Cast bios
Bethmari Márquez Barreto grew up in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico and received her Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts from Iowa State University. Márquez Barreto has done many shows, but her first main stage production in the Twin Cities was Real Women Have Curves with Teatro del Pueblo, and since then, her goals within her professional development are to provide opportunities for everyone, but mostly those who have always struggled to find a sense of belonging.
Kirby Bennett has been seen regionally at numerous theaters including Six Points Theater, Frank Theatre, Old Log Theatre, Jungle Theater, Paul Bunyan Playhouse, Commonweal Theatre Company, History Theatre, and many others. Recent performances include Holmes and Watson at Park Square Theatre. Kirby is the Artistic Director of Girl Friday Productions, for which she produced and performed in their acclaimed productions of The Skin of Our Teeth, Idiots Delight and The Matchmaker, among many others.
Nicole Joy Frethem is thrilled to be back on the stage after a seven-year hiatus. She has previously worked with Theatre Unbound, Shakespeare and Company, Nimbus Theatre, Gremlin Theatre, Theatre Pro Rata, MN Shakespeare Company, Cromulent Shakespeare Company, Youth Performance Company, and Classical Actor’s Ensemble. During her hiatus from theatre, she gave birth to her second child, went to law school, was elected to public office, installed two toilets, and fostered 11 rescue dogs.
Mahmoud Hakima: For the last 20 years, Mahmoud has been active in the Twin Cities as an actor, improviser, writer, puppeteer, director, producer, and improv coach. Most recently he was in Dead Mountain for the Twin Cities Horror Festival, The Abortion Chronicles at Haus of Loring, and can be regularly seen at Dino Jam, an improv jam at Huge Theater. He's happy to continue performing! He'd like to thank Carolyn and Cynthia for providing him this opportunity.
Megan Kim is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy-Los Angeles. She spent 9 years acting and singing in LA before returning to the Twin Cities. She is a company member with Wonderlust Productions. Other theatre credits include: Artistry, Freshwater Theatre, Theatre Pro Rata, Gnarly Bard Theater and Next Act Theatre. She also performs with Pillsbury House + Theatre’s “Breaking Ice” program. To all the asylum seekers out there, I see you and I am here for you friend.
Jasmine Porter: Upcoming Productions. Park Square Theater: The Revolutionists, Charlotte Corday. Selected works. Lakeshore Players Theater: The Niceties, Zoe. Zephyr Theater: Romeo and Juliet, Lady Capulet; A Comedy of Errors, Adrianna. The Guthrie Theater: Cyranno de Bergerac, Essential. Theatre Unbound: The Clean House, Matilde. Youth Performance Company: Just Before Sleep, Sonia. Jasmine is a Twin Cities-based actor and devising-theatre artist and so excited to be a part of the production of 'I Was a Stranger Too.'
Shona Ramchandani (she/her/they) studied Theatre at Hamline University, and has joyfully combined this with her professional experience as a justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) consultant through activities with Penumbra Theatre, Park Square Theatre and Theatre in the Round. While she has dubious international experience in virtual and on-stage theatre, Shona is best known for writing and directing her only award-winning production in 10th grade.
Abigail Ramsay is a classically-trained actress, Theatre for Social Change facilitator, co-caretaker to elderly parents, nascent writer, and arts project manager. Most recently, she had the honor to spend 2 years in her ancestral land, Jamaica; afterwhich, she spent two years with her parents in Georgia. Abigail is beyond thrilled to work with Cindy and Carolyn on I Was A Stranger Too. She had the pleasure of playing Shareen last year in the Jewish Play Project radio play competition and the Remember the Women’s Institute playreading series.
Phasoua Vang is a Twin Cities based actor. Recent works include the short film The Wind Always Strikes the Highest Mountain and the upcoming webisode of Hmong Organization. Most recent theater performances include A Korean Drama Addict’s Guide to Losing Your Virginity, Immigrant Journey Project, Kung Fu Zombies Vs. Cannibals, Poj Laib Laus, Confessions of a Lazy Hmong Woman and various virtual and in-person readings.
Kirby Bennett has been seen regionally at numerous theaters including Six Points Theater, Frank Theatre, Old Log Theatre, Jungle Theater, Paul Bunyan Playhouse, Commonweal Theatre Company, History Theatre, and many others. Recent performances include Holmes and Watson at Park Square Theatre. Kirby is the Artistic Director of Girl Friday Productions, for which she produced and performed in their acclaimed productions of The Skin of Our Teeth, Idiots Delight and The Matchmaker, among many others.
Nicole Joy Frethem is thrilled to be back on the stage after a seven-year hiatus. She has previously worked with Theatre Unbound, Shakespeare and Company, Nimbus Theatre, Gremlin Theatre, Theatre Pro Rata, MN Shakespeare Company, Cromulent Shakespeare Company, Youth Performance Company, and Classical Actor’s Ensemble. During her hiatus from theatre, she gave birth to her second child, went to law school, was elected to public office, installed two toilets, and fostered 11 rescue dogs.
Mahmoud Hakima: For the last 20 years, Mahmoud has been active in the Twin Cities as an actor, improviser, writer, puppeteer, director, producer, and improv coach. Most recently he was in Dead Mountain for the Twin Cities Horror Festival, The Abortion Chronicles at Haus of Loring, and can be regularly seen at Dino Jam, an improv jam at Huge Theater. He's happy to continue performing! He'd like to thank Carolyn and Cynthia for providing him this opportunity.
Megan Kim is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy-Los Angeles. She spent 9 years acting and singing in LA before returning to the Twin Cities. She is a company member with Wonderlust Productions. Other theatre credits include: Artistry, Freshwater Theatre, Theatre Pro Rata, Gnarly Bard Theater and Next Act Theatre. She also performs with Pillsbury House + Theatre’s “Breaking Ice” program. To all the asylum seekers out there, I see you and I am here for you friend.
Jasmine Porter: Upcoming Productions. Park Square Theater: The Revolutionists, Charlotte Corday. Selected works. Lakeshore Players Theater: The Niceties, Zoe. Zephyr Theater: Romeo and Juliet, Lady Capulet; A Comedy of Errors, Adrianna. The Guthrie Theater: Cyranno de Bergerac, Essential. Theatre Unbound: The Clean House, Matilde. Youth Performance Company: Just Before Sleep, Sonia. Jasmine is a Twin Cities-based actor and devising-theatre artist and so excited to be a part of the production of 'I Was a Stranger Too.'
Shona Ramchandani (she/her/they) studied Theatre at Hamline University, and has joyfully combined this with her professional experience as a justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) consultant through activities with Penumbra Theatre, Park Square Theatre and Theatre in the Round. While she has dubious international experience in virtual and on-stage theatre, Shona is best known for writing and directing her only award-winning production in 10th grade.
Abigail Ramsay is a classically-trained actress, Theatre for Social Change facilitator, co-caretaker to elderly parents, nascent writer, and arts project manager. Most recently, she had the honor to spend 2 years in her ancestral land, Jamaica; afterwhich, she spent two years with her parents in Georgia. Abigail is beyond thrilled to work with Cindy and Carolyn on I Was A Stranger Too. She had the pleasure of playing Shareen last year in the Jewish Play Project radio play competition and the Remember the Women’s Institute playreading series.
Phasoua Vang is a Twin Cities based actor. Recent works include the short film The Wind Always Strikes the Highest Mountain and the upcoming webisode of Hmong Organization. Most recent theater performances include A Korean Drama Addict’s Guide to Losing Your Virginity, Immigrant Journey Project, Kung Fu Zombies Vs. Cannibals, Poj Laib Laus, Confessions of a Lazy Hmong Woman and various virtual and in-person readings.
Music: Leslie Steinweiss
Leslie Steinweiss is a Brooklyn, NY based composer/lyricist, pianist conductor. He writes music for piano, chamber ensembles, the theater and film. Recent works include, “A Cantata to commemorate the Holocaust,” which premiered in May of 2022; music and lyrics for “In The Blink of an Eye,” a one-woman musical with book by Kate Fuglei, and “The Aether Project”, piano solo improvisations available on many platforms online.
Production Manager: Karina Hunt
Leslie Steinweiss is a Brooklyn, NY based composer/lyricist, pianist conductor. He writes music for piano, chamber ensembles, the theater and film. Recent works include, “A Cantata to commemorate the Holocaust,” which premiered in May of 2022; music and lyrics for “In The Blink of an Eye,” a one-woman musical with book by Kate Fuglei, and “The Aether Project”, piano solo improvisations available on many platforms online.
Production Manager: Karina Hunt
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These presentations are supported by Rimon, The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council; The Alliance for Jewish Theatre Regrant Program; the Ganz Family Foundation; the Neighborhood House/Wellstone Center and generous individual donors. Special thanks to the Illusion Theater for their administrative support.
These presentations are supported by Rimon, The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council; The Alliance for Jewish Theatre Regrant Program; the Ganz Family Foundation; the Neighborhood House/Wellstone Center and generous individual donors. Special thanks to the Illusion Theater for their administrative support.
