center). They are a proud graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Karina Ortega, Stage Management Assistant

La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Regional: FRIDA (El Paso Opera), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Scrooge in Rouge, Lone Star Spirits, Fireflies (The Hippodrome Theatre). UC San Diego: blu, Pia's Wonderous Adventures in Tlaxlandia, Hells Canyon, Napoli, Men on Boats. Education: M.F.A. from UC San Diego '24. Special thanks to Julio for supporting me throughout my life journey.

Alexander Hammer, Creative Consultant 

is a Director & Editor who explores many dimensions of storytelling. His work spans from scripted film & TV, feature documentary and music video to interactive content, experiential storytelling and live performances. Selected credits include: Expecting Amy (HBOMax), Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé (Netflix), Lemonade (HBO), Taylor Swift 1989 Tour (AppleMusic), J+B on the Run (HBO), Madonna Rebel Heart Tour (Showtime). He also continues to work with artists such as Lizzo, Selena Gomez, Jay-Z, Katy Perry, Sia and Nicki Minaj on their theatrical tours and documentaries.

Ian Stuart/Suffolk Street Creative, Creative Producer

Suffolk Street Creative is a producing entity focused on developing disruptive innovations for Live-Performance and Film. Leveraging experience and intuition, we strive to elevate diverse perspectives in an ever-evolving landscape by bringing a world of expertise and curiosity to uplift and support anyone that crosses our path.

Dr. Kimberly Gilbert, Ph.D

Dr. Gilbert is an Associate Professor in the School/Community Doctoral Program in Psychology at Hofstra University. Dr. Gilbert has a Ph.D. in Clinical and School Psychology, and she is a licensed Clinical Psychologist. She is the Founder and Director of the Diagnostic and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Hofstra University. Dr. Gilbert’s expertise is in the area of developmental disabilities, particularly Autism Spectrum Disorders, early childhood development, and special needs assessment for all ages. Working with the family as a system is of special importance to Dr. Gilbert as she strives to provide a wide variety of support services for families. Dr. Gilbert has over 20 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults, who have developmental disabilities, such as ASD, in early intervention and diagnostic evaluations, in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, in parent training, in Applied Behavior Analysis, and in research exploring various behavior and language interventions, such as Milieu Communication Therapy. Dr. Gilbert has presented her research at various national and international conferences, and has published her work in such journals as the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Perspectives on Language Learning and Education, and in books such as AAPI’s Textbook of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Sage’s Handbook of Developmental Disorders. Her current research interests include early onset predictors of ASD, as well as communication interventions, such as Milieu Communication Therapy, which is a naturalistic, evidenced based language intervention used to increase social pragmatics, such as eye contact, gesture, vocalizations/verbalizations, and overall functional communication. Dr. Gilbert teaches doctoral level courses, such as, Advanced Developmental Theory, Psychopathology of the Emotionally Disturbed Child, Exceptional Child, Assessment and Intervention Strategies, Intellectual Assessment, Practicum Supervision, and Clinical Seminar in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Dr. Gilbert supervises practicum students in both school and clinical doctoral programs, and she sponsors dissertations for doctoral students in school and clinical psychology.