Director, PREWRITTEN

Sydney Burtner is a NYC-based writer/director and award-winning producer. As a company member of New Ambassadors Theatre, she’s directed plays by Max Gill, Amanda Hanna, Aly Kantor and Caitland Winsett. She executed a writing assignment with Producer James Hornbeak, adapting the young adult novel THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE QUEST. She develops projects separately via the theatre incubator The Playground Experiment. As a journalist, she won awards for both writing and photography and rose to Managing Editor. As a Finance VP, she built FoHF infrastructure. She earned a Master’s degree in producing /screenwriting at NYU.

Actor, IN THE GARDEN OF THE HESPERIDES

Mr.Butera is a founding member of New Ambassador's Theater Company. As an actor he Last seen as Christopher in Heart broke, Prometheus in Blurring Boundaries. Roger in Irregulars, at the Cherry Lane. Past roles include. off Broadway on stage alongside Tony-Nominated Lou Liberatore in "Gay. Porn. Mafia", the Audience Award Winner at the 2018 Downtown Urban Arts Festival. Providence at the Roy Arias Theater. Past roles include: Macpherson at The Lion Theater in Resonance Ensemble’s What Happened Then Dr. John Watson at The Workshop Theater’s production of The Blue Carbuncle, Off Broadway as Governor Bullard in the Abingdon Theater’s production of My Deah, co-starring Tony Award nominee Nancy Opel; directed by Marc Waldrop of When Pigs Fly fame. He has also performed in Funeral Games at the Public Theater. Film: Jimmy in Broker The Priest in Confessions of a Paralyzed Robot; on Television Mr. Butera can be seen in Alien Dawn as Dr. Luther, on All My Children and other Prime Time shows.

Actor, WEDNESDAY IN THE PARK WITH BLAKE

As a founding member of the company Jeff was an associate producer on the company's first production of Experimenting with Katz and the first 2 productions of Blurring boundaries. He is not only an actor but a playwright. Jeff has been seen in print as well as television ads. He is thrilled to be performing in this production of Blurring Boundaries.

Actor, THE END OF SOCIETY

La Veda Davis, who plays DORIS SMITH, is very proud to be joining the New Ambassadors and the cast of "THE END OF SOCIETY", for June 2023. La Veda lives on Long Island and likes to make fiber art jewelry.

Director, SETTINGS

Jennifer Downes (AEA/SAG-Aftra) is a writer, actor, and producer based in NYC. She is the Associate Artistic Director of New Ambassadors Theatre Co. Jennifer is a graduate of the William Esper Studio, and studied at the Jacob Krueger Screenwriting Studio. Her full length play, Tight Five, co-written with John Peña Griswold, will be featured in New Ambassadors Theatre Company’s 2023 season. Her narrative podcast anthology series, The Great Escapism, produced with New Ambassadors, can be found on all major podcast platforms. For more links to Jennifer’s body of work, please see www.jenniferdownes.com

Actor, IN THE GARDEN OF THE HESPERIDES

William Franke is delighted to make his New Ambassadors debut. In addition to acting on stage and screen, he also co-produces the award-winning paranormal audiodrama podcast Uncanny County. (uncannycounty.com; season 3 coming soon!) NY theatre credits include: The Understudy and The Country House (Morningside Players); On the Verge (Retro Productions); Blizzard ’67, The Abduction of Becky Morris (NY Fringe); The Soldier Dreams (Theatre East); New Georges, Cake Productions, and others. TV: FBI, Blacklist, Hunters; Law & Order: SVU, and more. Film: Alone, If the Trees Could Talk, and others. Member AEA & SAG-AFTRA. WilliamFranke.com

Actor, WEDNESDAY IN THE PARK WITH BLAKE

Helene Galek is thrilled to be making her debut with the New Ambassadors! After working in several films these past few years, it feels good to go "live" again on stage. Helene is also an indie casting director and has worked on various projects such as musicals, indie series, cabaret, voiceover and dramatic plays. She also re-started her passion for writing and has had some pieces published and has just finished her second play and working on an essay and her first book. Helene is currently co-writing and co-producing her first film project. You can catch her on Tubi and Amazon Prime in the series, "That Reminds Me".

Writer, IN THE GARDEN OF THE HESPERIDES & Director, PODUNK

Irregulars (Cherry Lane, NY); Providence (Transient Theater, Chicago; Roy Arias, NYC); F*cked –up Family Trilogy: Experimenting with Katz (TheatreLab), Irregulars & Unfinished; More Myself Than I Am (Secret Theatre & Manhattan Repertory, Best Play; HEARTbroke 2022); A Most Egregious Way (HEARTbroke 2020); Inside & Out, Fault Lines (Blurring Boundaries, Secret Theatre, Best American Short Plays 2018-2019); Wee Annie’s Hold (octoberFEARfest), Inside & Out (Blurring Boundaries 2021), Defying Lorelei (Blurring Boundaries 2022), Eugene & Oliver Back at the White Horse Tavern (HEARTbroke 2023). Co-founder and Artistic Director of New Ambassadors Theatre Company. DGA Member.

Writer, FRAGILE

Dana has won the New England New Play Competition, Harold and Mimi Steinberg Playwriting Prize, Different Voices New Play Award, ACTF New Play Award and numerous development grants. Her work has been seen at Manhattan Theatre Club, Cherry Lane, Culture Project, Women’s Project, York, Theatre80, New Dramatists, Vineyard Playhouse, Brave New World, Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga (TN), Clamour Theatre (FL), American Stage Company (FL), Left Edge Theatre (CA), Pacific Theatre (Canada), TischAsia (Singapore), Baggage Productions (Australia), Red Brick Theatre (U.K.), NYMF, on Ellis and Liberty Islands, at the UN, etc. Member: BMI, Brave New World, Workshop, PlayGround, Dramatists Guild. www.danalesliegoldstein.com

Writer, WEDNESDAY IN THE PARK WITH BLAKE

Nancy Hamada (playwright) is delighted to be working with New Ambassadors Theatre Company for the first time. She has been a singer, actor, producer, screenwriter and playwright in New York, while raising a family, working in finance, and being a beloved partner.

She is the product of the brilliant teachings, and generosity of The National Shakespeare Co, The Chicago Musical College, Goodman School of Drama, Urban Myth Writers, and Manhattan Oracles.

Actor, THE END OF SOCIETY

You can see Josh in the upcoming Season 3 Finale of 'The Other Two' on HBOMax. TV: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon), The Politician (Netflix), Alternatino (Comedy Central), Billions (Showtime), The Jim Gaffigan Show (TV Land), Hunting Season (Vimeo/Logo TV). He has also performed in several NY/Off-Bway and regional productions. AMDA Grad 2007. Much love and thanks to family and chosen family for their endless love and support, especially Jofes. For Granny, Pop and Sara. www.joshhemphill.com.

Actor, PODUNK

E.B. Hinnant is an actor, songwriter, and filmmaker from South Carolina. He’s making a short film this Summer called “God’s Glove”, about fungi, interment, and making peace with death. A music video for his song “Body Work” is coming out June 23rd! His music can be found anywhere online by searching the name “Fripp”. Talk to him about fried okra, carnivorous plants, and Dolly Parton.

Writer, PODUNK

David Taylor Little’s plays include Christmas Gifts, Shades of Gay, The Arlo Whittaker Mystery Series, and The Disappearance of Ezra Clybourne. His new libretto for Sigmund Romberg’s The Desert Song premiered at Winter Opera St. Louis in March of 2023.

David’s plays have been commissioned and developed by The Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company, Ball State University, Indiana Public Radio, and The Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. He is a member of The Dramatists’ Guild and earned his MFA in directing from The New School for Drama. David teaches in The Department of Theatre and Dance at Ball State University. www.davidtaylorlittle.com

Writer, PREWRITTEN

Erin Moughon is a playwright and teacher based in New York City. She is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild and an Arthur Miller Fellow. Erin also loves being a cat mom to two tuxedo kittens and being married to David. Some of her short plays can be found in several editions of The Best Ten Minute Plays edited by Lawrence Harbison. Check more of her plays out on the New Play Exchange!

Actor, PREWRITTEN

Mandy Murphy is an actress and playwright based in NYC. She is a proud company member of New Ambassadors Theatre Co. & The Playground Experiment. She was most recently seen in NATC’s Blurring Boundaries short play festival. Some favorite roles include: Lucy in Mister Marmalade, Red in Late: A Cowboy Song & Lil’ Bit How I Learned to Drive. Mandy’s full-length plays From A to Double D & Valer have been presented by multiple companies including SheNYC and Moxie Arts. Mandy is a proud graduate of Texas State’s BFA program. Keep up with Mandy and her latest shenanigans at www.mandymurphy.org

Actor, SETTINGS

Chase Naylor is a New York based actor and has been with New Ambassadors for 4 years. This is his second time originating a role for fantastic writer John Peña Griswold and he is excited for you all to see it! Chase was trained as a part of Texas State's BFA Acting program and was most recently seen originating the role of Shawn in Tight Five by Jennifer Downes & John Peña Griswold at the Cherry Lane Theater. Enjoy the show!

Director, IN THE GARDEN OF THE HESPERIDES

A founding member, Marie Elèna’s past directing credits with New Ambassadors include David Adam Gill’s IRREGULARS (AD) and Wallace Shawn’s THE DESIGNATED MOURNER for our Friday Night Footlights Series. She was last seen as Tori in Aly Kantor’s ANY PORT IN A STORM for NATC’s HeartBROKE Festival. Other NATC favorites include: TO DATE (HeartBROKE), BETTER ANGELS (FEARfest), FAULT LINES, GUNS AND AMMUNITION ( Blurring Boundaries) and EXPERIMENTING WITH KATZ. What’s next?

Follow on Instagram @mojo2meo

Actor, FRAGILE

Sandra Parris' belief in the magic of the stage has led her to perform in a variety of plays, musicals, and operas in the U.S. and Europe. She also uses her gift of performance to coach medical and law professionals in the arts of communication and leadership. Her philosophy is that communication, whether verbal, non-verbal or energetic, is a two-way process. Sandra is thrilled to be performing with New Ambassador!

Writer, SETTINGS & Actor, PODUNK

John Peña Griswold is a writer, director, and performer. They are a graduate of Yale University with a concentration in Cognitive Science, and the William Esper Studio acting program. Their full-length play, Tight Five, co-written with Jennifer Downes, premiered at Cherry Lane Theatre, produced by New Ambassadors Theatre Co. It will be re-staged this September at the Hudson Guild Theatre. Credits with NATC: Autobiography (Writer/Director), To Date (Writer/Director), Playing with Matches (Co-Writer/Director), Compatible-ish (Writer/Director) Other Credits: Two Truths & a Lie (Shiyr Productions), His Majesty the Baby's Dumb Show (Dixon Place), We're Very Proud & We Love You So Much (NY Fringe)

Director, WEDNESDAY IN THE PARK WITH BLAKE

Perryn has directed several shows for New Ambassadors Theatre Company over the past year and a half. Most recently, Any Port in a Storm for the 2023 Heartbroke Festival. In 2022, Perryn directed Prometheus Found for this same festival, which Stage Buddy declared to be "skillfully pulled off" and "hysterical." Thank you to NATC and David Adam Gill for the continued opportunities to grow with this exciting company.

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER

Lu Roberts is thrilled to be back working with New Ambassadors. Previous collaborations include ‘Tight Five’, ‘Irregulars’, and myriad short play festivals. Other recent regional credits include ‘Slanted, Enchanted: A Pavement Musical’ at the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture and ‘Katy and Jennifer vs. the Flasher on New Year’s’ at Theater for a New City. She would like to thank the whole New Ambassadors gang for a whole lotta stuff.

Actor, SETTINGS

Thrilled to be joining New Ambassadors on stage, IRL, in 3D, with smell-o-vision! Previously with New Ambassadors: Marvelous. Recent TV credits: Extrapolations, Dead Ringers, Gossip Girl, Daredevil. Film: It's Time for Tea. Hartt School grad. Randomly fluent in Japanese. Can be lured with cat videos.

Writer, THE END OF SOCIETY

Ben Scranton is a Massachusetts-based playwright and actor. His plays have been performed live and virtually across the country. Honors include a Dramatic Writing Fellowship from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a finalist for the James Stevenson Prize of Short Comedic Plays, and a two-time recipient of the Robert R. Lehan Playwriting Award from Westfield State University (MA). His short plays have been published in Stonecoast Review and Fresh Words magazine. For seven seasons he was a member of the resident acting company at StageWest in Springfield, MA, and appeared at Hartford Stage. Ben is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America and Actors’ Equity Association.

Director, THE END OF SOCIETY & Actor, PREWRITTEN

Claire Shiell is an actor, improviser, and menance to society. She graduated from the CAP21 Professional Musical Theatre Program and now performs regularly with The Armory at The Tank. She can also be frequently found at Young Ethels hosting improv jams or performing with her indie team Mosh Squad. For her most up-to-date performance schedule, check out her online presence @claireshiell on all platforms and also at clairemshiell.com

Actor, FRAGILE

Saadiq is a multi-talented Brooklyn-based actor, writer, and filmmaker. He has recently appeared in stage productions such as "Embodied" at New Ohio Theater and "Irregulars" at the Cherry Lane Theater. In addition to acting, Saadiq also assistant directed the independent feature film "Broke Boi", which will premiere at both the Harlem International Film Festival and the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival this summer. When he's not pursuing his art, Saadiq teaches Pilates across New York City and on the Onefirelight fitness platform.

Director, FRAGILE

Brandon M. Weber is a theatre and film artist who is dedicated to making works that break down the stereotypes within the ethnic diaspora. Being a New Orleans native inspired him to be multifaceted in the arts and helped him obtain a BFA in Musical Theatre at The University of the Arts. In the past, he’s worked with MTV VMA's, Telsey & Co, Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Actor’s Company Theatre in New York City, and Vital Theatre Company Off-Broadway in various roles (Actor, Stage Manager, Dramaturg, Producer, Social Media Coordinator, Casting Director, Assistant Director, etc.). Currently, Brandon is the CEO of his own company called Under8ted Movement, which is focused on rebuilding the community through art.

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Caky is so happy to be back with New Ambassadors in a new capacity! She’s previously been a playwright for the company, and is so lucky to be stepping in as the ASM to the marvelous Lucy.