Cast
![]() Maho Honda as Mariko Aso
Originally from Ibaraki, Japan, Maho Honda is a NYC-based actress. Maho began her career as a model and participated in numerous international modeling shows including China Fashion Week. Modeling awards include; The Grand Prix at The Toray Campaign Girl Contest 2004 (Tokyo), 4th Prize/The Media Attention Prize at the Asian Super Model Contest 2006 (Beijing). Prior to coming to the U.S., Maho acted in more than 15 national TV commercials for major companies and several TV dramas including Mama no Kamisama for Tokyo Broadcast Station. Website: www.mahohonda.com ![]() Philip Lakin as Kyle Davies
Philip Lakin is an actor living in the most talented city in the world. He likes to take advantage of this by collaborating with his friends in the making of theater, stand-up comedy, film, improv, and occasionally freestyle rapping. He officially became an NYC actor when he was featured on the original "Law & Order," and has since appeared in the film "A Good Night To Die" (Tribeca Film Festival), "Campus Life" (directed by Kathy Scorsese), and "Nikki and Sara Live" on MTV. He studied at Muhlenberg College, The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and The William Esper Studio. He is thrilled to be working on 2 Ave and its amazing creative team. Member AEA, SAG-AFTRA Twitter: @PhilipLakin ![]() Tatsuo Ichikawa as Takenaka san
Born and raised in Tokyo, he currently resides in New York City. His credits include an acclaimed role as "Mr. Toyama" in the HBO drama series, "Treme", the antique store owner/ the code breaker, Akihiro in "White Collar" (USA Network). He was in the Disney film, "College Road Trip", playing the Sister Christian singing tour bus passenger, as well as in "Gigantic", "Kung Fu Graffiti", "Swimming Away", among others. He has also appeared in Saturday Night Live (NBC) and Late Night with Conan O'Brien (NBC). Most recently, the film "The Misadventures of Dr. Wonderfoot" in which he played the title role won "Best in Show" at the indie film festival, Flux Fest 2013 in Brooklyn, New York. ![]() Gianmarco Soresi as Anthony
Gianmarco Soresi wishes he was originally from Tokyo, Japan but is actually from Potomac, Maryland (but he tells people Washington DC to look cool). An actor, stand-up comedian and writer-recent credits include Blue Bloods (CBS), Audition (Film), a Comedy Central AXE Promo, The Power of Knowing (Short), Spoon River (Columbia Stages), and Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. He doesn't like talking about his college and prefers to think of himself as a graduate of the Ward Studio. He is currently working on a new webseries of his own called "An Actor Unprepared". Check out the Indiegogo page @ http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/an-actor-unprepared/x/3924967 ![]() Akira Takayama as Tadashi
Akira has performed in many film and television productions in Japan. In the United States, he played Gandzalin in the Broadway production of Zoya’s Apartment, Lau Hing in the Theatre Row production of Bitter Cane, and Ron in the Vassar Power House Theatre production of Mirrors Remembered. On film, he has portrayed Matsuji, the male lead in Miramax’s Picture Bride; Hisao, in Universal’s Snow Falling on Cedars; a businessman in Disney’s Old Dogs; and the father in the independent Year of The Fish. Akira recently played Lt. Mamiya in the stage adaptation of Haruki Murayama’s Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, which was presented at the Edinburgh (Scotland) Theatre Festival (2011) and at the Singapore Arts Festival (2012). Akira lives in New York City and travels extensively in Asia. ![]() Yasu Suzuki as Takenaka
Yasu Suzuki is an actor, dancer and filmmaker based in NY. He was appearing a live TV show “Gojisat Magazine” in his home country, Japan 1988-1991 seasons and played many memorable characters in sketch comedies. Stage roles include Krego in The Gold Standard. Larry in A Chorus Line and Nichole in La Cage Aux Folles. Films include Puccini for Beginners. His second short film Radius Squared Times Heart won the best comedy short film at the Manhattan Film Festival. ![]() Al Nazemian as the Si-Fi director, Sebastian
Al is an Iranian-American actor based in NYC. He graduated from Brown University with a BA in theatre and also studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He recently played Roland in the film "A Walk Among the Tombstones" with Liam Neeson and played Bilal in a few episodes of the TV show "Damages". Other film & tv credits include "Teknolust" with Tilda Swinton, "Nola" with Emmy Rossum, "Law & Order", "Elementary", "Rubicon", "Saturday Night Live" & "Late Night with Conan O'Brien". Al speaks six languages, but does not speak Japanese. ![]() Nicole Lockley as Administration Office Worker, Claire
Nicole is a Philadelphia based actress. She found her love for the stage at a young age through church plays at First Baptist Church of Morton. She continued to act through middle and high school, and was featured in two productions while attending Lincoln University. In 2011 Nicole made her Philadelphia stage debut in The Repast featured at the Adrienne Theater, which was brought back by popular demand in 2012. She has most recently appeared in several short films and theater productions in Philadelphia and plans on moving to Atlanta in 2014 to pursue her acting career full-time. |
![]() Tsukasa Kondo as Taichi Kawamoto
Originally from Kobe, Japan. Tsukasa is a NYC-based writer and actor. His recent acting credit includes The Misadventures Of Dr. Wonderfoot (Best Picture at Flux Fest) and Route 58 (The 2013 Marché du Film). He has performed at numerous international venues such as Abingdon Theater and the Japan Society. As an art educator, he organized and produced a workshop/performance tour in Japan with dancers from the Juilliard School in summer 2010. Recently he hosted a cross-cultural, performing arts event, Enjoy Japan 2013 at Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center. Website: www.tsukasakondo.com ![]() Toshiji Takeshima as Interviewer
Originally from Tokyo. Recent theatre credits: Anchin in Dojoji (Pan Asian Rep), The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (World Premiere/Edinburgh int’l Festival, Singapore Arts Festival and Public Theatre UR Festival), The Shanghai Gesture (Mirror Rep), Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire (Mississippi Mud) The Prince in Sleeping Beauty (NYSTI), Honor (Prospect Theatre Company), In the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel (WHTC), Summerfolk/dir.Austin Pendleton, Three Sisters, The Old House (HB Playwrights Theatre), Rashomon (Common Basis), Lun Tha in The king & I (Broadway Palm) and more. Film/TV: “How To Make It In America” (HBO), Cashmere Mafia (ABC), Hungry for Gold (IOC), Happy Endings (ABC) and much more. Numerous appearances on stages, films, TV and commercials in Japan, including “Soft Bank” with Brad Pitt, directed by Spike Jonze. www.toshijitakeshima.com ![]() Kiyo Takami as Ririka
Most recently seen in Pan Asian Repertory's Off-Broadway production, Dojoji -The Man Inside the Bell (U.S. Premiere). Some of her favorite credits include: South Pacific (PA Shakespeare Festival), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre), Lena's Way (Abington Theatre Complex- U.S. Premiere), Seussical the Musical(Weathervane Theatre)The Hyperglot (dir. Michael Urie) and Hanafuda (dir. Laurie Arakaki). www.KiyoTakami.com ![]() Jack Dilday as Joe
Originally from Long Beach, CA, Jack is a NYC-based actor. He is a recent graduate of the William Esper Studio of Acting where he studied for 2 years under renowned acting teacher Bill Esper. Since arriving in New York two years ago, Jack has acted in several Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway shows. Upcoming productions include Jane Bowles' "In the Summer House" and the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival in September, as well as Tennessee Williams' "The Mutilated" at The New Ohio Theater in November. For more information, check out his website at www.jackdilday.com ![]() Kaori Oiwa as Natsu
Originally from Aichi, Japan. Kaori has performed extensively in the US and Japan for over 20 years as an actor, singer, dancer and adviser to a host of different projects. Her performance credits include: In Ghostly Japan (Hudson Guild Theater), Children's Day-Peach Boy(Japan Society), Voice of The Wind(Fringe Festival NY), The Audition(Gene Theater NY), Job & the Snake(Calvary Theater NY). She is also a boxer and was a Daily News Golden Gloves finalist at Madison Square Garden in 2007 and a Long Island Champion in 2011. ![]() Joel Bernstein as Joseph
Joel Bernstein is an actor based in New York, where, among other credits, he's appeared on Broadway as Eddie Brock in Born Yesterday, enjoyed a six-year run Off Broadway as Mortimer in The Fantasticks, and played Shylock in The Merchant of Venice at the Pearl Theatre. He's toured nationally in Fiddler on the Roof and performed at regional theatres such as Florida Studio, Denver Center, Cleveland Play House, and Berkshire Theatre Festival. TV work includes Law & Order and Chappelle’s Show. ![]() Bridget Fitzgerald as the baby mother, Laura
Bridget is an actress & comedian described as "striking, charismatic, and beautiful" by Thomas A. Reilly (AD, Mighty Aphrodite & Big) as well as "luminous & charming" by BestNewYorkComedy.com. Feature films: Pearl, Things I Don't Understand, ...Around, Joe's War (Ed Asner, Armand Assante). Short films: Wedding Day (by Peter Sterling of Detachment), A Life In Shadows (Cannes 2013), & Down Force. She hopes our Japanese viewers have seen her commecials for Olay Skincare or will soon in ads for IBM. She's written for herself, starring in sitcom pilot Musie (Katra Film Series Best of June 2013) & as a lead in webseries "The Admin". She performs improv weekly in NY at QSIC. Make her your BF by saying hi @smileybridge or bridgetfitzgerald.com. =) <3 <3 ![]() Rebecka Ray as Julia
Rebecka is a NY based actress. Film and TV Credits include: The Knick, directed by Stephen Soderbergh, GUILTY, starring Cuba Gooding, Jr; and as Tim Blake Nelson's wife in DETACHMENT, starring Adrien Brody, directed by Tony Kaye; featured on Law and Order SVU; multiple episodes of THE ONION on IFC. Theatre credits include the following: Off-Broadway: Ros Openwork in THE ROARING GIRLE by Alice Tuan, directed by Melanie Joseph at the Foundry Theater; Ida in THE IDENTICAL SAME TEMPTATION written and directed by Bob Glaudini at the Theater for the New City; EATING SKELETONS by Jen Rudin at the Variations Theatre Festival, directed by Tracy Francis Cameron. Proud member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA. |
2nd Avenue Creative Team

Mari Kawade
Director/Chief Producer
Mari is a Japanese film director, producer, and writer. Her movie Seeing (2010) won 1st Place Experimental Movie and Best Cinematography Experimental Movie at Los Angeles Movie Awards 2010. She won the Award of Merit (The Accolade Competition 2008), and Short Film Award (Skyfest Film & Script Festival 2008) for her short movie Vanishing Point (2008) as well. www.marikawade.com
Director/Chief Producer
Mari is a Japanese film director, producer, and writer. Her movie Seeing (2010) won 1st Place Experimental Movie and Best Cinematography Experimental Movie at Los Angeles Movie Awards 2010. She won the Award of Merit (The Accolade Competition 2008), and Short Film Award (Skyfest Film & Script Festival 2008) for her short movie Vanishing Point (2008) as well. www.marikawade.com

Tsukasa Kondo
Writer/Actor/Producer
Tsukasa is a New-York-based writer and actor. His credit as a writer includes Nagano no Elevator and Take Five, both produced at Apoc Theater (Tokyo), and directed by award-winning director Eriko Ogawa. In Summer 2012, he wrote and directed his first full-length play in English, In Ghostly Japan, in collaboration with Theater Arts Japan at Hudson Guild Theater. In Ghostly Japan was a New York Magazine's "Critics' Pick." www.tsukasakondo.com
Writer/Actor/Producer
Tsukasa is a New-York-based writer and actor. His credit as a writer includes Nagano no Elevator and Take Five, both produced at Apoc Theater (Tokyo), and directed by award-winning director Eriko Ogawa. In Summer 2012, he wrote and directed his first full-length play in English, In Ghostly Japan, in collaboration with Theater Arts Japan at Hudson Guild Theater. In Ghostly Japan was a New York Magazine's "Critics' Pick." www.tsukasakondo.com

Maho Honda
Actor/Producer
CEO of Tall Trees Playground, LLC., a production company based in NY.
www.mahohonda.com
Actor/Producer
CEO of Tall Trees Playground, LLC., a production company based in NY.
www.mahohonda.com
Crew
Director
Mari Kawade
Writer
Tsukasa Kondo
Mari Kawade
Writer
Tsukasa Kondo
Cinematographer
Katsumi Funahashi Visual Editor Saori Yamamoto http://www.saori-yamamoto.com/ Assistant Director Brendan Swift Kerri Accardi Raven Jensen Production Assistant Anabel Caibedo Kimberly McCauley Rebecca Mei Ken Yoshioka Julie Han Keita Kawahara Annie Saekang Tahnee Tangherlini Zhi Wang Music New Beard newbeardcity.com “Moment of Peace” “Doom” “Jocelyn’s Toothache” “Solamente Cloud” “My People are Around” “I Walk the Streets” “Blood from a Stone” “Lord of Japan" |
Sound Recording
Nick Do Richard Hamilton Eric Perez Daimon Glenn Sound Editor Soichiro Migita Richard Hamilton Makeup Artist Crystal Soveroski http://www.make-upbycrystal.com/ Fukusima Dialect coach Mayuna Shimizu Choreographer Hiroko Yonekura Pothead acting coach T.T |
Executive Producer
Mario Sato
Production
Tall Trees Playground, LLC.
Mario Sato
Production
Tall Trees Playground, LLC.
Please feel free to contact us!
Copyright© Tall Trees Playground, LLC. All rights reserved.