GAMA VALLE is a Puerto Rican, New York based director, playwright, screenwriter, children's author and casting director. He holds an M.F.A in Directing from The New School (NYC) and a B.A. in Drama from the University of Puerto Rico (Río Piedras). Gama is a proud member of New Light Theater Project, the SCBWI and The Casting Collaborative!

His Spanish language debut picture book, PITU LE BAILA AL MAR (Pitu Dances to the Sea) is an International Latino Book Awards winner. PROHIBIDO LLORAR (Absolutely No Crying), Gama's upcoming Spanish language picture book, is out in May 2024.
 

He is a recipient of the Van Lier Directing Fellowship at Repertorio Español. Gama received the First Prize in playwriting from Puerto Rico’s Institute of Culture for his play “QUEISHD&DILIT” in 2008. Gama's scripted podcasts PROMESA PROMESOTA and  PASTEL COLOR RIPPLES are available on all streaming platforms.

 

Gama curates IATI Theater's PRIDE Fiesta: QUEERTÁSTICO since 2020.

​Casting credits include: BRUISE AND THORN (Pipeline Theatre), TENDER RAIN (Syracuse Stage), WAR WORDS (NewYorkRep), LAUGHS IN SPANISH (Denver Center for the Performing Arts), I WANT TO F*CK LIKE ROMEO AND JULIET (New Light Theater Project), HOW RO BREAK (Village Theatre), DREAM HOUSE (Alliance Theatre/Baltimore Center Stage/Long Wharf Theatre), among others. 
 

Directing credits include: THE LESSON (Teatro LATEA), L’AMFIPARNASO (The Western Wind), I CATCH YOU DREAMING,  AMONG WHO, WHOM AND EVER, IN LOVE BUT DISCREET (Repertorio Español), THE GIRL WHO USED TO DIE OVER AND OVER AGAIN (Repertorio Español).

Gama's children's and fiction work is represented by Leah Pierre of Ladderbird Literary Agency.

IG: @gamavalle

GREGORY JAFARI VAN ACKER is NY based casting director, author, educator, and playwright/lyricist who loves making connections and bringing people together, especially in the company of team members from Bass/Valle Casting and The Casting Collaborative! 

 

As Playwright/Lyricist: The Price of Saffron (Spinning Dot Theatre/EMU, part of the TYA BIPoC Superhero Project), The Newest Newcomer (Sundog Theatre), NOPLACE (Goodspeed Musicals/Johnny Mercer Grove selection, Eugene O’Neill National Music Theatre Conference semifinalist), Sugar Skull (Rhythm of the Arts), The Joining Place (avail on Bandcamp), Thurgood Grows Up (Sugar Hill Museum of Art and Storytelling), The Book of You (Durango Arts Center).

 

As Casting Director: Como Correr (dir. Nico Raimont, Peak Performances), The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience (Netflix/Shondaland), Bite-Sized Broadway (Indieworks), Kisses and Bullets (dir. Faranak Sahafian), The Deciders (dir. Jess McLeod, Woolly Mammoth), Shoot For The Moon (dir. Raja Feather Kelly, MTF), The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (BFRJ Sings @ Little Island). 

 

As Casting Associate: English (dir. Shadi Ghaheri, Alliance), Sunset Blvd (ACT of CT), House of Telescopes (world premiere, Pipeline Theatre Company), Stranger Sings: The Parody Musical (Playhouse 46 @ St. Luke's), The Great Gatsby (Immersive Everywhere), Journey! (dir. John Rando), and others. 

 

Van Acker is a recipient of the Dr. Kenny Hasija Encouragement Fund for Theatremakers Grant (presented by Ken Davenport). Van Acker and writing partner Joel Esher are recipients of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council/New York City Department of Cultural Affairs/Howard Gilman Foundation Creative Engagement Grant.

 

Van Acker is available for freelance script doctoring, audition technique workshops, and can be found telling tales from Greece and the Middle East at NYC museums, attending SWANA roundtables, seeing new shows from new voices at all stages of development, or writing new musicals and TV series pitches with favorite collaborators such as Joel Esher and Scott Lilly. Van Acker is queer, gender-fluid, MENA, BROWN, and deeply committed to increasing positive representation for historically excluded voices.

HARRIET BASS is a leading independent New York Casting Director casting for theatre, film and television. In New York Harriet has cast for ABC/TV, Fox Television Studios, Joseph Papps' Public Theater: New Work Now, the Minetta Lane Theatre, The Women's Project, La Mama E.T.C., New York Women in Film and Television, Epic Theatre Ensemble, The Drama League's DirectorFest, and the Jewish Repertory Theatre. She cast the last three of the late August Wilson's ten part play series: the original and touring production of "Radio Golf", the Broadway production of "Gem of the Ocean", and the Off-Broadway production of "Jitney". 
 

Selected feature film credits include Ang Lee's "Pushing Hands",  "Graves End", directed by Sal Stabile, and  "First We Take Manhattan", produced by Golden Harvest Films.  

Selected regional casting credits include: Mark Taper Forum, Hartford Stage Co, Arena Stage, Trinity Rep, San Jose Rep, GeVa, Syracuse Stage, Pittsburgh Public, Merrimack Rep, Longwharf Theatre, Alliance Theatre, The Goodman Theatre, Kansas City Rep, Baltimore Center Stage, Huntington Theatre Company, Virginia Stage Company, Dallas Theatre Company, Berkeley Rep, Portland Center Stage and Playmaker's Rep.
 

Harriet is also a leading educator in audition technique, side and monologue coaching, and the business of acting.  She has taught at the nations top universities and professional acting training programs.
 

Selected guest lectures and master classes include work at: University of North Carolina, University of Delaware, University of Missouri, Emerson College, Dean College, University of Minnesota/Guthrie, the Asolo Actor Training Program at Florida State University, the American Music and Dramatic Academy, New World School of the Arts, and Clark University, as well as Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, NY.  She has coached private master classes in audition technique in New York including work with; Actors Connection, One-on-One Studios, The Network, Maggie Flanagan Studios, Nani-Saperstein and TVI.
 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre Arts from Clark University, Massachusetts, a Master of Arts Degree in Theatre Arts from The University of Colorado, and attended the American Conservatory Theatre for Post Graduate Training in Theatre Arts.