Meet the Artists of Jan 6
Meet the Artistic and Production Team for January 6: A Celebration. A Bodega Princess Remembers Tradition, Not Insurrection. Running now through April 27th - all tickets Pay What You Decide!
Iraisa Ann Reilly (Playwright/Performer) is a writer, actor and educator originally from New Jersey. Off-Broadway: According to the Chorus (Mallory, New Light Theatre Project) Other Favorite acting credits include: The Wolves (#14, Philadelphia Theatre Company) Blithe Spirit (Edith, Cape May Stage) and Water By the Spoonful (Yazmin, South Camden Theatre). January 6th, A Celebration: A Bodega Princess Remembers Tradition, Not Insurrection, was supported by a Lucille Lortel Micro-Commission, and recently performed as part of Teatro Circulo and Latinx Playwrights Circle’s Inaugural One Act Festival, Sol Project’s Sol Fest, and the New Harmony Project Alumni Reading Series. As a writer her work has been developed and recognized by Teatro del Sol, Atlantic Theatre Company, La Jolla Playhouse, Two River Theatre, Arkansas New Play Festival, Bay Area Playwright’s Festival, Theatre Exile, The New Harmony Project, Texas A&M University, Michigan State, Latinx Playwrights Circle, Art House Productions, and the Yale Drama Series. She is currently under commission with Arden Theatre Company and is a member of Soho Rep’s Writer/ Director lab, 2024-2025. MFA Dramatic Writing from NYU. BA Theatre and English from the University of Notre Dame. In creating this play, Iraisa Ann has learned that there are more people involved with making a one-person show happen than any other type of production. Because of that she would like to thank those who have offered their thoughts, time, and feedback and support especially Caridad Svich, Adriana Gaviria, Jean Carlo Yunén, Nilaja Sun, Ian Robles, Nelson-Diaz Marcano, Jenni Werner, and Heather Helinksy. A huge thanks to the creative team whose work will invaluably shape this show. Thanks to Egg Harbor City and all the communities at St. Nicholas School and Church. And finally- gracias a mi familia. iraisaannreilly.com
Estefanía Fadul (Director) is a Brooklyn-based Colombian-American director, and co-Artistic Director of Ensemble Studio Theatre in NYC. Current and recent projects include the world premieres of Hotel Happy by Camilo Almonacid (Houses on the Moon), Eva Luna by Caridad Svich (Repertorio Español), The Garbologists by Lindsay Joelle (Philadelphia Theater Company), and Carla’s Quince created with The Voting Project Ensemble (Drama League Award nomination). Estefanía has developed new plays and musicals off-Broadway and regionally at the Public Theater, INTAR, Playwrights’ Realm, NYTW, Chautauqua, Audible, Juilliard, and more. She is the inaugural recipient of NYSAF's Pfaelzer Award. Affiliations: Drama League Board of Directors, Latinx Theatre Commons advisory committee, Lincoln Center Directors Lab, New Georges Affiliated Artist, SDC. estefaniafadul.com
Jessica Beaver (She/They) (Stage Manager) is a Philadelphia native, Arts Educator, Stage Manager, and Technical Director with organizations such as Music Theatre Philly, The Strides Collective, Yes And... Collaborative Arts, Appel Farms, Philly Young Playwrights, Artwell, and Enchantment Theater Company. Beaver is also a wedding coordinator and officiant with their small business @GetGayMarried. Visit jessicarachelbeaver.com for more updates on performances, productions, and more.
J. DOMINIC CHACON (Lighting Designer) A Shadow that Broke the Light (Simpatico Theatre); Clyde's, BFG, Holy Grail of Memphis (Arden); BLACK WOOD (Gunnar Montana); All My Mothers Dream in Spanish, Young Money (Azuka Theatre); Brighton Beach Memoirs (Delaware Theatre Company); Minor Character (Wilma Theater); The Legend of Georgia McBride (Florida Studio Theatre); Life is a Dream (EgoPo Classic Theatre); A Year With Frog and Toad (Cardinal Stage Company); Thurgood, Peter and the Starcatcher (Walnut Street Theatre) Assistant: Amber Puggy Galore
NATALIA DE LA TORRE (Costume Consultant) Natalia serves as the Costume Shop Manager for the Walnut Street Theater. They are also a freelance costume designer and draper in Philadelphia. Regional work: SETTLEMENTS (Interact Theater Company); CORIOLANUS (Shakespeare in Clark Park); SNOW WHITE (Arden Theater Company); THREE SISTERS TWO (Ego Po Theatre Company); SHITHEADS (Azuka Theater Company). Training: MFA in Production Design, Ohio University. They/She. www.nataliadelatorre.com
Damien Figueras (Sound Designer) is a Cuban-American composer, music director, and sound designer based in Philadelphia. He is a seven-time Barrymore Award nominee. He made his Off-Broadway design debut with "Party Face" at NY City Center in 2018. Other recent credits include theaters such as Walnut Street Theatre, Arden Theatre Company, Inis Nua, Theatre Horizon, Azuka, Delaware Theatre Company and more. In addition to designing, he is the Production Manager for Wolf Performing Arts Center. www.dfigueras.com
doug greene (he/him) (Co-Scenic and Props Designer) doug is a Philadelphia-based designer, actor, installation artist and fashion icon. Thrilled to be working with this team on this important showing!
Taj Rauch (Video and Projections) Taj Rauch is an immersive storyteller with an appetite for learning anything he can get his hands on. With a background in playwriting, cinematography, installation and projections, he’s convinced himself that world building is best done by exploring every element. Most recently, he’s become obsessed with the conversation between the physical and the virtual, and how the longer you look at them the less you can tell the difference. His work has been featured in Fringe Festival, PAFA Museum, IceBox Project Space, Vox Populi Gallery, and on The Today Show.
Divinia Shorter (she/her/hers) (Dramaturg) is a queer, Black Latina writer, dramaturg, and director freelancing in the DMV and beyond. She is the co-founder of Greatest City Collective, a non-profit focused on uplifting artists and the social causes they care about and host to the Collective’s podcast Bus Ride Talks. A writer of many forms, her current focus is a YA novel, her full length play Queens, and supporting the work of other writers with her intensive one-on-one dramaturgy practice. She is currently part of the 2024-2025 Playwrights Cohort at PlayPenn. DC area credits include Round House Theatre, Studio Theatre, Spooky Action Theatre, Rorschach Theatre Company, Theater J, Imagination Stage, and Adventure Theatre. Off-Broadway credits include Roundabout Theatre Company. Regional credits include Simpatico Theatre, The New Harmony Project, TheatreSquared, Nashville Repertory Theatre, and Bay Area Playwrights Festival.
Kereni Sanchez and 10th Floor Productions (Production Management) Kereni is very proud to join Simpatico’s wonderful team for January 6th: A Celebration as the Production Manager. She is a dynamic Stage and Production Manager based in Philadelphia. As the proud co-owner and CEO of 10th Floor Productions, Kereni has worked directly with organizations such as BalletX, Penn Live Arts, Klip Collective, Esperanza Arts Center, Montgomery Theater, The Sonder Space, Metropolitan Ballet Academy, and Fiera Studios. Kereni holds a BFA in Directing, Playwriting, and Production from UArts. To get in touch, please email kereni@10thfloor.live. To explore other 10th Floor Productions projects, visit www.10thfloor.live/
Dalton Whiting (Co-Scenic and Props Designer) is joining Simpatico for the first time to immerse the audience in this basement cafeteria of St. Nicholas School while our Bodega Princess tells her story. Dalton is a Philly based Set and Lighting Designer along with being a Co-Founder of 10th Floor Productions. Recently he has been the Lighting Designer for Our Town with New Light Theatre Co, and currently Set Designing for The Mikado with The Savoy Company. Outside of designing, Dalton is a Set/Lighting Coach for Lower Merion High School's PLAYERS and member of the band Tryptophan.