Meet the cast

Gretchen Wylder (Creator & Writer – “Gretchen” – Pronouns: she/her) started her acting career in Chicago and has been a working actor in NYC for the past nine years. She has originated roles in musical comedies Off-Broadway, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and also creates original sketch comedy content. In addition to working with legends Kathy Griffin, Julie Andrews, Anthony Rapp, and Judy Gold, Gretchen has performed sketch and improv at Amy Poehler’s UCB theater, the PIT, Magnet, and Second City. Fav theatre credits: Avenue Q, Rent, Bedbugs The Musical. She has competed at the Miss Exotic World pageant at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas. Gretchen is an advocate for the Queer community and in 2016, organized a float in NYC’s Gay Pride parade to raise funds for the Ellie Conant memorial fund, benefiting Astraea Lesbian Foundation. Her original character and low budget sketch vids can be seen at www.gretchenwylder.com @gretchenwylder
Vico Ortiz Vico Ortiz (“Vero” – Pronouns: They/She/Him) is your friendly neighborhood Latinx FemBoi hailing from the gorgeous island of Puerto Rico. They’ve been in Los Angeles for a decade representing Latinx Queers in groundbreaking LGBTQ TV shows like “Transparent”, “The Fosters”, “Vida”, “Jane The Virgin”, “American Horror Story”, “Everything is gonna be Okay”. They just wrapped filming as a series regular on HBO Max’s Our Flag Means Death, premiering in 2022. You might have also seen them in the award-winning short films “Vámonos” and “Misdirection” or on stage in Rogue Machine’s production of “Super Variety Match Bonus Round!” that earned them a “Best Performance” nomination by the LA Drama Critics Award. To follow their Queerventures go to Instagram: @Puertoricaninja or www.victoria-ortiz.com
Shaan Dasani (“Asher” – Pronouns: he/they) is an actor who grew his roots in the filmmaking world. After obtaining an MFA from Chapman University, he went on to direct & produce 30 short films, web series, commercials, PSA’s and music videos. As a actor, Shaan has performed on stage at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, Stella Adler Theater, and East West Players. Commercial work includes spots for Google, Wells Fargo & Bonobos Clothing. TV Credits include Netflix’s EAT YOUR WORDS and CBS’s CRIMINAL MINDS: BEYOND BORDERS. Most recently Shaan was cast opposite Rain Valdez in upcoming digital series RAZOR TONGUE. He is currently in development for his own show AGENT OF CHANGE. ShaanDasani.com
Nick Park (“Kevin” – Pronouns: he/him) has been a New York based actor and theatre performer since 2005. He has originated roles Off-Broadway and has been seen on stages all over the country. Favorite credits include Bedbugs: The Musical, Merrily We Roll Along, First Date (Henry Award Nomination: Best Supporting Actor in a Musical), Little Shop of Horrors, Tick…tick…BOOM!, and the original cast of James and the Giant Peach (music and lyrics by Oscar, Grammy, and Tony Award winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul). He can also be seen in OK Stupid (written and directed by Ryan Rivard). Nick graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and has continued his studies with Andrew Stuart Jones in New York and is a current student with the Upright Citizens Brigade: NYC. Follow his adventures @nickparkactor on Instagram and Twitter and at nickparkactor.com
T.L. Thompson (“Ti” – Pronouns: they/zir) is a Brooklyn based performer and a member of the NY Neo-Futurists. They are currently a series regular on CW’s The 4400. ​Other credits include: BROADWAY: Straight White Men (person in charge). Wind Up Variations (unicorn). After (ensemble). Public Theatre’s Wretchg: The Final Concert (bass). Marian or the True Tale of Robin Hood (Will Scarlett), New Ohio Theatre. FILM: Free Money, Dir. Heather Acs. Friday Afternoon, Dir. Paige Campbell.
Goldie Peacock (“Goldie” – Pronouns: they/them) is Brooklyn’s golden boi! This genderblending drag king has been called “the most flamboyant, regal bird in the menagerie” and performs, teaches workshops, emcees and models worldwide. Recently, Goldie won Drag King of the Year for both the Brooklyn Nightlife Awards and the Go Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards and was named one of the 21 best drag kings in the world by Rebelcircus.com. Goldie has been featured by publications such as VICE, the Huffington Post, Lash Magazine and Refinery 29 and is delighted to have headlined the 2017 Austin International Drag Festival. For more information and to stay in the fruit loop, visit goldiepeacock.com.
Kate Rigg (Pronouns: she/her) is a mixed race multicultural multilingual multi disciplinary art star. She studied at the University of Toronto (2 Norma Epstein Creative Writing Awards), The University of Melbourne (BA Hons in Subcultures and Creative Writing; Experimental Writing Award) and the Juilliard School of Drama. (Interarts Award.) She has also won awards from the Australia Council, The Canada Council, The Urban Arts Initiative, The Toronto Arts Council, The New York Foundation for the Arts, The PatsyLu Foundation, The Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation, The Asian Women’s Giving Circle, and more. Kate is also the creator of several comedy based unscripted television shows: Dance Your Ass Off for NBC Universal (and as an international format), Cache Craze for YTV/ Disney XD, Tour Dates in pre-production now at TBS and Gonzo Girlz one of the first viral internet shows.
Murray Hill (Pronoun: he/him) is a NYC legend, comedian, host, international entertainer, and larger-than-life personality. Mr. Showbiz is renowned for his improv, quick wit, and sparkly (but too tight) tuxedos. He’s been flexing his comedy chops touring with comedian/singer BRIDGET EVERETT and was just awarded The New York Voices commission from Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater. He has toured the U.S. several times over with burlesque superstar DITA VON TEESE and hosted her historic debut sold-out Australian tour. Murray is New York’s “reigning patriarch of downtown performance” (New York Times). www.themurrayhillshow.com
Darlinda Just Darlinda (Pronouns: she/her) The Village Voice calls DARLINDA JUST DARLINDA a “Mastermind of Bizarre Extravaganza” and she has been working as a Burlesque Performer, Performance Artist, and Producer since 2004. She is one half of the Burlesque duo The Schlep Sisters. Darlinda has also performed with Taylor Mac in The Lily’s Revenge (Obie), at Lincoln Center, Celebrate Brooklyn and 24 Decades of Popular Music (Obie). TV credits: HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and The Other F Word. She’s lectured for Yale’s infamous Sex Week. Her year long “life as art” projects include Year in Dance and Year in Rainbow and she co-founded LadyBox Theater. USA Today says “It’s hard to top Darlinda.”
Bunny Michael (Pronouns: they/them) is a femme presenting non- binary rapper, actor, author and visual artist best known for their Higher Self meme project on Instagram. Their work has been featured in numerous publications including The New York Times, HuffPost, Paper Magazine, Dazed and Confused, and Vice. In 2018 they toured the U.S. and Europe as a support act for world renowned Swedish electronic musician Fever Ray. They currently host a digital show for Vice’s Broadly Channel called “Broadly Hotline”. Bunny also played the role of Bea on Season 2 of HBO’s hit show, “High Maintenance”. Born of Mexican and Samoan decent, Bunny grew up in Dallas, Texas. Actively entrenched in their music career New York since the mid 2000’s, it wasn’t until Mx. Michael began writing their Higher Self memes in 2016 that their work reached a much larger audience. In 2017 Bunny self published a book of these memes entitled, Me and My HigherSelf.
Bunny Michael (Pronouns: he/him) is thrilled to join the cast of These Thems. A Canadian-born actor, he now calls Brooklyn, NY home. Ryan’s work includes recurring roles on Inside Amy Schumer on Comedy Central, Jessica Jones on Netflix, Amazon’s Red Oaks and HBO’s The Deuce. – www.mrryanfarrell.com
Kita Updike (Pronouns: she/her) is always excited to bring visibility to projects she participates in, as she is a Chippewa and African American woman. She can be heard by audiophiles in the narrative podcast “The Horror of Dolores Roach”, by Gimlet Media. The show, which was released in October 2018, stars Daphne Rubin Vega, and Bobby Cannavale. She also starred in the German feature film “The Misandrists”, which premiered at the Berlinale Film Festival in 2017. Kita spent time working as a model in the fashion world, before finding time to put her passion for acting on stage back into practice. Over the past couple years she has been honored to work with The Public Theater (Reckoning, Dir: Billy Porter,) and Westport Playhouse (Click). She also has spent time developing several new works such as “The Village” (Dir. Hannah Ryan), and “Galatea” by MJ Kaufman.
Katlyn Carlson (Pronouns: she/her) couldn’t be happier to be a part of THESE THEMS and share its message of love and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. She has appeared in episodes of “Happy Together,” “Master of None,” “Billions,” “The Jim Gaffigan Show,” “Henry Danger,” “Alternatino with Arturo Castro,” and “TruTV’s World’s Dumbest” and “Almost Genius.” She starred opposite Doug Jones in My Name is Jerry, and appeared in Zach Braff’s Going in Style opposite Michael Caine. Katlyn plays Chloe in the viral sensation musical Be More Chill, heading to Broadway in February 2019. Catch her as the lead in the new Christmas movie Holly Star! @katlyncarlson
Maybe Burke (Pronouns: they/them) is a New York based actor, writer, and human rights advocate interested in telling the stories that haven’t been told. TV/Web Series: Tales of the City (Netflix), Façades (Web Series) Theatre: Red Emma & the Mad Monk (The Tank, NYT Critics’ Pick), Love Letters to Nobody (The Brick, The Wild Project), Delicious Filth: Grindr Play #3 (The Brick), T.B. Sheets (Buran Theatre, ART NY). Maybe is the founder of The Trans Literacy Project with Honest Accomplice Theatre. BA Directing, Pace University. @believeinmaybe maybeburke.com
Jordan Ho (Pronouns: xe/xem/xyr) is an Asian gender flux actrex. Theatre credits include: Defiant, Majestic, and Beautiful (Dixon Place), Salt Kid Watches Brooklyn Burn (Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater), i wrote on ur wall and now i regret it (The Wild Project), ReconFIGURED (Universtiy Settlement), and The Birds and the Bees: Unabridged (Atlas Performing Arts Center). Not only does xe devise theatre with Honest Accomplice Theatre, but xe also works with them as an educator at college and workplace environments to broaden foundational understanding of trans experiences with the Trans Literacy Project. BA – Acting Pace University. instagram:@leavanny, twitter:@skrelp #mxho
Kerry Rush (Pronouns: they/them) is an LGBTQIA+ creative activist and postgraduate Counselling and Psychotherapy student based in Edinburgh, Scotland. They are the founder and project manager of Positive Change Arts Projects (PCAP). PCAP is an umbrella for a number of multidisciplinary creative projects focusing on self- exploration, self-expression, mental health and wellbeing, and healthy representation of LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities. Kerry can often be found somewhere in the world facilitating the ‘I am…’ workshop and developing the ‘I Have a Que(e)ry’ webseries. These Thems is Kerry’s on-screen acting debut. Website: www.positivechangearts.co.uk Twitter: @positive_arts
Gabrielle Alexa (Pronouns: she/her) is a writer, speaker, and digital creative located in Brooklyn. She has bylines in the Independent, Into More, the Huffington Post, and other publications. Currently, she is writing about dating and bisexuality for Tinder’s Swipe Life. Gabrielle predominantly covers topics within sex/sexuality, identity, and feminism. Her goal is to create a body of work that forces people to reexamine their perceptions of identity. She uses Instagram as a microblogging and vlogging platform and is currently working on a docuseries on sexuality for women/femmes.
Max Brand (Pronouns: he/him) is a NYC based actor and comedian that has been featured in programs on HBO, TruTV, The Kicker, Above Average, and The Truth Podcast. He performs regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. He also stars in an award winning film named “Outer Spaces” that has been premiering in multiple film festivals around the country. He was honored to work on These Thems and wants to thank everyone on the cast and the crew for including him in such an incredible production.
Lane Kwederis (Pronouns: she/her) is an actor and comedian who can be seen on shows like Broad City, Master of None, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and The RUNDOWN with Robin Thede. She has been a house team performer at The Upright Citizens Brigade (Characters Welcome), The PIT ([Title of Team]), and The Magnet (The Executives & Public Pool). She received a BFA in musical theater from The Boston Conservatory and was the understudy for Baby in the first National tour and Original Toronto production of Dirty Dancing. You can see her show schedule and more info on her website: www.lanekwederis.com
Dana Costello (Pronouns: she/her) has performed all over (from Broadway to Off-Broadway to waaaaaaaaay Off-Broadway) and is making her on-screen debut in THESE THEMS. Broadway credits include “Mary Barrie” in FINDING NEVERLAND and “Nellie” in JEKYLL & HYDE. Other credits include DAVE at Arena Stage, MISS SAIGON (Ellen), LITTLE WOMEN (Jo), RENT (Maureen), SOUTH PACIFIC (Nellie), BEAUTY AND THE BEAST(Belle), A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Anne), LEGALLY BLONDE (Brooke), and “Anya” in THE LESBIAN LOVE OCTAGON where she first met and fell for the charms of THESE THEMS creator, Gretchen Wylder. Up next you can see Dana as “Marie” in Manhattan Concert Production’s concert revival of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL at Lincoln Center.
​Lindsay-Elizabeth Hand (Pronouns: she/her) is the Owner and Founder of Edge In Motion Productions LLC, a full-service production company specializing in comedic TV Pilots and viral internet content. In addition to producing, Lindsay is a SAG-AFTRA actress, and an award-winning screenwriter. She is a passionate producer who has a hand in every aspect of production, from the development of the scripts to the logistics of filming and post-production. Lindsay’s work has caught the eye of several publications including HuffPo, Funny or Die, Broadway World, A.V. Club, Paste Magazine, Flavorwire, Laughspin, Spoiled NYC, Comedy Cake, and Theater Geek to name a few.
Andrea Prestinario (Pronouns: she/her) is an award-winning actress, singer, and activist who is NYC-based and Chicago-grown. Upcoming: Alison in Fun Home at Baltimore Center Stage. Other favorites: Alison in Fun Home (Weston Playhouse); Eliza in My Fair Lady: both at Asolo Rep (directed by Frank Galati) and at Paramount Theatre Aurora. Additionally with the legendary Mr. Galati: Martha in his new adaptation of 1776 – a co-production with A.C.T SF and Asolo Rep. Gertie in Oklahoma! (Lyric Opera Chicago); Louise in Gypsy (Drury Lane Oakbrook); Maureen in RENT (Paramount Theatre Aurora); Thea in Fiorello! (Timeline Theatre) and Violet in Side Show at Boho Theatre (Jeff Award – Actress in a Principal Role). She is the co-founder of Ring of Keys, a national network of queer women+, trans, and gender non-conforming artists working on and offstage in musical theatre. www.andreaprestinario.com

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