HEAR INSPIRATIONAL STORIES ACROSS THE ARTS WORLD

Fernando Carsa was born and raised in Colima, Mexico. At the age of seven, he began his training at the Performing Arts School “Eco Aventura." At the age of fifteen (and after learning English by listening to Britney Spears' music) he and his family moved to California to pursue his dream of being a performer.

In 2018, Fernando earned his Associate’s Degree in Theatre Arts from Fullerton Junior College and transferred to UCLA's Ray Bolger Musical Theatre Program. He became the only transfer student in six years to be accepted into the Musical Theatre track. Finally, in June of 2020, he graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Arts.

You may recognize Fernando for his portrayal of Weber in the World Premiere of the musical “Rebel Genius,” Louis in the new musical “CAMP SONG,” Claudio in Lydia (UCLA), Martin in “OKAYBETTERBEST” and his ensemble appearances in The Little Mermaid (Candlelight Pavilion), Spring Awakening (FJC), and American Idiot (FJC).

Peppur is an international writer/producer/educator and the founder of Brown Betties™, a women’s empowerment brand. During the pandemic, she found her way back to theater. Selected for Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble’s “Pandemic Plays”, she sites this experience of writing and presenting “For the Love of You” as one that helped her get through this tough time.

A new member of Antaeus Playwrights Lab, she’s currently writing a radio play based on white supremacy as her effort to speak up during this current turbulent shift toward equality. Additionally, having been accepted to Circle X Theatre Evolving Playwrights Group, Peppur is working on a new play, a ghost story of sorts based upon unexplained fertility. She is closing out this year with a new media film project shot virtually and Covid-safe of which she co-wrote, co-produced and directed, titled “Do Something”. It is a story about protest, privilege, and power.

Richard’s background includes performing as an actor in theater, television, and film, and he works regularly as voice-over talent for commercials, industrial narration, and as a co-host for several Spotify podcast series. Richard has written for situation comedies and variety shows including "Full House,” “Comedy Break,” “She’s the Sheriff,” “Welcome Back Kotter,” “Nightmare Room,” and “Quantum Leap.”

Richard’s commitment to making a difference through writing came to fruition as a writer on The End Hunger Televent - a three-hour variety show about what individuals could do to end world hunger. This led to a crowning achievement as a writer for the historic “Live Aid Concert,” which raised $125 million dollars for famine relief in Ethiopia.

In addition, Richard works with his wife, Rahla Kahn, in their company, The Power Of Play. They use Adaptive Applied Improvisation, creativity, and laughter as tools to help people and corporations deal with a variety of challenges. He is particularly proud to serve on staff at the Simonton Cancer Center, where The Power of Play provides cancer patients an experiential program to help them in their healing process.

Richard is married and met his future wife in Los Angeles while studying improvisation as an Original Groundling. Richard's deep commitment to helping people and using his ability to communicate has been the perfect way for him to satisfy all of his creative potentials.

Mitchell Kriegman is the author of Being Audrey Hepburn, and an upcoming novel due out in late 2015 called Things I Can’t Explain — a modern day sequel to his groundbreaking cult classic 90s Nickelodeon show, Clarissa Explains it All.

Mitchell was also the executive story editor of the original Ren and Stimpy. Rugrats, Doug and Rocko’s Modern Life. He created and won four Emmy’s for his work on other childrens’ classics such as Bear in the Big Blue House, Book of Pooh and It’s a Big Big World. Besides writing original screenplays for Rogue, Universal, Disney, Columbia Pictures and others, his short stories have been published in The New Yorker, the National Lampoon, Glamour, New York Press and Harper’s Bazaar.

Before joining the team of SNL as a filmmaker, performer and writer, Mitchell began his career performing “An Evening of Stories and Tricks You Won’t See Anywhere” and other original performance art at the New York Dance Theater Workshop, The Kitchen, Franklin Furnace and more. His video works are part of The Museum of Broadcasting, Whitney Museum, and London Institute among others.