Gabriel McDerment

Creator, Composer, Lyricist

Gabriel McDerment is a 20-year-old musician and composer affiliated with four international music associations (ASCAP, ACF, SEAMUS, CEC). Notable composition credits include the Harvard Art Museum, Harvard Chan C-CHANGE, SUPERBANDS, Thereminfest (St. Petersburg, Russia), and IUPUI's Tavel Arts and Technology Research Center. He has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Theatre ing, and other artistic organizations. His works have been featured in six countries. On the administrative side, Gabriel is the president of the Test Dummy's Publishing Company, which he founded in 2020. He plays 11 instruments, his favorite of which are piano, cello, and Celtic banjo. He is currently designing a major in Binaural Psychophysics and Sonic Ethnography at NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, hoping to develop a career using music to fight mental health issues in clinical settings.

Laureana Kennedy

Actor - "Andrea"

Laureana Kennedy, from Tallahassee, Florida, is a classically trained actress and college freshman who has performed in over 25 musical theatre productions; favorites include Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Spiker in James and the Giant Peach, the Baroness in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Violet Bick in It's a Wonderful Life, Genie in Aladdin, Nala in The Lion King, and Grace Farrell in Annie. Born with a love to lift the world through theatre and song, she also pursues this desire offstage and in her community and church. She has performed solos and has participated in musical productions at multiple festivals and Disney World Workshops. Although she is a vibrant and enthusiastic performer, it surprises most that comedic, villianous roles come quite naturally to her. Laureana has received vocal training in almost all genres of music and would be described as a soubrette or light lyric type with a soprano range of F3-F5. As she blossomed onstage, her fondness for dance grew, and she went on to receive extensive traning in all genres of dance; she feels most expressive in lyrical, hip-hop, and traditional musical theatre dance. She plans to pursue a BFA from BYU in their prestigious Music Dance Theatre program and advance the light as an actress, singer/songwriter, and teacher.

Rafaella Mark

Actor - "Mom"

Rafaella Mark is a rising junior at NYU Tisch School of the Arts musical theater studio, the New Studio on Broadway. She has also received training from Stonestreet Studios in film and TV production and acting. From Santa Fe, New Mexico, she has had the honor of both competing and winning in the 2021 Enchantment Awards and going on to compete and become a semi-finalist in the 2021 Jimmy Awards for best actress. Rafaella enjoys playing strong and complex female characters ranging recently from Donna in Mamma Mia! to Lady Macbeth in Macbeth. Rafaella grew up with a deep love for all genres of music. She draws musical inspiration from Motown and Jazz and was trained in classical and jazz piano which greatly influenced her vocal style. She has performed in venues ranging from cabaret at Don't Tell Mama NYC to piano recitals at Steinway Hall. Outside of theater, Rafaella has and continues to pursue film and stunt work, songwriting and composition, and street and portrait photography. She has always believed that art is one of, if not the most, precious facilitators for change due to its subjective nature, and she strives to bring deep meaning, comedy, and relatability into all of her performances. She is forever grateful to her teachers, friends, and family that have supported her.

Brooke McDerment

Director

Brooke is a born lover-of-stories. She has spent her life writing them, reading them, watching them, studying them and acting them out. She holds a BA in English Literature from Tulane University in New Orleans, as well as an MA from the University of Cincinnati. Her varied experiences include television work and modeling in Japan as a preteen followed by a decade of community theatre (her most fondly remembered roles are Amaryllis in The Music Man, Emily in Our Town, and Witch Hex in Snow White). She has also worked in the character department at Walt Disney World (as Minnie Mouse) and held jobs in film and video production, in publishing, as an adjunct professor and as a children's ministry leader. Currently, she is finishing the last few chapters of her young adult novel, Dal rymple. She is most grateful for the gift of being "mom" to Gabriel, Curran and Celia and is so proud to be participating in the world premiere of Acceptance Pending.

Sarah Durham

Ensemble

Sarah Durham (she/they) is a New York-based multidisciplinary artist and arts educator currently pursuing a BFA in Collaborative Arts at New York University with a minor in Studio Art. Her main artistic interests lie in the intersection of dance and technology as well as accessibility to the arts and arts education but, as a theater lover, she is thrilled to be returning to the stage in this production. Previous acting credits include Emma in a staged reading of In Plenty or In Want with The OuterLoop Theater Experience. To see more of their work, visit their website here or at http://www.sar-durham.glitch.me/.

Hannah Barker

Cover Art Design

Hannah Joy Barker is an artist pursing a B.A in Arts & Museum Studies at New College: The Honors College of Florida. She has a background in traditional art, graphic design, muralism, marketing, exhibition development, theater design, museum work, and much more! She developed her own design company, Hannah Joy Barker Art, back in 2021 were she works closely with small business to create affordable artistic designs to enhance the businesses visual marketing. Hannah hopes to continue her education, work experience, and grow her personal business as she continues her artistic journey.

Celia McDerment

Ensemble

Celia McDerment is a student of Woodland Fine Arts Academy in Bradenton, FL where her favorite roles have included Jemima in Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang, Alice in Matilda and, most recently, Les in Newsies. She has also performed at the Annie Moses Summer Music Festival in Franklin, TN. Celia plays both the piano and the viola and loves to read, draw, and craft.

Ahmed Pasha

Actor - "Toby"

Ahmed Pasha (he/him) is an actor based in New York City, currently studying at NYU's Experimental Theatre Wing. Recently, he was in Nine Studies for a Dance Opera and Borderline, two original works incorporating lip-sync, musical theatre, and dance improvisation. He is grateful to be featured at Edinburgh Fringe alongside this new generation of talented theatre-makers.

Elizabeth Mandell

Actor - "Sandra"

Elizabeth Mandell is so excited to be a part of Acceptance Pending at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe! Recent roles include Polly Baker in Crazy for You at the Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute, for which she was nominated for a Broadway World Regional Award for Best Performer in a Musical; the world premiere of Winner, a new musical written by Joe Barros, at the Leicester Square Theatre in London; and Maria in Twelfth Night at New York University. Elizabeth is currently working towards a degree in Drama at NYU in the Tisch School of the Arts, and will be attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art for a semester in the fall. Many thanks to her friends, family, and teachers.

Hannah-Rose Atkins

Support Staff

Hannah-Rose Atkins, from LaGrange, Georgia, is a music teacher who holds a degree in Vocal and Instrumental Music Education from Auburn University. She has performed on stages across the United States and Europe with numerous ensembles. Some of her favorites were Auburn University's Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Chamber Choir, and Marching Band, the Alabama Ambassadors of Music, the US Army All-American Marching Band, and the Auburn United Method Church Choir. Hannah-Rose is a classically trained clarinetist and vocalist with an extensive background in conducting. Her time in theatre has included playing in the pit orchestra for several productions including Cinderella and 9 to 5: The Musical as well as conducting shows including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Currently, Hannah-Rose lives in Alabama with her wonderful husband, Thomas.

Thomas Atkins

Support Staff

Thomas Atkins, from Huntsville, Alabama, has more than a decade of performing under his belt, though he is new to the world of musical theater. As a classically trained trombonist, Thomas has performed with the Auburn University Concert Band, the Auburn University Marching Band, the University of Alabama in Huntsville Wind Ensemble, and the Huntsville Youth Symphony. By trade, Thomas is an electrical engineer with his Master's degree in power engineering. Nowadays, Thomas combines his love for music and his skills in engineering into a passion for audio technology. He has learned from some of the best audio engineers in Alabama and has led audio/visual programs for over a decade. Thomas plans to continue sharing his passions with his family and the world through volunteering and eventually, hopefully, teaching. He currently lives in Alabama with his lovely wife, Hannah Rose.

Kaitlin Davis

Choreographer

Kaitlin Davis is a director, choreographer, actor, and educator, who is thrilled to be a part of Acceptance Pending. Her recent work has been seen at The College of New Jersey, The University of Pennsylvania, and Stevens Institute of Technology, and she is a member of the 2023 Class of Directors Lab West. A graduate of Fordham and New York University, she lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

Clara Young

Actor - "Andrea"

Clara Young is an actor/dancer/singer/ songwriter based in NYC. She was the voice of "Alice" in the Oscar nominated film, My Life as a Zucchini, and played Young Helen in the world premiere of Unknown Soldier at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Additional credits include Annie in Annie at The Maltz Jupiter Theatre and Cindy Lou Hoo in the National Tour of How The Grinch Stole Christmas when she was just 8 years old. Clara is a rising junior at the Tisch School of Drama NYU where she appeared this spring as Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream. She graduated from the Professional Performing Arts High School in NYC's theatre district while also training at Manhattan Youth Ballet. Clara's original song video 50/50 can be viewed on YouTube or listened to across streaming platforms, and please stay tuned for the release of her four original song EP later this fall! This is Clara's first time in Scotland as well as the Fringe and she is so grateful for her family and friends who have always supported her!