Artistic Director & Founder

Craig Perkins (Artistic Director/Playwright) moved to New York City ages ago because of the lack of jazz and opera in Omaha. He studied Creative Writing at the University of Nebraska, and has written and directed for HB Studio. Craig studied acting as well, with Sandy Dennis and Bill Hickey. He loves actors and finds it exciting to write blueprints for their creative work. He founded Engage Playwrights Lab last year and really cemented it April of 2021 with membership at A.R.T-New York. He also writes poetry on occasion, and is heavily influenced by the writing of Brecht, Beckett, Chaikin, and Maria Irene Fornes.

Lauren Komer is a director and designer based in New York. She is a Theater Arts Fellow of Brandeis University. Lauren also studied film, theater theory and playwriting at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford University. A majority of her work explores the convergence of theater, film, and interactive media. Her work has appeared in NYC, Boston, and internationally in Europe and the U.K. She has directed multiple readings for Engage Playwright’s Lab and is currently directing Body Mutilations are a Cool Thing in Some Circles (EPL’s upcoming production). She is also an aerial pole dancer and works at the Museum of the Moving Image.

Amy is an actress and stage manager recently based in NYC. Amy’s Nurse flutters about with an abundance of childlike curiosity, a fascination with what it means to be ‘woman’ and an obsession with boys- with whom she stalks like prey. Some of Amy’s favorite roles include Narrator (Every Brilliant Thing), Grandma (American Dream), and various fool characters in her award-winning thesis Foolish Sanity, including Fleabag and King Lear’s Fool. In addition to taking the stage, Amy is working behind the scenes as Production Manager. Amy has stage managed numerous musicals and plays throughout the east coast, most recently in Gallery Player’s production of Fences, and has worked as a production manager, most notably at her alma mater’s theater, Brandeis University.

Sarah J Clarke is an NYC actress and stage manager, and she is thrilled to be working on the production team as the stage manager for "Body Mutilations!" They recently worked as the light board operator for Tisch New Theatre's production of "Alice By Heart" at the Theatre for the New City in Manhattan, and are constantly striving for more. She is currently pursuing a BFA in Acting at NYU and would like to thank their parents, friends, partner, and instructors for their ongoing support, to which she wouldn't be here today without.

Julie Sandler is a New York-based actor and filmmaker. She is thrilled to be joining the talented team working on Body Mutilations. Most recently, Julie played the role of “Me” in the First Flight Showcase at The Tank, produced by Murmuration Theatre Co. In June, Julie will be playing the role of Lizara in “Operation: Destroy Beff Jezos” at Studio 45 in Bushwick. During the day, she works as an Impact Producer on several documentaries, such as CURED, an Emmy-nominated film that premiered on PBS; THE LAVENDER SCARE and others.

Patrick Ganley is an NYC based aspiring actor, model, and singer who is passionate about acting on the screen and the stage. Ganley was born in London, where he developed this passion by getting into the performing arts at a young age. He has been in and around the theater ever since. He continues to study at Stella Adler under many great teachers, such as Paul Calderon. He has a love for creative and unconventional projects and is beyond excited to be involved with Body Mutilations and the amazing team that is making it come to life! IG: Patrick.Ganley

Cedi (pronounced Sed-ee), is an actress to the city, who adores creating art and inspiring new ideas. After graduating with her BFA in Theater Performance from UVU, and attending a study abroad in Europe, she moved to the city and has dove into her work. Her favorite credits include: Mamma Mia (Lisa/Dancer), Persuasion (Louisa Musgrove), and multiple short/student films and commercials. Cedi is thrilled to be a part of this exciting production, and would like to thank her roommates, friends, and family for always supporting her.

Annie Cox (she/her) is a Brooklyn based actor and dancer from Salt Lake City. She studied acting at Skidmore College (2021) and at the Moscow Art Theatre School (2019). Annie’s passion lies in the intersection of theater and dance, she loves collaborating and devising with others to create new experimental works. She dances with Rachel: Dancers (@rachelanddancers). In addition to her artistic endeavors, Annie teaches children's yoga.

Tyler Melson is a New York-based actor and performer. He was trained at NYU at both the Lee Strasberg Insititue and the Experimental Theatre Wing which exposed him to a range of both naturalistic and postmodern works and techniques that informs his acting practice today. Since graduating, he’s worked background on many film and tv sets as well as attended many a rep screening of old and experimental films throughout the wonderful movie theaters of NYC. He is excited to reengage with theatre through working with Engage Playwrights Lab and the live and visceral joy it brings.

Jacqueline Lucia DiMare is an actress, voice-over actress, model, writer and director. She was born in Neuilly sur Seine, France and was raised in Britain by a Swedish writer and an American veteran. As French and Swedish are her birth languages, she adopted English by watching the Classics. She has extensive coaching in musical theatre. She has 10 years of theatre experience in England. After the pandemic, DiMare moved to America to be coached under the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in both West Hollywood and New York City. During and after her training, she has been involved in short films playing various characters, including directing and writing two original short films 'I Let You Go' and 'Amber Rain' which have been selected and nominated in festivals. She was recently nominated for Best Young Filmmaker. Along with acting, she is working on her own books, screenplays, songs and poetry bringing characters to life through original storytelling from perspectives that have not been explored.

Evie Brandford-Altsher is a NYC-based performer and director. She studied at NYU's Playwrights Horizons Theatre School and Stonestreet Studios, and now focuses on developing new work. Check out her original silly songs @e.v_b.a on Instagram, or her website: www.evieba.com