Showcase Cast
Desi Waters
(Sojourner)
Desi Waters is an actor, singer, writer, and director. Her favorite roles include: Mrs. Corry in Mary Poppins, Mabel in Fame: The Musical, The Nurse in "Romeo and Juliet,” Mariya in Uncle Vanya, and as a vocalist for President Clinton’s 50th Birthday Celebration at Radio City Music Hall. TV credits: The Big Help for Nickelodeon, The Blacklist, Harlem, CityKids: The TV Series, New Amsterdam, and Power. She has just been named Artistic Director for CityKids Rep, a theater company that uses ARTivism and devised theater to help young people amplify their voices. Proud Mama. Member of SAG-AFTRA. www.desiwaters.com.
Jade Cayne
(Bell)
Jade Cayne is an American actress, model, and voice over performer who currently resides in Long Island, New York. A born and raised New Yorker, Jade fell in love with seeing characters give life to the stories she watched both on and off screen. She graduated from Binghamton University, where she studied acting and performed in her first stage production of The Twilight Zone. Jade holds a BA in Business Administration with a minor in Theatre and after working in Marketing & Public Relations for three years she decided to pursue acting professionally. She has since gone on to feature in commercials as well as TV series such as Homicide City, Evil Lives Here , Godfather of Harlem, and Blue Bloods. During the times she is not performing, Jade also travels around the world, writes original poetry and is currently working on writing her first short film.
Eric Ruffin
(Peter)
Eric Ruffin is pleased to make his stage debut in Dust of Egypt. Eric starred as Milo in The Transfiguration written and directed by Michael O'Shea. The Film was an Un Certain Regard Official Selection 2016 Cannes Film Festival, won The Jury Award at 2017 Dublin Film Festival and was nominated for the John Cassavetes Award 2018 Independent Spirit Awards. Eric started acting in commercials at the age of 7 and made his TV debut recurring as Dylan Bishop in The Good Wife. His other TV credits include: Hot Angry Mom (Pilot), Wu-Tang: An American Saga, 30 Rock, Person of Interest, and A Gifted Man. IG: ericruffin_
Eliot Johnson
(Robert, Thomas)
This is Eliott Johnson’s first AEA Showcase in New York City and he is extremely thankful to be a part of the Dust of Egypt production. Originally From Chicago Illinois. Past theater credits include the Midwest Primer of Lombardi by Eric Simonson, Soldier’s Heart by Tammy Ryan and Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes. Television Credits Include Guest Star and Co-Star spots on Chicago Fire, Empire and The CHI, as well as supporting roles in films such as A Man of his Time directed by Estelle Parsons and Oranges directed by Alaina Huffman. Eliott Holds his MFA from the Actors Studio Drama School and Studied at the British American Drama Academy (BADA).
Daniel J. Martin
(Mr. Romeyn)
Daniel J. Martin is an up-and-coming actor/writer who can most recently be seen on the likes of Law & Order: Organized Crime, The Blacklist, Power III, and various other shows. A born-and-raised New Yorker, Daniel’s passions carry him through life. An avid cinephile, in Daniel’s spare time he enjoys the NY Jets, bartending, and doing all he can to fill his curiosity. Keep an eye open for his soon-to-be published short story compilation entitled Seasons--a story for each season.
Austin Iredale
(Mr. Gedney, Auctioneer)
Austin Iredale is a Brooklyn-based actor, writer and producer. Dust of Egypt marks his debut on the New York stage. Recent theatre works as a performer include the role of Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet at the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, Siggie in Golden Boy at the Stella Adler Lab Theatre, and several original roles in new works by LA playwright Timothy McNeil, most memorably the Cossack soldier Prischepa in Isaac Babel & the Black Sea. On the small screen, he can be seen in the premiere episode of Showtime’s vampire chronicle, Let the Right One In, and has costarred in recent episodes of The Blacklist and FBI, among many others. This year, with his wife and partner Maia Nikiphoroff, Austin cofounded Always Wild Content, a production company that develops audacious narrative works that seek to reveal the wild within us. Their latest campaign is the Stories Unite Us Project, which partners with Women and Film Paraguay, to bring filmmaking education to teen and young adult women in Asuncion, PY. Austin has also volunteered as director, actor, and producer for “A Light in Dark Places,” a short play series based in Hollywood that works with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, an organization and cause very dear to his heart. www.austiniredale.com & www.alwayswildcontent.com
Jeanna Schweppe
(Mrs. Gedney)
Jeanna Schweppe is originally from St. Louis, Mo. Her professional career started in the Broadway show 42nd Street as Peggy Sawyer. In the Broadway revival of Grease she played Sandy, Rizzo and Cha Cha. She was also part of Trevor Nunn's production of Starlight Express National Tour in which she performed the roles of Dinah and Ashley. Regional theatre credits include Arena Stage/Goodspeed Opera House production's of Animal Crackers, St. Louis MUNY'S production of George M with Joel Grey and the John Houseman's theatre production Comfortable Shoes. Film and Television work include In and Out with Tom Selleck, The Guru with Marisa Tomei, A Chorus Line and the role of Megan on Another World. Independent films include The Break In which was nominated as "Best Short" in the Beaufort International Film Festival. Also, The Woods which premiered at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, New York Shorts International and Queen Palm Festival. Recently, Jeanna was seen in the film Through Open Doors by Raven Petretti at the New York Shorts International Film Festival. Jeanna is forever grateful for all the love and support of her family and friends. Special shout out to Neal for unwavering support, belief and guidance.