by Art Spark Texas
Bios (alphabetical)
Nano Boye – Dorothea Dix/Asylum Director/Dramaturg
MsBoye is a writer, actor, playwright, poet, Podcast producer, drum guardian and trainer. She lives in Austin, with the love of her life Sally Jeaux. She is blessed to have her dream job working with her disabled friends at Art Spark Texas. She is a passionate advocate for accessible inclusion in the arts. She is proud to be the Producer of the “True Tales by Disability Advocates” podcast, working with an amazing team of Disability Advocates and storytellers, changing the world one story at a time. She identifies herself as a Dapper-Butch-Neurodivergent-Introvert-Lesbian-Crone-Interfaith-Minister-Artist.
James Burnside – Playwright
Playwright, (slightly) disabled Veteran, Husband, Father, Old Man, Long Covid.
Laura Caffrey – Set Designer/Props
Laura Caffrey has been involved in theater since 1980 when she first joined her middle school stage crew. Her most recent work includes voicing and puppeteering Hannah in 2022’s Journey of the Wise Men at Wizard Academy, set design/construction and prop management for Communication by Captivation Theater’s 2023 production of Frank’s Life at Trinity Street Playhouse, set design/construction, prop mastery, and stage management for CBC’s 2024 production of Glengarry Glen Ross (also at TSP) and set piece fabrication for CBC’s pop up performances of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog at Cherrywood Coffee House last month. Laura also manages Fine Art Services, her long-standing custom picture framing shop, was recently Open Water Diver SCUBA certified, is working toward a graduate certificate in Museum Studies through Harvard Extension School, is a volunteer usher at the Paramount Theater, regularly donates platelets at We Are Blood, and more pointedly advocates for disabled people since discovering she herself is disabled. She wants to thank everyone for showing up every time they can.
James Davery – Ricky/Court Officer/Assistant Stage Manager
James Davery has appeared on the Austin Playhouse stage as The Helper in Red Hot Patriot, Robert Martin in Emma, The Visitor in The Spitfire Grill, and Hastings in She Stoops to Conquer and has worked backstage on Every Brilliant Thing, Murder on the Links, The Norwegians, and Big Fish. With Capital T Theatre, he understudied in Fool for Love. His roles with Street Corner Arts include Max in Pocatello and Sid in Waiting for Lefty.
Deja – Guide Dog
A beautiful black Labrador who helps her momma navigate every day obstacles. Deja’s favorite thing to do is performing with her momma. No petting, eye contact, and no kissy or whistling noises.
Alexandria Ellison – Projection Designer
Alexandria Ellison is a media specialist based in Austin. She is passionate about theatre and has worked with Hyde Park Theatre, Bottle Alley Theatre Co. and Scottish Rite Theatre. Theatre credits include serving as assistant director for The Good Thief starring Ken Webster.
Nathaniel Fomby – Tracy/Elijah
Nathaniel Fomby is a graduate of Concordia University Texas where he studied theatre, music and education. He has been in many shows, including Reckless, Crimes of the Heart, A Stranger with Roses, and The Insanity of Mary Girard. He also starred in CTX Theatre’s first musical production of The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Little Shop of Horrors. During the day, when he is not performing, he is an Elementary Theatre Teacher. Nathaniel is very excited to be working with Art Spark on this amazing project!
Daya Garcia – Dr. Pinky-Chorus
Daya, formerly performed with Tilt Performance Group, was a part of TUBU Fest and is excited to play the role of Dr. Pinky in the Chorus in Waiting for the Bus. Her favorite color is pink and she is an advocate for the blind community. And she’s ready to shine a ray of pink sunshine.
Kristen Gooch – Jamie
Kristen is Co-Founder of TUBU Fest and an Austin Based Actor, Poet and Disability Advocate.
Adam Griebel – Dana
Adam is a native Austinite and has always loved live theater. He was a member of the original cast of Actual Lives, a theatrical troupe of adults with disabilities participating in autobiographical page-to-stage theater productions. Adam has a degree in recreational therapy and has worked providing personal care attendant services to folks with disabilities. Adam wants to thank his loving wife, Laura and daughter, Madeleine for their support. He is very grateful to Art Spark Texas for this opportunity to participate in this production.
Christian Huey – Doctor/McPherson/Captain Haskell/Chuck/Court Officer
Christian is an Austin native and graduate of UT and Texas State University. He’s been active in the Greater Austin theatre, improv comedy, and indie film scenes for 20 years.
Celia Hughes – Producer
Celia is proud to be the keeper of the vessel that has produced this amazing play. Art Spark Texas tries to shine a light into the dark corridors of our history so that we may spark the conversations where change is possible. It is with hope that we share Waiting for the Bus with you today.
Kaye Love – Etta/CFO
Kaye has been involved in performance advocacy since 2008, appearing in performances with Actual Lives Austin, Speaking Advocates, Stand Up for Mental Health, and as a member of Tilt Performance company from 2018 to 2023. She works as a Professional Counselor, and is a Minister in Connection with the Interfaith Temple of New York.
Ryan Moore – Rich/Dickson/Rod/Ben Riley/COO/Fight Coordinator
Ryan would like to welcome you to our production of Waiting for the Bus. Ryan recently graduated from Florida State University with a BA in theatre and its excited to be performing his second show in Austin. Some of his previous credits include Max (The Play that Goes Wrong), David (The Amen Corner) and Cedric (Puffs!). He would like to thank his family and mother for their undying support and he hopes you leave the theatre knowing something you didn’t when you entered.
Brynja Newman – Costume Designer
Brynja Newman has a bachelor’s degree in theater arts and a multi-faceted background in the performing arts. She worked as a costume technician for 2 years in the St. Edward’s University Costume Shop, and has deep appreciation for the history of clothing and costume.
Mia Nguyen – Dr. Chicolini – Chorus/Caroline
Mia Hsiung Nguyen is an actress based in Austin, TX. She is currently a fourth-year BFA in Acting major at the University of Texas at Austin. Her recent credits with UT include CHOREOMANIAC 1518 (Sevallia), HAMLET (Ophelia), THEN WE’LL REST (Penny) and OUR TOWN (Emily Webb), and more. This past summer, she studied at Shakespeare & Company and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Credits outside of UT include The Comedy of Errors and The Tempest at Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Mia has also starred in various films and music videos around Austin.
Grace Ramsden – Stage Manager/Intimacy Director
Grace Ramsden is a stage manager and intimacy director passionate about fostering a theatrical environment where consent, safety, and empathy are at the forefront of every production. Most recently, she has worked with Austin Playhouse on Emma (Assistant Stage Manager), The Spitfire Grill (Stage Manager), Born with Teeth (Intimacy Director), Big Fish (Assistant Stage Manager), and Indecent (Intimacy Director). She has also worked throughout Austin at Mary Moody Northen Theatre, Austin Shakespeare, TILT Performance Group, and Crown Theatre.
Mindy Rast-Keenan – Nurse
While having worked steadily in the Austin theater scene for two decades, Mindy is delighted to make her Ark Spark Texas debut. She was most recently seen as Twelfth Night’s Olivia in the original jukebox musical Bar(d) (Walking Shadow Shakespeare) last August, belting out Natalie Imbruglia to the masses. Outside of Art Spark, Mindy is a member of the VORTEX Repertory Company and The Paramount’s Story Wranglers, and has performed with Different Stages, Trinity Street Players, The City Theatre, Rosedale Shakespeare, Scottish Rite Theater, and Paradox Players, just to name a few. Beyond theater, Mindy is an award-winning voice actor with clients like Goodwill Central Texas, Staples, and plays a myriad of different characters in Pirate101 and Wizard101 (KingsIsle Entertainment), and even had a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo of the HBO series Quarry. When not acting, MIndy likes to spend her time playing D&D, and being a weirdo alongside her beloved husband, Drake.
John Rodgers – Lighting/Sound
John is a traveling English and theater teacher from New Hampshire with a deep passion for storytelling that extends beyond the classroom. He currently operates Communication By Captivation LLC, an online and in person multimedia arts company dedicated to live performance and animated content, where he and his team craft engaging narratives that resonate with audiences. With a diverse background in the performing arts, John embraces various roles, from managing technical aspects behind the scenes to performing on stage. An active participant in the ATX theater community, he is committed to contributing wherever he can. John is excited to lend his technical expertise to Waiting for the Bus as Lighting and Audio Technician and Designer.
Liz Ross – Director
Liz Ross is proud to direct Waiting for The Bus. They are the Executive Director and co-founder of TUBU Fest, an award winning disability short fringe play festival. They were a Board Member of KOOP Radio for 6 years, hosted The Sex Ed Show for 5 years, and recently received their grad degree in Integrative Medicine – Acupuncture and Herbology. Liz is a writer, director, producer, with experience in theatre, film, games, radio, non-profit, politics, and tech.
Rafael Trevino – Robinson/Carl/Mario/Leroy Bienvenue
Rafael acted in a short play earlier this year in TUBU Fest, a disability short fringe festival. He is excited to join the cast in Waiting for The Bus.
Yadira Uno – Dr. Firefly-Chorus
I am legally Blind with an eye condition called Optic Nerve Hypoplesia. I am an actress, but also an artist who is inspired by her guide dog Deja.
Kurt Wilkinson – Jimmy/Judge
Kurt Wilkinson (he/they) lives in San Antonio and graduated from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi with a BA in Acting and Directing in 2019. Kurt is most known for the one man version of A Christmas Carol they did with The Classic Theatre of San Antonio in 2022. Kurt was proud to accept the SPARK award at the Art Spark Texas 2023 Artist of the Year awards, and they have previously worked with ArtSpark in TUBU Fest and the staged reading of this play.