Angel
Dana Stringer
Dana L. Stringer is an Atlanta-based playwright, poet, screenwriter, teaching artist, and instructor with a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles. She is a Cave Canem fellow and an associate artist at Out of Hand Theater. Her most recent play, The Line, was an Ethel Woolson Lab selection for development and a staged reading at The Balzer Theater (2023).
Her plays, staged readings, and dramatic monologues have been produced by True Colors Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, The Billie Holiday Theatre, Out of Hand Theater, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Vanguard Repertory, Black Theatre Network, Ain’t I a Woman Playfest, Blue Pearl Theatrics, National Black Theatre Festival, Fade to Black Play Festival, MoJo Fest, Coleman; Smith Artistic Company, and NAACP 10-Minute Play Festival.
Dana is the author of the chapbook In Between Faith. Her poems are published in anthologies as well as literary journals like the African American Review and Obsidian: Literature; Arts in the African Diaspora.
She is a member of the Dramatists Guild.
Geoffrey D. Williams
Geoffrey D. Williams is a seasoned actor and director based in Atlanta, Georgia, with a career spanning over three decades in theater, film, and television. His diverse portfolio includes roles in major productions such as Black Widow (2021), 90 Minutes in Heaven (2015), The Leisure Seeker (2017), and the AMC series Lodge 49 (2018). On television, he has appeared in acclaimed series like Atlanta, NCIS: New Orleans, and Dynasty.
Williams's deep roots in the Atlanta theater scene, including a tenure with Atlanta Theatre from 1999 to 2012, reflect his commitment to live performance and storytelling
Jeilianne
Jeff Hathcoat (He/Him)
After living and performing in NYC for almost a decade, Hathcoat moved back home to Atlanta in 2018. That year, he made his Atlanta debut at Synchronicity Theatre, followed by an appearance with Essential Theatre, and has continued his artistic journey here ever since. He also is the Associate Director and Production Manager for Yellowhammer Theatre Group, which is based in Atlanta, GA and Selma, AL. YTG focuses expressly on bringing theatre performance and arts education opportunities to Alabama’s Black Belt.
Look for Jeff at Aris Theatre this fall in their production of The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter. A huge thanks to the artistic team at Out of Hand for including him in this vital project! Atlanta credits: Nell Gwynn (Synchronicity Theatre), Slaying Holofernes, Outrage Machine, Very Special Hospital (Essential Theatre) Plan-B, A Shy Redemption (SheATL) NYC credits: Julius Caesar (Shakespeare in the Park), Cabaret (Secret Theater) All The President's Men? (The Public Theater), Measure for Measure (Mercury Glass Theatre).
Marcie Rendon
Playwright for Out of Hand’s original short play: Ancestral Reckoning. This is one of four key plays written for Out of Hand Dinner’s “We Hold These Truths” program — a way to look back at 250 years of the United States of America through the lenses of various identities.
Melissa Simmons
Melissa is an Atlanta based director, playwright, producer and lifelong theatre artist. She loves theatre so much she founded her own production company, MerryCat Productions, in 2022. MerryCat strives to adapt classic works of literature for the stage, through a queer, postmodern, movement based approach.
Michelle Stover (she/her)
Michelle is an Atlanta based performer, choreographer, and teaching artist. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brenau University with a BFA in Musical Theatre and University of North Georgia with an AA in Theatre Arts, and was an Acting Apprentice at Actor's Express from 2024–25.
When she is at work, Michelle is all about positivity and collaborating with her fellow artists. Learning and performing are her two greatest passions, and she is always looking for ways to stretch.
In her free time, Michelle can be found sipping matcha lattes around Atlanta, reviewing movies on LetterBoxd, listening to aggressive elevator jazz, and referring to herself in third person.
Nikki Young
Nikki is a writer/director/actor and creative producer (Nikkiyo Films). She's a passionate dog mom, auntie, and Steeler fan. She finds peace on the yoga mat and the beach.
Reed Willard (he/him/his)
Reed is a Virginia native, is thrilled to be working with Out of Hand on meaningful plays and productions that inspire positive social change. Reed and his small family relocated to Atlanta in 2024 after a four year stint in Asia, where he performed as the main villain, "Deacon," in the Waterworld Stunt Show at Universal Studios Singapore. Before that, he greeted guests as the Hogwarts Express "Conductor" in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan. Reed is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and has made co-star appearances in multiple TV shows (Will Trent, Almost Paradise, American Detective), films (Carved, Party USA), and commercials.
Theatre is his passion and he has performed in dozens of productions around the country. Favorite roles include Roland in Constellations, Freddy in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Brendan in The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Cowboy in I'm Not Rappaport, and Sancho in Man of La Mancha. Special thanks to the wonderful writers, directors, and production team at OOHT. And nothing he does would be possible without the support of his loving wife, Khezz, and his beautiful daughter, Melly - thank you both for your relentless love and inspiration!
Ryan Oliveti (he/him)
Ryan is the current Marketing Director at Theatrical Outfit, and the Out of Hand Director for Faded Dreams, one of four original plays by Out of Hand for the “We Hold These Truths” program.
Additional directing credits include Slow Food (Theatrical Outfit); ART, Charlotte's Web, The Secret Garden (Serenbe Playhouse); A Nice Family Christmas (Stage Door Players). Select Assistant Director credits: Candide, Warrior Class (Alliance Theatre); Hands on a Hardbody (Aurora Theatre); Detroit (Horizon Theatre); Equus, Seminar (Actor's Express).
Ryan is a graduate of Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ & the Actor's Express Apprentice Program. Thanks to my family, queers, mentors. @ryanoliveti
Sekou Laidlow
Sekou Laidlow's artistry is a fusion of craft, creativity, and commitment. Known for bringing nuance, depth, and specificity to character portrayals, this son of Baltimore is driven by the power of storytelling to transform. He is particularly drawn to roles that call for a conflicted emotional journey and characters who overcome extraordinary odds.
Laidlow most recently appeared as KEIR in Will Trent on ABC and as Crosby Smith — the uncle of Emmett Till — in the ABC mini-series Women of the Movement, opposite Glynn Turman. Additional screen work includes Black Adam, a Warner Bros. feature starring Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, and the acclaimed production of Merry Wives at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C.
Sekou won the 2023 Suzi Bass Award for Outstanding Principal Performer in a Play for his role as Lucius in Jesus Hopped The A-Train at Actor's Express. His stage credits include Montrellous in Clyde's at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and Claudius/Ghost in Hamlet at Playmakers Repertory.
On Broadway, he has been directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Montello in Airline Highway and The Boys in the Band. One of Sekou’s great joys was originating the role of Homer in Suzan-Lori Parks’ epic Father Comes Home from the Wars, which won both the Pulitzer Prize and the Kennedy Prize for Drama.