“We’re All Friends Here” Cast
Rachel Faison
Kristen
Rachel Faison is a New Orleans based actor and singer. She graduated from Bard College with a degree in theatre, and studied Shakespeare at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She enjoys work behind the scenes as well, having worked in costumes, props, as a stage hand, and a production assistant for four seasons on Blindspot (NBC). Rachel has also taught theatre at Luna Stage Company, working with children to write and perform their own original works. She can be heard on the podcasts Hot Drinks and Timestorm (Cocotazo Media).
Jenna
Cara is thrilled to be a new resident of Dark Valley—this is her first foray into the world of podcasts. A graduate of NYU (Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance), she is currently based in New York City. She calls musical theater home, and has many performing and directing credits to her name, from Shakespeare classics to new works by up-and-coming writers. Cara is also passionate about teaching voice and theater, running a successful vocal studio and working with young actors for the last 15 years. She can also be found on Instagram strumming the ukulele, cooking, and knitting.
Instagram: @carapicone
Mr. Hoffman
Gerrard James is a New York-based actor and just graduated from The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art with his Masters in Classical Acting. He is a proud recipient of the 2019-2020 Fulbright John Wood LAMDA Award.
He received his B.A. in Finance at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Before switching career paths to attend The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, he worked at JP Morgan Chase as a hedge fund trade analyst.
He has performed in: The Prodigal, Richard III, Funnyhouse of a Negro, Exposure, and also starred in the Clarence Brown Theatre’s production of Detroit ‘67 as Lank. Most recently, he starred in LAMDA’s production of King Lear as Lear.
Gerrard also graduated with his M.F.A. from the prestigious Actors Studio Drama School in May 2017.
Cole Whitmore
Zoe
Cole is a New Haven, CT newbie hailing from San Antonio, TX. By day, she manages a small business; by night, she trains as an aerialist and contortionist. Most recently, she played Eurydice, La Dame Blanche, and Fate Three in LOOM, a circus show she co-wrote that explored the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Other credits include work as an extra in Stop Loss (2008) and a particularly disastrous college run as Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's Macbeth. This is her first foray into podcasting, and she is honored to work alongside such talented artists. Cole can also be heard on Episode 2, The Hooded Man.
Dr. Ng
Si Chen is an Atlanta based actress and classical violinist and violist originally from New York. She has traded sarcastic barbs with Kumail Nanjiani and Dave Bautista in Stuber, starred in an episode of Storm of Suspicion, and toured the southeast with Sherna Phillips’ choreopoem. Over quarantine, she’s worked on virtual productions of Our Black Death for Occupy the Stage and A Safe Space for the SheATL Theater Festival. The short film, Fine., which Si starred in, is set to be released in early 2021 and tells the story of a victim of domestic abuse. Si has been classically trained in violin and viola since the age of 5 and has performed in orchestras at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and with a quartet at the Kennedy Center. Si has studied acting at the Alliance Theatre, improv at Dad’s Garage, and is signed with Atlanta Models & Talent.
Instagram: @si.jpg
Mark Zurek
Writer/ Director
Narrator
Mark Zurek is a Pennsylvania-born writer and performer whose credits include Kalino Kahananui on the Protean City Comics podcast, writing and acting in the award-nominated The Adventures of Harry Flynn radio drama, as well as several Shakespeare and contemporary stage roles. A graduate of King's College and Binghamton University with degrees in Mathematics, Mark has nevertheless pursued creative writing as a passion. Dark Valley is his first scripted podcast for whom he is the head writer and narrator.