Meet The Cast of 
The Moss Maidens

Dylan Zwickel (she/her) is an NYC-based writer and director. Her plays have been Finalists or Semifinalists for the Orchard Project, the Parity Development Award, and the O’Neill’s National Playwrights Conference, and she has been a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab and TedxBroadway Young Professionals Cohort. She served as Director's Assistant on the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect and runs a murder mystery party company, Ghost Ship Murder Mysteries. She is proud to announce The Moss Maidens will be produced as part of the SheNYC Festival in August. Follow her on IG (@dylzwickel) to make sure you don’t miss it!

Allison Taaffe is a Boston based theater-maker, director, and educator who firmly believes that every human being has creative potential and a story worth telling. Her artistic interest lies in creating socially engaged performances and devising original work in ensembles. Formerly based in New York City, she has performed in, created, and produced work at Dixon Place, Access Theater, The Culture Project, HERE Arts Center, IRT, The New Ohio, and NYU’s Experimental Theater Wing. She has worked as a teaching artist with Spotlight Performing Arts Company in Lima, Peru, Boston Public Schools, House of Possibilities adults with disabilities program,

and is director the The Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s Summer Youth Intensive. Allison received a BFA in Drama from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts and recently received an MFA in Applied Theater from Emerson College where she specialized in socially-engaged theater and creative aging.

Al Groppi is a genderfluid actor based in NYC, with a particular passion for new works and experimental theater. Recent NYC theater credits include “The Making and Breaking of Glass” at the Harlem Dream Center (staged reading), “The Chickens Have Come Home to Roost” at Triskelion Arts, “The Minotaur” at Theater for the New City, and “The Sunset Plays” at the Dramatists Guild Foundation (staged reading). They have several upcoming film projects they’d love to share but alas, cannot - for career updates be sure to follow them on instagram @algroppi, or check out their website at algroppi.com.

Julia Brunelli (she/they) is thrilled to be a part of this presentation of Moss Maidens. Julia is a California-grown and New York-based artist. She is passionate about theatre, film, as well as writing and performing poetry. They look forward to making all forms of inclusive and intersectional art with old and new friends. Instagram: @juliatbrunelli and @_shareyoursoul_

Elyce West (she/her) is an actress, singer, dancer & director based in NYC and born and raised in Houston, TX. She is excited to help present “The Moss Maidens”! Recently: 54 Sings Lizzo Vol. 2. IG and YouTube: @elycewest

Caitlin Hammond (she/her) feels incredibly lucky to help bring The Moss Maidens to life as a part of the Forklift series. Caitlin is an award winning actress for film, T.V., and theater and also loves to direct and write. Recent credits include The Watcher, Blue Bloods and Hightown. Upcoming credits include season three of Only Murders in the Building. Caitlin is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and trained at The Lee Strasberg Studio. caitlinhammond.com 

Sydney Kane is an actor/singer/writer in NYC. She is honored to be a part of this story. After graduating from Pace University with a BFA in Musical Theatre, Sydney moved to LA, where she appeared in a couple independent films and in the New Zealand web series Millennial Jenny (@millennialjenny). Happy to be back in NYC, Sydney is currently playing around on the stage and writing at UCB. Endless love and thanks yous to her dogs, family, friends, and Ashley and Julia for their unconditional (or conditional, that’s fine too) support.  Dylan, you are a marvel. (Social media: @sydneymorgankane)

Amanda Sten (she/her) is a Danish actor trained in NYC at the Actors Studio Drama School. Her most recent work includes the New York Times acclaimed show "Dimes Square" and the film "Lysets Blindgyder". Besides her work as an actor both on stage and camera she has worked internationally as a model for 10+ years, while also finding time to work behind the camera; writing and directing short film and documentaries.

Aaron Matteson is excited and grateful to be acting in this new play.  He is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College's Theatre Program as well as an alum of the Actors Theatre of Louisville Professional Training Company.  Select past projects include F.I.R.E. (New Normal Rep), Becky Shaw (Centenary Stage) and The Outs (webseries).  He's available at abmatteson@gmail.com.

Melinda Porto is honored to be a part of the 2023 Forklift Reading Series! Off-Broadway/NYC Theatre: Cheek to Cheek (York Theatre); Radio City Christmas Spectacular. International: SIX (Catherine of Aragon); Saturday Night Fever; Miss Saigon. Regional: The Who's Tommy; White Christmas; 42nd Street; RENT. Backup vocals for Taylor Swift and Joe Cocker. BA in Theater (UCLA).