Host | COURTNEY GRAHAM

Courtney Graham is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa, originally from West Des Moines. She is studying theatre arts on the musical theatre track. Outside of theatre, she is the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair of Alpha Chi Omega sorority on campus. She would like to thank Jordan, her roommate, for her endless patience and for allowing her apartment to be taken over in the name of filming.

Portrait Artist | SALMAN YAKUB

If Salman Yakub had all the time in the world and none of his earthly limits, he would just about have a hand in every creative endeavor that piques his interest. Sound design, music production, animation, 3D modeling, illustration, fiction, nonfiction, and more are all things he dabbles in, some more than others, but they are also all things he wishes he could master. However, being a University of Iowa student studying studio art and pursing a writing certificate will have to do for now.

Playwright | AMANDA KEATING

Plays include With Fellowshop (EST/Sloan), Teach/Teach (Playwrights Realm Finalist, Leah Ryan Honorable Mention), Retreat (EST), Of Solitude (Martha's Vineyard Playhouse), adaptations of Tartuffe and Miss Julie (Two Headed Rep), and others. Amanda Keating is a former member of EST/Youngblood and a current EST/Sloan Commission recipient. She attended Williams College and the National Theatre Institute and is currently pursuing her MFA in playwriting from the Iowa Playwrights Workshop. She is the Literary Manager of Two Headed Rep. www.amandackeating.com

Actor | SAMUEL LUDENS

Samuel Ludens is thrilled to be making his University of Iowa theatre debut in Essential Workers: A Portrait. Samuel is a double major in theatre arts and English and creative writing, with plans to pursue all different aspects of theatre and entertainment. Samuel wants to thank everyone involved in making this experience so unique, and above all, safe for everyone involved!