Aanika’s Elephants
Presented by Feisty Elephant Productions, Pam Arciero Productions & Little Shadow Productions
In association with Center for Puppetry Arts
LEAD TEAM BIOS:
Annie Evans: (writer/producer) Has written children’s television for the past twenty-five years, most notably for Sesame Street (13 Emmy Awards) as well as for shows on Nickelodeon, PBS, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel and Animal Planet. She has taught writing for children around the world and story edited for Sesame Street co-productions in Bangladesh, India and Indonesia. She is also a playwright having had plays produced around the world and at such New York City theaters as New York Stage and Film Company, Manhattan Class Company and the Circle Repertory Lab. She is a graduate of Brown University. www.Funnygirlscopingwithboys.com; www.Annieevans.com.
Pam Arciero: (director/producer) is a multi-ethnic, multicultural director, born and raised in Hawaii. She directs for live theater, television, film, as well as being a performer and producer. Pam choreographs and directs live walk-around (the big versions of the puppets) shows for Sesame Workshop in such far flung places as Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, Barcelona, and Saudi Arabia, Sesame Place, PA and Sea World, USA. She performs for film, television and theater, notably as a puppeteer with Sesame Street (Grundgetta Grouch, Oscar’s girlfriend, and assorted characters) and for the Muppets for over 30 years. Pam has taught puppetry all over the world, from New York to Hong Kong, Hawaii to South Africa. Her love and joy of Puppetry is contagious. She is the Artistic Director of the National Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.
Jean Marie Keevins: (performer/producer) is an Emmy nominated puppet artist, producer and professional coach whose puppetry work spans from film (“The Muppets”) and television (“Helpsters” and “The Muppets: A Letter to Santa”) to the stage. She co-produced Martin P. Robinson’s Off-Broadway Run of All Hallow’s Eve, Riddle of the Trilobites, Zwerge (co-writer), The Flatiron Hex (The New York Times Critic’s Pic & UNIMA Citation of Excellence), Lunatic Cunning (UNIMA Citation of Excellence), The Joshua Show: Volume 2 (UNIMA Citation of Excellence), The Adventures of Liverwurst Girl and building. Her production company, Little Shadow is known for its excellence in shepherding original productions, as well as education through its academy and Lil’ Talks series. The majority of her time is spent coaching original, forward thinking people to create their new narrative and the life and careers that they want. Jean Marie is a proud graduate of the University of Connecticut’s Puppet Arts program and the Associate Artistic Director of the National Puppetry Conference and the Tony Award-winning Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. LittleShadowProductions.com
Martin P. Robinson: (production designer/builder) Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors (designer/performer); The Frogs(designer). Off Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors (Drama Desk, L.A. Drama Critics, Villager Awards); Go, Diego Go! National Tour (puppet designer); Film: Muppets Take Manhattan, Follow That Bird, Elmo in Grouchland, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Producers. TV: Sesame Street– 41 years playing Mr. Snuffleupagus, Telly Monster, Slimey, etc. Currently playing Mr. Primm on the new Sesame Street/Apple TV show “Helpsters.”
Paul Rudolph: (composer/musician)is a composer, arranger, instrument builder, and vocal music director/recordist/composer for “Sesame Street”, where he received 3 Emmy nominations for Music Direction, and won 3 Emmys for music editing. Music direction/composition/arranger credits include Sesame Street (HBO/PBS) (includes TV, web, live shows and app content), Nature Cat (PBS), Toca Boca, Heather Henson, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Martin P. Robinson’s All Hallows’ Eve, the Jim Henson Company, Muppets Tonight (ABC), Jerry Nelson’s original CD Truro Daydreams.
Monét C Morris: (Stage Manager) is excited to continue the magical journey with Annika’s Elephant! She loves being a part of the theater world in every shape and form. Through her 20+ years in theater she has been blessed to hold positions at the Ridgefield Theater Barn, Music Theater of Connecticut, Daryl Roth Theater and the The New Group! Monet is currently working at the World Famous Apollo Theater as their Events Coordinator. She is excited to find out where theater will lead her to next.
Andre C. Allen (Lighting Designer): André C. Allen was born and raised in Queens, New York. He moved to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College in 1989. There he discovered the art of storytelling with light and later founded BlackLight Productions Inc. in 1990. He has designed for many artists and organizations including productions for the Freddie Hendricks’ Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, the Atlanta Falcons, and India.Arie. You can also find his work on the small screen with networks such as Netflix, BET, TVOne, OWN, and REVOLT TV. André is committed to teaching the next generation of designers through his role as the lighting design professor at Spelman College. www.BlackLightProductions.com “Gen. 1:3”
Montana Kern (Associate Lighting Designer) is an artist driven by a deep fascination of theater and a passion for extraordinary experiences. He has been honing his skills as a designer and technical director In Greenville for the last decade. Recently Montana joined The Kennedy Center’s Theater for Young Audiences on tour with their production of Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume! as their lighting supervisor and technical director. Some of his recent designs include lighting My Fair Lady for Mill Town Players and scenic design for Around the World in 80 Days at Lean Ensemble Theater. Often, Montana’s Work extends beyond traditional theater, such as his Interactive projection mapping experience at the Greenville Center for Creative Arts for their open studio artist showcase.
Carly Levin (Production Manager) is a NYC based production manager & stage manager. As a former New Victory intern, she’s excited to be back at one of her first venues. Credits include Waiting for the Sibyl (William Kentridge, international tour), All Hallows Eve (Connelly Theater), A Perfect Party for Trees (Trusty Sidekick), The Little Red Fish (NYC Children’s Theater), Ocean Filibuster (Pearl Damour, US tour), The Good Swimmer (BAM), 4:48 Psychosis (Prototype), Fellow Travelers (GWLT/Prototype), Anatomy Theater (Bric/BMP), Kurt Vonnegut’s Happy Birthday Wanda June (Wheelhouse), Tap and Tom (Jacob’s Pillow), Standard Time (The Duke), Please Continue (EST), Powerhouse (Sinking Ship). Technical Supervisor at GWLT/John Jay ’19-’21, PM & SM for The American Tap Dance Foundation 2012-2020 including New Victory Dance. Thanks to Seth and the Osnow-Levin clan for the behind-the-scenes support.
CAST:
Jimmica Collins: (Principle Performer) is an actor/puppeteer with a love for Children’s Theatre. She graduated from NYU (Tisch) with a B.F.A in Theatre and a minor in Children’s Mental Health. Jimmica has performed in many TYA productions over the years including Stellaluna, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Fancy Nancy the Musical, among others. She trained with the Jim Henson Company and performed in Brian Henson’s Puppet Up! Improv show. TV credits include: Helpsters (Apple TV+), Donkey Hodie (PBS), Feel Your Best Self (UConn), and Wondermore (InTouch Media). She is also a new puppeteer on Season 53 of Sesame Street!
Latoryah Alexander: (Puppeteer) Latoryah Alexander is an actress, teaching artist, and puppeteer who performs the role of Kayla on Sesame Street. Alexander began her professional acting career at New Stage Theatre, Mississippi’s only Regional Theatre, in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. While performing and studying at New Stage, her passion for arts and education blossomed. She subsequently relocated to Atlanta, GA, where she became a company member at Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre, one of Georgia’s longest-running Educational Theatre Companies. There, she performed for 10+ years in countless shows and workshops as an actress, puppeteer, and facilitator, utilizing the unique power of theater to inspire healthy choices and build stronger communities. Alexander is now one of ten Sesame Street Workshop Puppeteer Mentees invited to join the Sesame Street Mentorship Program to train the next generation of puppeteers.
Jared Brodie: (Puppeteer) is excited to be returning to the cast of Aanika’s Elephants again and to tell this beautiful story. Jared is an Atlanta actor, singer, and puppeteer. Some past productions include Ordinary Days (Warren), A Year With Frog and Toad (Snail/Ens), Homemade Fusion (Self), Blues For an Alabama Sky(Guy), Brer Rabbit and Friends (Brer Rabbit), and Shrek (Donkey). When he’s not on stage, Jared enjoys training clients in fitness, teaching arts to the youth, and rebuilding his podcast company. At this time, Jared would like to thank his family and friends for their love and support, mentors for their tutelage, and last but not least, the patrons of the arts. With all my heart, thank you!
Bradley Freeman, Jr:. (Puppeteer) Bradley Freeman, Jr has been a puppeteer since he was 5 years old. From that time on it was his dream to become a Muppet performer. He would practice everyday after school lip-synching to the sketches from Season 1 of The Muppet Show. All through elementary, middle, and high school Bradley took puppets around to mess around with his friends, and to give them lessons in the television style of puppetry. After high school Bradley began creating, building, and performing original characters. In 2018 Sesame Street held a workshop to train young puppeteers from around the world. Out of over 400 international applicants, he was one of 30 selected to participate. This got him on the Sesame Streets radar, and several years later they held auditions for a new character named Wes. After a long audition process he got the part, and since then his world has completely changed for the better. He has worked on shows like The View, Sesame Street, Helpsters, Michael Bublé’s Christmas in the City, The Muppets Mayhem and more.
Leila Ghaznavi: (Puppeteer) Leila Ghaznavi is a puppeteer, actor and playwright of American-Iranian descent. A MFA graduate of the California Institute of the Arts, her work has been featured both internationally and across the US. She leads the multi-disciplinary theatrical company, Pantea productions. To learn more about her work please visit www.panteaproductions.com
Cedwan Hooks: (Puppeteer) Cedwan Hooks is a puppet artist from Kansas City, KS who has worked internationally. His puppeteering credits include The Curse of Bridge Hollow (Netflix), Helpsters (Apple TV+/Sesame Workshop), Moon and Me (BBC), His History (Fabric Workshop and Museum), Albie’s Elevator (PBS Kids), and Doom Patrol (DC Universe). He is the spokesperson for Primrose Schools as Percy the Rooster. Cedwan has designed walkaround/puppet works for Aerosmith, Warner Brothers, Comedy Central, Georgia Aquarium, The Public Good Projects, and 20 th Century Fox World in Malaysia. He also worked as a puppet designer and walkaround trainer for DreamWorks Experience in Macau.
Zuri Nkosi Terrell (Aanika Understudy/ASM) is a native of Washington, DC and Orlando, Fl but is proud to call NYC home. She has been featured in classic musicals, original works, showcases, play festivals, cabarets, and open mics in several venues throughout NYC and on Zoom during quarantine. Zuri is thrilled to be making her debut at the New Victory Theater and to be working with these incredible people. Many thanks to her family and friends for all their love and support. Dedicated to her beloved mother BJ Jones.
Gordon Robert Price (Musician) Married. Father of three. Born/raised in NYC (Bed-Stuy then, South Jamaica). Price became interested in hand-drumming by way of the dance classes attended by his younger sister at the local YMCA. (RIP Pauline Wilson and Darryl Spriggs) Price played in a funk band (Oz) for about 50 years and more recently with Southside. Price studied automotive technology at NYC Community College, spent 30 years doing audio utility at Sesame Street, where he met the Producers and Puppeteers of Aanika’s Elephants. He spent one summer touring with the show in NC and Maryland and, just like that…Broadway!
Special Thanks:
Aanika’s Elephants is the proud recipient of workshop and production grants from The Jim Henson Foundation. Additional thanks to Ridgefield Theatre Barn, Pamme Jones, Tryon Fine Arts Center, Center for Puppetry Arts, Heather Henson, Green Feather Foundation, Cheryl Henson, Flock Theatre, B-Line Medical, LLP, Matt Pagliaro, Paulette Richards, Hillel Friedman, Emily Lawson, Stephen Lanza, Bob Marty & Kim Alonzo