the cast
Marya Sea Kaminski
Marya Sea Kaminski is a writer, director and performer based in Pittsburgh, where she serves as the Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Public Theater. As a theatre performer, her favorite roles include: The Angel in ANGELS IN AMERICA PARTS I & II at Intiman Theatre, the title role in the West Coast premiere of MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE, Hedda in HEDDA GABLER (several times), and the lead singer of a badass rock band in her original musical RIDDLED that played to sold-out houses in Seattle. She’s received commissions to create original solo work from the Frye Museum and Richard Hugo House in Seattle, and has also appeared on subway platforms across lower Manhattan. She is thrilled to reunite with Wes Hurley and his creative family for POTATO DREAMS OF AMERICA after their work together in FALLEN JEWEL, and she dedicates her performance to Lena, who reminds us every day that there is nothing more beautiful or radical than the power of sincere kindness.
Tyler Bocock
Tyler Bocock got his start through Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre in their production of Oliver!. He spent the proceeding years performing in Village KidStage and Tahoma High School's productions including 5th Avenue Best High School Musical Ghost, The Musical as Carl Bruner and Tarzan as Turk. He has appeared in several short films such as It’s Hidden Within, The Ice Cream Date and Quarters. You can hear his voiceover work in ON World History and HEB Grocery. Tyler enjoys singing - most recently with Green River Jazz Voices and the prior nine years with Tahoma's choir program. He would like to thank his mom and dad for being so supportive and helping him every step of the way, as well as Wes and the rest of the team for being an absolute joy to work with.
Dan Lauria
A beloved veteran of Broadway, TV and film, Dan Lauria is best known for his iconic role as Jack Arnold, the dad on The Wonder Years. Lauria’s career spans hundreds of roles including many in some of TV’s most popular shows like This is Us, Party of Five, Blue Bloods, Cagney & Lacey, From the Earth to the Moon, Smallville, Sullivan and Son, Hot in Cleveland and How I Met Your Mother. A devoted lover of theater, Lauria’s Broadway credits include his critically-acclaimed performances in Lombardi and A Christmas Story: The Musical.
Sera Barbieri
Sera Barbieri is a recent graduate of NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, studying the internet's impact on human interaction, while minoring in studio art and theater. As an intern at some of the nation's largest media companies, she discovered her true love for acting and writing. Now pursuing screenwriting and acting full time, she has appeared in short films, as well as small roles in feature film and television. She could not be more excited to bring Lena to life.
Hersh Powers
Hersh Powers is delighted to be in his first feature film, Potato Dreams of America, featuring a crazy talented creative team and cast! Hersh recently played Kade in the short film Kade. Favorite Seattle theater roles include Prentiss (Peter and the Starcatcher, Edmonds Driftwood Players), Dill (To Kill a Mockingbird, Edmonds Driftwood Players), Harrison (The Flight Before Xmas, Macha Theatre Works), Dancer (Aida, Seattle Opera), Ivar/Actor (Cherdonna’s Doll’s House, Washington Ensemble Theatre), Ollie (Best Xmas Pageant Ever, Seattle Public Theatre), and Charles Wallace (Wrinkle in Time, Seattle Children’s Theatre Summer Production). Hersh is an eighth grader at Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Lea Delaria
Lea DeLaria seems to have achieved overnight stardom with her three time, SAG Award winning, stand-out role as ‘Carrie ‘Big Boo’ Black’ in the Netflix hit series “Orange is the New Black.” However, DeLaria’s multi- faceted career as a comedian, actress and jazz musician, has in fact, spanned decades. Lea holds the distinction of being the first openly gay comic on television in America which led to countless Television and Film roles portraying Police Lieutenants, PE Teachers and the Lesbian who inappropriately hits on straight women. Selected TV credits: The Code, Shameless, Broad City, Baroness Von Sketch, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Awkward, Clarence, Californication, The Oblongs, One Live to Live, Law and Order: SVU, Will and Grace, Friends & Matlock. Selected Film credits: Cars 3, Support The Girls, First Wives Club, Dear Dumb Diary, Edge of Seventeen. She’s received Obie & Theater World Awards, and a Drama Desk nomination for her portrayal as ‘Hildy’ in the Public Theatre’s revival of On The Town, and has played both Eddie & Dr. Scott in the gender-bending Broadway musical The Rocky Horror Show. Lea was the featured vocalist at the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival, and has performed in some of the most prestigious houses in the world including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Chicago Symphony, Hollywood Bowl, The Royal Albert Hall and the Sydney Opera House. Lea has five records on the Warner Jazz and Classics label and her book Lea's Book of Rules for the World is in its third printing at Bantam Doubleday and Dell. Her sixth record, House Of David delaria+bowie=jazz, was released in the Summer of 2015 to critical acclaim. Lea can currently be seen as ‘Queenie’ in HULU’s Reprisal, and as ‘Molly Yarnchopper’ in the Netflix and DreamWorks animated series Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. Follow Lea on Twitter and Instagram @realleadelaria and FaceBook.
Jonathan Bennett
Jonathan Bennett is known for his roles as Aaron Samuels in the 2004 comedy film Mean Girls, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, the title character in the 2009 direct-to-DVD comedy Van Wilder: Freshman Year, and his recurring roles as Casey Gant in the UPN mystery drama Veronica Mars and JR Chandler in the ABC soap opera All My Children. He is the host of the Food Network series Halloween Wars, and he previously hosted Cake Wars.
Rizo
Rizo aka Amelia Zirin-Brown is a NYC based performance artist, comedienne, singer, composer, and actor. She won the inaugural Time Out London and Soho Theatre Award, and the 2013 London Cabaret Award. She is also a Grammy winner for a 2010 collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma on the Holiday album Songs of Joy and Peace. A recipient of the NY Foundation for the Arts fellowship, her original pieces have shown at the Public Theatre in New York (resident artist for 3 years Joe's Pub) London's Leister Square Theatre, and the Sydney Festival. Rizo created the 6-piece house band and was the mistress of ceremonies for the popular NYC supper-club The Darby, performing alongside musical luminaries such as John Mayer, Leann Rimes and Bruno Mars. She co-created the web-series and composed the theme song VIDS for the Fuse network and E! Entertainment. Along with Yo-Yo Ma, she has recorded with Moby, Reggie Watts, and her recent collaboration with musical group CocoRosie is documented in the film Eyes of the Moon which was recently shot in Marfa, TX. Her debut album is entitled Violet and her second album Indigo are both available at www.Rizo.love INSTA: @rizo.love
Sophia Mitri Schloss
Sophia Mitri Schloss is currently filming as a series regular for the original Disney+ series Big Shot, alongside John Stamos. She starred in the title role of Sadie in Megan Griffith’s 2018 feature film, Sadie alongside Melanie Lynskey, John Gallaher, Jr. and Danielle Brooks. For her role in Sadie, Sophia won Best Performance in a Narrative Feature at the Tacoma Film Festival. Preceding this, Sophia starred in the title role of Lane in Lane 1974, the story of a teenage girl’s coming of age during the 1970’s American counterculture. Written and directed by SJ Chiro, the film received the Grand Prize for New American Cinema at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). Sophia was nominated at SIFF for best actress for both films and won the Best Actress in a Leading role in the DTLA film festival. Previous roles include a leading role in Amazon’s The Kicks, and the starring role of Isabel in NBC’s comedy pilot Isabel alongside Marcia Gay Harden and Kevin Nealon. In addition, she guest-starred on NBC’s Grimm, TNT’s The Librarians, and IFC’s Portlandia..
Cynthia Lauren Tewes
Ms Tewes has been acting for more than 40 years and has worked on stage, in television, film, radio and online. She is best known for her Golden Globe-nominated work in the late 1970s and early 1980s on the hit TV show The Love Boat. Playing cruise director “Julie McCoy” gave her the opportunity to work with many famous and not so famous actors and introduced her to the world through travel.In 2003 Cindy took some time away from acting to graduate from culinary school and spent the next 12+ years working in the food industry to fill in the gaps between acting jobs. She loves to cook for friends and is always delighted to bring food to rehearsals! Living in the Pacific Northwest has provided ample opportunities to work in regional theatres and speaking engagements and personal appearances give her plenty of travel. Cynthia Lauren Tewes is an avid gardener, a loving cat mom and a good friend.
Jule Johnson
Jule Johnson grew up in Sedona, Arizona and quickly developed a passion for acting. After receiving five years of private coaching, and acting in several local films and plays, Jule made the move to Los Angeles in 2014. He worked steadily for five years in both commercials and film. He trained at Gray Studios for nine months, and then completed the two year Professional Acting Program at the Sanford Meisner Center in North Hollywood. A lull in work and a gut feeling brought Jule up to Seattle, to explore what the Pacific Northwest had to offer in the arts. He signed with TCM Models & Talent and went on to book roles in East of the Mountains (directed by SJ Chiro) and Potato Dreams of America. Jule is very grateful for the way the film community has embraced him here in Seattle.
Alycia Delmore
Alycia Delmore was born and raised in Seattle, WA. Her background and training are in theater, and she has worked for many years in the Seattle theater community. She is known for her work in Humpday, Gayby, Touchy Feely and Rocketmen. She is an actor, writer and producer.
Stephen Hando
Stephen has been an actor/dancer/writer in Seattle since he moved to the city in1992. He was a company member of Printer's Devil Theatre. He has also worked with Greek Active Theater (with Dan Savage), Piece of Meat Theater, Book-it Repertory Theater, Seattle Repertory Theater, On the Boards (Pinkk- w/Laura Curry) among others. Along with Juliet Waller Pruzan, he was one of the co-creators and performers in the dance/theater performance duo Juliet + Stephen. His solo show Keefee's House of Cards, has been a monthly feature at The Rendezvous since 2018. Find more information on that at iamkeefee.com
James Grixoni
James Grixoni was born and raised in Seattle Washington. He attended his local conservatory for four years at the age of fourteen and began doing professional theatre at the age of eighteen with his debut of Peter-Pan at Book-it Theatre. After a couple years of professional theatre, James decided to stay true to his original focus, film. Whilst creating a comedy troupe, performing skits and starring in local indie films, James was granted the opportunity to shadow Tobey Maguire as his body double in The Details, directed by Jacob Aaron Estes. The education he received was invaluable. A few years later, James found himself performing in a punk band in Philadelphia; and subsequently the film, The Bhakti Boy, directed by Joy Marzec. The experience allowed him to grow as an artist and really work on honing his skills in front of the camera. Upon returning to the west coast, James had the pleasure of working on films, television series, music videos and shorts. A few favorites include Worst Laid Plans directed by Mark Jones and Nesib CB Shamah, You Cant Win directed by Robinson Devor and Twin Peaks directed by David lynch.
Sara Porkalob
Sara Porkalob (she/her) is an award winning artist-activist and creator of the DRAGON CYCLE based in Seattle but soon to be working all over the nation. She’s featured in Seattle Times “11 Movers and Shakers to Watch this Decade”, Seattle Magazine’s Most Influential People of 2018, and City Art’s 2017 Futures List. She is a co-founder of online journal of intersectional performance critique DeConstruct, and was a 2019 nominee for Americans for the Arts Johnson Fellowship for Artists Transforming Communities. She will be making her Broadway debut in 2021 playing Edward Rutledge in the official revival of the musical 1776
Nicole Santora
Nicole Santora is an actor and writer from the Pacific Northwest. Her credits include NBC's Grimm, a featured role in Iron & Wine's Call It Dreaming and recently voice acting for Nintendo's Ring Fit Adventure. Nicole is proud to be part of the talented cast and crew of Potato Dreams of America.
Justin Huertas
Justin Huertas is a Seattle-based, award-winning theatre playwright, composer-lyricist, and actor. His original musical Lizard Boypremiered at Seattle Rep, toured to San Diego’s Diversionary Theatre, and had two staged readings at Playwrights Horizons. As an actor, he has worked at Seattle Rep, Playwrights Horizons, ArtsWest, Village Theatre, 5th Avenue Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Book-It Repertory Theatre, and Diversionary Theatre. Social Media: “Justin Writes Musicals.”
Consuelo Aduviso
Classically trained, Consuelo has performed in Shakespeare plays as well as modern and contemporary works. She has also appeared in a national commercial. Some of her favorite theatre roles are Emilia (Othello - Paradise Theatre School), OG (Men on Boats - Key City Public Theatre) and Starveling (A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Will & Co). Consuelo trained at the American Conservatory Theatre with Nancy Houfek and Sabin Epstein, and the Professional Actors Conservatory with Victor Pappas and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott. Most recently Cons performed concurrently as Marcy in Mercy Falls and Tze Hong/Spirit of the Yule in Spirit of the Yule (Key City Public Theatre). She is passionate about social issues, especially equal rights and arts in education.
The Luminous Pariah
The Luminous Pariah is a Seattle-based interdisciplinary cabaret performance artist. While new to film, Lumi tours extensively for live shows and has performed in over 150 international productions throughout Europe, Canada, and Australia.
Sarah Rudinoff
Sarah Rudinoff has been making theatrical work in Seattle for over 25 years. As an actress, she has performed in every major theater, most recently as Rosie in Mamma Mia at the 5th Avenue and Well at Seattle Rep. Sarah was the first actor to play Yitzak in Hedwig and the Angry Inch outside of the original production and she sings Led Zeppelin in the burlesque extravaganzaHouse of Thee Unholy at the Triple Door. With collaborators Gretta Harley and Elizabeth Kenny, she co-created and starred inThese Streets at ACT Theatre, about women musicians of Seattle’s “grunge” years. She has worked on films locally with Dayna Hanson, Lynn Shelton and with Wes Hurley on Waxie Moon in Fallen Jewel and the series Capitol Hill. Sarah has a Stranger Genius Award in Theatre.
Annette Toutonghi
Annette Toutonghi has been an active member of the theatre community in the Northwest for many years. Some of the theatres she’s worked with locally include ACT Theatre, The Seattle Repertory Theatre, On the Boards, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Theatre Off Jackson, The Empty Space Theatre, the 14/48 Theatre Festival, Seattle Children’s Theatre, The Seattle Group Theatre, and Intiman Theatre. Favorite performances include The Rich Grandeur of Boxing with Megan Murphy and Company at the Centre National de la Danse in Paris, The Women at ACT Theatre and You Can’t Take It With You at The Seattle Repertory Theatre. Annette works in voice over and film as well. Credits include Freddi in the acclaimed video game series Freddi Fish, Sly Cooper, Thin Skin, Lane 1974 , Wes Hurley’s Capitol Hill series and Guy Maddin’s Brand Upon the Brand.
Mandy PRICE
Mandy Price spends much of her time improvising and teaching at Jet City Improv in Seattle. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, she holds a BA in Theatre from Belmont University and fights against her accent every day.
Amy Love
Amy Love is thrilled to be a part of Wes’ magical orbit, appearing in Capitol Hill series and Fallen Jewel. Other credits include the 2020 pilot Everybody’s Watching, Third Option (Official Selection, 2018 SOHO International Film Festival), Kenny the Shark(Discovery Kids/NBC), and Law & Order: SVU (NBC). She is a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York, traveled the US and Canada with The Vagina Monologues (1st National Tour), and has worked in regional theaters across the country.
Opal Peachey
Opal Peachey is a performer based out of Seattle, Washington. She was voted Best Actress in the 24 Film Festival for her performance in The Stray by Team Juicebox. Opal had a cameo appearance in Wes Hurley's series Capitol Hill, 2nd season. She is best known for her work as a theatre artist and founding member of Nordo, Seattle's immersive dinner theater, and her original cabaret musicals (Bohemia, Seattle Vice, Modern Luv, The Champagne Widow) that have toured to NYC and performed many sold out shows for Seattle's vibrant arts community. www.opalpeachey.com
THE Lady B
The Lady B is Seattle’s Première TransFabulous, Femtastic, Draglesquing, Sass-Mouthing Negro. She is a visceral story-teller, performance artist, community organizer, activist, twerk facilitator, and a Middlebury College graduate. Responding through the performance mediums of burlesque, original choreography, Drag, and the spoken word, she investigates how the politics of race, sexuality, gender, and ability are projected onto and performed through the physical body. Recently serving as the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors with Ingersoll Gender Center, she is an independent event producer and hostess, movement teacher, and acclaimed public speaker (TEDx Middlebury- Voice and Vulnerability: Healing the Scars of My Political Body).
In dedication to honoring intersectional identities as a social scientist, Black trans (cendant) person, and feminist, The Lady is dedicated to the healing force of the creative process, loving kindness, and intentionally dismantling structures of systematic oppression while building the self-determination of the oppressed. The ultimate goals of her work are to engage, to connect, and to empower.
Davora Lindner
Davora Lindner is Co-Founder and Creative Director of Prairie Underground a sustainable clothing company established in Seattle in 2004. She has co-designed over 65 collections with retail distribution in the United States and Canada. In 2015 she launched their Artist Series as part of Prairie Underground’s socially responsible business practice that provides a platform Artistic inquiry in the context of manufacturing. Since 2014 she has served on the Board of Directors for On the Boards, a contemporary performing arts center.
Ro Yoon
Ro Yoon is a queer Korean-American transgender immigrant, harm reduction and social justice advocate in HIV/AIDS clinical research.