Biography

Mark Jackson is an award-winning theater maker whose work in theater, dance, and performance has been seen in the Bay Area at the American Conservatory Theater MFA, Art Street Theatre, Aurora Theatre Company, Cutting Ball Theatre, Encore Theatre Company, EXIT Theatre, Marin Theatre Company, Potrzebie Dance Project, San Francisco International Arts Festival, SF State University, Shotgun Players, and Z Space; Nationally at The Studio Theatre (Washington D.C.), The Catamounts (Denver), and Hunger & Thirst (NYC); Internationally at Arts International Festival IV (Japan), Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Bread & Roses Theatre (UK), English Theatre Berlin and Deutsches Theater Berlin (Germany). Three volumes of Mark’s plays are published by EXIT Press, as well as his book Playing Hamlet Roulette: Failure, Expectation, Possibility & Democracy. In addition to teaching in the STC and SFS Programs, Mark is the Director of Studio A.C.T. markjackson-theatermaker.com

Biography

Dr Larissa Kelloway
Ph.D., B.Sc.(Hons.)Biochem, B.A. (Musical Theatre)

Larissa is a conservatory trained performer, performing arts teacher and researcher, specializing in voice, bodywork and performing arts health. Bay Area credits include - Theatre: Mame, Gypsy, Much Ado About Nothing, Groundhog Day: The Musical, The Boy From Oz, 9 to 5: The Musical, Mamma Mia; Cabaret: Always Something There to Remind Me, The Ladies Who Lunch, About Damn Time. Alongside performing and teaching, she is passionate about performing arts research that supports pedagogical practices, enhances student learning, and champions career sustainability. Her PhD research, “Investigating the role of Pilates in the posture and vocal production of singers,” examined the relationship between vocal production, postural control, and physical strength. These findings are a keystone in her teaching approach, in which she synthesizes information from multi-disciplinary sources, providing artists with the tools to support performance, vocal production, movement, injury prevention, instrument optimization and career longevity.

Biography

Peter J. Kuo (Director of the Conservatory, Director of A.C.T.'s San Francisco Semester) is a director, producer, writer, and educator focused on raising the visibility of marginalized communities. He is an alumni of the First Stage Residency at The Drama League and was named one of Theatre Communications Group's Rising Leaders of Color in 2018. Previously, he was the social justice programs coordinator at The New School, where he founded the NSD: Affinity Groups program and was involved with several equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. He taught the class “Acting Beyond Marginalization” at HB Studio, and has directed students in productions at the Atlantic Acting School and Redhouse Arts Center. Kuo previously worked as an art administrator at South Coast Repertory, East West Players, Soho Rep., and LA STAGE Alliance. He is the co-founder of Artists at Play, a Los Angeles Asian American Theatre Collective. As a director and assistant director, he has worked at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Play Company, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, East West Players, South Coast Repertory, Geffen Playhouse, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Leviathan Lab, Ma-Yi Theater Company, and Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, among others. He holds a BA in drama with a minor in business management from UC Irvine and an MFA in directing from The New School’s School for Drama. 

Biography

James Mercer II is an actor, singer, writer, and visual artist of Afro-Carolinian and Afro-Chesapeake descent from Philadelphia, PA, who enjoys people watching, good food, soul music, horror films, and history. They are a Taurus. Described as a youthful old soul, they have a thirst for knowledge fueled by a love for storytelling and the human condition, often curious about the life journey of each person they encounter. As an actor, James has developed a reputation as a shapeshifter, has traveled around the country doing physical theatre, and has joined processes to develop new works in theatre. James has studied with Lee Edward Colston II (PTMI/PTAI), The School at Steppenwolf, and holds an MFA from American Conservatory Theater. 

Biography

Sara Toby Moore is a critically acclaimed, award-winning clown, actor, director, and filmmaker with four decades of experience in the performing arts. Their substantial body of creative work spans multiple media including both big top and arena circus, off-Broadway, casinos and cruise lines, and regional theatre. As an educator, Toby was director of The Clown Conservatory at Circus Center, our nation’s former premiere training ground for new American clowning. They are currently founding Creative Director of Thrillride Mechanics in residence at Z Space here in San Francisco, producers of “clown opera” and “human cartoon fantasia” performances. These visionary forms of narrative clowning will soon be accompanied by a new school, the Human Cartoon Academy, coming this summer at Z Space! Toby is also a proud non-binary queer artist with a long history of creating LGBTQ+ theatre & film. For more info on future shows and trainings with Toby and the Thrillriders visit: saratobymoore.com. 

Biography

Jenny Nguyen Nelson is an actor, writer. She was born and raised bay area and is thrilled to be back after completing graduate school. She has trained with MFA Brown Trinity Rep (Acting), PCPA Pacific Conservatory Theatre two year Certificate (Musical Theater). Jenny has also studied with Second City Chicago as part of their Comedy Studies program where she learned Improv, Sketch Comedy writing, Standup, and clown. Bay Area credits include ACT, Theatreworks Silicon Valley, SF Playhouse, Cal Shakes, and Killing My Lobster. New York credits include Clubbed Thumb and Ars Nova ANT Fest. She has also worked on several new plays through Playwrights Center, ACT, Ground Floor at Berkeley Rep, and Ojai Playwrights Conference. Her play and movement mentors include Shura Baryshnikov, Mycah Hogan, and Dean Evans. For more adventures look to her website jennynguyennelson.com or check out her instagram @Bratwurst_Banhmi to follow her adventures with her dog, Doc Brown and husband Ian (both of her beloveds albeit in no particular order)