Phæthon

Lauren Murphy, Writer

Lauren Murphy currently teaches voice at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting and at the University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts. She received her MFA in Acting from Columbia University and her BA from Tufts University. She is a Designated Linklater Voice Teacher, trained by world-renowned Master Teacher and creator Kristin Linklater. Recent collaboration and devised works have included The Money Show, a play with music about the financial crisis of 2008 (HERE Arts Center, NY), and As We Go, a play about California's drought crisis (Lounge Theatre, LA). She is thrilled to be a part of this festival and is a passionate advocate for suicide awareness.

This is for Adam. 

Alain Villenueve, Director

Alain studied dramatic arts from 1996 to 1998 in Montreal at Studio 101. He moved to the USA in 1998 and traveled with Cirque Du Soleil until he reached San Francisco, California where he stayed until 2001 studying with Jane Shelton at the Shelton Theater. He moved to Los Angeles in January 2005 to study at Stella Adler Academy of Acting - Los Angeles. Alain is an actor, writer, director, and filmmaker. His last play was at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting where he portrayed The Ghost of Hamlet’s Father in Hamlet (dir. Tim McNeil). Other theatre credits include Beach Play by David Darmstater, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey, Waiting for Godot (Estrogen) by Samuel Becket, Miss Julie (Jean) by August Strindberg, and many others in Montreal, Canada. Alain has produced and directed two indie movies in which he also acted, LEILA (2013) and NON EXITUS (2016), as well as many other projects. 

Meet the Cast

Christina Blum, Nymph

An alumna of the Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Los Angeles, Christina is grateful to be a part of this beautiful and incredibly significant project. Before her time in L.A., she trained intensively in both theatre and music in Minneapolis and New York. Some of her stage credits include: Lilith and the Second Temptation of Eve (Eve, Dir. Lyra Schneider), After the Revolution (Emma Joseph, Dir. Milton Justice), Fifth of July (June Talley, Dir. May Quigley Goodman), Hot L Baltimore (April Green, Dir. Che Walker).

Daniella David

Daniella David is an alumna from Stella Adler. She was born in Iraq to Assyrian parents and grew up in Sweden. Started acting at the age of 4, and later finished 3 years at the Performing Arts of Drama at the age of 19. Started to work as a voice over for CN, and then moved out in 2010 to Los Angeles to attend the 2 year program at Stella Adler. Theatre credits include: J.B, (Zophar) dir. Milton Justice, The Diviners (Buddy) dir. Chris Thornton, Margaret (Tommy) dir. Tim McNeil, Our Lady of 121st street (Gail) dir. Bonnie McNeil. She wants to thank her family and friends back in Europe for always supporting her, the faculty at Stella Adler for always being there, and Alain & Kelly for giving her this opportunity with this beautiful play. Zein aims to take part in, and create, art that is powerful and transcends the stereotypes society has put on her Arab culture. Her goal is to humanize people of the Middle East - in all their races, religions, and ethnicities. Most recently, she can be seen playing Maysoon on the Netflix/A24 show MO, as well as the lead in BLEED, DON'T DIE - a TIFF Filmmakers Lab drama.

Johanna Schulte-Hillen, Mother

Stella Adler productions: Vinegar Tom (Joan, Dir. Milton Justice), Blood Wedding (Servant, Dir. Rick Peters), Hot L Baltimore (Millie, Dir. Che Walker).  Born and raised in Germany, Johanna worked in Los Angeles as a corporate attorney from 2004 to 2014.  She took her first acting class at Stella Adler in 2013 and has been hooked ever since.

Rabih Saadeh, Guitarist

Rabih Saadeh is an actor & a musician. He just completed his first year of training at Stella Adler. His stage acting credits include roles in Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’, ‘Seven Deadly Sins’, and roles in the adapted musicals ‘The Wizard of Oz’, ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’, and ‘Pirates of Treasure Island’ as well as a musical reading of ‘Klook’s Last Stand’. His film credits include several short films & student projects.