Apprenticeships at Studio Theatre

Cleopatra Mavhunga is a director, actor, and occasional playwright. She assistant directed Espejos: Clean at Studio Theatre and is the current assistant director for Fat Ham at Studio. Upcoming projects are as the assistant director for Love, Love, Love, At the Wedding, and Problems Between Sisters at Studio Theatre. She also directed Scapino!, Cave Canem, The Family Showcase, and Sweat at Yale University and a staged reading of Pangeae at Yale University. She graduated in 2023 with a B.A. in Theatre, Performance, and Dance Studies with distinction. On social media at @cleopatramavhunga (Instagram).  

Malaika Fernandes (she/her/hers) is a playwright and arts administrator from Mumbai. Her plays include MULAQAT, recipient of the 2022 Khachig Tölölyan Fund Award at Wesleyan University; BANJAARA, developed at the Fall 2021 Workshop Intensive at The Workshop Theatre; and EYEBROWS ON, winner of the New South Young Playwrights Festival Contest at Horizon Theatre. She is a 2023 finalist for the Rattlestick Van Lier New Voices Fellowship. Malaika just graduated from Wesleyan University with High Honors and a B.A. in Theater and Economics; she is the recipient of the Theater Outreach and Community Service Award as well as the Rachel Henderson Award for Excellence in Theater. You can find her on New Play Exchange at https://newplayexchange.org/users/63097/malaika-fernandes. 

Diana (Di) Carey is a sound artist with a passion for creating immersive theatrical experiences. She graduated in 2021 from Saint Mary's College of California. Over the last decade, she’s lived and worked in all corners of the US: SF Bay Area, Portland, OR, New York, and now resides in DC, having spent the last two years teaching middle school English. Recent design credits include Fantasticland! (world premiere) at Town Hall Theatre, This is Modern Art, La Palmoa, and Whale in the Sound at Saint Mary's College. Outside of theatre, you can catch Di cooking vegan or eating at the many vegan restaurants in DC (even though she’s not vegan!)

Josh Morales is a Nicaraguan-American theatre artist from Miami. Having studied at Florida International University, he worked on Fahrenheit 451, Everybody and Curious Incident as an ALD and Head Electrician. Recent credits include: Every Brilliant Thing (PSF), Macbeth (MLP) and Wizard of Oz (SCS). Excited to start this next chapter at Studio Theatre.

Lucas Nascimento Gomes (they/them) is Brazilian-American theatre stage manager, director and designer. “I like to say my body was born here but my soul was born the first time I went to Brazil.” They graduated from Columbia University with a degree in political science and an unofficial minor in Theatre. Outside of theater, Lucas is in their Master Chef era, and constantly trying to return to reading for fun. Select credits include: As You Like It (La Jolla Playhouse; production assistant), Hold Yr Terror Close (The Tank; production stage manager), The Insects (Under Saint Marks; production stage manager), i've never planned to be on this earth (Columbia School of the Arts; production stage manager). Director/design credits include: Bootycandy (Columbia University), Black Box New Play Festival (Gallery Players; festival lighting designer).

Mae Mironer is the technical director apprentice at Studio theatre. Their recent experience includes TD at Walter Johnson High School, Carpenter at Music Theatre Wichita, Lighting Designer for "Cabaret" at Winona State University and Stage Manager for "The Moors" at Winona State. Mae Graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts from Winona State University in 2022. When it comes to technical directing Mae believes that having a wide range of technical experience is essential. One of Mae's favorite parts of technical direction is any opportunity that they get to teach others and share their passion, especially with young theatre enthusiasts. Portfolio Website: www.maemironer.com Social Media: @mae_mir_oner

Tyandria Jaaber (she/her) is a recent graduate of Sarah Lawrence College where she received her B.A. in Liberal Arts with concentrations in Music, Theatre, and Black Studies. Her passion for performing began at a very early age and she was most recently seen onstage in the East Coast Regional premiere of Chicken & Biscuits (Virginia Repertory Theatre) and as a semi-finalist in the Apollo Amateur Night Competition. It was during her undergraduate studies in New York that she developed a stronger interest in production. Tyandria was a Production Assistant on Bay Street Theatre’s renowned concert series, Sip & Sing, as well as their summer production of Camelot. She served as a Production/Development intern with Milojo Productions and coordinated a Cabaret Show at the Triad Theatre. Tyandria enjoys playing guitar, singing/songwriting, and aims to blend her production and musical interests by organizing live music events. On social media as @Ty_andria (Instagram). 

Niara Taylor Richards (she/her) is a performance artist, writer, and activist from the city of Chicago. She graduated from the University of Maryland - Baltimore County (UMBC) with a double degree in Africana Studies and Acting. Highlights of her college experience included acting in Trouble in Mind and The Grown Up, doing fight choreography in She Kills Monsters, and being treasurer of UMBC’s Black Lives Matter Club where she gained fundraising experience. Niara does Hip Hop dancing and was the intern and choreographer for the Black Ensemble Theatre’s 2022 internship program. She developed her writing skills and gained experience with making grants in support of non-profit organizations committed to civic media engagement and storytelling during her Journalism and Media internship with the MacArthur Foundation. Niara believes in using fundraising and development to support diverse groups of storytellers, fuel community engagement, and make theatre and theatre programs accessible to those in marginalized communities. https://www.niarataylor.com/. On social media at @niara_taylor (Instagram). 

Alexa Locarno is a born and raised New Jersey native, where she graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. This is Alexa’s first time working in theatre, and she is excited to finally be working in an industry that she is very passionate about.  As the Business Apprentice, she works closely with the Business Director, managing Studio’s day-to-day financial operations. Alexa is looking forward to gaining hands-on experience in the finance realm, while continuously working to generate ideas that will improve the organization of the company’s finances.  Outside of work, Alexa enjoys spending her free time traveling and exploring new places, as well as listening to music and going to concerts. 

David Plumer is a musician, writer, and filmmaker. Prior to Studio Theatre, selected entertainment work experience includes Artist Research and Outreach Street Team at BYGMusic and Office Intern at Ardmore Music Hall. Selected previous entertainment volunteering experience includes DC Jazz Festival and the CAMERA JAPAN film festival in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Selected film credits include working as a producer and actor on the short film Wet Paint (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG4rXc-eSDY)  and creating the short film Extreme Dream (https://youtu.be/Lqt7IYiXjcY?si=v1WIFz-Elr7MuOzm) while studying at Ithaca College. He studied for 2 years as a Cinema and Photography major at The Roy H. Park Scholl of Communications at Ithaca before finishing his time with a B.A. in Writing and a minor in Global Film History in 2020. In the same year, he released his debut EP under the name Plumerouno, Looking Out (Take 1), on Bandcamp and SoundCloud. You can find David on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-plumer-67507912b.