Joyce Lao
PRODUCERS’ BIO
Natalia Yandyganova (Creator, Producer & Director) she/her/hers
Natalia Yandyganova is a founder and creative director of an NYC experimental theatre group “Angry Fish Theatre”. Her work focuses on engaging the audience in difficult yet socially important topics through participatory theatre. Being a member of the immersive interactive theater company Live in Theater for 7 years, and co-creating over a dozen of shows in the genre, she uses the niche knowledge and technique to create breakthrough narrative structures and viscerally moving work in theatre.
An immigrant and a first-generation American, she self-produced numerous projects in theatre and film in the past 10 years. Among traditional stages, her theatrical work took place in storefront displays, galleries, a multi-story beauty salon, and other non-conventional venues.
The recurring aims of her work are dissecting the flawed systems present in our society, exposing the absurd in the mundane routines we live by and evoking empathy towards those invisible or “othered” in society.
“As I grew up in authoritarian Russia, I know what the corrupt systems along with citizen apathy, and the atomization of the society can lead to. In my journalism past, I have seen people arrested and killed for going against the system. My work in the arts will forever be devoted to fighting for human rights, humanitarian values and people’s unity. I will use wit and creative freedom to dismantle the aggressive systems that destroy peace on Earth”.
Joyce Laoagan (stage - Joyce Lao) is a New York based Filipino-American performer, producer and creator originally from Baguio City and Benguet, Philippines. Her parents are descendants of Aboriginal and Indigenous. She has a degree in Psychology (pre-med), Special Education, MA in Music, MA in Arts Administration from Baruch College and attended Stella Adler School of Acting and HB Studios. She grew up dancing, singing and creating performance art. She has produced, acted and written several films that have been screened in the film festival circuit. Her Directorial debut, “Hecuba” won Runner – up as Best Ensemble and for Best Director at the Ancient Drama Festival and has produced and created theatre experiences for The NYC Fringe festival and Midtown Theatre festival - all well received. She has co-written, produced and played the lead role for a short film, Eva's Gabriel which received nominations and awards in different categories. She has appeared in and booked several shows on TV and in online streaming platforms. As an artist and performer, she also has the passion to help and promote other talents - most especially multi-talented people of color especially talents of Asian, POC, and Indigenous descent. This passion turned into a vision. She has been establishing herself as a creative professional and founded The Ally Artists Group (www.allyartists.com). She is passionate about social justice, arts education, human rights and interested in exploring the social emotional aspect of the human psyche. She is also an avid traveler, foodie, diver and passionate about social justice. Visit her blog at medium.com/@everythingjoycedoes. www.joycelao.net
The Team's first Edinburgh Fringe Festival Show in 2023 was a success and this is why they want to produce another show with the Laughing Horse Group.
MEMBER:
AEA - Actors' Equity Association
SAG-AFTRA - Screen Actors' Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
BMI - Broadcast Music Inc
ARTS in Education Roundtable - Arts Education
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