We are thrilled to announce two new Resident Artists, actors Brianna Kalisch and Brian Demar Jones. Both are passionate, generous collaborators who each bring tremendous energy and insight into our process. We look forward to learning from them, supporting their artistry and making theatre with them!
BRIANNA KALISCH
Brianna first met The Anthropologists in 2011 attending jam sessions and has collaborated on several project in the intervening years, including development of The Lecture, The Blackout, and No Man’s Land. She most recently appeared as Linden and a robot in The Anthropologists Save The World (Ice Factory 2017) and will premiere This Sinking Island at University Settlement this October. She has worked internationally in both Australia and the UK performing circus and theatre. Favorite credits include: Seline in the premiere of Anna Jordan's new play A Serious Case of the Fuckits, multiple acts for 360circus at Streb, and has worked with The Queens Theatre, The Garage Theatre Group, MN Shakespeare and Company, and others. She received her MA from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
BRIAN DEMAR JONES
Born in Orlando and raised in Rochester, New York and being the only yankee in his family, Brian has worked as a theater artist for over fifteen years. He is absolutely thrilled to have found an artistic home with The Anthropologists where his potential for growth is exponential. Brian started his career predominately performing in musicals, which will always be his first love. He has worked in new works of musical theater with Village Theater and Book-It Theatre Seattle, Fuse Theatre in Portland, Oregon, here in NYC on Benji Goldsmith's Scorched, and the Off-Broadway musical All Aboard (Algonquin Productions). In 2011, he fell in love with Shakespeare while working for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. There, he had the opportunity to direct, teach a summer musical theater camp, and be part of OSF’s Acting Company for four shows. He then moved to Portland, where he enjoyed a career of playing roles that helped grow as an artist, singer, and a human being. Most notable were The Brother/Sister Plays, Little Shop of Horrors where he played Orin, Winter’s Tale, Batboy in Batboy: The Musical, and his first award-winning devised piece called Snowstorm. After living in the Pacific Northwest, he moved to Idaho and then back to Portland, only to make the trek once again to NYC where lives now. While in Idaho, he had the opportunity to study Directing and work for the Idaho Repertory Theatre. Since returning to NYC, Brian has worked on a handful of shows and new play festivals. He started his relationship with the Anthropologists during their production of No Man’s Land where he played Reggie, and recently played the role of Oscar in The Anthropologists Save The World!, part of New Ohio's Ice Factory Festival. He holds a B.A from SUNY Binghamton and an M.F.A. from the University of Washington in Seattle. He also works as a acting coach, teaching artist, cabaret singer, and director.