Lauren Bray
Lauren will be playing the role of M. Emmeline Ashdown, the feisty protagonist of Checkmate. While not playing a chess champion also skilled with sword play, Lauren is a 20-year-old Advertising and Radio-Television-Film major studying at the University of Texas in Austin. She keeps busy with Texas Student Television, Texas Quidditch, Christian Students on Campus, Delta Gamma Sorority, and she continues to pursue her passion for acting. Lauren is extremely excited to be involved in “Checkmate” and to start on this adventure!
Cory Lockwood
Born and raised in Texas, Cory Lockwood began his journey as an actor in middle school, playing roles in several school productions. Throughout high school his passion for acting grew and he is now progressing toward a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre & Dance at The University of Texas at Austin. Cory hopes to make a career in film acting, working on all types of films from romantic comedies to martial arts epics and everything in between.
Liana Ramirez
Actress and dancer, Liana Ramirez, joins the Checkmate cast as Tara, The White Queen.
Liana recently returned from Hollywood, CA where she performed in more than 30 shows directed by Bonnie Lythgoe and choreographer Spencer Liff, both from the hit show So You Think You Can Dance. Liana is currently performing the lead role of Polly in the Magician’s Nephew in Austin,TX . She has trained under some of the top choreographers in LA and continues to develop as an actress and dancer. Liana hopes to work in Hollywood again in the near future.
Liana recently returned from Hollywood, CA where she performed in more than 30 shows directed by Bonnie Lythgoe and choreographer Spencer Liff, both from the hit show So You Think You Can Dance. Liana is currently performing the lead role of Polly in the Magician’s Nephew in Austin,TX . She has trained under some of the top choreographers in LA and continues to develop as an actress and dancer. Liana hopes to work in Hollywood again in the near future.
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Jackie Kuenstler
Jackie is a junior at UT, studying radio-tv-film and multimedia journalism. She is a notorious planner, and her hobbies include, updating her Google calendar, crafting, and editing videos. One day, she hopes to work in film production, but she wants to travel the world first!
Martin Eischeid
Marty Eischeid is a double Computer Science and RTF major at UT. He is webmaster and chair of the Web Committee for the UT Engineering Expo. He enjoys long walks on the beach and romantic evenings in. Also, he's single, ladies.
Shila Farahani
Shila Farahani is in the senior fellows honors program at UT and is currently working towards a Radio-Television-and Film degree. She works for The Daily Texan and was involved in Texas Women’s Choir. She enjoys working out and jamming out to music in her car. She has learned life lessons by watching Boy Meets World. Someday she hopes to climb mountain Kilimanjaro and travel the seven seas. She enjoys working on film productions and would love to direct Bruno Mars' music video someday.
Gabriella Belzer
Gabby is a Public Relations major at The University of Texas at Austin and Checkmate has helped her discover her inner actor. When she's not acting, she is running PR for various bands and it is her Junior year's aspiration to spend a full day at a movie theater.
Erick Muñoz
Erick is a senior in the Radio Television and Film program. He is currently the president of the University Filmmakers Alliance, the biggest film organization at UT. He was a producer for the Texas Student Television program, Down To Film. He plans to become a movie director and has so far gotten two short films into different film festivals. He is very interested in bringing new life to Mexican cinema.
Alexander Adams
Alexander is a Computer Science Major at UT. He came from California but is now experiencing his freshman year at UT. Alexander wants to be a programmer and work in Artificial Intelligence or Game Design in the future. He plays saxophone and bagpipes, and is going to join the ballroom dance club. He is also an eagle scout, and has aspirations for world domination.
Oh and Alexander is also single. Ladies.
Oh and Alexander is also single. Ladies.
Aaron Berecka
Aaron is a junior studying film at the University of Texas in Austin. He has worked on crews for both student film productions and a number of stage plays, with the majority of his time spent in the lighting departments of both mediums. His hobbies and likes include reading, photography, and the occasional Gershwin tune.
Gaurav Nayak
Gaurav is the human alias of an unnamed alien born on a distant homeworld in the previous millenium. In order to blend in with the other inhabitants of the planet it masquerades as a student at the University of Texas who is studying Business Honors, Finance, and History. It plans on using its education to save up money and go back to its homeworld and publish a novel detailing its adventures on the planet Earth.
Savanna Shaffer
Savanna Shaffer is a first year theater student at the University of Texas. She enjoys philosophy, fashion, thrifting, and swashbuckling in high heels. In her spare time, Savanna is part of Texas Ballroom dance. She is exploring careers in costume design and film makeup and she is very excited to costume for Checkmate!
Kelsey Kramer
Mark Newton
Yamel Thompson
Photos by Phillip Guebert
We will upload the rest of the cast's information shortly!