Saturday, September 30, 2023, 7pm performance at coLAB Arts (9 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901)

The run time for this performance is about 50 minutes. The performance will be immediately followed by a post-play discussion with Lucila Lagru Hong, LSW from Middlesex County’s Center for Empowerment.

TRUEly Heard is a fictional play based on the true stories of survivors of sexual assault. It explores the question, “Why don’t survivors feel safe enough to disclose the truth?" The play is a collaboration between coLAB Arts and the Middlesex County Center for Empowerment.

TRUEly Heard

Stephanie Van Huss, Writer and Director

Jasmine Carmichael, Co-Writer and Assistant Director

Hannah M’Lynn, Stage Manager

Sandrine Dupiton, Dramaturgy

Cast: Karen Alvarado*, Johnny Kavanaugh, J. P. Keller, Aline Stokes, Hayley Pellis

*Actor is a member of Actors’ Equity Association

CREATIVE TEAM

Stephanie Van Huss

**Writer and Director** - EdM, works as a professional director, intimacy choreographer, and teaching artist throughout NJ and NY - developing and facilitating arts curricula for all ages and levels of experience. She currently serves as the Director of Education for the New Jersey Center for Theatrical Intimacy. Contact Stephanie at vanhuss.stephanie@gmail.com.

Jasmine Carmichael

**Co-Writer and Assistant Director** - Jasmine feels incredibly honored to have worked on this production of *TRUEly Heard*. Jasmine is a director, actor and teaching artist. Directing credits include *Leni and Joseph*, *-itude*, *Love Me As The World Caves In* (Rutgers Theater Company) and *TRUESELVES* (coLAB Arts). TV and streaming credits include *Sneaky Pete*, *The Equalizer*, *Blue Bloods*, *Chicago PD*, and *Law & Order: SVU*. Jasmine has also starred in several award winning indie features including *Real Talk*, *Romeo and Juliet in Harlem*, *Runaway* and *To The Flame*. Jasmine received her BFA from Rutgers University - Mason Gross School of the Arts.

CAST

Karen Alvarado* (Jojo)

Karen Alvarado is a theater artist from south Texas with Latina and indigenous ancestry. Alvarado works as an actress, director, producer, and college instructor. She received her MFA in acting from the conservatory at Rutgers University - Mason Gross School of the Arts. Her artistry draws on Meisner-based acting, Ping Chong + Company methods of devising, Williamson movement, as well as culturally rich and history inspired storytelling. Alvarado has been an instructor of acting at Rutgers University, George Street Playhouse, NJPAC, Luna Stage, Poetic Theater Productions, and coLAB Arts. As an actor, she recently appeared in repertoire as Thea Elvstead in Hedda Gabler and Camillo in The Winter’s Tale (Bedlam/Irondale Center), Mistress Quickly in BEDLAM: the Series, and Johnna in August: Osage County (Delaware REP). As co-artistic director of Thinkery & Verse she has produced award-winning plays at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the critically acclaimed Thou Shalt Not in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Learn more at www.karenalvarado.com and www.thinkeryandverse.org.

Johnny Kavanagh (Dan/Zach)

is an actor, director, comedian, and teaching artist. You may recognize him from a variety of commercial, television, and stage appearances. This is an incredibly important cause he cares deeply about and is honored to be selected to be a part of this production and its amazing team.

J. P. Keller (Erik)

John has worked as an independent artist, actor, dramaturg, and director. Theater: off broadway world premiere of Tina Howe’s *Singing Beach*, as well as world premieres of *Mourning Sun*, *You are now the Owner of This Suitcase*, and *JH3AM* with Theater 167. The 2012 NY revival of *The Violet Hour* by Richard Greenberg. Regional: Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Pericles in world premiere of Ellen McLaughlin’s *Adventures of Pericles*, as well as Stephano in *Tempest*, Nicholas in *Nicholas Nickleby*, Jonathan Harker in *Dracula*, Roderigo in *Othello*, and Edward in *Sense and Sensibility*. Contemporary American Theater Festival: Cohn in *Captors*. Additional roles at Alabama Shakespeare, George Street Playhouse, Worcester Shakespeare Festival, Mile Square Theater Company, Luna Stage Company, and Internationally at the Balinese Arts Festival and the Ugandan International Theater Festival. John holds an M.F.A. in Acting from Rutgers University - Mason Gross School of the Art where he currently teaches Theater for Social Development.

Hayley Jo Pellis (Sam)

Hayley is an actress based in the New York Tri-State area. She is a graduate of Belmont University where she earned her BFA in Theatre Performance. Recent regional credits include; Jill Holcomb in *The High Priestess* at the Emerging Artists Theatre New Works Series in New York City, Florence/Jen in *Kodachrome*, #13 in *The Wolves*, both with Actors Bridge Ensemble in Nashville, TN. Hayley works full time as an Education Associate at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ. Special thanks to the wonderful Stephanie Van Huss and love to Liam and their dog Maisy.
IG: hayleyjopellis

Aline Stokes (Cameron)

Aline is from New Iberia, Louisiana. She received her BA in theater performance and directing from Louisiana State University as well as her masters at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. She feels extremely lucky to have been asked to be a part of the second life of TRUEly Heard and is looking forward to continue to work with these amazing artists. Recently she has lent her voice to the audio book The Color of Dragons as well as additional voices to the video game Red Dead Redemption II. Latest film and theatre credits The Ledger (short film) and Thou Shalt Not (staged play) with Thinkery and Verse.