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Amanda Van Nostrand
(Performer)
AMANDA VAN NOSTRAND (PERFORMER) 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 www.amandavannostrand.com.
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Ben Kaufman
(Performer)
BEN KAUFMAN (Performer) 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 a part of this iteration of The Drafts, and looks forward to what may come.
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Brett J. Diggs
(Performer)
BRETT J. DIGGS (PERFORMER) is a Baltimore, MD native and S.U.N.Y. Purchase Acting Conservatory grad (The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Two Gentlemen of Verona, 27 Wagons Full of Cotton). An easy-going guy who loves sports and a good film among other things, he’s excited to be a part of The Drafts and looks forward to this experience enhancing his craft as an actor as well as developing his new-found interest in screenwriting. He hopes you all enjoy the work we bring before you. Contact email. bd51184@gmail.com Management: Multi-Ethnic Talent/Annette Alvarez, Mgr.
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Heidi Grumelot
(Director)
HEIDI GRUMELOT (Director) is co-creator and producer of the monthly storytelling show TOLD. She is the founding director of The Drafts, an acting ensemble responsible for development of over ninety original plays to date as part of a monthly reading series. She is the Resident Coordinator for Horse Trade's six resident companies. New York directing credits include punkrock/lovesong at The Brick Theater, Dido and Aeneas with The New York Collective of Performing Arts at The West End Theater and The Boston Early Music Festival, Donnie and the Monsters at UNDER St Marks Theater, and Accidents Do Happen, Tom's Things, LINES, The Flower Thief, and Turning the Glass Around in The Red Room. New York staged reading credits include The Flower Thief in The Red Room, A River Pure for Healing, and An Absolutely Perfect Life at UNDER St Marks Theater. Assistant director credits include Antony and Cleopatra, Love's Labour's Lost, and A Christmas Carol for the American Shakespeare Center. She has directed productions in Michigan, Virginia, and Mexico.
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Ilaria Amadasi
(Sound Designer)
Born in Parma, Italy, Ilaria Amadasi's introduction into professional theater took place when she co-founded the Theater Company "I 4 Cantoni" at the age of fifteen. Ilaria later attended the prestigious Teatro Stabile di Genova. She was the author and Assistant Director of the stage adaptation of Franz Kafka’s “The Castle” and was chosen as the female lead in the show “Time of darkness” . She also received a honorable mention from the national playwriting competition "In Punta di Penna" for the piece “Non ho urlato”. She directed theater therapy workshops for children and seminars of Commedia dell’Arte at “Teatro Vita” (Parma, Italy). Ilaria moved to the US in 2010. She has collaborated on several productions at the Off-Broadway 45 Bleecker Theater and worked as Assistant Director for the show "American Addict" (Hollywood Fringe Festival). Most recently she worked as Director for the show “Stuck” presented to the Emerging Artists New Works Series.
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JB Rote
(Performer)
JB ROTE (PERFORMER) 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, Donnie and the Monsters, and when half the sphere is visible (Horse Trade), Balcony Scene 2010 (MoMA PS1). More info at jbrote.com.
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Jessica DiBattista
(Costume Designer)
JESSICA DIBATTISTA (Costume Design) graduated from the Ohio State University with a BFA in Dance and a BA Psychology. Her studies in dance performance led her to costuming and make up. She has designed and constructed dance wear and costumes for TUPACO Dance, Hixon Dance, Vital Dance, Anna & the Annadroids, and BacKspace Performance Ensemble. She is currently designing and performing for Nomadic Star Machine.
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Justin Tatum
(Performer)
JUSTIN TATUM (PERFORMER) is excited to be a part of Horse Trade Theater Company's reading series as one of The Drafts. He was last seen in Smith Street Stage's production of Twelfth Night as Sebastian. His regional credits include, A Soldier's Tale, as Eddie Slovik, and Heaven's My Destination, as Actor A for The Cleveland Play House. Some of his favorite credits include Defender of the Faith - Thomas; Bug - Peter Evans; Griller - Dylan; and Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead - Matt. Film and Television credits include, The Path of the Wind; George Romero's Deadtime Stories; and The Good Wife. "A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner."
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Michael R. McGuire
(Playwright)
MICHAEL R. MCGUIRE (Playwright) A 2005 CT Artist Fellowship recipient for his play The New Girl, McGuire’s plays have been produced and workshopped by The Lark, Theater for the New City, the Planning Stage, Hygienic Theaterwerks, Valley Rep, Slant of Light Theater, Bridgeport Theater Company, Horse Trade Theater and Heartland Theater. His play for young actors Persephone Rules! is published by Brooklyn Publishers. He is also the author of the conspiracy thriller novel The Undertakers Hill.
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Norihito Moriya
(Scenic Designer)
NORIHITO MORIYA (Scenic Designer) received his B.A. in theatre from Hunter College. This is his first scenic design credit. Norihito would like to thank Horse Trade Theater Group for this opportunity and hopes everyone will enjoy the show.
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Paul Romano
(Stage Manager)
PAUL ROMANO (Stage Manager) studied performing arts at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, received his BA in English from The New School, and his MA in Spanish from Middlebury College. He spends his summers at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he is working towards his MA in French literature. A Brooklyn Native, Paul currently resides in the East Village and is grateful for the opportunity to work with Horse Trade Theater Group.
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Rocio Mendez
(Fight Director)
ROCIO ALEXIS MENDEZ (Fight Director) is an actor/fight director, born and raised in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City. Rocio is the Resident Fight Director for Curious Frog Theater Company and has also done productions with Maine Stage Shakespeare, The Flux Ensemble, Piper McKenzie, Cat Fight Productions, Harlem School of the Arts, Classical Theater of Harlem, _gaia Studios, J City Theater, and many more. Rocio has studied stage combat with AMDA, En Garde, Vampire Cowboys and Swordplay, NYC. Rocio studies both Kung Fu and Thai kickboxing. Check it: www.rociomendez.com.
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