Nicole Souza is thrilled to be playing Katherine in the world premier of "1518: The Dancing Plague".  After shifting focus to film and television early in her career, Nicole stepped back onto the stage for the first time in several years this June, performing in two well reviewed plays as a part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Nicole is very excited to continue her momentum in theatre with this incredible opportunity to perform in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August, alongside an incredible cast and production team.

RYABRAE NGAIDA is a Los Angeles based actor. She has performed at various theatres throughout Portland, Oregon where she was based for four years, before moving to LA to pursue acting full time. She spent a summer studying at Circle in The Square Theatre in New York and is now focused on creating art with her community. Recently, she took on the role of Muriel Tate in Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite adding another memorable character to her repertoire. Her passions include Film, Fashion, and linguistics. She’d like to thank her community and friends for coming out and supporting her tonight.

Britney is a Groundlings-trained, working drag queen in Los Angeles. You can find her performing up and down the West Hollywood strip, in the pits of Downtown, or at Akbar’s “Learn the Words, Bitch” where she is begrudgingly considered a legend herself.  She regularly hosts watch parties for award shows such as the Oscars, the Emmys, and the Grammys which is the closest anyone will allow her to get to any celebrities, through a screen at least 200 yards away. She also hosts the weekly “It Girl Podcast” talking to the rising stars and pioneers of the LA drag scene about current events, pop culture, and politics. In 2025, she produced and hosted the inaugural It Girl Awards, a celebration of the year's biggest pop culture moments and an opportunity to recognize excellence within the local drag community. Britney is thrilled to be joining the “Dancing Plague” cast and hopes you enjoy the show.

Tallulah Jones is an LA native who fell in love with acting as a teenager. Her work in film includes multiple projects with legendary director, Wim Wenders. She’s spent the past year getting deeper into the Los Angeles theater scene. In April, she closed a premiere run of An Ode to Parenting at Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre. Most importantly, she can’t wait to take The Dancing Plague all the way to Edinburgh! Dream come true!

Don has appeared in numerous films (including Nancy Savoca’s first feature, True Love, which was selected by the NY Times as one of the year’s top ten features), and TV shows (including Sex and the City, The Equalizer, and Will and Grace, as well as recurring roles in daytime fare). In addition to his work in film and television, Don has been blessed to perform, in New York and numerous regional theatres, among many other roles, Puck and Flute in two productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Feste, Sir Andrew, and Malvolio in three productions of Twelfth Night; Orlando (twice) in As You Like It; Felix in Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart (at the Public Theater); Ned, Felix, and Mickey in subsequent productions of The Normal Heart around the country; the lead in Torch Song Trilogy (on Broadway); Garry in Noises Off; Roberto in Saturday, Sunday, Monday; the writer in Michael Patrick King’s Thorn & Bloom; Renfield in Greg Boyd’s musical version of Dracula; the title character in Michael Ondaatje’s The Collected Works of Billy the Kid; and the lead characters in Human Resources and various other plays by Don Ponturo.

Gilberto Ortiz is an actor known for his work in Atropia, On My Block, and Pockets of Heaven. With credits across film and television, Ortiz brings a grounded, dynamic presence to each role and continues to build a strong body of work across independent film, television, and stage. He is excited to join the cast of Dancing Plague.

Anne Howard first appeared onstage at the age of four in Carousel. Theatre credits include Fading Light at the NYC Fringe Festival, Summertree w/Alec Baldwin, Baseball Wives, Antigone, Quilters, An Ideal Husband, The Gun-Electric Lodge. Feature Films: You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, The Weather Man, Prince of Darkness, Blue Streak, The Collection, The Dresden Sun, PLEA. NBC daytime dramas: Another World-Nicole Love, Days of Our Lives-Kimberly Brady Donovan. TV: Castle, Criminal Minds, E.R., Private Practice, Desperate Housewives, Monk, Nip/Tuck. Although she had a recurring role on UNfabulous, we think you’ll agree she’s quite fabulous. She bikes, runs, paints, knits, gardens, sings, plays the guitar, ukulele & blowhorn, loves to dance, and is thrilled to be performing with the dancing plaguers!

Sydney Diamond is a Los Angeles-based choreographer, dancer, and movement director. Her choreography credits include 12 theatre productions across Los Angeles, including Hadestown, Mamma Mia!, and Hello, Dolly!.  As a dancer, Sydney has worked with acclaimed choreographers including Bobbi Jene Smith, Or Schraiber, Sidra Bell, Jesse Zaritt, and Theresa Ruth Howard. 

Originally from New York, Sophie Smith is passionate about developing female-driven, comedic yet poignant stories across multiple media. She has worked with playwrights and directors in CAA’s theatre department in New York and with TV writers on Poker Face, The Great and Dexter: Resurrection at MRC and Counterpart Studios. Now based in Los Angeles, she spends her time on set and in theaters, producing short films and music videos, and improvising at the Elysian Theatre and Upright Citizens Brigade. She’s very excited to be returning to her theatre roots and with Hannah on 1518: The Dancing Plague, after producing her short film Bébé in 2024. 

Jeremy is the Artistic Director of OVT and works as a Creative Development Specialist in Independent Films with ACM Partners. Through his work with OVT, Jeremy acted as a nonprofit producer on the feature film - Gazer - which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, as well as a reimagining of Bekah Brunstetter's Be A  Good Little Widow at The Chain Theatre in Manhattan. He is also on the production team for multiple independent films, including the feature adaptation of Rajiv Josephs' play Gruesome Playground Injuries - set for production in early 2027.

1518: The Dancing Plague is carefully penned by Hannah Ponturo. Hannah is a proud LA valley girl with formidable NY theater kid aspirations. Hannah’s work has been produced at the Lyric Hyperion Theater in LA and Ensemble Studio Theater in NY. She’s worked as a Writer’s Assistant/Showrunner’s Assistant on BET+ and Paramount’s, Diarra From Detroit and Beef Season 2 for Netflix. Hopefully some of their talent has rubbed off on her!

Sydney Diamond is a Los Angeles-based choreographer, dancer, and movement director. Her choreography credits include 12 theatre productions across Los Angeles, including Hadestown, Mamma Mia!, and Hello, Dolly!.  As a dancer, Sydney has worked with acclaimed choreographers including Bobbi Jene Smith, Or Schraiber, Sidra Bell, Jesse Zaritt, and Theresa Ruth Howard. 

Tallulah Jones is an actor, artist, and writer from Los Angeles. Her love of theater comes from the thrill of being on the stage and she is so excited to not only be a cast member, but also a part of the production team bringing 1518: The Dancing Plague to the Edinburgh Fringe! 

Hana makes and performs music in Los Angeles, under the name AntiHana. She’s just started dipping her toe into writing bespoke music for productions like this one and is thoroughly enjoying herself.