Asolo Repertory Theatre > Conservatory

	Ghafir Akbar, Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Ghafir was last seen performing on the Asolo Theatre’s loading dock as Romeo in the ‘late-night’ production of Romeo & Juliet. He holds a BA in Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University where favorite roles include Tupolski, The Pillowman; Henry II, The Lion in Winter; Ali, The Retreating World; Jack Jerome, Brighton Beach Memoirs; and as a writer/performer in Hip Hop Creation directed by Will Power. In Malaysia, Ghafir is an established actor and was a member of The Instant Café Theatre Company performing in their repertoire of comedy revues and biting satirical work. Other notable credits in Malaysia include roles in The Baltimore Waltz and Gross Indecency. Ghafir would like to thank his wonderful donors Doug & Patty Bradbury and Bruce & Ann Bachmann for their warmth and endless support. Ghafir dedicates this season to his mother.
	John Cabrera is from Long Island where he earned his B.F.A. from Adelphi University. He has worked extensively with The Long Island Shakespeare Festival; appearing as Caliban in The Tempest, Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet, Baptista in The Taming of the Shrew, Oliver in As You Like It and Conrade in Much Ado About Nothing. John also studied acting at Suffolk County Community College where his credits include Harlan in Heathen Valley, Mr. Katz in The Hot L Baltimore and Don in Boys’ Life. During his time at SCCC, John performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC as a national finalist’s scene partner in the Irene Ryan Scholarship auditions. He had previously been named Best Scene Partner at the regional level.
	Kirstin Franklin, hales from colorful Colorado and received her B.A. in theater from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Kirstin has performed at numerous regional theaters including: The Guthrie, Pangea World Theater and Actors Theatre of Louisville where she was an Acting Apprentice. At ATL Kirstin performed in multiple shows including: A Christmas Carol and in the Humana Festival's premier of Uncle Sam's Satiric Spectacular, playing a role that she reprised 4 months later at the NY Fringe Festival. Kirstin also called New York City home for two years where she worked with several theater companies. You might have seen Kirstin on the Mertz stage last year when she performed as an understudy in Equus. Kirstin wholeheartedly thanks her ever supporting and loving husband John, along with her wonderful family and her amazing donors: Carol, Jim, Bob, Pat, Carol & Mort!
	Sarah Gavitt was born and raised in Iowa where she also graduated from Grinnell College. She has been seen on stages in Chicago, New York, and Kentucky, and has performed in such diverse works as The Medieval Cycle Plays, Keely and Du, Arcadia, and Mileep & the Attack of the Jelly Bean People. Her play Grave, which she directed in New York at American Globe Theatre/Turnip Theatre Festival, was published in Smith and Kraus's The Best 10 minute Plays of 2006. Most recently, Sarah was seen playing Juliet in Romeo & Juliet at the Asolo.
	Hannah Rose Goalstone hails from the Colorado Rockies, and after receiving her BA from Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, worked in Chicago’s theatre scene for five years. Hannah trained at the National Theatre Conservatory summer 2006, the Moscow Art Theatre, USA, and was an apprentice at NYSF. Hannah would like to thank her wonderful parents and sister, and amazing donors Warren and Margo Coville, and Ted and Jean Weiller for the love and support they give her, and the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for this wonderful opportunity.
	Alexandra Guyker, originally from Washington DC, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Niagara University with a BFA in Theatre Performance and minors in Communications and Fine Arts. At Asolo Conservatory she went on as understudy for the Nurse in Equus and a Maid in The Playʼs the Thing. She also played Angelique in the Late Night Performance of The Imaginary Invalid. A student of classical voice, she has taken workshops with the Washington Opera Center, Richard Crittendon, and Elizabeth Vrenios. Other interests include photography, digital art, and stand-up; and she is currently a voice over student at John Burr Productions.
	Peter Mendez has acted in the Washington D.C. area at: The Shakespeare Theatre, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Round House Theatre, Everyman Theatre, The Olney Theatre Center for the Arts and The Wolf Trap Opera Company. Last May he directed and produced Amiri Baraka’s The Slave with the Shepherd University Student Theatre. Special thanks to the late Foster Harmon, Angel and Eric Hissom for their generosity and support.
	Nissa Perrott, a native of Massachusetts, is thrilled to take the Cook stage this season. Her recent credits include Fuddy Meers (Claire), Gum (Auntie), and Big Love (Thyona) all at UMass Amherst where she received her BA summa cum laude in theater. She has been seen at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Chester Theatre Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and The Great River Shakespeare Festival, as well as studied in Russia at the Moscow Art Theatre School. She would like to send endless love to her family and eternal thanks to her generous donor, Esther Mertz, for her passion and support in her educational endeavors and her lifetime commitment to this theatrical community.
	Kevin Stanfa is a proud second year student in the Asolo's Conservarotory for Actor Training. Recent credits include Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio, Et al.) on the Asolo Rep loading dock and a performance of original work with last year’s Food for Love Late Night, while also understudying the role of Alan Strang in last year’s successful run of Equus on the Mertz Stage. Before coming to Florida, Kevin spent some time in New York where he had the opportunity to work on a new play (Veritas) being developed for the stage in conjunction with Columbia University. Kevin holds an Honors Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Utah. Professional credits include The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare and Company), Julius Caesar and Cyrano de Bergerac (Pioneer Theatre Company). Favorite credits from his undergraduate years include Three Sisters (Tuzenbach), Richard III (Many Roles) and Table Manners (Tom). While in Salt Lake City, Kevin also had the distinct opportunity to be the only man in a series of VDAY Charity productions of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues in which he performed more original work. He would dearly like to thank his generous sponsors Walker Croskey and Jim Goddard, as well as Emily Levine, her daughter Anne and Emily’s late, wonderful husband, Larry Levine. Lastly and mostly he would like to thank his mother, “Without whom none of my work, my dreams and my life would be possible. Thank you so very much. I don’t say it a lot, but my love for you is infinite.”
	Bethany Weise is a native of Illinois and a graduate of Bradley University where she received a B.S. in Fine Arts with a major in Theatre Performance. This past year, she was seen in the FSU/Asolo Conservatory Late Night series of The Imaginary Invalid. Favorite performances include, Circe, The Odyssey; Bridget, Translations; Holly, Anton in Show Business; and Joanne, Company. Bethany has had the privleage of collaborating with Kostas Kastanis of the Greek National Theatre on a production of Oedipus, as well as Chuck Davis of the African-American Dance Ensemble, and the Dell'Arte International Players. She is thrilled to be able to share the Cook Theatre with her supportive and talented classmates this year. Bethany would like to thank her family for their unconditional support and pure love; as well as her warm and lovely donors, Robert and Beverly Koski.