2024-25 Mentorship Cohort Bios
Antonyio Artis
Antonyio Artis (He/Him) is a NYC-based actor, singer, writer, and book nerd who received his BFA in Acting from Brooklyn College. Since graduating, he has been a part of many projects both in and outside of NYC. These include: New Jack City, Live! (National Tour), Underground (NYTF Best Production Winner), and Project Sankofa (Broadway Bound Theater Festival). He has also self-produced short film adaptations of plays such as: Thoughts of a Colored Man (Keenan Scott II), Boy’s Life (Howard Korder), and Jitney (August Wilson). His solo show, Tariq’s Interlude, is currently in-development with @IamtheVillage where he is their 2024 Performance Artist in Residence. A full production of his show is set to premiere in 2025. God is good! He is honored to be a part of this amazing program and believes iron sharpening iron is the greatest gift he is receiving here. You can follow him @antonyioartis
Walker Borba
Walker Borba is an Actor, Writer, and Director from Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Kenyon College with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater. While at Kenyon, he was the captain of the school’s improv team, “Fools on the Hill” and the president of the film club “Cinearts.” Additional studies include time training with the British American Drama Academy in London. Film: Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, Shattered Memories, Endangered (Short). Theater: Comedia! (The Chautauqua Theater Company) Oedipus Rex (KCP) Henry V (KCP).
Taj E. M. Burroughs
A proud New York native, hailing from the colorful streets of Queens. Taj E. M. Burroughs is the wildest living dream of his ancestors. They’re a graduate of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School and earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre at Rutgers University. When they’re not acting, Taj is creating spaces to build community such as COMMUNION, an open mic poetry joint. Taj is also a current fellow at Brooklyn Poets. Their credits include: Fat Ham (Seattle Rep), Digging, like monkeys, our grave in Gilead. *reading (The Fire This Time Festival), Angela Davis’s School For Girls with Big Eyes (Rutgers Theater Company), Three Sisters (Rutgers Theater Company) A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rutgers Theater Company), The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra (Rutgers Theater Company at The Globe Theatre) and Model Minority (AYE DEFY).
Laura Scott Cary
Laura Scott Cary (she/her) is an actor and writer based in New York City. Originally from Charlotte, NC, she proudly holds a BFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University. Recently, she performed in her playwriting debut, Girls Just Wanna Commit Domestic Terrorism, at The Tank. Other stage credits include The Goblin Woman (Rogue Theatre Festival), A Doll’s House, Part 2 (Charlotte Conservatory Theatre), and the world premiere of The Yaelmikheinsploke (Southern Methodist University Theater). Laura Scott is currently a Guest Resident at the Woodward Residency in Ridgewood, Queens, where she is developing Snapewives, a play about spiritual psychosis and terminally online communities. She is thrilled to be a part of the inaugural class of Emerging Artists at The Actors Center and can’t wait for what the next eight month bring.
Terra Chaney
Terra is very excited to be a member in the inaugural cohort! She was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is based in NYC. Her credits include NYC: Women on Fire (Royal Family Productions); Othello (The Secret Theater). Regional: Merry Wives of Windsor, Comedy of Errors (Elm Shakespeare Company); Midsummer Night’s Dream LIVE!, Macbeth LIVE!, Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey); Merchant of Venice (South Dakota Shakespeare Festival); Riverside (Indy Shakes). Education: American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
Major Curda
Major is a multi-disciplinary mixed Asian-American actor/storyteller who has collaborated on various projects for Theatre, Film, Television, and Voiceover. Major is honored, humbled, and overjoyed to be welcomed into the inaugural cohort of The Actors Center’s Mentorship Program, having worked with and long admired many members of its Resident Company. With a special love for developing new stories and wildly adapting old ones, Major has collaborated on various projects in development with Ma-Yi Theatre Co., New York Stage and Film, New York Theatre Workshop, The O’Neill/NMTC, One Year Lease Theatre Co., and Mercury Store. Major had the privilege of performing in Broadway’s KPOP and they can be found recurring in multiple seasons of the CW’s Riverdale and Netflix’s Atypical. In addition to other Broadway, touring, regional, and developmental theatre credits, Major has recurred on multiple Nickelodeon shows, starred in web-series, and voiced multiple video game characters and audiobooks. In Major’s spare time, they love to teach, play video games, and listen to NPR. Major is a proud volunteer actor at the 52nd Street Project. Alumnus of Carnegie Mellon, SITI Skidmore, and Cherubs. Instagram: @Majorly.MC.
Nathaelle Denis
Nathaelle Denis is an emerging talent in the acting world, bringing a bright and fresh energy to the stage and screen. Recently graduated from Brooklyn College, the Haitian-American actor has already made an impression with F**king A by Suzan Lori Parks and The Skriker by Carly Churchhill. With a strong foundation in theater, Nathaelle Denis is eager to make her mark in the industry by exploring diverse characters and unique storytelling opportunities. When not acting, Nathaelle Denis enjoys exploring beautiful parks and food spots throughout the city, singing/music, and literature which help fuel her creativity and passion for the arts.
María Fernanda Díez
Maria Fernanda Diez is an actor, singer, podcaster and producer based in NYC and Atlanta. She is a trilingual, first generation Mexican-American. NY Theater: Primer Sueño (Repertorio Español), And Other Things (La Mama), Nanas (Teatro Latea) Arguments Sessions (ArtNY), Autopsy of a Snowflake (The Lark), Othello (The Davenport). Regional: Birthday Candles (Chautauqua), Fabulation (Chautauqua), Stoo’s Martian’s Gumbo (The Hangar), The Canterville Ghost (Williamstown), Dream Hou$e and Stoneheart (Two River Theater Crossing Borders Festival). Film: Ride of Die (dir. Liliana Tandon), award-winning DIVR (dir. Zoey Martinson). Audio: Care Inc (BBC Radio), In the Shadows (BBC Radio), Murder She Spoke (Tantrum East Theatre). Creator, host and producer of the award-winning podcast “When You’re Invisible,” an iHeart Radio and My Cultura Podcasts Network production. Winner of the 2022 NBC Nosotros Monologue Slam. mariafernandadiez.com IG: @marifer_diez_b
Travis Doughty
Travis Doughty (he/him) is a New York City-based actor and creative originally hailing from Portland, Maine. He is thrilled to be joining The Actors Center Mentorship Program for Emerging Artists’ inaugural cohort! In his spare time, Travis loves everything to do with world history, exploring different cultures through travel, a competitive game of Pickleball, and hunting for the best cheeseburger in the city (recommendations always welcome). He is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actor’s Equity. Travis holds a BFA in Acting from Boston University, and is a graduate of Walnut Hill School for the Arts.
Selected theatrical credits include: Constellations (wild project NYC), Cornflake Pie (wild project NYC and AMT Theater), Here I Am: A New Musical (Feinstein’s 54 Below), The Inheritance (SpeakEasy Boston, Thomas Derragh Award for Emerging Artist, Elliot Norton Award for Best Play and Best Ensemble Midsize Theater), As You Like It (Actor’s Shakespeare Project, Virtual), Lorena: A Tabloid Epic (Boston Playwright’s Theater, Virtual), Marisol (Boston University). Television credits include: Blue Bloods (CBS), and the upcoming series Heavy Hitters (Gemelli Films). Film credits include: You’ll Never See Me Again (upcoming), Sally Get the Potatoes (Yellow Chair Films), Showcase! (NYU Thesis Films).
Francisco J. González
Francisco J. González performed in the world premiere of Buena Vista Social Club at the Atlantic Theatre Company this past season. FG played the lead in the world premiere of How to Make an American Son; Broadway World 2019 Award for Best Actor in a Musical, role of Matt in The Fantasticks; role of Luís opposite Tina Fey in Hulu’s hit series Only Murders in the Building. As a singer, Francisco performs at Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, 54 Below, The Green Room 42, and The National Opera Center. Graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. @frankiegonzalezarts
Rebecca Ho
Rebecca Ho is a half Vietnamese, half Chinese actor originally from Brisbane, Australia. She couldn’t be more excited to be an inaugural cohort member of the Emerging Artists Mentorship Program at the Actor’s Center! Select New York: The World’s Most Boring Murder (The Players Theater), The Fantastical Fellowship… (Frigid NYC), The Seagull, Loves Labours Lost, Office Hour, A Lie of the Mind (Columbia University); Single Asian Female (Australian Theatre Festival NYC). Regional: A Christmas Carol (Portland Stage), Richard II, As You Like It, The Importance of Being Earnest, Eurydice (Theater at Monmouth). Film: Amici, Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow... VO: Bibigo Dumplings. Columbia University MFA Acting (2023). www.rebeccahoactor.com
Victoria Lino
Victoria Lino is an Afro-Latinx actor and writer from The Bronx, NY. She graduated from Circle In The Square Theatre School. Her most recent work includes Nikki in Crush at Open Hydrant Theatre; as well as Mona in In The Bronx Bronx Girls Can See Stars Too at Columbia University. She also has been featured in Netflix’s Giving Voice. As a proud member of The Dominican Artists Collective, her goal is to create and be a part of stories that focus on BIPOC and queer narratives, while emphasizing intersectionality and healing. IG @victoriarlino
Ahmad Maher
Ahmad Maher (He|Him) is an Egyptian-born, NYC-based actor who has performed in various countries including Egypt, Sweden, and the United States. Ahmad, a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, was selected to be part of the prestigious Academy Company. Credits include theatre: The Ally (Mixed Blood); Pilgrims Musa & Sheri in the New World (The Public Theatre); Waiting for Lefty, Richard III (The Flea Theater); The Ides (SoHo Shakespeare Company); INVASION! (Ancram Center for the Arts – Berkshire Theatre Critics Award Outstanding Ensemble Performance); Good Things Happen (Lenfest Center for the Arts); The Revolution’s Promise (New Perspectives Theatre Company); Jesus, Son of Man (Thanasis Theatre). Film/TV: Threnody (Purple Duck Films); Tabula Rasa (Jamil Pictures); You Gotta Dance for It (Tin Tin Pictures). Commercial: Google (DDB House); Länsförsäkringar (Bleck Film); Lidl (Est E Ban); Nicotinell (Sun Days); ABB Motion (SiteSing). www.ahmad-maher.com.
Michael Robinson
Michael Robinson, also known as “Mike Rob”, is a NYC-based actor originally from New Britain, CT. He graduated from the University of Miami; where he played Division 1 Basketball and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. In his college years, Mike found a new medium to express his passion for entertaining people: Acting. While there, Mike was able to develop his craft and commit to bringing true-life human experiences in his work to help inspire the world and even give people a place to “escape” for a short period. His unique skill set reached the heart of his peers and teachers, leaving them wanting to see more work from him.
Mike is an alumni of Stella Adler Professional Conservatory and his most recent credits include: Diarra From Detroit (BET+) The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock), Sprung (Amazon Prime/Freevee), amongst others. You can follow Mike on his journey on Instagram @mikerobinson05 and MikeRobinsonTheActor.com
Drew Springer-Miller
Drew Springer-Miller is an NYC based actor, singer, and producer. Regional/University credits: Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Kayleen in Gruesome Playground Injuries, The Drowsy Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone, Emily in Love/Sick,Madelaine in The Wild Party. Readings/Workshops: A Short History of Women (dir. Judith Ivey), Showtune Blowout (dir. Sam Pinkleton), Pete(Her) Pan, and The Dramatists Guild New Writers Series (dir. Gretchen Cryer). Producing: Our Town (Broadway, 2024). Training includes Choate Rosemary Hall, Circle in the Square, and Pace University (BFA MT). Outside of the theater, Drew is a private chef, an avid weightlifter and skier, and runs a small by-order bakery. IG: @drewspringermiller
Joyce Meimei Zheng
Joyce Meimei Zheng she/her is a proud Jersey Girl, daughter of Chinese immigrants, Jesus Freak, and lover of song. She is so excited to be a part of the Actor’s Center inaugural Mentorship Program cohort. (We’re such a sexy gang!) She holds a BFA from Mason Gross School of Arts at Rutgers University. Joyce is excited to dig into the work and discover what vast avenues await her here. When not acting you can find her writing music, singing her face off, or running the streets of New Jersey. Recent credits: The Far Country (Yale Rep), A Christmas Carol (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Macbeth (Double Feature Plays), Vicky & Frank, Irina in Three Sisters (Rutgers), Enobarbus in The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra (Rutgers at Shakespeare’s Globe), Each Solitary Moment (upcoming), Bounty in Chinatown (LF8 Studios debut short). @irokpink. Youtube: @JoyceMZheng