Derek Walsh is a stand-up comedian and self-described "professional overthinker" who has spent eight years performing in dive bars and coffee shops across the city. His comedy career began after being fired from accounting—"my coworkers laughed harder at my expense reports than my boss did." This unexpected career pivot revealed his talent for finding humor in life's mundane disasters.
Jazz Reynolds is a professional dancer and movement artist who has brought her choreographic vision to nightclubs, music videos, and performance art spaces for seven years. Classically trained in ballet before discovering hip-hop, house, and voguing, she blends technical precision with raw energy in her performances. "Dance saved my life as a teenager," she reflects, "giving me purpose and community when I needed it most."
Elena Cho is a director whose work centers on intimate, ensemble-driven productions that amplify community voices. With roots in stage management, Cho transitioned to directing through new play development, bringing a technical eye and collaborative spirit to her productions. "My practice begins at the table, moves through the body, and opens early conversations about design," she says. "I create space for actors to bring their lived experiences into the story—that's where authenticity lives."
Gabriel Ortiz is a theater costume designer whose work blends rigorous dramaturgy with tactile storytelling. Trained in pattern-making and textile dyeing, he builds garments that move with actors and speak for characters before a word is said. “Costume is the first line of dialogue,” he says. “It whispers who you are to the audience.” His process is collaborative and research-forward—fittings feel like rehearsals, and fabric swatches share space with script pages and music cues.