A LETTER FROM OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Our 2020/21 season was supposed to see IAMA participating in the national Jubilee theater initiative.

Finally two years later, we are emerging from the pandemic with a vengeance. We feel the pull of change and progress, yet so many voices are still underrepresented. So here we are. We find ourselves in little boxes, either because we put ourselves there or because our world does. Life isn’t what it appears from the outside; the windows are tinted. We need to break out of these boxes. Create a new narrative. Let our voices be loud, create our own theater cannon. Change the way we tell stories, our stories. The stories of those who have, until now, been silenced or pushed aside. Shine light on our power, our grief, our loss, our beginnings and endings, our relationships. Our feminine power. How we trust ourselves and each other.

Stefanie Black
IAMA Artistic Director

"If you have never been called a defiant, incorrigible, impossible woman, don't worry there is still time." - Clarissa Pinkola Estes

"Don't try to make children grow up to be like you, or they may do it." - Russell Baker

For the little girl in the grocery store who was told to smile, and stuck her tongue out instead.

IAMA Theatre Company Presents

the World Premiere Production of

Smile

Written by Melissa Jane Osborne*

Directed by Michelle Bossy*

Cast

* Indicates member of IAMA Theatre Company
** Indicates member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE
⇞ Indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association

CAST

Isabella Feliciana (Rachel)

Isabella Felicana is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University, where she majored in English and Theatre Arts. Some of her favorite roles she has played include ‘Nina’ in In the Heights and ‘Amy’ in Little Women the musical, but ‘Rachel’ in Smile definitely takes the cake. She stars in the new feature film Maya, set to release in early 2023. She can also be seen in the role of ‘Sara’ in the Lifetime movie Killer Grades and ‘Isa’ in the webseries Ghost Club. Isabella would like to thank her family and friends for their continuous support, her reps at AEFH for their endless hard work, Michelle Bossy for her insightful direction, Melissa Jane Osborne for writing this captivating play, and finally, her acting teachers, for all of their greatly appreciated knowledge and guidance.

John Lavelle*⇞ (Matt)

JOHN LAVELLE (he/him) Originally from New York, John Lavelle spent much of his career appearing on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regionally, and at The Royal Shakespeare Company. He is the author of several plays including Inhalation (Max Lerner Award, O’Neill Finalist), Sinner’s Laundry (Ovation recommended), Would Coulda Shoulda (IAMA Reunion), Forever Brentwood (23 Hour Playfest), Love in the time of Robots (One Day Plays) and his work has appeared in the ABC Discovers Talent Showcase. John received a Drama Desk Award for his performance in The Royale at The Lincoln Center Theatre. He has appeared on TV and Film in numerous roles, most notably portraying Roy Reed in Ava DuVernay’s Academy Award nominated film Selma. As a voice artist, John has worked for Disney, Netflix, Dreamworks and is the voice of the beloved children’s book series Nate the Great which gives him major street credit with his children. He is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and he performs regularly with his Improv team Some Kinda Monster at The Upright Citizens Brigade. John is grateful to have worked as an Assistant Stage Manager, Props Master, Technical Director, Assistant Director, Actor, Playwright, and Director for IAMA.

Ronit Kathuria (Joey)

Ronit Kathuria is pleased to be working with IAMA for the first time and to be apart of the premiere of Smile. Ronit is from Claremont, CA and is currently a senior at Cal Poly Pomona. He has performed in various stage productions throughout Southern California while training in classical acting techniques with coach, Lea Floden. Credits include The Nether, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Macbeth, as well as holding a certificate in performance from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Andria Kozica* (Helen)

ANDRIA KOZICA (she/her) is a native of Chicago, a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and an IAMA Ensemble Member. She was last seen at IAMA as Ariel in Celestial Events and Katie Lee in A Man Named River. Other recent theatre credits include Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Roxanne in The Understudy, Gabriella in Boeing Boeing, Queen in Cymbeline, and Actor #3 in Lebensraum (Ovation Nomination). Film, television and voiceover credits can be found at andriakozica.com. IG @andikoz

Josh Bywater⇞ (Matt U/S)

Josh Bywater was last seen as the physical manifestation of a body of water in IAMA’s A Man Named River. He’s a part-time Chicago and full time LA guy whose stage credits include Fat Pig (Steppenwolf), All My Sons (Hubbard Hall), Cult of Love (IAMA), The Story (Goodman), The Crucible (OAT), Nocturne, and The Aliens (Opera House Arts), among many others. Television credits include Betrayal, Crisis, Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, Amazon’s Utopia, AMC’s 61st Street, and most recently as “Coop” on HBO’s Somebody Somewhere. Films include The View From Tall, Our Father, and Widows. He is thrilled to be collaborating with this incredible group of heartfelt artists to tell a story that raises such important questions.

Alex Fox (Joey U/S)

Alex Fox is a Filipino-Palestinian actor getting a B.A. in Theater at the University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts. Coming from New York City, he hopes for the entertainment industry to one day represent the diversity that is abundant in the city he was born in. His credits include working on a feature film with a full-asian cast produced by Martin Scorsese and A24, commercials such as the Kids’ Choice Awards and Instagram, and various theater productions.

Sal Neslusan (Helen U/S)

Sal Neslusan is an actress and writer originally from Webster, MA. After receiving her BFA in acting from Syracuse University, she moved out to LA to pursue film and television. After a decade away from theater, she’s thrilled to be working with IAMA and the cast and crew of SMILE.

Skarlett Redd (Rachel U/S)

Skarlett Redd (she/her) is a Chicana actress, comedian, and filmmaker. She has a BFA in Acting from the University of California, Santa Barbara and is a member of SAG-AFTRA. Her television credits include CBS’s CSI: Las Vegas and Netflix’s Lucifer. Online, she plays a lead role in Gal Pals, a queer comedy web series with over 70k YouTube subscribers and 12M views. Never skip your ads! (Because you’re likely to find her in a commercial or two) Skarlett’s independent work often centers on body autonomy, sexuality, and womanhood. Understudying Rachel in SMILE, is an extension of the messy, nuanced, and necessary conversations about female agency and self-preservation that she wants to start.

Creative

Melissa Jane Osborne* (Playwright)

Melissa Jane Osborne is a writer and actor in theater, film, TV and new media focusing on female-based stories. She is a four-time semi-finalist for the Eugene 'O'Neill National Playwrights Conference (including for Smile). In theatre she has worked with various festivals and companies including Williamstown Theatre Festival, AMMO, LA Stage Alliance, The Samuel French Festival, NYFringe Festival, EST, The Barrow Group and Stella Adler Studio, of which she is an alum. Her work in film has received grants and awards from Panavision, Kodak and various festivals worldwide. She is the creator of the (American Library Association) award-winning YA graphic novel “The Wendy Project” (pub. Macmillian), which has been translated into six languages and counting. NYTheatre.com called her “funny, insightful, and intriguing… a writer and actor to keep eye on,” Vulture called her work “hypnotic,” and The New York Times “striking”. A proud IAMA ensemble member, Melissa is grateful to bring this story set in her hometown, home to her LA theatre family.

Michelle Bossy* (Director)

Michelle Bossy is a Mexican-American theater, television, and film director. Her films include: 18, She Grinds Her Own Coffee, The New 35, Friendly Neighborhood Coven, Ladies Lounge, Miracle Baby, Incurable, klutz, Chance of Showers, Antisemite, and The Trespassed. Under the Lantern Lit Sky and Nobody’s Home are Michelle’s feature films. Michelle’s films have premiered at the Austin Film Festival, St. Louis International Film Festival, Dances with Films, LA Shorts International Film Festival, and the Female Eye Film Festival, among dozens of others. She directed music videos for the band Yassou and singer/songwriter Brooke Josephson. Michelle directed the web series There’s a Special Place in Hell for Fashion Bloggers and the kids’ show The Broadway Babies Show. Theater Michelle has directed in New York, across the US, and internationally includes Smile, The Oxy Complex, There and Back, Sex with Strangers, Every Good Girl Deserves Fun, Sex of the Baby, Cloven Tongues, Un Plugged In, South Beach Rapture, and Sarajevo’s Child. Michelle co-created the musical High School Confidential for Primary Stages, where she was the Associate Artistic Director. She holds the first undergraduate directing degree from Webster University’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts. Michelle teaches for NYU, UCLA, and Syracuse University. This is her second year directing for the Disney Diversity Program. Member: Lincoln Center Director’s Lab and SDC. www.MichelleBossy.com

Tiffany Colli-Moon (Season Producer)

Tiffany is a producer, director and dramaturg with a passion for new works. She has worked in theatres across Southern California including Center Theatre Group, Greenway Court Theatre, South Coast Rep, the Wallis, and others. At Greenway Court Tiffany served as Producing Director from 2017 - 2021 and directed the Rolling World Premier of Herland by Grace McLeod. Her dramaturgy work has included projects with Ojai Playwrights Conference, Artists at Play and Cal Rep, working on new plays with playwrights such as Anna Ziegler, Will Arbery, Steph Del Rosso, Kimberly Belflower, Boni Alvarez and Lina Patel. She is currently Program Producer for the Library Foundation of Los Angeles' ALOUD series and Literary Manager for Ojai Playwrights Conference.

Kat Kim (Co-Producer)

Kat Kim (she/her) is a Korean-American actor and producer who is driven by a focus and passion to diversify the types of stories that are told, who tells them and how they get made. She has produced everything from art exhibitions, to award winning TV & film docu dramas and documentaries, commercials, editorial content, events and installations at the Cannes Lions International Festivals and more. Kat is currently a Senior Producer at The Walt Disney Company where she is committed to creating more opportunities for underrepresented talent both in front of and behind the camera. “SMILE” is her first theatrical production and she is deeply honored to be a part of this show and to work with IAMA.

Grant Gerrard (Production Manager / Associate Technical Director)

Grant Gerrard (He/Him) is a theatre and live event freelancer with experience in production management, scenic carpentry, and lighting. He is a recent USC School of Dramatic Arts graduate where he earned a degree in Theatre Design and Production. During his time there he worked as a production manager for all independent student productions for 2 years. He is excited to be working on his first IAMA show and can’t wait to see all the elements of the show come together!

Kimberly Sanchez Garrido (Production Stage Manager)

Kimberly Sanchez Garrido is the Stage Manager of Smile, previous shows she has worked with IAMA on are Cult of Love, Mama Metal, and IAMA's New Works Festival 2022. She is really grateful to be able to work with such amazing people in this show and process.

Anna LaMadrid* (Associate Director / Dramaturg)

Anna LaMadrid is an award-winning actor/writer born in Caracas, Venezuela. She completed a 2-Year Conservatory Meisner Training with Maggie Flanigan in New York and received her MFA from the University of Washington. She is an alumna of the Disney Discovers Showcase. She is the owner of Put Me On Self-Tape - an audition/self-tape coaching studio based in LA. In 2021, she founded The New Triple Threat--the first online actor training membership program. Her solo show, The Oxy Complex, was produced by IAMA Theatre in 2021. LA Theatre: West Coast Premiere of Jen Silverman’s Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Boops (Theatre @ Boston Court), As You Like It (Antaeus Theatre), World Premiere of Boni Alvarez’s Fixed (Echo Theatre), and American Hero (IAMA) TV Credits: Vida, Grey's Anatomy, Bless This Mess, Call Your Mother and more. For more info: anna-lamadrid.com

Yuri Okahana-Benson (Set Designer)

YURI OKAHANA-BENSON is a scenographer based in Los Angeles,CA. Originally from Tokyo, Japan, she has been working both nationally and internationally. Recent theatrical design credits include; The Drowning Girls at The Garage Theater, Valley Song at ICT, CARRIE_THE MUSICAL at Viterbo University, The Miser at Westmont Festival Theater, #UnderTheInfluence at Santa Fe Playhouse, and more. She also has been teaching and mentoring both undergraduate and graduate level design students at various colleges around the greater L.A. area. MFA in Scenic Design from CSULB. More info available at www.yuriokahana.com IG: @11uri30

Vicki Conrad (Costume Designer)

Theatre credits - Rent (Coeurage), For The Love Of or the roller derby play (Theater of Note & CTG Kirk Douglas), Two for Democracy (Capital Comedy) and 8:03 (Scherzo). Ovation Award for The Mystery of Edwin Drood & nominations for 33 Variations, Imaginary Invalid, The Learned Ladies (L.A. Weekly Award), and Big River. Her Asterion (Ghost Road) costumes traveled to Poland’s Gratowkski Institute. Her custom designs were in Project Runway’s Season 15 Commercial, 90210 Remount Commercial & Fox Super Bowl Commercial.

Dan Weingarten (Lighting Designer)

Dan is a lighting designer. LA Designs include: The Stand-in, The Stranger, Honkey, A Permanent Image, Gruesome Playground Injuries & The Sunset Limited, ICE, Hansel & Gretel Bluegrass, Walking the Tightrope, Man Covets Bird, MTW’s Singin’ in the Rain, over 24 productions for Long Beach Opera, Chicago Opera Theater and New York City Opera. CalArts MFA. Faculty at CSU Northridge.

Erin Bednarz (Sound Designer)

Erin Bednarz (she/her) tells stories through sound, music, performance, and production. She holds a Gregory Award for Outstanding Sound Design, is founding member of PNW dramaturgy group Umbrella Project, and dramaturg for Cheat Day Collective. Press Mentions: Wall Street Journal, New York Times. Nominations: Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel. Residencies: Centrum, Sou'Wester, 2+U Studios.TV: Band In Seattle. Off-Broadway: Mac Beth (Red Bull, Hunter Theater, Seattle Rep), The Convent (Rattlestick). Regional: A Few Good Men (Pittsburgh Public), Dragon Cycle (American Rep), Teenage Dick (Seattle Rep), Choir Boy, The Year of Magical Thinking, The Thin Place (ACT), Wonder Boy (5th Avenue). @play__pranks

Sean Cawelti** (Projection Designer)

Sean Cawelti is a creative director, puppet/video designer and creator of immersive and site-specific experiences. Sean is a graduate from the University of California, Irvine, with honors in directing and studied puppetry at Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. As founding artistic director of Rogue Artists Ensemble (Los Angeles), Sean has won awards for their work as a designer, director and playwright, including a UNIMA Citation of Excellence and the Sherwood Award from Center Theater Group (Los Angeles). Sean’s work has been seen at the Getty Villa, SCR, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Cornerstone Theater Company, Chicago Opera Theater, LA Theatre Works, Geffen Playhouse, Long Beach Opera, Imago Theatre (Portland), New York City Opera, Center for Puppetry Arts (Atlanta) and the Kanye West Yeezus world tour. Cawelti is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. www.seancawelti.com www.rogueartists.org

Heath Harper (Properties Designer)

Heath Harper is a film and theatre professional with a BA in Theatre from the University of Houston. Previous prop design credits include THE SPANISH PRAYER BOOK, A KID LIKE JAKE, and FRIENDS WITH GUNS.

Chad Smith (Technical Director / Set Builder)

Chad Smith (he, him) is currently the Technical Director of Center Theatre Group. Chad has been working in theater, both onstage and off, way too many years to be truthful about it. Though a Long Beach, CA native, Chad spent many years in NYC working with WPA, The Atlantic Theater Co., Clubbed Thumb, Blue Man Group, and The Public/NYSF, just to name a few. Back home, Chad has worked at several venues, including Atwater Village Theatre, The Geffen, Kirk Douglas Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and The Ahmanson.

Ashley Montoya (Assistant Stage Manager)

Ashley Montoya is born and raised in Boyle Heights. She got her start at CASA 0101 and has continued her journey in theatre to Santa Monica College. She is graduating with an Associates Degree this upcoming spring. Her jobs backstage include light board operator, costume supervisor, etc.

Rebekah Side (2nd Assistant Stage Manager)

Rebekah Side is excited to join IAMA for the first time! Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Rebekah completed her BA in Theatre at Missouri Baptist University, then moved to LA to attend the Professional Conservatory program at the Art of Acting Studio. Since graduation, she has worked with Leo Rising Theatre Company and A Noise Within. Rebekah hopes you enjoy SMILE!

Jasmine Kalra (Tech Assistant Stage Manager)

Jasmine has been enjoying theatre since high school, helping make magic happen. Currently, she primarily participates as the Producing and Operations Associate at Greenway Court Theatre. She has a BA in Theatre from UCSD, with a focus on production management.

Destiny Manewal (Associate Set Designer)

Destiny Manewal is a recent graduate of California State University, Fullerton, where she received her MFA in Theatre, focused in Scenic Design and Scenic Art. She first received her BA in Studio Art, focused in drawing and printmaking from the University of Denver in 2019. Destiny currently works as a freelance scenic designer and artist, and was recently the Associate Scenic Designer and Scenic Charge Artist for Lend Me a Tenor at ICT in Long Beach.

Avery Orvis (Associate Sound Designer)

Avery Orvis is a multidisciplinary artist from Knoxville, Tennessee, and now lives and works in LA. He is the recipient of multiple national awards and honors for Sound Design from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. His Sound Design work has appeared across the country and internationally. Recent credits include Associate Sound Designer and Stage Manager for Chimpanzee in Atlanta, Chicago, and London, Sound Designer for the world premiere of Anna Christie in New York, and Sound Designer for Eli Smith’s Today Is Your Birthday at Art Center DTLA.

Sam Lopez (Video Programmer)

Sam Lopez is an aspiring Video Designer currently operating as an Assistant Designer. Sam has designed video for Cal Poly's Pomona's productions of Zorro x 2 and The Revolutionists as well as Rogue Artists Ensemble's entry in the 2022 Los Angeles Immersive Invitational.

Juan Pardo (Master Electrician)

Juan started his journey in the theatre industry during his 2nd year in highschool. The Technical Director was laid off that year, so Juan filled in as Student Technical Director, and Master Electrician for the seasonal dance show… and the rest was history. He continued his education at Santa Monica College, and was the Associate Lighting designer for “Into The Woods” and Co-Projection Designer for “Christmas Carol”. He finished with a Technical Theatre Arts Degree and continued his passion as a Freelance Theatre Technician.

Music Credits

"Jump"

Written by Leroy Bonner, Jermaine Dupri, Berry Gordy Jr, Marshall Jones, Ralph Middlebrooks, Aphonzo Mizell, Walter Morrison, Norman Napier, Andrew Noland, Freddie Perren, Marvin Pierce, Deke Richards, Clarence Satchell, and Gregory Webster.

Published by EMI April Music Inc., Jobete Music Co, Inc., and Bridgeport Music Inc.

Used with permission.

Music clearances by Kaylin Clinton.

IAMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Katie Lowes, Chair
Tyler Ennis, President
Melissa Romain, Vice President
David Yanni, Secretary
Victoria Lerner, Treasurer
Jana Bezdek
Nicholas Caprio
Gracye Cheng
Cymbre Walk Sklar

IAMA STAFF

Artistic Director: Stefanie Black
Managing Director: Lara Myrene
Interim Producing Director: Lexi Sloan
Associate Artistic Director - Artistic Development: Margaux Susi
Associate Artistic Director - Ensemble Development: Rodney To
Grant Writer: Laila Ayad
Director of the Ensemble: Tom DeTrinis
Basecamp Director: Christian Durso
Education Director: Cara Greene Epstein
Social Media Manager and Marketing Associate: Terry Li
Emerging Playwrights Lab Program Director: Nicholas Pilapil
Public Relation Rep: Lucy Pollak
Literary Manager: Celia Mandela Rivera

IAMA ENSEMBLE

Anisha Adusumilli, Alexander Alcheh, Tom Amandes, Laila Ayad, Deanna Barillari, Stefanie Black, Michelle Bossy, R. S. Buck, Jon Caren, Sheila Carrasco, Dean Cechvala, Parvesh Cheena, Desi Dennis-Dylan, Tom DeTrinis, Christian Durso, James Eckhouse, Josh Epstein, Ryan Garcia, Chris Gardner, Jeff Gardner, Eli Gonda, Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Heine, Laura Holloway, Anna Rose Hopkins, Tina Huang, Bailey Humiston, Alexis Jacknow, Andria Kozica, Colleen Labella, Anna LaMadrid, John Lavelle, Sharon Lawrence, Katie Lowes, Laura Mann, Burl Moseley, Karla Mosley, Louise Munson, Lara Myrene, Melissa Jane Osborne, Brian Otano, Tim Peper, Geoff Rivas, Tim Rock, Devere Rogers, Kacie Rogers, Amy Rosoff, Emily Rowan, Adriana Santos, Mark Saul, Courtney Sauls, Micah Schraft, Brandon Scott, Sonal Shah, Adam Shapiro, Graham Sibley, Cymbre Walk Sklar, Lexi Sloan, Melissa Stephens, Margaux Susi, Rodney To, Sarah Utterback, Keliher Walsh, Jamie Wollrab, Christine Woods

IAMA THEATRE COMPANY is a Los Angeles-based ensemble of artists committed to cultivating new voices and creating new works that push boundaries and take risks, while fostering an inclusive community that inspires theatre-makers of future generations. IAMA is invested in challenging our audiences with an authentic experience that reflects our complex modern world.

Founded in 2007, IAMA is a Los Angeles-based ensemble of artists committed to the creation and cultivation of new voices and artists that challenge boundaries and take risks, while fostering an inclusive community that inspires theater-makers of future generations. Los Angeles is one of the most diverse metropolitan areas in the world and IAMA's work reflects the new voices and changing attitudes that continue to shape this city, state, country and world. Designated by Playbill as “one of 20 regional houses every theater lover must know,” the award-winning company has seen many plays generated at IAMA travel to off-Broadway, including to Second Stage and Playwrights Horizons, then go on to be performed regionally and internationally. IAMA members have been featured in numerous critically acclaimed TV shows and films as well as in a vast array of theater and live performances on and off-Broadway and across the country. IAMA has been dedicated to developing new plays and musicals by emerging and established playwrights, culminating in over 25 world, West Coast and Los Angeles premieres.

HISTORICAL CULTURE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

IAMA Theatre Company is based in Los Angeles on the sacred site of the Tongva/Gabrielino Nations who have lived and continue to live here. We recognize the Tongva/Gabrielino Nations and their spiritual connection as the first stewards and the traditional caretakers of this land. We honor them as the first storytellers of our Los Angeles community and we thank them for their strength, perseverance and resistance. We respect and value the many ways their cultural heritage and beliefs continue to have significance to the living people and remind us about the sacred and spiritual relationship that has always existed here.

a special thank you to our patrons of the arts

Shonda Rhimes & the Rhimes Family Foundation

and

Jana Bezdek

THANK YOU TO OUR IAMA DONORs

A Schwartz Becker

Adam Haracz

Adam Howard

Cassie Feldman

Claire Brown

David Seres

Emmanuel Lesser

Garrett M Brown

Gary Gilbert

Gehrig Gosselin

Ginger Immerman

Hannah Wolf

Harley Neuman

Ira Schreck

Irene White

J. Claude Deering

Jennifer Li Jackson

Kristin Bongiovanni

Lea Palmieri

Martin Brekeller

Matthew Lessall

Meagan Gillett

Melissa Oren

Mike Mendez

Mohamed Ayad

Parvesh Cheena

Peter Doms

RD Robb and Amy Israel

Rebecca Burgoon

Rosa Coronado

Rose Rupley

Scot Reese

Sharon Lawrence

Susana Lou

Teri Ball

Todd Calvin

Wade Barrett

Special Thank You to

Adriana Santos

Amy Kersten

Anna Rose Hopkins

Brianna Clark

Celia Mandela Rivera

Charlotte Miller

Christian Durso

Crystal Caban

Kameron Brown

Kaylin Lee Clinton

Keliher Walsh

Laila Ayad

Liam Gibb

Louise Munson

Mara Klein

Matt Pascua

Quincy Dun Baker

Scott Immerman

Shappy Pretzel

Stephen Graybill

Susan Schoolfield