NEWS

It is a joy to be back again for Monday Night Playground performing in Evan Baughfman's Loud Veins directed by Ivan Rivas on February 10th. Reserve to attend or stream here.

It is a joy to be back again for Monday Night Playground performing in Evan Baughfman's Loud Veins directed by Ivan Rivas on February 10th. Reserve to attend or stream here.

It is a joy to be back again for Monday Night Playground performing in Evan Baughfman's Loud Veins directed by Ivan Rivas on February 10th. Reserve to attend or stream here.

It is a joy to be back again for Monday Night Playground performing in Evan Baughfman's Loud Veins directed by Ivan Rivas on February 10th. Reserve to attend or stream here.

It is a joy to be back again for Monday Night Playground performing in Evan Baughfman's Loud Veins directed by Ivan Rivas on February 10th. Reserve to attend or stream here.

It is a joy to be back again for Monday Night Playground performing in Evan Baughfman's Loud Veins directed by Ivan Rivas on February 10th. Reserve to attend or stream here.

It is a joy to be back again for Monday Night Playground performing in Evan Baughfman's Loud Veins directed by Ivan Rivas on February 10th. Reserve to attend or stream here.

It is a joy to be back again for Monday Night Playground performing in Evan Baughfman's Loud Veins directed by Ivan Rivas on February 10th. Reserve to attend or stream here.

It is a joy to be back again for Monday Night Playground performing in Evan Baughfman's Loud Veins directed by Ivan Rivas on February 10th. Reserve to attend or stream here.

It is a joy to be back again for Monday Night Playground performing in Evan Baughfman's Loud Veins directed by Ivan Rivas on February 10th. Reserve to attend or stream here.

It is a joy to be back again for Monday Night Playground performing in Evan Baughfman's Loud Veins directed by Ivan Rivas on February 10th. Reserve to attend or stream here.

It is a joy to be back again for Monday Night Playground performing in Evan Baughfman's Loud Veins directed by Ivan Rivas on February 10th. Reserve to attend or stream here.

It is a joy to be back again for Monday Night Playground performing in Evan Baughfman's Loud Veins directed by Ivan Rivas on February 10th. Reserve to attend or stream here.

I will be reading my solo work-in-progress Star Stone Swell as part of Independent Shakespeare Co.'s Iambic Lab. This piece was initially developed during my 2024 VoxLab Residency and an excerpt - On Miss Josephine - was just performed as part of Coin & Ghost's Index of Forbidden Books. Reserve your Pay What You Can tickets here.

Rehearsals are underway for Coin & Ghost's The Aaron Play, written by Zachary Bones and directed by Carly DW Bones. It is such a gift to be in the room working on this fiercely funny and timely piece, co-presented by Independent Shakespeare Co. as part of Iambic Lab! Both nights are now SOLD OUT but please reach out if you'd like to be added to the waitlist. Learn more here.

Coin & Ghost's Index of Forbidden Books: A Collection of Short Solo Performances (and Other Dangerous Truths) was a powerful night of art and community! You can view stills from my piece On Miss Josephine here. Up next with Coin & Ghost: I will be reading stage directions for The Aaron Play, co-presented by my theatrical home Independent Shakespeare Co. as part of Iambic Lab February 12th & 13th! The first night is SOLD OUT and tickets are extremely low for the second night. Learn more here.

I had a blast performing in Amy Ellenberger's I Don't Eat Pie directed by Ivan Rivas as part of PlayGround-LA's "The Shakespeare Sequels" co-presented by Independent Shakespeare Co. You view the evening On Demand until 1/27 and can vote to support the playwrights by heading here.

Coin & Ghost's Index of Forbidden Books: A Collection of Short Solo Performances (and Other Dangerous Truths) is tonight, directed by Celia Mandela Rivera and co-presented with Los Angeles LGBT Center. Use code FRIENDS30 for 30% off of premium seats and code TOGETHER for FREE community tickets to ease struggles during this time. Learn more and get tickets here.

Due to the devastating wildfires that have hit our community, the Monday Night Playground performance was moved to January 20th. "The Shakespeare Sequels" are co-presented by Independent Shakespeare Co. and I will be performing in Amy Ellenberger's I Don't Eat Pie. It will also be simulcast! Tickets are free or pay what you'd like here. 

I am thrilled to share that I am part of two projects in Coin & Ghosts 2025 Season! On January 18th I am performing my solo piece and Fredi Washington tribute "On Miss Josephine" as part of C&G's Index of Forbidden Books: A Collection of Short Solo Performances (and Other Dangerous Truths). The show is Directed by Celia Mandela Rivera and co-presented with Los Angeles LGBT Center. Learn more and get tickets here. I will also be reading stage directions for The Aaron Play; written by Zachary Bones and Directed by Carly DW Bones. This workshop production will be co-presented with Independent Shakespeare Co. as part of this year's Iambic Lab February 12-13. Learn more here.

I will perform in Write4Art's Unrehearsed reading series once again, this time in the new musical The Arresting Dilemma of Mister K. Based on Kafka's novel The Trial (book by John Sparks, music and lyrics by Jon Steinhagen) Mister K follows Joseph K as he tries to clear his name and search for his identity in a world gone mad. Join us in the Broadwater Black Box Theatre at 2:30 on December 7th! Learn more here.

This is A Front Theatre hosted Artists In Response at The Printshop LA, a post-election teach-in inspired by the gatherings created by Worth Fighting For, in which artists held space and explored ways of learning from each other and organizing together. It was an honor to be asked to facilitate alongside brilliant community leaders and dear friends Carly DW Bones and Ricky Abilez. Learn more about the event here and stay tuned for more gatherings in the future.

I had the privilege of performing in Kennedy Niyah Hill's heart-aching, funny, and poetic work We Get to Go Back as part of Eight Ball Theatre's inaugural Staged Reading Festival! Learn more about the Festival here and this fierce young company here.

Boys About Town #1 has made its way to California as an Official Selection of the Mentone Film Festival, and will screen November 9th at 4pm! Learn more about the Festival here and check out the IMDb page here.

Coin & Ghost's HUNNYSWEET: An Adult Adventure Through the Hundred Acre Wood returns for its long-awaited encore performance! After our win at this year's Hollywood Fringe Awards, our September 16th encore was delayed due to venue construction but now we get to bring some much needed post-election silliness and joy! Get tickets here and view production photos here.

I had a blast performing in Emmy Weissman's The Fox Sisters in honor of This Is a Front Theatre's one-year anniversary fundraiser! Tales of the Night was an evening of horror play readings at a cocktail bar turned haunted forest where nightmares, fears, and repressed desires come to life. Learn more here.

Fresh off our Best Experimental Film win at the Boden International Film Festival in Sweden, Mariam Meliksetyan's documentary film Say My Name will have its U.S. premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival on October 19th. Get tickets here. Say My Name was also nominated for Best Documentary Film at the ARPA International Film Festival and will screen at the famous Harmony Gold Theater and online. Learn more here.

I performed in Write4Art's reading of the play Cassatt as part of their Unrehearsed reading series. This new work by Arden Lewis aims to put American Mary Cassatt into her rightful place as a groundbreaking artist in a field dominated by French men. Learn more here.

On September 17th The Music Center will be hosting a Black Bar Social for the film iteration of Mashinka Firunts Hakopian's One Who Looks at the Cup. The film is directed by Atlas Acopian and accompanies the REDCAT  exhibition on view. The event on the 17th is FREE and includes Armenian coffee and refreshments in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. RSVP for the Black Bar Social here and the ticketed A More Than Human Tongue experience now through November 3rd here.

I'm honored to be part of artist and dear friend Mashinka Firunts Hakopian's piece in the new REDCAT exhibition All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace. This piece explores alternative paths for the future of AI technology rooted in diverse conceptions of technology, cognition, and life. RSVP for the opening reception and learn more about the installation and other events here.

I spent an unforgettable week in Utah at the Center for the Arts at Kayenta as part of the Kayenta New Play Lab. It was such a gift to explore the prose of Sarahjeen François under the direction of Donna Simone Johnson alongside Daphne Gabriel and Latoya Cameron! This staged reading of Mama's Dresses / A Dress for Mama is performed in the Lorraine Boccardo Theatre at 7:30pm and Saturday at 4pm. Learn more here.

Coin & Ghost's HUNNYSWEET: An Adult Adventure Through the Hundred Acre Wood returns for an encore performance September 16th fresh off our win at this year's Hollywood Fringe Awards! Get tickets here and view production photos here.

I have the privilege of heading off to Utah to help develop the new play Mama's Dresses / A Dress for Mama by Sarahjeen François under the direction of Donna Simone Johnson as part of the Kayenta New Play Lab! This staged reading will be performed in the Lorraine Boccardo Theatre in the Center for the Arts at Kayenta at 7:30pm, August 16th and 4pm, August 17th. Learn more here.

The screening of Live at the Porpentine: A Comedy of Errors at the Valley Film Festival was SOLD OUT and a wonderful night of celebration. Learn about the Festival here and the film here.

Mariam Meliksetyan's documentary film Say My Name is won Best Experimental Film at the Boden International Film Festival in Sweden! The film explores the experiences of individuals whose names have been deemed "difficult" by western standards. Learn more about BIFF and our film here and stay tuned for future screenings!

I had a blast reading stage directions for Gloria Oladipo's The Care and Keeping of Schizophrenia (and Other Demons) as part of Boston Court's New Play Reading Festival directed by Celia Mandela Rivera. Learn more here.

For two decades Stage Scene LA has honored Southern California theatre with the Scenies. Of 154 eligible productions this year, Coin & Ghost's Mama Mama Can't You See was honored with five awards! We won Outstanding Ensemble in a Play with Movement and Dance, Best Production of a Play, Best Direction of a Play with Movement and Dance, Best Choreography of a Play with Movement and Dance, and our Sound Designer Joseph "Sloe" Slawinski was honored for multiple productions! If you missed this powerful piece you can find production photos here, details here, and the full list of Scenies here.

Mariam Meliksetyan's documentary film Say My Name is now an Official Selection of Boden International Film Festival and is off to Sweden! The film explores the experiences of individuals whose names have been deemed "difficult" by western standards. Learn more about BIFF here and stay tuned for future screenings!

At this year's Hollywood Fringe Awards, Coin & Ghost's HUNNYSWEET: An Adult Adventure Through the Hundred Acre Wood won the Three Clubs Award which means...we'll be back for an encore performance! We also made the short list of five productions nominated for Best Musical.  View production photos here and check out the C&G landing page here.

Boys About Town #1 is an Official Selection of Athens Film Festival and will have its World Premiere Friday August 16th at 7pm. Watch the trailer for Part 1 here. Visit the festival page here and - if you happen to be in Georgia - purchase tickets here.

I was selected as a 2024 VoxLab Artist in Residence and spent the most incredible week resting, writing, and using resources for research at my alma mater Dartmouth College. VoxLab is an annual developmental arts laboratory focused on the work of Dartmouth alumni. My time culminated in a short staged reading performance of my work which was followed by a talk back. It is hard to articulate just how special and integral to the creation of this work this week at VoxLab has been; I look forward to sharing more soon!

Live at the Porpentine: A Comedy of Errors, is an official selection of the Valley Film Festival and will screen August 5th at 7:30pm. Get your tickets here and learn more about the film here.

It was an honor to be invited to the artEquity Black Playwrights Gathering hosted by Aleshea Harris and Dominique Morisseau on Juneteenth. I was blessed to have the opportunity to hold space with peers and legends whose work has informed my artistry. Read the press release here and learn more at artEquity here.

Boys About Town #1 picked up its first win at the 6th Annual Transparent Film Festival for Best Actor - Cole Ready! BAT was also nominated for Best No-Budget Feature and Best Director. Mike Cuenca's film (shot - and told - over the course of six years) is currently in post-production and will be released in four parts. Watch the trailer for Part 1 here, learn more about the festival here and film here.

Coin & Ghost's Hollywood Fringe production HUNNYSWEET: An Adult Adventure Through the Hundred Acre Wood has it's one and only preview tonight and only four shows after that on the 14-15 and 28-29 so grab your tickets here before they're gone! You won't want to miss this burlesque-filled romp through the Hundred Acre Wood friends, trust me! Use discount code OHBOTHER for $10 off. Check out the C&G landing page here.

That's a wrap on production for my third feature film Sugar, Directed by Harry L. Michaels Jr.! In our final shoot date I had the honor of going back to my roots as a singer and doing some live gospel. It has been such a gift to be part of a production by and for the Black community that uplifts and centers such a critical piece of the history of Black Angelenos. Recording three original tracks for the film was too special to fully articulate. Stay tuned for more info!

I had my second shoot date for the film Sugar in which I portray jazz singer Betty Songbird and wrapped all musical numbers for the three original tracks I pre-recorded for the film. Stay tuned for more info!

Boys About Town #1 will screen live on June 13th at 6pm at the Producer's Club in NYC as part of the 6th Annual Transparent Film Festival. Mike Cuenca's film (shot - and told - over the course of six years) is currently in post-production and will be released in four parts. Watch the trailer for Part 1 here, learn more about the festival here and film here.

I began shooting my third feature film Sugar, Directed by Harry L. Michaels Jr. Sugar explores the erased history of the Sugar Hill area of Los Angeles which became a hub of Black life before being destroyed my systemically racist eminent domain practices. I play jazz singer Betty Songbird and recorded three original tracks for the film. Stay tuned for more info!

Deeply grateful and thrilled to announce that I am one of five selected to be part of the 2024 CTG Leadership Circle Cohort, which was developed to uplift, celebrate, and support exceptional early- and mid-career CTG staff members. Read the press release here and BroadwayWorld article here.

Reuniting with my Coin & Ghost family on their Hollywood Fringe production HUNNYSWEET: An Adult Adventure Through the Hundred Acre Wood. Head to the Hollywood Fringe page and get your tickets here before they're gone. Check out the C&G landing page here.

I had a blast performing with the ISC house band The Prescription as part of my theatrical home Independent Shakespeare Co.'s annual gala! This year's theme was Saints & Sinners. To learn more and support our spring fundraising campaign head here.

What a gift it is to return as a speaker for Center Theatre Group's Going Pro Career Fair for the third year in a row. This year I spoke about Insurance and Survival Jobs to three groups of young theatre artists. You can learn more here. 

The International Armenian Literary Alliance (IALA)'s (Re)Membering: Armenian Writers Against Commemoration at Beyond  Baroque was a powerful night of art in action. You can learn more here and stream the full event here.

In honor of this year's Armenian Genocide commemoration and the ongoing nature of the genocide, I will be sharing some poetry and writing as part of the International Armenian Literary Alliance (IALA)'s (Re)Membering: Armenian Writers Against Commemoration at Beyond Baroque. You can learn more here and reserve your free tickets here.

It was wonderful to have such a lovely house at The Road Theatre Company for our staged reading performance of Chelsea Sutton's new poignant dark comedy I'll Be Your Villain, Directed by Carly DW Bones. Learn more about the Road's  Under Construction here.

I get to work with the brilliant Chelsea Sutton and Carly DW Bones as part of The Road Theatre Company's Under Construction Play Reading Series. Written by Sutton and Directed by Bones, you only have one night to catch this performance February 12th at 7:30pm. Purchase tickets here for a suggested donation of $15.

It was such a gift to reunite with my Rogue Artists family and perform and sing as Tamar the Mermaid for the one-night only immersive sideshow Carousel of Fools. This night at the historic 100-year old Santa Monica Pier Carousel was one to remember. Learn more here.

That's a wrap for my character Lisa on Mike Cuenca's guerrilla film triology Boys About Town (shot - and story told - over the course of six years). Learn more here.

It was beautiful to bring our run of Coin & Ghost's Mama Mama Can't You See to a close with our second consecutive sold out weekend! The audience response has been incredible and I will carry this experience and ensemble with me forever. You can read press here, find production photos here, and info here. Access the digital program here.

Coin & Ghost's Mama Mama Can't You See has returned from the holiday break for our final two weekends! After a powerful start, press and the word is out; after three consecutive sold out performances this weekend, our closing weekend WILL sell out. Don't miss it! You can read press here and find tickets & info here. Access the digital program here. We must close December 10th.

Coin & Ghost's Mama Mama Can't You See had an UNREAL Opening weekend of performances and received a Wow! review from StageSceneLA here, Stage Raw here,. Discover Hollywood here, and the Hollywood Progressive here. Find the Broadway World interview with Director Zachary Reeve Davidson here. Find information and buy tickets here. Access the digital program here. Performances run Thursdays-Sundays until December 10th.

Last spring I had the honor of being interviewed and photographed by artist Has Alexandra as part of her Our Divine Roots series exploring my identity, art, and connection to Griffith Park. You can check out the full feature here and photography here.

Coin & Ghost's Mama Mama Can't You See begins its Pay What You Can first weekend of performances with a SOLD OUT Opening Night! You can learn more about this powerful piece by reading the Broadway World interview with Director Zachary Reeve Davidson here. Find information and buy tickets here. Access the digital program here. Performances run Thursdays-Sundays November 10th to December 10th.

The poster has been released for Mariam Meliksetyan's documentary film Say My Name and features yours truly. The film explores the experiences of individuals whose names have been deemed "difficult" by western standards. Learn more about the film here and stay tuned for future screenings!

I received my first ever individual acting nomination for Best Comedy Actress at the UK's The Funny Life Film Festival for my performance as Luciana in Live at the Porpentine! Our film took home the awards for Best Director - David Melville, Best Cinematography - William Lancaster, and received additional acting nominations for Brent Charles, Xavi Moreno, Bukola Ogunmola, and Tonya Kay. Learn more about the film here.

Honored to announce I will be performing in Coin & Ghost's Mama Mama Can't You See. Mama Mama is a highly physical, sensual, funny, angry, and surreal meditation on modern warfare and the cost of telling a true story based on playwright Stan Mayer’s life as a U.S. Marine. Performances run Thursdays-Sundays November 10th to December 10th. You can learn more and purchase tickets here.

Center Theatre Group held the LA Theatre Summit at the Mark Taper Forum; an inspiring and unprecedented gathering in which local leaders and art makers in the Los Angeles theatre community had space to gather and discuss the state of theatre. I was honored on speak on behalf of the LA Anti-Racist Theatre Standards team, in addition to representing Blklst LA and Independent Shakespeare Co. 

Mike Cuenca's guerrilla film Boys About Town (a film shot - and story told - over the course of six years) has entered its final phase. The film will debut in three parts sometime next year. Learn more here.

It filled my spirit to join so many artists and leaders in the Armenian Community as a VIP guest at the first ever Armenian Film Festival. Armenian Film Society honored 100 years of Armenian filmmaking by kicking off the festival with the powerful film Amerikatsi directed by and starring Michael Goorjian. Get tickets to Amerikatsi here and the Armenian Film Festival which runs until September 10th, here.

I appear in Satellite Citi's latest music video Anxious Hearts directed by Rosie Geozalian! Music is a powerful way to explore our shared struggles and anxiety is something so many folks struggle with. Watch the full video here and stream the single here. You can also hear Satellite Citi locally on the radio on KROQ!

Independent Shakespeare Co.'s production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and summer festival has come to a close! We welcomed roughly 2000 Angelenos to the closing night of our 20th season and it was magical in every sense; from our young fairies in the audience to our intermission dance parties that drew even more crowds - this was an unforgettable summer. Find production shots here and character shots here. Learn more about the summer festival here.

Independent Shakespeare Co.'s A Midsummer Night's Dream has its press opening tonight at 7pm. Performances run Wednesdays-Sundays until September 3rd! Check out character shots here and production shots here. Learn more about the summer festival here.

Independent Shakespeare Co.'s 20th summer season continues with A Midsummer Night's Dream! Performances run Wednesdays-Sundays until September 3rd! Learn more about the summer festival here.

Independent Shakespeare Co.'s Julius Caesar only has FIVE PERFORMANCES LEFT! You won't want to miss this wonderfully reimagined and intense production in which our audience takes center stage! A Midsummer Night's Dream begins August 9th! Performances run Wednesdays-Sundays at 7pm. Check out reviews here. Learn more about the festival here.

Now that ISC's Julius Caesar has opened, rehearsals have begun for A Midsummer Night's Dream which begins August 9th! Performances run Wednesdays-Sundays at 7pm. Learn more about the festival here. Donate to my fundraiser here!

I reunited with my wonderful friend and collaborator Vincent Kirk for our fourth annual shoot! View the full set here.

Julius Caesar is officially open to the press! We run Wednesdays-Sundays at 7pm in the Old Zoo at Griffith Park until July 30th. A Midsummer Night's Dream begins August 9th! Learn more about the summer festival here. Donate to my fundraiser here!

Independent Shakespeare Co.'s 20th summer season begins with Julius Caesar! Julius Caesar runs Wednesdays-Sundays until July 30th. A Midsummer Night's Dream begins August 9th! Learn more about the summer festival here. Donate to my fundraiser here!

It was an incredible gift to be the model for We Are Charmhouse's Amot Chi campaign which celebrates the agency and unapologetic pride of Armenian women by reclaiming our freedom of expression and rejecting the label of "amot". Photography by Christina Naguib, lighting by Daniel Nathan, styled by Connor Chaos, makeup by Jin, and film production by Melanin Studio. View the full set here.

I am featured in AGBU Magazine's Armenian-ish article by Carolina Gazal as part of their June 2023 issue. Photo by Kristin Anahit Cass. I spoke about my identity, activism, and honoring my ancestors. You can read the digital issue here or pick up a hard copy.

Rehearsals for the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival have officially begun! Julius Caesar begins performances July 5th and runs Wednesdays-Sundays at 7pm until July 30th. A Midsummer Night's Dream begins August 9th. Come celebrate our 20th season with us! Learn more about the festival here. Donate to my fundraiser here!

Honored to return for another summer in Griffith Park with ISC in both Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Come celebrate our 20th season with us! Watch the cast announcement here. Donate to my fundraiser here!

A Midsummer Saturday Night's Fever Dream, Independent Shakespeare Co.'s disco themed 2023 annual fundraising gala, was a blast but we are still a ways from our fundraising goal! Last year I raised $1,500 with my personal fundraiser, so let's match or beat that number this year! Donate to my fundraiser here!

The Advancing Equity Through the Arts and Humanities Act was reintroduced from the office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee as H.R. 3239! As one of the local theatre artists who co-authored the Bill, I am urging you to contact your representatives. You can read the Bill text here, press release here, and sign on as an endorser here.

After a SOLD OUT first print, We Are All Armenian is back in stock just in time for University of Texas Press' summer sale! Grab your copy which includes my essay Perspectives on Artsakh from a Black Armenian Angeleno and the works of so many brilliant Armenian writers at select sellers across the country or online here. Use the code "UTXSUMMER" for a 40% discount on hard copies and 50% discount on ebooks.

It was an honor to be featured as a guest in the very first Season of the SWANA Stories podcast produced by Kayhan Azadi. I spoke about my identity and work decolozing my craft and organizing. You can stream my episode here.

What a joy it was to be back for the second year in the row at Center Theatre Group's Going Pro Fair. This year I led my own audition workshop for current and recent college graduates in person, which was a lovely change from last year's virtual panel. You can read the Broadway World announcement here and learn more here. 

I was asked to give the closing lecture of Dr. Shushan Karapetian's The Armenian Heritage course at USC! In this lecture I broke down contemporary narratives on inclusivity and activism both within and in solidarity with the Armenian community. I also recorded an episode of Language Therapy with Dr. K, so stay tuned for that episode's release.

What a gift to return to Musical Mondays for the first time since the pandemic! I performed a rendition of "Class" from Chicago that I *slightly* rewrote to be more topical as part of A Cabaret of Fools - A Musical Theatre Comedy Night produced by Henry Alexander Kelly. Learn more about MuMo here.

In a divergence from the political and identity centered poetry I often perform, I shared some personal love poems as a headlining poet at Poets, Tea, & Pleasure. This wonderful gathering is hosted by Kiayla at The Glendale Room on Artsakh Street and features both booked poets and a few open mic slots. Learn more here.

Iambic Lab returns to Independent Shakespeare Co. in-person this year! Join us for four days of FREE programming at the ISC studio. I will be performing in the staged reading of Galatea by John Lyly on Feb. 24th and there will also be a screening of our feature film Live at the Porpentine: A Comedy of Errors (in which I play Luciana) on Feb. 26th. Learn more and reserve tickets here.

Iambic Lab returns to Independent Shakespeare Co. in-person this year! Join us for four days of FREE programming at the ISC studio. I will be performing in the staged reading of Galatea by John Lyly on Feb. 24th and there will also be a screening of our feature film Live at the Porpentine: A Comedy of Errors (in which I play Luciana) on Feb. 26th. Learn more and reserve tickets here.

It's an honor to have my piece Perspectives on Artsakh from a Black Armenian Angeleno published by University of Texas Press alongside so many brilliant and inspiring Armenian authors! You can now pick up your copy at select sellers across the country or order online here. Use the code "UTXM25" for a 25% discount.

I had a wonderful shoot with Las Vegas based photographer Alli Leiva-Topper as part of her Tarot series with other creative shots. Check them out here.

I had the honor of singing and performing poetry as part of the She Loves Collective “Shelter” installation's closing night vigil in honor of the 3,906 men AND women lost in the genocidal attack of 2020. You can still download my single "Scattered Arils" with proceeds now benefiting Armenian Food Bank here.

Thrilled to announce I have signed commercially with A3 Artists Agency.

I hopped on A Noise Within's production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing as the understudy for Hero. Much Ado runs February 5 - March 12th. Grab your tickets for this fun, fast paced production here.

After a SOLD OUT weekend our workshop production of White People Do Not Know How to Behave at Entertainments Designed for Ladies and Gentlemen of Colour (directed by Bruce Lemon Jr., written by me, and devised by our ensemble) has come to an end. The response has been overwhelming and powerful; I am eternally grateful to everyone who held space with us during this limited run. Follow our play's development and to contribute to our fundraiser here.

ISC will be hosting Support Black Theatre Night at this Friday's performance which will be followed by a talkback facilitated by Sydney Rogers and a reception with food and drink from local Black owned businesses Big Man Bakes, Say Cheese, and McBride Sisters. Learn more about SBT here and our production here.

Word is out and tickets for White People Do Not Know How to Behave at Entertainments Designed for Ladies and Gentlemen of Colour are going FAST! Our second and final weekend offers special post-show events. Friday will be Support Black Theatre Night and Saturday night's performance will be followed by a reception with the cast. Get your tickets before they are gone here.

Last year in September of 2021 I had the privilege of being interviewed by Araxie Cass for Azad Archives' Azad Sparks Series about my identity and organizing work within teh Armenian community. You can read the full article here.

Independent Shakespeare Co.'s White People Do Not Know How to Behave at Entertainments Designed for Ladies and Gentlemen of Colour begins its limited run of 8 performances today! We run until October 30th Thurs-Sat at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. Learn more and contribute to our production here.

The moment has arrived; Independent Shakespeare Co.'s workshop production of White People Do Not Know How to Behave at Entertainments Designed for Ladies and Gentlemen of Colour will run for a limited engagement of 8 performances October 20-30th. This is an incredibly special project as I am playwright, devisor, and performer. Buy tickets and learn more here.

It was an honor to facilitate the Empower: Students, Arts, and Activism panel, mixer, and catalyst for USC students. This Arts in Action event was part of the University's Visions and Voices Initiative. Learn more about the event here.

Macbeth's run is coming to an end. Read our Stage Raw Recommendation here. Check out Grettel Cortes' production stills here and portraits shots here. Find Knight of the Burning Pestle reviews here and production stills here. Learn more about the festival here.

Macbeth continues our run Wednesdays through Sundays at 7pm until September 4th! Read our Stage and Cinema review here. Check out Grettel Cortes' production stills here and portraits shots here. Find Knight of the Burning Pestle reviews here and production stills here. Learn more about the festival and register here.

After a bloody first weekend of Macbeth performances, we are back Wednesdays through Sundays at 7pm until September 4th! Check out Grettel Cortes' production stills here and portraits shots here. Find Knight of the Burning Pestle reviews here and production stills here. Learn more about the festival and register here.

Independent Shakespeare Co. is back with our second and final production of the summer, Macbeth! We run Wednesdays through Sundays at 7pm until September 4th! Find Knight of the Burning Pestle reviews here and production stills here. Learn more about the festival and register here.

The beautiful joyride that is Knight of the Burning Pestle is coming to an end! Join us for our pre-show Faire this Saturday or any day this week! We must close on July 31st because Macbeth begins August 6th! Find reviews here and production stills here. Learn more about the festival and register here.

Pestle received another wonderful review and is now Stage Raw Recommended! Martίn Hernández noted, "Mekertichyan and Morales evince a credible charisma as the young lovers". Pestle runs for one more week Wednesday-Sunday at 7pm until July 31st and is followed by Macbeth. Check out production stills by Grettel Cortes here. Learn more about the festival and register here.

Pestle received a lovely review from Broadway World's Evan Henerson. Following this weekend, Pestle runs for two more weeks Wednesdays through Sundays at 7pm until July 31st and is followed by Macbeth. Check out production stills by Grettel Cortes here. Learn more about the festival and register here.

We had a wonderful first weekend of Pestle performances in Griffith Park and are back for our first full week of shows (and press opening!). Knight runs Wednesdays through Sundays at 7pm until July 31st and is followed by Macbeth. Check out my character portrait shots by Grettel Cortes here. Learn more about the festival and register here. Donate to my fundraiser here!

Our first show of the summer, Knight of the Burning Pestle, has begun performances in Griffith Park! Pestle runs Wednesdays through Sundays at 7pm until July 31st and is followed by Macbeth. Learn more about the festival and register here. Watch the cast announcement here. Donate to my fundraiser here!

I had my 3rd annual summer shoot with my wonderful friend photographer Vincent Kirk! Photos from our shoots can be found here.

My poem if we back each other up we can (re)turn mountains was published in HyeBred Magazine Issue #11 Proverbs. This piece is a meditation on the way our community often alienates both those who are not part of this community and those within our community who deviate from preconceived notions of what it means to “be Armenian”. Read the issue here.

ISC's feature film Live at the Porpentine made its Film Festival debut on Juneteenth at the Marina Del Rey Film Festival! Learn more about LATP here. Stream on YouTube here. Listen to the original soundtrack here. Contribute to ISC here!

For this quarter's Community Action Update I interviewed local representative and award winning theatre artist Kristina Wong, ISC Board member Ebony Murphy-Root, and Aisha Kabia performs a speech from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Listen to the episode here!

It is the greatest privilege to return to Griffith Park with my ISC family this summer. Rehearsals have officially begun for Knight of the Burning Pestle in which I will be playing Luce. Learn more about the festival here. Watch the cast announcement here. Donate to my fundraiser here!

ISC's feature film Live at the Porpentine was selected to stream at the Marina Del Rey Film Festival! It will screen in Block FF June 19th at 4pm. Purchase tickets here. Learn more about LATP here. Stream on YouTube here. Listen to the original soundtrack here. Contribute to ISC here!

ISC's 2022 fundraising gala was back in person with A Knight at Club Hecate, which successfully raised funds for the upcoming Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival. Contribute to ISC here!

I assisted the lovely Sydney Rogers and represented Support Black Theatre in a moderated talkback of The Road Theatre's production of Tanya Barfield's Bright Half Life. Learn more about SBT here!

I performed sections of Romeo & Juliet and broke down the text with my fellow ISC ensemble members Patrick and Daniel as part of Carson High School's Deep Learning Day at The Huntington Library! We had a wonderful and engaged group of 10th-12th grade students join us in the Garden Court. 

Today Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced H.R. 7627 or the Advancing Equity Through the Arts and Humanities Act. I was honored to be part of the collective of local theatre artists who co-authored the Bill. Read the Bill text here and sign on as an endorser here.

I had the pleasure of lecturing at UCLA once again as part of Professor Kane's UCLA VAPAE 20 class. This time I was joined by Jimmy Wu as we shared our experiences working with the arts in corrections and I led the students through a workshop and writing exercise.

For this year's Armenian Genocide Commemoration, I was able to share “Mamig and Babig” shot and edited by Kristin Anahit Cass as part of their Ancestor Portrait Series. For these portraits I recreated photos of my grandparents with images of our Artsakh behind me. View both photos here.

I spoke to current college students and recent graduates as part of Center Theatre Group's  Going Pro Fair. This closing forum was titled Don't Dream It. Be it. and featured myself and Julyza Commodore as young professional game changers in the LA theater community and was moderated by David Stewart. Learn more about Going Pro 2022 here.

This year marks 107 years since the start of the Armenian Genocide. It was a gift to hold space with a panel of incredible individuals as we explored the resilience of communities that have experienced genocide and political violence. The Disruption, Denial, and Innovation Panel was held from 12-2pm at Pasadena City College and sponsored by PCC Jan and the PCC ASA. Learn more here.

Support Black Theatre's cohort of Black women has been meeting as part of SBT's very first Talk Forward once a week for the last month. This series culminated in a viewing of Both And... at Boston Court Pasadena, after which I led a talkback with playwright and performer Carolyn Ratteray and Director Andi Chapman. Learn more about SBT here and get tickets here.

Independent Shakespeare Co.'s feature film Live at the Porpentine is wrapping up its second weekend of live streams. Watch the post-show virtual lounge I hosted here. Learn more about the film here. Check out our IMDb page here.

We wrapped up our final devising intensive for ISC's New Play Development White People Do Not Know How to Behave at Entertainments Designed for Ladies and Gentlemen of Colour! You can learn more about the project and DONATE directly here.

Independent Shakespeare Co.'s feature film Live at the Porpentine has begun its series of live streams Friday-Sunday at 7:30pm this weekend and next. Watch the post-show virtual lounge I was part of here. Learn more about the film here. Check out our IMDb page here.

I was commissioned by Invertigo Dance Company to write my poem titled It Is Earned in honor of Black History month as part of their Moving In Time series. This collaboration between poet, musician, and dancer also features the music of Diana Lynn and the movement of Bernard Brown. You can watch on vimeo here.

The new trailer for Independent Shakespeare Co.'s feature film Live at the Porpentine is now available to stream on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe to our channel and watch on youtube here. Learn more and register to stream weekends from March 11th-20th here. Check out our IMDb page here.

After a full day of devising work, Sabra Williams, Patrick Batiste, Bukola Ogunmola, and myself spoke in a salon as part of this year's Iambic Lab. You can watch the full Borne From The Ensemble talk here. You can learn more about White People Do Not Know How to Behave at Entertainments Designed for Ladies and Gentlemen of Colour and DONATE directly here. Register for our other Iambic Lab events here.

It was an honor to guest lecture on my work as a teaching artist with incarcerated youth for Professor Kane's UCLA VAPAE 105 class.

I had a wonderful time speaking with Blklst Co-Founder A'raelle Flynn-Bolden during the Name Your Monster Instagram Live event. the discussion was centered on naming harm within the Los Angeles theater community, and the Southern California Living Document I created as a means of accountability for said harm. Submit you account of harm here. You can watch the full Instagram Live talk here.

One month from today you will have the opportunity to stream the final version of our feature film Live at the Porpentine. This was my first principal role in a feature, and I was blessed to share this journey with my ISC family. Register to stream weekends from March 11th-20th here.

I had a blast doing the product shoot for Valentine Sweets' new Pasadena bakery! Not only are their treats and drink delicious, they are also entirely organic and vegan, with many gluten free options as well! View photos from the shoot captured by Cara Harman here and check out the menu here.

I am honored to be one of the faces of sustainable haircare brand Reverie. Reverie is made with intention here in California! Shop Reverie here and find photos from both campaigns here.

We closed out the second session of intensive devising for Indyshakes New Play Development project. To donate and learn more about this project devised by our Black ensemble members and currently titled White People Do Not Know How to Behave at Entertainments Designed for Ladies and Gentlemen of Colour click here.

Our feature film adaptation of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, Live at the Porpentine! will be presented at the ISC studio! Experience the film in our Porpentine set while enjoying costume and prop pieces and our open bar. Learn more and reserve tickets here.

I shot an ad for Out of Print directed by Robert Arjoyan and featuring the legendary Vahe Berberian. View the ad here.

I had the pleasure of reading stage directions for the Denver Center's workshop reading of In the Upper Room at Boston Court. The reading and future 2022 production are directed by Gregg T. Daniel.

My October Community Action Update invites you to take action to protect Mauna Kea, The Creative Workforce Development Act, donate to the family and scholarship fund of Halyna Hutchins, stop Line 3, and more. Listen on spotify here. Find links to take action here.

I am honored to be one of the faces of sustainable haircare brand Reverie. Check out the ad featuring me using Suna here. View campaign photos here. Shop Reverie here.

Meadowlark Falls is back! Our immersive holiday experience is back this holiday season and we filmed this year's installment on location in Mt. Baldy this year! Purchase your experience here by December 3rd!.

I have begun to work in a formal capacity with Support Black Theatre as their Director of Programs! It is an honor to work with an organization I love that is doing such wonderful work in our arts community. Follow SBT here.

I provided voiceover for the Black Lives Matter PAC's "Vote No On the Recall" ad, edited by Giovanni Solis. Watch the full ad here.

My September Community Action Update advocates for SB-628, The Creative Workforce Development Act, staying informed and donating to aid current refugee the Haitian and Afghan crises, volunteering with SELAH and Waterdrop LA, and more! Listen on spotify here. Find links to take action here.

I am honored to be one of the faces of sustainable haircare brand Reverie's new campaign. Reverie is made with intention here in California! Shop Reverie here and stay tuned for more photos from the campaign launch.

I shot a lovely series with photographer Shiji Ulleri in Venice Beach. Check out the full set here.

It was a joy to provide narration for my friend Henry Alexander Kelly's Pilot Script Collectathon. Learn more about the project and find the digital program here.

I am honored to share what has been the culmination of a year and a half of difficult and traumatic work. The Los Angeles Anti- Racist Theatre Standards (LA ARTS) are now live and can be read here. I co-authored the standards with an incredible collective of predominantly BIPOC theatre artists. I am also a contributor to The BLKLST, which is the organization that will implement the standards and ensure theaters are held accountable. My living document of harm will now be housed by the BLKLST as well.

Our magical summer performing The Tempest in the Griffith Park dell has come to an end! You can find press on our summer here and support ISC's New Play Development project here. Summer festival info will remain here and you can view our digital playbill here.

Join ISC ensemble members Sabra Williams, Brent Charles, Patrick Batiste, and myself before the closing night performance of The Tempest as we have a salon discussion exploring ISC's New Play Development project titled White People Do Not Know How to Behave at Entertainments Designed for Ladies and Gentlemen of Colour. Learn more about the project and DONATE here. Find information on the summer festival here.

I was featured in a Spectrum News 1 segment about Independent Shakespeare Co.'s The Tempest. You can watch the segment here,  and also read about ISC's hygiene kit drive with SELAH this summer which didn't make it into the segment. Reserve your tickets here. Find information on the summer festival here. View our digital playbill here.

My August Community Action Update is a special summer episode highlighting SELAH, the organization ISC has partnered with this summer to collect hygiene kits and supplies for our unhoused neighbors. I interview SELAH Co-Founder Cat Kim, who speaks about SELAH's inception and ways we can all make a difference in our communities. Listen on spotify here. Find links to take action here.

The Tempest has been featured in a number of articles including The New York Times. We were featured as an LA Times Best Bet for the Weekend in addition to their feature on the pandemic challenges we have faced and recent vandalism. The Tempest had our official press opening on August 14th. Tickets are FREE and available for reservation 7 days in advance of each performance. Reserve your tickets here. Find information on the summer festival here. View our digital playbill here.

Independent Shakespeare Co.'s The Tempest has begun performances! Tickets are FREE and become available for reservation 7 days in advance of each performance. Reserve your tickets here. Find information on the summer festival here. View our digital playbill here.

Tickets for the first performance of Independent Shakespeare Co.'s The Tempest will be released Saturday July 1st at 10am! Tickets are free and become available for reservation 7 days in advance of each performance. Reserve your tickets here. Find information on the summer festival here. View our cast announcement here.

I was beautifully photographed by Christina Wefki Naguib in a blend of traditional Armenian dress and modern style. The Taraz headdresses were custom made by Meri Kostanyan. Check out the set here.

We began rehearsals of Independent Shakespeare Co.'s The Tempest earlier this week and have officially announced our cast! The Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival is still FREE, but due to COVID, we must take reservations for socially distanced pods. Space is extremely limited and tickets will be released for each performance 7 days in advance. Find information on the summer festival and reservations here. View our cast announcement here.

In my July Community Action Update, I shared ways you can support our unhoused neighbors, take action with Justice LA, support La Defensa's "Rate My Judge" program and more! Listen on spotify here. Find links to take action here.

I am honored to be a featured panelist at the National Women’s Theatre Festival Convention 2021! The Big Changes & Resilience panel will be moderated by WTF Executive Artistic Director Johannah Maynard Edwards, explore how to dig deep, reexamine, redefine, and stand in your resilience in times of chaos, change, and social reckoning. The panel will be held July 22nd at 1pm EST. Register here.

After a month of production, we've wrapped Independent Shakespeare Co.'s feature film Live at the Porpentine: The Comedy of Errors! I had a blast portraying Luciana in my first feature film experience which also marked our return to full in-person production. Donate to ISC here. View our COE cast announcement here.

I performed a stripped down version of Cher's "Believe" as part of Equality Armenia's Hye Pride Event. Watch my full performance here.

It was an honor to speak on Skylight Theatre's Panel FREEDOM: “A Look Back/A Look Forward” alongside Celia Mandela Rivera and Kristina Wong, moderated by Lee Sherman. The discussion will be available to stream for the next 7 days here.

The LAist Racism 101 project has officially come to a close. The final article explores lateral violence and features a response from yours truly. Read the article here and watch my response here.

Independent Shakespeare Co. has officially announced our New Play Development project with the working title White People Do Not Know How to Behave at Entertainments Designed for Ladies and Gentlemen of Colour! To learn more, visit the landing page here and read our Broadway World Announcement here.

I will be one of many virtually performers for Equality Armenia's Hye Pride Event. I will be singing a stripped down version of "Believe" by Cher. I will continue to be the best ally that I can to the LGBTQIa2s+ community and am honored to be included. Buy tickets for the June 26th events here.

I had a new shoot with photographer Dereck Davis in Watts. Check out the photos here.

I spoke to Shout Out LA about my art, activism, and my go-to spots in LA! Read the full article here.

In my June Community Action Update, I share some organizations you can support this Pride Month, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, the VISION Act, save the Salton Sea and more.Listen on spotify here. Find links to take action here.

Production has begun on Independent Shakespeare Co.'s film Live at the Porpentine: The Comedy of Errors. My first shooting day was spent at Jim Henson Studios! I can't wait to discover this piece with my creative home during this month filming. Donate to ISC here. View our COE cast announcement here.

I had a wonderful shoot with my friend Carina Conti while modeling some fierce Armenian women-owned businesses as well. My pistachio Arina suit is by Talar Nina, my top is from Sknd Skn, and choker is by Vart's Treasures. Support these businesses and check out the photos here.

We filmed our latest installment of Michael Cuenca's Boys About Town, a story that will be told over the course of five years. Check out the imdb here.

It was an honor to speak on the USC Institute of Armenian Studies Network Nation panel. The panel was hosted by Salpi Ghazarian, Dr. Shushan Karapetian, and Dr. Vicken Cheterian. Guests included Arman Tatoyan, (Armenia's Human Rights Defender), Ruben Vardanyan, Hambardzum Kaghketsyan, and Professor Sebouh Aslanian. Watch the video video here.

We have begun in-person rehearsals for ISC's Live at the Porpentine: The Comedy of Errors. Donate to ISC here. View our COE cast announcement here.

I provided voiceover for Rogue Artist Ensemble's Love Note immersive experience. Love Note is a free, interactive, solo audio expedition of your heart, taking place in West Hollywood’s Plummer Park, where audience members can activate sonic narrative experiences at eight unique stops throughout the park. You can also participate online. Love Note runs until June 30th. Learn more here.

During our Shakespeare & Chill fundraiser we announced Indyshakes' cast of our Comedy of Errors film and I am thrilled to share that I will be playing Luciana. We will also be back live in the park this summer with a limited production of The Tempest. View our COE cast announcement here.

Independent Shakespeare Co.'s annual fundraiser is getting scandalous this year with Shakespeare & Chill: A Bawdy Ball! There will be burlesque performances and explorations of Shakespeare's "adult" themes. I will be hosting sharing live auction updates. This event is virtual and 18+. Learn more about the event and reserve your tickets here.

In my May Community Action Update, I discuss ways you can find alternatives to police, support arts funding, the AAPI community, and Save the San Marcos Foothills. Listen on spotify here. Find links to take action here.

My new headshots were taken by the wonderful Cathryn Farnsworth. Check them out here.

In our latest ISC Art Break podcast, I interviewed Sabra Williams about social justice, the power of the arts, and the many ways we can dismantle systemic white supremacy. Listen on spotify here.

I will be speaking on a panel in which featured artists from Sites of Fracture: Diasporic Imaginings of Occupied Artsakh will explore how diasporic cultural workers can intervene in a crisis at a distance. Find an overview of the exhibition here, programming details here, and view the exhibition here. You can register for the panel here. and watch the event here if you miss it. 

I wrote a personal article published on this day, April 24th, that we commemorate the Armenian Genocide. I explore what President Biden's formal recognition means and why we must demand reparations within the frame of a requiem for my late Grandtatik Nvart. Read the article here.

I have the honor of being a featured speaker on Generation Ratify's panel exploring the Armenian genocide, intergenerational trauma, and the importance of intersectional solidarity. The panel event is at 4pm PST and you can register here. Learn more about Generation Ratify here.

Yerazad Coalition created a virtual art piece that will be featured alongside the work of a number of incredible Armenian artists in Sites of Fracture: Diasporic Imaginings of Occupied Artsakh. The virtual exhibit launched today! Find an overview here, programming details here, and view the exhibition here. You can also register for the panel I will be speaking on April 29th here.

My Unusual Suspects students from San Fernando High School had an incredible culmination! Through green screen magic and OBS software, we were able to bring the virtual production of their original play Finding Pandora to life. Watch the production here.

In my April Community Action Update, I discuss ways you can support arts funding, the AAPI community, Save the San Marcos Foothills, stand with the unhoused, and help formally recognize the Armenian Genocide. Listen on spotify here. Find links to take action here.

I had the honor of collaborating with my Comb Your Hair castmate Alexa Crismon and playwright Leelee Jackson as part of Black Womxn's Performance Night presented by the Berkeley MSW program's Black Caucus. I performed three of my own spoken word poems and revisited one of Leelee's pieces from Comb. It was an honor to hold virtual space with these powerful Black women.

I had my second shoot with the wonderful Vincent Kirk. Check out more photos here.

I am thrilled to announce that I signed theatrically with Lindsay Mass at DPN Talent. I am now signed across the board at DPN, as I am also repped commercially by Jennifer York. Learn more about DPN here.

In my March Community Action Update, I discuss ways you can support the AAPI community and #StopAsianHate, Save the San Marcos Foothills, stand with victims of police brutality, and save a senior living facility. Listen on spotify here. Find links to take action here.

A year ago I was thrilled to see my play Win Win produced as part of MeetCute LA. Unfortunately it would be our last live theater event for some time. My director Bruce Lemon and I will be speaking at MeetCute's Anniversary event about our work and activism in the year since. Register for the event March 10th at 5:30pm here.

Alongside ISC ensemble members Patrick Batiste, Brent Charles, Aisha Kabia, Bukola Ogunmola, and Sabra Williams, we completed the first phase of our new play development process centering Black voices. Our production is set for a workshop fall 2021 with a full production slated for spring 2022. Learn more here.

Our performance of Claudia Rankine's Citizen was followed by a powerful talkback. This production was part of Colorado State University's On the Brink Reading Series. It was directed by Aisha Kabia and featured my fellow ISC ensemble members Patrick Batiste, Bukola Ogunmola, and Colorado State Students. You can watch the performance here. You can learn more about the cast and production and reserve tickets here.

I began rehearsals for a reading of Claudia Rankine's Citizen, directed by the lovely Aisha Kabia. This production is part of Colorado State University's On the Brink Reading Series. In addition to Aisha, I have the privilege of working with my fellow ISC ensemble members Patrick Batiste and Bukola Ogunmola and Colorado State Students. You can learn more about the cast and production and reserve tickets here.

I am honored to represent Yerazad on Armenian Action Network's Justice Organizing in the U.S. Armenian Community Panel. You can register here. If you missed the event, you can watch it here. Follow Yerazad on all social media platforms and get involved by emailing me carene@yerazad.com. Follow us on instagram here and check out our linktree here.

My third response for LAist's Racism 101 series is live and I'm joined by Donna Simone Johnson! Learn more about Racism 101 here and read about this question here. Have a question you want answered? Ask it here.

ISC Art Break podcast producer Carolina Xique and I interviewed ensemble members Xavi Moreno and Richard Azurdia. We reminisced about live performance, spoke about justice, and they shared their work with Company of Angels. Listen on spotify here.

We began our new play development process at Independent Shakespeare Co. which will center and uplift Black voices. Together with ensemble members Patrick Batiste, Brent Charles, Aisha Kabia, Bukola Ogunmola, and Sabra Williams, we begin a 5-week exploratory research session. Our production is set for a workshop fall 2021 and full production in spring 2022. Learn more here.

My second response for LAist's Racism 101 series is live! Learn more about Racism 101 here and read about this question here. Have a question you want answered? Ask it here.

In my February Community Action Update, I discuss ways you can get involved with Black Lives Matter and WP4BL, Justice LA, Students Deserve, Support Black Theatre, and provide an exciting update on vaccinations in LA County. Listen on spotify here. Find links to take action here.

I was interviewed by A Martinez about the dos and don'ts of allyship for KPCC's Take Two as part of LAist's Racism 101 team. The interview can be listened to here and will air multiple times on 89.3 (NPR). Listen on Spotify here. Learn more about Racism 101 here.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we launched Yerazad. I co-founded Yerazad to uplift and center all Armenians (Mixed race, LGBTQI2S, undocumented) while working to build Transnational solidarity. You can follow Yerazad on all social media platforms and get involved by emailing me carene@yerazad.com. Follow us on instagram here and check out our linktree here.

I am thrilled to announce that I was selected to be an Arts for LA ACTIVATE Delegate. Delegates will focus on building power and creating sustained change in Arts for LA’s four policy areas: affordable spaces for artists, creative career pathways, equitable arts education, and equitable arts funding. Meet the Activate delegates here.

The conclusion of Rogue Artists Ensemble's three-part choose your own holiday adventure Storage Run drops tonight at 7pm. In this installment you will follow Mike (played by myself) and a robot named Fred (Tim Kopacz) as they try to escape Rogue storage! Tickets are "Pay What You Can" and you can watch all three parts until the end of the month! Read the Broadway World announcement here. Watch the trailer here. Reserve your Storage Run tickets here.

Part I of Rogue Artists Ensemble's three-part choose your own holiday adventure Storage Run drops tonight at 7pm. Follow Mike (played by Miles Taber, Amir Levi, and myself) and a robot named Fred (Tim Kopacz) as they try to escape Rogue storage! Tickets are "Pay What You Can". Parts II & III drop December 25th and January 1st. Read the Broadway World announcement here. Watch the trailer here. Reserve your Storage Run tickets here.

Our quarantine film Band, directed by Tonya Kay, is now available to stream on various platforms. Since Band's premiere, it was named an official selection of the American Golden Picture International Film Festival where it received Best Quarantine Film honors. Band was also honored as a Finalist in the Quarantine Stories category in the Beyond the Curve International Film Festival. Watch Band here. Check out the IMDb here.

I have been conducting interviews with members of our ISC family as part of our fundraiser to invest in Independent Shakespeare Company's future. Contribute to ISC so we can continue to make theater accessible, serve our community, and ensure our cast and creative team is reflective of Los Angeles here.

ISC's Twelve Days of Dickens has officially begun! Independent Shakespeare Co is bringing you 12 distinct virtual treats this holiday season for just $40! There will be exclusive performances from A Christmas Carol, a philanthropy video produced by yours truly, flaming punch, and so much MORE! Purchase Twelve Days of Dickens here. Contribute to ISC so we can continue to make theater accessible and reflective of our city here.

It was an honor to be the face to the new Barev Kitty x OMOGÉ Collab. All proceeds from the Barev Kitty razor back tank go to YES Armenia (Youth Empowerment and Sustainability). The pink tweed set is extremely limited and selling fast. Buy yours here. Find the full catalogue of Classless Co. merchandise for a cause here. Find photos of my campaign shoot here.

You can now watch the trailer and reserve tickets for Rogue Artists Ensemble's choose your own holiday adventure Storage Run. Follow Mike (played by Miles Taber, Amir Levi, and myself) and a robot named Fred (Tim Kopacz) as they try to escape Rogue storage! Tickets are "Pay What You Can" and Storage Run drops in three parts at 7pm PST on December 18, 25, and January 1st. Read the Broadway World announcement here. Watch the trailer here. Reserve your Storage Run tickets here.

My new holiday single “O Holy Night (Գիշեր աստվածային)” is live on Bandcamp and there are no fees on purchases until midnight tonight. All proceeds from this track and my previous track “Scattered Arils” will be donated to Kooyrigs' Looys program, which provides meals and aid to Artsakh. Looys’ project Mayreeg provides direct aid to displaced pregnant people of Artsakh. Download the songs here.

My first response for LAist's Racism 101 series is live! Learn more about Racism 101 here and read about this question here. Have a question you want answered? Ask it here.

You can now order the Meadowlark Falls holiday experience from now until December 11th. Now you can experience the magic of our immersive show from the comfort of your home! Check out Broadway World's interview with MLF writer Lori Meeker here. Order the experience here. You can also order the our signature drinks from Stir Crazy Cocktails to enjoy during your experience at home here.

I recited some of my poetry as part of the Healing Artsakh fundraiser benefitting Focus on Children Now. You can watch part of my reading here​ and the full Facebook stream here. Donate to FOCN here.

The Meadowlark Falls at home experience brings the Christmas charm and enchantment  of our immersive show right to your home!  Learn more about MLF here and purchase the experience for $40 + shipping here.
 

I was honored to be featured as one of 5 powerful Armenian women raising funds and awareness for Artsakh by Who What Wear. Read the full article here or on yahoo here.

My incredible high school students had a successful page play presentation of their work Finding Pandora. Watch the performance here and learn more about The Unusual Suspects here.
 

It was an honor to be the closing speaker at the Monument to the Autonomous Republic of Artsakh launch. Speaking to our community on Glendale's Artsakh street after such devastating loss and grief was overwhelming. This AR (Augmented Reality) monument is a collaboration between Kamee Abrahamian, Nancy Baker Cahill, Mashinka Firunts Hakopian, and Nelli Sargsyan. Learn more about the virtual monument here.
 

It was a joy to explore Julia Taiwo Oni's piece The Woodingle Puppet Show under the direction of Jully Lee. This virtual staged reading was presented via zoom by Playwrights' Area and A Noise Within as part of La Escena's Golden Tongues Series. Learn more here.

LAist's Racism 101 has launched and my individual introduction is now up on TikTok. Learn more about racism 101 here and ask us a question here. Watch my TikTok introduction here.

I'm thrilled to be reuniting with my Rogue Artists Ensemble family in their new holiday adventure Storage Run. In this interactive choose your own adventure experience you will get to follow Mike (played by Miles Taber, Amir Levi, and Myself) after he is trapped in Rogue storage with a robot named Fred! Learn more about Storage Run here.

Our quarantine film Band directed by Tonya Kay, has received a number of honors since its release. Band was an official selection of the American Golden Picture International Film Festival where it received Best Quarantine Film honors. Band was also honored as a Finalist in the Quarantine Stories category in the Beyond the Curve International Film Festival. See other Danger Arts projects here.

I have the honor of being directed by Jully Lee in Julia Taiwo Oni's piece The Woodingle Puppet Show with Host Mr. C, as Constructed by Mr. Asinine with Calculations and Articulations of the Genius Sort, which is an adaptation of Miguel de Cervantes' The Marvelous Puppet Show. This piece will be presented via zoom by Playwrights' Area and A Noise Within as part of La Escena's Golden Tongues Series. They play will be presented November 14th at 6pm. Reserve your free ticket here.

I dropped my single “Scattered Arils (Hymn for Artsakh)” today on Bandcamp and all proceeds will be donated to Kooyrigs' Looys program, which provides meals and aid to Artsakh. This song began as a poem I wrote expressing the intergenerational trauma and unbreakable hope of the Armenian diaspora in the midst of this genocidal war and threat to our indigenous land Artsakh. I recorded vocals in Los Angeles and Arsen Petrosyan provided accompaniment on the duduk from Yerevan, where the song was arranged by Razmik Baghdasaryan and mixed by Artak Zeynalyan. Download it here.

I was chosen to be part of LAist's Racism 101 team. This diverse panel of Angelenos will answer any and all questions you have with regards to race and ethnicity in Los Angeles and beyond. Learn more about Racism 101 here and meet the team here. If you missed my LAist article, read it here. If you would like to ask us a question, fill out the form here.
 

Last year, I had a blast portraying Whitney in the workshop  production of the immersive holiday show Meadowlark Falls at the Greenway Court Theater. Meadowlark Falls will in fact be returning for a virtual special this holiday season! Stay tuned for more details.
 

I wrote an incredibly personal  article for LAist that received an overwhelming response from the Armenian and Los Angeles community. I talked about my family history, identity, intersectional activism, and the current crisis in Artsakh. Writing this was a journey, please take the time to read it.
 

My new short one act play inspired by Shakespeare's Coriolanus goes live TONIGHT at 7pm! This play will represent Independent Shakespeare Co. at the Together LA Theater Festival. Coriola is directed by Melissa Chalsma and features Philicia Saunders, Richard Azurdia, Kendell Byrd, and Bukola Ogunmola. During the show, you will also have the opportunity to donate to Color of Change! Watch the Together LA festival here.

Independent Shakespeare Co.'s incredible hybrid production of Romeo & Juliet will be available ON DEMAND for one week only! This production uses live performance, film, animation, and social media to create a digital experience unlike anything you have experienced before! Learn more here.

The film Band directed by Tonya Kay, will have a private screening as part of the Admit One independent film screening October 18th at 3pm. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the cast and creative team. Tickets are only $6 and can be purchased here and you can join the facebook event here.

The film The Girl in the Red Dress (starring myself) will be streaming as part of the For Our People Film Festival from September 12th-20th. For Our People showcases films by Black filmmakers that explore Black identity in all its multifaceted beauty. Audiences will also be able to vote for their favorite films. Register for FREE here.

Independent Shakespeare Co. is bringing you a hybrid stage production of Romeo & Juliet that will use live performance, film, animation, and social media to create a digital experience unlike anything you have experienced before! It is an honor to be part of this production team. The live performances can be streamed on ISC's Facebook, Youtube, and Vimeo September 17-20 and 24-27th at 7pm. Learn more here.

It was a joy to write, produce, and host Independent Shakespeare Co.'s first ever Kids' Club video. This video allows young audiences to learn more about ISC's production of Romeo & Juliet while having through storytelling, crafts, dance, and cooking! This video is recommended for ages 8 and younger or those young at heart! View the video and recipe here.

I had the pleasure of directing Victoria Melkonyan's play Cheetos, Chai, and Chance as part of Streamlight Theatre's Festival of Healing. This play is very special to me in that it explores Armenian identity and generational trauma. The festival can be streamed on Youtube or Facebook September 11th-12th at 7pm and September 13th at 2pm.

It was honor to produce Keeping the Momentum: Theater's Role in Social Justice, in which I facilitated a discussion about the theater community's social responsibility and response to the current movement for justice. Panelists also discussed their experiences as Black theater artists and how we as a community must continue to hold each other accountable. View the full event here.

My new short play Orange Juice (or Rest in Power Latasha Harlins) was performed as part of Company of Angels' What's Going On? Virtual Play Festival directed by Jacole Kitchen and starring Jully Lee and Charlotte Williams. You can stream the full performance online here. Read the Broadway World announcement here.

I'm thrilled to announce I will be directing Victoria Melkonyan's play Cheetos, Chai, and Chance as part of Streamlight Theatre's Festival of Healing. Streamlight Theatre is a new company focused on centering marginalized voices and compensating artists. The festival can be streamed on Youtube or Facebook September 11th-12th at 7pm and September 13th at 2pm. 

I have had such incredible month workshopping the play Drive as part of VoxFest, Dartmouth developmental workshop series. Directed by Dina Vovsi and written by Deborah Yarchun, Drive is the 2020 Neukom Institute Literary Arts Awards for Playwriting winner. Drive explores what the next stage of automation might mean in a country where individual identity is defined by one's work and we are forced to reevaluate what drives us. Our performance can only be streamed live tomorrow, Thursday July 30th at 4pm! You don't want to miss this. Join the facebook event here and watch drive here.

I will be performing tomorrow in the Disruptors Fellowship writers showcase at 6pm PST. The Disruptors is a fellowship for emerging television writers who identify as transgender, nonbinary, disabled, undocumented and/or formerly undocumented. The showcase is closed, but if you are (or know of) agents, managers, development execs etc. who would be supportive of the Disruptors vision and able to give opportunities to these brilliant writers, contact me for information. Learn more about the disruptors here.

My new short one act play Orange Juice (or Rest in Power Latasha Harlins) will be performed as part of Company of Angels' What's Going On? Virtual Play Festival on August 8th at 8pm. The event can be streamed on Facebook Live and Youtube. Read the Broadway World announcement here and join the Facebook event here!

I was honored to speak on the Zoravik Black Lives Matter for Armenians panel. We had an incredible discussion about solidarity and privilege. Our initial video had over 6,000 views in less than 24 hours. Watch the panel here and read the Armenian Weekly write up here. Find more information on Zoravik's continued #BlackLivesMatter activism here.

I've shot my first ever remote pandemic film titled Band. Band was directed remotely by the brilliant Tonya Kay and utilized apps and equipment. Stay tuned for its release and in the meantime, check out the IMDb here.

I had what was absolutely one of my favorite shoots with Paris Helena. Many precautions were taken with social distancing before, during, and after the shoot and COVID testing before and after the shoot. Check out more photos here. 

I finally shot with the brilliant Vincent Kirk. Many precautions were taken with social distancing before, during, and after the shoot and COVID testing before and after the shoot. Check out more photos here. 

I began rehearsals for the play Drive as part of VoxFest, Dartmouth developmental workshop series. Directed by Dina Vovsi and written by Deborah Yarchun, Drive is the 2020 Neukom Institute Literary Arts Awards for Playwriting winner. Drive explores what the next stage of automation might mean in a country where individual identity is defined by one's work and we are forced to reevaluate what drives us. Our performance can only be streamed live, Thursday July 30th at 4pm PST! You don't want to miss this. 

My new short one act play Orange Juice (or Rest in Power Latasha Harlins) will be performed as part of Company of Angels' What's Going On? Virtual Play Festival on August 8th at 8pm. The event can be streamed on Facebook Live and Youtube. Join the Facebook event here!

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Lara Vanian-Green for the Armenian Enough Podcast. You can find the interview here or on spotify here.

I was interviewed by Carolina Xique for Independent Shakespeare Co.'s latest Art Break in which I spoke about my experiences with racism in the theater community and my new position of Artistic Associate for Social Justice. You can find the interview here or on spotify here.

I will be performing in The Sex Seance written by Henry Alexander Kelly and directed by Bruce Lemon Jr. as part of Skylight theatre's Skylight Live! zoom performance. The show will be streamed live at 3pm on Thursday June 25th. Learn more here and meet the artists here. You can view the performance here.

My theatrical home Independent Shakespeare Co. unfortunately had to cancel their annual Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival this year due to COVID-19. Please support this incredible company by watching The Living Room Follies! (their virtual annual gala!) and donating to their fundraising campaign so that they can continue to provide free theater and community outreach to the Los Angeles community. If you missed the show you can watch it here and donate here. They will also be having an auction to fundraise through May 29th that you can access here.

My new short one act play The Bright Side will be performed as part of We The People: Domestic Tranquilityon Facebook Live TONIGHT at 7pm. Proceeds benefit the Bail Project! Join the Facebook event here and watch the live performance here.

I have joined the staff of Independent Shakespeare Co. as the Artistic Associate for Social Justice. I will work to identify and facilitate strategies of interaction between ISC and the Los Angeles community in an effort to proactively dismantle systemic injustices, while also guiding administrative and artistic choices as ISC takes proactive steps in fostering a theater that is equitable for all of our theater-makers and audience members. Check out ISC's page for activism here and read my article To Be a Black Armenian Woman here.

The season 2 premiere of Just Roommates is now live, directed by Tiffany Tynes, shot by Corey Turner, and edited by Alex Gonzales. If you missed any of our first season, catch up on Amazon Prime! Be sure to rate and review us!  Follow Another Funny One Productions here. Check out the imdb here. 

My theatrical home Independent Shakespeare Co. unfortunately had to cancel their annual Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival this year due to COVID-19. Please support this incredible company by watching The Living Room Follies! (their virtual annual gala!) and donating to their fundraising campaign so that they can continue to provide free theater and community outreach to the Los Angeles community. If you missed the show you can watch it here and donate here. They will also be having an auction to fundraise through May 29th that you can access here.

My best friend and roommate Sofia Rossi Torres captured my temporary golden locks in this stunning photoshoot. Check out more photos here. 

Check out the video of my cover of Amy Winehouse's "Love Is A Losing Game" on the ukulele. This is the first full (adult) song I've learned in my uke journey so stay tuned for more.

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In our second photoshoot collaboration, my best friend/roommate/fellow artist Sofia Rossi Torres and I explored our back yard. Find more photos here. 

I'm thrilled to announce we will be performing the We The People performance originally set for March 19th, on Facebook Live TONIGHT at 8pm. I will be premiering my spoken word piece Reparations and performing in the play Something Worth Pursuing. Proceeds benefit Mask Crusaders! Join the Facebook event here and watch the live performance here.

I am collaborating with Allie Costa on her play Dear Neighbor once again as part of the QuaranStream Theatre Festival. Dear Neighbor is the third show in the April 13th line up that begins at 6pm PST. Learn more about the festival here and donate here. All proceeds go directly to cast and creative. The performance will be available to steam here until April 20th.

Check out my 30 second Slam Bake spoken word piece for We The People Theater Action. Watch the piece on my instagram here.

During this strange time of social distancing, my best friend/roommate/fellow artist Sofia Rossi Torres and I have been collaborating on photoshoots. Check out our first set here. 

I was set to perform an original poem titled Reparations at the next installment of Sacred Fools' We The People on March 19th. Proceeds would have benefitted Be The Match. Learn more about WTP here. I was also set to perform in the SF New Works reading of Leelee Jackson's The Shit Show: An American Allegory at Sacred Fools on March 16th at the Broadwater Main Stage. Finally, the workshop production of Marie in the Floating Laboratory with Rogue Artists Ensemble has been postponed as well. Check back for updates on rescheduled performances.

My play Win Win was performed as part of MeetCute LA tonight and will be back tomorrow night at 8pm at the Three Clubs. Win Win is directed by Bruce Lemon and features actors Patrick Batiste and Nicholas McDonald. Check out the Playbill here and purchase your tickets before we sell out here.

My play Win Win will be performed as part of MeetCute LA March 9th (my birthday!) and 10th at the Three Clubs. Win Win will be directed by Bruce Lemon and feature actors Patrick Batiste and Nicholas McDonald. Check out the Playbill here and purchase your tickets before we sell out here.

I had so much fun performing my own rendition of "Cinderella" by The Cheetah Girls as part of Theatre of Note's "Out of the Vault: The Happiest Leap Day on Earth" Cabaret. Watch the full performance here.

We began rehearsals for the production of my play Win Win as part of MeetCute LA. Win Win will be directed by Bruce Lemon and feature actors Patrick Batiste and Nicholas McDonald. The performances with be March 9th and 10th at 8pm at The Three Clubs.

The photos from my new year shoot with Christopher Montgomery are finally available to view here. 

My interview for Julia Stier's Players, Performers, & Portrayers is live (exactly one year after my VoyageLA article). Read it here.

I'm thrilled to announce my short one act play Win Win will be fully produced by MeetCute LA and directed by Bruce Lemon. The performances with be March 9th and 10th at 8pm at The Three Clubs.

My short one act play Don't Tread on Black Mamba was selected for the next installment of Sacred Fools We The People on February 20th. Learn more about We the People 

Theater Action here and buy tickets here.

It was an incredible gift to perform in the staged reading of Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice with the LA Opera as part of The Getty Villa Presents From Play to Libretto: Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice. After the show, Tony-nominee and MacArthur Fellow Sarah Ruhl and the score's composer, Matthew Aucoin spoke about the process of translating her play to opera.

I had so much fun playing "Doctor A" in Lele Pons's latest sketch.Watch the sketch here and be sure to like and subscribe.