ASHLEY BIEL is an actress, singer, and writer with a degree in Theatre Studies from Montclair University with a minor in Musical Theatre.

Some of her film credits include Happy Yummy Chicken and Concussion (2013). She has performed on stages across NJ and NYC, including IRT Theater, Gene Frankel Theatre, and The Tank. She has participated in workshops with New York Stage and Film and Manhattan Theatre Club. Ashley creates stand-up and skits with the comedy troupe Joke’s On and continues to hone her craft at Theo Devaney Acting Studio. Follow her on Instagram @AshleyTheBiel and catch her gaming content on Twitch at Justlov4.

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TIA DIONNE HODGE is an award-winning filmmaker, writer/playwright, actor, and educator. Along with co-directors Keenan Patrick Buckley, Dan Hilzenrath, and Iliana Mirabal, Tia Dionne is the proud recipient of the Mediterranean Film Festival Cannes' 2019 win for Best Children's Short. She is the inaugural recipient of the Adrienne Kennedy Society's Louis Kent-Hope Award for Excellence in Creative Writing & Poetry, is a former National Poetry Slam Team Champion, and wrote more than 60 monologues and scenes during her almost 17 years as one of Performer Theatre Workshop's acting teachers and Playwright-in-Residence. Her first collection of monologues, Play. Speak., (OddInt Media) was published in 2014. Tia Dionne has co-starred in several episodes within the Law & Order franchise, ABC's Forever, and 666 Park Avenue, to name a few. She plays Wendy, the female lead in Executive Producer Shaquil O'Neill's, and producer/writer Eddie Harris's recently released film, STEPS. Tia Dionne appeared in Nicole Holofcener's Netflix film, Land of Steady Habits, and as a lead in Tom Zanca's new web series The Deep State. She is the creator of the original dramedy web series, Where's the Love?. Tia Dionne is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, New York Women in Film, Montclair Write Group, SAG-AFTRA, AEA, and received her M.A. and B.A. in English Literature from Case Western Reserve University. www.tiadionnehodge.com

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DANA MAZZENGA is an AEA, Manhattan-MFA’d, Brooklyn-based and Philly-burbs-bred actor. She especially enjoys embodying rowdy, passionate, colorful characters and is therefore beyond delighted to join Speranza’s “In Her Footsteps” event once again as the fearless Nellie Bly! Favorite roles outside of Ms. Bly include MaryJane in JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN, Frankie in FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE, Dolores in BLIND DATE and Ginger in ROSEMARY WITH GINGER. Recently, Dana has especially enjoyed workshopping new material via Lyle Kessler’s Theater Workshop as well as at The Actors Studio PDU. When not acting, Dana is writing, wife-ing, mothering two gorgeous girls and diving into all things music and mental health at a 501(c)3 non-profit organization entitled Sounds of Saving. 

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BESS MILLER - they/them - is so honored to get to play Alice Paul with Speranza again after playing her in last year’s ON HER SHOULDERS and in VOTES FOR WOMEN! by Jennie Contuzzi. Other credits include the one person show, BACKWARDS FORWARDS BACK at Centenary Stage Co. and HAMLET at Hudson Theatre Works. One of Paul’s last great acts was authoring and fighting for the Equal Rights Amendment, which has yet to be ratified. If you are interested in helping it move forwards, you can visit: https://www.equalrightsamendment.org

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HANK. MORRIS has been acting in NYC and New Jersey for many years in film and theater and is thrilled to work with Speranza to bring Babe to life!  She has previously worked with Speranza Theatre Company in several productions such as HISTORY ALIVE and REVEALING LIBERTY. Recent film credits include “Go Be You, Martha”, “Desecrate”, and “Soulmates.”

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RYAN NATALINO is an actor with an MFA from The New School for Drama.She has appeared in numerous plays and films, including a standout performance as Connie in The Lost Years, a new work by John Patrick Shanley (Black Box Studios and PAC. In film, Ryan co-starred in Conjuring the Devil (Strange Works Productions), currently streaming on Amazon, and Listen, produced by Mountaintop Productions. When not acting, Ryan is a full-time Krav Maga instructor, bringing a unique physicality and presence to both stage and screen.

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ALICIA RIVAS born and raised in Jersey City is an actress, singer, rapper, and song writer. Her collaborations with Speranza Theatre include IN HER FOOTSTEPS, WOMEN RISING, FOODIES, and for thier education sector a Teacher Artist. She has also worked with other theatres in New Jersey including In Full Color , JCity Theatre, Passage Theatre, Writers Theatre of New Jersey, Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre (now Vivid Stage), and Luna Stage.

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BESTY SANDERS is excited to be a part of IN HER FOOTSTEPS, She  has worked throughout the country and in NYC on stage, film and t.v.  Her most recent credits include The Cineplex, a tv series, Glimpses, an episode in Amazon Prime's THE OTHER F WORD WITH REIKO AYLESWORTH and the independent film BETWEEN WAVES with Amy Jo Johnson.   A few of her favorite stage roles have been Arkadina in Chekhov's THE SEAGULL, Galactia in Howard Barkers SCENES FROM AN EXECUTION (with Paul Ryan Rudd), Sylvia in Albee's SYLVIA and Titania in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.  Betsy earned her B.F.A from Florida State University and M.F.A from New School for Drama NYC. Sag/Aftra, AEA

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HEATEHR WAHL is the founder and serves as Executive Artistic Director of Speranza Theatre company. She has produced 16 full length plays, numerous original educational plays, directed and/or choreographed 50+ productions, and acted in shows from off-Broadway to regional work in 36 of the contiguous United States. Acting Highlights include: A Piece of My Heart (Speranza Theatre); Loose Knit (Centenary Stage); A Body of Water (Garage Theatre); The Daughters of Eve (Cherry Lane); Scenes From an Execution (59E59); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (dir. Austin Pendleton); and Anne Boleyn in Rex (world premiere revival). She holds an MFA in Acting from The New School for Drama and a BFA in Dance with a minor in Women’s Studies.

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JJO-ANN WILLIAMS earned a BA in English-Speech/Theatre/Media Studies at Kean College/University. A former school teacher and participant in the NJ State Council on the Arts summer Artist Teacher Institute, she participated in dance workshops led by choreographer Carolyn Dorfman. In addition, she served over 9 years as the Artist-in-School Coordinator for poetry and videography. Her college performances include, THE MIRACLE WORKER, THE IMAGINARY INVALID, and CAROUSEL earning her the Kean College Directors’ Award for supporting actress. Her community performances include Kean College Children’s Theatre on Tour, WINE IN THE WILDERNESS, FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF, and Theatre of Universal Images production of INDIGO BLUE. She is a member of the adjudicating committee for the Women’s Playwright Series at Centenary Stage Company. Additionally, she is a member of the Pacemakers, a senior dance group, based in New York City. Jo-Ann is thrilled to join the creative and talented artists at Speranza Theatre to provide theatrical engagement for learning and fun to our young audience.