The youngest child of Irish immigrants, Niamh Collins was raised in Oakland, California. She started performing on stage from a very young age. After acting, singing, and dancing for multiple Bay Area theatre companies for a decade, she decided to move to LA and attend Stella Adler to hone her craft. She spent the next few years training and being in a number of plays and musicals around LA. During the pandemic, Niamh relocated to Italy. She attended a school for immigrants where she studied language, culture and art history. Over half a year later, she hiked from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail. In March 2022 she moved to New York City to return to theater. She now lives in Manhattan and is focused on bettering her craft and herself everyday.

David Walters has had the pleasure of working with Mr. Hussain previously on two other of his projects, art=(love)2 and Legal Alien.

It’s always an adventure.

He wishes to thank the global cast for donating their time and efforts in coming together to bring Virus Bomb to life.

Deborah De Lorenzo is a stage and film actor with German and Italian roots. She is recognized for her work in Oliver Rihs’ feature film Caged Birds and the world’s premiere of The life of Vernon Subutex by Virginie Despentes and directed by Peter Kastenmüller at the Theatre Neumarkt in Zurich.

She received the Migros Kulturprozent Award for best role during her studies at the Zurich University of arts from Switzerland.

There she worked with artists including Gerd Wameling (Shakespeare’s Cleopatra), co- wrote the song Life’s a game with Georgette Dee, starred in the music show Through the night directed by Bo Wiget, in an acting documentary by Devid Striesow and did a stand-up comedy show with Harald Schmidt.

As the solo performer of Mnesia, co-created with her team, she won a prize at the Premio contest and was touring throughout Switzerland. In 2022 the show was invited to guest perform at the Theater in Teheran, Iran.

Drawn to America since childhood Deborah attended the International Screen Acting Workshop in Ludwigsburg and followed her artistic intuition to New York. Here she starred in Twilight of Joy at the Secret Theater and is excited about premiering Mumtaz Hussain’s work Virus Bomb at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in Manhattan this summer.

Coming from music and dance, acrobatics, equestrian sports, and swimming she discovered her passion for expressing herself physically and vocally in public from an early age on. She loves traveling, getting to know new parts of the world, and discovering further roles and through it views of life.

As a wholehearted artist, Deborah explores human nature through her storytelling. She has plans to direct her own works, both stage and screen.

Johnny MacDonald is a stand-up comedian, actor and podcaster. He performs comedy all over NYC and beyond regularly. He was in Mumtaz’s movie Art = Love. He also has been heard on ESPN Radio and has a sports podcast called Rooting For Laundry.

Marty is an NYC actor and graduate of Brooklyn College.  His credits include The Heights Players productions of After Magritte/The Real Inspector Hound and Detective Story, Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Manhattan Repertory’s productions of Model ’T’ in the Amazon, and Tales of Terror (The Hand). Other credits include And Then There Were None, Romeo and Juliet, and Love’s Labor’s Lost, and Macbeth. Marty’s grateful to Mumtaz for the chance to play in this production.

Grateful for the support of her family, friends, and the opportunities to perform, Marlene Villafane is a trained comedic actress, singer and is a NYC native of Puerto Rican descent. She’s an alumni of La Guardia H.S of Music & Performing Arts and is a Manhattan School of Music graduate with a BM & MM in Classical Voice. A protégé of Roger H. Simon; she has studied with the Simon Studio off & on for more than 15 years. 

Her tours worldwide have taken her to Japan, Australia, UK, Monaco, Sicily, Switzerland, Croatia & Bosnia and many other parts of the world in various productions and in concerts with big bands. 

In 2019, She played the supporting role of Guadalupe in the 13th Street Repertory Theater Off-off Broadway production of Tom Eyen’s “WOMEN BEHIND BARS” starring opposite Amy Stiller as Gloria. She appeared as the Narrator in the Actors Studio staged reading of Jose Rivera’s “THE HOURS ARE FEMININE” with Chazz Palminteri, directed by Roger H. Simon. She played the role of Julie LaVerne, the leading actress of Captain Andy’s showboat in Harold Prince’s Australian production of Jerome Kern’s SHOWBOAT with Livent. 

She is the 11th Annual One Festival Winner of 2016 for her one woman self written show “MARLENE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD” which premiered Off-Broadway. A lover of sketch comedy, she credits to name just a few, Madeline Kahn, Carol Burnett, Andrea Martin, Lucille Ball and Gilda Radner to be her greatest inspirations. She appeared on staged in the Off-Broadway workshop readings of J.C. Gonzalez’s pop opera “WARM” in the lead role of Lori the social worker opposite Tony winner Karen Olivo & Jai Rodriguez formerly of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Other theatre credits include: Melvin Van Peebles’ Off-off Broadway “UNMITIGATED TRUTH” (Leading Lady), and David Lamb’s “PLATANOS AND COLLARD GREENS” (Samana/Mother).

Her new salsa single/official music video CAMINO DE LA DULZURA composed by Efrain Rolon of FUTURE MUSIC SOUND, released under MIRAMAR of LIFE PASSION PRODUCTIONS premiered worldwide Sept 30th. It is now available to purchase on Apple music.

She is excited to work on Virus Bomb with a great director & cast!

Own is an experienced media professional, currently working as the station head New York, for one of the main stream Pakistani TV Channel, KN news. The only Pakistani TV channel doing live coverage and updates from the USA.

He is working as a reporter, anchor person, talk Show host and bureau Chief for many leading ethnic TV Channels. He has also done an excellent job covering New York fashion week & cultural shows featuring South Asian models, designers & production houses.

Own has advanced management, organizational and communication skills. He has a strong work ethic with attention to detail.

His roles includes, Talk show host, Producer, Public & Media Relation manager, Market Researcher, Product & Media Manager.

Own is also the Media Visual Director for international fashion house, SMGlobal Catwalk and not only covered fashion events in USA but even further around the world.

He demonstrated selfless commitment to immigrant communities living in USA that warrants attention & gratitude for their hard work and loyalty to this greatest country of the world.

Mujaddad Javed is an actor and Model of many talents. He started acting in his school life by participating in stage plays. He is an Assistant Director in this stage play and plays Russian and Indian in the Virus Bomb.

He acts in various short films including Patient 23 Rebooted, Turned Out, Hopes, Lahore se Zara Age and a feature film ‘Fauna’ in New York City.

He has also directed theater plays named ‘Don’ and ‘Kashmir’ in his University Dramatic Society. He also does modeling with different agencies in New York City.

In addition to acting and modeling, he has also stepped behind the camera to make his directorial debut ‘Baarish’ a Music Video in States. Mujaddad has a very enthusiastic approach to acting and he is always open to learning from his peers so he can deliver his best performance.

Steven Ackerman (Israeli) has been performing for over 20 years with many theater groups, most notably the Heights Players (Dinner at Eight, Gypsy, West Side Story, I Remember Mama, Miracle on 34th Street), the St. Jean’s Players (To Kill a Mockingbird, Heaven Can Wait, My Fair Lady, Carousel) and the Rockaway Theater Company (One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Kiss Me, Kate). He has also worked behind the scenes on shows at the Heights Players in different capacities, like sound, assistant stage manager, stage manager, and even director. He also has worked BG for over 10 years in films like Men in Black 3, The Dark Knight Rises and New Year’s Eve and TV shows like all three Law and Orders and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. He is happy to help get this project off the ground.

I’ve worked for many years as a background actor on dozens of movies and television shows, as well as day player roles on Escape from Dannemora directed by Ben Stiller and the upcoming Untitled Pregnancy Project directed by Pamela Adlon.

I’m glad for the opportunity to work on the stage.  Especially to be a part of Virus Bomb.

Steven Vega was born in the Boogie Down Bronx. He began acting in the third grade where he was cast as Pinocchio in his school play. Steven has performed at The Whitney Museum, Broadway Comedy Club, The Metropolitan Room, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. His training includes a 2 year Conservatory at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and HB Studio. Steven also performs at private parties as a Pitbull Impersonator. For more info visit his website stevenvega.com. Steven’s goal in life is to add value and joy to others through his performance. He thanks his supportive friends and loving family for their love and support.

Directing credits include: Present Laughter (Noel Coward), Stop Kiss (Diana Sohn), It’s Only A Play (Terrance McNally), Betrayal of the Mind, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Christopher Durang), Beyond Therapy (Christopher Durang), As Bees in Honey Drown (Douglas Carter Beane), Run For Your Wife (Ray Cooney), The Trip to Bountiful (Horton Foote), Ken Ludwig’s comedy Shakespeare in Hollywood (New York premiere), Mere Mortals (David Ives), The Foreigner (Larry Shue), The Odd Couple (Neil Simon), Frankenstein (Tim Kelly), Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Sara Ruhl), Regrets Only (Paul Rudnick), Noises Off (Michael Frayn).

Acting credits include: Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Joe Bell), Lend Me A Tenor (Tito Merrelli), Twelve Angry Men (Juror #3), The Winter’s Tale (Leontes), The Foreigner (Rev. David Lee), The Odd Couple (Oscar Madison), Anna in the Tropics (Cheché), The Threepenny Opera (“Crookfinger Jake”), Of Mice and Men (George Milton), The Petrified Forest (Duke Mantee), The Misanthrope (Oronte), The American Clock (various roles), The Rimers of Eldritch (Skelly Mannors), Cactus Flower (Senor Arturo Sanchez), Barefoot in the Park (Victor Velasco), The Beard of Avon (John Heminge/ Lord Burleigh), Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Azolan), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Charles Cheswick), Fool for Love (Martin), Waiting for Lefty (“Agate” Keller), All In the Timing (various), Much Ado About Nothing (Borachio), Danny and the Deep Blue Sea (Danny).

Bernie is blessed and deeply grateful to be working with this remarkably talented Cast and Crew, and is deeply grateful to Mumtaz for the opportunity, for his inspiration, and for his friendship.

Lars’ body of work has consistently continued to grow with work in over 25 film and television productions including three films with Mumtaz Hussain, BUTTERFLY SCREAMS, INSIDE YOU, and ART = (Love)². Mr. Stevens was also in the films FEAR OF CLOWNS, BEASTER, WITHOUT A CLUE, and MY IMAGINARY FRIEND LARS STEVENS, the last film earning him a Best Leading Actor Award. His work on television and the web include WE NEED GIRLFRIENDS, (Darren Star Productions), BLUE BLOODS (CBS), THE MINOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF JACKIE WOODMAN (IFC), and ALPHA HOUSE (Amazon Prime). His stage work includes a Tony Walton directed, performance of a Stephen Sondheim/James Goldman musical called EVENING PRIMROSE, for the benefit of the St. George’s Society.

A born and raised New Yorker. He has performed in numerous off- Broadway plays under numerous productions within NYC, Brooklyn and Queens. Plus starred in various short and independent films, from NYC to Philadelphia. He is previously studying with The Roger Simon Studio, including the Matthew Arkin Studio. Surge is also a graphic artist since birth.

Karai Apsen is a 15 year old Asian American girl. She is performing in plays and concerts since her childhood. She has been performing in plays, school concerts and school talent shows. She performed in singing concerts in her Elementary school at PS 217. She was announced as the best Anthem singer by PS/IS 295. She is also singing in church and participating in church activities. She is working with Mumtaz Hussain (Filmmaker) and learning the art of performing in dramas and films. She has won awards for music and art in middle school. She is a student in 10th grade at Bayside High School, Queens, New York. She has a dream to be the best artist and singer. She received a medal for music from PS/IS 295 in 2021. She also received another medal for arts from PS/IS295 in 2021. She also volunteered for the New Hope Church kids program.

Mumtaz Hussain is an artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and a writer. In 1981, Mumtaz accepted admission into the prestigious National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore, Pakistan. While at NCA, Mumtaz decorated the palace of Sheikh Zaid bin Sultan, an architectural landmark in Karachi, Pakistan. In 1987, Mumtaz left for London to study European art forms. In 1988 Mumtaz came to New York to pursue graphic design at the School of Visual Art. Additionally, Mumtaz also studied film making. He has also served as an art director for Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Simon & Schuster. Mumtaz directed 13 episodes of an informative talk show for channel 9 “Ask a Lawyer.” His Urdu book of short stories, GOOL AINAK KA PECHAY, LAFZON MAIN TASVARIAN, PELI PATI CHUNA KUM, MUMTAZ HUSSAIN DIAN CHUWIAN KAHINIAN (GURMUKHI), and POTRIAT IN WORDS (ENGLISH) is about to published.

His art film, Soul of Civilization, has been shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Queens Museum of Art and Stony Brook University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Connecticut.

Other films include:

• This is my Pakistan for a Pakistani TV Channel GEO;
• Inside You, based on Rumi’s poetry;
• Push Button For, based on a Pakistani classic short story.
• Butterfly Screams.  Based on 9/11

His first feature film,  Art=(Love) ², received a Merit Award at The Lucerne International Film Festival, Switzerland; Best Cinematography at The Jaipur International Film Festival, India; Platinum Reel Award at The Nevada Film Festival, U.S.A.; Gold Award at the Prestige Film Festival, U.S.A.. The film was also officially selected at The Delhi International Film Festival, India; and The Vegas Cine Fest, U.S.A. It will be ready for theatrical release soon. His two plays The Barking Crow and Legal Alien have been performed in New York. His script The Kind Executioner received finalist award at Hollywood Screenplay Contest Hollywood and first award at Jaipur International film festival.

His paintings and films have been shown at numerous museums, universities, art galleries and international film Festivals.

Mujaddad Javed is an actor and Model of many talents. He started acting in his school life by participating in stage plays. He is an Assistant Director in this stage play and plays Russian and Indian in the Virus Bomb.

He acts in various short films including Patient 23 Rebooted, Turned Out, Hopes, Lahore se Zara Age and a feature film ‘Fauna’ in New York City.

He has also directed theater plays named ‘Don’ and ‘Kashmir’ in his University Dramatic Society. He also does modeling with different agencies in New York City.

In addition to acting and modeling, he has also stepped behind the camera to make his directorial debut ‘Baarish’ a Music Video in States. Mujaddad has a very enthusiastic approach to acting and he is always open to learning from his peers so he can deliver his best performance.

Winner of a gold medal in film scoring from the International Independent Film Awards, introduced by Martin Scorsese (Executive Director, Diane) as a composer to watch, and described by Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers as “gifted”, Jeremiah’s body of work in film includes several projects with former New York Film Festival Director Kent Jones including the Cannes Film Festival Golden Eye nominated Hitchcock/Truffaut and Tribeca Film Festival winning Diane, which also projects into President Obama’s best of 2019 list.

After receiving a masters degree in music composition in 2009 from the City University of New York, Hunter College, Jeremiah was primarily focused on writing and presenting experimental chamber music and multimedia operas, of which he wrote three, two of which he directed. With many performances and program curations between 2006-12  at legendary local NYC venues such as Galapagos Art Space and Monkeytown Jeremiah created music for 2021 Grammy Nominee Curtis Stewart, Metropolitan Opera Singers Trudy Craney (Grammy Winner – Nixon in China) and Nicholas Tamagna, CMA Visionary Seth Parker Woods, international award winning librettist Royce Vavrek and the all encompassing NYC musical treasure that is violinist Mary Rowell. A breakthrough of monetary proportions came in 2013 when Jeremiah was invited to compose jingles for an ad agency which has yielded nearly 50 commercials, including Vogue’s 2021 Scandinavia launch featuring Greta Thunberg. As a film composer he has recorded scores with Grammy winning Attacca Quartet, also Grammy winning (different Grammy) So Percussion and the Prague Philharmonic.

Jeremiah’s music has been enjoyed in dozens of cities and large venues around the world including Carnegie Hall, Taipei National Theater, and the Concert Hall of Beijing Central Conservatory. Jeremiah has been Composer in Residence for the LGT Young Soloists, the foremost youth string orchestra in Europe, and also founder and director of Sound Economics where he presents lectures on music theory and history at The Henry George School on East 38th Street in New York City where he resides. Recent commissions include a viola concerto for Dr. Boris Vayner and the orchestra at University of Kansas, Lawrence.