Cast and Crew Bios

Dana Beardsley Crotwell teaches literature, composition, critical thinking, and introduction and advanced poetry for El Camino College in Torrance, California. She earned her degrees from Chapman University: BA in English with a minor in Education, MA in World Literature with an emphasis in Literature of Latin America, and MFA in Creative Writing: double emphasis in Fiction and Poetry.  Her work has been featured in print journals including Calliope, Earth’s Daughters, and The Understanding between Foxes and Light.  Poems can also be found in the anthologies Proposing on the Brooklyn Bridge, Between Worlds, Ice Cream Poems, and online at spankthecarp.com Pond 12 and fjordsreview.com/womensedition/index.html. This is her first foray into drama.

Murisa Harba is an award-winning actress, director, producer, bestselling author of Acting With Energy, and founder of About The Work Actors Studio in Los Angeles. A graduate of Boston University College of Fine Arts, she has starred in projects including The Shattering, The Goldfish, and The Secret in the Basement, earning four Best Actress in a Feature Film awards for her performance in The Shattering. As a director, Murisa made her feature debut with MattBeth, a psychological spectacle she also produced, financed, and stars in. Through About The Work and her signature methodologies, THE CHAKRA APPROACH® and THE MACRO METHOD®, she helps actors access truthful, emotionally powerful performances. She is thrilled to be producing Leaving Shakespeare with the artists of About The Work for the Hollywood Fringe Festival and to celebrate the studio’s theatre becoming an official Hollywood Fringe venue, championing bold new voices and original work.

Michelle Merring is an actor, writer, director and producer. Some of her most favorite and recent credits include; as an actress, she was seen in the short film HUEY, on the new show “On Call”, (AMAZON Prime) and received a Best Actress Award for her lead role in the short film “The Brink” (ToeNale Productions).  This past winter she did her second one-woman musical:  Ms. Christmas at the Aurora Theater. As a producer, Michelle participated in the LA 48 hour Film Project with her film “Atti-Tutor”, and as a writer, currently has her short “Yogurt Girl Two ”on the festival circuit!  Michelle is so honored to be co-directing this meaningful piece with these incredibly talented people.

Burt is happy to contribute to About The Work’s inaugural play in this special space.  The fact that the writer is a childhood friend and he’s assisting in bringing her original piece to life, makes it, well, “pretty cool”. An award-winning actor whose select credits include:  Fatal Attraction, Bosch, NCIS, NCIS LA, Days of Our Lives, Bones, The Game, Woman on the Other Side of the World (EWP). Producer of critically-acclaimed, award-winning feature film, The Lady Killers.  All the ‘slings and arrows’ make life and opening a new work far more interesting and rewarding.

Abbs Stoiber is a 2023 graduate from UC Santa Barbara’s BFA Acting program. Most recent credits include Romeo and Juliet (Ensemble), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Cobweb), The Heiress (Catherine Sloper), Pinocchio (Pinocchio), The Merry Wives of Windsor (Slender).

Andre brings a vivacious and magnetic presence to the stage. His formal acting training started in 2023 at About The Work Studios. When he’s not immersed in a script, he’s captivating audiences through 8 counts of hip hop, street jazz, and west African dance styles. Similar to exploring his versatility in dance, Andre also loves to remain well-rounded in his travels. Fueling his burning passion as a creative, Andre’s Systems Engineering background provides him a keen sense of detail allowing him to attentively refine his talents.

Benjamin Hardy is thrilled to be part of ‘Leaving Shakespeare!’ He thanks Murisa, Michelle, Burt and Dana for this amazing opportunity. He is excited to be on stage again with all of his fellow cast members. 

He is a native of Virginia but has spent most of his adult life in Los Angeles. He has had a long career in movie visual effects on the way to becoming an actor. He is also a writer and director whose short comedy, ‘The Lakeside Ripper,’ has been playing in film festivals nationwide. He played Phil, ‘the Rochester hit,’ on HBO’s dark comedy series, ‘Barry.’ He also acted as a news pundit in the comedy film, ‘Killing Mary Sue,’ on Amazon Prime. Benjamin discovered a love of improv in 2013 and has performed at The Second City, Upright Citizen’s Brigade, iO West, and many other stages. He has studied at About the Work since 2015.

Benjamin earned certificates in screenwriting from UCLA Film School, in sketch writing and improv from the Second City Conservatory (Hollywood), and in dramatic performance from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London). He has an MBA from USC.

Liz is thrilled to be making her Los Angeles stage debut and performing in the Fringe Festival for the first time with her About The Work (ATW) acting ensemble. A versatile performer with a B.A. in Drama from San Francisco State University, Liz has built a dynamic career spanning film and theater. Her screen credits include a supporting role in Mattbeth, an ATW production, and the lead role in Old Dykes.

In San Francisco, Liz performed numerous leading roles in productions including High Anxiety, Nothing In Common, and Halloween in the Castro Opera, as well as supporting roles in Waiting… and Coming Out Blonde. Dedicated to continual artistic growth, she currently studies acting with About The Work.

Outside of performing, Liz has worked as a case manager for veterans, an AquaFit instructor and just recently received her certification as a yoga instructor. Her diverse professional experiences bring authenticity, compassion, physical awareness, and adaptability to every role she takes on.

Savannah Schoenecker is thrilled to work with her artistic family on the world premiere of this important feminist piece. Theater highlights include Fritz Lang’s M, Laundry & Bourbon (Eddon Award), Romeo & Juliet (Broadway World nomination), and A Carol Christmas. Film/TV highlights: For All Mankind, Dexter: Original Sin, Queerdos & Mattbeth. AADA-trained and an original member of About the Work Actors Studio, Savannah is also a martial artist, self-defense coach, wreath-maker, witchcraft practitioner, midnight karaoke devotee who tap dances for joy.

Sotida Arpon is an actor, dancer, and producer whose work spans film, television, video games, and commercials. Originally from Hat Yai, Thailand, her love of performance began with Rum Thai, a traditional dance before moving to the U.S. at age ten. She has appeared on General Hospital, in the indie feature MattBeth, and served as the Thai language and cultural advisor for the award-winning video game,  Indiana Jones: the Great Circle. Beyond the industry, Sotida volunteers with CPAF (Center for the Pacific Asian Family), plays a mean game of Mahjong, and holds a black belt in Wushu. And when she’s not on set, you’ll probably find her cooking or eating (usually both).