BRIClab 2022 - 2023 Performing Arts Cohort

Colm Summers (he/him)

Colm Summers is an Irish stage director based between New York and Dublin. Selected credits include The Kill One Race, (Playwrights Horizons, NYC), Wednesday (New York Live Arts), La Clemenza di Tito (Grand Théatre de Geneve), The Inheritance (Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles), Portia Coughlan (National Theatre of Ireland, The Abbey), Love à la Mode (Smock Alley and Trafalgar Square), Gays Against the Free State! (Dublin Fringe), Enemy of the Stars (Dublin & Morocco), God’s Ear by Jenny Schwartz, (Samuel Beckett Theatre). Colm has worked with The Wooster Group, Milo Rau, the feath3r theory, Dead Centre, and Pan Pan. He is a Dublin Fringe Festival Radical Spirit Award Nominee, and was selected for the Next Stage: Forecast cohort at Dublin Theatre Festival and the Pan Pan International Mentorship. He is a Resident Director at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. His writing is published in Liverpool University Press, Oberon and Brill.

Born in Cork, Ireland; based in Brooklyn, New York.

@colm_summers

Project title: When David Buckel Saved the World

An alternative history of the future – in which we save the planet – based on the life of activist David Buckel.

Residency dates: April 17-28, 2023

Cleo Reed (they/them)

Raised in New York City and Washington, D.C., Cleo Reed is a student of Black underground sound and intention. They reach deeply into their own lineage and use it as a reference in both music and multimedia art. They produce and design soundscapes, compositional and popular music works, in addition to mixing, mastering, and editing their own music and visuals. Through music, Cleo works to amplify the needed presence of Black queer women in production and sound design spaces. They are a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music and are currently finishing their debut album “Root Cause,” which will be released this year. Recent collaborators include Jon Batiste, Nick Hakim, and more.

Born in NYC, based in Brooklyn.

@cleoforshort

Project title: Root Cause, buried beneath big top

“Root Cause” is a self-produced musical project. Cleo guides us through her narrative driven, multi-sensory work that combines skills in creative coding, visual storytelling, and musical direction.

Residency dates: January 13-27, 2023

Photo set from Cleo’s self-directed video for “Breasts Got Big.”

David Samuel (he/him)

Photo credit: David Samuel via Sankofa Shots

David Samuel (he/him/his) is a first generation Ethiopian-American, born in Texas and raised in Maryland. He is also an actor, musician, writer, and producer. As an actor, he has performed around the U.S. and Canada in musicals, new plays, and Off-Broadway in Shakespeare. His documentary, Niguse and The Red Terror, was screened at the 2021 Harlem International Film Festival. As part of the documentary release, he curated and designed a photo journal, and designed a line of apparel, through his production company, Third World Vision.  As KINGOFAXUM, he has written, produced, recorded, and released three EPs and 11 singles and produced and directed two music videos. He received his MFA in Acting from Brown University/Trinity Rep. He was an Allen Lee Hughes Fellow in Artistic Development at Arena Stage. Select Credits: Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (1st National Tour), Twelfth Night (Fiasco), As You Like It (Classic Stage Company), Brother Toad (KC Rep), Tiny Houses (Chautauqua Theatre Company), Blues For Mr. Charlie (Trinity Rep).

Born in Plano, TX; based in Harlem, NY.

www.kingofaxum.com / @kingofaxum @3rdwrldvzn

Project title: Away, You Ethiop!

“So… you achieved the American Dream. Was it worth it?” In “Away, You Ethiop!,” actor/artist David Samuel uses film, music, and theater, to explore that question in this mythically autobiographical show about his family’s journey to and through the American Dream.

Residency dates: March 20 – 31, 2023

EYIBRA (he/they)

EYIBRA (fka Abraham Brody), is a producer, performance artist, musician, and multimedia artist.  EYIBRA has collaborated with artist Marina Abramovic, and has been artist in residence at the Barbican Centre London, National Sawdust NYC, and has shown their work at the Kennedy Center Washington D.C., the Public Theatre NYC, London Jazz Festival, Southbank Centre London, Sziget Festival Budapest, Reykjavik Arts Festival, Pace Gallery, and FABRIKA CCI Moscow, among many others. Their work has been featured in such platforms as Harper’s Bazaar, the Independent, NPR, BBC Radio, Kaltblut Magazine, and the New Yorker Magazine.

Born in New York, NY; based between Brooklyn (Bed -Stuy) and Mexico City.

@eyibra

Project Title: VELES

A contemporary ‘opera’ for solo performer, VELES, meaning “souls of ancestors” in Lithuanian, explores the queer elements of ritual Lithuanian and Ukrainian songs combined with electronic music, experimental music, and AI/3D visuals.

Residency dates: March 6-17, 2023

George Del Barrio (he/him) and J. Bouey (they/them)

George Del Barrio (he/him): Born in Queens, based All-City (all over NYC).

As a 1st-generation American and all-media Executive Creative Producer deeply versed in photographic physics and production, George Del Barrio’s practice is concentrated on archetype expansion. A resolute humanism informs each site-responsive design; every curatorial invention & environmental transformation is in search of duende… Meaning is not a discovery, it is a creation. Born 1976 Queens, NY, George Del Barrio is the Founding Creative Director × Executive Producer of The Vanderbilt Republic (2008) and MIDHEAVEN Network (2020), and consulting Creative Director × Executive Producer at Universe City NYC.

@thevanderbiltrepublic

J. Bouey (they/them): Born in Los Angeles, based in Brooklyn.

Currently moving on pandemic timing and prioritizing rest. As a Dance Artist and Astrologer, J. is finding their way back to joy by imagining the abolition of systemic oppression through their current project, S A T U R N. J. is the founder of The Dance Union Podcast, initiating the NYC Dancers COVID-19 Relief Fund and The Dance Union Town Hall For Collective Action to support the dance community through numerous world-changing events. As a creator, J. is a recent 2021-2022 Jerome Fellow and is a 2022/2023 Movement Research Artist in Residence. J. Bouey was also recently a Gibney 2021 Spotlight Artist, Artist-In-Residence at CPR – Center for Performance Research, and 2021 Bogliasco Fellow. J. was also a 2018 Movement Research Van Lier Fellow, and 2018 Dancing While Black Fellow. They were also a former dancer with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company and danced with Germaul Barnes’ Viewsic Dance, Maria Bauman’s MB Dance, Dante Brown, Christal Brown’s INspirit Dance, and apprenticed with Emerge 125 (formerly Elisa Monte Dance) under the artistic direction of Tiffany Rea-Fisher. Determined to manifest the dreams dreamt in their youth, J. is assuming this responsibility because these dreams sustained them when the sun didn’t shine or shined too bright to see.

@J_Bouey / @mx_blackcopper

Project title: A Revelation

A Revelation is a hologram radio show hosted by Mx. Black Copper, a neurodivergent Dance Jockey, on the day that GAHD (the Global Society for Human Design) initiated the abolition of the final systemic oppression; the oppression of children. Set in a not too distant future when the global populace has gotten their ish together, the abolition of systems of oppression has become the center of the dominant culture. A Revelation is the first dance performance project in J. Bouey’s S A T U R N world-building project radically imagining a world post-abolition through performance, film, and digital media.

Residency dates: April 3-14, 2023

James Clements (he/him) & John Maria Gutierrez (he/they)

James Clements (he/him): Scotland born, based between New York and the United Kingdom.

James Clements (he/him) is a Scottish writer, performer, theatermaker and arts educator based between New York and Scotland. Clements has performed at venues including La Mama E.T.C., HERE and MITU580, and has been on the creative team for projects at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Lincoln Centre LCT3 and the 92nd Street Y. His source-based experimental plays include “The Diana Tapes” (2016), “Four Sisters” (2017), “Beauty Freak” (2018), “MEDEA/BRITNEY” (2019), “Ellis Island” (2021) and “Brothers in Arms” (2022). These plays have been described by critics as “magnifying” (TimeOut), “intricate” (BroadwayWorld), “compelling” (The Guardian), “affecting” (Playbill) and “intellectual” (Theatre is Easy), and have been performed in cities across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. He has taught at CUNY Queens College and the Wuhan Institute of Design and Science and is an Affiliated Instructor at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He is Co-Founding Artistic Director of What Will the Neighbours Say? and an Artist-in-Residence with the Brooklyn Arts Council and Culture Lab. His work has been recognised by the Queens Council for the Arts, DCLA, NYFA, A.R.T./NY and Creatives Rebuild New York, amongst others.

@james_clements92

John Maria Gutierrez (he/they): Born in Washington Heights; based in Brooklyn, NY.

John Maria Gutierrez (he/they) is a multidisciplinary actor, mover, maker, and educator originally from Washington Heights, NY also known as “Little Dominican Republic”. As the first person in his family born in the US, John is carving out and balancing their own identity within his family, cultural history, and artistic expression. Their work combines theater, movement, and original music ranging from artistic expressions based in everything from hip hop to postmodern and has been presented at The Rubin Museum, Gibney, La Mama, New York Live Arts, and HERE Arts to name a few. His work, typically collaborative based, often deals with current and historical interpersonal and systemic sociopolitical issues. John is currently faculty at the Terry Knickerbocker Studio which offers a two year acting conservatory in the Meisner technique/method, and Peridance Contemporary Dance Center where he co-teaches improvisation with Beth Graczyk, from which has stemmed a new collaboration project known as G^2! The duo has presented work and/or been invited to teach at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, The Shanghai Tower in Shanghai, China, Triskelion Arts, Judson Church, La Mama in NYC. Recent credits. 1001, Focus Features/Warner Bros., Law & Order: SVU, NBC Universal, King Lear In The Forest, Center at West Park (presented as part of g^2 Spring 2021 Residency), New York Live Arts (2021 Fresh Tracks Artist), La Mama ETC. (2020 Artist In Residence).

@jmg160

Project title: Brothers in Arms

An interview-based devised play combining movement, music, video, and text, Brothers in Arms aims to interrogate toxic masculinity and facilitate emotion transformation amongst male-identifying and masc folks. Alongside the presentation, there is an applied theatre component, where participants use the play’s framework to facilitate personal exploration of the themes.

Residency dates: May 8-19, 2023

Janelle Lawrence (they/them) & Sugar Vendil (she/her)

Janelle / Jei Lawrence (they/them): Born in Queens, NY; based in Brooklyn and Hudson, NY.

Janelle / Jei Lawrence (they/them) is an interdisciplinary artist that investigates the depth of strength with stories that explore the complex layers of perspective. They have had their musicals presented at various Theaters such as The Kennedy Center (Beast girl), Legoland New York, Joe’s Pub (Group Therapy), Seattle Public Theater (The Suffrage Play), and National Black Theatre (Trenzas & WET). They have been residents of the 92nd St Y Musical Theatre Development Lab: Collective,  Greenhouse Residency SPACE on Ryder Farm and Barn Arts Hamilton Project Resident. They are a Juilliard School Evening Division alumni, and a 2020 & 2022 Recipient of NBT’s Soul Series Lab –  Playwriting Micro-Development Session. They are an Adjunct Professor of Musical Theatre History at Point Park University, and the Chair of the Performing Arts Department at Harvest Collegiate High School.

www.janellelawrence.com / @janellemaire

Sugar Vendil (she/her): Born in Queens, NY; based in Brooklyn and Hudson, NY.

Sugar Vendil (she/her) is a composer, pianist, and interdisciplinary artist based in Lenapehoking, known as Brooklyn. Her compositions span acoustic and electronic music, and her interdisciplinary practice integrates music and movement. Her work is introspective, ruminating on memory and experience. Vendil enjoys collaboration. In 2021, she wrote music for a short film by Jih-E Peng for Amanda Phingbodipakkiya’s “May We Know Our Own Strength” and is dancing in choreographer Emily Johnson/Catalyst’s “Being Future Being.” As a 2016 Fellow in the Target Margin Institute for Collaborative Theater Making, she was encouraged to further pursue composition.  Residencies include High Concept Labs, Mabou Mines, Marble House Project, National Sawdust (Summer Labs), Avaloch Farm, Arts Letters & Numbers, and Yaddo. She recently quit social media to free up valuable time and brain space, focus on creating community offline, and do more long-form writing. Stay updated on her performances, news, and contemplations by signing up for her newsletter at sugarvendil.com.

@sugarvendil

Project title: BĀS: the Harmony Between Me and You

BĀS is a Black and Asian bridging project. It seeks to address racial tensions and foster mutual understanding, empathy, and healing through active listening and storytelling.

Residency dates: Dec 5-16, 2022

What Will The Neighbors Say? with Sam Hood Adrain (he/him), Pablo Calderón-Santiago (he/him), James Clements (he/him), and Coral Cohen (she/her)

WHAT WILL THE NEIGHBORS SAY? fights for a more empathetic world by presenting risky, provocative theatre that provokes conversations and facilitates greater understanding. Championing our community’s capacity to explore ambiguous and nuanced themes, we create morally complex genre-bending work that challenges our audiences before, during and after a presentation. Armed with the understanding that meaningful conversations require varied perspectives, we build Neighborhoods across borders to facilitate new connections throughout our communities. Since the company was founded, WWTNS? has premiered nine original plays in five cities in four countries on two continents, and presented a further nineteen. The company has launched our education and community arts departments, and created jobs for over one hunred artists – 75% of them femme/GNB identifying and 50% of them BIPOC. The Neighbors have received support from the NEA, the Brooklyn Arts Council, Bel Geddes, Creative Development Fund and A.R.T/New York, amongst others.

www.wwtns.org / @wwtnstheatre

Sam Hood Adrain (he/him): Rhode Island born, New York based.

Sam Hood Adrain (he/him) DEVISOR/PERFORMER is an actor, director, and producer based in New York City. As a theatre artist, Hood Adrain has worked on stage and off at companies across the country including Trinity Repertory Company, Infinity Theatre Company, Dramatist Guild Foundation, Missoula Children’s Theatre, Ithaca Shakespeare Company, HERE, IRT, MITU580, The Flea, Theatre Row, Strongbox Theater, and Audible to name a few. He is the recipient of the 2021 BroadwayWorld Best Director of a Regional Production for his direction of The 39 Steps at Strongbox Theater. He is a published playwright whose works have been called “heartbreaking ….complex…and thought-provoking” (Theatre is Easy), have been presented in NYC at HERE, The Nuyorican Poéts Cafe and IRT Theatre, toured to Providence and Toronto and produced as a radio play by the Cleveland Radio Players. Recent TV credits include “Search Party” and “Law & Order.” Sam is proudly a Co-Artistic Director of WWTNS? BFA NYU: Tisch School of the Arts, Experimental Theatre Wing.

www.samhoodadrain.com / @samhoodadrain

Pablo Calderón-Santiago (he/him): Puerto Rico born, based between New York and San Juan.

Pablo Calderón-Santiago (he/him) DEVISOR/PERFORMER is a multimedia artist from San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 2015 he received a BA in film production with minors in acting and photography from Emerson College. Pablo started his creative life as an actor in the Puerto Rican theater collective Jovenes del ‘98 as well as appearances on tv and film commercials. He’s currently the artist-in-residence for Brooklyn-based theatre company What Will the Neighbors Say? With both organizations Pablo has been actively involved in devising and performing multimedia, documentary based work, often engaging with present political themes. Pablo’s work with WWTNS? been covered in Harper’s Bazaar, the Daily Mail, and Time Out. In addition, Pablo has directed two short films and a music video; works as a lighting designer on fine art, editorial, and commercial photoshoots; and conducts research and translation for feature-length documentaries.

James Clements (he/him): Scotland born, based between New York and the United Kingdom.

James Clements (he/him) is a Scottish writer, performer, theatermaker and arts educator based between New York and Scotland. Clements has performed at venues including La Mama E.T.C., HERE and MITU580, and has been on the creative team for projects at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Lincoln Centre LCT3 and the 92nd Street Y. His source-based experimental plays include “The Diana Tapes” (2016), “Four Sisters” (2017), “Beauty Freak” (2018), “MEDEA/BRITNEY” (2019), “Ellis Island” (2021) and “Brothers in Arms” (2022). These plays have been described by critics as “magnifying” (TimeOut), “intricate” (BroadwayWorld), “compelling” (The Guardian), “affecting” (Playbill) and “intellectual” (Theatre is Easy), and have been performed in cities across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. He has taught at CUNY Queens College and the Wuhan Institute of Design and Science and is an Affiliated Instructor at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He is Co-Founding Artistic Director of What Will the Neighbours Say? and an Artist-in-Residence with the Brooklyn Arts Council and Culture Lab. His work has been recognised by the Queens Council for the Arts, DCLA, NYFA, A.R.T./NY and Creatives Rebuild New York, amongst others.

@james_clements92

Coral Cohen (she/her) is a director, producer, and performance deviser born and raised in Los Angeles and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. Her work spans multiple forms, mediums and subjects, but is largely defined by an emphasis on creative collaboration and deep engagement with the people and subjects she approaches. Her devised work focuses on interrogating cultural history through personal storytelling. Coral’s collaborative process encourages all the artists that she works with to take ownership and agency of the work itself. In 2019, Coral produced, devised, and co-wrote “Between the Threads,” an original ensemble theatre performance about Jewish women in America exploring their relationship to their Judaism at HERE Arts Center. In 2020, Coral devised and directed “In the Kitchen,” an interactive audio play and paired recipe box exploring Arab Jewish culture passed down through food (produced by Experimental Bitch Presents). Excerpts of “In the Kitchen” were part of an installation work entitled “I mean, how do you define safety?” at the Jewish Museum of Maryland as part of their show, “A Fence Around the Torah: Safety and Unsafety in Jewish Life.” Most recently, Coral wrote and directed a short film, “Wresting Place,” slated to premiere in 2023. Assistant Directing credits include: Fefu and her Friends (Theatre for a New Audience, dir. Lileana Blain-Cruz); My Heart is in the East (La MaMa E.T.C, dir. Jen Wineman); S 16 Luna Nera (La MaMa E.T.C, Gian Marco Lo Forte). She is part of the SDCF Observership class 2015/16 and 2017/18 and a member of the inaugural Director’s Track at the legendary SITI Company Summer Training Intensive in 2018. BA-Theatre Arts/Directing, Pace University.

Project title: Third Law

Third Law is a metaphysical theatrical exploration, combining live performance with technology to grant the audience power over the destiny of the subjects they see on stage and screen. Designed to interrogate audience agency, gaze and experience, Third Law aims to unpack the relationship between creator and observer by disrupting the traditional role of the audience.

Residency dates: October 24 – November 4, 2022