NEW COSMOPOLITAN ENSEMBLE
About the Artists
NATHANIEL FOSTER - Playwright
Nathaniel (he/him) is a New York City-based playwright, performer, and dramaturg. He is a 2017 Kennedy Center New Play Dramaturgy Fellow, 2018 ASTEP Artist as Citizens Fellow, a 2018 Cape Cod Theatre Project New Play Development Fellow, and a 2019 New Play Development Apprentice at The Public Theater. He was a 2020-2021 ArtHouse Inkubator Playwright and a 2021 resident playwright at The Strides Collective. He was also the recipient of the 2018 Kennedy Center Ken Ludwig Young Playwright Award. Nathaniel's plays have been seen or developed at The Kennedy Center, The Workshop Theatre, New York Theatre Festival, The Brick, Permafrost Theatre, Fort Collins Fringe Festival, Southern Utah University, Pharmacy Theatre, Mirrobox Theatre, The Strides Collective, Live and in Color, and The Tank.
RYAN HARTLEY - Director
Ryan grew up envisioning fantastical theater spaces, infused with music and kinetic performances. A graduate of Pepperdine University, Ryan is the founding artist of New Cosmopolitan, and the curator of the virtual New Queer Works development series. Ryan has continued his theater training with the Yale Summer Session, SITI Company, and The Barrow Group. www.ryan-hartley.com
NICOLE OHARA - Producer/Stage Manager
Nicole (she/her) is a Hapa* actor, writer, and producer. A graduate from the Stella Adler Art of Acting Studio, Nicole is on a mission to build a body of work that takes people on a journey of self-discovery and awareness. We all hurt, we all love, we all laugh, we all cry. By exploring the humanity in all of us, she hopes to create art that brings us one step closer to healing. Nicole's recent credits include: Snowdrop (English Dub) on Disney+, Elaina Simms- Mortuus Est.: Legacy on Spotify, Elise Rudy- Found Family (Paris Film Festival Best LGBTQ), Producer- The Memory of Water (dir. Xinyao Lin), and Project Coordinator at Roundabout Entertainment.
*Hapa is a word used to describe mixed-race people — primarily, though not exclusively, those who are half white and half Asian.
HAILEE DOMAGALSKI - Alaska
Hailee Domagalski (she/her) is an all-encompassing artist originally from the Midwest, currently residing in Los Angeles. Her focus is on bringing authentic female-forward & LGBTQ+ stories to mainstream entertainment and theatre, highlighting the humanity in all of us. When she's not on stage you can find her in the pottery studio or perfecting her latte art. Recent Credits include Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (dir. Judith Moreland), and Two Gentlemen of Verona (dir. Rob Nagle) at the Art of Acting Studio. Education: BFA - Creighton University, Art of Acting Studio Professional Conservatory. Special thanks to Nicole Ohara and Ryan Hartley for their leadership, and to my amazing love, Olivia.
Hailee Domagalski's performance has been generously supported by Terry Dunseith.
CADEN HEALANDER - Benjie
Caden Healander (he/him) is a storyteller from Kentucky who started out doing puppet shows in his parents living room as a kid. He still does puppet shows in his parents living room as an adult. His primary focus as an artist is to bring more stories by and for trans individuals to accessible mediums. Notable roles include: Sasha in Boni B. Alvarez’s Ivanov adaptation: Nicky, Prior in Angels in America Part 1: Millennium Approaches and Mr. Tumnus in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He currently attends the Stella Adler Art of Acting Studio in Los Angeles CA and resides in LA. Caden dedicates all his work to his dog but this specific performance to his Aunt- who would’ve loved this show.
Caden Healander's performance has been generously supported by an Anonymous donor.
MICHELLE PERSOFF - Sophie
Michelle Persoff (she/her) is a stage and film actress proudly making her Hollywood Fringe debut. Credit highlights: Theater - His Bedroom is Eden (Atlantic Theater Company); Peter/Wendy; Someday:This Pain Will Be Useful to You (The Wild Project and HB Studio); The Incredible Fox Sisters (The New Ohio); Judith of Shimoda (La MaMa), Cabaret. Film - Rainwater (Max Amar); Touch (Evan Morton). Education: BA, Eugene Lang College at The New School; trained at American Academy of Dramatic Arts (LA), and The Atlantic Theater Company. You can read more about Michelle and follow her work at michellepersoff.com. This performance is dedicated to her grandfather, who knew how to make a villain into a hero.
Michelle Persoff's performance has been generously supported by an Anonymous donor.
GRACE RUBLE - Taylor
Grace Olivia Ruble (she/her) is thrilled to be making her Hollywood Fringe Fest debut. Previous credits include Nicky (Stella Adler Art of Acting Studio), Remembering Emmy (University of Pittsburgh Stages-Lab), Spark (University of Pittsburgh Stages), #TBD (Hobart and William Smith Colleges), Love/Sick (Hobart & William Smith Colleges), Macbeth (Hobart and William Smith Colleges), 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche (Hobart & William Smith Colleges) and Eurydice (SPARK Theatre Company). Grace received her B.A. in Theatre, Film, and Media Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and is currently a student at the Stella Adler Art of Acting Studio’s Professional Conservatory program. Instagram: @graceoliviaruble
Grace Ruble's performance has been generously supported by Gerald Daniels.
OUR GENEROUS Gummy Worm DONORS
Nancy Casey
Sean Cowhig
Gerald Daniels
Nike Doukas
Terry Dunseith
Kera Heier
Gia Kim
Heather MacLennan
Brandi Nuttall
Anthony Olivares
Coral Taylor
...and nine Anonymous Donors
Special Thanks to...
Kerrie Seymour, Sean Cowhig, Brandon English,
Jonathan Sperling, North High School,
Matthew Quinn, Theater Asylum,
Lounge on Melrose,
Fractured Atlas