Song of the North

Meet our incredibly talented Ensemble

Principle Cast

Sarah Walsh

(Ensemble, Princes *Manijeh*) is a stage combatant, puppeteer and set medic. Her wide range of interests and talents have earned her the title “the Swiss Army knife of humans”. Previous works of hers have lived both on stage and on screen, as well as in immersive spaces. These works include “She Kills Monsters”, “Jane Wick” and “Nest”. She has a wonderful dog, Joel, and an equally wonderful cat, Raleigh. All of her performances are dedicated to her grandparents, who helped nurture her love of theatre.

Clay Westman

(Ensemble, Bijan) is an actor, musician, and comedian; though his parents are still a little disappointed the whole doctor thing didn't work out. He has studied masked theatre at the Commedia Dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy; and is a graduate of Muhlenberg College, where he could have studied medicine, but chose to pursue the arts instead. He doesn't quite know how he got here or where he's going next, but, gradually, he is learning to be ok with that, and he hopes you are too.

Harrison Greene

(Ensemble, Gorgin) is a puppeteer, actor, and musician based in Brooklyn, NY. A company member of Chinese Theatre Works, he performs Budaixi and traditional and modern shadow puppetry in NYC and abroad. Recent Puppetry Credits: Triple Zhongkui Pageant (CTW), Chinoiserie (Ping Chong & Co), Nora From Queens (Comedy Central), Manufacturing Mischief (The Tank), Tiger Tales (CTW), Caveman Ballet (Boxcutter Collective), etc. Harrison can also be seen out in the wild busking with his Caja de Teatro Lambe Lambe or guitar. If you see him, small donations are greatly appreciated, but nobody is turned away for lack of funds.

Sam Jay Gold

(Ensemble, *Rostam*) is a theater artist, puppeteer, and writer. As a Thomas J. Watson Fellow, Sam trained in traditional forms of puppetry around the world. His work has received support from The Jim Henson Foundation and been featured at St. Ann’s Warehouse, BAM, and Lincoln Center, as well as in festivals across Europe and Asia. Sam is co-founder of The Brothers Čampur, a Balinese/American shadow puppet company performing classic and contemporary Wayang Kulit throughout the US and Indonesia. When not performing, he works as a teaching artist at The Kennedy Center, The New Victory Theater, and Lincoln Center.
www.samjaygold.com

Jenny Hann

(Ensemble, *Simorgh*) is a puppeteer, actor, arts educator, and fiber artist. Their weird and whimsical works have been performed in Italy, Greece, Serbia, Hong Kong, nationally, and in various venues in New York City. Jenny has been a resident artist twice with The Object Movement Theatre Festival, a three time participant in the Eugene O’Neill Puppetry Conference, and a Catapult Artist at the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. They teach puppetry to students of all ages, and have led workshops with The Jim Henson Foundation, Museum of Moving Image, Arts Corps, and Arts Connection, among others.
IG: @jennyindisguise
www.jennyhann.com

Esme Roszel

(Ensemble, *Guard*) is a puppeteer, musician and illustrator based in Brooklyn, NY. They are a recent graduate of University of Connecticut where they pursued their BFA in Puppet Arts. Esme has performed and fabricated puppets for touring productions around New England. When not performing, Esme can be found teaching puppetry workshops to students in their hometown of Plymouth, MA.

Christopher Williams

(Ensemble) was named a 2021 choreography fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, He is a New York Dance & Performance “Bessie” award-winning choreographer, dancer, and puppeteer working in NYC and abroad. His works have been presented in Europe, South America, and Russia, nationally, and in many local venues including New York Live Arts, Lincoln Center, City Center, and Danspace Project. He holds degrees from Sarah Lawrence College and the École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq, and has performed for Tere O’Connor Dance, Douglas Dunn & Dancers, Rebecca Lazier, Yoshiko Chuma, John Kelly, Dan Hurlin, and Basil Twist, among others.

Ray Dondero

(Ensemble, Company Manager) is a multidisciplinary designer, artist, and lover of all things puppetry. They are a recent graduate of the University of Connecticut's Design and Technical Theatre undergraduate program, focusing on scenic and costume design, as well as printmaking, puppetry, and animation. Their scenic and costume design for REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN. was recognized and showcased by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Assuming the role of company manager, they are proud to have cultivated a loving and supportive environment in which this incredible team has made magic!