

CAST & CREW


Miriam Wasmund
Executive Producer, Director, Choreographer
Miriam Wasmund is an Alvin Ailey trained dancer living and creating work in NYC since 2001. She has had the great fortune to work with many inspiring choreographers and travel with dance which ultimately lead her to find her love for movement, creating and community as a choreographer and producer. Miriam also works in fitness as a Personal Trainer and a Group Coach and knows how important it is for us to live in our bodies, cultivate our passions and find wellness in sharing our spirit to its fullest. She is beyond grateful to her cast , contributors and long time supporters who have been by her side in all the good and all the struggle, and would like to say a very special thank you to Britton and Melena Fisher for the seed of opportunity to find herself in this again.

Blake Burgess
Assistant Director
Blake grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, where he played collegiate football and graduated with a degree in Theatre from Auburn University. Blake has toured as an actor nationally, internationally, and has directed several immersive productions regionally. Blake is honored to be a small part of Your Faithful Reader and support this incredible work and these unbelievable artists. Blake sends his love and respect to his wife Priscilla, and pets to their cat Irving Purrlin.

Carrie James
Co-producer, Writer & Performer
Carrie James is a performer, writer, and co-producer for Your Faithful Reader. Her theatre background and training is in experimental and movement-based performance. She earned her theatre degree from C.W Post and has done workshops with Teatro delle Radici and the Dah Theatre, the latter while attending the first US Magdalena Festival (an international group of female theatre makers). She has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe and the International Theatre Festival in Paphos, Cyprus. She joined the Your Faithful Reader team in 2019, a return to the stage after an extended break in which she studied international relations and law.

Rebekah Frank
Assistant Producer, Communications
Rebekah is a writer and runner who spends her downtime going down bizarre research rabbit holes. When she’s not adventuring in a far-flung country or hunting down the world’s biggest wooden nickel you can find her at home, hanging out with her two cats, one dog and 55 plants. She’s very excited to be the Assistant Producer for this year’s production of Your Faithful Reader! You can find her random musings at franklyrebekah.com.

Mercedes Vasquez
Co-producer, Writer & Performer
Mercedes began her journey performing with the Your Faithful Reader in April of 2023, where she also penned her first letter, “Dear Mama”, which opened up the floodgates to her writing more letters. She has a BA in Acting from C.W. Post, Long Island University and has studied with the late Sande Shurin. She is thrilled to work and perform again with a team of incredible and talented people, especially Miriam Wasmund. Mercedes continues to pursue her passion for creative expression through art and spirituality, believing everyone has what they need within to be magical.

Priscilla Eugene Curtis
Assistant Choreographer, Dance Captain, & Performer
Priscilla Eugene Curtis is an Atlanta raised, NYC resident and performer of all sorts. She has toured the United States with the Mel Brooks musical The Producers and performed at numerous regional theatres and opera houses. Other favorites include, Disney+, New York Fashion Week, being an assistant to a Master Illusionist, and getting certified by the Society of American Fight Directors. When she is not performing Priscilla can most likely be found reading science fiction and/or playing with cats.

Sarah Sakita Mozeson
Social Media Manager, Writer & Performer
Sarah Sakita Mozeson is a Japanese/Jewish/American actor and NYC native who is thrilled to be returning to Your Faithful Reader. Film: Your Labs are Normal, Sid is Dead. Theatre: Syracuse Stage, New York Stage & Film. Sarah is an Associate Director and Teaching Artist for the DreamStreet Theatre Company, a Brooklyn-based non-profit organization that provides theatrical production opportunities to developmentally disabled performers with a passion for the performing and creative arts. Training: BFA, Syracuse University. Special thank you to Miriam!

Anita Daswani
Writer & Performer
Anita Daswani is a third-time returning cast member, having made her Your Faithful Reader debut in April of 2023—also as a contributing writer. She had a thrilling experience working with Miriam Wasmund and her ensemble of like-minded artists, who warmly welcomed her into the YFR family. Within the same year, Anita had the privilege of working with Emmy Award winning writer, Anna Theresa Cascio— performing in her dark comedy play entitled Well Hung. Other noteworthy credits include her performance in the well-renowned Moisés Kaufman play, The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later and as Agnes in the Indie-theatre-hit, The Shadow Box by Michael Cristofer—the latter being recognized in Broadway World for having an “expert cast.” Anita also achieved creative success as a first-time filmmaker with the 2022 short entitled The Missed, which she wrote, starred in and executive produced. The eight-minute drama received seventeen film festival awards from around the globe, including best cast and best original screenplay.
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Marc D. Lyons
Writer & Performer
Actor/Model/Advocate/Writer/Filmmaker. Graduate of The New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. Television Credits include: CBS, ABC, HBO Max, and Starz. Off stage: Marc is a Multimedia specialist teaching impactful life skills to youth as well as a popular LGBTQ+ mentor and advocate.

Nick Disla
Performer
Nick Disla is an NYC-based actor who grew up in a vibrant Hispanic and Latin community in sunny South Florida. He then moved to Norman, Oklahoma to pursue an education in Acting. He then went on to receive my BFA in Theatre in 2022. Since graduating, Nick moved to New York City to further pursue his artistic endeavors, and has been constantly working to tell stories and entertain on multiple platforms. He would not be who he is today without the love, support, and care of his family. Everything he has accomplished and strives for is not only for himself, but also for those in his life who have had his back since the beginning.

Liz Dutton
Performer
Liz Dutton is a Brooklyn-based actor, hailing originally from Rochester, NY. She studied theater at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts and has appeared in many productions and readings in New York, DC, Virginia, and Pennsylvania—from Shakespeare to devised works to farce, and just about everything in between. Recent credits include The Concertmaster (Borrowed Landscape), Rabbi (The Minotaur), Clytemnestra (Iphigenia), and Eva (Collaborators). Thanks to Miriam and Robert and the whole YFR team for the opportunity to work with this wonderful and supportive cast!

Callie Short
Writer & Performer
Callie is thrilled to be part of the YFR cast, having previously contributed as a writer in YFR 2023. Although Callie uses theatre in her everyday life, it has been a long time since she’s performed, and she couldn’t be more excited! Callie is a drama therapist, using her love of storytelling and theatre to provide therapeutic support in an inpatient psychiatry setting. Callie holds an MA in Drama Therapy from NYU and a BS in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago, where she could also be found onstage in both main stage and second stage theatre performances. In addition to her role as a drama therapist, Callie is a teaching artist with DreamStreet Theatre Company, which provides theatre opportunities for performers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Callie would like to extend sincere gratitude to Miriam for creating this magical project focused on storytelling and the power of human connection. Love and hugs to her family, friends, and the entire YFR crew!

Christine Bermudez
Performer
Christine Bermudez is an NYC-born actress, working in theater, film, TV, commercials, music & voice over. She recently wrapped a pilot for Love, Sex and Menopause and stars in the 2022 suspense thriller Cipher, which has been accepted as the official selection of over 13 film festivals in 2023 and has won several awards thus far. She loves learning languages & is a self proclaimed Mother of Cats! She is beyond honored & excited to make her debut performance alongside Miriam, and members of the Dream Street Theatre Company as well as some new & long time friends & fellow artists she considers familia! "A tremendous thank you to Miriam Wasmund of course for welcoming me into her home & heart with such love and also those of my castmates who have all embraced me with open arms as i join the legacy of such a tight knit community of like minded artists who crave to create as we celebrate 5 beautiful years of Your Faithful Reader at this year's Gala. "Shout out to mi manito, Robbie Maisonett, for connecting me to this magical group of souls. I'm forever grateful to you all for coming into my life in divine timing during this era of healing in my life."
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Leah Nomkin
Performer
Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Leah grew up doing ballet and modern with Dance Theater West's Storybook Ballet Company. Later on, during her undergraduate studies at Occidental College, Leah was a member of the school's dance team, performing at sports games and competitions. Also while at school, Leah led Occidental College's largest student-run club, Dance Production, where students choreographed dances of all styles for over 400 dancers of all levels, culminating in an annual performance. Leah also attended NYU's Tisch School summer dance intensive, taking courses with leading modern dance companies in the City. Leah is currently studying public policy at Columbia University and is thrilled to perform with Your Faithful Reader for the first time.

Coda Leana Boyce
Performer
Coda Leana Boyce is originally from Detroit, MI. Her New York credits include: Pericles with Hamlet Isn't Dead; We Go East with Makers' Ensemble; the world premiere of Genesis with Titan Theatre Company; and On The Harmful Effects of Tobacco and Other Substances with TheaterLab. She has also performed in the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival, winning with Mercy at Midnight Castle, which you can find published next year. Regional credits include: Eubie, The Light, and The African Company Presents Richard III with The St. Louis Black Repertory Company; the world premiere of Flex, The Mountaintop and Tiny Beautiful Things with TheatreSquared; and A Christmas Carol with The Dallas Theater Center. She obtained her B.F.A. in Acting from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX.

Michaela Pandorf
Performer
Michaela is thrilled to be joining the cast of Your Faithful Reader for the first time! She recently moved to Manhattan after graduating college and comes from a background in gymnastics and jazz dance. She is also a teaching artist at Dream Street Theatre Company, a nonprofit that provides performance opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities. In her free time, she enjoys designing clothes, taking classes at steps on Broadway, running, swing dancing, and doing backflips. She studied Musical Theatre at Miami University. Recent Credits include Jekyll and Hyde (Dance Captain), and Legally Blonde (Pilar).

Charlotte Vaughn Raines
Performer
Charlotte is a NYC Native with Classical, Contemporary, and Musical Theater experience. She had her Off Broadway debut in No Mercy, a wrestling play at the DR2 Theater. She recently voiced all the female parts in Extension, which won best student animated film at the Raindance Film Festival. Other credits include 5 star rated Are You Alice? A New Wonderland Tale (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), dance theatre piece suicide.chat.room (Washington DC), and The Seagull (Shapiro Theater). She is a previous member of the Vanessa Long Dance Company and is SAFD certified. MFA Shakespeare Theatre Academy, BFA University of Michigan.
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Stalina Guberchenko
Performer
Stalina is a passionate Ukrainian actress and a graduate of New York University. She pursued Method Acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Stalina has appeared in several well-known Ukrainian TV shows, including Slipa, Vskrytie Pokazhet, and Slid. She recently took on a lead role in the short film Just a Little Longer and starred in the upcoming horror film Snarly Yaw, shot in Baltimore and Harpers Ferry, set to be released later this year. Her favorite theater work includes Fair Winds and Winds of War (Theater for the New City), The Duchess of LES (Kraine Theater), Kholstomer (Essence Theater) and The Caucasian Chalk Circle (NYU). Stalina is honored to be a part of the Your Faithful Reader team this year, working alongside incredible artists who pour their hearts and souls into letters that resonate deeply with us all.​

Nick Pollifrone
Web Design, Writer, & Performer
After living abroad in Japan for the past five years, Nick has recently returned to NYC and this amazing creative community. Despite working behind the scenes and being Involved in YFR's initial fundraising campaign back in 2019, Nick is excited to finally join Miriam and the rest of the YFR company as a performer. He has studied and received accreditation in Classical acting, and has performed both locally in New York as well as regionally in Connecticut. In addition to Your Faithful Reader, Nick also works for Physical Lab, an international laboratory for performance, which focuses on the body as the point of emotional focus. You can also find more of Nick's work on Typed Out, a digital social platform and podcast, which he founded back in 2018 as a means to expand understanding and awareness.
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Performance training: RADA, LAMDA (London, UK)
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Colston Rienhoff
Stage Manager
Colston is thrilled to join the YFR family. He is a stage manager, singer, and composer based in New York. Credits include Honor (OB). He earned a BA in Choral Music from USC in 2021. He thanks all his friends and family for their undying support!

THANK YOU TO OUR ALUMNI

Kendra Cunningham
Arielle Yoder
Rachel Dibben
Katelyn Foley
Isaiah Reynolds
Nicholas Elrifi
Robert Maisonett
Carol Wei
Chelsea Rodriguez
Abigail Gaitlin
Jess Kelly
Sarah Peterson
Yael Rizowy
Alec Knox
Brigitte Choura Ryan
Jesús Morello
Sergio King
Caitlin Wells
Garrett Taylor
Casey Wenger-Schulman
Kristi Donna Ng
Nicole Burdett
Melanie Holm