Come From Away

Jason Ayestas (Oz and others)

Jason is excited to help bring this incredible story to Coachella Valley audiences and to help kick off this exciting new chapter in the story of Dezart Performs! Recent credits include CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (Gooper), DOG SEES GOD (Marcy), GUYS & DOLLS (Lt. Brannigan), EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL (Jake), KISS ME KATE (Gangster #1), TOOTSIE (Michael/Dorothy) and COMPANY (Harry). When he is not acting, Jason can be found singing at various cabarets in the greater Palm Springs area. He wishes to dedicate this performance to all the helpers, especially the fruit truck driver that drove him and about a dozen other New Yorkers home from Times Square to various points uptown that day. This one’s for Peter and Robbie. Instagram: itsagaaate

Tym Brown (Bob and others)

Tym Brown is an AMDA grad hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Recent credits include: MEAN GIRLS NATIONAL TOUR (Mr. Duvall), SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL (Andrew), NEXT TO NORMAL (Dan), DISNEY’S TALE OF THE LION KING (Scar), SISTER ACT (Curtis) and lead vocalist for THE DETROIT NIGHTS, JAZZ MAFIA and SUNSET SINGERS. Tym has worked with many recording artists such as Smokey Robinson, Don Tolliver, Childish Gambino and BTS. Look out for Reunion Of The Bells. Much love to Trance and Tribe. @tymcb

Molly Chiffer (Janice & others)

Molly, reporting live and coming from away to Dezart Performs for this awe-inspiring story of hope and humanity. Select Credits include Off-Broadway: THE ART OF LEAVING (Signature Theatre); Regional: THE TOXIC AVENGER MUSICAL (Sarah the Blind Librarian), THE GLASS MENAGERIE (Laura), MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (Mary Debenham), NEXT TO NORMAL (U/S Natalie & Diana), KING LEAR (The Fool) and POTUS (Stephanie). Film: her award-winning short film KISSING KEROUAC (Audience Choice Award & Best Actress Nominee, Bridgeport Film Festival). BFA in Acting from USC (Fight On!). Endless gratitude to Michael, Dennis, Stephen & the company. This one’s for American Airlines Capt. Mark Chiffer; I love you, Dad. mollychiffer.com | @jeezmollylouise

Joslynn Cortes (Hannah and others)

Joslynn is so excited to be back at Dezart Performs! Joslynn is a NJ native, AMDA alum and Voice teacher at Vocal Love. Some of her favorite credits include Nat’l Tour: NICK NUTRITION AND HIS WONDER DOG FIBER (Fiber) Select Regional Credits: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Crystal & Audrey Understudy ), EUREKA DAY (Meiko), WEST SIDE STORY (Anita), SOMEBODY TO LOVE (Estella Hernandez), PRINCE OF EGYPT (Tzipporah), EVITA (Eva Peron) and ONCE UPON A MATTRESS (Queen Aggravain). Joslynn would like to thank God, her fiance Jalen, family, friends and her agent Anthony for their constant love and support. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Malachi Durant (Kevin J and others)

Malachi was born in Columbus, OH, and raised in Wisconsin. He moved to Las Vegas to pursue his career in performing with shows including “O” by Cirque Du Soleil, ShowStoppers and danced with artists including J Balvin, Carrie Underwood and Will Smith. He moved to LA in 2022 to pursue acting. In LA production credits include IN THE HEIGHTS and tour with HAMILTON on the Philip Tour. He wants to thank God and his beautiful wife and family for helping guide his path.

Lauren Elder (Bonnie and others)

Lauren is an actress, director, singer-songwriter and World Champion Whistler, currently starring in the documentary WHISTLE. Lauren has appeared on Broadway in SIDE SHOW and HAIR and in the West End in HAIR. On TV: LAW & ORDER SVU, HEELS, BOARDWALK EMPIRE, LOUIE, MACY’S THANKSGIVING PARADE, 2009 TONY AWARDS . Other Theater: REEFER MADNESS (LA 25th Anniversary Cast), THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HEATHER (Off-Broadway), HAIR (Shakespeare in the Park/NY Public Theater), THE VILLAGE OF VALE (Lincoln Center); Regional: MARY AND MAX (World Premiere, BroadwayWorld Regional Award: Best Actress), SIDE SHOW (Kennedy Center, La Jolla Playhouse), CINDERELLA (Alabama Shakespeare Festival). Lauren is also a private acting, voice, career coach and an on-set acting coach for Disney. She performs regularly in nightclubs around Los Angeles and NYC and is one of the hosts of Monday’s at the Club at Club Cumming. Her original music can be found anywhere you stream! laureneldermusic.com

Tim Ewing (Nick and others)

Tim, after 40+ years in NYC working on Broadway, Off-Broadway and television, now happily resides in Palm Springs. Delighted to return to  Dezart Performs after last season’s Opening Debut of WEST SIDE STORY (Doc)! Also FALSETTOS (Marvin) and STRAIGHT TO THE HEART. At CVRep: NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT and THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. Broadway/Nat’l Tour: MAMMA MIA (Harry). Off Broadway: Sondheim’s PACIFIC OVERTURES, Jones-Schmidt’s COLETTE COLLAGE, Bill Finn’s FALSETTOLAND, Sheldon Harnick’s LOVE IN TWO COUNTRIES, Richard Rodgers NO STRINGS. Regional: VANYA SONIA MASHA & SPIKE (Vanya), CABARET (Herr Schultz), THE BURNT PART BOYS (Father), THE FULL MONTY (Harold), A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Frederick), FALSETTOS (Marvin), SYLVIA (Greg), LEND ME A TENOR (Max), DRACULA (Van Helsing), JACQUES BREL. Television: THE LAST OG, LAW & ORDER, L&O SVU, THE GOOD WIFE, ELEMENTARY, THE BLACKLIST, UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT, DIFFICULT PEOPLE. With gratitude to the Artistic community! Mom, I’m keeping my promise! (AEA, SAG-AFTRA)

Stephanie Lynne Mason (Beverly and others)

Stephanie is thrilled to live in Gander again with this incredible company. She was most recently seen at Dezart Playhouse in FALSETTOS (Trina). New York credits include FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in Yiddish, directed by Oscar and Tony Award winner Joel Grey and the 2016 Broadway revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, where she covered the principal daughters. She toured the country in MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET (Dyanne) and was recently featured in the U.S. premiere of MYTHIC, directed by Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall. Favorite roles regionally include BEAUTIFUL (Carole King), THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA (Franca), CAMELOT (Guenevere), GYPSY (Louise) and A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Mrs. Fezziwig). Special thanks to Drew, her family, friends, Michael, Dennis and Stephen. Dedicated to Mom, who spent years working for the airlines and gave me my wings to pursue my dreams. @stephanielynnemason

Sonia Reavis (Diane and others)

Sonia  is thrilled to be making her Dezart Performs debut in this exciting production. She has appeared in a variety of stage productions, cabarets, play festivals, feature films and commercials. Most recently the stage roles of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (Big Mama) and A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE (Lily) at The Bent, PIPPIN (Berthe) at Revolution Stage Company, THE ROOMMATE (Sharon) at Desert Ensemble Theater and THE CAKE (Della) at The Bent. Some other favorite roles include COMPANY (Sarah), BABY! THE MUSICAL (Arlene), OFF THE STREET (Ruby) at Revolution Stage Company, THE NEW CENTURY (Barbara Ellen Diggs) at The Bent and DAMN YANKEES (Sister Miller) at Desert Theatricals.

Laura Stearns (Beulah and others)

Laura is an award winning actor, singer, director and playwright who has been working in professional theater since the age of thirteen. She is thrilled to step away from her regular role as Dezart’s company Production Manager and return to the stage for this show. Dezart Performs audiences will remember her in FALSETTOS (Dr. Charlotte). She received the 2024 Desert Theater League award for directing THE WOMAN IN THE MIRROR, cowritten with Dayna Steele, which recently returned from Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland with rave reviews. As a survivor of abuse in a theater as a child actor, and the author of Daring to Heal: Growing Beyond Trauma Through Awareness, Acceptance and Action, Laura is a fierce advocate for safe spaces in theater production and education. Learn more about her artistic journey at LauraStearns.com

Colin Thomson (he/him) (Claude and others)

Colin is a San Francisco Bay Area actor making his Dezart Playhouse debut in COME FROM AWAY. He has appeared at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in COME FROM AWAY, RAGTIME, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, ALL MY SONS and THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA as well as many New Works Festivals, most recently in Sankoff & Hein’s VIENNA and CUT FROM AWAY, a program of songs cut from COME FROM AWAY.  He played Fezziwig for the Broadway tour of Jack Thorne’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL (also going on for Father/Marley) and understudied the Broadway tour of DIRTY BLONDE. Career favorites include TUCK EVERLASTING for TheatreWorks SV, 1776 for American Conservatory Theater, SISTERS MATSUMOTO for Center Rep and COMPANY for Marin Theatre Company. TV and film work includes NBC’s ZOEY’S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST and TRAUMA, 13 REASONS WHY for Netflix and BLUE JASMINE. He has been an Equity Actor for 30 years.

Nathan Wilson (Kevin T and others)

Nathan is excited to be back at Dezart and work with this incredible cast and crew. Recent productions: PIPPIN (Director & Choreographer/Leading Player),  HOW TO SUCCEED…(J. Pierrepont Finch) at Revolution Stage Company, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (Molina/Choreographer), FOREVER PLAID (Jinx) at Palm Canyon Theatre, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE (Baldy) at The Bent and WEST SIDE STORY: IN CONCERT (Riff) at  Dezart Performs. Nathan also performs in cabarets and concerts throughout the Palm Springs area. He’s very grateful to be part of such a supportive and talented theater community!