LAURIE THOMAS*^ (Director) is co-founder and co-artistic chair of FUSION. She is a director, actor, educator, and writer. Her professional credits for acting and directing include work at Berkeley Shakespeare Festival, Theater Rhinoceros, Alice B. Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Samuel French Off Off Broadway Festival, Northwest Asian American Theatre, On the Boards, A Contemporary Theatre, Southwest Repertory Theatre, The Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival, Berkeley Stage Company, The Empty Space, and Bay Area Playwrights Festival. Her most recent work at FUSION includes directing EUREKA DAY, ONE FLEA SPARE, and NATIVE GARDENS; playing “Hazel” in THE CHILDREN and “Mom” in TRUE WEST; and conceiving & directing GAZING for the Albuquerque Museum.

JACQUELINE REID*^ (Isidora) is a founder of FUSION. Lead roles include THE RIVER, ONE FLEA SPARE, WITCH, TWO-CHARACTER PLAY, A DOLL’S HOUSE PART 2, HEISENBERG, OLD TIMES, THE 39 STEPS, THE HOMECOMING, THE OTHER PLACE, CLYBOURNE PARK, OTHER DESERT CITIES, TIME STANDS STILL, GOD OF CARNAGE, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, PARLOUR SONG, SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER, HEDDA GABLER, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, CLOSER, and CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Film/TV: HEAT LIGHTNING (Best Actress Oregon Film Fest), DOC WEST, TRIGGERMAN, PLUGGED (festival Best), IN PLAIN SIGHT, UNSOLVED MYSTERIES, SUPERIOR COURT, and TRUE CONFESSIONS. Regional premieres: THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE, LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER, ESCAPED ALONE, THE UNEXPECTED MAN, THE NIGHT ALIVE, TRIBES, and FREUD'S LAST SESSION. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

RYAN JASON COOK* (Bill) has been working within the Albuquerque theatre community since college, back in the early 2000's, as a producer, director, writer, actor, stage manager, and designer. With over 200 theatre productions under his belt, he is excited to be performing once again with FUSION. He was last seen in their spring productions of EURIKA DAY and THE SEVEN 2026. This last fall, he directed ARSENIC AND OLD LACE at Albuquerque Little Theatre and designed and built the sets for THE RIVER with Westend Productions and MACBETH with the New Mexico Shakespeare Festival. Next month, he will be designing and building the set for 84 Charing Cross Road with Westend Productions. All in all, in the year 2026, Ryan worked on 13 different productions across the city, and 2027 is already shaping up to be another busy, theatre-filled year. He has acted in a multitude of film and television productions over the years, and will be seen in the upcoming TV Series, THE HIVE, in 2027.

WENDY BARKER (Lizzie) is excited to be back this year at FUSION after fighting off a cloud in THE SEVEN 2026 and practicing her AIRSWIMMING in the Spring. Other favorite FUSION roles include: “Helen” in LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER and “Ginger Rogers” in BACKWARD IN HEELS. Other Recent roles: “Carla/Alaura” in CITY OF ANGELS;“Angie” in THE PROM at Devon Frieder Productions & ALT; “Heidi” in WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME; “Anette” in GOD OF CARNAGE, The Vortex Theatre (NM Ent. Mag. Award: Best Actress in a Play); “Baker’s Wife” in INTO THE WOODS; “Diana” in NEXT TO NORMAL, Musical Theatre Southwest; “Martha” in WHITE CHRISTMAS at Landmark Musicals. Recent Choreo/Director Credits include FROZEN THE MUSICAL, Co-Choreographer (Orly Award: Best Choreography); CITY OF ANGELS at ALT; Director, THE SEVEN at FUSION. Wendy is VP of the Board for New Mexico High School Musical Theatre Awards and is the Director/Choreographer for the Enchantment Awards. Wendy is now a Residential Realtor by day, night, and weekend, working alongside her amazing husband, Zane Barker.

IMANI CALDWELL (Joanne) is elated to return to the FUSION stage, having previously performed in THE SEVEN and appeared as “Winter” in EUREKA DAY and “Gillian” in GAZING in collaboration with the Albuquerque Museum. Originally from Atlanta, her passion for performance began early, fueled by local productions with her family. A graduate of NMSU with a B.A. in Theatre Arts, she was honored with the Hershel Zohn Outstanding Senior Award and Graduate Grant. She is currently signed with the O’ Agency, and recent credits include “Ogden Jatthews/Rube Waddell” in GHOSTRUNNERS (Spiral Theater), “Auggie” in TIO, “Rahab” in MADDI SAINT GRACE, and “Hospital Administrator” in MR. SPACESHIP. Imani sends a heartfelt thanks to her mentors, past and present, including the Todes, Larissa Lury, Nichole Hamilton, and Jon Jory.

ASHLEY DELEONA (Dora) is an actress and slam poet originally from Texas. She is thrilled to return to FUSION after appearing in their museum collaborations, GAZING, and not LOST but FOUND in TRANSLATION, and “Tania” in NATIVE GARDENS. Other credits include “Rachel” in LAVA at The Vortex, and “Sherlock Holmes” at The Overtime Theatre. This performance is for all the chingonas in her life, past and present, who’ve celebrated and lifted her up through her many seasons of life.

WENDY SCOTT (Margie) is delighted to be joining FUSION for this regional premiere of LIBERATION! Additional productions with FUSION include GAZING, NATIVE GARDENS, TO ROSA, LOVE ANNA, MS. HOLMES AND MS. WATSON, APT. 2B, THE MOORS, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES, and DEATH OF A SALESMAN, and over a dozen seasons with THE SEVEN Short Works Festival. She is a BFA graduate of the UNM Theatre Arts Program and is a SAG actor with Bankston Talent. Wendy also works in the Rio Rancho Public Schools as a teaching artist and project manager with The Santa Fe Opera's ALTO program. A million thanks to the women who have paved the way!