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FILIPE VALLE COSTA Founder & Artistic Director
Filipe is a multidisciplinary artist from Lisbon, Portugal. He holds a B.A. in Theatre (Honors) from Graceland University and a M.F.A. in Acting from the University of Florida. Filipe is the Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Saudade Theatre and has taught Acting with Waterwell Theater, Rosie’s Theater Kids and The Shakespeare Forum. Filipe’s onstage acting credits include: Torera (Alley), Good Grief (INTAR), Lilia (Rising Circle), I’m Dreaming (But Am I) (Cherry Lane), Henry V, Love’s Labors Lost (Shakespeare Forum), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Northern Stage), End Days, Sirens, Dracula (Hippodrome), El Comanchero, My Favorite Suicide, The Constitution (Saudade Theatre). TV credits include: Snowfall (FX), Chicago Med (NBC), Blue Bloods (CBS), Gotham (FOX), Unicornland. Film credits include: Geostorm, Son of a Kingpin, Posthumous. Filipe is the proud recipient of the 2022 PALCUS Artistic Achievement Award.
DIOGO MARTINS Associate Artistic Director
Diogo is an actor, writer, and producer from Lisbon, Portugal, now based in New York City. He holds an MFA in Acting from the Actors Studio Drama School and is an original member of the Actors Theatre of New York. Diogo was also part of the 2014 LAByrinth Theatre Intensive Ensemble. In addition to his theatre work—acting, writing, and producing—he has appeared in several independent short films and lent his voice to various projects, including the audiobook of José Saramago’s Skylight. On television, Diogo is known for his role on FBI (CBS).
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PEDRO MARNOTO PEREIRA Resident Artist
Pedro’s work has ranged from fiction to documentary film, theatre, and live video performance. “Gu” (2015) played at the NY Portuguese Short Film Festival and Caminhos do Cinema Português. The documentary “Voices in the Fog“ (2018) was screened as part of the Dock-u-mentaries series at the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center. "Of Another Place" (2023) was selected for the Leiria Film Fest and the Leuven Int Short Film Festival. For the stage, Pedro co-wrote and co-directed Saudade Theatre's first original production, "El Comanchero or [The Path to the Kingdom of Heaven]" (2022). In 2019, Pedro collaborated with musician Renato Diz on the video performance "At a Volume Only You Can Hear", which premiered at RHI-Think Festival. Pedro is pursuing an MFA at the Stanford Documentary Film and Video program. His first feature film, "Lá!", is currently in post-production.
PEDRO CARMO Resident Artist
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Pedro, originally from Lisbon, is an actor and theatre director now based in NYC. His theatre credits include Broadway's Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Richard Greenberg) and Off-Broadway's Absolution (Anna Bamberger). His TV work includes Blacklist, Evil, and Person of Interest, and his film roles include The Hunter, This Side of the Resurrection, and Mysteries of Lisbon. Recently, Pedro has shifted towards directing, a passion he's steadily developed. His film Way (2016) earned him a Best Director nomination at the International Film Festival of World Cinema in Milan. He co-directed The Flying Shoelace (2020) with Pedro Marnoto Pereira, which premiered at the Los Angeles Children Film Festival in 2022. Following this, they released their latest short film, Of Another Place, in 2023.
BIBI COUCEIRO Resident Artist
Born and raised in Lisbon, Portugal, Bibi feels fortunate to have grown up surrounded by rich culture, the ocean, and endless sunshine. Now based in New York City, she is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and The Neighborhood Playhouse's intensive program. She also holds a BA in Theatre & Performance Studies from the University of Warwick, UK. However, it was in Russia, the birthplace of The Three Sisters, that she truly developed her passion for theatre. Since then, her focus has been on creating work centered around human rights, gender equality, and Portuguese history.
NICOLE AMARAL Resident Artist
Nicole Amaral is a New York City native with Brazilian roots. She has extensive experience in theater both on and off stage. She is the Company Manager of Actors Theater of NYC. Some of her recent theater credentials include: “This God Damn House” at The Chain Theater (Stage Manager), “Men on Boats” at Atlantic Theater Stage 2 (Stage Manager), “El Comanchero” with Saudade Theatre (Stage Manager), "Clue but Black Workshop" at LA Broadwater Theater (Stage Manager/Co-Director/Lighting Designer/Sound Designer/Actor), along with many other productions. She tries to do it all. Nicole is an alumna of Developing Artists Theatre Company where she was the first recipient of the Kevin Geer Scholarship.
STEPHEN RUFFIN Resident Artist
Stephen Malcolm Ruffin is an Atlantan storyteller with a B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Florida. Acting credits span TV (Chicago Fire, Snowfall, BMF, Survivor’s Remorse, Terror Lake Drive, Love Is, The Resident, Sleepy Hollow), Film (Sundance 2020 premiere Beast Beast, SXSW 2018 premiere Summer 03, Safety, Daphne & Velma, Kemba) and Theatre (Synchronicity, Alliance, Theatrical Outfit, Horizon, Atlanta Shakes, Actor’s Express, Hippodrome) and more.
ALEXIS FORTE Resident Costume Designer
Alexis was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and moved to Miami at 10, where she trained as a ballet dancer with Miami City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet School, and Alvin Ailey. Dance sparked her interest in costumes, leading her to study visual arts at Central Saint Martins in London. Immersed in theatre and film, she found her passion and launched her career in New York City after graduating. Alexis worked as an Assistant Costume Designer on films like Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Bad Times at the El Royale, Mother!, and Little Women, which won Best Costumes at the 2020 Oscars. She debuted as a lead designer with Resurrection at Sundance 2022, followed by Smile for Paramount, Eric LaRue at Tribeca 2023, and currently the Ghostbusters sequel. She also made her Broadway debut with Between Riverside and Crazy, nominated for a 2023 Tony Award. Alexis is a proud member of LAByrinth Theater Company.