MIDTERMS by Isabel Kate Culpepper

What do you get when you mix four star-crossed lovers and recreational drugs;
an inept college staff and a sexual-safety musical; two feuding professors and
one fourth wall-breaking, love-life orchestrating, badass narrating, queer T.A.?

If A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Rent had a baby, it might sound something like MIDTERMS, 
the boundary-smashing new musical by teen prodigy, Isabel Kate Culpepper.

​View photos from Midterms by Isabel Culpepper below

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MIDTERM BIOS (2019)

ISABEL KATE CULPEPPER (Book, Music, Lyrics; Alia) is an actor, singer, composer, poet, gryffindor, dungeons and dragons enthusiast, and all around geek. She’s a 4 year veteran of Developing Artists, a youth theatre company that allows teens to develop their artistic voice and speak their truth. Currently working on her first EP This Is Maybe, her second musical WHAT HAPPENED TO LUCAS? and, procrastinating on SAT test prep.

DAVID ANDREW LAWS (Additional Music & Lyrics; Music Direction; Paxton) is the Artistic Director and co-founder of Hamlet Isn’t Dead, New York City’s 578th-best theatre company. He is also an actor, director, writer, musician, podcast host, teaching artist, and your best friend. Currently performing as Macbeth in the off-Broadway hit DRUNK SHAKESPEARE at 777 8th Ave. For more info, visit davidandrewlaws.com

DAPHNE RUBIN-VEGA (Daphne) Broadway: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (Stella), LES MISERABLES (Fantine), ANNA IN THE TROPICS (Tony Nom; Best Featured Actress/Play) THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (Magenta), and RENT (Mimi; original cast, Tony Nom; Best Actress/Musical). Off B'way Selected Credits: MISS YOU LIKE HELL, DAPHNE'S DIVE, EMPANADA LOCA, JACK GOES BOATING (film and theater), FUCKING A, TWO SISTERS AND A PIANO (Public) and BERNADA ALBA (Lincoln Center).  Selected Film & TV: “Smash,” Jack Goes Boating, Sex And The City, “L&O: Criminal Intent,” Flawless, Virgin, and Wild Things (Blockbuster Award/Best Supporting Actress).  

KEVIN MAMBO (Oliver) is a stage and screen actor. He performed in THE COLOR PURPLE revival, originated the role of Fela for FELA! on Broadway, and appeared in the national tour of THE BOOK OF MORMON. Off-Broadway, Mambo was seen in the Signature Theatre revival of VENUS, Classic Stage’s revival of MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN, the world premiere of THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, and the original production of ONCE AROUND THE SUN. His television and film credits include “Luke Cage,” Rebel in the Rye, Nina, “Happyish,” the “Law & Order” franchise, the “Soul Food” television series, and “Guiding Light.”

MICHAEL LEE BROWN (Drew) B’way: DEAR EVAN HANSEN (Evan Alternate). Regional: TOUCH SONG TRILOGY (David, dir. Michael Kahn), CINDERELLA (Lionel). TV: “Happyish” (Showtime). A graduate of Marymount Manhattan College.

ALEX BONIELLO (Levi) currently stars as Connor Murphy in DEAR EVAN HANSEN. Other Broadway: V/O Moritz in Deaf West Theatre's Tony-nominated revival of SPRING AWAKENING(Astaire nomination, Broadway.com Audience Choice nomination). Other theatre: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 21 CHUMP STREET (This American Life/BAM), STILYAGI (Vassar/NYSAF), MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET (Papermill Playhouse), CRUEL INTENTIONS THE MUSICAL (LPR), BROOKLYNITE (Vineyard Theatre), HERE’S HOOVER! (Abrons Arts Center), I AM HARVEY MILK (Lincoln Center), and the national tour of Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT. Select TV: Marvel’s “Jessica Jones,” “Happyish,” “Welcome to Greenpoint,” “Saturday Night Live.” Film: Alt Space, Contest, Detachment. @AlexBoniello  

HARVEY KRISHNAN (Holly) is part peppermint tea, part teenager, all artist. A member of Developing Artists Youth Theatre Company, she enjoys stepping into the stories of young activists and singing out their truths. Though contradictory, she is a chocolate lover and a fitness enthusiast. A musician and singer-songwriter attending her junior year at High Tech High School, she is currently working on her first single Happily Ever After. 

ELANNA WHITE (Lydia) has been a DA kid since she was 12-years-old and is so frickin' stoked to be back on a stage directed by Jill with such an exciting team!! Most recently, she was a featured singer in this year’s Oscar Nominee "First Reformed” and gothed herself out to play the romantic lead in “Bully” co-starring Danny Trejo which is set to stream this April. Fav credits include: "Law and Order: SVU", THE APRIL HOUR for the LAByrinth Theatre Co. Barn Series and THE BAD YEARS by Kerrigan-Lowdermilk. Elanna also kills all her succulents and loves playing fetch with her cat, Pirate. Check her out on media that is social @Ewelannawhite

CONCETTA ROSE RELLA (Rosie) A DATCO member since its birth, Concetta is beyond-words ecstatic and flattered to be a part of such an awesome creative process.  An NYC, LA, and Chicago actress/writer, Concetta is always grateful for the opportunity to create. A lifetime of love and gratitude to Jill and Jinn.  Thank you for plucking me out of a sea of faces and believing in my future before I knew how. Thank you, thank you, thank you to this phenomenal cast, crew, and creators!!  I am truly honored to be in your company! Favorite credits include: WINDSONG (by Concetta Rose Rella); TINA, TONY & TINA'S WEDDING; DONNA; THE DREAMER EXAMINES HIS PILLOW (John Patrick Shanley); and Pocahontas in “Ghetto Princesses,” an upcoming episodic written by Concetta Rose Rella. Stay tuned!! 

NEIL TYRONE PRITCHARD (Sean) is a New York-based Actor/Singer/Teaching Artist. His most recent Acting Credits include: THERE’S ALWAYS THE HUDSON (The Goodman Theatre) THE BERLIN ELECTRIC (Park Ave Armory) , THE PRIZEFIGHTER OF P.S. 217 (New Victory LabWorks),  THE MENDELSSOHN ELECTRIC (Park Ave Armory), THE STOWAWAY (Classic Stage Company), CLOVER (La Mama), QUEEN LATINA AND HER POWER POSSE (Cherry Lane Theater). He has been a part of workshops at Sundance TheaterLAB, LAByrinth Theater Company, Manhattan Theater Club, Dorset Theater festival, Lincoln Center Theater, Primary Stages and The Atlantic Theater Company.  He is currently on staff at the Park Avenue Armory where he assists in bringing Arts Education to public schools throughout the five boroughs of New York. Proud Member of LAByrinth Theater Company. 

SEAN FLETCHER (Sal) is an all-around performer and playwright. Member of Actors Theatre NYC. Acting Credits: NY - Rhinoceros (New Yiddish Rep); QUEEN LATINA (LAB/Cherry Lane); TENNESSEE ON HUDSON (ATNYC); AFTER TARTUFFE (Wild Project); IN THE BEGINNING (Duplex); BROKEN MOMENTS (FringeNYC); UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE (Flea); NECKLACE OF THE DOVE (Velez); JULIET AND ROMEO (Tank); AMERICAN ENGLISH (Frost); PRINCESS PARTICULAR (Secret Theatre); HOW NOW, HAMLET? (Strut&Frett); VARIATIONS ON ROMEO (Frost); VARIATIONS ON HAMLET (Frost). Regional - HAPPY DAYS: THE MUSICAL (Booth); ROMEO & JULIET, COMEDY OF ERRORS, MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (MaineStage); CHICAGO (Quincy); PINOCCHIO, THE PLAYMAKERS, UNDER SIX (FST); THE PRODUCERS, TITANIC (TLT). TV - “The Elevator” (ATNYC); “Merce: Web Series” (S1&2). FILM - Self-Appointed Guardian Angel (Dir. Aitazzi). www.sean-fletcher.com

JAMIE KLASSEL (Peter) NYC credits: PHILIP ROTH IN KHARTOUM (Labyrinth Theater Company, Public Theater); DEAR DARKNESS (The Ohio Theater); WORK (Ars Nova); VICTORY GIRLS (Planet Connections); SAHM’S CLUB (Frigid Theater Festival); CYNTHIA AND THE DREADFUL KITE (Labyrinth Barn Series); VENEZUELA (Irish Arts Center, Players Theater); BLACKOUTS (Center Stage). Regional credits: MURDER ON THE NILE (Dorset Theater Festival); THE LITTLE PRINCE (Roundhouse Theater).

ANALISA VELEZ (Taylor) Acting credits include: Tati in TELL HECTOR I MISS HIM (Atlantic Theater), QUEEN LATINA AND HER POWER POSSE (Cherry Lane Theatre), Rockhead/Teressa in ENTREMESES (INTAR),  Lucy in THE INHERITANCE (The Amoralists), Xiomara in DOLPHINS & SHARKS (The Fire This Time Festival), Raptor in TENANT OCCUPIED (24 Hour Plays: Nationals) and Closet in BROKEN MOTHERHOOD MUSEUM (NuAFrikan Theatre). Film Credits: SFTU, Green Brothers, Sell By and INEZ & DOUG & KIRA. TV credits include: “Sneaky Pete” and “MASTERCLASS: Liv Ullmann” (HBO). Writing credits include: AIN’T NO SUCH THING AS FREE PIZZA (Cabrini Repertory Theatre) and THE LOVELIES (workshop reading at Cherry Lane Theatre) which is also a part of Steppenwolf's 'The Mix', a new play resource. Analisa hosts School4Legends at Cherry Lane Theatre. Please follow on IG: analisavelez for updates.

JILL DeARMON (Director) has served as the Artistic Director for Developing Artists since the company was founded in 1999, and has taught theater and movement all over NYC, including at The Lee Strasberg Institute and the Vineyard Theatre Student Ensemble. She was the Managing Director of LAByrinth Theater Company (Artistic Directors: Philip Seymour Hoffman & John Ortiz) from 1999-2002. Some of Jill's New York choreography credits include: STOPLESS (LAByrinth Theater Company, Artistic Directors: Philip Seymour Hoffman & John Ortiz), Erin Cressida Wilson's TRAIL OF HER INNER THIGH (Center Stage, NY), John Patrick Shanley's first musical, A WINTER PARTY (Labyrinth), A TASTE OF HONEY (Theatre 22), and Vanessa Hidary's CULTURE BANDIT (Nuyorican Poets Cafe). Some of her directing credits include: Mikael De Oliveira’s THE CONSTITUTION (Saudade Theater Company), Craig SirmuMsila Grant’s LOVENESS, Megan Mostyn Brown's WE SAID OUT LOUD, Developing Artists' REBEL VERSES (at Hip Hop Theatre and Vineyard Theatre) and LAByrinth Theater Company's THE FAIRY TALE PROJECT by Webb Wilcoxen (The Public Theatre). ​
ALI SKYE BENNET (Co-Producer) has been writing, performing, and creating theatre since childhood. As a playwright, she has been awarded residency to the HBMG Foundation’s 2018 National Winter Playwrights Retreat, and her first full-length play, RAFETUS, was a Finalist for the 2017 National Playwrights Conference at The O’Neill, the 2018-19 Woodward/Newman Drama Award, the 2019 Blue Ink Playwriting Award, and the 2019-2020 New Light New Voices Award, and a Semi-Finalist for the 2019 Bonnie and Terry Burman New Play Award (Barrington Stage). As the current Associate Producer of Vineyard Theatre, Ali has helped bring to life new work by some of the most celebrated artists in history, including Paula Vogel, John Kander, Susan Stroman, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Michael Mayer, and countless others. As an actor and dancer, Ali has appeared on stages all over NYC and in dozens of commercials, short films, and guest star roles on TV, and was a member of Labyrinth’s 2012 Intensive Ensemble under the guidance of playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis. Ali is also an award-winning photographer with international publication, documenting her world-travel adventures through photos and journals. She is currently developing an episodic documentary series with CompassNeedle. Learn more at www.aliskyebennet.com.
LIANNE BECKER (Assistant Director) is the Associate Artistic Director of Developing Artists. In addition to her work with DA, she is also an actor, director, producer, visual artist, production designer, writer, and teaching artist whose work has been seen throughout New York and around the country. Lianne is also a filmmaker and the founder of Keep or Destroy, an independent film production company. Examples of her latest work can be seen at keepordestroy.com
MYKA CUE (Producing Assistant)
DEVELOPING ARTISTS (Producer) is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing opportunities for underserved teens to reach their full potential through a practical application of the performing arts.
We teach culturally and socioeconomically diverse students to proclaim themselves as Artists and Activists (ARTIVISTS), to find their place and their connection in their community, and to bring about positive social change through participation in the arts and to create a supportive young artist community through our innovative signature program such as REBEL VERSES Youth Arts Festival.
Developing Artists bridges the disparity of arts education for students from underserved communities by providing youth between the ages of 13 through 19 who attend High Schools in New York metropolitan area the opportunities to study performing arts at the highest level. We impact students by creating a forum to navigate life's increasing challenges; to find their voice in dealing with issues like rage, fear or frustration; and channel that energy into self-expression and self-confidence. Over 95% of our students go on to graduate college.