THOMAS COKENIAS as “Ray”
Thomas (Tom) Cokenias is a veteran stage and television actor. His first stage production role was as Sydney in Lorraine Hansberry's The Sign in Sydney Brustein's. After many geographic and career changes, he returned to his passion for acting with such roles as Sammy in Exchange by Ben Fisher in San Francisco, Erie in Huey by Eugene O'Neil at the Waterfront Conservatory in Berkeley, and Dad in The Dreamer Examines His Pillow by John Patrick Shanley at the Phoenix Theater in San Francisco. Tom followed up those performances with three plays in one year at San Francisco's FireScape Theater, portraying Wyatt in Emmit and Eva" by Dominic Hoffman, Ted in The Last Barbeque by Brett Neveu, and Fred in David Mamet's Lakeboat. Between stage productions, he appeared in television shows, short films and features, among them Fruitvale Station, Man from Reno, Bullish, Love Hurts, and Chance. One of his favorite roles was Mickey Diamante in the interactive show Speakeasy in San Francisco. Tom is pleased to co-produce and bring Blackbird to the San Francisco community.
NONI WILLIAMS as “Una”
Noni Williams is making her official stage debut portraying Una in Blackbird, although she has been involved in theater since high school. She began her acting studies at the University of North Carolina's Department of Dramatic Art, continuing her training at the Beverly Hills Playhouse in California, where she performed several theatrical roles, before ultimately transferring to San Francisco to study with Robert Zimmerman and Peter Allas at Z/A Studio. Noni also appeared in several film productions. Her other creative endeavors include playing classical piano. Noni is pleased to be a co-producer and co-star for this production of Blackbird.
LILIA BERNSTEIN as “GIRL”
Lilia Bernstein is a “triple threat” of acting, singing and dance. She studied musical theater at Moon School, Broadway Kids Auditions and KOTA. Her acting education also includes Young Conservatory as part of American Conservatory Theater, Groundlings Theater and the Christensen Acting Academy. Lilia worked in numerous theater productions, including the San Francisco Opera’s version of It’s a Wonderful Life as understudy for two soloist roles, Silicon Valley Shakespeare Co. and Broadway by the Bay. She also has performed in film and Internet projects.
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, Director
Robert “Rob” Zimmerman began the Beverly Hills Playhouse San Francisco in 2009 with seven students. Rob, and later, with Peter Allas, grew the BHP/SF to nearly 100 students in five classes. In addition to serving as Artistic Director for the Firescape Theatre, Rob has directed several plays, including the SF premiere of Engagement, The Importance of Being Earnest, Four Dogs & a Bone, Sexual Perversity in Chicago and Talk Radio. Most recently, he produced and directed a widely acclaimed rendition of Yellow Face by David Henry Wang, with sold out shows in both San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Rob started working professionally at age eleven at The Sharon Playhouse. The next several years included training with Jack O’Brien (Old Globe Theater) and Tony Richardson (British National Theater) and some 60 stage productions from Connecticut to San Diego.
Rob has appeared in Twin Peaks, HBO’s The Larry Sanders Show, Port Charles and starred in the BBC made for TV movie, Murder, Too. Other film credits include the controversial Don’s Plum with Leonardo DiCaprio & Tobey Maguire and Working Trash with Ben Stiller and George Carlin. Rob also worked onstage in LA’s The Matrix Theater’s The Tavern and the Beverly Hills Playhouse as the lead in Prelude to a Kiss.
For more than 30 years, Rob has helped guide thousands of acting students.
Janaè CHERIE, STAGE MANAGER
Janaè studied acting, sets and tech at Z/A Studio. Recent projects include O’s Way, The Life of Sophie, and How to Fail in Hollywood. She holds bachelor’s degree in Human Development. She is grateful to be a part of this production.