Join us for an evening with a panel of actors from stage and screen who will discuss the joys and challenges of raising children while fostering robust careers. They will explore best practices for navigating irregular schedules, long hours, two-show days, five-performance weekends, and frequent travel. Discover how these actors manage childcare, and a myriad of school activities, play-dates, parties, and practices. Learn tips for traversing financial uncertainty and health care coverage, as well as a strategy for returning to work after a parenting hiatus.
PANELISTS
Brandon J. Dirden - Actor
Brandon J. Dirden is an award-winning actor/director, best known for portraying Agent Dennis Aderholt in the acclaimed FX series The Americans.
A Morehouse College and University of Illinois graduate, he is also known for appearing on Broadway as Martin Luther King Jr. in the successful Tony Award-winning Broadway production of Robert Schenkkan's All The Way opposite Bryan Cranston's Lyndon B. Johnson. Other Broadway credits include August Wilson's Jitney (2017 Tony Award for Best Revival), Prelude to a Kiss, ENRON and Clybourne Park. In 2012, he was awarded an OBIE and a Theatre World Award and was nominated for the Drama League and Lucille Lortel awards for his portrayal of Boy Willie in the Signature Theatre Company revival of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson.
He has guest starred in TV series such as The Good Wife, The Big C, Public Morals, Braindead andBaz Luhrman's The Get Down.
Brandon is married to actress, Crystal Dickinson and currently lives in West Orange, NJ, with their three year old son, Chase.
Selenis Leyva - Actor
Selenis Leyva is one of the breakout stars of NETFLIX hit series Orange Is The New Black, recently won their 3rd consecutive 2017 Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble Cast in a Comedy Series. Selenis reprised her role as series regular (and fan favorite!) Gloria Mendoza in season 5. Selenis is currently starring as Ms. Warren in the blockbuster franchise film Spider-Man: Homecoming.
The 2017 Honoree & Inductee to the Bronx Walk Of Fame, actress Selenis is a proud Latina of Cuban and Dominican descent. In addition to being the first Hispanic Ambassador for the Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, Selenis is the recent recipient of the 2016 Visionary Award in New York City from the Stonewall Community Foundation, the recipient of the 2016 Courage Award Honoree from the Anti-Violence Project and honored to be included in People Espanol Magazine's 2016 Las 25 Mujeres Mas Poderosas Issue. Selenis is a strong advocate for LGBT rights and works closely with LGBT Human Rights Organizations, GLAAD and Anti- Bullying Campaigns. Other notable achievements include the recipient of the 2015 HOLA Jose Ferrer Tespis Award, The 2015 Cosmo For Latina’s Women of the Year Award and recognized at the 2014 ALMA Awards with a Special Achievement Award for breaking barriers in the arts.
Selenis' numerous television credits include recurring roles on hit shows like Veep, Law & Order: SVU; Blue Bloods, The Good Wife, Girls, Elementary, The Following, The Sopranos and Third Watch. On the big screen, she's been seen in Sex & The City 2, the Oscar-nominated film, Maria Full of Grace, and the animated films Ice Age:Continental Drift, EPIC and Ice Age: Dawn of Dinosaurs. In addition to her on screen credits, Selenis loves the stage and is best known for her Off-Broadway run in the Cherry Lane show, Basilica, the iconic role of Celia Cruz in the Off-Broadway hit Celia, Ana in the Tropics, Dona Flor & Her 2 Husbands and most recently starred in the acclaimed Off-Broadway play Tell Hector I Miss Him at the Atlantic Theater.
Valisa Tate - Actor, Stunt Performer
Valisa Tate is an Actor, Stunt Woman and Drummer. You can check out her performance as a flight attendant in Season 1, Episode 2 of Bull (CBS) where she did her own stunt. She is also a Stunt Double in Seasons 1 & 2 of Luke Cage (Netflix) and Seasons 2, 4 & 5 of Orange Is The New Black (Netflix).
Valisa is the Co-Creator, Co-Producer and Creative Director of MomCave, a network of snarky videos made by moms, targeted toward moms. She created the look and feel of the MomCave brand by art directing the videos, designing the posters,logos and social media ads for the MomCave shows; Mama Jams, Slacker Mom and Slummy Mummy to name a few.
When Valisa is not working on a TV show or film, she embraces her other career as a Creative Director. She has created TV spots and print ads for Burger King, Pepsi, Scope, Citi and 3Musketeers while working at various ad agencies.
Valisa is a member of SAG-AFTRA, theNew York Film Society and the Television Academy. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters.
Barbara Turvett - Moderator
A proud member of SAG-AFTRA, as well as AEA, Barbara Turvett worked as an actress and singer in film, television, theatre and nightclubs for some 15 years before transitioning to a career in publishing. She currently consults as an editor, writer and brand steward for print and digital content clients. Barbara served as executive editor for Working Mother magazine and its website for 12 years, until the end of 2016. There she was instrumental in editorial viewpoint and planning, oversaw and edited women’s, family, health and work/life content, and helped manage all social media platforms. Prior to Working Mother, Barbara wrote and edited for many national publications and websites, among them Parents, Parenting, Family Circle, Weight Watchers, Child, McCall’s, Sesame Street Parents, Men’s Fitness and American Baby. Barbara has edited two award-winning early childhood education books, and she has written a health book and edited several cookbooks for Weight Watchers Publishing Group. The mom of a recent college graduate, she lives with her husband in New York City.
