Full Cast Set for CO-FOUNDERS World Premiere at A.C.T.
Performances will run from May 29–July 6, 2025.
American Conservatory Theater has revealed the the full cast and creative team for the world premiere hip-hop musical, Co-Founders, performing at A.C.T.’s Strand Theater (1127 Market St., San Francisco) from Thursday, May 29 through Sunday, July 6, 2025.
Witness the launch of the next great hip-hop musical, born in the heart of the Bay! Co-Founders is the story of an underrated young Oakland coder, Esata, who hacks her way into the most competitive startup accelerator in San Francisco. Determined to save her house as an influx of wealth threatens to push her community out, Esata forms an unlikely partnership with a prep-school dropout. In a field where the privileged make a killing while folks across the bridge grind to survive, can Esata win Silicon Valley’s game without leaving her community behind? Created by three extraordinary Bay Area voices—Ryan Nicole Austin, Beau Lewis, and Adesha Adefela—the musical features a deliciously catchy score that draws from the Bay’s rich hip-hop traditions, as well as soul, gospel, funk, jazz, R&B, and more. Employing visual technology entirely new to theater, Co- Founders is a sharply funny, deeply felt, exuberant celebration of the Bay and the dreamers, hustlers, and innovators that make it magical.
The cast of Co-Founders includes (in alphabetical order): Adesha Adefela (Deb), Austin Dean Ashford (U/S Dhameer, Dadvatar), Ryan Nicole Austin (Kamaiyah), Rolanda D. Bell (U/S Deb, Kamaiyah), Jordan Covington (Dhameer), B. DeVeaux (U/S Esata), Aneesa Folds (Esata), Roe Hartrampf (Conway), Keith Pinto (Victor), Deanalís Arocho Resto (Chadwick), Tommy Soulati Shepherd (Dadvatar), and Ryan Torres (U/S Chadwick, Victor, Conway).
Directed by Jamil Jude, the creative team for Co-Founders includes Ryan Nicole Austin (Writer), Beau Lewis (Writer/Producer), Adesha Adefela (Writer), Anthony Veneziale (Co-Producer), Victoria Theodore (Composer, Arranger, Orchestrator, Music Supervisor), Will Randolph V (Beats Producer), Juel D. Lane (Choreographer), Arnel Sancianco (Scenic Designer), Jasmine Milan Williams (Costume Designer), Xavier Pierce (Lighting
Designer), Connor Wang (Sound Designer), Frédéric O. Boulay (Projection System Designer); David Richardson (Video Content Designer), Tish Diaz (Music Director), Ben Covello (Associate Music Director), Peter Dunn Casting, LeeAnn Dowd, and Katie Craddock(Casting), Rebecca J. Ennals (Stage Manager), Megan McClintock
(Assistant Stage Manager), and Emma Walz (Assistant Stage Manager).
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