BlackBlade

Arif Silverman (Writer, Sound Designer, Borozin Sartrum / Felix Regikal) is an actor, writer, and teacher living in NYC. He is the curator of the Black Artists' Matter series at Dixon Place, an online variety series that features work from Black Artists across the country. He makes music under the moniker Drill Bit, which can be found on Spotify, SoundCloud and Bandcamp. In addition to THE TITAN CYCLE, he wrote a children's musical called THE STRAY which premiered at the 14th Street Y in the fall of 2019. He has three solo plays which have been performed across the country - most recently, his play GALAHAD AND THE DRAGONS earned him the Emerging Artist Award at the BorderLight Festival in Cleveland in the summer of 2019. He currently teaches theater at a private school in New York. @arifallgall arifsilverman.com

Lillian Wooten White (Director) is a director and deviser of new performance, currently living out of her suitcase with collaborations in New York, North Carolina and Lima, Peru. She recently directed Arif Silverman's solo performance GALAHAD AND THE DRAGONS at HERE Art Center and Dixon Place in New York and the BorderLight International Theatre Festival + Fringe in Cleveland. She directed STUFF HAPPENS and an original adaptation of PETER PAN AND WENDY for Burning Coal Theatre in Raleigh and has directed site-specific plays on Governor's Island, a backyard in Queens and a rural schoolhouse in South Carolina. She served as Associate Director at Oberlin Drama at Grafton (OH) where she created theatre with an ensemble of incarcerated men. Lillian is a
Julie Taymor World Theatre Fellow with a focus on Peruvian performance. lillianwootenwhite.com

Nadim Silverman (Illustrator) is an illustrator, writer, and musician. He was formerly part of the South Asian American folk sensation known as Maastricht Animal -- a band that blew people's minds BOTH times they performed. He has worked as an animation writer (Baboon Animation), an editorial assistant (Oxford University Press/Macmillan), in public radio (NYPR/ WNYC), and is currently Soho Rep's head of marketing. @nadimsilverman

Angelica Sumner (Vaghinra Thune) is a multifaceted creative based out of NC. Much of her career has been spent on the stage in various plays and musicals. As a graduate of CCNY, her interests have shifted into producing, directing and writing. Her latest projects include a burlesque show, a solo show on the Marquis De Sade, and a few theatrical adaptations of children’s books. She is so thrilled to be joining the cast of BLACKBLADE as Vaghinra Thune to bring this incredible story to life!

Lynda Cortez (Lu) is over the moon to make their debut at the Dixon Place in their first radio play! They are a recent graduate from Webster Conservatory with a BFA in Acting. Some favorite roles include Ismene in ISMENE, Millie in PICNIC (Webster Conservatory), and Dad in KNUFFLE BUNNY: A CAUTIONARY MUSICAL (Southern Rep). In their spare time, they enjoy drawing and playing DnD over facetime with friends.

Katie Spurgin (Luna) is an actor, mover, and vocalist based in NYC, and is delighted to finally put her animal noises special skills to the test. She holds a B.A. in Theater from Oberlin College. EMC.

Ernest Emmanuel Peeples (Milo Regikal / Vaghnar) is an actor, writer, and model from Chicago, IL and based in Atlanta. With over a decade of performance experience, Peeples has been blessed to train and perform in multiple cities domestically and internationally. A few notable projects include the titular role in HAMLET in its historic Helsingør, Denmark; Cassio in OTHELLO (Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square); and Lu in the rolling world premiere of GHOST IN ATLANTA and St. Louis (Alliance Theatre & Metro Theater Company). Peeples has also studied with the British American Drama Academy at Magdalen College of Oxford University. Peeples remains committed to changing the perception of albinism in the media through his artistry and indebted to his friends, family, and God for their endless love and support. @eepeeples

Sierra Doss (Shiro Regikal) is a voice actor and visual artist in Chicago. She loves animation and striving to tell impactful stories with all of her work. Her mediums include vector art, photography, filmmaking, and writing. Fun fact: she's fluent in Spanish and plays three instruments!

Brandon Bogle (Akira / Leon Regikal) is a multi-disciplined Artist based in NYC. He has most recently worked as the Technical Director of the SoHo Playhouse in addition to being a cast member of ROLL WITH IT, a DnD screen capture, with Lizardfolk. BLACKBLADE has been an illuminating process and he is ecstatic to be a member of this High Fantasy and High Talent Cast.

Saima Huq (Sercir / Seraphine Regikal) is a playwright, director, actor and producer. She founded and ran Always Love Lucy Theatre, an independent theatre company that cast BIPOC actors in plays like Arthur Miller's DEATH OF A SALESMAN and Tennessee Williams' OUT CRY. Her first feature film KING LAHIRI, a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear, based on her stage play of the same name, will be released in Spring 2021.

Andre Sguerra (Fenrir) is a theatre, film, and voiceover actor based in NYC. Recent credits include Bear in OLD TURTLE AND THE BROKEN TRUTH (Rebel Playhouse), Arthur in AFTER THE BLAST (Lincoln Center LCT3), and Captain Alaborap in SPACE CADETS RADIO DRAMA, Seasons 1 and 2.

Katy Early (Singer of Sercir's Song) is a stage director, actor, and mezzo-soprano based in Brooklyn. Recent credits include acting in Rebecca Miller Kratzer's MFA production of THE THREE SISTERS at Columbia University; Santino DeAngelo's new play, THE OUTPOSTERS at The Tank in NYC; training with the Polish folk opera company, The Song of the Goat Theater; and directing Omar Najmi's new opera, EN LA ARDIENTE OSCURIDAD in the Boston area last fall. Katy is thrilled to be working with such fantastic collaborators in NYC, Boston, and beyond—like Arif and Lillian et al! She holds bachelor’s degrees in theatre and vocal performance from Oberlin College & Conservatory. katyearly.com