Author: Lazarus Simmons

Molly McInturff (she/her) is a proud southern girl hailing from Newnan, Georgia. Molly grew up one of three girls, with two sisters that loved to dance. She was first encouraged to find her way to the stage at age seven, after refusing to smile in her ballet number in Giselle (because it’s a tragedy of course). Having spent years orchestrating elaborate stories in the woods behind her house with her sisters, it was immediately clear theatre was a perfect fit. From acting to reading and writing, Molly is an avid lover of words, verse, and all things fantasy. Some of her favorite  Rutgers Theatre credits include Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Rosaura in Life is a Dream, and Antonia in Much Ado About  Nothing. When not on stage, Molly loves to turn her  adventuring to nature, thrifting hordes of old sweaters, or  aiding the floral section of Trader Joes. She is endlessly thankful to her family for their constant support of her journey to keep playing outside (professionally) for a lifetime.

Nasiyr Owens (he/him) is from Long Island, New York. A  on of hardworking parents, his upbringing was in many parts multicultural and fascinating, to say the least. His love of film has pushed him to become the most well- rounded actor, following in the footsteps of some of his favorites. He discovered his love of theatre and the arts when he saw his first Off-Broadway play courtesy of Rutgers University. He is an aspiring playwright and screenwriter. His Rutgers Theater Company credits include: Tyreik in Mud Row, Montague/Peter/John in Romeo and Juliet, Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing, and Carmel Cato in Fires in the Mirror.

Riley Waterman (he/him) is from Temecula, California. He started doing theatre at a young age at his parents’ recommendation, dropping the baseball bat for a pair of jazz shoes. He is infinitely thankful for his parents’ candor and support that pushed him to try musical theatre. After quickly falling in love with the theatre, he moved into improvisational comedy – before finally settling his fixation on straight plays in high school. Since coming to Mason Gross he has been blessed with opportunities to foster growth in different parts of his craft. He played with heightened text and poetry as Segismundo in Life is a Dream, woke up the old comedy bone as Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing, and took part in a new work as Josh in Time Stops by Brian Hilario. He is more than grateful for the time he has spent in this program as well as the wonderful friends and teachers he has worked with.

Sophonie Pierre (they/he) is a Haitian American actor from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sophonie’s love for theatre comes from their family who introduced them to the Haitian tradition of folklore storytelling and taught them how intrinsically linked to our humanity storytelling is. In honoring their lineage, they hope to continue telling stories. They earned their BFA in Acting from Rutgers University, where they honed their craft and developed a deep passion for performance. Their unique blend of softness, power, grounded energy, and humor defines their strength as an actor. Some of their Rutgers Theatre Credit include: Frances in Mud Row, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, and Rosaura in Life is a Dream. Outside of acting, Sophonie loves music, dancing, and stand up comedy often joking that in another life they’d have been a stand-up comedian.

Alyssa Isetta (she/her) is a proud Californian, born and raised in the Bay Area. She grew up in Petaluma, California—also known as “The Egg Capital of the World” (which she pridefully tells anyone who asks). Although she never thought moving to New Jersey was ever in the cards for her, she knew she was destined to pursue a career in storytelling. Spending most of her adolescence writing plays, shooting skits, and getting in trouble for daydreaming in class, Alyssa is an artist who yearns to explore all the trials and triumphs of the human condition. When she’s not acting, you can find her writing, reading literary fiction, discovering niche Doo-wop groups, and attempting to learn the French language (still getting there). Her Rutgers Theater Company credits include: Tommy T/Prince Phillip in What Then?, Clarin in Life is a Dream, Margaret in Much ado About Nothing, and Nurse in R+J.

Colton Liberatore (he/him) was born in Bethesda, Maryland at the Naval Hospital, but quickly relocated to Germany with his parents who were both military officers at the time. After moving back to the States, Colton resided in the DC Metropolitan/Northern Virginia area and later moved to North Carolina where he attended middle school and high school. Because Colton moved around so much, he considers home to be wherever his family is. As a child, Colton acted out his favorite scenes from superhero movies and also used a variety of voices while playing with his Legos. Colton took his first acting class at age 5. But it wasn’t until he played Captain Hook in 5th grade at his elementary school’s production of Peter Pan where Colton realized acting was what he was meant to do. During middle school and high school, most of Colton’s acting opportunities were in musical theater, but he gravitated towards film and Shakespeare which made studying Acting at Rutgers a dream come true.  

When Colton isn’t acting, he enjoys being with family and friends, playing Baldur’s Gate 3, hiking, reading, Philosophy, and spending time with his four rescue dogs. Colton’s Rutgers Theatre Company Credits include Robert Sherman in Fires In The Mirror, Clotaldo in Life Is A Dream, Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing at the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, Friar Laurence in Romeo & Juliet, and Roland in Time Stops.

William Anderson (he/him) was born and raised in Libertyville, Illinois. At the age of seven, during a rather tough time for his family, Will discovered acting as a way to escape the harsh realities of life and find comfort in the stories of other people. After kicking off his professional career in Chicago a year later, he found that he was able to do the same thing for audiences he performed for. From then on, he knew this was his life’s work. Will’s passion and drive was founded within the art and artists in and around The Windy City. After high school, Rutgers presented itself as the perfect place to kindle his flame. His roles and training at Rutgers have made him a bolder, braver artist. Before coming back to campus this semester, he wrapped shooting his first SAG film, which is a queer horror comedy set to be released in 2025. He also has other interests outside of acting. This year he has been working in the runway, print, and atmosphere modeling scene in New York City and Chicago. He walked three shows this year for New York Fashion Week and has modeled for multiple events at Ralph Lauren in Chicago. He is immensely grateful to all of the people that have helped him step into his own self and artistry.

Noelle Young-Davis (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist from Baltimore, Maryland. In love with performing for as long as she can remember, Noelle’s passion for acting was nurtured in high school at Baltimore School of the Arts. The minute she stepped on stage for the first time she knew the stage was where she belonged. Noelle’s enthusiasm for creating goes beyond theater. She writes, is a mover/dancer, and loves to sing. She also won the Baltimore Center Stage’s Young Playwrights Festival in 2020. You will often see her smiling or hear her laughing. Noelle is a graduate of the BFA Acting program at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts. Educational theater credits include: Fires in the Mirror, Life Is a Dream, Romeo & Juliet, and Mud Row. Noelle was privileged to spend a year in London studying at Shakespeare’s Globe, where she also played Ursula in Much Ado About Nothing. Noelle made her professional debut in Romeo and Juliet as Juliet at Door Shakespeare in Wisconsin. She is always extremely grateful to her family for their constant love and support. 

Chloe Wales (they/them) is an actor! Huzzah! Originally from Oahu, Hawaii, Chloe began their love for storytelling through Hula and Tahitian Dance. Their introduction to traditional theater came at 10 years old when they saw a one man play about the treatment of Asian Americans during World War II. That did it for them. The ability of the performer to evoke empathy and true conversation blew their mind! Ever since then, they’ve been seeking out theater that starts conversations and enacts real social change. They’ve ridden that wave to California, Berlin, London, NYC, and yes, Rutgers! They believe theater is an art of collaboration and are passionate about devised work and new play development. Process is everything. At Rutgers, they’ve had the opportunity to play some dreamy dream roles: Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing) and Segismundo (Life is a Dream). 

When not in a theater, you can find Chloe in the nearest body of water: surfing in the Pacific or the Atlantic, or teaching swim lessons at the nearest rec center. They enjoy botany, yoga, and a good mosh pit. They come from a long line of swim coaches, teachers, and puppeteers. Chloe is stoked to be entering this next chapter in their artistic career and hopes that it is full of joy, laughter, contribution, collaboration, and love!

Ava Lamantia (she/her) was born and bred down the Jersey shore in Monmouth County, NJ. Born into a family of former business-owners, Ava learned the definition of hard work from a very young age. She worked hard growing up, putting on impromptu shows for her family on the hearth of the fireplace nightly. This led her to go on doing singing and dancing lessons, eventually moving on to compete in those disciplines and perform in musical theater. It was later on when she went to the performing arts program at her high school that her dear acting teacher opened her eyes to the craft of acting. She fell in love with plays and film as well as the techniques of the greats. She’s passionate about studying and passionate about the community and sacredness that lies in spaces where stories are told. When she’s not reading plays, Ava can be found outside with her beloved rescue dog Rambo or surrounded by her loved ones. Past roles at Rutgers include Hero in Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare’s Globe, Rosaura in Life is a Dream, and Carly in At the Wedding.