The Drafts

The Drafts are the resident acting ensemble of Horse Trade Theater Group supporting the work of its artistic community. Committed to new play development, The Drafts monthly reading series has featured over 100 original scripts and inspired several full productions.

The Drafts reading series has featured notable emerging playwrights Pia Wilson (The Public's EWG), Michael McGuire, Kelley Girod, Paul David Young, Megan Mostyn-Brown (LAByrinth), Terence Patrick Hughes, Augusto Federico Amador (The Public's EWG), Ziella Bryars, and Micheline Auger. The Drafts also perform annually in The Drafts Fest, a showcase of their talents and the talents of selected playwrights and directors they have met throughout the year. Drafts have been cast members of Lines, Donnie and the Monsters, punkrock/lovesong, and Song for a Future Generation (The Management), all shows produced or presented by Horse Trade. The Drafts will present three new full length Lab Productions in the upcoming season.

For more information and schedule click here.

Amanda Van Nostrand is thrilled to be a part of Drafts! Some of her favorite roles include: Natalya in The Marriage Proposal, Sissy in Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, and the title role in Dulcy. She is also active in the improv comedy scene and has been seen at Upright Citizen's Brigade and performs regularly with The Red Tie Mafia for which she also coaches. For more info, check out her site.




Ben Kaufman grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He Interned with Shadowbox Cabaret of Columbus, and then went on to graduate from Ohio University's School of Theater with a BFA in Acting. During school he spent a summer at Monomoy Theater on Cape Cod. Following graduation he accepted an Internship with Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati where he served as an understudy for regional premieres of Michael Hollinger's Opus, and Steven Dietz' Fiction. He is happy to be apart of this iteration of The Drafts, and looks forward to what may come.


JB Roté fell in love with the theatre from her first role as a snowflake in first grade in Vermont. She apprenticed at Williamstown Theatre Festival, majored in Acting at Brandeis University and completed her BFA in London at the British American Drama Academy. She has also studied and performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade, Magnet and Peoples Improv Theaters. She is enjoying being an active member in The Drafts. Theatre credits include: Crawl For It, Change The Be and Donnie and the Monsters (Horse Trade), Balcony Scene 2010 (MoMA PS1). Come see her this August in LINES (Horse Trade). More info at jbrote.com. Love and thanks to Horse Trade Theater, my darling friends and family.