Fitting Out - Week One

James Still (he/him)

James Still's plays have been widely produced throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, South Africa, China, and Japan. He is a four-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, an elected member of both the National Theatre Conference in New York and the College of Fellows of the American Theatre at the Kennedy Center, and a five-time Emmy nominee for his work in television. He received the Otis Guernsey New Voices Award from the William Inge Festival, the Todd McNerney New Play Prize from Piccolo Spoleto, and the Indiana Authors Award for Drama. He is the Playwright in Residence at Indiana Repertory Theatre and Artistic Affiliate at American Blues Theater in Chicago. He lives in Los Angeles.

Alexander Mashikian (he/him)

Alexander has been a performer since the day he could walk - if you can count singing and dancing on the family coffee table as a child. After attending Cal State Fullerton for a BFA in musical theater, he trained for 6 years with The Groundlings which led him to a permanent spot in The Big Bad Armo Show. Four runs off-Broadway (Symphony Space, NYC) later, Alexander workshopped many musicals and originated the role of Larry in Orange is the New Musical: The Unauthorized Parody. As a new member of Theater West, Alexander debuted in The Adventures Peter Rabbit. He is actively pursuing his career in voiceover, music, and television in LA

Kevin Tomlinson (he/him)

Kevin Tomlinson is an actor from Columbia, MD. A proud graduate of Morehouse College, he also holds an MFA in Performance from UNLV. Theatre credits include "Seven Guitars", "Romeo and Juliet", & "The Red Letter Plays".

Cecil Jennings (he/him)

Cecil was born and raised in Jacksonville Florida (go jags!) and has been in LA for three years now. Cecil has been a member of Theatre West since the fall of 2019 and is so excited to be taking part in Fitting Out! Thank you to Theatre West and all the writers associated with this amazing festival.

David Mingrino (he/him)

David Mingrino has been seen onstage in over 90 productions most recently the World Premiere of THE MAN WHO SAVED EVERYTHING at Theatre West. His independent features include, “THE HAUNTED MAZE” and “THE DEVIL WITHIN”( both on Amazon Prime). His short film list includes “ROCKY: THE FINAL BATTLE”, “RETRIBUTION” (also on Amazon).David Mingrino has been seen onstage in over 90 productions most recently the World Premiere of THE MAN WHO SAVED EVERYTHING at Theatre West. His independent features include, “THE HAUNTED MAZE” and “THE DEVIL WITHIN”( both on Amazon Prime). His short film list includes “ROCKY: THE FINAL BATTLE”, “RETRIBUTION” (also on Amazon).

Michael Van Duzer (he/him)

Local productions include The Collection, What the Butler Saw, As You Like It, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern…, Edward II, Double Dealer, Halsted Street: Chicago, Lisbon Traviata, the local premiere of Daniel MacIvor’s In On It, and The Golden Apple for MTG. He is Resident Director for the Opera Buffs with concert versions of Carmen, La Boheme, and La Cenerentola. He helmed the world premieres of his own plays: Hopeful Romantic, Recalled to Life, Posing Strap Pirates, The History of Gay Theatre in Something More than 60 Seconds, and Trattoria of Terror. For Theatre West he directed The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the world premiere of The Man Who Saved Everything, and numerous WestFest pieces. 

Marcus Scott (he/him)

Marcus Scott is a playwright, musical theatre writer & journalist. Selected works: Sundown Town (finalist for Abingdon Theatre Company’s Virtual Fall Festival Of Short Plays), Sibling Rivalries (long-listed for the 2020 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award; finalist for ATHE’s 2021 Judith Royer Excellence in Playwriting Award and the 2021 Seven Devils Playwrights Conference; semifinalist for 2021 Blue Ink Playwriting Award), Tumbleweed (finalist for the 2017 Bay Area Playwrights Festival; semi-finalist for the 2017/2018 New Dramatists Princess Grace Fellowship Award) and Cherry Bomb (recipient of the 2017 Drama League First Stage Artist-In-Residence; 2017 Finalist for the Yale Institute for Music Theatre). His articles appeared in TimeOut New York, American Theatre Magazine, Playbill, Elle, Out, Essence, among others. MFA: NYU Tisch School of the Arts. 

Marcel Logan (he/him)

Marcel Logan is an actor who currently lives in Los Angeles. He has a B.A. in Theatre (Musical Theatre Concentration) from DeSales University. His favorite roles have been Octavius in Julius Caesar and Duke Orsino in Twelfth Night (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival). He continues to train at Ivana Chubbuck Studio in LA. 

Jordan Waters (he/him)

Jordon Waters is a comic and video game loving, bi-racial, multi-interdisciplinary performing artist who graduated from CalArts with his BFA in Dance in 2013. Born in Los Angeles, raised between Minneapolis and San Diego, Jordon moved to NYC with the intention to take over the world and if he couldn't do that, then he would change it. Coming from a family of artists, Mr. Waters thrives to always learn something new from every production he is apart of. 

He has starred in Off-Broadway shows, short films, commercials and world tours. He started his own entertainment company, TheyGotTime, where he also produces his own content for multiple streaming platforms and live performances. Jordon finds inspiration through the works of Charlie Chaplin, Donald Glover, anime, cartoons and his friends. His latest show is the Traveling Off-Broadway Vaudeville Hip Hop Show called "Rebirth of Rabbit's Foot". The show explores comedy, racial identity and history which drew inspiration from a traditional minstrel show "Rabbit's Foot Minstrel" from the early 1900's.

Jordon motto is  #Cantstopwontstop

Henry Waters, Jr. (he/him)

Harry Waters, Jr. created the role of Belize in the first production of Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes in 1991. He is known for his portrayal of Marvin Berry in Back to the Future  which earned him a Gold record for his rendition of "Earth Angel." Acting Credits also include numerous television guest starring roles. He received his MFA in Directing from University of Wisconsin-Madison. As an actor, he has appeared in numerous venues around the country., He is retiring this spring as Professor of the Theater and Dance Department at Macalester College. He has directed over 10 productions there over the years.

David Lipschutz (He/Him)

David Lipschutz is a Chicago-based artist and ensemble member of Hell in a Handbag Productions, Chicago's premier camp drag theatre company. With Handbag, he co-wrote The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 3 (which has been performed with LAFF Shows/IndyFringe as well). He has also written works produced with Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, BYOT Productions, Left Edge Theatre, and Geneva Theatre Guild. Up next, his play, G’Oy Vey!, will be performed with Act Your Age Showcase in Manchester, England. Thanks to Theatre West, Crom, Joan, Heba, Angelina, and Joe, and to Erin, Ash & the boys, and BC/KJOC.

Joan Lynch (she/her)

Joan is a native of Los Angeles and has been an avid theatre enthusiast ever since she was a child. She is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and has worked with companies including South Coast Repertory and Antaeus Theatre Company. Joan is currently in the midst of making and acting in her own film set to debut next year. She would like to thank Theatre West for providing an endless amount of support throughout her membership and for making it feel like home.

Heba Toulan (she/her)

Heba Toulan hails from Washington, D.C. area. Her credits include Hero for Much Ado About Nothing, Hecate for Macbeth at the Woodlands Arts in the Park and Shakespeare in the Shade, Improv Night, Talent Show, Complicit, Les Miserables, All's Well That Ends Well, Hangdog, The Comedy of Errors, Game of Tiaras, Love's Labor's Lost, X Kids Mythos, Othello, What I Wore, and The Vagina Monologues. She recently contributed to the DeafCon as a moderator, and in Insomniac, The Voice, Bailey's Voice and The Love Language. She performed at the Wolf Trap Park, and Cairo Opera House in Egypt with the Gallaudet Dance Group. She can be found behind a book, or practicing her monologues. Her web site is www.hebatoulan.com.

Crom Saunders

Crom Saunders is currently Director of Deaf Studies at the American Sign Language Department of Columbia College, Chicago. Crom has interpreted dozens of plays, from children’s theatre to musicals, including at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and has taught dozens of ASL linguistics and theatrical workshops across the nation, in addition to working as a Director of ASL for several theatre companies across the nation. Crom also performs his one-person show, “Cromania!” internationally.  And yes, the eyebrows are real.

John Mabey (he/they)

John Mabey is a globally produced playwright and certified Mental Health Counselor, infusing everything they’ve learned about emotion and relationships into their plays. They are also a published author on the topics of sexual identity and spirituality in academic books and journals, and this year has work is included in ‘Smith & Kraus Best 10-Minute Plays’ and ‘Smith & Kraus Best Women’s Monologues.' John is also the recipient of the ‘2021 Panowski Playwriting Award’ for the full-length play, ‘A Complicated Hope.’ When not writing, they also enjoy teaching and performing improvised comedy and true storytelling around the world.

Thomas/n Bretz (all pronouns welcome with love)

Thomas/n would like to express a sparkling thanks to Theatre West for holding space for queer storytelling, Cecil Jennings for the opportunity to be involved in such a precious experience, John Mabey for creating the character of Remmy and showing Thomas/n the potential of an understanding world, and to the cast for holding a safe space to create and grow together. P.S. shout out to the party people. Also- Happy PRIDE!!! Be yourself, unapologetically.

Olivia Bates (she/her)

Olivia Bates is a 23 year old angeleno with a passion for all aspects of the arts. Coming from a family with ties to the film industry, she was warned off acting at all costs. That warning was enough to keep her away for a couple years. In the fall of 2019, Theatre West was holding auditions and she realized that she loved acting more than she was afraid of what others would think. Since joining theatre west, she’s been involved with the Diversity Committee, fundraising duties, and many virtual productions. She’s incredibly thankful to Theatre West for giving her a community of artists to grow with.  

Amy Jan Simon (she/her)

Amy Simon has been acting since childhood, and writing and producing theater for most of her adult life. Inspired by motherhood, her first play, Cheerios In My Underwear (And Other True Tales Of Motherhood), held the record as the longest-running solo play in Los Angeles until it was broken by SHE’S HISTORY! her solo play about women who make and made history. Performed around the country, it’s being developed into an all female, full cast version.  She is a proud member of Theatre West, SAG-AFTRA, The Dramatist Guild, Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative (LAFPI), and Association of Los Angeles Playwrights (ALAP).

Mary Elisabeth Somers (she/her)

Brittany Lewis (she/her)

Brittany Lewis is an avid cat lover from Dallas, Texas. Her work ranges from live theater to commercial work and feature films.  She’s studied with several teachers from the University of Texas to Playhouse West and Groundlings. Aside from her acting work, Brittany enjoys playing piano, video games (currently The Last of Us and Pokemon Shield) and cooking. 

Oscar Lemus (he/him)

Oscar proudly emerges from a dysfunctional Latinx family in South Florida, a first-generation kid with divorced immigrant parents and siblings galore. A NALIP 2020 ECCS Recipient, current Writers’ Assistant on an unannounced Broadway Video Latinx comedy, and trained improvisor/sketch writer, Oscar enjoys writing through a heartfelt comedic lens. His work focuses on character relationships and meaningful stories that break stereotypes.

Chiara Montali (she/her)

Chiara Montali is an actor, comedian, and producer in Los Angeles, California. She has trained at the Margie Haber Studio and iO West. You can find her performing at open mics around the LA area.

Cecil Jennings (he/him)

Cecil was born and raised in Jacksonville Florida (go jags!) and has been in LA for three years now. Cecil has been a member of Theatre West since fall of 2019 and is so excited to be taking part in Fitting Out! Thank you to Theatre West and all the writers associated with this amazing festival.

Taylor Dodd Geu She/They

Taylor Geu was born in Yankton, South Dakota. Her first publication was a weekly comic book they passed around the playground in 4th grade. They learned general audiences were philistines. Since then, she’s become passionate about gender abolition and social justice, centering them in her scripts for stage and screen. A surrealist and fantasist, she’s interested in using the weird and spectacular to aid audiences in reconsidering what it means to be human beyond the usual societal script and norms.

Chris Quazzo (he/him)

Chris Quazzo is an actor, writer, and comedian based in Los Angeles. Recently, he has performed at the Norris Theatre in Palos Verdes, Theatre West, the New York Musical Festival, and the Hangar Theatre. He also appeared in a feature at the Chelsea Film Festival and Soho International Film Festival. He has trained at The Groundlings School and is a graduate of Yale University.

Benjamin Scuglia (he/him)

Benjamin Scuglia is an author and playwright, actor, producer and stage manager. He has been a member of Theatre West since 2014 and has recently appeared in several virtual productions with the company’s Shakespeare troupe. As a playwright, he is a Top 30 Finalist for the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival (2015) and a Top 12 Finalist for the Playbill Virtual Theatre Festival (2020). His full-length play “The Man Who Saved Everything” received its acclaimed world premiere at Theatre West in 2018 and earned six Valley Theatre Awards nominations, winning for “Best Sound Design.” Twitter: @500Turtles

Rick Simone (he/him)

Emmy Award© winner, Rick Simone, is known to TV audiences for his work on, Married People, Just the Ten of Us, General Hospital, Capitol A Year in the Life, Life Goes On, Mob Scene and K.C. Undercover.  Theatre - George C. Wolfe’s The Me Nobody Knows, Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens at the Canon Theatre, Betrayal at The Globe, his one-man show These People at LATC, and the Celebration Theatre’s GLAAD Award© nominated production of Revolver. He can currently be seen playing the title character in the web series Sammy Kingsford – Manager To The Stars.