The Mechanicals Presents: Fresh Ink
Kinda Sick
Playwright - Richard Hollman
is a NYC-based writer, actor, musician, teacher and activist. He earned his MFA in Playwrighting from Brooklyn College in 2026, where he received the Kitch English Fund, Donald Fine Creative Writing scholarships, and Lainoff Prize. His Play Back and Forth was produced by Super Secret Arts and named a NYT Critics’ Pick; The Fired Fourth received a workshop at The Tank. His work has appeared at The Brick and Brooklyn College. Rich has performed at Cherry Lane, La MaMa, The Public Theater, and on television. www.richhollman.com
Director - Mildred R. Gil
is a New York native, classically trained through the BFA Acting program at MMC. Her artistic journey spans stage and screen, including Machinal, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Macbeth, Billions, Succession, You, King of Games, and her short film Loved & Lost, which she produced, wrote, and starred in. As a director, she helmed Ruthellen Cheney's Seance at The Gene Frankel Theater (2025) and Chris Patterson’s Between the Lines at Dixon Place (2019). As a 1st AD, she worked on City of Dreamz, Papi Chulo, and Tigueronas. Mildred develops work through Brookmil Productions. @brookmilpro.
Stage Manager - Jaz Wilson
is a New York based stage manager. Previous work with The Mechanicals includes Séance (SM) Romeo & Juliet Staged Reading (SM) and Machinal (ASM).
Kenny - Kelvin Grullon*
is a Dominican-American actor from Washington Heights, NYC. He’s a multi-talented artist often working as an actor, writer, & director.
Chef & Man - Cary Hite*
(dir./Evan) is a NYC-based actor and voice-over artist.
Officer Kilkenny/Guy/Officer 2/
Chef 2 - Eric Bermudez*
is pumped to be back with The Mechanicals! He has appeared in a variety of theater and film projects, and also works as a theater educator.
Meghan/Woman 1/Skater - Panyin Nunoo-Brown
is a NYC actor trained at Terry Knickerbocker Studio, making their screen debut in indie feature Before the Joy.
Security Guard - Tim Butler
AMDA graduate Tim Butler returns to the stage after a career in theater, radio, and film scoring, bringing his passion for performance full circle.
Carla/Woman 2 - Julissa Peralta
is a creative director, stylist, fashion designer and actress that recently competed on Hulu’s first-ever fashion competition show, Dress My Tour. Follow JuJu @junikdesigner
Leonetta/Woman 3 - Zahaira Curiel
is a Dominican-Puerto Rican actress, singer, writer & producer based in LA, NYC & PR.
Alala & The Scarman
Playwright - Silma Sierra Berrada
is an African American and Moroccan playwright, poet, and visual artist whose work excavates the space where the personal ruptures against the political. Blending ritual, realism, and myth, she writes toward ancestral haunting, spiritual collapse, and the inheritance of pain—asking what tenderness survives inside systems built for endurance. She holds an A.B. in English from Princeton University and an M.F.A. in Playwriting from Columbia University.
Director - Brian Rojas
is a Colombian-American actor from New York City, driven by a deep passion for storytelling. Screen credits include Apple’s Your Friends and Neighbors, Zack Braff’s A Good Person, and FBI: Most Wanted. Stage credits include 17 Minutes by Scott Organ—directed by Seth Barrish at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival—and Savana Glacial by Jo Bilac, directed by Marina Montesanti at Brooklyn’s Irondale Theater. Brian is also a proud educator at The Barrow Group Theater Company—where he first began his journey in storytelling and continues to inspire and mentor emerging artists.
Stage Manager - Eleni Efthimiou
is honored and thrilled to be a part of this year’s Fresh Ink Festival! She is currently studying at Brooklyn College her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts after graduating from Kingsborough Community College earlier this year. She intends to focus on stage management as a future career, but will gladly stick her hands into all aspects of theatre production.
Shiny Herald - M. Damon Hawkins*
is a Bronx-born, Brooklyn-based actor who is both excited and honored to be joining The Mechanicals for this year’s Fresh Ink Festival! While M. Damon is an avid fan of the classics, he is just as eager to develop new works that place important voices and stories at the forefront. Notable credits include Banquo in Macbeth, Valere in Tartuffe, Sorin in The Seagull, and, most recently, Paul in Terrence McNally’s The Lisbon Traviata. When not onstage or in front of the camera, M. Damon is likely binging horror movies or crocheting.
Alala - Sariah Thompson-James
is an NYC-based actor, theatre educator, and Pace BFA alum, thrilled to be back onstage and sharing passionate stories!!
Postlingual
Playwright - Brooke Downs
earned an MFA in creative writing from Brigham Young University, where she teaches literature and writing courses. Her works have been performed or published by American Stage, Wordsmyth Theater, Wasatch Theatre, and River’s Edge. Postlingual was inspired by Brooke’s grandmother, who lost her hearing suddenly, completely, and permanently after an outpatient surgery despite having no previous hearing loss. Brooke spent the last year of her grandmother’s life typing the family’s words so her grandmother could hear their conversations.
Director - Lunie Jules
Lunie Jules is a Haitian-American actress, teaching artist, coach, and writer based in New York City. An award-winning actress and writer, she has performed at The Barrow Group, The Mechanicals NYC, The Flea Theater, Teatro SEA, Theatre 80, AlphaNYC Theatre Co., and New Perspectives Theatre Company.
When she isn’t creating, teaching, or performing, you can probably find Lunie thrifting or binge-watching an old TV show. Her website, LunieJules.com, is currently under construction. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @LunieJules.
Stage Manager - Kevin Brutus
is a CUNY Hunter College graduate with a BA in Theatre and recipient of the 2016 Robert LoBianco Award for Excellence in Stage Management. He been an ASM for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cymbeline, and Twelfth Night, later stage managing The Gothic Hour, Machinal, and readings of Medea and The Two Noble Kinsmen. His additional credits include Let Me Love You: Intersectional Love Stories (Goodwave Studios) and Yerma In Vitro (Dramatic Question Theatre). Kevin currently serves as Company Manager for The Mechanicals.
Alexa - Alexis Confer
is a Brooklyn-based director, producer, and actor with an international presence in theater. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Mechanicals Theater Company, established in 2015, dedicated to bold, socially engaged interpretations of classic and contemporary works. Her directing credits span The FLEA, SoHo Playhouse, Theatre 80 – St. Marks, Teatro LATEA, 13th Street Rep, Flamboyan, SEA, The Duke on 42nd Street, and Nairobi’s Phoenix Theatre. A George Washington University graduate, Alexis serves on the board of Waterwell Theater Company.
Ken - John Purdy
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Luke - Kevin Lee
has taken acting classes since 2018 with Grace Kiley. He appeared in short films, Patricia Says Goodbye (2022) and Tango in Room 1310 (2025).
Joan/Dr. Green - Lisa Tracy*
can be seen in "Meet Me in the Margins" on GAF Network. Featured in Maia Chao's AMERICAN IDLE for Times Square Arts. AEA, SAG-AFTRA
Victor - Ming Wu
is a Brooklyn based actor and headshot photographer. He studies acting at the Barrow Group and has a strong background in film production.
Graciela - Kakra Nunoo-Brown
received comprehensive training in Meisner, Method, Stanislavsky, and Chekhov in both New York and Los Angeles.
Kakra recently completed two years of intensive actor conservatory at the Terry Knickerbocker Studio.
Colby Carter - Celina Mylene Santana
is thrilled to be a part of Postlingual! Recent credits include POST MORTEM, The Benny Winner Show, and TISMO:CRAWLSPACE BLOG.
Dragon - Moon Elise Warner (he/him)
is a Black, queer and trans artist concerned with going deeper! He acts, dances, sings, and overall loves to create and connect.
Wise Guys
Playwright - Gabriel Diego Hernández
is an actor, playwright, educator, poet, and hip hop artist from Hoboken. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yale and is Mile Square Theatre’s first artist-in-residence. His hip-hop musical Quarter Rican premiered there in 2023 and has toured nationally, including an Off-Broadway run. His play Wise Guys was featured at the South Texas New Play Festival and makes its NYC debut at Fresh Ink. Gabriel received a Javiera Rodriguez Legacy Art Grant from Art House Productions and is developing a commission through Montclair State University.
Director - Alex Jones
is a New York-based theatre artist, actor, director, and educator. He holds a B.A. in Theatre Performance from Marymount Manhattan College and teaches Acting at Kingsborough Community College. His acting credits include Zero Day (Netflix), Wicked City Blues and Mayfield (Off-Broadway), Henry IV, The Mandela Architecture, and Seance with The Mechanicals. His commercial work includes Walmart, Sennheiser, Applebee’s, and ADT. Alex is thrilled to return to The Mechanicals as a director for Fresh Ink, bringing fresh voices and bold theatrical perspectives to the stage.
Stage Manager - Jaz Wilson
is a New York based stage manager. Previous work with The Mechanicals includes Séance (SM) Romeo & Juliet Staged Reading (SM) and Machinal (ASM).
Dr. Wexler - Steve Held*
returned to acting after a 40-year hiatus and is making up for lost time on stage and screen. Next up: Dr. Wexler in Wise Guys.
Solomon - Laramie Zamor
is thrilled to make his debut with The Mechanicals Theater Company. He would like to give thanks to his friends and family.
Kenya - Rose Dinnigan
is happy to be making her professional debut in Wise Guys. She is grateful for this opportunity and excited to share it with an audience.
Willie - David Torres
is an emerging actor and singer passionate about storytelling, theater, and connecting with audiences through every performance.
Aoife - Lainey Mackinnon
is an actor, intimacy coordinator and producer based in NYC. She is so excited to work with The Mechanicals again! Love to my loves.
Kinda Sick
Playwright - Justin Borak
is a Lebanese-American playwright based in New York City. His work has been developed by Noor Theatre, Gideon Productions, and West Virginia Public Theatre. He is a member of New York Theatre Workshop’s SWANA Writers Co-Op and resident playwright with Oklahoma Shakespeare Festival, and holds a BFA from Charleston Southern University and an MFA from West Virginia University. His honors include the Eugene O’Neill NPC Award, Lanford Wilson New American Play Prize, and Broadway Licensing New Works Grant. justinborak.com
Director - Brynne
O’Rourke
is a transfemme, multidisciplinary theatre artist, producer, and director dedicated to anti-oppressive practices and TRANS liberation. Their work centers radical self-love and stories that imagine a more just world. A 2025 Ghost Bike Fellow with FUTURE RIVER Theatre Company, Brynne is a member of the F.U.N. Collective, Pride Youth Theatre Alliance, Trans Asylum Seeker Support Network, and Trans Writers Union. They hold an MA in Applied Theatre from CUNY School of Professional Studies. brynneorourke.com
Stage Manager - Eleni Efthimiou
is honored and thrilled to be a part of this year’s Fresh Ink Festival! She is currently studying at Brooklyn College her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts after graduating from Kingsborough Community College earlier this year. She intends to focus on stage management as a future career, but will gladly stick her hands into all aspects of theatre production.
Derrik - Juancho Rodriguez
is an actor and award-winning filmmaker whose credits span film, television, and theatre. He played Jason in The Brunch Club, Tobias in Safe Space, Benito and the Moon in José Rivera’s References to Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot, Nicholas in Heston-Gable, Richard Roe in Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal, King Edward IV and Stanley in Richard III, and Paris and Montague in Romeo & Juliet. Most recently, he led Latin Lover at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, and was featured on Hulu's Dear Killer Nannies led by John Leguizamo. Rodriguez is represented by MC Talent Consultants.
Lindsay - Sam Meilani Rodriguez
is an actor from Brooklyn, New York. Their most recent credits include That Show! at UCB and Serials at The Tank.
Christian/Derrick’s Dad/Man - Levi Hood
is thrilled to be working with The Mechanicals for the first time and thanks his family and friends for their love and support.
Mario Lopez - Carlos Rodriguez*
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Woman - Kakra Nunoo-Brown
received comprehensive training in Meisner, Method, Stanislavsky, and Chekhov in both New York and Los Angeles.
Kakra recently completed two years of intensive actor conservatory at the Terry Knickerbocker Studio.
* Actors Equity Association Members
Designers
Sound Designer - Margaret Montagna
is a New York City-based sound designer from Brooklyn. Select credits include Machinal (The Siggy at The Flea), Hamlet: What Dreams May Come (The Frank Shiner Theater), The Jester’s Wife (The Chain Theatre), Brainsmash, I Wanna Fck Like Romeo and Juliet*, The Panic of ‘29, and The Collision/The Martyrdom (59E59), Alison Leiby: Oh God, A Show About Abortion (Cherry Lane Theatre), and Decomposed Theater and The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (The New School). margaretmontagnasd.com