The Overview
Effect

Lena

Sasheer Zamata

Sasheer is an actress, comedian, and writer best known for Saturday Night Live (2014–2017) and starring roles in Woke, Home Economics, and Agatha All Along. She has released two acclaimed stand-up spe…

Elle

Tawny Newsome

Tawny is an actress, comedian, writer, and musician known for voicing Beckett Mariner in Star Trek: Lower Decks, Angela Ali in Netflix's Space Force, and Chelsea Leight-Leigh in Bajillion Dollar Prope…

Michael

Bryan Mittelstadt

This Texas-born heartthrob trained operatically in New York, and recently won Best Actor at the 21st Durango Film Festival for Quiet After Supper. His projects include Julius at the Torino Film Festiv…

Simon

Jasper Boykin III

Jumping off the billboard and onto the stage, Jasper is a Los Angeles-based actor, singer, and model with a degree in theater. He won Best Actor at the LA 48 Hour Film Project and has starred in Do Me…

Hannah

Tessa Hersh

Tessa Claire Hersh is an actor, writer, and performer. An alum of the ABC Diversity Showcase and a UCB-trained performer, her television credits include Grey’s Anatomy, Younger, and Desus & Mero. Her…

Tim

Jake Delaney

Jake uses his impeccable comedic timing as a writer, actor, and director. He starred in Mommy at REDCAT’s 2025 NOWfest, co-created The Filth (Best Writing in a Comedy, SeriesFest), and wrote and direc…

James

Matthew Baker

Endlessly tasteful and wildly witty, The Overview Effect is Matthew’s return to the stage after being a Los Angeles-based attorney and member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA).

Ensemble

Jimmy Thornton

Jimmy is a Los Angeles-based actor and dancer who left Stanford to follow his heart. He writes and performs original sketches and characters, co-founded the Carnival Barker sketch comedy team at The P…

Ensemble

Willis Hao

Willis hails from Atlanta, Georgia, with credits including A Chorus Line and West Side Story (City Springs), Heathers (Actor’s Express), and Children of Eden (Aurora Theater). He is joining the next M…

Ensemble

Nia Johnson

Nia is a Los Angeles native whose work spans acting, dancing, stage managing, and background casting. Her immersive theater credits include Dark Library: Paris 1925, Edgar Allen Poe, and Time Machine,…

Ensemble

Janelle Cruz

Janelle Cruz comes to us from Guam. She enjoys teaching her Pilates clients at Back to Wellness and Pilates Fitness Encino. She has performed for Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession, and Glowfest, both…

Ensemble

Paislee Tanoura-Estrada

Paislee Tanoura-Estrada is a performer based in Los Angeles who has been dancing and performing since the age of 8. Previous credits include A Chorus Line (Conejo Players Theatre), Footloose (High Str…

Writer, Director & Producer

Neil Zumwalde

Neil is a musician, producer, and developer (he built this website). He fronted ZibraZibra, produces for Koo Koo, and co-hosts the comedy podcast Premeditated. A UCB-trained performer and GMCLA member…

Writer & Music Director

Ethan Holmes

Ethan beats the house down in Austin at karaoke as a composer and trained pianist with roots in gospel music. He’s Music Director and co-writer of The Overview Effect, bringing a range that spans chur…

Writer

Micah Mackert

Micah is a writer, performer and creative director based in Minneapolis. He’s developed campaigns and identities for dozens of companies, and even named a few. He fronted the band Moonstone Continuum…

Assistant Director

Tess Sorensen

Tess is a Los Angeles-based performer and UCB-trained improviser. She dances with Thick Strip, LA’s original size-inclusive strip show, and performs in drag shows.

Assistant Director

Brydi Frances

Brydi most recently produced and starred in Crooked Pixie Productions’ Danny and the Deep Blue Sea at West Hollywood’s Marilyn Monroe Theatre.

Choreographer

Jan Redondo

Jan is a Filipino American dancer, singer, and actor based in Los Angeles. He grew up performing Traditional Filipino Folk Dance and musical theatre, and trained with Sodium Dance Project. He currentl…

Audio / Music Producer

Aaron Baum

Aaron is a Minneapolis-based multi-instrumentalist, producer, and recording engineer. A core member of Sid Sriram and Har Mar Superstar's touring bands, he co-produced and mixed the album Roseville at…

Bass

Momin Ahmad

Momin is a bassist based between Austin and New York, playing both upright and electric. He plays in Texas String Assembly, has toured with Yuno, and is the founder of MOCO Music & Arts Festival.

Drums

Jared Isabella

Minneapolis runs on a certain kind of pulse. Jared Isabella has been keeping it since he was eleven years old. He bought his first kit with his own money — from the drummer in his brother's band — and…

Synth

Leo Vondracek

Leo is the frontman of dance-pop band Hot Freaks, whose track ‘Puppy Princess’ went viral on TikTok. He also plays in The Golden Bubbles with his brother Christopher, releases solo music as Joey Joey…

Guitar

Erick Barrientos

Erick is a musician, composer, and producer born, raised, and based in Los Angeles. He is a classically trained guitarist, UCB-trained performer, and can be found performing in or playing guitar for v…

Sound Engineer

Brock Lammers

Brock is a Minneapolis-based sound engineer and venue programmer. He has worked at Sound Gallery Studios and Bedlam Theatre, and helped build the live music program at Mortimer's, filling the void lef…

Production

Holt Dunlap