Page 13 - DRT 2023 February

at the Theater for the New City. Film & monologue and public speaking coach
TV credits include Naked Singularity, and holds a BA from Yale University
FBI: Most Wanted, Saturday Night Live, and an MFA from Sarah Lawrence
and East New York. Joshua also wants College. Laura is the Chair of the New
to thank his family and friends for Jersey Theatre Alliance Board of
always supporting his career endeavors. Trustees and a member of AEA, SAG-
Laura Ekstrand is co- AFTRA and the Dramatists Guild.
founder and artistic Noreen Farley (Vera
director of Vivid Stage, Kinski) has done a number
formerly Dreamcatcher of shows as a member of
Rep. She is an actor, Vivid Stage’s ensemble
director, playwright and (most recently, String
teacher who has appeared Around My Finger) as well
on stages and screens for as improvisation. She has
over 30 years. As an also appeared at Two River
actor, Laura appeared at Theatre, The Shakespeare
Vivid Stage in Water in My Hands, Be Theatre of NJ, The Bickford, Alliance
Here Now, The Lucky Ones, What Stays; Rep, The Theater Project, What Exit?,
Sister Play; Motherhood Out Loud; and and The Women’s Theatre. Noreen
Shakespeare in Vegas, among many Farley has been seen at Vivid Stage in
others, and is a member of the Flip Side Dead and Buried, The Language
improv comedy team. She has worked Archive, The Neighborhood, Blood: A
at many other New Jersey Theatres Comedy and many more. As a member
including the Bickford Theatre, of the ensemble she has also
Centenary Stage, Luna Stage, Passage performed in the improv troupe The
Theater, Pushcart Players, The Theater Flip Side, A Very Special Holiday
Project, 12 Miles West. In New York, Special, and the gala cabarets. Other
Laura has appeared at Naked Angels, shows in the area include The Last
Ensemble Studio Theatre, and New Romance (Bickford); 100 Saints You
Georges. Her film credits include Should Know and The Champagne
American Zombieland, Split Ends, High Charlie Stakes (Alliance Rep); and Why
Art, I Shot Andy Warhol. Laura’s Torture Is Wrong And Those Who Love
television experience includes Hack, Sex Them, Road To Mecca, and Three Tall
And The City, Law & Order, and The Women (The Theater Project). At What
Guiding Light. As a director, some Exit? Noreen has done The Lying Kind
projects include Twirl, Dead and Buried, and two turns as the villain in their
Every Brilliant Thing, The How and the Christmas pantos. Other credits include
Why, Next Fall, Distracted, The Pursuit regional theater, television
Of Happiness, Melancholy Play, Pride’s commercials, print work, voiceovers
Crossing, Full Bloom and many others. and movies.
Laura has directed the dramatic Lulu French first took
podcasts The Weirdness and Young Ben improv classes at Gotham
Franklin for Gen Z Media. As a City Improv over two
playwright, full lengths include Life’s decades ago and has been
Work, What Stays (with Jason improvising ever since. In
Szamreta), Whatever Will Be, The addition to being a
Neighborhood (Book and Lyrics; Music graduate of Gotham City
by Joe Zawila), Brink of Life (Book; Improv, she has also
Lyrics by Steve Harper; Music by Oliver studied improv under Amy
Lake) and Astonishment, How to be Old: Poehler, Matt Walsh, and Matt Besser
A Beginner’s Guide, and At Ninety-Three — original members of the Upright
(Adaptations). Laura is a private