LIVE FROM THE EDGE

UNIVERSES is a national Ensemble Theater Company, of multi-disciplined writers and performers of color, who fuse theater, poetry, dance, jazz, hip hop, politics, down home blues and Spanish boleros to create moving, challenging and entertaining works for the stage. The group breaks the traditional theatrical bounds to create its own brand of theater. Founded in The Bronx, New York in 1995, the members of UNIVERSES came together in the urban poetry and music scene of the late 1990s; quickly moving through the “down town” performance scene to built a home for themselves in American Theatre. In their 24 years, UNIVERSES has performed at venues throughout the United States and toured extensively worldwide.

Asia Mark (She|They) is an interdisciplinary artist from Detroit, MI. BFA: Theatre Performance (Western Michigan University) Asia seeks to tell diverse stories through directing, photography, writing, music and theatre. As a member of UNIVERSES Theatre Ensemble and the Co-Resident Teaching Artist of The Acting Ensemble at The Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, Asia is excited about bringing new work and experiences into the American Theatre. They are passionate about using various art forms to spread light, artistry and love. As a director and teaching artist, she is excited to simultaneously be a part of and support the next generation of theatre artists that will shape the American Theatre to reflect our reality. Acting credits Include: Oregon Shakespeare Festival: UniSon (Robert O’Hara – The Apprentice), Shakespeare In Love (Christopher Liam Moore – Lady in Waiting / Ensemble), Julius Caesar (Shana Cooper – Artemidorous / Ensemble); AmeriCUS (Joan
Herrington-Playwright/Sunny); OSF PlayOn/Shakespeare In Detroit’s Twelfth Night (JaMeeka Halloway – Viola); Hook & Eye Theatre’s She She She (Off, Off Broadway – Cornelia); Ruined (Awoye Timpo – Josephine); Ameriville (UNIVERSES- Marie Laveau). Awards: NAACP ACT-SO National Gold medalist (Acting). Instagram: Asiamaybay

Actor at Shakespeare In Detroit; Actor/Writer at UNIVERSES; Actor at Idaho Shakespeare Festival; School Visit Tour – Actor at Oregon Shakespeare Festival; (FAIR) Audience Development Assistant in Marketing and Communications at Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Paraprofessional at Kalamazoo Public Schools. From Grand Rapids, Michigan

NSANGOU NJIKAM is an actor, playwright and Hip Hop Theatre artist originally from Baltimore, MD.  His writing credits include Syncing Ink, Re:Definition, When We Left parts 1 & 2, Freaky Dee, Baby, I.D., 21 STRINGS and he is one of seven writers of Hands Up: Seven Plays; Seven Testimonials.  Acting credits include Syncing Ink (Alley Theatre/Flea Theater), Re:Definition (LaMama), Henry V (Classical Theatre of Harlem), Deep Azure (Congo Square Theatre).  NSangou’s play Re:Definition (Hip Hop Theatre Festival reading) developed by Chadwick Boseman. His work in Hands Up has been performed around the country, including the 2021 production at The Alliance Theater. NSangou has also written for and collaborated with Grammy Award winner Common, specifically on his Audible.com project “BlueBird Memories”, the 2020 NBA All Star Game and the Audible interview series “Mindpower Mixtape.” NSangou’s latest piece, Freaky Dee, Baby, was recently performed at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. His Hip Hop Theatre play, I.D. (commission by Penn State University) premiered at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa.  NSangou is a member of the 2015 Emerging Writers Group at the Public Theater as well as a member of UNIVERSES. He received his BFA in Acting from Howard University. After tracing his African ancestry, he received his name from the Bamum King in Cameroon.  He is represented by A3 Agency.  He currently resides in New York City.

Sophia is an award winning Rock n Roll singer/songwriter. Her hard rock band Sophia’s Toy signed to Sony/Epic Records and toured extensively. Sophia was named “Best Undiscovered Artist” by VH1, and was awarded the Abe Olman Excellence in Songwriting from The National Academy of Popular Music.  She has collaborated with the likes of Metallica’s Jason Newstead, Joey Ramone, performed with an incredible variety of artists, who include Rod Stewart, Government Mule, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Jefferson Starship, Soundgarden and Big Brother and The Holding Company. Sophia is a veteran live and studio vocalist and voiceover artist whose talents you’ve heard in countless commercials and jingles.

Theater work includes PARTY PEOPLE created/produced by UNIVERSES Directed by Liesl Tommy. She went on to work with Liesl Tommy in Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of Macbeth, and Huntington Theater production of Top Girls. Live From the Edge UNIVERSES, City Theatre Pittsburgh, The Tattooed Lady at PTC.

Mildred Ruiz-Sapp is a co-founder/core member of UNIVERSES Theater Company. Playwriting/Acting credits include: AmericUS; UNISON; PARTY PEOPLE; AMERIVILLE; The Denver Project; One Shot in Lotus Position; BLUE SUITE; RHYTHMICITY; SLANGUAGE; THE RIDE. Acting-only credits include: DJ Latinidad; The Comedy of Errors; The Unfortunates; Alfred Jarry’s UBU: Enchained. Director: The Tempest. Filmmaker credit: Rising (2022 Smithsonian and Ashland Independent Film Festival). Awards/Affiliations: 2020 Andrew W. Mellon Foundation National Playwright Residency Program recipient; 2015 Doris Duke Performing Artist Award (Theatre); Oregon Shakespeare Festival Acting Company Member ( 2012-2017) and Ensemble in Residence; 2008 U.S. Cultural Ambassador w/ the U.S. State Dept./Jazz at Lincoln Center – Rhythm Road Tour; 2008 TCG Peter Zeisler Award; 2006 Career Advancement Fellowship from the Ford Foundation through Pregones Theater; 2002-2004 and 1999-2001 TCG National Theater Artist Residency Program Award; BRIO Awards (Bronx Recognizes its own-Singing); Co-Founder of The Point CDC; Former Board Member (National Performance Network – NPN) and (Network of Ensemble Theaters-NET); New York Theatre Workshop Usual Suspect; BARD College, BA ’92 (Literature/Language). Publications: SLANGUAGE in The Fire This Time (TCG Books); BLUE SUITE in The Goodman Theatre’s Festival Latino – Six Plays (Northwestern University Press); PARTY PEOPLE in The Manifesto Anthology (Rain City Projects- Fall 2014); Featured on the covers of American Theatre magazine 2004 and The Source Magazine 2000. Member: Actors Equity Association (AEA).

Steven Sapp is a co-founder/core member of UNIVERSES Theater Company. Playwriting/Acting credits include: AmericUS; UNISON; PARTY PEOPLE; AMERIVILLE; The Denver Project; One Shot in Lotus Position; BLUE SUITE; SLANGUAGE; RHYTHMICITY; THE RIDE. Acting-only credits include: The Comedy of Errors. Directing-only credits include: Serious Money; Thanksgiving Play; Fireflies; Passover; SWOPERA; Metamorphoses; The Seven; Alfred Jarry’s UBU: Enchained. Awards/Affiliations: 2020 Andrew W. Mellon Foundation National Playwright Residency Program recipient; 2015 Doris Duke Performing Artist Award (Theatre); Oregon Shakespeare Festival Acting Company Member (3 Seasons:’12-‘14); 2008 U.S. Cultural Ambassador w/ the U.S. State Dept./Jazz at Lincoln Center – Rhythm Road Tour; 2008 TCG Peter Zeisler Award; 2002 TCG National Directors Award; 2002-2004 and 1999-2001 TCG National Theater Artist Residency Program Award; 1998 and 2002 BRIO Awards (Bronx Recognizes its own-Performance); Van Lier Fellowship w/ New Dramatists; Co-Founder of The Point CDC; New York Theatre Workshop Usual Suspect; BARD College, BA ’89 – Theater. Publications: SLANGUAGE in The Fire This Time (TCG Books); BLUE SUITE in The Goodman Theatre’s Festival Latino – Six Plays (Northwestern University Press); PARTY PEOPLE in The Manifesto Anthology (Rain City Projects- Fall 2014); Featured on the covers of American Theater Magazine 2004 and The Source Magazine 2000. Member: Actors Equity Association (AEA)