Cast Bios
SOFT ABILEZ (Elegance/Mom #1/Panic #1/Press #1)
Soft is a sophomore BFA Actor for Film, Television, Voiceovers, and Commercials at Pace University. Soft has been in various TV shows and two movies. They perform their original performance art in New York night life and underground art scene. They are extremely thankful to be apart of the company of Julio and feel humbled to share the story of the beginning of the gay rights movement in Queens, New York. Big thanks to Julian and Lou! As a musician, their new EP with original music and lyrics is coming out soon! @Besomethingsoft
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GABRIEL BURKE (GlitterGuy/The Virgin/Mom #2/Panic #2)
Gabriel is an actor/writer/musician originally from Sydney Australia currently in his sophomore year getting his BFA in Acting at Pace University. Gabriel's American theatre credits include Pace University’s Midsummer: Welcome To The Wood (2019) and Crowds Out Front (2019) a new play workshopped at Manhattan Theatre Club. His Australian credits include Two Peas Theatre Company’s Marat/Sade (2017), Fear&Misery (2015) and Belvoir Theatre Company’s The Events (2016). Gabriel will soon after Julio be releasing his own work, directing his new (and first) play Looking For? in the spring.
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OLLIE BURROW (Sophistication/Mom #3/Panic #3/Kinsolving)
Ollie is a BFA acting sophomore and is excited to be performing in his first main stage production at Pace! He is extremely grateful and honored to be given a voice on such an important topic. He would like to thank Julian, his friends and family, Arkansas, and all the gay teachers and mentors who influence and inspire him. Thank you. Being queer is like glitter-we are beautiful, we are shining, and we are never going away.
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LILY CRAELIUS (Jimena/Right Brain/Press #2)
Lily is a Chicago theatre native with deep roots in slam poetry and song. She's currently a junior actor at Pace University as well as pursuing linguistics. Her party trick is double jointed elbows. She is also able to speed read 250 words per minute, which she usually performs in the form of Dr. Phil show transcriptions.
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SADITHI DE ZILVA (Amara, Cis, Left Brain)
Sadithi is thrilled to be apart of her first MainStage at Pace. She would like to thank her cast and crew for such a wonderful process. Previous Credits include “Thank You Come Again” (2018) and “Moon Over Buffalo” (2019). Catch up with her on instagram @sadithidez. Special thanks to Ammi x
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JORDAN DONALDSON (Go-Go Boy #3 and Magic POC Queen)
Jordan is a sophomore BFA actor from Nashville, TN who is thrilled to be a part of Julio Down by the Schoolyard! This is Jordan's first production at Pace and he is grateful for this incredible opportunity. Thanks to rest of the cast, creative team, and everyone else who helped bring this production to life. Enjoy the show!
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WHIT HEMPHILL (Go-Go Boy #2/Kissing Guy #2)
This is Whit's first production at Pace University. Past credits include Lonely Planet (Carl) and Picnic (Alan). He wants to thank the amazing cast and crew and his parents!
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JANSEN LAU (Go Go Boy/Kissing Guy #2)
Jansen is a Freshman BFA actor from Malaysia, who is excited to be a part of the production of Julio Down by the Schoolyard! He is also an alumni from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in the Los Angeles campus, as well as a freelance model back in Malaysia. Gratitudes to the rest of the cast, creative team, and to all the others who had helped bring together this amazing production. Enjoy the Show!
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GINO LIARDO (J. Heights and Speakes)
Gino is very excited to be ending their college run with Julio Down by the Schoolyard. It is not often that queer stories get to be told and they are very thankful to have been able to work with Julian and Lou through it. Gino has previously been in Boeing Boeing at Pace as well. Big thanks to all the baddies who have supported them to get them where they are!
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PATRICK O'DEA (Butchie/Joe)
Patrick is a BFA Acting senior, and is extremely grateful to get the chance to work with these incredibly talented individuals. His prior acting experience with Pace University includes the show “Machinal.” Julio’s lessons speak volumes with a beautiful voice and an important message. Please watch with your hearts open and enjoy the show!
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TRISTAN POLANIA (Him/DJ)
Tristan is a Pace sophomore BFA acting major. He is thrilled to be a part of this amazing show! His previous credits include Spiderman: Turn off the Dark, To Clothe the Naked, In the Heights, and more. He would like to thank his fellow cast mates, and the crew!
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NIKO RAIYAWA (Fruit Stand/Man #2/Politician #2/Cop)
Niko is a freshman BFA Acting who is making his Pace mainstage debut! He is so proud of what his cast has done and excited to share the beauty of this show and the community behind it. He would like to thank Lou, Julian, and the rest of the creative team for giving him this amazing opportunity. He would also like to thank his mom for all of her support and love. Enjoy the show!
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JASON SCHLAMAN (White Guy/Sammy/Man #3/Politician #3/Cop #1)
Jason is a junior in the Acting for Film, Television, Voiceover, and Commercials major. He is thrilled to be a part of his first Pace main stage. Prior credits at Pace include Venturewell in StandUp Productions’ Knight of the Burning Pestle. Jason would like to thank director Lou Moreno, the brilliant Julio cast, and his parents for their love and support. Thanks for coming and enjoy the show!
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SCOUT SWONGER, They/Them/Theirs (Desi/Man #1, Politician #1, Cop #3)
Scout is a senior BFA Acting major from Merrimack, NH and excited to be a part of this exciting queer work! Scout was last seen playing the spoons as Floyd in Dark of the Moon at The Schimmel Center, but is most known for being a serial intern at a variety of arts organizations. They also run a food blog, Scoutin’ it Out, where they explore all the sweet treats the city has to offer and any other food thoughts and encounters that come along. Much thanks to the team of Julio… for their passion and dedication to this work, and eternal thanks to their parents for their constant support of their varying pursuits. scoutswonger.com.
Creative & Production Team Bios
LOU MORENO (Director)
For INTAR, Lou Moreno directed Neighbors by Bernardo Cubria, Fish Men by Cándido Tirado, Se Llama Cristina by Octavio Solís, Lucy Loves Me by Migdalia Cruz, and Drawn and Quartered by Maggie Bofill which was developed in INTAR’s NewWorks Lab and was INTAR’s inaugural production under his leadership. Recent directing credits include Julio Down by the School Yard - Unit52; The Book of Lucy by Ngozi Anyawu, Beauty of the Father by Nilo Cruz, Rent Control by Evan Zes, Trying by Erin Browne (The Bushwick Starr); Minotaur a Romance and Beautiful by David Anzuelo (LAByrinth Theater Company at The Public Theater); Kingdom (NYMF); Rock/Paper/Scissors (NY Hip-Hop Theater Festival at The Public Theater); The Bigger Man (Partial Comfort); and Blues for a Gray Sun by Nilaja Sun (INTAR). He also serves as an Associate Producer with The 24-Hour Company (Athens, Greece and Broadway). Mr. Moreno won the 2005 Princess Grace Award for Directing.
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J. JULIAN CHRISTOPHER (Playwright)
J. Julian Christopher is a Queer, Puerto Rican and Dominican playwright. He holds an MFA in Acting from The New School for Drama. Playwriting awards include: New Dramatist Residency (Class of 2025), 2019/2020 Rita Goldberg Playwrights' Workshop Fellow at The Lark, 2017 & 2018 Pipeline Theatre Company PlayLab, 2018 LaGuardia Community College’s LGBTQ History Project Grant, 2015 Queens Arts Council Grant, 2009 Public Theater Emerging Writers Group, and 2014 Best New Work Motif Award. Productions include: Man Boobs (Pride Films & Plays, 2011), Nico was a Fashion Model (Counter-Productions Theatre Company, 2013), Animals Commit Suicide (First Floor Theater, 2015), and Locusts Have No King (INTAR, 2016). He wrote the book for LatinXoxo at Joe's Pub in 2019. Other plays include, Alligator Mouth, anOTHER, ¡OSO FABULOSO! & The Bear Backs, Bundle of Sticks, and Bruise & Thorn (2018 PlayPenn Conference). He is a co-producer and co-writer of the hit web series, Bulk- The Series and an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Queensborough Community College.
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MICHELLE CHAN (Assistant Director)
Michelle is an internationally trained director, writer and performer from Hong Kong. Past credits include How I Learned to Drive, Para(normals), Julius Caesar, Pineapple (波羅).
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ANNA TARASOVA (Production Coordinator)
Anna is a sophomore BFA Production and Design student with a concentration in costumes. She is thrilled to take on this project. Past Pace credits include Boeing Boeing, Dark of the Moon, Guys and Dolls, and Sunday in the Park With George. She’d like to thank Evelyn Newman for being so amazing! Enjoy the show.
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EVELYN NEWMAN (Lighting Designer)
Evelyn is very excited to be working on Julio Down By The Schoolyard this semester! She is a sophomore at Pace University studying Production and Design. Select lighting design credits include You’re...Charlie Brown, 42nd Street, Music Man. Pace credits include IPE Devised Works ‘18 (Asst. Lighting Designer), Amélie (Asst. Lighting Designer) and dancesPace ‘19 (Asst. Lighting Designer). She would like to thank the creative team and cast for all their hard work!
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MARGARET GARRITY (Sound Designer)
Margaret is a sophomore at Pace University currently working on her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree as a Production and Design major and Management minor. Margaret has a passion and drive for executing well-crafted and memorable live-performance designs. She has recently been nominated and won the award for ‘Best Lighting Design’ at the 2019 New York Theatre Festival. While her main focus is lighting design, she is thrilled for the opportunity to explore more about sound design through Julio Down by the Schoolyard.
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EMILY HUBER (Production Stage Manager)
Emily is thrilled to be working on this incredible show! Previous credits include: Stage Management internship with the Muny for their 101st season, Pace credits include Welcome to the Wood: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Company Manager), Machinal (2nd ASM), Emergence (PSM), and many more. Love to her family and The Collective.
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CAROLINE CAMPOS (Company Manager)
Caroline Campos is a junior BA Stage Management major, she is thrilled to be a part of this show as the company manager. Her previous credits include Machinal, The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute and many more. Love to the cast, crew, The Collective and of course, her family!
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SLOANE FISCHER (1st Assistant Stage Manager)
Sloane Fischer is a Sophomore in the Stage Management program at PACE University. This is her third mainstage show, previously having worked on the Senior film #2, I against I, dance showcase, Emergence, the play, Machinal, and Welcome to the Wood: A Midsummer Night's Dream. She is thrilled for you all to see this amazing new work, and so thankful to have been given this amazing opportunity to be a part of such a great production and incredible, talented team! She hopes that you enjoy the show!
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MINA KOPP (2nd Assistant Stage Manager)
Mina is so excited to be working on Julio Down by the Schoolyard. Much love to her team, the cast, and her parents for being so supportive. She hopes you enjoy the show!
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MACK FUENTES (Production Assistant)
Mack is a freshman stage management major who is beyond honored to be a part of Julio Down by the Schoolyard. He is incredibly thankful to be participating in a piece of art that shines a light on both the Latino and LGBTQ+ communities he is a part of. Thanks to the powerful cast & creative team who helped put on this show.
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CALLUM McCABE (he/him) (Production Assistant)
Callum is a freshman in the BA Stage Management program. He is very excited to work on Julio Down by the Schoolyard as his second Pace show, having worked on DancesPace last semester. He would like to thank everyone who worked on this show for making it an amazing experience!
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REY HILL (Assistant Company Manager)
Rey Hill is a first-year BA Stage Management major from Boston, MA. They’re so excited to work on Julio as their second Pace show! Last semester, they worked on Welcome to the Wood: A Midsummer Night’s Dream as a Production Assistant. Thanks so much to the fantastic cast and crew for telling this beautiful story!