Zora Howard is a Harlem-bred writer and performer. Plays include Hang Time (2022 Creative Capital Finalist; The Flea); Stew (2021 Pulitzer Prize Finalist; P73 Productions); The Master’s Tools (Under the Radar Festival; Williamstown Theatre Festival); BUST (2022 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Finalist; 2022 L. Arnold Weissberger New Play Award Finalist); The Motions; and Good Faith. Her work has been developed at SPACE at Ryder Farm, The Mercury Store, The Lark, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Brown Arts Institute, and Cape Cod Theatre Project, among others. In 2020, her feature film Premature (2020 Film Independent John Cassavetes Award nominee), which she co-wrote with filmmaker Rashaad Ernesto Green, opened in theaters following its world premiere at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. Zora is the inaugural Judith Champion Fellow at Manhattan Theatre Club, a former Van Lier New Voices Fellow at the Lark Theatre, and a 2022 Lilly Award and Helen Merrill Award recipient.

Lileana Blain-Cruz is a director from New York City and Miami. Recent projects include: El Niño (Metropolitan Opera); The Skin of Our Teeth (Tony nomination), The Blood Quilt, Flex, and Pipeline (Lincoln Center Theater); Marys Seacole (Obie Award, LCT3); Stranger Love (LA Philharmonic); Create Dangerously (Miami New Drama); White Girl in Danger (Vineyard / Second Stage); The Listeners (Opera Norway / Opera Philadelphia); Dreaming Zenzile (NYTW / National Black Theatre); Wayne Shorter and esperanza spalding’s …(Iphigenia) (MASS MoCA / The Kennedy Center); Hansel and Gretel (a film for Houston Grand Opera); Anatomy of a Suicide (Atlantic Theater Company); Fefu and Her Friends (TFANA); War (LCT 3 / Yale Rep); Girls (Yale Rep); Faust (Opera Omaha); Fabulation (Signature Theatre); Thunderbodies and Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. (Soho Rep); The House That Will Not Stand and Red Speedo (New York Theatre Workshop); The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World (Obie Award, Signature Theater); Henry IV, Part One and Much Ado About Nothing (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); The Bluest Eye (The Guthrie). She is currently the resident director of Lincoln Center Theater, and is the recipient of the Drama League’s 2022 Founders Award for Excellence in Directing, Lileana was named a 2021 Doris Duke Artist, a 2020 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist, and a 2018 United States Artists Fellow. Upcoming: Purple Rain.

Mark Bedard // OFF-BROADWAY: Promenade (City Center); Julius Caesar (TFANA); Pride & Prejudice (Primary Stages); Midsummer Night’s Dream (Pearl Theater); Fashions for Men (Mint Theater). SELECT REGIONAL: Oregon Shakespeare Festival - 9 Seasons; Hudson Valley Shakespeare - 4 Seasons; Christmas Carol (Goodman); Into the Woods, Midsummer Night’s Dream (Idaho Shakes); Little Shop of Horrors (Idaho & Tahoe Shakes); Richard III, All’s Well That Ends Well (Chicago Shakes); The Cocoanuts (Guthrie); Roe (Arena Stage, Berkeley Rep); Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Geva Theatre); Cymbeline (Shakespeare Theatre Company); Boeing Boeing (Seattle Repertory); Waiting for Godot (Marin Theatre). TV/FILM: Gilded Age; Evil; Madam Secretary; The Good Fight; Instinct; The Knick. markbedard.com 

Caroline Stefanie Clay (she/her) Caroline is a veteran of stage, film, and television, and serves as an Assistant Professor of Acting at the University of Iowa, Department of Theatre Arts. She is thrilled to be joining the cast and creative teams of Bust here at the Alliance Theatre. (Broadway) The Little Foxes, Doubt, Doubt – the National Tour, The Royal Family, Drowning Crow, Come Back Little Sheba. (Television & Film) “Law & Order SVU,” “All My Children,” “House of Cards,” “The Knick,” “Shameless,” and “Grey’s Anatomy” as CeCe the Matchmaker, Season 15. Film work includes Everybody's Fine, Sherry Baby, and Morning Glory. She has worked off-Broadway and regionally at Signature Theatre, The Public Theatre, Yale Rep, McCarter, Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre, Ford’s Theatre, LaJolla Playhouse, and The Geffen Playhouse where she was awarded the 2018 NAACP, Los Angeles Award for Best Performance by an Actor in Skeleton Crew. A voice and dialect coach for theatre and film (the upcoming The Fire Inside, starring Ryan Destiny & Brian Tyree Henry) she will complete certification to become a Designated Linklater Voice Teacher this summer. Clay is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and dedicates her performance to the memory of her beloved mother. 

Bernard Gilbert (he/his) is exhilarated to join the cast of BUST at the Alliance Theatre! Bernard is an Atlanta-raised actor celebrated for his compelling performances on stage and screen. A proud Morehouse College graduate with a Business degree, he also holds an MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. His television credits include recurring roles on “The Chi” (SHOWTIME), “Empire” (FOX), and “Utopia” (Amazon), alongside guest appearances on “Law & Order” (NBC), “Chicago P.D.” (NBC), and “The Big Leap” (FOX). On stage, Bernard has performed with renowned theaters such as The Goodman Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre, and Northlight Theatre. His standout roles include Hero in Father Comes Home from the Wars, Dez in Skeleton Crew, Fish in The Royale, and Herald Loomis in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. A recipient of the Princess Grace Award for Acting and the Ossie Davis Jr. Award for Best Featured Actor, Bernard feels deeply blessed to share this journey with his loving wife, Alicia, and grateful for the unwavering support of his amazing friends and family. 

Caitlin Hargraves is an Atlanta based American/Chilean actor, producer, and educator. She is grateful to return to the Alliance, where she has performed in or directed A Christmas Carol since 2021. Caitlin has also performed regionally with Theatrical Outfit, the Hippodrome Theater, and Texas Shakespeare Festival. Caitlin also acts, directs, and produces short films with her collaborator Erika Miranda and their company Cafecito Productions. You can watch their award winning debut film Mi Casa on HBO, Give Me an A on any VOD platform, and starting this summer her bones my body at a film festival near you! When she's not performing, Caitlin's teaching acting as a professor at Emory University where she is also the Artistic Director of Theater Emory. Training: BFA from NYU- Tisch and MA in classical performance from LAMDA. You can find her on socials @caitlinjhargraves. 

Jorge Luna (he/him) is an actor, director, writer, and photographer, born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Off-Broadway and NYC theatre: Breaking The Story (2nd Stage); Deathwatch (Drama League/New Ohio); FLORIDITA, my Love, Barceloneta, de noche (IATI Theatre); Hamlet (Jersey City Theater Center); by wing, fin, hoof or foot (The Ume Group); Cymbeline (Chashama); Starry Messenger (Theater for the New City); Confesión en el barrio chino (Puerto Rican Traveling Theater); El médico de su honra (Repertorio Español); Iphigenia at Aulis (Tiyatro Global). Regional- Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors (Irish Classical Theatre), Baipás (George Street Playhouse); Constellations (George Lindsey Theatre); Shinka (DC Capital Fringe); The Death of Kings (George Bernard Shaw Theatre, London); La promesa (Centro de Bellas Artes, Puerto Rico). Film: The Week Of (Netflix); planet b234 (Vail, Winner - Best Male Performance) (MidWest WeirdFest); All the Beautiful Things (Sundance); Macho (New York Latino Film Festival). Television: “Zero Day” (Netflix); “Law & Order” (NBC); “Elementary” (CBS); “The Blacklist” (NBC); “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC); “Lisey’s Story” (Apple TV+); “The Code” (CBS); “One Life to Live” (ABC). Universidad de Puerto Rico - BA Theatre; RADA - Shakespeare; Brooklyn College - MFA, Acting. Keelie, Otto, Mami, Noris, Monchi, Arturo, Alina, Franchute, Marcos; los amo. @jorgelunadj 

Victoria Omoregie (she/her) is ecstatic to join the cast of BUST at The Alliance Theatre! Her selected credits include: “Opal” in Fat Ham (The Alliance Theatre); “Nell Shaw” in John Proctor is the Villain, “Opal” in Fat Ham (The Huntington Theatre); “Faith” in acts of faith (American Stage); “Keisha” (Elliot Norton Award Nominated) in Fairview  (SpeakEasy Stage Company); “Antipholus of Ephesus/Adriana” in The Bomb-Itty of Errors, “Perdita” in The Winter’s Tale (Actors’ Shakespeare Project); “MEDEA” in Lorena: A Tabloid Epic (Boston Playwrights Theatre). She holds a BFA in Acting from Boston University School of Theatre. She has a jewelry line, Osaku Treasures, dedicated to encouraging confidence and self-love. Victoria forever thanks God and honors her mother (her real life Wonder Woman), father (her fuel that keeps her going), and loved ones for their unending encouragement. Find her on social media: @victoriaosaku 

Keith Randolph Smith is elated to be back at the Alliance, after being part of the casts of Blues for an Alabama Sky, King Hedley II, God of Carnage, The C. A. Lyons Project, and The Whipping Man. He has appeared On-Broadway in, Jitney, King Hedley II, Fences, The Piano Lesson, American Psycho, Come Back Little Sheba, and Salome. Favorite recents credits include …what the end will be at the Roundabout Theater; Paradise Blue at the Signature Theater; Wine in the Wilderness at Two River Theater. Film and television favorites have been, Malcolm X and Girl Six, both by Spike Lee; The Good Fight; and the video games, “Grand Theft Auto V” and “Grand Theft: The Lost and Damned.” Keith was awarded the TCG/Fox Fellowship in Acting, with the Alliance being his host theater, to work on a solo piece dealing with sons and fathers and he is also a member of Quicksilver Theater Company (QSTC) and the Actors Center, both in New York. Keith trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. 

Raymond Anthony Thomas // Recent Credits—Broadway: I Need That (starring Danny DeVito); American Buffalo (starring Sam Rockwell and Darren Criss); Trouble In Mind (starring La Chanze); Jitney. Other theater includes: Jitney (National Tour) Pride and Prejudice (Chautauqua Theatre); and Off Broadway productions of The Trees (Playwrights Horizons); Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow (MTC). Film and Television: American Fiction, The Harbinger, Isn’t It Romantic, Trouble With the Curb, Shutter Island, “Flatbush Misdemeanors” and “High Maintenance” (HBO); “Law & Order” and “New Amsterdam” (NBC); “The Last O.G.” (TBS) 

Ivan Cecil Walks (he/him) is honored and blessed to join the cast of BUST at the Alliance Theatre! Most recent credits include: an award winning performance as “Albert” in K-I-S-S-I-N-G (The Huntington Theatre), “Youth”(Elliot Norton Award Nominated) in Passing Strange (Moonbox Productions), “Florizel” in Winter’s Tale (Actors’ Shakespeare Project) “Curly” in Oklahoma! (Act Two @ Levine). He also made his film debut this year as “Kevin” in the Hallmark Original movie A Very Vermont Christmas! He holds a BFA in Acting from Boston University’s School of Theatre. He also creates original music videos, that he stars in and choreographs, under the artist name I.V.A.N.! As always he would like to thank GOD, his family, and whomever may read this for being a part of his journey and supporting his dreams. Find him on Instagram: @cecil23_   

Renika Williams-Blutcher (she/her): is very excited to be joining the cast of BUST in her Alliance Theatre debut! Select Regional Theatre credits include: Pipeline (Actors Theatre of Louisville & Indiana Repertory Theatre), A Raisin in the Sun (Cincinnati Shakespeare Co.), and The Bluest Eye (The Arden Theatre). Off Broadway Credits: All The Natalie Portmans (MCC Theater) and The Climb (The Cherry Lane Theatre). TV/Film: “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” “New Amsterdam,” “P Valley,” and “The Fabulous Four.” She earned her BFA in Acting from Wright State University in her hometown Dayton, OH. “To Cecil: My forever favorite role is being your wife.”  

Hannah-Rose Broom is an actor, artist, filmmaker, and yoga teacher. She has been involved in works with The Alliance Theatre, Synchronicity Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Outfront Theatre, 7 Stages. When Hannah-Rose is not acting, she can be found producing and casting indie film projects or working in her art studio. Hannah-Rose has exhibited artwork throughout Atlanta - Mint Gallery, The Bakery, IDEA Gallery, and The B Complex. She has sculptural and mural works at Black Art in America and Dunwoody Skatepark. Hannah-Rose uses her yoga practice to keep her ground amidst her creative pursuits and has been teaching trauma-informed public and private classes for 12 years. When Hannah-Rose is not bouncing from one activity to the next, she enjoys quiet time in nature (or being curled up on the couch) with her Fiance, Sidarth, and her rescue mutt, Oskar. Find her on social media: @hannahrosebroom.

Robert John Connor, a multi-talented actor, singer, writer, director, and producer, is a graduate of Morehouse College (BA) and the University of Georgia (MFA). His theatre credits include 110 in the Shade (Theatrical Outfit), Camelot (Aurora Theatre), Crowns (P-G Entertainment), Urinetown (Fabrefaction Theatre), and Tyler Perry’s I Know I’ve Been Changed. Film and TV appearances include “Greenleaf,” “A Different World,” “The Cosby Show,” the film Glory, and “Showtime at the Apollo.” As a vocalist, Robert has performed with Michael Bublé, Gladys Knight, Barry Manilow, Byron Cage, and Cassi Davis. He has directed acclaimed productions such as A Raisin in the Sun, Dreamgirls, The Amen Corner, Black Nativity, Hairspray, Miss Saigon, and the amateur world premiere of The Color Purple. With decades of experience, Robert continues to make an indelible impact on the arts and entertainment industry.

Warren Levi Haney is honored & humbled to do his part in telling this powerful story and begin his journey with the Alliance! Favorite theatre credits include Little Charles in August: Osage County (Greenlight Acting Live!), Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet (Seattle Shakespeare Company), Duke Orsino & Andrew Aguecheek in 12th Night (Seattle Shakespeare Company), Cloten in Cymbeline (Greenstage), and Frederic in Pirates of Penzance (The Core Ensemble). Favorite film credits include Kicks in KICKS (post-production), Nancy Adams in Nancy (post-production), Francis in The Little Theatre Story (post-production), and Cash Lucas in Chasing Fame. Warren received his B.F.A. from Cornish College of the Arts (Seattle, WA), and moved to Atlanta to do high-caliber work with equally high-caliber people. You can find him most times at Greenlight Acting Studios where he is both student & coach, teaching Shakespeare for professional actors. Warren would like to thank his wonderfully galvanizing Atlanta community for always pushing him to be the best he can be. May we all rise together! IG: warrenlevihaney

Anjil Jeter is thrilled to join the cast of Bust at the Alliance Theatre! Favorite credits include: Alea in Split Second with Impact Theatre, Bernice in The Piano Lesson with New African Grove Theatre, and Vera in Smoke on the Mountain with Marietta New Theatre in the Square. She holds a Master's Degree in Social Work from The University of Alabama. A fun fact is, she enjoys watching Big City Greens. Anjil would love to thank her friends and family for always supporting her. Find her on social media: IG @anjilrenee 

Braian Rivera Jimémez [he/him] is thrilled to join the cast of BUST at the Alliance Theatre! Favorite credits include  “NICO” in Lee Osorio’s A Third Way at Actors Express, “PABLO” in Native Gardens at The Stage Door, and “Green” on “The Walking Dead” (AMC). He studied four years of Meisner at Ruskin School of Acting in California. Represented by Alexander White Agency. Braian would love to thank his friends and family for always supporting him. Find him on social media: @braianriverajimenez 

Taloria Merricks [they/them] is thrilled to join the cast of Bust at the Alliance Theatre! Favorite credits include US AMY in The Lonely Few at MCC Theater NYC, Sophie/ Maya in A New Musical: King Of Pangea at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, and Dorothy in The Wiz at Kenny Leon’s True Colors Thea. Trained at Aurora Theater Co. and Chadwick Boseman College. August Wilson Monologue Comp Nationalist. Taloria continues to pursue their passion in all forms of the performing arts with the help of God and family support. Their social media handles include: Instagram @itsjusttaloria Youtube @Taloria

Ty Ravenel [He/Him] is thrilled to join the cast of BUST at the Alliance Theatre! He holds a degree in film and television performance from The New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts (NYCDA), and has also studied Meisner Technique for 9 years. Ty would love to thank his dad for being his number one fan, his mother, nana, best friends and his community for always supporting his creative endeavors. Find him on social media: @TyRavenelOfficial

Dominique Fawn Hill [She/Her] Dominique’s designs include Broadway: Fat Ham (Tony Award-nomination), Off-Broadway:Tambo & Bones (Playwrights Horizon-Lucille Lortel nomination), Fat Ham (Public Theatre-Obie Award), Where the Mountain Meets the Sea (Manhattan Theatre Club), Hang Time (The Flea),The Dark Girl Chronicles (The Shed), and 125th & FREEdom (National Black Theatre). Her regional theatre credits range from Derecho (The La Jolla Playhouse) Primary Trust (Alley Theatre) Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Choir Boy, and Rent (Portland Center Stage) and  Dominique is currently designing across the nation while being an adjunct lecturer at The University of California, Berkeley. You can find her work at DominiqueFHill.com

Rocio Mendez [they/she] Member of Unkle Dave’s Fight-House and proud New Yorker committed to building confidence in brown and black girls through storytelling. Credits include: Broadway: POTUS, or behind every great dumbass is seven women trying to keep him alive, AIN’T NO MO. The Metropolitan Opera: Fire Shut Up In My Bones, Eurydice, Rigoletto, Rodelinda, Lucia. New York/Regional Theater: The Bandaged Place (Roundabout), Your Own Personal Exegesis (LCT3), Merry Wives, Romeo y Julieta (Public Theater), On Sugarland (NYTW), This Bitter Earth (TheaterWorks), Black No More (The New Group), Vietgone, The Royale (Geva Theater Center), The Wolves (Actors Theater of Louisville), Secret Life of Bees (Atlantic Theater Company). Rocio is also an award-winning actor. www.rociomendez.com 

Lauren Port has been the Casting Director at The Goodman Theatre since the Fall of 2019.  Broadway highlights: Junk; Meteor Shower; A Doll’s House Part 2; The Front Page; It’s Only a Play; Disgraced; Fish in the Dark; The Trip to Bountiful; Grace; Death of a Salesman; Seminar; Stick Fly; Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo; Lend Me a Tenor and Fences. Television/Film includes: New Amsterdam (NBC); American Odyssey (NBC) and Steel Magnolias (Sony for Lifetime). Lauren is a five-time Artios Award winner, a recipient of the 40th Annual Media Access Awards and a proud member of the Casting Society of America. 

Mikaal Sulaiman is a Tony award-nominated multi-disciplinary artist working in film, TV, and theatre as a writer, director, sound designer, and composer. As a writer, he spent two seasons in the writer's room for A24/Amazon's "#1 Happy Family USA" created by Ramy Youssef. His original project residencies include Ground Floor, Mercury Store, Space on Ryder Farm, and UCross Foundation. Notable sound design projects include Broadway productions of The Roommate, Enemy of the People, Doubt, Death of a Salesman, and The Thanksgiving Play among others. Other acclaimed works he was the original Sound Designer include Primary Trust (Pulitzer Prize for Drama), Fairview (Pulitzer Prize for Drama) and Underground Railroad Game. Sulaiman has received numerous nominations, including Tony, Drama Desk, and Lucille Lortel Awards. He's won Obie Awards, a Theatre Bay Area Award, Creative Capital Award, Henry Hewes Design Awards, an Audelco Award, and the CTG Sherwood Award. www.mikaal.com

Yi Zhao creates story-driven lighting designs for the stage, often at the intersection of theater and music, and collaborates frequently with Lileana Blain-Cruz. He is pleased to make his Alliance debut with BUST. BROADWAY: Purple Rain (upcoming), I Need That, The Skin of Our Teeth (Tony Award nomination). NEW YORK: Lincoln Center Theater; Signature Theatre; NYTW; Soho Rep; Manhattan Theatre Club. REGIONAL: Guthrie Theater, Yale Repertory Theatre; Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Shakespeare Theatre (DC); Mark Taper Forum; Dallas Theater Center; Wilma Theater; A.C.T.; Berkeley Rep; Shakespeare Theatre Company. OPERA: Metropolitan Opera; Norwegian National Opera; Chicago Lyric Opera; Opera Philadelphia; Opera Colorado; Detroit Opera; Opera Omaha. DANCE: Sasha Waltz & Guests (Germany); Ballet de Lorraine (France). He is a recipient of the 2016 Vilcek Foundation Prize for Creative Promise in Theatre. www.yi-zhao.com

Xiaonan (Chloe) Liu is a Chinese stage manager. She recently graduated from the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, where her credits include Next to Normal, Green Sugar Bloos, The Cherry Orchard, The Alley, Twelfth Night, and the Actor Showcase, as well as Choir Boy and Escaped Alone at Yale Rep. Chloe holds a B.A. from the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Her work experience in China included productions of Beauty and The Beast, The Lion King, Man of La Mancha, and The Sound of Music. 

Marshall Lee Smith Jr. was recently appointed the Atlanta Regional Representative for the Stage Manager’s Association! Select Credits: A Christmas Carol (Alabama Shakespeare Festival) The Preacher's Wife: World Premiere, Fat Ham, Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol, The Wondrous Realities of Jasmine Starr-Kidd (Alliance Theatre); Papa Didn’t Take No Mess: James Brown Musical, World Premiere; After Before: World Premiere (Cenotaph Productions); Cats, West Side Story (City Springs Theatre Company); The Color Purple, Cinderella (Aurora Theatre Company); Dreamgirls, Black Nativity (Dominion Entertainment Group). Marshall would like to thank God, his fiancee, family & friends for supporting the arts. @PSM_Marshall | MarshallSmithSM.com

shiku thuo is a stage manager, actor and director hailing from Southern California, but taking residency in New York. Their most recent works include: Table 17 (MCC), Sunset Baby (Signature Theater), Fabulation or the RE-Education of Undine (Billie Holiday), The Whitney Album (Soho Rep), ‘Bov Water (Northern Stage), On that Day in Amsterdam ( Primary Stages). A vivid day dreamer, lover of kindle unlimited, and really REALLY good food. They are excited to be making their debut at Alliance Theatre alongside this beautiful company. For Mama Bui, always, and for the liberation of all oppressed people.