Tony Award-winning and Emmy and Grammy Award-nominated actor Annaleigh Ashford has spent her career collaborating with acclaimed directors and costars across stage, film, and television. Ashford currently stars in the Paramount+ series Happy Face, opposite Dennis Quaid. Happy Face is produced by CBS Studios in association with King Size Productions. In February, Ashford appeared on Broadway in a limited engagement of All In: Comedy About Love, starring opposite Lin-Manuel Miranda, David Cross, Tim Meadows and Hank Azaria. Tony winner Alex Timbers directed and Lorne Michaels produced. Annaleigh earned her third Tony nomination for her performance as Mrs. Lovett opposite Josh Groban in the Tony-nominated revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Ashford starred opposite Kumail Nanjiani in the Hulu limited series Welcome to Chippendales. Her performance garnered Ashford her first Emmy nomination. Ashford received rave reviews for her portrayal of Paula Jones in Ryan Murphy's Impeachment: American Crime Story. She starred in two seasons of the hit Chuck Lorre CBS comedy B Positive and starred as Betty DiMello in Showtime’s Golden Globe, Emmy, and Critics’ Choice nominated series Masters of Sex. Ashford played opposite Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney in HBO's Bad Education, and she co-starred in the Netflix series Unbelievable. Additional television roles include The Big C, Law & Order, Nurse Jackie, Smash, and The Good Fight. Film credits include Sex and the City: The Movie, Jonathan Demme’s Rachel Getting Married, Love on the Run, Late Night and most recently, Searchlight Pictures’ horror thriller, Hold Your Breath.

On Broadway, Annaleigh garnered a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics’ Circle Award for her portrayal of Essie Carmichael in the Broadway revival of You Can’t Take it With You, starring James Earl Jones. She starred opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Broadway production of Sunday in the Park with George. Ashford made her debut in Legally Blonde: The Musical, starred as ‘Glinda’ in Wicked and ‘Jeannie’ in the revival of HAIR. Ashford originated the role of ‘Lauren’ in Kinky Boots, a performance for which she received a Tony nomination and ‘Maureen’ in the Off-Broadway revival of RENT, for which she was nominated for a Drama League Award and Clive Barnes Award.

Ashford starred in her critically acclaimed cabaret performance titled Annaleigh Ashford – Lost in the Stars at Live from Lincoln Center and ‘54 Below’ in New York City. 

Tony®, GRAMMY® and Emmy® Award winner Ben Platt made his highly anticipated return to the New York Stage as Leo Frank in Parade at the City Center which transitioned to the Broadway stage. The riveting musical opened to rave reviews and led to Platt’s second Tony Award nomination. Most recently Ben starred in the film Theater Camp, which is co-written by Platt, Molly Gordon, Noah Galvin and Nick Lieberman inspired by their popular 2020 short film by the same name.

An accomplished recording artist, Platt has released two albums previously – 2019’s Sing To Me and 2021’s Reverie. He completed a hugely successful solo tour following the release of Reverie which saw him headlining sellout crowds at such important venues as The Hollywood Bowl, Madison Square Garden and others. His third album Honeymind, produced by 9x GRAMMY® Award winner Dave Cobb, was released on May 31, 2024.

Platt won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his groundbreaking performance as Evan in Dear Evan Hansen and later went on to reprise his role in the Universal film adaptation alongside Julianne Moore and Amy Adams. Ben starred in the highly popular Netflix series by Ryan Murphy, The Politician, where he served as the executive producer on the series – his performance in Season 1 earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and the show received a nomination for Best Comedy. Additionally, Platt began filming alongside Beanie Feldstein Merrily We Roll Along, which will be shot over a 20 year period, directed by Richard Linklater. Last fall, Platt was seen in the Amazon film, The People We Hate at The Wedding alongside Allison Janney and Kristen Bell. Other film and TV highlights include Pitch Perfect 1 & 2, Ricky & the Flash, The Premise and a guest appearance on Will & Grace.

Nathan Gunn’s interest in music began in South Bend, Indiana where he grew up. He sang in his school musicals and his church choir, but it wasn’t until his junior year of high school after being introduced to Mozart’s opera, Die Zauberflöte, that he thought of devoting his life to it. Consumed by a desire to learn more, Nathan went the University of Illinois to study music and was mentored by pianist John Wustman and master teacher William Miller. 

As a performer, Nathan is respected as an artist, a musician, and as a singing actor. He has performed on the greatest stages in the world, as well as television, radio, video recording, and live simulcasts, and he is proud to have premiered over a dozen new operas during his twenty-five years on the stage.  Nathan’s famous portrayal of Papageno (The Magic Flute) was brought to the world stage in the first ever live HD broadcast performed at the Metropolitan Opera. In addition to Papageno, Nathan has reinterpreted classic roles such as Billy Budd, Figaro, and Don Giovanni, garnering many awards, including a Grammy award for his portrayal of Billy Budd and the coveted Beverly Sills award. He has also been widely acclaimed for his work in musical theater.  His performances of Billy Bigelow, Lancelot (both for Live at Lincoln Center) and Max von Mayerling at the John F. Kennedy Center’s Broadway Center Stage and most recently Emile DeBecque have been widely acclaimed as well and have led to collaborations with such Broadway stars as Mandy Patinkin, Stephanie J. Block, Kelli O’Hara, and Audra McDonald. Nathan also finds directing for the stage quite enjoyable.  He recently directed the world premiere of Ilya Demutsky’s absurdist comic opera “Black Square” at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts which is the home of Lyric Theatre @ Illinois.

Nathan and his wife, Julie, have been married for 32 years and have been partners in music for even more. They are often seen in recital and cabaret settings where they enjoy creating programs unique to the special event. In the Fall of 2023, “Nathan Gunn: The Art of Opera” was on display at The Peoria Riverfront Museum. This was a curation of famous prints and posters designed to promote the premieres of new operatic and musical theater productions. The display was brought to life through musical performances designed to highlight the pieces. Through their production company, Shot in the Dark, they are creating and producing a new musical by composer Peter Hilliard and librettist Matthew Boresi.  Currently, it’s being workshopped with the help of Lyric Theatre @ Illinois and will be premiered in its 2024-25 season.

In addition to life as a performer and educator, Nathan is an avid promoter and advocate of the arts.  He and Julie care very much about the younger generation and support programs that help them develop their artistic potential. 

Nathan and Julie raised their five children in Champaign, Illinois, where they have lived since 1989.  

he/him SIGNATURE: In the Heights BROADWAY: Bad Cinderella. OFF-BROADWAY: Oratorio for Living Things. NEW YORK: Carnegie Hall: Austen’s Pride. DC AREA: Shakespeare Theatre Company: Evita. REGIONAL: Ogunquit Playhouse: Frozen; Muny: Les Miserables, In the Heights; Riverside: Evita, On Your Feet; Papermill Playhouse: Unmasked, On Your Feet; Maltz Jupiter: West Side Story. TV: FBI Most Wanted (CBS), Jesus Christ Superstar Live (NBC). AWARDS: Lucille Lortel Award Winner (Oratorio For Living Things, Best Ensemble) EDUCATION: Florida State University: B.M in Musical Theatre Instagram: @imangellozada

SIGNATURE: …Forum, Assassins, A Little Night Music (Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical), Titanic, The Fix; Gypsy; Crossing; Company; Hello, Dolly! (Ford’s Theatre co-production); The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; Brother Russia; The Hollow; The Boy Detective Fails; Les Misérables; ACE; The Happy Time; Merrily We Roll Along; Allegro; Follies; Side Show; Sweeney Todd. BROADWAY: Ragtime (2009 revival). DC AREA: Round House Theatre: Next to Normal. Kennedy Center: Ragtime, Sunday in the Park..., Passion, Merrily We Roll Along; Arena Stage: Fiddler on the Roof, Damn Yankees; Shakespeare Theatre: Candide; Ford’s Theatre: Ragtime, 110 in the Shade (Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical); Olney Theatre: Beauty and the Beast, Matilda, On the Town; Studio Theatre: Bachelorette. REGIONAL: Goodman Theatre: Candide. RECORDINGS: Because (solo LP).

SIGNATURE: Where the Mountain Meets the Sea (Natalie/Musician 2), Ragtime (Sarah, 2024 HHA for Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical), Gun and Powder (Flo), Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon), Broadway in the Park, Signature Vinyl. NEW YORK: The Public: GODDESS (Zawadi/Nadira U/S), GODDESS 2021/2023 Workshop (Zawadi). NATIONAL TOUR: Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (Bea). REGIONAL: Paper Mill: After Midnight (Sassy); Berkeley Rep: GODDESS (Zawadi). DC AREA: Kennedy Center: RENT (Joanne), Me…Jane (Maisie), Chasing the Wind (Abby); Ford’s: Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife), The Wiz (Glinda/Dorothy u/s); Theatre J: Intimate Apparel (Mayme); Round House: School Girls (Ama); Caroline, or Change (Dottie); Imagination: Charlie Brown (Lucy); ArtsCentric: AIDA (Aida), MEMPHIS (Felicia); Studio: SILENCE! (Ardelia); OTC: Co-Writer of The Joy That Carries You (2023 Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play), Children of Eden Concert (Eve). EDUCATION: Montgomery College. IG: @_kujichagulia_