Left Hip Productions

Diamando Stratakos is happy to be one of the founders of Left Hip Productions. In addition to the 38 ten minute plays she has co-produced with her co-workers from Left Hip, she has also produced multiple other shows in Manhattan, Queens, Ithaca (Kitchen Theatre Company), Syracuse (Up & Running Productions Co-Founder), and Athens, Greece (Theatro Argo). She received her BFA in Acting from Syracuse University. Her work on stage has most recently been seen at the Players Theatre, the Gene Frankel Theatre, and the 45th Street Theatre. Her aim is to create theatrical experiences utilizing as many forms of artistic expression as possible. She wants to create an environment where artists can thrive. She is very thankful for the opportunity to spread her creative wings.

Bob Teague is at various times an actor, director, playwright, stagehand and producer. His recent New York City efforts include having three of his short plays --  "Two in the Chamber", "Nerve Damage" and "Going Over" performed. He stage managed "Try, Try Again" for Tap Monkey Productions and ULU Theatre's production of "Pizza Man" for the Midtown International Theatre Festival. His recent directing credits include "Don't Call It Returning," "Congoja", "The Amaranthine Thread" and "Nikita" by Rosebud Ben-Oni, "Odd Jobs" by Jennifer Marvel, "Four Dry Tongues" by Alex Dremann, "For Your Amusement" and "The Ubi" by Katharine Henner, "The Elephant. in the Room is Feeding the Ducks" by Kimberly Shelby-Szyszko, "Count Down the Thunder" by John Bolan and  "If You See Something, Say Something" by Cindy Kawasaki. His recent New York stage acting credits include "Max" in "The Corridor" by Matjaz Zupancic and "Mike" in "Good Night, Sleep Tight. Don't Let the Flesh-Eating Demon Babies Bite" by Terrence Brennan And Shipley Horst in "Quimera of the Storm" by Rosebud Ben-Oni and several short films.

Bob is often amazed at what a group of dedicated people can create. That's why he's so proud to be a member of Left Hip Productions. Those people amaze him constantly.

Leah is so glad to be a part of LHP.She has found a second family and they are some of the most amazing and talented people in this city.Thank you for everything. NY credits include: Jersey Intersections (59E59, Primary Stages), The Taming of the Shrew (The Queens Players), Vamp of a New Generation (Roy Arias), Intimate Strangers (45^th Street Theatre), Utah (Gene Frankel Theatre), Third (Kraine), Imaginary (Urban Stages). Regional: The Sugar Syndrome, Wasp, The War in the Garden (Williamstown); Cinderella (Windy City Players). Studied at Circle in the Square Theater, Einhorn School of Performing Arts at Primary Stages, and Florida State University.

Jamie fell in love with live performance at a very young age.  As the youngest of three children and the only girl, she was destined to crave attention.  Plus she was always the loudest person in the room, so the stage just seemed right.  After growing up, and receiving her BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Miami, followed by an MA in Performance from Goldsmiths College, University of London, Jamie has found many more reasons to love theatre.

She has performed as an actor, dancer and improviser in many venues around New York City, including Manhattan Theatre Source, Dixon Place, 45^th Street Theatre and New World Stages, where she made her off-Broadway debut in The Vagina Monologues.

Left Hip Productions has given her the amazing opportunity to not only perform, but also to produce, direct, and promote, learning many sides of theatrical production while collaborating with a wonderfully talented and devoted group of artists.  It is an honor to be a Left Hippie.

SHANNON BECK is dancing with joy as a Left Hipper!  As a performer and choreographer, she graduated from the University of Maryland with a BA in Dance.  While at UMD, Shannon studied and performed works under Pearson/Widrig, Alyssa Clark, Alexander Gish, among others.  She has also performed at the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Since moving to New York, Shannon can be seen in various student and independent films, including Rainbowarrior by Tina Romero.  She has participated in various theater workshops around NYC, most notibly the From The Hip series.  She has performed at the Merce Cunningham Studios with HanleyDance (comfort...) and made her NYC choreographic debut with "la vie en ville" during Left Hip's May 2010 Hip Festival. Shannon looks forward to continuing collaboration with fellow artists, and exposing different communities to new and exciting art!

Leo Mendoza is extremely happy to be a part of Left Hip, and really feels lucky that he joined up with them almost instantly after moving here. He has completed a multitude of training centers and curricula around Chicago and has since moved to New York to embark on another multitude of training centers and curricula. Recent improv credits include: Exit Strategy (NYC), Imaginary Friends (Chicago) and No Substitutions (NYC). Some recent theatre credits include Left Hip Productions' Love in an Elevator (NYC), Unity Stage's Six Cylinder Love (NYC), Artistic Home's Modigliani (u/s, Utrillo) (Chicago) and Garland Productions' Putman Transit (Chicago). Currently you can see him on select Friday nights at 10 PM as part of the hilarious "Wolf" in Magnet Theater's Circuit Show.

With a BA in Theatre arts from Cal-State University Northridge, Katherine Gordon is an aspiring actress from San Diego, CA and has been falling in love with NYC for two years.  As a performer inspired by all the creative aspects of theatre, she considers herself lucky to have been a part of Left Hip Productions since the first Shotgun Festival, later formed into 'From the Hip'.  Katherine has a passion for original theatre, believing that art should constantly be growing.  She is enjoying bettering herself as an artist and professional with Left Hip.  Stay tuned for all the upcoming creative projects produced by Left Hip.

Emily is a proud Left Hipper.  She is an actress and stand up comedian, performing all over the city, most recently at Caroline's on Broadway, Stand Up NY, and NY Comedy Club.  Some favorite stage roles in NY and regionally: Hattie in Laundry and Bourbon (Left Hip co-production), Emily in One (World Players Inc), Peggy in The Taffetas (Hemsley Theatre, summer stage).  As the Director of Education, Emily has been working hard to build Left Hip's Education and Outreach program which hit schools in February 2011.  Check out the Education page for more information.  Emily hails from Wisconsin, and has her BA in acting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Greg Moss has been a proud member of Left Hip Productions since 2009.  He currently serves as the Director of Production and Facility Management.  His play Paper Tiger was the winner of the "From The Hip" Festival in Central Park.  He has written and directed for several other "From The Hip" Festivals and his most recent directing effort, Man-Eaters, was a finalist in Left Hip's May Festival.  He is also an experienced improviser, having studied and performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, The Magnet Theater, The Peoples Improv Theater and many others. He is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and a lifelong New Yorker.

Ryan P.A. Walsh is a proud Left Hippie and cannot be happier to be working with such a talented group of theater-makers.  A graduate of Syracuse University Drama Department, he has been fortunate enough to meet and work with many fantastic actors, directors and playwrights in his time with Left Hip.  Some of his favorite roles have included Boolie in Driving Miss Daisy (Syracuse Stage), Jan Warwick in The Unexpected Guest (Westfield Playhouse), Steve the Gay Zombie in Humanity (Outside the Box Productions), Ray in Lone Star (Left Hip co-production), as well as several well-received turns in Left Hip's own "From The Hip" Festivals, including Harry in Dee Off The F, and the "From The Hip Central Park" Festival-winning play Paper Tiger, as The Ninja.  A skilled improv veteran and voice-over artist, he hopes to bring as much talent and ability as he can to Left Hip's exciting upcoming projects. 

Jason Lord-Surratt is a director, improviser and educator. He began his endeavors in improvisation in Syracuse, NY. He went on to study at Second City in Chicago, while performing in and co-conceiving independent work. He ran Warhorse, a series of improvisational workshops, creating and producing 3 shows, now under the umbrella of NewFormat Improvisation, which he founded. Long-form improv works conceived and directed by Jason include: Lady Liberty and 61 Dead Men, based on Aristotelian formulations of tragedy, as well as Subway Series and Grassroots Grazing. Selected directing credits include Brian Flowers for the Brooklyn Play Festival, and Vanities, I Stand Before You Naked, and The Heidi Chronicles in various NY theaters. Special thanks to Rebecca Lord, his loving wife!

Danika Wood is excited to be a founding member of Left Hip Productions. She came to this group after performing in the first Shotgun Theater Festival in both the winning play and the first runner-up. The winning play, "Monkey", was expanded by playwright Jim Tierney and produced by Diamando Stratakos and Jason Surrat at the Gene Frankel Theatre as the prize for winning the festival. It has since been re-mounted at the Producer's Club, and will be shown again at the end of August at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre. Danika has also been seen at the Flea Theater, Syracuse Stage, Hangar Theatre and Cortland Repertory Theatre. She received a BFA in acting from Syracuse University.