Our BLOOM Festival Artists for 2026
The Work by Rebecca Kane
Olivia Alicandri
Olivia Alicandri is an actress and comedian from Weehawken, New Jersey. She earned a BFA from UNCSA in 2021 and is currently finishing her second and final year at the Atlantic Theater Conservatory (Class of 2026). Olivia spent several years working in stage properties at The Blue Man Group in New York City before it's closure in February 2025. She has been writing and performing stand up and sketch comedy since 2016. Olivia is a classically trained oil painter and mediocre bird watcher. She hopes to keep creating until the wheels fall off.
Layla Izabela
Layla Izabela is an actor and deviser based in Brooklyn, and is so excited to be a part of the 3rd annual BLOOM festival! She received her BA in Acting/International Performance Ensemble at Pace University, has been part of several inaugural readings, and performed Off-Broadway. And she did, in fact, have chickens growing up, so she’s feeling very connected to this piece, but please know that if you ever see her trad-wifing for a man, her body has been taken over by aliens.
www.laylaizabela.com
Caleb Schantz
Caleb Schantz is originally from Oklahoma. (yes, he does know there is a musical) He is stoked to be back to acting after some time away and is excited to be a part of BLOOM! He is a company member with Ardor Theater Company. His other works include A Sketch of New York, It’s A Wonderful Life, Mamma Mia!, and Shrek: the Musical. When he isn't on stage, he can be found at a park reading, playing board games with friends, or roaming around the Museum of Natural History, because why not? Live truthfully @schantz.caleb
Scissorface by Seth Barnes
Crystal-Marie Alberson
Crystal-Marie Alberson (she/her) specializes in ensemble-driven theatre as a Performer, Deviser, Director, Producer, and Teaching Artist. She regularly collaborates with Letter of Marque Theater and Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble. And facilitates with Brooklyn Arts Exchange and Irondale Ensemble Project. Recent Performer Credits: F***ed Up Fairytales (NYC Fringe) Recent Director Credits: The Artisan Who Made Me (podcast) Crystal-MarieAlberson.com
Ben Cherington
Ben Cherington is honored to be in such great company. National tours: Parade, Les Miserables, RENT in Concert. Other favorite credits include Sweet Smell of Success (MasterVoices, Jazz at Lincoln Center), A Christmas Carol, Godspell, Kinky Boots (Pittsburgh CLO), Jesus Christ Superstar (ACT of Connecticut), A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Tuesdays with Morrie (Clinton Showboat Theatre). Endless gratitude for all the places and people Ben calls home. BFA Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.
DNR by Joshua Taylor Piper
Mary Illes
Broadway: The Phantom of the Opera, The Music Man, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Steel Pier, She Loves Me. 1st National Tours: Anastasia, The Secret Garden. City Center Encores: Love Life, The Light in the Piazza, Lost in the Stars, Finian's Rainbow, Music in the Air. Golde in Fidler Afn Dakh at NYTF. Dona Lucia in Where's Charley? at Goodspeed. Gumbie Cat/Griddlebone Cats Paris and Cats Vienna. Voice Teacher and Standardized Patient. @mkatherineilles, www.maryilles.net.
Theresa Yonash
Theresa Yonash is a New York City-based playwright, screenwriter and actress currently pursuing her Masters of Fine Arts in Playwriting with the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University. She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the BA Drama and BA Media Studies programs from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Her professional credits include Conrade (Much Ado About Nothing, Hope Repertory Theater). Her work has been featured with the Lift-Off Global Network Film Festival, the Student World Impact Film Festival, the WideScreen Film and Music Video Festival, CinePoint Film Festival, Re/Venue New York City, A.R.T. New York Theaters and the New York Theater Festival. @theresayonash
Ron Zak
Ron is so excited to be back with Daisy Theatricals for Bloom! Previous credits: Sweeney Todd (Pirelli), All Shook Up (Dennis), Children of Eden (Ham), Mamma Mia, Disaster!, Big! Lots of love to family and friends!
Stud and Moon by Rachel Saruski
Ebony Nixon
Ebony is a 2022 graduate from The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. They are a Richmond, Virginia native, who started out studying West African dance and drumming since the age of 6 years old before branching out into the musical theatre and performance world. Ebony would like to thank their family and friends for the continued love and support. Enjoy the show!
Jordyn Stoessel
Jordyn (she/her) is a New York based playwright and actor with a passion for new work that centers the perspectives of fellow queer folks and women. She is a Boston University graduate with a BFA in Theatre Arts. Writing credits include SheNYC at The Connelly, AFTERLIFE Fest at The Flea, The Chain's Winter One Act Festival, The ReVenue Project at A.R.T. NY, and more! She is a former member of the 46 Minutes Writer's Collective and a current member of the 2026 Bright Lights Cohort with Ghost Light Theatre Company. Outside of Boston University, acting credits include Columbia's MFA Director’s Scene Study, New York Theater Festival, British Academy of Dramatic Arts, and Boston Playwrights' Theater. Website: jordynmstoessel.com IG: @jordynstoessel
Connor Wahrman
Connor Wahrman is a New York–based performer. Credits include Raiders of the Local Adventure (Edinburgh Fringe 2025) and Camping with Vlad (The Witching Hour 2024). He trained with The Barrow Group. Outside of theater, he is a newly minted Dungeons & Dragons DM, which is essentially an excuse to make terrible puns and try out new character voices.
The Shedding by Kiley Gaddis
Dani Lorin
Dani Lorin is a recent NYC transplant from California and a proud graduate of the Dobbins Conservatory (BFA Musical Theatre). They are so excited to be making their new play debut in NYC! Since moving to the city, they’ve been thrilled to make their way around the cabaret scene, performing at The Green Room 42 in shows including "Toxic Tenors", "Swedish Invasion", "Women Are From Venus", "Heart & Music", and "Hindsight is 2020". Additional appearances include On the Spot NYC and 54 Below (The Redemption Cabaret and The Do Not Sing List Vol. 2). Their upcoming cabaret performances at The Green Room 42 include "Antiheroes" and "Nothing Without You" and you can catch them at 54 Below in "The Songs That Went Wrong"!
Jacob Kalyan Sen
Originally from Durham, NC, and Orlando FL; Jacob Kalyan Sen is an actor based in New York City. Stage credits include Serials, Girls Online, The Post Office; Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, and Everybody. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and a minor in Sociology from the University of Utah.
IG: @jacobksen
Love U! See U Then! by Molly Kate Babos
Emily Lang
Emily Lang (she/her) is a born and raised NYC-based actor, singer, and dramaturg with particular interests in new works, Shakespeare, and opera. Recent acting credits include: Pegs (Ella in Stardust, Epheverie Theatre Co.), Grace (Buffering, Murmuration/The Flea), Marianne (Constellations, Amalgamation Theatre Co.), Witness/Chorus (Oedipus, Muhlenberg College). B.A. in Theatre and Music from Muhlenberg College. Check out more at emily-lang.com!
Branwyn Ritchie
I am a Brooklyn-based theatre and film actress originally from New Hampshire! Hot girls and horror are two of my favorite things, so I'm thrilled to be a part of this beautiful piece and celebrate new works. Recent credits include JACK MORMON at the Gene Frankel Theatre Fest, FASTER IN THE ATTIC at Edinburgh Fringe, THE GHOST OF BOB DYLAN SHOWS ONE OF US GREATNESS at SoHo Playhouse, and HELLO, DOLLY! IN CONCERT at Carnegie Hall. A huge thank you to Molly Babos, Ciara Berardi, and the folks at Daisy Theatricals! branwynritchie.com @branwynritchie
Courtney Walker
Courtney Naomi Walker is a New York City based performer and native who is honored to be making her Bloom Festival debut. She is grateful for the continued support of her friends and family, and thankful for continued collaboration with Daisy Theatrics. Recent Work: Paper Brigade at the Beechman Theatre, For Us, By Us at Green Room 42, In the Valley at The Tank, and Actor Therapy at 54 Below. Keep up with her on Instagram @k1llacourt.