Festival Committee
Headshot ID: Alexandria Wailes is a light skinned mixed race cisgender woman with dark hair and unique eyes front of a green background.
Alexandria Wales | Festival Director
Alexandria Wailes (she/her) is an actor, director, dancer, choreographer, advisor, and director of artistic sign language. She has worked on numerous Broadway, off Broadway and regional theatres, television and film. Co-founder of BHo5.org
Awards: 2022 Chita Rivera winner, recipient of 2022 Disability Futures Fellowship, 2020 Obie winner, 2020 Lucille Lortel nominee.
Headshot ID: Guthrie Nutter is a white male with bald head and varied facial hair front of a green background.
Guthrie Nutter | Production Manager
Guthrie is a Gallaudet alumni with a Masters Degree in Sign Language Education and has worked within Deaf theatre periodically since 1998, and the American Sign Language industry since 2007. Guthrie has produced several published video works in ASL, such as the Deaf Culture Webisode series, and Bridging The Divide: First Language Acquisition. In addition to his current post as Project Manager at the Office of the President at Gallaudet, Guthrie has worked as a community educator, a high school teacher, and an ASL specialist, providing language support for children 0-21 across the state of Washington.
Headshot ID: Patty Liang is a Chinese American woman with dark hair and eyeglasses front of a green background.
Patty Liang | Producer
Headshot ID: Buddy Elledge is a smiling white bearded DeafDisabled male with a beanie, and a hoodie over a v-neck tee front of a green background.
Buddy Elledge | Creative Director
Headshot ID: Kailyn Aaron-Lozano is a Afro-Latine female with wide frame glasses and curly hair front of a green background.
Kailyn Aaron-Lozano | Director of Artistic Sign Language (DASL)
Kailyn Aaron-Lozano is a multitalented Afro-Latine multi-media DASL. Film, theater, and music are her mediums. She's worked on Sesame Street Workshop's ASL music videos, DPAN's "Reverse Polarity," AT&T's "Different Colors," and more. This South Central Los Angeles native co-wrote "Sign Language Music Videos: Language Preservation or Appropriation?" in The Routledge Companion to Art and Disability. Increasing the public's awareness of Deaf and ASL artists is Kailyn's mission.
Headshot ID: Joey Antonio is a Filipinx, Non-binary with big circle framed glasses, curly hair, and black tee, front of a green background.
Joey Antonio | Director of Artistic Sign Language (DASL)
Joey (he/she/they) is an actor, dancer, visual performer, and ASL teacher; they also made their directorial Artistic Sign Language debut for Mr. Holland's Opus in Maine last year. They is known for the following: Sesame Street ASL, Spring Awakening (Deaf West Theatre), Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC), America's Best Dance Crew.
Headshot ID: Aly Drayton is a mixed Trinidadian with freckles and tanned skin color and a big afro curly brown hair with blonde front pieces
Aly Drayton | Festival Photographer
Aly Drayton is a mixed Trinidadian photographer who specializes in portrait photography as well as documentary-style videography. Their goal while taking part in this event is to showcase and document the Deaf and BIPOC community. In their spare time, you can always find them traveling or chasing a good sunset. They look forward to bringing their experience and unique perspective to highlight our community.
Headshot ID: Rob Falk is a 60-something white man with a salt-and-pepper goatee, front of a green background.
Rob Falk | Lighting Designer
Robert Falk has been a lighting designer for over 40 years; his work has been seen in Seattle, Boston, and Christchurch New Zealand! Recent designs include two world premiers for Youth Theatre Northwest, Cabiri, Driftwood Players, and Burien Actors Theatre. Robert is also has a passion for performance photography.
Headshot ID: Hannah Gibbs is a white blonde woman smiling, wearing glasses and a black beanie, front of a green background.
Hannah Gibbs | Projection Designer
Hannah Gibbs is excited to be working at Deaf Spotlight on this production! Her other Seattle design credits include lighting design for ArtsWest's Q Brother's Christmas Carol as well as projection design for VT Kidstage's The Spongebob Squarepants Musical. Other credits include Assistant Lighting Designer for Village Theatre's Mamma Mia, and ACT Theatre's Choir Boy. Hannah received her MFA from University of Montana this past year.
Headshot ID: Jennifer is a white female with medium length hair, wearing black fleece pullover, front of a green background.
Jennifer Harris | Set Designer
As a young girl, Jennifer Harris discovered her deep passion for art and architecture. Inspired by her mom, a former art teacher, Jennifer was able to achieve her dreams in both mediums: art and architecture. Her travels and personal research have enhanced her knowledge base, honed her dedication, and impacted her personal philosophy.
Headshot ID: Laura is a white female with dirty blonde hair, wearing a vintage white pillbox hat and black sweater, in front of a green background.
Laura Kessler | Costume Designer
Laura Kessler attended PCPA and graduated from Cal State where she studied theatre and dance. Laura has been acting, directing, teaching and designing in the Seattle area since 1999. She’s thrilled to be working with such an incredible group of artists.
Headshot ID: Gabriel Silva is an Afro Latinx person with dark brown medium curly hair in a white shirt/ denim shirt with his right hand resting on the side of his head front of a green background.
Gabriel Silva | Director of Artistic Sign Language (DASL)
Gabriel "Gab" Silva: A New Yorker who grew up in The Bronx, who always loved performing and dancing as a child, but didn’t showcase his talent until he was in his mid 20’s. He mentions that he started translating songs and showcasing them at numerous events such as ASL Cabarets, The Wallis Theater, ColorFEST, and MORE! You may also have seen him in his "All Of Me" music video. Gabriel has also held a role as an Actor, Assistant Director, producer, Director of Artistic Sign Language, and most importantly, An Awesome Dad!
Headshot placeholder of SPF 2023.
Headshot ID: Jason Tang is an Asian male with black hair and brown eyes front of a green background.
Jason Tang | Festival Photographer
Jason Tang, a photographer for over 20 years with an innate sense for capturing details often overlooked by others. He was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and loves it here. In the beginning photography was just a hobby for Jason, albeit a serious one but over time, it developed into a full-fledged professional career. Through many years of working with a number of mentors, Jason has developed his skills to the level it has reached today.