Antonio Duke is an actor and playwright who strives to create stories that embody the black diaspora as authentically as possible. In his writing he focuses on mythology, which possesses “an intimacy and epic quality he’s driven to explore.” Duke is passionate about making ancient stories anew with modern circumstances. A recent graduate of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program, Duke has worked onstage with Penumbra Theatre, Teatro Del Pueblo, Pillsbury House Theatre, Climb Theatre, Pangea World Theatre, Open Eye Figure Theatre, Mission Theatre Company; Day In, Day Out Productions and Nebraska Shakespeare Festival.

A.P. Looze is an artist who seeks the truth, and goes on heartfelt and honest adventures to find it. They make work that touches on concepts of spirituality and healing by way of personal narrative, investigation and inquiry of past experience, and whatever is at their fingertips or on their mind. Their work has been performed as part of 20% Theatre Company’s Naked I and Q-Stage, at Queertopia, Patrick’s Cabaret, Bryant Lake Bowl and Madame.

Ifrah Mansour is a Somali multimedia artist, performer and educator who uses art to bridge cultures and generations. “My artwork is informed by my lived experience, and that of my community as Muslim refugees and Somali immigrants.” Mansour binds multiple genres to create multi-sensory artwork that illuminates the invisible stories of immigrants. Her artwork takes the form of plays, poetry, installations, puppetry and community collaborations. Her work has been seen at the Minnesota State Fair and Northern Spark Festival, as well as by primarily East African immigrant youth and elders at educational performances. Recent art and performance works include My Aqal, Somalia’s Balloon, Lablaab the Spill, Isug, Corn for Ayayo, and the films Stray and Can I Touch It currently on display as part of the “I am Somali” exhibition at Minneapolis Institute of Arts.