Café La MaMa Live: Take 5

Bridget Barkan, a born and raised New Yorker, Performing Artist, Writer, Actress, Songwriter, Musician, Producer and Playwright has been in the biz since birth. Her first job was posing as baby Jesus for decorative wall plates, big shoes to fill and some would say she peaked too soon but she has spent her life working in creative projects that honor the teachings of loving thy neighbor. From childhood until now; she has kept the fire burning, as a professional actress appearing on Sesame Street, commercials, and in various Manhattan Theatre Club productions including “The Good times are Killing me” at Ford’s theatre, Elizabeth Swados’ “The Prince and The Pauper, and “Blur,” elsewhere she was in the original cast of “Dog Sees God,” and “Spring Awakening.” Film and TV productions, HBO’s “Everyday People,” a reoccurring role as one legged hooker Lisa Everly on “Law & Order: SVU, ” “Sherrybaby” with Maggie Gylenhaal, “God’s Pocket” with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brian DePalma’s “Redacted,” Steven Soderbergh’s “The Knick, ” the voice of Misty Holloway on “The Get Down,” as well as, “Blue Bloods,” “Blindspot,” “The Last O.G.” “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and ”FBI.” As a singer she toured the world with pop glam band Scissor Sisters and is the art daughter of Drag legend Joey Arias. As a multi-hyphenate she created one woman shows as an Artist in Residence in Joe’s Pub working group. She has been said to be the offspring of John Waters and Cindy Sherman raised by the ghost of Janis Joplin. Using her humor, depth character building and musical chameleon skin to push buttons, motivate conversation and promote healing.  Currently, she is Mistress of Ceremonies at the burlesque club Duane Park and a teaching artist leading songwriting workshops with incarcerated youth through Carnegie Hall. Through all of her endeavors she believes her greatest purpose is to create healing and love in the community through music and storytelling.

Brian Dykstra is an actor a playwright and a Def Poet from HBO’s Def Comedy Jam.

Olivia Oguma: BROADWAY: Mamma Mia!, Les Miserables, A Christmas Carol, Disney’s High School Musical (1st National). OFF-BROADWAY: Hello, From the Children of Planet Earth (Playwright’s Realm), Luce (LCT3), Emotional Creature (Signature), BFE (Playwrights Horizons), La Dispute (NAATCO). REGIONAL: Snow Falling on Cedars (Portland Centerstage), Spelling Bee (Papermill), Miss You Like Hell (LaJolla), BFE (Long Wharf), Emotional Creature (Berkeley Rep), The Vagina Monologues (Bucks County Playhouse), The Skin of Our Teeth (Bristol Riverside), Miss Saigon (NCTheater & Actor’s Playhouse) FILM: This is Where I Leave You, Strangers with Candy, The Flamingo Rising, Like Father, Anya. TV: Samantha Arimistu on “Instinct” on CBS. Others television credits include: “FBI”, “Odd Mom Out”, “Younger” “Great News” “The Good Wife” “The Big C,” “Law & Order,” “The New Electric Company”, “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”. Fun fact: Olivia has solo backpacked through 29 different counties @olioguma

Briana Reed received scholarship to study at The Juilliard School where she studied Alexander technique, Ballet, Taylor, Graham and Limon and upon graduation she was accepted into Ailey II. A year laterReed auditioned and was accepted into The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater where she performed as a Principal Dancer. Ms. Reed has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Talley Beatty, Ulysses Dove, Lester Horton, Hans Van Manen and Billy Wilson. She has worked with and performed works by world- renowned chorographers Kyle Abraham, Karole Armitage, Robert Battle, Mauro Bigonzetti, Anthony Burrell, Camille Brown, Ronald K. Brown, Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Donald Byrd, George Faison, Dana Foglia, Rennie Harris, Geoffrey Holder, Judith Jamison, Bill T. Jones, Abdul Latif, Jonathan Lee, Alonzo King, Jaquel Knight, Wayne McGregor, Donald McKayle, Earl Mosley, Ohad Naharin, Benoit Swan Pouffer, Redha, Dwight Rhoden, Matthew Rushing, Shin Wei and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. Performing with Alvin Ailey has allowed Reed to tour in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chilé, China, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Israel, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad/ Tobago and The UK. In 2010 Reed was honored to perform at The White House in tribute to Judith Jamison and in 2013 to speak to First Lady Michelle Obama’s mentees of the White House Leadership and Mentoring Initiative at the Kennedy Center. Reed is also a two time recipient of the Key to the City of St. Petersburg, FL. Reed is an ABT ® Affiliate Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum and has successfully presented students for examinations, earning her the distinction ABT Teaching Fellow.

Kate Siahaan-Rigg is a mixed race multicultural multilingual multi disciplinary artist.She is a graduate of the University of Melbourne and The Juilliard School where she won awards for interdisciplinary performance. As an actor she has been seen at New York Theater Workshop, MTC, Playwrights Horizons and more. Her semi-solo American Asian shows “Kate’s Chink-O-Rama: featuring the Chinkorama Dancers” and “Birth of a nASIAN” have played internationally and been invited to the Smithsonian Institute, the Comedy Central Theater and featured on PBS and LOGO. “Happy Lucky Golden Tofu Panda Dragon Good Time Fun Fun Show” and her newest mashup of Comedy Music Spoken word “Zombie Asian Moms” both premiered at La Mama ETC. She is ready to curate some of the best, most ecelctic talent in New York City for Café La Mama.

Tammy Faye Starlite is a legendary performer from New York City. Known for her amazing one person shows and ability to channel rock goddesses she is a darling of the down town scene.

Amy Ziff is the co-founder of the iconoclastic legendary feminist band BETTY. She is also a composer and librettist living and working in New York City.

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