A local launchpad for new theatrical work that nourishes the community and fosters civic dialogue
Maria Bechara (she/her)
FATIMAH
Maria Bechara is a New York City-based actress and vocalist, born and raised in Lebanon. She is a recent MFA graduate of the Actors Studio Drama School. Her most recent stage credits include No Demand No Supply, a play that tells the story of four sex trafficking victims, which was part of Between the Seas Festival in NYC, and her role as the bride in Lorca’s Blood Wedding. She also made her television debut in her home country in an Eagle Films produced series, Thawani. Maria is very excited to see live theatre come back after a long pandemic and to be part of Darcy Parker Bruce’s Piedmont Plays with the wonderful ensemble at Play Incubation Collective!
Rachel F. Hirsch (she/her)
BEN, Co-Producer
Rachel has found a creative home in the Pioneer Valley where her passion for new play and musical development lead her to co-found PIC. Rachel thanks Darcy for trusting her with BEN from 2019 through today, through in-person and virtual readings, and now over a year of development with PIC. Beyond Piedmont, Rachel has appeared locally in commercials, Northampton 24 hr Theater, Double Take Fringe, and Youth Performance Festivals, and virtually with Chester and Silverthorne Theatre Companies. Previously, Rachel worked on new works in DC, NYC, and around the country. She is also a voice-over artist and musician. www.rachelfhirsch.com
Nikki Beck
(she/her)
Stage Manager
Nikki Beck has been honored to be a part of developing this incredible new work. She is the Production Manager for the Smith College Department of Theatre. She also works at the Academy of Music and as a freelance stage manager. Nikki runs the Pioneer Valley Theatre Newsletter which you can subscribe to - and submit your theatre events - at www.pioneervalleytheatre.com.
Cat/Milo Keatinge Bezark
(they/them)
JONAH
Milo is a gender abundant cyborg artist/educator who openly discusses their queerness and disabilities in their work. They are passionately interested in creating documentary art through any medium necessary, and working with other artists across disciplines. They have been making theatre since they were a child in Los Angeles, and after moving to Massachusetts in 2014 they’ve branched into photography, film, and sculpture.
Callum LeFrance (he/him)
BRENDAN
Callum LaFrance has long enjoyed the valley sun and water, from time to time he is known to have utilized them upon stage. He is pleased to be able to perform in the 3rd dimension once again with such skilled folx!
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Sarah Marcus (she/her)
EMILY, Co-Producer
Sarah is a Northampton-based theater artist, educator, producer, and mother. She is the co-founder of Play Incubation Collective (PIC), and the director of the Youth Performance Festival, a free yearly opportunity for youth artists to create original performance pieces under the guidance of mentor artists. Locally she has appeared as a performer in Northampton's 24-hour play festival and Greenfield's Double Take Fringe Festival, and beyond at the Emerging Artists Theatre NYC, Adirondack Theatre Festival, Cleveland Public Theatre, NY International Fringe Festival, and HERE Arts Center, among others.
Darcy Parker Bruce (they/them)
Playwright
Darcy Parker Bruce is a playwright and educator from New Haven, CT, and a graduate of the MFA Playwriting program at Smith College. In the summer they join the Sewanee Writers’ Conference as part of their staff. They are currently working on several projects including commissions from Chester Theatre Company, Acadiana Repertory Theater, and a cycle of plays investigating the relationship between small towns, queers, and American Glory. Their play Always Plenty of Light at the Starlight All Night Diner can now be purchased through Broadway Play Publishing and their play The Place That Made You, the second play in the Piedmont Cycle, is forthcoming from the same press.
Celeste Bliss Myhre
(she/her)
Marketing
Celeste Bliss Myhre is a professional circus artist and arts manager. Originally from Texas, she now lives in Quebec City, Canada. Celeste has had the pleasure of being PIC’s artist liaison since March.
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Marlow Bull (they/them)
BEN/CONNOR/IPOMEA
Marlow Bull was raised in a Vaudeville stage magic company and was carried onstage before they could walk. They earned their MFA in acting from Columbia and taught acting at UMass Amherst for six years, with a focus on voice and movement. Always keeping the audience on its toes, Marlow left theater and education to pursue their MBA at Yale, and they are excited to use their actor's toolkit of empathy, storytelling and creative collaboration in a career in marketing. Marlow is incredibly excited to be working on these amazing characters with such a wonderful group of theater-makers!
Hassan Nazari-Robati (he/him)
SAMIR/QAMAR
Hassan Nazari-Robati is a New York-based actor originally from Oklahoma. Hassan has traveled the country and the world on tour with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and has been fortunate enough to work regionally and in New York since graduating from Oklahoma City University. Last year, a group of Iranian artists and he founded Peydah Theatre Company. Many thanks to everyone involved with PIC for the chance to play again and make theatre magic!
Deveir Cockett (he/him)
CONNOR
Deveir Cockett loves to participate in anything and everything in the arts. His acting work spans community theater, college theater, improv shows, and two commercials. He feels fortunate to have found a career at his former college Springfield Technical Community College where he can act and provide voice-over for the medical department. Being part of PIC is a true blessing for Deveir, where he is surrounded by such a creative and inviting group. He looks forward to many more PIC projects! In addition to acting, Deveir loves Jamaican food, reading novels & comic books, and watching sports.
Jennifer Onopa (she/her)
Director
Jen Onopa is an educator and theater maker focusing on community-engaged, socially transformative performance work. She has directed contemporary plays and devised projects in Chicago, New York City, and Western Mass. Most recently, she co-directed Re/Emergence: A Post-Apocalyptic Performance Meditation for Hope and Healing with the Re/Emergence Collective at Park Hill Orchard. An educator for over twenty years, Jen leads the theater department at PVPA (Pioneer Valley Performing Arts School). Aside from designated theater spaces, she has staged work in cafes, galleries, boulevard medians, street corners, an airport, a subway station, and is now proud to add 'parking lot' to this list. www.jenniferonopa.org
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Lama El Homaïssi (she/her)
QAMAR
Lama El Homaïssi is an NYC-based writer, performer and arts educator from Beirut, Lebanon, and a graduate of the MFA Musical Theater program at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Lama originated the role of Qamar at ATHE conference in 2018 when Soldier Poet was granted the Judith Royer Award for Excellence in Theater. She has also performed in notable venues such as Joe’s Pub, Club OBERON, Lincoln Center, Loeb Drama Center, and Berklee Performance Center.
Outside of performance, Lama is passionate about community organizing and bringing new works to life. She served as a Dramaturgy and Publications Assistant for A.R.T.’s 2019-2020 season and was involved as a storyteller and singer in several community engagement and education events. lamaelhomaissi.com
Eddie Pizzano (he/him)
Sound Designer/Publicity
Eddie is in his last year of school, majoring in Sound Design at UMass Amherst, and is PIC's administrative intern for the summer. He would like to thank his family and friends for inspiring him, and Rachel and Sarah for developing a space where new theater can be explored and created.
Additional Actors/Advisors in the Developmental Process
Craig Pinder (he/him) as BUD
Joel Mercier (he/they) as JONAH
Script Advisory Committee
Ezekiel Baskin (they/them)
Stephanie Carlson (she/her)
Tobias K. Davis (he/him)
Talya Kingston (she/her)
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Meet the Piedmont Team
Scroll down to get to know our collaborative cast, production, and development team