#teamhtdarling

[htdarling]

Musaeum Artist Profile: Trustina Fafa Saba

Trustina Fafa Sabah (Aku Maxilla) is a performer, director, new works deviser and former television host from Ghana. She had her initial training in Directing and Dance in Ghana before moving to the United States to pursue her master’s degree.

She holds an MFA degree from Towson University and a BFA in theater from University of Ghana. With her strong background in advanced Ghanaian dance, she has a great interest in making physical experimental theater pieces.

Some of the stage productions she’s performed in include: Annex Theater’s Flatland; Glass Mind Theater’s The Pretties; While in America…, which she devised and directed as her thesis project; and Strand Theater’s Harry and the Thief. She’s looking to perform and direct more shows to widen her range while working slowly on plans to start her own theater company.

She absolutely enjoys plays Maxilla in Submersive Production’s H.T. Darling’s Incredible Museum.

[htdarling]

Musaeum Artist Profile: Francisco Benavides

Francisco-Javier Benavides (The Grounds Keeper, “G.K.”) is an actor and theater maker based in D.C.. This is his first production with Submersive productions and his first in the city of Baltimore. He is originally from Minneapolis, MN where he was a frequent collaborator with Theater Forever (Muy Very Autentico, Venetian Twins at the U, Nature Crown), and Teatro Del Pueblo (Ferdinand the Bull), a founding member of the creatively named Neutral Mask Collective and a staple at numerous cabarets and art happenings. His most recently production there was his two person clown show, You Don’t Have to Leave But You Can’t Stay Here at Bryant Lake Bowl Theater. He has trained with Jon Ferguson, Noah Bremer, Huge Improve Theater, Dell’Arte International, Dody Di Santo, and Dario Tangelson. He is also a puppetmaker and was the lead designer of Musaeum’s Mastodon.

[Credit: Photos by Kintz]

[htdarling]

Musaeum Artist Profile: Jess Rassp

Jess Rassp is thrilled to be working with Submersive for the first time as a puppeteer and puppet fabricator! Originally from Los Angeles, Jess is a theatre artist whose background in painting and sculpture fuel her work in puppetry, scenery, props, and costume design. She recently studied with Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre in Bali, Indonesia learning traditional dance and wooden mask carving. You may see her scrambling around Baltimore City designing for Single Carrot Theatre (Savage/Love, Midlife, Year of the Rooster), Cohesion Theatre Company (Men on Boats, Schoolgirl Figure), and Chesapeake Shakespeare Company (Othello). She is currently a Production Assistant and Scenic Charge at Single Carrot Theatre. Jess received her B.A. in English Literature and minor in Theatre Arts from Brandeis University in Boston. Thank you to everyone on the Musaeum team - I have learned so much from you all as artists, performers, and friends.  

[htdarling]

Musaeum Artist Profile: Josh Aterovis

Josh Aterovis (Clayton, concierge/museum guard) is a longtime fan of immersive theater and is thrilled to get the opportunity to work with Submersive Productions on H.T. Darling's Incredible Museum. Josh was co-founder and Creative Director for Timeless Tease Productions. Now a veteran of Submersive experiences, Josh was also a team member for Broken Bone Bathtub and Plunge: An Experiential Storytelling Lab.

[Photos by Kintz.]

[htdarling]

Musaeum Artist Profile: Alex Vernon

[Credit: Photos by Kintz]

Alex Vernon (Dr. Percy Warner, Puppet Fabricator) is excited to make his Submersive Productions debut! He is a company member with Happenstance Theater (Cabaret Macabre, Impossible! A Happenstance Circus, Cabaret Noir, Vanitas, Moxie, BrouHaHa, and the upcoming Bon Voyage! Other area credits include Constellation Theatre (Peter and the Starcatcher); Imagination Stage (The BFG, Inside Out, Boxes, Boxes, Boxes); Adventure Theatre (Just a Dream, The Cat in the Hat, The Wizard of Oz). He also makes original puppet works with his wife and partner Sarah Olmsted Thomas, under the name Alex & Olmsted. 

www.thealexvernon.com

[Photo by Glenn Ricci]

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Musaeum Artist Profile: Sarah Olmstead Thomas

Sarah Olmsted Thomas plays the tititular role of H.T. Darling in her first turn with Submersive Productions. Sarah is a fifth generation artist and a proud company member of Happenstance Theater.  Other collaborations include Bread and Puppet Theater, Center Stage, and the Kennedy Center.  Sarah is one half of Alex & Olmsted, a puppetry duo that was recently awarded a Jim Henson Foundation Grant.  Together they have played Strathmore, LaMaMa, and two National Puppet Slams.  Sarah trained with the Pig Iron Theatre Company in Philadelphia and Le Samovar, École de Clowns, in Paris. 

www.saraholmstedthomas.com

[htdarling]

Musaeum Artist Profile: Lisi Stoessel

Lisi Stoessel (Submersive Artistic Associate) performs as Maude the curator, served as Director of Aesthetics (head designer) and concept originator for Musaeum. Lisi is a hybrid theatre artist exploring the aesthetics and transformative potential of the moving body in space.  She lives in Baltimore and has performed both locally and internationally, including as “Barkeep” in Submersive Productions’ The Mesmeric Revelations! Of Edgar Allan Poe. Lisi  has created sets and puppets for many companies along the east coast of the US and beyond, including Single Carrot Theatre, Synetic Theater, force/collision, Swim Pony Performing Arts, The Berserker Residents, Annie Wilson, Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, Forum Theatre Company, Constellation Theatre Company, The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium, and Adventure Theater.  She has studied mime, clown, puppetry, and movement in Washington DC, Prague, and Berlin, and holds her MFA in Scene Design from the University of Virginia.  Lisi is deeply grateful for and in awe of the talent and dedication of the entire Musaeum team. What STARS!

[htdarling]

Musaeum Artist Profile: Samantha Kuczynski

Samantha Kuczynski was a prop fabricator and set dresser for the Musaeum. From the facing of an Underland cave to the glowing eyeballs of a mastodon, her many versatile talents were put to varied use in our exhibition. Samantha has been an all-around artisan for the past 6 years that she has called Baltimore home. She has worked in both professional and experimental theatre​; constructed custom display units for a gift store; fabricated dog costumes; and created her own fake blood. She currently upholsters out of her home and nannys-but never at the same time! This is her first show with Submersive Productions, and she has had a blast.