The Brothers Paranormal, co-produced with MediaRites‘ Theatre Diaspora, is bringing lots of new artists to the CoHo stage! Meet the talented folks who are helping playwright Prince Gomolvilas’ characters leap from the page into three dimensional reality.
Catherine (Kate) Ming T’ien Duffly (Director) is Associate Professor in the Theatre Department at Reed College in Portland, OR. She is a scholar-director and community-engaged theatre artist creating work in and around Portland and sits on the boards of the August Wilson Red Door Project and MediaRites/Theatre Diaspora. Recent projects include Here on This Bridge with Theatre Diaspora, a series of monologues about intersectional racism centered on the PNW experience; and community based theatre project about reproductive justice, We Are BRAVE, created in collaboration with Roberta Hunte and Western States Center.
Jasper Howard (Felix) previously appeared in the 2018 staged reading of The Brothers Paranormal. He is a proud member of the original cast of Hands Up (August Wilson Red Door Project), and was last seen onstage in Eugene, OR at Oregon Contemporary Theater as Hassan in the West Coast premier of Bennett Fisher’s Damascus. Prior to that, Jasper appeared as Ty King in Vanport Mosaic‘s production of Rich Rubin’s Left Hook. Additional credits include voice over, commercials, print ads, and television (Grimm, Leverage).
Elaine Low (Tasanee) was in MediaRites/Theatre Diaspora’s original workshop staged reading of The Brothers Paranormal. She performed in Breaking Glass at Portland Repertory Theatre, Mei Mei, Lady Buddha and Janie Bigo at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center Theatre. More recently, she’s been in Theatre Diaspora’s staged readings of The Theory of Everything by Prince Gomolvilas, Washer/Dryer by Nandita Shenoy and Dmae Roberts’ The Courtesan at New Expressive Works. Elaine is the founder and owner of Kitchen Goddess catering in Vancouver, WA.
Melissa L. Magaña (Jai) is a multi-ethnic & multi-disciplinary performer, theatre enthusiast, and community cultivator. With a background in theatre, dance, and vocal performance, Melissa is continually increasing her experience onstage and in film and commercial acting. In addition to her part-time acting career and a full-time career in Human Resources, Melissa is an active community volunteer.
Samson Syharath (Max) is a multidisciplinary artist, actor, director, producer, instructor, and administrator focusing on visibility of Asian-American artists and underserved communities. After receiving a B.A. from the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, Samson trained at the Portland Actors Conservatory. He was part of the Theatre Communications Group Rising Leaders of Color Cohort in 2017 featured by American Theatre Magazine and was the recipient of the Portland Civic Theatre Guild’s Leslie O. Fulton Fellowship that same year. He is a co-founder and company member of Theatre Diaspora
Lidet Viravong (Visarut) is an actor who was born in Laos and raised in the plains of Oklahoma. Lidet is a part of Teada Productions, a nomadic theater company based in Los Angeles that creates work through the stories told by immigrants and refugees. With Teada he performs in Refugee Nation, the first national touring play about the Lao-American immigrant and refugee experiences. He has also performed with Water’s Edge Theatre, a children’s theater company that tours throughout Southern California schools. On television he has guest starred on The Sarah Silverman Program, Crossing Jordan, Al Shearer Project and SecretFridays.tv. In film you can find him as the cannibal “blow dart specialist” in Pirates of the Caribbean II and a Core Asian Pirate in Pirates of the Caribbean III. When Lidet is not working as an actor, he advocates for the environment by creating awareness, protecting our natural resources, and fostering our connection with the natural world.
Andrea White (Delia) is an Actor and Director. She was most recently seen in PassinArt’s The No Play as Maddie, Susan in Profile Theatre Company’s The Secrataries and Antigone Project as Antigone, Portland Center Stage’s JAW 2019, and Portland Playhouse’s productions of Radio Golf as Judith, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom as Dussie Mae, and Black Mary in Gem of the Ocean. She recently directed a production of Alan Bowne’s Beirut. During Andrea’s time in Los Angeles she performed in a two year run of the 30th year revival of the musical HAIR! She is a two time Drammy Award Winner for Best Supporting Actress for productions of Two Sisters and a Piano (Artists Repertory Theatre) and Hell Cab (Theatre Vertigo). Andrea’s television credits include Family Matters, NYPD Blue, Living Single, Grimm, Leverage, and the motion picture Extraordinary Measures.
