Carlos Acuña

212-330-7692

Coming from the Sonoran desert of Tucson, Arizona Carlos Acuña’s roles are just as intense as the heat in which he grew up. These range from Carl in Serenading Louie, to Mahmood in Afghan Women, to Krogstad in A Doll’s House. In the Summer of 2004, Carlos was selected for The Guthrie Experience. A former athlete, Carlos’s many intrigues include Chicano History and the culture of the Southwest. He is developing his latest screenplay “Silent Angel” under his film company Ollín Entertainment.

Gina Alvarado

212-629-1873

Gina Alvarado gave up her dream job of waiting tables on the beach in shorts and flip flops to come to Rutgers, where she was given the opportunity to play such roles as Beatrice in Much Ado, Jill in Equus and Antonia in We Won't Pay!  A native of sunny California, Gina gets excited by things like character roles, sketch comedy, and warmth.

Stephen Balantzian

212-501-4970

Stephen Balantzian, a proud New Paltzian and Armenian, left behind his Burger King roots to enjoy performing such roles as an exhibitionist in Betty’s Summer Vacation, a tyrant dad in The Brothers Karamazov and an obsessive poet in Death in Venice. He promises he has a softer side. The other side of him is an experimental chef and visual artist with a degree in Fashion Illustration from F.I.T. 

Katherine Barron

212-714-4506

Katherine Barron joined the Rutgers MFA class of 2005 from the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina.  She holds degrees in both theater and philosophy; her passion for acting maintains a mingling of the two through such roles as pouty Elvira in Blithe Spirit to wide-eyed Alex in On the Verge, and, most recently, Angie, a mischievous trollop, in Claw.

Karen Barry 

212-501-6262

Karen Barry, originally from New York, almost became a minister, choosing theater for its more leniant attitude toward cursing.  Favorite roles include: Christine in Claw (for the dialect work, allowing her to show off her thighs and make folks laugh); Adolpha Hitler in Hollywood Hits (for using her German); and Rosie in Holy Days (for the emotional challenge).

Joachim Boyle

212-726-1589

Joachim Boyle, pronounced Joe-uh-kim, is a native of Oak Park, Illinois.  He has been acting for thirteen years and has a tendency to play characters who are smarter, funnier, and better looking than he will ever hope to be.  Joachim is the founder of Ilumination Pictures and co-founder of Shortbridge Theater in Chicago.  His favorite roles include Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing and Dmitri in Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov. Joachim is a huge fan of John Cassavetes and oysters.

Blaire Brooks

212-613-6224

Blaire Brooks is a “brat” by nature.  “Army brat” that is. She was born in North Carolina and raised in Europe.  She loves music and M.A.C, but fancies cake decorating above all.  Her world premier was at 11 years old on Dië Flote Maus Show in Bonn, Germany. From there she worked with Mark Fincannon and Shay Bentley-Griffin.  Favorite roles include Ophelia in Fortinbras and Margherita in We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay!

Michael Cinquino

212-613-3118

While Michael Cinquino has spent most of his life in Bethlehem, PA, he has lived in 13 different towns, 7 states and has visited over 14 islands and countries. Before deciding on a career in entertainment, he served as a Rescue swimmer in the US Navy. In 2003 Mike founded the Corporate Comedic Theater Company, which specializes in personalized sketch comedy for major corporations. Visit www.mikecinquino.com for more info.

Hollie Hunt

212-613-8479

Hollie Hunt is originally from all over the U.S, "military brat", and finished her BA Theatre in Athens, Georgia.  Favorite credits include Malalai in William Mastrosimone's The Afghan Women, Miss Pat/Afro Wig in The Colored Museum and numerous voice-over commercials--everything from promo spots for Motown Records to animated spots for Mercedes.  Voice-over reel available upon request.

Dana Jacks

212-631-8784

Dana Jacks, a California native and a devoted Brooklyn transplant, has faced the challenges of being a personal shopper at Hermes to managing investors of a multi-million dollar hedge fund, her acting being the most invaluable skill to her success.  Other challenges she loves to take on are Paula Vogel plays, physical comedies, and the classics. Favorite roles include L’il Bit in How I Learned to Drive and Anna in The Baltimore Waltz.

Jarde Jacobs

646-483-7381

Audrey Kelley

212-439-1066

Audrey Kelley enjoys acting when she’s not skydiving, being a jazz singer in Spain or trying to move from a beginner-beginner chess player to an advanced-beginner chess player.  Her artistic versatility allows her to play riveting roles from “Nora” in A Doll House to
“Lady in Purple” in the choreopoem, For Colored Girls; to the wacky “Marina” in the interactive play, Tony ‘N Tina’s Wedding.


Raymond McAnally

212-330-9064

Raymond McAnally, originally from Tennessee, has done everything from farm work and leading backpacking trips to traveling abroad and earning a degree in philosophy; all of which lead him to acting.  He enjoys the challenges of different dialects, physical comedy, and dramatic character roles.  Favorites include Dogberry in Much Ado and Ray in the world premiere of Eloise & Ray. 

Michael Pafunda

732-718-9401

Michael Pafunda, who's from Kentucky, has had a unique educational experience. In grade school he attended the DePaul School, an all dyslexic school. After that he went on to earn awards in high school for his creative writing, he then attended the University of Kentucky where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He loves comedy and has studied improv at Improv Olympics in Chicago. His favorite roles include playing Actor 5 in Dario Fo’s We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! and Bill Reach in Down the Road.

Christina Ross

732-406-4819

Christina Rene Ross is from the teeming metropolis of Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She fled the rural life to pursue her BA Theater degree from Louisiana State University, where she discovered the spice of Cajun cooking and culture. Since coming to Rutgers, Christina has enjoyed playing a variety of roles from quirky ingenue (Desdemona, by Paula Vogel) to dramatic (Katya, The Brothers Karamazov).

Antu Yacob

212-712-8618

Antu Yacob born in Dire Dawa and raised from the hills of San Francisco to the lakes of Minnesota has gone from a Falas Mura Jew in Israel to crack-HO from the ghet-TO to the rebellious Valerie Solanas who shot Andy Warhol to the incomparable divine (much like herself) Sarah Bernhardt, all in the name of art. She loves doing dialects, dance and...dinner.