Valerie Peter Chong, Company Director (they/them)

With a professional background primarily in social service navigation and teaching, Val prides themself on their ability to carry these skills over to the theatre world and build community in a collaborative, safe, and joyful manner. It has been an honor to be a part of the HIDiot community since they joined the team in 2020. Notable HID credits include Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra (Director) and All’s Well that Ends Well (Stage Manager). Beyond HID, Val has also worked with the Fantasy Tavern NYC as a Tech Coordinator and Directorial Consultant and as the NYC Resident Stage Manager for the Indie Collaborative. Beyond the stage, Val is a CUNY program manager, urban farmer, forager, cat parent, and- clearly- a chronic busybody.

Email: val@hamletisntdead.com

Sophia Carlin, Creative Director (she/they)

Sophia Carlin (she/they) is the Creative Director for Hamlet Isn't Dead (HID), having been  a proud HIDiot since January 2017. Notable HIDiot credits include: All's Well that Ends Well, Shrew You!, Sonnet Stroll (Director), Antony and Cleopatra (Co-Director), Macbeth, King Lear (Stage Manager), Julius Caesar, As You Like It (Asst. Director), Merry Wives of Windsor (Mistress Quickly/Asst. Director). Carlin is a theatre artist dedicated to highlighting unheard voices through new works and adaptations. She works as an actor, director, producer, deviser, puppeteer, teaching artist, and designer in both NYC and their native Chicago. Upon graduating from Pace University’s BA Acting - International Performance Ensemble program in 2020, Carlin has been fortunate enough to work with some incredible collaborators such as Bated Breath Theatre Co., The Secret Theatre, SOOP Theatre, One House Productions, Imaginarium Co., The Shadow Box Theatre Collective, along with many others. They have been a longtime Host for the Drama Desk nominated entertainment experience, The Ride LLC, and is a part of their burgeoning creative team. She also made her film debut as "Shari" in Netflix's holiday movie, The Noel Diary, in November 2022. Follow their journey at sophiacarlin.com or on IG: @sophia.c.carlin/

Email: sophia@hamletisntdead.com

David Andrew Laws, Co-Founder & Founding Artistic Director (he/they)

Hamlet Isn’t Dead’s founding Artistic Director and resident cool guy. Since founding the company in 2012, he has functioned as a director, performer, designer, writer, choreographer, teacher, and more. Education credits include Walden Theatre (Louisville, KY), Carnegie Mellon University, and the Rhodopi International Theatre Laboratory in Smolyan, Bulgaria. Credits outside of HID: Macbeth in Drunk Shakespeare (off-Broadway), co-creator The Twenty-Sided Tavern, podcast host I Fell in Love with a Video Nasty. David’s first play, Attack! of the Killer Man from the Sun!, is having its world premiere in Little Rock, Arkansas this November. For more, follow him on IG @davidnotandrew and at www.davidandrewlaws.com.

B Carty (they/them)

Charlie Lavaroni (they/he/she)

Colleen Wood (she/her)

Dan Dobro (he/him)

Gracie McBride (she/her)

Nicole Amaral (she/her)