2025-26 Mentorship Cohort Bios
Madeline Grace Barbush
Maddie grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and received her B.A. in Art History from Temple University. After a stint of museum work and a lot of travel, she found her true passion in acting and writing. She trained for two years in the Meisner technique at Playhouse West – Philadelphia, and then moved to NYC to train under actor and teacher Deborah Hedwall. She loves independent film and hopes to produce her own short film next year. Some of her favorite projects have been The Midnight Chapters (A.R.T./New York Theatres), In Arabia We’d All Be Kings (Open Hydrant Theater), MADE (dir. Ian Mosley-Duffy) and I Fell In Love with a Z-Grade Director from Brooklyn (dir. Kenichi Ugana). She is currently working on her next role in the film The Life of Hasan directed by Demi Lashawn. Being accepted into the Mentorship Program at the Actors Center is an honor for Maddie and she can’t wait to see where it takes her. IG @bigbadvoodoomami
Jordi Bertrán Ramírez
Hailing from San Diego, California, Jordi Bertrán Ramírez is a New York City-based actor. He graduated from Yale University with a double major in History of Science, Medicine, & Public Health, and in Theater Studies, where his credits include Angels in America: Millennium Approaches (Prior), The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? (Billy), Spring Awakening (Melchior), Cabaret (Emcee), and Sanctuary City (B). For his accomplishments in theatrical performance at Yale, Jordi was awarded the Louis Sudler Prize for Excellence in the Performing and Creative Arts, awarded to two graduating seniors who demonstrated excellence of highest standards of proficiency in the creative and performing arts. Most recently, Jordi played Adam/Leo in the regional premiere of Matthew López’s The Inheritance in D.C. at Round House Theater. He is grateful and honored to be a part of the second class of Emerging Artists at The Actors Center. @jordibertranramirez
Carson S. Davis
Carson S. Davis is a Texas-born actor based in New York City. His stage credits include A Moon for the Misbegotten (BNW Rep), The Eleventh Goodbye, Titus Andronicus (The Fool Volk), A Lie of the Mind (TACT), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, and The Winter’s Tale (NYU). On screen, he appears in BLUNT: The Digital Series (dir. Stephanie Kurtzuba and Stacy Gallo), Charles & Slim (2025 Greenpoint Film Festival), and national commercials for Vitaminwater and Spectrum Internet. Carson also co-hosts It’s Not (NOT) a Meisner Podcast with his mentor, Kevin Kittle, featuring guests such as Stephen Adly Guirgis, Tom Pelphrey, and Kaley Cuoco. He is a founding company member of The One-One Project and continues his artistic study with Deborah Hedwall. He earned his BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts (Meisner, Classical, Atlantic), as well as Jim Calder’s Commedia dell’Arte program in Florence, Italy. While at Tisch, Carson received the Outstanding Achievement in Studio Award for his work at The Meisner Studio. When not performing, Carson can be found writing poems and plays on his typewriter, walking his dog, Marlon, or sending letters to actors he admires who, most surprisingly, oft’ write back. @carsonsdavis / www.carsonsdavis.com
MarHadoo Effeh
An actor and arts activist hailing from Massachusetts, MarHadoo Effeh is blessed to be part of the 2025-26 Actors Center Emerging Artist Mentorship Program! She is a proud alumna of the University of Massachusetts where she received a BA in Theater. MarHadoo attended the British American Drama Academy’s Midsummer in Oxford Intensive, and more recently the Billie Holiday Black Arts Initiative Intensive. Her passion for the craft of acting has not stopped her from strengthening other disciplines including, producing, cinematography, and directing; and is thrilled to be the Resident Assistant Director for The Hanover Theatre Repertory’s 2025-2026 Season. MarHadoo is deeply inspired by the human experience, and believes that everyone has a story worth sharing. She aims to use her artistry to share compelling narratives that educate, entertain, and most importantly amplify the voices of our most vulnerable communities. MarHadoo is on a life-long journey of using collaborative, artistic efforts to speak truth to power, shake some tables, and disrupt the status quo! Some of MarHadoo’s theater credits include: Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (Speakeasy Stage Company), The Crucible (The Hanover Theatre Repertory), Sweat (University of Massachusetts). Her film credits include: Salesmen (Amazon Prime/Tres Gatos).
Mark Antony Howard
Mark Antony Howard is a multi-passionate artist, based in New York City by way of Dayton, Ohio. Onstage he recently played ‘Shawn’ in King James by Rajiv Joseph at the Little Fish Theatre in Los Angeles. He was also a resident actor with the Wallis Studio Ensemble and is currently a company member of the social impact theatre ensemble ‘Dan Froot and Co.’ He was nominated for Best Performer in a Musical at the 2023 BroadwayWorld Awards SD for his role as Andre in Ain’t Misbehavin’. Onscreen credits include ‘David’ in Cannes Official Selection The Mastermind (2025) directed by Kelly Reichardt, Color Creative produced short film, Just One (2024), and The Fool (2024), where he played the iconic Sammy Davis Jr., earning Best Dramatic Short at the Hollywood Shorts fest and numerous best lead actor nominations.
Always a student of the craft, Mark Antony received a BFA in Musical Theatre from Wright State University. He’s continued his training under various instructors, including Dr. Budi Miller and the Encompass Collective, and recently completed the 23′-24′ Screen Acting track of the Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab, where he trained with Behzad Dabu. When not acting, Mark Antony nurtures his other gifts in painting, illustration, photography, and music.
Nyah Ajeya
Nyah Ajeya (she/her) is an actor and singer based in Brooklyn, NY. Born and raised in Baltimore, Nyah has been immersed in all forms of art from a young age and she attended Baltimore School for the Arts in high school. Nyah is a graduate of LIU Brooklyn with a BFA in Acting for Theater, TV and Film and has been ecstatic to pursue her dreams in NYC.
Nyah is passionate about using her love for musical theater, storytelling, and immersive performance to re-connect people to their humanity, restore unity, and serve as activism. She is eternally grateful for the opportunity to be apart of the 2025-2026 Actors Center Emerging Artist Mentorship Program and have amazing guidance, support, and artistry in this next stage of her career. Nyah’s credits include Konstantin in The Seagull, Doralina in A Change of Air, Tanya (Thomas) in Venus in Fur, and Leading Player in Pippin!
Alyssa James
Alyssa James (she/her) is a Black biracial actor, writer, and multi-disciplinary artist originally from Queens. She is beyond thrilled and endlessly grateful to be part of this year’s cohort of the Actors Center Mentorship Program! She is constantly seeking the humor in the darkness of life and strives to make art that reflects that absurd contradiction. When she is not acting, you can find her playing basketball, haunting the Lincoln Square AMC, and walking faster than Google Maps says she can. Select credits: Hamlet (Piedmont Shakespeare Company), FLEX (Actors Theatre of Louisville), poolsides (The Pebble Collective) UNCSA Drama ’23. alyssarjames.com
Saige Larmer
Saige Larmer is a Brooklyn-based actor and performance artist from rural Pennsylvania. Her most recent credits include Private Party created by One Whale’s Tale, at The Public and We Are Here BK, as well as QUINCE at Domino Sugar Park’s inaugural Sugar Sugar! Festival. Saige’s work has also been seen at The Bushwick Starr, Lincoln Center, The Shed, and Theater Row. On screen, she can be seen in the short film “Nothing Felt Like Her”, an official selection for the Best LGBTQ+ Short Category at the Independent Short Awards. Saige is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a BFA in Acting.
Niraj Nair
Niraj Nair is an actor originally from India and now working out of New York City. Since receiving his BFA from NYU this spring, he has been selected for the 24 Hour Plays: Nationals and the acting company for Clubbed Thumb’s New Play Directing Fellowship where he is developing Jonathan Journals Spontaneously Combusted (dir. Terrence I Mosley) for its Winterworks premiere this January. Select performance highlights include The Angel That Troubled The Waters (dir. Leo Egger) at Target Margin, The Antipodes (dir. Sabrina Carlier) at NYU, Richard II (dir. Simone Coxall) at RADA.
Niraj likes new and old plays that know they are being listened to. He studied new play readings under Miriam Silverman and Rinne Groff at NYU, and completed a semester of Shakespeare training at RADA. He thinks drama makes it possible for normal people to engage with philosophy. He is very grateful to join this incredible cohort and for everyone at The Actors Center. nirajnair.com, @niraj00971
Giovanni Orozco
Giovanni Orozco is an actor based in New York City by way of Texas. He received his BFA from Southern Methodist University. He’s excited to be part of such a talented and gracious community at The Actors Center.
Sophia Radix
Sophia Radix is an actor & stand-up comic from The Bronx! She’s most drawn to works that highlight Black, Latino, & queer experiences. She’s a huge dancer but you’d only know that if her song is playing. In a past life, Sophia believes she was a blues singer so to make her past self happy she occasionally sings with a jazz band at her local bar.
Sophia had her co-directorial debut & played [R]omeo in R + Jules, a queer immersive theatrical experience, at 3 Dollar Bill. Co-starred in The Good The Bad & Tio Umberto (Delia) which premiered at the New York Latino Film Festival. Sophia is in the original cast of In The Bronx Brown Girls Can See Stars Too [Gabriela] at Columbia University. Off Broadway: Classic Stage Company: The 24 Hour Plays Nationals 2024, WP Theatre: As I Was, Not As I Am (Laurel), & Players Theatre: Ectoplasm (Annette). She is a member of Intar’s Unit 52 cohort. She earned her B.A in Theatre from Hunter College and A.S in Performing Arts from SUNY Dutchess and studied at Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and Stella Adler. Keep up with her acting, comedic, and rollerskating journey on Instagram: @sophucking.dope
Rebecca Salzhauer
Rebecca Salzhauer is an actor, writer, and born-and-raised New Yorker who is thrilled to be part of this program! A graduate of Yale University, she’s currently a member of the acting company for Clubbed Thumb’s New Play Directing Fellowship. Other recent credits include Deceived (Bay Street Theater), Puffs (Cape Fear Regional Theater), In Absentia (St. Lydia’s), and Leave If No Response (The Tank). Rebecca trained in classical acting at BADA and is an alum of The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals. She also wrote and starred in the web series i’m so happy for you!!!!!! with her comedy trio, Stress Dream, and does improv around the city. rebeccasalzhauer.com
Jack Teitelbaum
Jack Teitelbaum is an actor and musician born and raised in NYC. A proud graduate of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for Drama, Jack went on to continue his studies at the Neighborhood Playhouse, Kenyon College, and a semester in London with the British American Dramatic Academy. While at Kenyon, Jack earned a Distinction in Drama and won the Paul Newman-Joanne Woodward Acting Award for his performance as Jeff in Lobby Hero. Select theater credits include Lobby Hero (KCP), Assistance (KCP), Stupid Fucking Bird (KCP), and Cymbeline (Theatro Technis, London). Most recently, Jack performed at the Soho Playhouse in Annie Stein’s production of The Ghost of Bob Dylan Shows One of Us Greatness as part of the Lighthouse Series. He’s honored to be here.
Ciara Van Buren
Ciara Van Buren (she/her) is an actor based in NYC, originally from Dublin. She swam across the pond to pursue ‘the singing and the dancing’, as her family calls it. She has trained at The Barrow Group, The Lir and The Gaiety School of Acting. Credits include the solo show No One Is Coming (FairPlay Productions), Doctor Doctor (comedy feature), The Shift (Best Short at Belfast Film Festival) and Finding Joy (RTE comedy series). Ciara has worked with The Irish Repertory Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and was part of the emerging writers cohort Scèal Nua, conceived by Origin Theatre and supported by The Irish Arts Center. Ciara is so delighted and excited to be part of this year’s mentorship program.
Isabel Van Natta
Isabel Van Natta (she/her/hers) is thrilled to be to be a part of the 2025-26 Actors Center Emerging Artist Mentorship Program! She is a Cuban actor hailing from Miami but now lives in Brooklyn, NY. She earned her BFA in Acting from Boston University. Some of her theatre credits include the pre-broadway production of John Proctor Is The Villain where she played the role of Shelby Holcomb (The Huntington), DATA (Arena Stage), Laure (workshopped at NYTW and The Tank), RX Machina (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre), Medusa Reclaimed (Central Square Theatre), and The Nether (Area Stage Company). Film: Hershey, dir. Mark Waters (Upcoming) Awards: Elliot Award Nominee for Best Featured Actor in a Play and Winner for Best Production and Best Ensemble for John Proctor Is The Villain. One of her main artistic goals in life is to champion new work now and forever. Isabel is a proud advocate for mental health. She sends her constant love to Dad, Mom, Sofia, Leandro, Mya, and her managers Dave Brenner and Sarah Haber at Creative Talent Company. Instagram: @isabelvannatta Website: isabelvannatta.com
Billie Wyatt
Billie Wyatt (She/Her) is a New York City based actor and teaching artist. Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Credits: Romeo and Juliet, Sense and Sensibility, As You Like It, A Midwinter Night’s Dream, The Rose Tattoo, Twelfth Night, Florence and Mojo Two Plays by Alice Childress, The Metromaniacs, A Child’s Christmas in Wales, the world premiere of Snug by Bonnie J. Monte, Comedy of Errors, multiple productions on The Backyard Stage, Shakespeare Live! 2019-2021, Ken Ludwig’s The Three Musketeers, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and multiple filmed productions on Pandemic Playhouse Entertainment. Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Credits: A Raisin in the Sun, The Tempest, Sense and Sensibility. Other credits: Camille and Flyin’ West at Quintessence Theatre Group, Hamlet Isn’t Dead’s Julius Caesar, Oxford Shakespeare workshop’s All’s Well That Ends Well. She is an alumni of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy Studio Conservatory Program and the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Apprenticeship. Billie is currently represented by The Luedtke Agency billiewyatt.com