The 2x4 Bash Team
Who We Are
Michael Alvarez
Program Coordinator
Michael’s directorial work has been seen internationally at Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End, Arcola Theatre, Westminster Library, Royal Academy of Music, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Institute of Contemporary Arts and the British Museum. He was a guest director at the Brighton Festival and the National Theatre of Lljubjana, Slovenia. In New York, he was recently a Director with the prestigious Civilian's R & D Group, has developed work with the New York Theatre Workshop, Drama League, Hook and Eye Theatre, New York Musical Theatre Festival, The Center at West Park, and Gallery Players, amongst others. Regionally, he has directed at the Serenbe Playhouse and Hangar Theatre. Most recently, he directed a interactive virtual performance with Echo Theatre in Los Angeles and this summer will be directing a workshop of a new play with Leviathan Lab in New York. Michael is an alumnus of the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, 2017 Drama League Directing Fellow, and was a recent 2050 Directing Fellow at New York Theatre Workshop. Additionally, he has several years teaching experience. He is also the founder and artistic director of the production company, The Muse Collective. He holds a BA (Hons) form the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and an MFA from California Institute of the Arts.
Heather Ostaara-Nelson
Program Facilitator
Heather is a 20-year veteran of The Western Stage, whose multi-faceted involvement with the company includes internal administrative operations such as marketing and public relations, Young Company and SpringFEST instructor, choreographer, and a consistent member of the acting company. As a former 2x4 BASHer, Heather is excited to circle back to the program as a mentor.
Zalissa Johnson
Stage Mangement
Zalissa has been working with Stage Management at TWS, off and on, for the last 22 years and is excited to be participating with 2x4 for the first time. When she is not working backstage or calling a show, Z spends her time managing people in coffee shops. She is looking forward to working with the production and tech students in the 2x4 program.
Peter Gray
Playwright of Starcrossed
Peter Gray has studied Buddhism on a North Carolina goat farm, philosophy in the ruins of Socrates' jail cell, and fairy tales in Copenhagen. He was a 2019 MacDowell Fellow, developing a series of modern day closet dramas designed to be read aloud at home. He has also held residencies with One Company, developing a musical about 1970s baseball, and d’arts et de reves, developing a Becketian exploration of clowns, magicians, and birthday parties. At Yale University, Peter helped devise Zero or More Disposable Lessons, a theatrical piece in conversation with the work of Polish theater director and visual artist Tadeusz Kantor, which premiered at La Mama in New York and toured Poland. His most recent productions of his work include Love, Medea in New York and a virtual production of Salem: Post-Mortem with The Muse Collective. This summer The Muse Collective will present his newest comedy, The Karens. He will be an upcoming Fellow at Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart, Germany.
Peter is a graduate of Yale University.
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Melissa
Chin-Parker
Artistic Director-Interim, The Western Stage
Mel is TWS' Artistic Program Director and currently, Interim Artistic Director. Creating opportunities for artistic and personal growth is what makes her "tick", and getting to have a hand in refreshing TWS' 11 year-old BASH is what makes her work most satisfying. Mel is excited to peek in on things as they develop, and she looks forward to seeing where you take the program!