The Artists of Salon Los Angeles
Michelle Cirillo (she/her)
“eerily similar natal chart to FDR”
Michelle hails from Long Island, loves dressing up in drag, and has a clinical fear of horses. Sorry- was that not what you came here for? Anyway- Michelle is a stand up comedian in Los Angeles and has produced a three episode web show that satirically explores politics, gender identity, and media commentary. The web show, Morning, Stranger!, and her stand up routines, showcase Michelle's ability to play with the taboos of the United States class system, gender fluidity, and chronic illness through comedy. She is currently workshopping a live variety show that will include a drag performance as well as talents from many other artists and mediums. She is also, seriously, afraid of horses. (They're too big!)
Ardyn Flynt (she/her)
“I'm known to shake a little ass, on occasion”
Ardyn, originally from North Carolina, self-identifies as a “corporeal conversationalist.” She received her B.F.A. in Dance from USC where she trained concurrently in ballet and house, resulting in a keen interest in the synthesis of dance forms traditionally positioned as binaries of one another. She teaches globally, utilizing two movement systems - William Forsythe Improv Technologies and d. Sabela Grimes’ “Funkamental MediKinetics.” Ardyn has danced professionally for choreographers Amy O’Neal, Juliano Nunes, Ayodele Casel, Ebony Williams, Aszure Barton, and Yoann Bourgeois among others. Ardyn regularly works with choreographer Ebony Williams in both dance and creative positions such as DOJA CAT’s Coachella 2022 (assistant choreographer),WARNER BROS/UNIGRAM “Collision” Residency (associate choreographer, dancer), KID CUDI 2022 Tour Skeleton Crew (associate choreographer). She was the associate choreographer for artist MILLI at HITC Festival, alongside choreographer Max Pham. Ardyn just returned home from tour, where she was both associate choreographer and swing for DOJA CAT’S “The Scarlet Tour.” Ardyn is a part-time faculty member at the USC Kaufman School of Dance, and on the weekend you can find her Go-Go dancing at the famed “Abbey,” an LGBTQIA+ bar and club in West Hollywood.
Christopher Hernandez (he/him)
“Unfolding nostalgia, embracing imperfections, crafting tomorrow”
Christopher Hernandez, an LA native, intertwines art with nostalgia, capturing the short-lived past, embracing chaos in the present, and fearlessly exploring the enigmatic future. An award-winning artist, photographer, digital artist, and filmmaker, each creation reflects the layers of his profound and evolving nature.
Annabel Hope (she/her)
“I am trying to catch the in-between feelings”
Annabel is a multidisciplinary artist from San Francisco based in Washington Heights. Her photography and paintings have been shown in Gallery Aferro's Tell Me More About Yourself (Self-Portraits and Other Autobiographical Endeavors) (2022), The Salon (2021), Wicked Cake (2022), and she has directed, edited, and filmed music videos for Mary Esther Carter (2022), Mermaid the G.O.D! (2022), and MC Pauze (2024). She curated Quarantitty, a pandemic-era zine, and self-published The Beach Is Calling My Name, an annual project focusing on the beaches of NYC. In 2020 she received the Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights.
Anna Jones (she/her)
“If we were all the same, the world would be pretty f*cking boring”
Anna Jones is an LA based Director and Writer from Chicago. With her formal training in theatre, Anna has directed numerous plays in Chicago and LA, with a special interest in new and immersive work. In recent years, she has focused her attention on film, and (alongside her Creative Partner Elizabeth Kline) she is delighted to share their short film "Twelve" with The Village. Anna seeks to tell stories that challenge standard perceptions, uplift the queer experience, examine mental health, and explore the many splendid variations of life for women.
David Kahawaii (he/him)
“I always have a place at the Dairy Queen”
David Kahawaii is a LA-based director, producer and writer of theatre and film. David currently serves as the Line Producer of Youth, Family & Outreach of the Tony Award winning Pasadena Playhouse. There, he has served as a producer on the Pasadena stop of Walk Across America with Little Amal in partnership with Deaf West Theater and Armory Center for the Arts, as well as an Assistant Producer/ Artistic Associate for Bernadette Peters in Concert, Larry Owens' Sondhemia, and Acoustic Sondheim with Eleri Ward. Upcoming: Grumpy Monkey: The Musical at Pasadena Playhouse, Bimbo Tennis (Producer), and Second Chance (Director/ Producer). David is a graduate of Fordham Theaters BA Theatre program with a concentration in Theater. Co-host of queer cinephile podcast "We Stan Her!", with fellow Village Artist Billy Reece.
Elizabeth Kline (she/her)
“Ask for What You Want”
Elizabeth Kline is an LA based, independent producer. After many years of pursuing acting, Elizabeth began her producorial journey producing the play, 'Dark Play or Stories for Boys,' for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it was named one of the "10 Must-See LGBT Shows" of the festival. She then transitioned into film/television. Her inaugural short film, 'Where does the Light Go?', was selected as a finalist for the 51st Annual USA Film Festival. Since then she has developed and produced numerous projects with the ultimate goal of creating content for a larger audience. Her passion is to tell stories which examine mental health, the female experience and debunking social constructs. In addition to independent producing, Elizabeth previously worked at a bicoastal talent agency, representing actors in film, television, and theatre. She now works with an award winning director and his producing partner developing films worldwide.
Anusha Savi (she/her)
"ethereal, abundant, resonant and powerful - creating music to feel and heal"
Anusha Savi is a power pop artist/songwriter who creates ethereal & enchanting songs. She bridges the gap between her Indian heritage and mainstream music world by blending her Carnatic training in South Asian classical music with her love of soul & pop to create a uniquely global alt-pop sound. Raised in the Bay Area and based in Los Angeles, Anusha Savi is a Tamil-American woman whose goal in music is to empower young women, like herself, through healing music that is honest, uplifting, and timeless. She recently released her debut EP “Marigold” and remix EP “Marigold: The Bazaar Edit” after a whirlwind year of creative incubation under the mentorship of iconic production duo Stargate. Her latest release, "Follow Me", will get you dancing on your feet.
In June of 2022, Anusha Savi graduated from LAAMP, a year-long songwriting and production program in Los Angeles founded by multi-Grammy award-winning producer duo "Stargate". Anusha continues to be mentored under Stargate, and has worked with industry legends such as Emily Warren, Cirkut, Ne-Yo, Justin Tranter, and John Cunningham to name a few. With incredible catalog of unreleased songs, Anusha Savi is an artist to watch out for.
Bryant Skinny (he/him)
“a window into a weirder, queerer, more colorful dimension”
Bryant Skinny is a painter and filmmaker originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He moved to Los Angeles in 2020, making the decision after a particularly potent psychedelic trip, and has been pursuing his filmmaking dreams while nurturing and advancing his artistic voice through painting.
Starlina (he/she/they)
“Sexy, ugly, and HOT and fashionable”
Starlina Sublime (Brett Morachnick) is a performer and writer in Los Angeles of 5 years. Upon graduating USC’s School of Dramatic Arts, where they received the Jack Nicholson Award for Outstanding Performance, acting credits include Student #3 on American Crime Story, the “Platonic BFF” on American Horror Story, and “Gender Expansive Friend” in various corporate ad campaigns. Their latest career highlight: “there were many entertainers tonight, but there was only one Beyoncé” from Mo Heart of RuPaul’s Drag Race. As an over-the-top drag performer, Brett enjoys anything irreverent, opulent, and impractical, traits that brought their award-winning solo drag show HOT STUFF to the 2022 Hollywood Fringe Festival and fueled a life committed to bending the rules.
Tristan Turner aka HUDO (he/him)
“We are all part of an ever-unfolding cosmic story, and the Universe is at play!”
Tristan Turner is an actor/writer/singer based in Los Angeles, CA. He received his Master’s degree in Acting from the University of California, Irvine in 2020, and has a BA in Theater Arts from the University of Northern Colorado. In exchange for free acting lessons, Tristan learned guitar from a fellow student at UCI, and fell into an artistic binge during quarantine. Though his true passion is on screen and on stage, music has been and will always be the channel through which his inspiration comes. In 2022, he released his first song “In Between” under the alias HUDO, an homage to his mother’s ancestry. Since then he has released two more songs, though many lie in wait. He has made an appearance on All-American on the CW, and just recently aired on Fox Network’s I Can See Your Voice, where he got the chance to sing on National TV! He is incredibly honored and thankful for the opportunity to display his talents with the Salon and feels so blessed to make his first ever live appearance with his original music.
Virgo Vintage & Handmade (she/they)
"Just two Virgos who cannot watch television without a craft in hand"
Sophie Dawson is a writer, collage artist, jewelry designer, and vintage collector living in Los Angeles, CA. She holds a BA from Fordham University at Lincoln Center and an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA. She is also a queer ex-Mormon, and her work, whether it’s a feature length screenplay or bits of paper glued together, explores the intersections of queerness, systems of belief, and femininity- or lack thereof.
Alex Courides is a crochet artist, jewelry designer, and music and film industry professional living in Los Angeles, CA. She holds a BA from Fordham University at Lincoln Center. She sources materials from all over the world, from small businesses to fashion district wholesalers to independent sheep ranches, and finds fulfillment in creating meaningful handmade pieces for others.
Justin Epstein (he/him)
“All about movement”
Justin Epstein (aka DJ Groovy Stew) is an LA-based multimedia artist. Trained as a dancer, they observe the human experience through performance, choreography, film, photography, and music.
Our Team
Caroline Potter Shriver, Co-Founder & Artistic Director
Marc David Wright, Co-Founder & Artistic Director
Dana Seach, Managing Director
Elizabeth Kline, LA Producer
David Kahawaii, LA Producer
Riva Dhamala, Creative Consultant & UX Designer
Annabel Hope, Creative Consultant
James Kenna, Creative Consultant
Special Thanks
Thymele Arts
101 Cider House
Roman Dowling
Zindzi Hanson
Brittani Murphy
Maeve Thompson Osgood
Amy Seach
Grant Terzakis