Alexandra Acosta is a proud member of OMB since 2020. She is a bilingual actress from Barranquilla, Colombia who moved to the States at a young age. She moved to New York to study at Circle in the Square theatre school and since graduating, has appeared in off-broadway productions, national tours, and television. Notable credits include: Awkwafina is Nora from Queens (Comedy Central), Law and Order; SVU ( NBC), Law and Order; Organized Crime (NBC), Our Trojan War (B.A.M.), Collected Shorts by Theresa Rebeck (Cherry Lane Theatre). She's a proud member of Actor's Equity and SAG-AFTRA. 

Tommy Montgomery is an NYC-based Actor, Comedian, Musician, and Children’s Theatre Artist. Off-Broadway: Jim/Andy in The Office! A Musical Parody. Tommy has worked in children’s theatre as an actor, musician, and teaching artist with Only Make Believe; Shadow Box Theatre (Little is Big, Tobias Turkey, Lumpy Bumpy Pumpkin, Big Annie); Syracuse Stage (Danny King of The Basement, Miss Electricity, All Star C.A.S.T.); and Northlight Theatre. Tommy has trained and performed comedy at the Peoples Improv Theater, Second City, and Upright Citizens Brigade. Tommy was the mascot “Blaze” for the 2024 ICC T20 Cricket World Cup, and he was a contestant on Season Two of the trivia game show THE FLOOR hosted by Rob Lowe on FOX. BFA: Syracuse University IG: @tommy_montgo Website: tommymontgo.com

Vanesa is thrilled to be returning to Only Make Believe. Once again lending herself to this wonderful organization and being able to make believe with these superstar kids. Recent credits include: BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY (American Stage Theatre) Company in Florida, GROWING UP series (Disney+) and BLUE BLOODS (CBS).

Sora Baek is a performer and playwright from South Korea. She has been featured on the New York Times, News 12 NJ and Voice of America. Select acting theater credits include: SELL ME: I am from North Korea (U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, D.C., International Human Rights Festival, NYC, Theater Row and Jersey City Theater Center), The Storm, A Christmas Carol, and Sworn Virgin (NY and International Tour) with Blessed Unrest, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Calaveras Repertory Theatre). Sora received a Best Actress Award at the Epidemic Film Festival in San Francisco. She works with Only Make Believe where she creates interactive theater with children in hospitals and is an associate member of a theater company, Blessed Unrest. www.sorabaek.com

Julia is an actor, singer and puppeteer based in NYC. Her recent works include playing Mr. Pout-Pout Fish in the national tour of the children's musical The Pout-Pout Fish and performing as the lead puppeteer for SunriseVx, an interactive entertainment platform for kids with cancer. She is proud to be a part of the OMB team spreading the magic of theater to communities she holds dear. Education: BFA in Acting at NYU Tisch School of the Arts

Ryan was born in San Diego, California but grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He performed all through middle school and high school leading him to a specialized high school drama program at North Carolina School of the Arts. He left his hometown to spend his senior at this conservatory and continued to study there for his BFA in Drama. Once he complete his degree he moved to New York City to begin a fellowship in arts education at Lincoln Center Education. His passion for youth and art making coalesced in a teaching artist career leading to conduct theater and music workshops in all five boroughs of NYC. Dedicated to creating new work and promoting young theater makers he started a theater company with likeminded friends and collaborators called Oh Force! Theater Co. After some years of producing, performing and teaching in NYC Ryan moved to Philadelphia to pursue an MFA at the Pig Iron School for Devised Performance. He is currently a teaching fellow at the Juilliard school shadowing the physical acting teachers. He is currently holding physical theater and devising training with his new company Write Foot.

Reza Salazar is an actor and writer who began his career as a child in South America, working with his mother as clowns. He originated the role of Rafael in the Tony nominated play Clyde’s by the two-time Pulitzer prize winner playwright Lynn Nottage. Broadway: Clyde’s (Helen Hayes) Sweat (Studio 54). Off-Broadway: Richard II, Mobile Unit’s The Tempest, Oedipus El Rey (Public Theater) My Mañana Comes (Playwright’s Realm). He has performed in regional theaters across the country such as the Mark Taper Forum, Goodman Theater, Guthrie Theater, and Arena Stage. His TV credits include: “Elsbeth” (CBS) “Inside Amy Schumer” (Paramount +) “The Accidental Wolf,” (Topic) “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Daredevil,” (Netflix) “The Blacklist,” “Believe,” “Law & Order” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (NBC), "Louie," (FX) "The Knick," (Cinemax) Film: The Imperialists Are Still Alive, See Girl Run, The Inquisition of Camilo Sanz. Reza has worked as a teaching artist and storyteller at BAM, Brooklyn Museum, The Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, The Hispanic Society Museum and Library and The People’s Theater Project. Reza made his directorial debut with Missing Them which he adapted and developed with Anjali Tsui and was produced by The Working Theater. He facilitated + directed Tejido de Historias (Woven Stories) a theatrical workshop and offering performed by an ensemble of community members, immigrants and workers at the Whitney Museum and Alianza Dominicana.

Off-Broadway: Swan Lake Rock Opera; Yellow Rose; A Symphony for Portland; Once Upon a Mattress; The Deciders; The Last One Left. National Tour: As You Like It; Tartuffe; Treasure Island; The Jungle Book; The Gingerbread Man. NYC Equity Showcase: Hamlet (title); Romeo & Juliet (Mercutio); Othello (Iago); The Tempest (Ariel); One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (McMurphy); Guys & Dolls (Sky). Regional Favorites include The Emcee in Cabaret (Classic Theatre of Maryland), and the title roles in Macbeth (Classic Theatre of San Antonio) and Willy Wonka! (Magik Theatre). TV/Film: "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Billions," "Severance," "Life & Beth," "Law & Order," and others. Recipient of six ATAC Globe Awards. Graduate of CUNY Brooklyn's M.F.A. Acting Program. Love to Carolyn.

Jeanette Bonner is an award-winning actor, host, producer, and creative entrepreneur. Her NYC credits include work with Ars Nova’s ANT Fest, Primary Stages, and Rattlestick Playwrights Theater and she has toured nationally with her solo show “Love. Guts. High School.” as well as “Sesame Street Live.” TV Credits include Max series “Gossip Girl” and “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.” Jeanette is also known for her production company Kelly’s Pool Hall Productions which has created and produced award-winning content in narrative film, theater, digital content and podcast. She is the Creator of two digital series, “Ghost Light” (IndieFlix) and “The Scoop” (Access Video On Demand), which won a Bronze Telly Award for Best Unscripted Online Series and was a final selection for Bravo TV’s Pitch & Development Lab. She is also the producer & host of Davey Award-winning feminist dating podcast #single. She is a graduate of the theater and dance program at Trinity College in Hartford and is a licensed NYC tour guide; when not acting or producing, she can be seen introducing newcomers to the joys of New York! 

María Peyramaure is a bilingual Spanish, SAG-AFTRA and AEA actress based in NYC. She's also a pediatric hospital clown, teaching artist, devised theater collaborator and a proud Only Make Believe company member since 2018. María helped translate several OMB scripts into Spanish to perform for Spanish only speaking populations back in 2019. She was very involved with the interactive online workshops when the company transitioned to virtual programming during the pandemic in 2020. María has also helped workshop several new OMB plays such as Imagination Unlocked and the newer The Water Witch!  While María has worked on many regional and off broadway stages, and on the smallish screen, giving life to deeply emotionally rooted characters that explore the diverse Latinx experience in America, she balances the dramatic side of her on camera and stage work with an extensive background in physical comedy and clown that serves her OMB characters well. Maria says that "making kids (and adults) laugh through the goofiness of play is an utmost source of joy. Seeing our audiences grow and flourish by the empowering invitation to use their own imagination and creativity through our shows, brings me joyful hope for humanity and a whole lot of gratitude to be a part of it."

Meagan Kimberly Smith is a mixed-race actress, facilitator and entrepreneur based in NYC. She is the Co-founder of Mixed in America: a community organization which creates trauma informed support groups and workshops for multiracial adults, kids, businesses, schools and affinity groups. Meagan has led workshops for Google, Northwestern, Public Highline schools and many more. Meagan received her BFA in drama at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Some of her credits include: Comedy Central’s Other Two, Blindspot on NBC, Pig Iron's Path of Pins, and American High's Banana Split. Her teaching experience includes: Lincoln Center Education, Girl Be Heard, The Stuttering Association for the Young, Bartol’s Advanced Trauma informed training, Girls First, Arts to Grow, NC Black Repertory Company, and UNCSA’s Summer session. Meagan hopes to bring diversity, depth and humor to every stage she has the privilege of stepping on, and deep listening and validation to every group she facilitates.

Casterline Villar (She/Her) is a Dominican, Bronx born New Yorker and multi-disciplinary artist. She graduated from SUNY Fredonia with BFA Acting and BA Psychology degrees. She is also an alumni of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and the Atlantic Acting School. She can often be found working her hand at art forms such as puppetry, voiceover, staged combat, and more. If not that, she'll be watering her plants, listening to podcasts, and indulging in the best coffee.

Dan Domingues has been a proud OMB company member for 17 years. His most recent appearances include Dial M for Murder at Virginia Stage Company and A Sherlock Carol at Westport Country Playhouse.  Other regional theater credits include Tales from the Guttenberg Bible starring Steve Guttenberg, at George Street Playhouse and Bay Street Theater.  His Off-Broadway credits include Mark Shanahan’s A Sherlock Carol at New World Stages, The Public Theater (The Tempest, Wild Goose Dreams, Fidelis, The Great Immensity), 59E59, Rattlestick, Abingdon, BAM, INTAR, Atlantic, and Cherry Lane. Other major regional work includes roles at Barrington Stage, Alley Theatre, Arena Stage, Guthrie, Goodman, New York Stage & Film, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Pioneer Theatre, Long Wharf, and Portland Stage.  Film & TV includes Zoo, Run All Night, Future ’38, In Stereo, New Amsterdam, West 40s, Blacklist, Royal Pains, and Law & Order. Dan holds an MFA from the A.R.T. Institute at Harvard, is an associate artist with The Civilians and co-host of the movie podcast Hot Date with Dan & Vicky.

Shubhangi Kuchibhotla was most recently seen as Connie In Dance Nation at Olney Theatre Center. Other regional credits include: Cat/Machine Master in “P.Nokio: A hiphop Musical” at Imagination stage, Medusa in “Medusa” in NY Theatre Fest, Olivia in “Twelfth Night” with Her Majesty and Sons, “Miss Holmes Returns” at Greater Boston Theatre Co, “Be Here Now” at Everyman Theatre, “Right to be Forgotten” at Arena Stage, “White Snake” at Constellation Theatre. She is a classically trained Indian dancer in the art form of Kathak, and a proud UMBC alumni!

Diego hails from the Washington DC area, but has been a New Yorker since 2007. He has been an OMB actor since 2009 and is thrilled to be a part of such an incredible organization. When not playing with OMB Diego is a Senior Account Director at Arsenal New York a visual communications & marketing company.

Channie Waites is an applied theatre practitioner, performing and voice-over artist, director, educator, and facilitator. She has worked and collaborated with youth, senior citizens and social justice leadership programs in the United States, Rwanda and South Africa, as well as facilitated workshops within supportive housing communities and corrections facilities. Channie has toured and performed professionally in the United States and abroad. She is the actor for Literature to Life’s one-person adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel If Beale Street Could Talk. Channie has received several honors and acknowledgements for her audiobook narrations including most recently Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott, nominated for a 2020 Audie. Channie was a co-founder of Capacity Arts, a theatre collective that created highly interactive historical dramas and developed tailored leadership workshops to lift-up untold stories, build empathy across dividing lines, and deepen participants’ analysis of historical and present-day conditions. Channie has been program director for The International Theater Project (ITP) –Rwanda since 2013 where she has co-directed five original plays devised by youth and led professional developments at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village and the Rwinkwavu Community Learning Center and Library in Rwanda. Channie has a M.A. in Applied Theatre from the School of Professional Studies-CUNY and has a B.A. in Theatre with a minor in Anthropology and Dance from Penn State University.

Megan (she/her) is a DC-based theatre artist whose work has been seen at Arena Stage, Round House Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Olney Theatre Center, Studio Theatre, Virginia Repertory Theatre, Folger Theatre, Mosaic Theater Company, Solas Nua, and others. She has been an OMB company member since 2015. Education: BFA in Acting, Shenandoah Conservatory.

Laura C. Harris joined Only Make Believe in 2017. Laura performs regularly in the greater Washington, DC area at theatres including Ford’s Theatre, Arena Stage, Studio Theatre, Round House Theatre, Signature Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Everyman Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Theater J, Mosaic Theater, and Folger Theatre.  In addition to working on stage, Laura can be seen in myriad commercials and training videos and heard in audiobooks. Laura graduated from Middlebury College. More information can be found at her website: www.lauracharris.com.

Proud Only Make Believe Member! DC AREA: Signature Theatre: Girlfriend (Will) [Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor], Sweeney Todd, Rent, Cabaret, Signature Tenor’s Cabaret; Constellation Theatre Co, Wild Party (Burrs) [Helen Hayes nom. For Best Actor]; Arena Stage: Fiddler, Oliver; Olney Theatre: My Fair Lady; Creative Cauldron: On Air (By Conner & Smith)1st Stage: Bat Boy (Bat Boy) [Helen Hayes nom. for Best Actor]; REGIONAL: Lyric Theatre, Newsies (Davey), Girlfriend (Will); Infinity Theatre Co, She Loves Me (Arpad). Monumental Theatre Company: Co-Artistic Director. EDUCATION: B.M. Musical Theatre, Catholic University. Instagram: @JimmyMavrikes

John Sygar is a Maryland native, who was last seen in Swept Away at Arena Stage. Other DC credits include Look Both Ways (The Kennedy Center) A.D. 16, Beauty and the Beast, Once (Olney Theatre Center); Light Years (Signature Theatre); Spring Awakening (Round House Theatre); Peter and the Starcatcher (Constellation Theatre Company); Aquarium, Robin Hood,(Imagination Stage); Floyd Collins (1st Stage); and more. He also writes music for the group baseball hat and his solo project. Jsyg. Instagram: @jsyg

Tia Shearer Bassett is an actor/creator who specializes in solo shows, children’s theatre, and playful theatre for grownups. She has been a grateful member of Only Make Believe since 2017. She also performs self-produced work like a poetic Zoom show featuring her son’s toys. Acting credits include The Kennedy Center (two national tours), The Second City, Imagination Stage, Baltimore Center Stage. She was an original company member at Arts on the Horizon, creating nonverbal shows for ages 0-6 and earning the title “Buster Keaton for babies," and she is a current company member of Happy Theater, making and sharing innovative family-friendly theatre for almost a decade. She is a certified Audio Description writer, co-creator of a web-series starring her leopard gecko: “Eugene Cheese Gets It Wrong,” and mom to an amazing kid.

Raven Lorraine (She/Her) is an interdisciplinary artist currently based in the DC/Baltimore area. Fulfilling her dream as storyteller, she has worked as an Actor, Director, Choreographer, and Teaching Artist for over 10 years collaborating with companies such as: Arts on the Horizon, Theatre Alliance, Bowie State University, Educational Theatre Company, and several schools and libraries across the country. A proud member of Actor's Equity Association, she has performed in shows with Shakespeare Theatre Company, Olney Theatre Center, Virginia Repertory Theatre, Synetic Theater, Hampstead Stage Company, National Theatre for Children, Quill Theatre, Convergence Theatre, TheatreLAB, The New Theatre, Little Island Theatre NYC, and The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts TYA. Film and voice over credits: "Ellen" in the film Shanidar on which she also serves as a Producer; “Liki” in Dark City, a video game from 4615 Theatre Company, and other shorts and industrial films. Raven is a company member with Only Make Believe, Synetic Theatre, and serves as a Facilitator with The Conciliation Project. When not directing or in performance, Raven utilizes her tools as a performer and teaching artist by helping medical students grow in their patient care and bedside manner through her work as a Standardized Patient. She holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts.

Ashley D. Nguyen she/her DC AREA: Signature Theatre: King of the Yees (Lauren Yee), Soft Power (Jing/Ensemble), Pacific Overtures (Swing); Olney Theatre Center: Waitress (Dawn), Dance Nation (Zuzu); Arena Stage: Ride the Cyclone (Swing); Ford’s Theatre: A Christmas Carol (Understudy); Theater J: The Hatmaker’s Wife (Voice); The Kennedy Center TYA: The Day You Begin (Min), The Dragon King’s Daughter (Xing u/s); Imagination Stage: Winnie the Pooh (Piglet); Keegan Theatre: Shakespeare in Love (Viola de Lesseps, Helen Hayes Nomination); Creative Cauldron: Into the Woods (Little Red); Studio Theatre: White Pearl (Ruki Minami u/s – US World Premier); Catholic University: A Little Night Music (Fredrika Armfeldt), The Wolves (#8), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marcy Park). EDUCATION: BM in Musical Theatre from Catholic University. Instagram: @ashley.d.nguyen Website: ashleydnguyen.com

Sam Slottow (he/they) is a DMV-area actor, musician, and puppeteer. He finds joy in using these skills to foster expression and connection in his community. Since moving to Baltimore, he has worked with InterAct Story Theatre, Arts on the Horizon, Iron Crow Theatre, Compass Rose Theater, and others. He is excited to join OMB’s DC acting company in 2025.

DC AREA: Roundhouse Theatre: The Tempest (Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Supporting Performer); Folger Theater: The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Second Shepherds' Play; Studio Theater: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson; Shakespeare Theatre Company: Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream; Signature Theatre: West Side Story, The Threepenny Opera, Miss Saigon, Pacific Overtures; Constellation Theatre Company: White Snake, School for Lies; Keegan Theatre: The Undeniable Sound of Right Now, Shakespeare in Love.

Amber discovered her passion for theatre at a young age and has been performing ever since. From singing in her church choir to taking the stage in various productions, theatre has always been a central part of her life, and she is deeply passionate about storytelling. Amber earned a BA in Theatre from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and went on to complete an MFA in Acting from the University of Florida. In addition to her work as a theatre educator and artist, Amber is also a passionate video game enthusiast!

Irene Hamilton is a DC-based actor. Her work onstage has been seen at Studio Theatre, Imagination Stage, Keegan Theatre, Taffety Punk, Adventure Theatre, Rorshach Theatre, Spooky Action Theatre, and more. She is a company member at Arts on the Horizon and Synetic Theatre.

Julia Klavans is thrilled to be part of Only Make Believe. Regional credits: Elephant and Piggie’s We are in a Play! (Kennedy Center TYA and New Victory Theatre), Spamalot (Northern Stage), Joseph…Dreamcoat (Drury Lane). Select DC Credits: A Chorus Line (Signature Theatre), My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Finian’s Rainbow, Guys and Dolls (Olney Theatre Center), Cry it Out (Studio Theatre), Legally Blonde  (Keegan Theatre), The Wild Party, Absolutely! (Perhaps) (Constellation Theatre), Fame (GALA), The Cherry Orchard (Faction of Fools), 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Frosty, Jumanji (Adventure Theatre), Beep Beep, Drumming with Dishes (Arts on the Horizon). In addition to her work as an artist, Julia works in medical education, focusing on gynecological health and advocacy. Julia is a proud alum of UMD College Park and Baltimore School for the Arts.

Harrison is so proud to join the company of OMB this year. He has been seen onstage around the region at Signature Theatre, Arden Theatre Company, Round House Theatre, Imagination Stage, The Keegan Theatre, The Kennedy Center, and more. He is one half of the band baseball hat and a proud member of AEA