Performance

CAROLINA ĐỖ: EXTRAO1DINARY ALIENS! (EXIT I-485)

September 12 – September 15, 2024
7:30 – 3PM

Corneliu is an immigrant from Romania who is in love with Kay, a U.S. Citizen. Linh is Kay’s best friend who might have let her student visa lapse?! David has dreams of opening up his restaurant with his cousin Enoc. ExtraO1dinary Aliens! (Exit Route I-485) is a love story centered on immigrants and the ones who love them. How can love defy the dehumanizing machinations of the US Immigration system? What makes someone leave everything they’ve ever known to journey to a foreign land? What makes someone stay despite the hostile environment? What is the promise of the American dream and can it ever be a reality?

ExtraO1dinary Aliens! (Exit I-485) is a part of JACK Labs, a series designed to incubate theatrical work with an opportunity for playwrights to advance their play past the “workshop” phase, but without the pressure of a multi-week run.

By Carolina Do
Directed by Vas Eli

About the Artists
Carolina Đỗ is a theatre maker, doer, and proud descendant of Vietnamese freedom fighters and refugees. An alum of the Soho Rep Writer-Director Lab, Fresh Ground Pepper Playground Playgroup, and Orchard Project Greenhouse Lab, Carolina’s writing has also been supported by residencies/fellowships at MacDowell, JACK, The Hearth, Fault Line Theatre, Piper Theater, and Naked Angels. Carolina’s works have also been finalists for the Sokhary Chau Fellowship, Leah Ryan Fund, BricLab, and Bushwick Starr; and semifinalists for Playwrights Realm, Space on Ryder, and Princess Grace. Co-Founding Producing Artistic Leader — The Sống Collective. Creative Director — Mai House Studio. Associate Director for Community Engagement — PlayCo. BFA: Brooklyn College. IG: carolinakaydo

Vas Eli is an award-winning actor based in NYC. A multidisciplinary artist, he is also a director, writer, producer, dialect coach, educator and painter. He is the founder of BETTERFLY Productions (The Pir, Zoom With Me, Far, Lemonking, The Sketchy Eastern European Show, When & Where). Theater: The Sketchy Eastern European Show (The Players Theater) Tamburlaine (TFANA), Jericho (Attic Theatre), Unearthly Visitants (Triskelion Arts), Island of Dr. Moreau (Piper Theatre), Splitfoot (Edinburgh Fringe), Lincoln Dress (Albany NY, Bucharest) TV: Night Agent, The Endgame, For Life, WeCrashed, The Deuce, The Blacklist; Film: Snakeeater, Varlet, Delenda, Hell House 2, Kidnapping of A Fish, The Naked Woman, Dominant Species, Far From Here. www.Vaseli.org IG: vaseli_vaseli

Yang Yu is a New York based lighting designer for performing arts. She is interested in using light, space, and timing to create an emotionally charged environment, as well as visualizing music. Recent credits include The Lydian Gale Parr (The Target Margin), Primordial (The Tank), Unresolved Rage Game (Soho Rep Writer Director Lab); Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (Crossroads Theatre Company); Lewberger and the Wizard of Friendship (Theater Row); MFA from Brooklyn College. Yangyudesign.com

Alexia Doan is a multidisciplinary designer and artist, studying interior design at Parsons. With particular interests in immersive and narrative design, Alexia enjoys blending various specialties together to create beautiful and impactful experiences. Their current projects include scenic design for theater and film, as well as fashion show production with Bureau Betak and production with Lincoln Center. Alexia would like to extend their gratitude and congratulate the crew and cast :) (IG: @alexiadoan)

My Le is an international theater artist from Vietnam. In 2019, My Le was on the directing track at NYU Tisch Drama where she worked on multiple projects as a director, stage manager, lighting and sound designer. During her gap year back home, My worked for the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet as Assistant Director/ Stage Manager for their production of Les Miserables. She joined the Hunter Theater Department Fall of 2021, contributing as one of the directors for Colab 3.0. She also directed a student production of Ablaze in the same year. In 2022, she had her official directing debut in Vietnam with Alice in Wonderland the Musical and became one of the youngest directors to debut in The Hanoi Opera House. In 2023, she worked as the assistant director for Crystal Field at Theater for the New City for the Summer Street Theatre. Additionally, My Le was a director for New Perspectives Theatre Company’s 2023 Women’s Short Play Lab. She was also invited to be on their panel to select the 2024 plays. My Le graduated from Hunter College with a major in Theater and an Arts Management and Leadership Certificate. She is currently working at Little Island for their summer production season.

Isabel Criado (she/her) is a Spanish/Peruvian multidisciplinary artist with a need to tell stories which voice the experiences of multicultural immigrants. Most recent credits include Midsummer Night’s Dream’s Hermia at Under St. Marks, and Twelfth Night’s Viola with Prague Shakespeare Company. Isabel recently graduated from The New School with honors and a BFA in Dramatic Arts. She has worked as AD for Federica Borlenghi’s world premiere of Until Dark, produced by Et Alia Theatre at Out of The Box Theatrics. Furthermore, she was SM for SparkPlug Production of Clown Bar 2 at Parkside Lounge and Josh Fox’s NYC premier of The Edge of Nature at LaMama Experimental Theatre. Instagram: @isabelcriadob

John Austin (Voice) Selected credits: NEW YORK: The Flea: Waiting for Lefty (Harry Fatt); NATIONAL TOUR: Me, Myself, and Shirley. starring the late Cindy Williams of the hit television show “Laverne & Shirley;” REGIONAL: Arena Stage: Kleptocracy; Right to Be Forgotten; Holiday; Angels in America, directed by János Szász (Joe Pitt) (Helen Hayes Award: Outstanding Ensemble; 12 total HHA Nominations including Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Production); Constellation: Melancholy Play (Helen Hayes Awards: Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Production; Nomination: Outstanding Ensemble). Tutto Theatre Company: Zeus in Therapy (Young Zeus) (B. Iden Payne Award, Outstanding Young Performer); Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. EDUCATION: Boston University: BFA Acting, Summa Cum Laude, Dean’s Award, Bette Davis Prize; LAMDA: Certificate in Classical Acting. https://www.johnaustinactor.com/

Belle Le (Linh) was born in Saigon, Vietnam and raised in the Bay. Recent credits include Sex and The Abbey at The Brick and An Choi at Fault Line Theatre. Belle is endlessly grateful for the Viet hotties and for her community in NYC! University of North Carolina School of the Arts BFA. @belletle | belle-le.com

Maria Müller (Alien) is a Romanian actor, writer, and producer based in New York. She is also the Co-Founding Artistic Director of Et Alia Theater. Her most recent theater credits include Until Dark, directed by Federica Borlenghi (Out of the Box Theatrics), and Plasters, directed by Emma Tadmor (The Flea). Her film credits include Queen Marie of Romania (available on HBO), No Tomorrow, directed by Martin Drop (Queens World, Manhattan Film Festival), and a short film she wrote, produced, and starred in called Where Are You from Again? for which she won several awards. She holds a BFA from NYU Tisch.

Meadow Nguy (Kay) Credits include: Interstellar Cinderella at NYCCT. Ella (Cinderella) at North Shore Music Theatre, Hope Harcourt (Anything Goes) at City Springs Theatre Company, Betty Haynes (White Christmas) and Rachel (Escape to Margaritaville) at The John W. Engeman Theater; Ariel (The Little Mermaid) at Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre; Shelby (Steel Magnolias) at North Carolina Theatre; Awarded the 2012 High School Musical Theatre Jimmy Award Winner in Chicago. Film/TV: The Blacklist; The Artist’s Wife, Law and Order SVU, Madam Secretary, and Hunters. BFA-Indiana University. www.meadownguy.com

Marlon Xavier (David) is a New York City-based actor and a proud member of Labyrinth Theatre Company and a Finalist at The Actors Studio. He holds an MFA degree from the Actor Studio Drama School. Marlon’s credits include A Stage of Twilight which he starred alongside Karen Allen and William Sadler, as well as roles in Blue Bloods, and The Savant. Marlon is deeply grateful to his beautiful wife for her unwavering support and constant inspiration as he continues his journey.