What We Left in the Forest
Joanna Truman, Writer
Joanna Truman is a writer, filmmaker, and game developer based in Los Angeles. Her speculative short fiction can be found in the anthology Foreshadow: The Magic of Reading and Writing YA, as well as publications including Apex Magazine and Luna Station Quarterly. Her work was featured in the nationally broadcast NPR program To the Best of Our Knowledge. She currently works in television and was a writer on season one of the Disney+ show Muppets Now. She enjoys travel photography, learning to code, crocheting amigurumi, and attempting to stop her three cats from eating the yarn.
Ale Fips, Director
Ale Fips is a multifaceted performer hailing from Guadalajara, Mexico, with a rich tapestry of experiences in the entertainment industry. She began her career in regional theatre. From a very young age, she starred in beloved musicals like "El Príncipe Rana" and "Peter Pan," which premiered at El Teatro Galerías in Guadalajara. Her talent transcended stages onto screens beginning with Mexico's rendition of "High School Musical" for Disney Channel and TV Azteca. She went on to star in the Premios TVyNovelas award-winning shows "La Rosa de Guadalupe," and "Como Dice el Dicho," two of the highest rated series in Mexico. She then starred in the supernatural thriller series "Código Paranormal" for LATV/TV Azteca. Ale transitioned to film portraying the fearsome cartel Queenpin Alicia "La Güera," opposite Luis Fernando Peña in El Buchón for Hulu/Cinelatino. She then moved to New York City with memorable performances in Off-Broadway productions like "Seucy and Boto," "Undefined Fraction" for La Mama ETC Theatre, and "Judgment on a Grey Beach," which Ale also produced. In addition to live shows, Ale performed in the Reddot award-winning immersive exposition "Vida y Obra de Frida Kahlo" as the voice of Frida Kahlo, which has toured in London, Spain, Colombia, and Shanghai and been profiled by CNN and the BBC. Ale trained at the Stella Adler Academy in Hollywood. Today in addition to acting, Ale is on the Board of Directors and play selection committee for "A Light in Dark Places," a Los Angeles based Non-Profit which uses theater as a means to reach out to those whose lives have been affected by suicide. Ale has served as a jurist for several film festivals, and in 2024 was invited to co-host the 10th Anniversary of the Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival.
Meet the Cast
Jake Montgomery, Michael
Jake Montgomery (He/Him) is proud to return to A Light in Dark Places in Los Angeles. Select regional credits include Wayne Hopkins in PUFFS, Treplev in The Nina Variations, Alan Strang in Equus, and Otto in Spring Awakening. He earned his B.F.A. in Acting and Playwriting from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
Alycia Conrad, Leah
Alycia is so excited to be a part of A Light In Dark Places! This is her first year connected to this project and she’s honored to be a part of a cause that is near and dear to her heart.
She has been acting for 15 years and has trained with Lesly Kahn, Anthony Meindl, and Crash Acting. She was most recently seen on stage in LA in 2 seasons with It’s Personal.
Alycia hopes that at the end of the night the audience walks away with a better understanding of the importance of mental health. She would love for everyone to know that if they’re struggling, they aren’t alone. There’s always someone willing to listen - and she will gladly be that person if needed.