Akiko Aizawa is a New York based theater actor. She appeared in shows such as; The Bacchae (BAM), A Rite (with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Co.), Falling & Loving (with STREB), American Document (with Martha Graham Dance Co.), the Trojan Women (Getty Villa), bobrauschenbergamerica (ART), Radio Macbeth (Public Theater) and Culture of Desire (NYTW), all directed by Anne Bogart. Other credits: Hanjo (dir. Leon Ingulsrud), Suicide Forest (dir. Aya Ogawa), Sleep (dir. Rachel Dickstein), and Dionysus (dir. Tadashi Suzuki). Membership: SITI Co. Emeritus Artists, One Year Lease Theater Co., and APT Performing Co. Akiko is originally from Akita, Japan.

Craig Bannister is a Native New Yorker. Has been in the theater and dance scene in many capacities for many years. Working in the American Physical Theater artform has been a refreshing take on storytelling.

Gideon Berger is a director, actor, and mime. He grew up touring with the Chameleons Mime Theater, eventually discovering that he could speak and act at the same time. He went on to study directing at Bard College, going on to direct and write avant-garde theater all over New York State, including adaptions of King Ubu, Cowboy Mouth, and his own Yuppie Mime Musical. He began translating his experience directing theater to film, writing scripts, directing music videos, documentaries, and shorts, culminating in the creation of his debut feature, The Tannery. His film acting credits include Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor, I Think I Live Here, and The Tannery. Currently, he is writing new scripts and directing work in collaboration with productions in New York, Paris, and Los Angeles.

Mario Brufau was born in El Salvador. Dancer, actor, performer and jeweler. He was a member of the American Mime Theatre (1990-2024). Former member of “Theatre Frederick” (1981-1985) from Belgium. Previously he was with Ballet Folklorico de El Salvador (1978-80). Mario is bilingual in English and Spanish. He is happy to be a part of APT.

Yo-EL Cassell, hearing impaired with nerve deafness, discovered movement as a way to express his inner landscape at a young age. This sparked a lifelong journey to make movement accessible as a dancer, choreographer, director, and educator across various mediums, including theatre, opera, and film. A Boston-based artist, he is Head of Movement at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts School of Theatre and Artistic Director of InMotion Theatre. His work has been featured at venues like The American Repertory Theatre and SpeakEasy Stage Company, earning acclaim, including an ERNE Award nomination. Creator of the J.O.Y. Technique, he emphasizes a Journey of Youth mindset in his teaching. His greatest gift is the birth of his son, Keaton. Cassell is thrilled to be a member of APT.

Paris Cullen is a queer movement artist whose current creative endeavors connect them with presence, flow, and collaboration— contact improvisation, breakdancing, visual art, and writing. Along with performing their creative work at Groundswell Series, CreateART, The Craft, Spoke The Hub, and Hartford Riverfront Festival, they have performed with Pilobolus, Alison Chase, Spacejunk Dance, URBAN | TRIBE, Akiko Tokuoka, Smashworks Dance, Monica Bill Barnes & Co, and Josh Pacheco Dance Theater. Paris hosts a queer contact improvisation jam and hopes to empower people to move and live more embodied in their truth.

Contact P at pariscullen1996@gmail.com or IG: @pearcullen.

Victoria DeRenzo is a movement artist based in New York, splitting her time between Brooklyn and upstate. With a BFA and MFA in dance, she is classically trained in ballet, modern, tap and jazz, and specializes in physical theatre, floorwork and partnering. From 2010-2016 and again in 2023-2024, she toured internationally with Pilobolus Dance Theatre to over 30 countries in the show Shadowland. Victoria continues to perform, teach, and create with and inspired by the Pilobolus style. Her choreography has received national recognition. She is thrilled to have joined APT’s Performing Company.

Marjorie Folkman danced as a member of the Mark Morris Dance Group (1996-2007), Martha Clarke’s off-Broadway revival Garden of Earthly Delights, and with Sara Rudner, Richard Colton/Amy Spencer, and John Heginbotham/Isaac Mizrahi, among many others. Choreographic projects include operas for Bard Summerscape, Prototype Festival, Odyssey Opera, Boston Baroque, Tulsa Opera, and collaborations with visual artists Kevork Mourad and, currently, Leslee Stradford. Ms. Folkman lectures in Wendall Harrington’s seminars at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale and is an Associate Professor of Professional Practice at Barnard College.

Hassiem Muhammad is a graduate of The University of North Carolina School of the Arts and is excited to make his American Physical Theater debut! Regional credits include: The Tempest, for which he received a 2023 Helen Hayes Award (Round House Theatre), The Three Musketeers (Cleveland Playhouse), Shoebox Picnic: Route 1 (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), and SWEAT (Pioneer Theatre Company). Television credits include: Madam Secretary, FBI, and Blue Bloods. Hassiem is represented by Red Letter Entertainment, and HCKR Agency. Instagram: @hassiemmuhammad. Website: www.hassiemmuhammad.com

Myla’s recent film credits include Mincemeat Manor and Masterpiece written and directed by Tony award winner Michael Aronov. She recently appeared on the LaMama stage in NYC in American Rot – an exploration of the aftermath of the Dred Scott decision. Directing credits include The Blue Room by David Hare at The Queens Theatre in the Park, Jump Man: A Mario Brothers Musical (winner of Best Musical) at the NYC Fringe Festival. Myla co-directed The Danube with Estelle Parsons at the Actors Studio where she is a Lifetime Member and most recently, she directed We're Gonna Laugh to sold-out audiences at the Secret Theatre and Close Your Eyes at The Hudson Guild. Myla teaches Pilates and yoga and is a private acting coach. She also is the moderator for the Playwright-Directors unit at the Actors Studio.

For 35 years, Rhinehart’s career thrived in New York City, with TV credits on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Law & Order: SVU, Blue Bloods, Blindspot, Elementary, As the World Turns, Damages, The Following, and Hack. Film credits include Sweet Taste of Freedom, My Sun, My Moon. Hold On (2017 Sundance FF), Double Negative (Best Actor Award at Vision FEST15 NY). Plays include: My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center and after a successful run on Broadway, the 1st National Tour, The Tempest, Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Hurt Village, The Bluest Eye, Our Town, among others. A Lifetime Member of The Actors Studio. Member of NY Women in Film and Television
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Suzanne Temple is thrilled to be a part of APT’s historic introduction season. A former member of the American Mime Theatre’s performing company, she has a background in dance, and enjoys comedy and music.