Cast & Creative

Carey Renee Sharpe makes her Off-Broadway debut as Valerie in her own original production, a lifelong dream realized.  Carey spent her childhood steeped in music, with formal violin training beginning at age three, but chose to pursue a career as a critical care pediatric nurse practitioner inspired by her personal history of congenital heart disease.  In 2018 she stepped away from healthcare and restored a historic theater in her hometown, reigniting her love of music. She has spent the past 6 years writing, developing & performing in Blood/Love.

Dru DeCaro (Co-Writer) Two-time Grammy nominee and multi-platinum selling record producer, Dru “Falconry” DeCaro has a creative catalog that reaches across genres and artistic mediums; from folk to punk to pop to hip hop; from TV to radio and now, a theatrical debut. He is guitarist and bandleader of NBC’s “Songland,” has toured the world several times over, and worked with artists as prominent and diverse as John Legend, Snoop Dogg, P!nk, Khalid, Andy Grammer and Miguel. DeCaro produced and scored the documentary Destination Angels, which has gone on to win a dozen awards, including Best Documentary Short at both Cannes Film Festival and Da Vinci International Film Fest. In Blood/Love, DeCaro hopes to bring a pop sensibility to the thriller genre, and the unbridled energy of rocknroll to the hallowed tradition of musical theater. DeCaro considers Blood/Love his best work yet.

Hunter Bird (Director) (he/him) is a Brooklyn-based theater director and writer of new works, particularly new musical theater. Currently, the Associate & Resident Director for Masquerade (immersive Phantom of the Opera), Artistic Producer of The New York SongSpace, and Artistic Consultant for Center Theatre Group. Writer/Director: The Pansy Craze starring Mason Alexander Park and guest starring Laverne Cox, Sasha Velour, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Evan Rachel Wood, Jackie Cox & Lea Delaria, (Audible at The Minetta Lane Theater; London’s Underbelly Boulevard developed with Rachel Brosnahan’s company Scrap Paper Pictures), She Reached for Heaven (SOMA Stage, Red Mountain Theater Company, Nashville Rep), and The Golden Record (Ferguson Center for the Arts). He’s developed and directed new work with Ars Nova, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, London’s Charing Cross Theater, Roundabout Theater Company, The McKittrick Hotel, Musical Theater Factory, NAMT Festival, Village Theater, and the Getty Villa. He’s held writing residencies at the Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals, Warren Miller PAC, and Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. Previous Associate/assistant director for Lynne Meadow, Des McAnuff, Diane Paulus, Alex Timbers, Pam MacKinnon, Susan Booth, Graciela Daniele, Doug Hughes, Gilbert Cates, Kristin Hanggi, The Debate Society, V (formerly Eve Ensler), and the National Theater of Scotland. Affiliations include CTG’s Mid-Career Alumni, MTC Jonathan Alpert Fellow, and The Civilians R&D Group. He has guest lectured and directed at NYU Steinhardt, Molloy College, and CAP21. Training: UCLA (BA Directing/Musical Theatre) and RADA.

Natalie Malotke (Co-Choreography) is a director, choreographer, creative event producer and teaching artist. Credits include: Associate on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Choreo Team on Broadway and National Tour), Joy: A True New Musical (Off-Broadway), Spirit of Life for China Broadway Entertainment, Candide at Carnegie Hall, and I Married an Angel at City Center, all alongside Joshua Bergasse. Mystic Pizza at La Mirada Theatre with Casey Hushion, Little Dancer at Lincoln Center with Susan Stroman, and Really Rosie at City Center with Leigh Silverman. Regional directing and choreography credits at Pioneer Theatre Company, Theatre Aspen, New London Barn Playhouse, Weston Theatre Company, The Engeman, Wagon Wheel, Pittsburgh Music Theatre, Northern Stage, and the national tour of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live!. Industrial and corporate events for Nickelodeon, CoComelon, Arts for Autism, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Hermès, Target, and The Robin Hood Foundation. TV: Choreography: SNL with Jason Sudeikis and Billie Eilish; PBS, A Capitol Fourth. Faculty at Steps, Broadway Dance Center, and Penn State University @nataliemalotke

Jonathan Platero (Co-Choreography) is an actor, dancer, and choreographer originally from Orlando, Florida. Before stepping into the entertainment industry, he spent his early years as a competitive gymnast, training intensively throughout his adolescence. That discipline and foundation in athletic performance led him to pursue a full spectrum of the performing arts, training in dance, acting, singing, and modeling. Jonathan first gained national recognition on Season 5 of Fox’s hit series “So You Think You Can Dance,” where he became one of the show’s top finalists. Shortly afterward, he moved to Los Angeles to further his career in dance and choreography. He quickly rose through the ranks and later became the resident Salsa/Ballroom choreographer on “So You Think You Can Dance,” creating both contestant routines and opening numbers for the series. His choreography credits include major television productions such as “Dancing With the Stars”, Chuck Lorre’s “Georgie and Mandi’s First Marriage,” “The Real Dirty Dancing,” and “Strictly Come Dancing.” He has also graced international stages and collaborated with global artists including Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande, Pitbull, and many more. Jonathan currently serves as supervising choreographer and producer for Univision’s #1 hit show “Mira Quien Baila” — the Latin version of Dancing With the Stars — overseeing all musical numbers. For his acting career, Jonathan has appeared on television in shows such as “Gilmore Girls,” “Glee,” and Fran Drescher’s “Happily Divorced,” and has most recently guest starred in acclaimed dramas including “S.W.A.T.” and “Will Trent.”

Oksana Platero (Co-Choreography) is an actress, dancer, and choreographer originally from Kharkiv, Ukraine. She began her career as a highly competitive Latin and ballroom dancer, representing Ukraine on the world stage before moving to the United States at 18. Years of elite training built the foundation for her signature blend of technical precision, emotional storytelling, and dynamic screen presence. Oksana gained national recognition on “Dancing With the Stars,” where she performed as part of the professional troupe for five consecutive seasons. She later joined the BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing” as a professional dancer, reaching the quarterfinals and earning international acclaim. Her choreography has been featured on major television productions including “So You Think You Can Dance,” “The Real Dirty Dancing,” “Mira Quien Baila,” “Strictly Come Dancing,” and “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.” Her performance career spans some of the most prestigious stages and global artists in the world. Oksana has danced alongside Taylor Swift, Kylie Minogue, Michael Bublé, Stevie Wonder, Shakira, and many more, bringing her artistry to live shows, televised performances, and large-scale musical productions. As an actress, Oksana has appeared in acclaimed series such as “NCIS: Hawaiʻi” (Guest Star), “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life”, “Dinner at Lou’s,” and various network dance-driven productions. Her theatre credits include principal roles and choreography in Dancing With the Movies, Dancing With the Stars at Sea, and Ballroom With a Twist. Fluent in Ukrainian and Russian and trained extensively in acting, scene study, and movement, Oksana brings a rare fusion of international experience, discipline, and artistic sensitivity to every project. She continues to expand her work across acting, choreography, and creative direction—shaping bold, emotionally resonant stories across stage and screen.

Matt Hinkley (Music Supervision) Matt is the Music Director and Co-Orchestrator for the Broadway show The Outsiders and Music Supervisor for the national tour. Matt received a Tony nomination for orchestrations and a Grammy nomination as co-producer of the original cast album. Other Broadway: Days Of Wine & Roses, SpongeBob, Bandstand, Finding Neverland, Violet, First Date, Godspell. Notable: Chess (Kennedy Center), Water For Elephants (Alliance), Camelot (Bay Street), The Circus In Winter (Goodspeed), Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center. Collaborative highlights: Sutton Foster, Caissie Levy. Love to Kym and Madeline!

Ben Covello (Music Direction) is a New York Music Director, Pianist, Conductor, Guitarist, Orchestrator, and Collaborator. He is involved in the developmental processes of new projects in collaboration with BAM, Deaf West, Manhattan Theater Club, Guild Hall, the Athens Conservatoire in Greece, Lincoln Center, American Conservatory Theater, Ars Nova, Goodspeed Opera House, New York Stage and Film, Paper Mill Playhouse, and others. Ben has played on Broadway with Wicked, Redwood, and The Outsiders. He also toured with RENT and Jesus Christ Superstar. Ben is so grateful to always be surrounded by his community of artists, friends, and family that all support and love one another unconditionally.

Jason Ardizzone-West (Set Design) is an Emmy award-winning stage designer based in New York whose work spans theater, concerts, dance, film, and architecture. From intimate black-box theaters to massive stadium arenas, Jason and his studio create embracing environments that transform storytelling into shared deeply human experiences. Originally trained as an architect, Jason brings an innate understanding of space, light, and time to designs, crafting visual narratives through collaboration that bridge the physical and emotional landscapes of performance. Jason’s recent work includes Lady Gaga’s “Mayhem Ball Tour”, Redwood on Broadway, Jon Batiste’s “The Big Money Tour”, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in London, Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl, and more.

Alex & Juli Abene (Costume Design) Juli & Alex Abene are New York based costume designers and stylists specializing in theater, live music, and immersive/site specific pieces. Their work has been seen on tour with Jon Batiste, Janelle Monáe, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Central Park SummerStage, Global Citizen Concert, Austin City Limits, Disney Style, Punchdrunk International, Third Rail Projects, Oddknock Productions, and Artemis is Burning.

Jessica Paz (Sound Design) is a multi award winning Sound Designer. She has collaborated on the Broadway productions of Hadestown (Tony and Drama Desk Award, Best Sound Design of a Musical), A Beautiful Noise, Dear Evan Hansen, Bandstand, Disaster! The Musical, The Assembled Partis, Fela! (Tony Award, Best Sound Design of a Musical) Off Broadway/Regional Sound Designs include Little Shop of Horrors (Westside Theater), Twelfth Knight, Othello, Miss you Like Hell, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and As You Like It (The Public Theater), Ugly Lies the Bone (Roundabout), A Sucker Emcee and The Muscles in Our Toes (LAByrinth), The King’s Whore (Starcatcher Productions), Becoming Dr. Ruth, (Westside Theater), Looking for the Pony (Vital Theater Co.), Women Beware Women (Red Bull Theater), Stretch – A Fantasia (New Georges). Regional credits include Water for Elephants (Alliance Theater, SUZI Award), Kiss My Aztec (Berkeley Rep, CT Critics Circle Award), Burn All Night (A.R.T Oberon Stage), Welcome to Fear City (KC Rep), Scott & Hem in the Garden of Allah and See How They Run (Barrington Stage); Legally Blonde, and 9 to 5 (North Shore Music Theater), Romeo & Juliet, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello and Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare on the Sound), SCKBSTD (Virginia Stage Co), Volcanoes Birthright (Organic Magnetics), Temp Odyssey, Her Hair Went with Her, Bookends, and Minstrel Show (NJ Rep). A proud member of IATSE Local 829; and Co-Chair of the board of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association (TSDCA).

59 Studio (Projection Design) The award-winning studio specializing in the design and integration of scenery, projection, and visual effects into live performance and artistic environments. Recent creations for 59’s immersive venue, Lightroom, include David Hockney: Bigger & Closer, The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks and Vogue: Inventing the Runway. Broadway and West End includes Ragtime, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Camelot, Flying Over Sunset, An American in Paris, Camelot, Oslo, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and War Horse. Opera includes Kavalier and Clay, Aida, Satyagraha, Two Boys, The Enchanted Island (Metropolitan Opera). 59.studio