Our Brief (Political) Encounters Directors:
Join us in getting to know the directors for our first ten-minute play festival, Brief (Political) Encounters.
Kalif Troy; Director of #SuiteReality
Kalif Troy hails from Philadelphia, PA with a B.A. Theater & minor in African Americanfrom Temple University. During his time at Temple he honed his craft of acting,performance poetry and directing. Nearly 2 years ago Kalif returned to Philly from living in Minneapolis, MN for 7 1/2 years, where he had a successful acting career. He has worked with regional theatres: Penumbra, Mixed Blood and History Theater, in addition to touring the country performing plays about sexual assault, substance abuse and inclusion. In addition to his theatrical credits, he has done voice-over, print, commercial, TV, and indie film work. Kalif is the father of a very precocious 5 year old, Aliyah Isis, who entertains and challenges him every day. Kalif is excited to return to theater as the director for #SuiteReality. Upon his return to Philly he was worked with UPenn and6Abc as well as working Social Media forFreewoods Films. He invites you to follow him on Twitter & Instagram "@Only1KalifTroy" and to "like" his actor page on Facebook - Kalif Troy.
Meg Trelease; Director of “The Second Sex,” otherwise called “The Pussy Protest Play”
Meg Trelease is excited to be working with Revamp Collective. Most recently, Meg directed A Streetcar Named Desire at the 2016 Philly Fringe Festival with new company Deep Blue Theatre Collective. Meg’s favorite roles include Lady Macbeth (Macbeth, Villanova Theatre), Bella (Big Love, Villanova Theatre), Ruthie (Moonchildren, Circle Playhouse), and Gypsy (Camino Real, The Pit). Meg is also working as a producer on Revamp’s upcoming production of Jimmy Gorski is Dead. Meg holds an MA in Theatre and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Villanova University. For Kyle and Pete, always.
Shamus Hunter McCarty; Director of Pizza Rolls & Palin
Shamus Hunter McCarty is a proud feminist and dedicates this collaboration to his mother, Mary Lou. Shamus is the resident director for SEX TALK (the series) in collaboration with Katherine Perry and Artistic Associate/Casting Director for Shakespeare in Clark Park. Recent directing credits include Quince Productions, Manayunk Theatre Co., InterAct/Philadelphia Young Playwrights' Young Voices Festival, New Jersey Fringe and SoLow. Performances include EgoPo Classic Theatre, Bristol Riverside, Eagle Theatre, Pendragon, the Arden (u/s), Tennessee Williams Theatre Fest, Commonwealth Classic, Renegade Company & others. Coming up: Anna (EgoPo); Peter and the Starcatcher (Eagle); Pericles (TWTF). For Butters. shamushuntermccarty.com
Elise D'Avella; Director of Estragon's Boot
Elise D'Avella is a Philadelphia based director, actor, and teaching artist. She received her BA in Theatre from the University of Pittsburgh and earned her MA in Theatre from Villanova University in 2016 with the completion of her directing thesis of Sarah Kane's Crave. She is the resident teaching artist at Theatre Horizon where she specializes in collaborative theatre making for children and theatre for children on the spectrum. She is also the founder of Svaha Theatre Collective that focuses on producing physically inspired productions that challenge the limits of the human psyche, body, and soul.
Steve Wright; Director of Grilling the Octopus
Steve Wright is a Philadelphia based actor who has worked with such theaters as Philadelphia Theatre Company, Arden Theatre Company, Walnut Street Theater, Wilma Theatre, Azuka Theatre, EgoPo Classic Theatre, 1812 Productions, Theater Horizon, Curio Theatre company and the National Constitution Center. He was the Director/Producer for the comedy group "The Insiders". A director for the sketch group "Skitzoid". BCKSEET PROD. (Pvt. Warz, A Zoo Sory) New London Barn Playhouse( The Frog Prince)
Sarah Mitteldorf; Director of Motion Capture
Sarah Mitteldorf is a penguin-lover, puppy scruffler, and theatre maker. She is a founding member of Kaleid Theatre (as in kaleidoscope, as in collide). Favorite credits include Glow, Take/Sacrifice (Kaleid), Many Ways, a piece written and performed by students, who had been adopted from China, TS Hawkins’ #RM2B (Painted Bride), and She Wore Those Shoes (Power Street). More info at http://sarahm.net
(Photo credit: Denise Allen)
(Photo credit: Denise Allen)
Lesley Berkowitz-Zak; Director of Burn the Witch
Lesley Berkowitz-Zak is a Philadelphia based physical theatre artist. She has just started dabbling in the world of direction, and is finding it to be a blast. Past projects include: Bad Hamlet ( co-producer, actor) Shakespeare Roulette: Coriolanus ( Reject Theatre Project,Director) Love's Labour's Lost (Revolution Shakespeare, Flutist/Nathaniel) Animal Farm to Table ( Renegade Company, Bonnie Boxer/devisor) Her trapeze acts have been performed with Tangle Circus Arts and at the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts where she is a coach. Up Next: Baby Zak
(Photo credit: Christopher Kadish)
