Aisha Hamid is a Pushcart-nominated writer, poet, playwright, and filmmaker from Lahore, Pakistan. She completed her MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage from Northwestern University in 2025 and is presently a writer/director on a mini web series called Anxious Brown Girl. She was part of the inaugural Dramatists Exchange 2026 at the Goodman Theatre and is a Nicholl entrant. As a Pritzker Pucker Studio Lab fellow 2024, she wrote, directed and produced her debut short film, Ponytail (2024), that won the New Waves Grand Award at the New York Indie Shorts Awards 2025. Her stories explore neurodivergence, dysfunctional family dynamics, intergenerational trauma, and center the everyday lived experiences of brown women.

Alex Mallory recently directed the world premiere of Sadieh Rifai’s play THE CAVE for A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago (Jeff Nomination for Best New Work) and a touring, community-engaged production of MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE with The Metal Shop Performance Lab. She is an Ensemble Member with Avalanche and a director and educator for The Theatre School at DePaul University. In New York City, Alex directed and developed new works as Co-Artistic Director of Poetic Theater Productions and Director of Culture Project’s Women Center Stage Initiative. Her award-winning production of Takeo Rivera's choreopoem GOLIATH toured for seven years through New York and California. She holds an MFA in Directing from Northwestern University and a BA from Stanford University, where she received the Louis Sudler Prize in Creative Arts and the Sherifa Omade Edoga Prize for work involving social issues. She is a proud member of SDC, the national labor union representing professional stage directors and choreographers.

Hershey Suri is a director, actor, and producer based in Chicago, Illinois. She is a 2L studnet at the University of Chicago Law School. She grew up in San Diego, graduated from Pomona College with a B.A. in theatre and politics, and then moved to Chicago in 2021 to work in wrongful conviction and exoneration. While working as a paralegal, Hershey performed throughout the Chicagoland area in roles such as Mamma Mia! (Dominican Theatre), The Underground (Austin Lamewona), various productions with the Beautiful City Project (David Fiorello), and Becky, Witch Nurse of Salem (Shattered Globe Theatre). She is a 2023 Protege with Shattered Globe Theatre and launched her theatre company, Pop Up! Productions, in February 2024 — a theatre company that “pops up” in cities across the globe.

Her director credits include Next to Normal (South Asia Institute), And Tomorrow by Aly Lardner (Subtext Theatre), We Sent Her to the Sea by Maddie Powell(Freshly Brewed), and Love in the Time Of __ by Mantra (Adams Theatre Company). She has Artistic Directed Off-Broadway with Alexandria (Dixon Place).

Pop Up! Productions has produced multiple shows across Chicago and New York –– soon to expand to London. These shows include Next to Normal (Chicago - South Asia Institute), Madlibs Macbeth (Chicago - Borellis Pizza), How Ciggy Capri Came to Be (New York - Parkside Lounge), Alexandria (New York - Off-Broadway - Dixon Place), Chalo! (Chicago - Goodman Theatre), Chalo! - A DCASE Residency (Chicago - Chicago Cultural Center), and 1001 Nights (New York - Off-Broadway - La Mama).

She is an artistic associate with Shattered Globe Theatre, a 2024 Jeff Impact Fellow recipient, and a member of the Theatre Broadway Producers of Color class of 2026.

Karina Patel is a director and dramaturg originally from London, UK. She is the New Works Manager at Jackalope Theatre Company, where she recently directed THE DRESS UP PLAY by Juliet Kang Huneke. Karina has developed new work with Goodman Theatre, Writers Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, City of Chicago’s DCASE New Play Residency, The Understudy Chicago, The Story Theatre, Avalanche Theatre, Token Theatre, and more. Karina has served as an assistant/associate director at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Court Theatre, and the Repertory Theatre of St Louis. BA: Northwestern University.

MALIHA SAYED is thrilled to be joining Avalanche Theatre’s Next Draft series! She is entirely grateful for the opportunity to work with Aisha Hamid’s brilliant, hilarious words in a piece that calls close to home and identity. CHICAGO: Dhaba on Devon Avenue (Writers Theatre), Wish You Were Here (Remy Bumppo), A Lie of the Mind (Raven Theatre), Carousel (Music Theater Works), The Sondheim Tribute Revue & The Secret Garden (Theo), A Year With Frog and Toad (YPT Chicago), and Arabia, Arabia! (The Plagiarists). REGIONAL: Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical (Constellation Stage). TV: Deli Boys (Hulu). BFA Musical Theatre from Ithaca College. Represented by Gray Talent Group. malihasayed.com

Mantra (she/any) is an award-winning playwright, director, and comedian from Bangalore, India. As an actor, she was recently seen at A Red Orchid Theatre, Second City, Token Theatre/Pop-Up Productions, Shattered Globe, and Otherworld Theatre. She is the 2026 Jeff Impact Award fellowship recipient and a past Victor Wong Fellow at the Second City. You can see her sketch-theatre collective 'Women Off-Colour' performing this summer at Steppenwolf's LOOKOUT series and The Second City. You can also see her doing stand-up comedy on any given week all over Chicago! B.A Northwestern University. Instagram: @_x.tra

Matt Schutz is a playwright and actor currently based in Chicago. His play .PDF Preferred was included in PlayGround-Chicago's Best of Chicago production. Most recently, his play windows was selected as the winner of PrideArts! Queery Workshop and will receive its world premiere in 2026. He has developed plays with the University of Iowa, Intrinsic Theatre, the Pride Arts Center, and Inkwell Theater.

Maya Kumar is a professional Chicago-based actor. Maya is a recent graduate of Northwestern University’s Theatre program with a double major in Political Science. At her time in university, she was in a plethora of productions both as an actor and as a stage manager. Since graduation, she has been involved in many industrials, short films, and staged readings. Maya was recently in a production of How to Defend Yourself by Liliana Padilla as Nikki. She is so grateful to the Avalanche team, Aisha, and the cast for including her in this beautiful play and workshop process!

Preeti Thaker is an actor originally from the suburb of Wheaton, Illinois. A classically trained Indian vocalist and dancer from a young age, Preeti’s cultural pursuits have always been central to her as an artist. Notable Chicago credits include Wish You Were Here (Remy Bumppo Theatre) Georgiana & Kitty: A Christmas at Pemberley (Northlight Theatre), Dance Nation (Steppenwolf Theatre), The Lady from the Sea (Court Theatre) and The Moors (A Red Orchid Theatre). TV credits: Deli Boys. Preeti is a 2018 alumni of the prestigious School of Steppenwolf and is gratefully represented by Stewart Talent.

Rukmini Girish is a writer, performer and arts administrator from Chennai, India. She earned an MFA in Nonfiction from Columbia College Chicago, participated in artEquity’s 2022-23 BIPOC Leadership Circle and received fellowships from Lambda Literary and the Luminarts Cultural Foundation. She's performed with Piven Theatre Workshop and Definition Theatre, and tells stories around town, most often with 2nd Story. Right now, she is exploring how to build an artistic and leadership practice that is sustainable and grounded in genuine connection.

Yourtana Sulaiman (she/her) is an Iraqi-Assyrian actor based in Chicago. Recent credits include: Top Girls (Raven Theatre), Wish You Were Here (Remy Bumppo), Iraq But Funny (Lookingglass Theatre),Little Women (Northlight Theatre), Happy Days Are Here Again (Steep Theatre), NBC’s Chicago Fire and more. Yourtana is currently represented by Gray Talent Group. @yourtana on instagram for more shenanigans.