Lillian Ribeiro (_gaia member/Director) Lillian holds a BS in Marketing and Theatre Arts from Rutgers University. She is the founder of the performance aspect of _gaia, a collective of women artists that work actively to support and promote the creativity of local women. S he organized V-Day Hoboken 2004 & 2005 and directed Eve Ensler's Obie Award winning play, "The Vagina Monologues" as part of the V-Day Worldwide Campaign to help raise money and awareness to stop violence against women and girls. To this date, _gaia had raised close to ten thousand dollars towards local organizations helping to stop violence against women and girls.

Lara Buck (Host/Pedestrian) is proud and pleased to be involved in this production with all of these amazing women. She has been performing for many years, and is a member of the always hysterical HomeGroan Sketch Comedy Group. Originally from Wisconsin, she likes cheese, beer, and long walks on the beach... 

Diana K. Lee (The Vagina Workshop) has appeared in independent films such as "Alchemy" and "Crabapples." She has played the Cheshire Cat in "Alice in Wonderland" and the Wife of Bath in "The Canterbury Tales: Wife of Bath." Diana, a student of HB Studio, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in English and journalism. She is also a writer, artist and occasional comedienne who smells like a peach.   

Keiri Beth (Because He Liked to Look at it) is from San Jose, California, and has enjoyed becoming a New Yorker.  Keiri received her training from San Jose State University, American Musical Theatre of San Jose, and ACT in San Francisco.  She has performed in Hudson Shakespeare Company's "Gershwin in Love" and "Richard III" as Queen Elizabeth, the Slandered Queen.  Before moving to New York, Keiri toured with The Theatre of All Possibilities and Traveling Lantern Theatre, performing for children all over the country. Her favorite roles include Bianca in "Othello" at Guerrilla Shakespeare in San Francisco, Connie Wong in "A Chorus Line," and she especially loved dancing her butt off in an outdoor production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" in the gorgeous Forest Theatre in Carmel, California.  Keiri is very  proud to be a part of this beautiful production and is happy to add this to her list of favorite roles. 

Tere Martínez (Trenza Torcida) is a Puerto Rican actress and playwright who lives in New York City. Her two one-woman shows, When I Was Puerto Rican and Mi última noche con Rubén Blades have toured both the United States and Puerto Rico. Other acting credits include: Steinbeck's The Pearl, Lorca's A Poet in New York and Dario Fo's Isabel,Three Tall Ships and a Con Artist. Film credits include: The Mule.  Tere has written for the stage the trilogy: ¿Quiénes somos en esta América?, Agria…Tierra…Dulce, La Partida y El Regreso, Borinquen Vive en el Barrio and Time for a Song. Tere is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America. 

Nixzaliz Rojas (Trenza Torcida) has a B.A. in Media Arts from New Jersey City University. She worked as an assistant Producer for Urban Latina TV as well as radio stations; La Mega 97.1FM and 95.5FM WPLJ. Now she is an aspiring actress studing at Stella Adler Conservatory. She has enjoyed performing the second part of Trenza Torcida and being part of the Vagina Monologues. 

Sonia Torres (Trenza Torcida) has appeared in many television shows in the city, Law & Order, Sex and the City, and Third Watch,  She is a member of  the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, She has studied at Stella Adler, Herbert Berghof and The School for Film and Television 

Sabrina Perez is honored to be a part of this year's V-day production of the Vagina Monolouges.  As a Latina she is also greatful for the opportunity to perform Trenza Torcida (Crooked Braid) in Spanish, and thus be able to convey the message to those audience members who (like her own mother) do not speak English.

As a graduate of New Jersey City University with a degree in English/Theatre, Sabrina has performed in numerous plays, including "Blue Room", "Shadow Box", "Picnic", "Forum", "The Sucide", "Lovers and Other Strangers", and "Times & Appetites of Toulouse-Lautrec".   She has worked on several independent films, such as "My Brother", "The Demon Shells", "How To Make It In NY On $15 a Day", "Floyd", "The Foil"and been featured in various commercials including two for Mercedes Benz.  Sabrina would like to thank _gaia and everyone involved in this production for all their shared experiences, knowledge, love & support.  Lastly, she would like to dedicate her performance to her driving force and fountain of inspiration, her daughter Jolie Star. 

Milagros Rivera (Trenza Torcida/ The Memory of Her Face - Juarez [Understudy]) holds a B.A. in Theater from Marymount Manhattan College and has had extensive film and TV training from the School for Film and Television in NYC.  She has worked in all venues of acting from theatre, print,commercial, film and television in both Spanish and English.  For the past two years Milagros has had a working relationship with Yale Medical School filming training videos for their Media Department.   In addition, Milagros is a mom and a NYC school teacher.. 

Bridget Krauss (My Angry Vagina) is a Paralegal/ Writer/ Student/ Chef World Traveler devoted to stopping violence against women and will do whatever she can in her power for the rest of her life aiding this cause. 

Danielle Buynak (My Vagina Was My Village) just recently moved to NYC from Ohio, and is thrilled to be making her theatrical debut with The Vagina Monologues and Gaia.  She holds a BFA in Acting from Elon University where her credits include: The Crucible, Stones in His Pockets, Comedy of Errors, as well as several student films and independent productions, the most notable being the award-winning documentary, “Dying to Get In: Undocumented Immigration at the U.S./Mexico Border.”  Thanks to Brett, VACO and her family for their love and support.  Until the Violence Stops…

Rocio A. Mendez (The little Coochi Snorcher That Could) is an actor, born and raised in New York City. First staring in the theater at the age of five, Rocio has been trained at LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, Harlem School of the Arts, and the Classical Theater of Harlem.  Rocio also completed a bilingual actor/playwriting workshop for Ay Ombe's international theater companyin Santiago, Chile.  Although theater will always be the center ofRocio's career, she is also the founder and president of a new non-profit production company, 26A productions, to produce documentaries about artistic subcultures and underground artist of all kinds.  Being apart of this V-day production, to raise money for the fight to end violence against women and girls, is ideal to the kind of theater work Rocio believes in doing - using acting skill for social justice. 

Yesenia Fermin de Beutel (Mi Falda Corta) is honored to be performing in The Vagina Monologues and to help stop violence against women and girls. Being involved in V-DAY has been one of the most empowering and stimulating experiences of her life. Yesenia graduated from Rutger's University, where she majored in Criminal Justice and Sociology.  She currently works as a Family Preservation Counselor for Catholic Charities in which she helps to stop violence and preserve families. Yesenia was assistant organizer and co-director for V-DAY Hoboken 2004.  She has written, directed and choreographed Voices from the Past, Mascara Stained Tears and When Angels Cry.  Acting credits include La Cegua in Leyendas for the Spotlight on Halloween Festival, Lysistrata, a reading directed for the world-wide theatrical anti war movement Lysistrata Project, Silhouette, Path of Excess, and Black Elk Speaks. Yesenia directed a reading of Judy Klass' Missionaries for the Nine Muses quarterly reading series. 

Peggy Giglio (Reclaiming Cunt) was born and raised in Chicago and has lived in New York for 6 years.  After toying with theatre in college and studying for several years at a company in Chicago, she made a fateful first visit to the Big Apple and fell in love with the energy of the city.  Finally giving in to its allure, she made the big move and hasn't looked back.  She holds an undergraduate degree in Communications and a Master's Degree in Counseling and has worked for many years in the field of social services.  In addition to her "paying gigs" as a consultant at a software development company and a psychotherapist in private practice, Peggy squeezes in as much acting as she can manage.  Recent projects include a short film about the challenges of dating, and the role of a loving wife in an episode of a Japanese TV series.  Peggy is thrilled to be making her tri-state theatrical debut in benefit to V-Day. 

Belinda Bissonnette (The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy ) is a New Yorker who is proud and excited to be in Gaia's
production of The Vagina Monologues. While having performed in many
Off-Broadway shows Belinda now concentrates her career as a Screen Actor's
Guild member toward film and commercial work, including her most recent work
as the Featured dancer for the sixth season of H.B.O's The Sopranos. Belinda
performs weekly in NYC as a performance artist and dancer as well as persuing
her Doctoral studies in Philosophy while holding B.A. degrees in Psychology,
Philosophy, and Theology. She also wants to say thank you to her lovely
boyfriend Joshua James Clements for all his support.

Naava Piatka (I Was There In The Room) is an internationally acclaimed  actress/playwright/director and artist, Naava Piatka's professional theatrical career began at age 8 in her country of origin, South Africa, where she  appeared in cabaret shows with her actress mother.  Her professional life has been rich and varied, including working as director of several children's theatre workshops and private drama coach, writing,  directing and producing original musicals and plays, a seminar  presenter, a voiceover artist, public speaker, and an actress and playwright (best known for her compelling true life mother-daughter Holocaust related one-woman show: BETTER DON'T' TALK! which has won raves in Europe, South Africa, Australia and the USA) and artist, with paintings in collections worldwide.  Naava emigrated to the USA in 1977, living in the Boston area for over 2 decades. She recently moved to the New York area and currently resides in Cliffside Park, NJ.  Naava is the proud mother of three wonderful grown children who are her best creations.   For more about Naava, BETTER DON'T TALK! and her paintings, please visit:  www.naava.com  

Susan Kim (Say It): Regional Theatre: All My Sons, NY Theatre: 2004 NY ABC Talent Showcase, Uri/Nara and a Baby, Baby with the Bathwater. Film: 17 Down (Best Actress, Asian American Filmmakers Collaborative 64-Hour Shoot Out), Extras.  Graduate of Rutgers University and the William Esper Studio (NYC).  Thanks to Lillian and the rest of the cast for a wonderful experience.  And special thanks to Doris for asking me to be a part of _gaia. 

Nitika Nadgar (The Memory of her Face - Baghdad) started performing on stage as a dancer mostly in the classical form of Bharata Natyam.  She has trained at the Actors Center and the Atlantic Acting School.  She would like to thank _gaia, the state of NJ, and the vagina that gave her life for the opportunity to be a part of the worldwide brilliance that is V-DAY. 

Deborah Louise Ortiz (The Memory of Her Face - Islamabad) started her career as a dancer for THE NEW YORK GUYS AND DOLLS.  She studied acting for years and has performed in many wonderful productions such as SHOPHELL, THE ORTIZ of MOTT HAVEN, THE MIDNIGHT ZONE and THE GANGSTER DIARIES, just to name a few.  While Deborah has extensive film and theatre credits as a performer, it is in writing that she has found her true passion.  Deborah's play Dirty Laundry received wonderful reviews in Backstage and several online reviews. She has also written LOVE IN NEW YORK, HOW DO YOU KNOW? Which was co-written with Carlos Serrano and performed at The Symphony Space in New York City and Changing Violet, her one woman piece. Her most recent project her first musical PYE. Deborah is a partner in Dangerous Curves Productions (Dangercurves.com). The company is dedicated to helping women find their voices in theatre.  Deborah is proud to be a part of V-DAY. 

Elsy R. Schumann (The Memory of Her Face - Juarez) is a graduate from New Jersey City University with a Bachelor Degree in Sociology.  She works full time as a paralegal for Central Jersey  Legal Services Family Unit.  In this unit, she works closely with victims of  domestic violence.  She wishes to pursue a law degree and continue to do this  type of work.  She would like to thank Lilian and the rest of the Gaia crew  for allowing her to live this enlightening experience.  She is now a much  stronger and wiser woman. 

Malabika Das (Pedestrian 2) is a second-generation South Asian woman and has worked in the women's movement for nearly a decade.  Coming from a community development background, she has worked for housing and poverty initiatives for low income women in Chicago. In New York City, she is involved with a variety of organizations that work to end violence against women, increase sexual health knowledge and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in the South Asian community.  In India, she worked with an organization fighting for sex workers rights and increased HIV/AIDS awareness and education.  Being a survivor of violence herself, Malabika strives to bring justice, social and political awareness to issues facing women, here and abroad.  She currently works and is obtaining a Masters in Social Work at Columbia University and plans to continue her advocacy and activism for women's empowerment.  She is extremely honored to be involved in the Vagina Monologues and will cherish this experience forever.     

Marisol Tirelli (Painter/Happy and Not So Happy Fact), a Los Angeles native, graduated with her B.A. in Theatre from Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA in 2002. Since then, she did a year of graduate study in acting at the Actors Studio Drama School, has sung at various venues in NYC, and has developed a body of colorful acrylic paintings which she has displayed for the Long Island City Open Studios event in 2004 (http://solymarart.tripod.com).  Marisol is currently continuing her classical vocal training with a distinguished opera master, and lives in New Jersey with her wonderful fiancée, Michael and three cats, Socks, Cinderella, and Patches. 

Laura Bailey (Ensemble/ Understudy for "My Vagina Was My Village") received her BA in International Relations from Stanford University in 2003.  After spending the past two years living overseas in London and Bangkok, Laura has recently moved to New York to pursue acting.  She has been acting since high school and appeared in an independent film at the age of 16.  At Stanford, she appeard in over 10 undergraduate and graduate productions, including the V-Monologues.  The Vagina Monologues is her first New York production. 

Nikia Boone (Introduction/ Ensemble)was born and raised in the Chelsea section of Manhattan, New York. Nikia has been perfecting her craft as she states candidly "all my life". With no formal training and a hand full of plays and independent films under her belt, she decided to take classes at Creative Acting Company to hone her craft.  Since then she has worked one on one with various acting coaches and has nabbed roles in four independent films, two commercials and three plays, including a three year run with the off off Broadway production "Sex is more than a three letter word and 69 aint just a number".   

Tonye Briggs (Ensemble) has been a proud member of the theatre community in New Jersey and New York City for the past 6 years. Some of her theatre credits include: For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf, The Amen Corner, and Love's Labour's Lost. She has also appeared on Sex and the City, One Life to Live, As the World Turns and Law and Order: SVU.
Currently, Tonye is completing her graduate studies in Biomedical Engineering at NJIT and is looking forward to the next phase of her life. She dedicates this performance to all the women that have been left behind but not forgotten.

Carolyn Capaccio (Ensemble, Understudy "I Was There in the Room") a member of Blank Slate Theater Company, graduated from the William Esper Studio's Two-Year Meisner Professional Acting Program, studying with Terry Knickerbocker, Bill Esper and Nancy Mayans.  She is a student of the Williamson Movement Technique at the Actors Movement Studio, and studied the bel canto vocal method with John Albert Harris at The Singers Forum in New York.  New York theatre credits: Rhonda Louise in "Women of Manhattan", Patty in "Nurses", Bea in "Running Start", Woman 2 in "Baby with the Bathwater", "Announcer" in Love Story/Arranged Marriage (2002 Khoj Asian Theater Arts Festival).  Voiceover: Toys R Us on Disney Radio, Stormy Weather (Toy Blue Typewriter Production's "Say What"), Burittoville, Conair Jelly Rollers, Armitron Watches, and over 30 commercials and PSAs. Carolyn received a B.A. from Rutgers University in Research Biopsychology and earned a Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1995...but acting is better!  She is very honored to be in the presence of so many inspiring vaginas.  

Jennifer Moses (Ensemble) hails from wild wonderful West Virgina and recently received her MFA in Acting from West Virginia University (WVU) where she just ended a month long tour of the The Winter's Tale in which she played Hermione. After graduation, she made a big move to the big city (well, Hoboken, NJ to be exact) in order to pursue acting full-time. New York credits include: Spontaneous Combustion (Manhattan Theater Source); and The Last Straw (Wild Child Productions). Favorite WVU credits include: Casey in Anton in Show Business; Mrs. George in Getting Married; Olga in The Three Sisters and Regan in King Lear. Jennifer is excited to be a part of this wonderful cause. 

Ann-Marie Sepe (Introduction/Ensemble/Six-Year-Old Girl) is 22 from Newton, NJ. She currently is attending Montclair State University as a Junior. She has been performing since age nine in numerous productions as well as film.  She has played Frenchy in "Grease," Anytime Annie in "42nd Street," Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls," Vinnie in "Life with Father," Gladys in "Pajama Game," and many more. She just performed this past summer at Hershey Park in Hershey, PA as a dancer in, "Hollywood Dreams," and also did the Christmas show at Hershey in December of 2004. She has been in three independent films such as "Disorder," "Memories of the sixties," and "Squirrel." She was a member of the New Jersey Tap Ensemble for four years and also danced with Peyari dance company which was a modern dance company based out of Hoboken. She attended Ann Reinking's Broadway Theater Project in Tampa, Fl along with many other summer programs in New York City. Ann-Marie is so excited to be a part of the Vagina Monologues it is a show that she has always wanted to be a part of and is thrilled to finally be doing it. She would just like to thank her mother and father for all their unending support through life and her amazing sister who is always there no matter what.  

Jackie Shkreli (Ensemble/ The Memory of Her Face - Islamabad [Understudy]) is a New York native of Eastern European descent, Jackie started her theatrical career in her community church singing and dancing traditional Albanian folksongs.  Her talents lead her from multiple Shakespearean performances with her traveling drama classes, to the lead in her high school's production of Bye Bye Birdie.  Jackie took time off to attend college, receive a license in Cosmetology, and eventually relocated to Los Angeles to work for Dolce & Gabbana as an Account Executive. While there she studied acting with Tina Alexis and attended classes at Dream Works. Having conquered LA, she came home to start her own business. Now with the success of her business she is ready to fulfill her lifelong passion of acting. 

Christina Wright (Ensemble) has been involved in all aspects of the theatre for about 10 years, acting, directing, etc. She graduated from Rutgers College last year, with a double major in Theatre Arts and Women's Studies. She currently works at CESD Talent Agency, in the young talent division. Ultimately, Christina would like to open a feminsit theatre, which focuses on portraying women in a postive light. Thank you to everyone involved in the production- they are all amazing, strong women. Never forget the power of your dreams! 

Jennifer Visco (Stage Manger) This is Jennifer's third year working on the V-Day Worldwide Campaign with _gaia.  For the past two years, Jennifer performed "I Was There in the Room."  Working as Stage Manager has been a powerful experience for her.  In addition, Jennifer works full-time as a 4th grade teacher in Newark, NJ.  Jennifer thanks the cast of the extraordinary women for working so hard.  In addition she thanks all her friends and family for always supporting her ongoing effort to think outside the box. 

Jenna Ingham (Stage Manager) is delighted to be involved with _gaia and V-Day for the second year in a row, because being surrounded by so many wonderful vaginas is always an inspirational experience.  Past non-vaginal stage credits include assistant directing for Shakespearean productions such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Tempest, and she was proud to be a part of the production intern team for the Off-Broadway production of Fairy Tales of the Absurd.  Jenna also coordinated the special event at the Borders Bookstore in Rockaway, NJ for the talented singer-songwriter Charlotte Martin's very first in-store performance.  In addition to bookselling, Jenna is an aspiring writer and phlebotomist. 

Kate Mitchell (Costume Designer).  Having followed her career all over the country, Kate has finally settled in New York and is working as the drapery shop manager for I Weiss, designing costumes as time and opportunities allow.  Prior costume design credits include Into the Woods and Anne Frank and Me for City Lights Youth Theatre, Side Show for the Weathervane Theatre in New Hampshire, Macbeth for the Human Race Theatre in Dayton Ohio, Luke's Father and the Sled for Butler University in Indianapolis, and Hedda Gabler at Franklin College in Indiana, among others.  Movie credits include (okay, are limited to) When Boys Become Monsters and The Death of Noir. 

Nancy Amirati Ghani (V-Day Union City Organizer) holds a B.A. in
Communication from Douglass College and is a founding member of _gaia studio where she enjoys writing and exploring her photographer?s eye. Nancy has been involved with V-Day for the past two years as a dedicated ?vagina volunteer? and was nominated to be the organizer for this year?s V-Day Union City since the mere
act of organizing can bring her to happy tears.  Nancy is happy to have
dedicated much of her time towards V-Day where she has been able to meet
incredible woman and men committed to help stop violence against women and
girls. 

Patty Rodrigues (Stage Manager)This is Patricia’s first year helping with V-Day and working as a stage manager for “The Vagina Monologues” with _gaia.  She feels privileged to have had the opportunity to work with such amazing women because of her involvement with the group she is inspired more than ever to be a better and more powerful vagina. Aside, from helping with the production, she
works full time as a legal assistant in a law firm.