The talented company of TEA.
MEET THE CAST OF TEA
Two companies. Twice the chance to join us for TEA.
For the first time, Hero Theatre has decided to cast two separate acting companies for one production. Giving you twice the chance to catch this incredible play - performed at different times, by two different actors.
Stay tuned for updates! We will be listing a calendar that includes who performs when.
*Please note that performances are postponed until our local and national government tells us it is safe to present TEA.
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Jennifer Cheung
Jennifer is thrilled to be working with Hero Theatre for the first time. She has previously worked with Company of Angels, Neo Ensemble Theatre, and Sacred Fools. Select Chicago credits: 106th Mainstage Revue (The Second City); At The Table (Broken Nose Theatre, Jeff Award - Ensemble); Thoughts and Prayers...(Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival). Jennifer studies with Howard Fine and at BGB Studio, and graduated from the School at Steppenwolf. |
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Lisa Sanaye Dring
Lisa has worked with The New Group, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Humana Festival, Playpenn, Actors Theatre of Louisville, East West Players, Circle X, Know Theatre of Cincinnati, SCF @ Son of Semele, Bootleg, One Year Lease, Bread & Puppet, Theatre of NOTE, California Repertory Company, Rogue Artists Ensemble and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. You can see her on Shameless, Grown-ish, NCIS, Good Girls, Shut Eye, and How to get Away with Murder. Lisa is a MacDowell Fellow and serves as the Associate Artistic Director of Circle X Theatre Co. in Los Angeles. |
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Tomoko Karina
Tomoko Karina is a LA based actress, born and grew up in Tokyo, Japan. Her theater credit includes Japan Premiere of “Balm In Gilead” by Pulitzer winning writer Lanford Wilson and Los Angeles run of “Blood, both directed by Obie award winning, Two-time Golden Globe and five-time Emmy Award nominee Robert Allan Ackerman, "Three Sisters" (Theater Project Tokyo), "Story of Domon Ken" (Kinokuni-ya Hall) and Playing a lead role twice at prestigious Tokyo Metropolitan Art Theater ( “Voice”, "Pecan in The Field). Tomoko can also be seen in popular YouTube premium show. “Cobra Kai” playing Hikaru, supporting role in a Netflix streaming horror film, “Haunting in Silver Falls: Returns”, “Another Tango” (Hallmark Movie) and many other. |
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Ariel Kayoko Labasan
During her undergraduate, in her senior year, she produced and wrote her first original play, Salina, a play about a Nepalese girl that was trafficked and sold to a brothel in India. Soon after, Ariel was accepted into South Coast Repertory's Summer Workshop in Costa Mesa, California, and continued her training at Broadway’s only conservatory program at Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York City. She returned back to the West Coast and started to produce plays that showcased women's empowerment in the Greater Los Angeles Area. She has performed in several Award Winning Los Angeles theatre houses such as the Echo Theatre Company, and the Rogue Machine Company. Her proudest role to date is being able portray the vibrant, Yuri Kochiyama, known for her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and friendship with Malcolm X (twice in two different productions). In 2019, Ariel was able to work on three film projects that were produced by Tony Spiridakis and Bob Krakower in New York City. Currently in the world of Zoom, she is being mentored by Victoria Atkins (Assassin's Creed) in Motion Capture Performance and Voiceover. |
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Jully Lee
Jully Lee is thrilled to be part of this TEAm of artists and would like to thank Elisa, Gabe, Rebecca, Velina, and the cast for their passion, positivity and resilience during these uncharted times. Jully is the artistic director of COLD TOFU, the nation’s first and longest running Asian American improv troupe based in Little Tokyo where she teaches and performs regularly. Most recently, she was seen on stage in Aubergine (South Coast Repertory), Hannah and the Dread Gazebo (Fountain Theatre), Ladies (Boston Court), Tales of Clamor (JACCC’s Aratani Theatre), The Enchanted Nightingale (Garry Marshall Theatre), and Mexican Day (Rogue Machine Theatre). Recent TV credits include: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Veep (HBO), This Is Us (NBC), Jane the Virgin (CW), Henry Danger (Nickelodeon), Rosewood (FOX), I’m Sorry (TruTV), The Kominsky Method, and Best.Worst.Weekend.Ever (Netflix). Recent feature film: The Illegal (currently in film festivals), Reach (Amazon), Thriller (Netflix), and Double Mommy (Lifetime). |
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Andrea Lwin
Andrea Lwin graduated from Florida State University with a BA in Media Communications. She has gained extensive experience in story development and production at notable companies such as NBC, Red Hour Films, New Regency Productions. Andrea’s highly praised one-woman show Slanted was adapted into a TV pilot (Slamdance semi-finalist) and a web series which won numerous awards at LAWebFest and the “Rising Star Award” at Women’s International Film & Arts Fest. Most recently, she wrote and directed the short film Biased with Industry Standard Films and Wondrous Pictures. Andrea has studied with renowned acting teacher Larry Moss and is a proud member of HERO Theatre. Theatre credits: The Super Sabado Show (HERO), Sun Sisters (CoA), Slanted (Matrix Theatre, Hudson, The Complex, Whitefire, Edgemar, Highways Performance Space), Fentor (hereandnow). Film/TV credits: Better Start Running, White Orchid, This Last Lonely Place, Mini’s First Time, Criminal Minds, Class of Lies, Wisdom of the Crowd, 90210. |
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Jessica Ma
Jessica Ma is a newcomer to LA, having been a graduate of SMU’s BFA program and Milwaukee Rep’s Acting Residency. Favorite roles include: Crystal in Bethany, Judy Chen (u/s) in Junk, and Afong Moy (u/s) in The Chinese Lady. She was last seen as Tamsin in Sacred Fool’s production of Antigone: Presented by the Girls at St. Catherine’s. Additionally, she dabbles in slam poetry and solo performance. Recent pieces include: Lotus Blossoms Don’t Cry: Lamentations of an Asian Savage or Flower of the Goddamn Orient: This Performance is 25% of My Final Grade. When she’s not in rehearsal, she’s likely at your local boba shop or pho place, but obviously right now she’s at home. Repped by Cylence Media Management. |
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Rosie Narasaki
Rosie Narasaki is a Los Angeles-based writer and actor. Recent theatre highlights include acting in IN LOVE AND WARCRAFT and TWO MILE HOLLOW with Artists at Play, as well as a pre-Greta Gerwig turn as Amy in Playwright's Arena's multicultural transposition of LITTLE WOMEN. TV credits include SHAMELESS, WISDOM OF THE CROWD and FOR THE PEOPLE. In her spare time, she is the managing editor of TotalBeauty.com. |
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Jane Park Smith
Actress, model, author, martial artist, healthy food lover, and speaker with diversified TV credits: 24, Reno911, Rizzoli & Isles, Bones, and "Gang Related" as Korean mob boss. Jane has been developing an action series called “On the Grid” to expose the underbelly of sex trafficking. Her films include "Glass," ''Street Warrior,'' ''Quarantine,'' ''Bring It On," “Boone the Bounty Hunter,” and “Heartbreak”--a feature based on a true story in which she becomes a pro-billiards player fighting for her autistic son’s welfare. Her heart’s greatest desire is to serve and speak out for the voiceless and oppressed worldwide. Her published inspirational non-fiction book, Rocky the Rescue, gives 90% to animal rescue. (Children’s book coming soon!) Another passion project includes founding The EATS Community--a way for food justice, the arts, and community involvement to help heal people and our planet! Jane earned a Presidential honor for charitable, community activism. |
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Stephanie Wong
Stephanie Wong is a Chinese-American actress from San Jose, CA. At a young age, she found her passion for the arts in her first school play in 6th grade, P.T. Barnum, where she even learned how to juggle for the role. Stephanie continued her creative endeavors at UCLA, where she studied Business Economics and Theatre. Her body of work includes UNIVERSAL's American Pie: Girls' Rules, The Resident on FOX, NETFLIX's Only Mine, and more. Stephanie is also a comedian with improv training from UCB and The Groundlings. She loves yoga, cats, traveling, and eating lots of food. |