Alex’s roots lie in New York theater where he has written and produced four Off-Broadway shows. “Plasticity” topped the Huff Post’s Best Plays list and won an Ovation Award before transferring to the Greenwich House Theater. His previous production, “The Common Air,” won multiple awards in Los Angeles and transferred Off Broadway to 45 Bleecker Street.  “Unequalibrium” was selected for publication in New Playwrights Best Plays and Best Men’s Monologues for the 21st Century. He has sold TV pilots to FOX and Warner Brothers, developed an action comedy for Jerry Bruckheimer and a drama for Joel Silver. His screenplay, “Edison Illuminated,” won the Alfred P. Sloan Grant from the Tribeca Film Institute and was optioned by Castle Rock Entertainment. Smith & Kraus has published a “Trilogy” of his work with long time writing partner Robert McCaskill. He is a member of the WGAw.

Armando is a director and writer with a background in theater development. He is the Artistic Director of Company of Angels Theater (CoA), the oldest non-profit professional theater in Los Angeles. As artistic director, Armando has transformed the theater from an actor-focused showcase into an important developer of original theater content that represents LA’s’ diverse communities. Recent directing credits: “This Land” by Evangeline Ordaz, ”Distracted” by Lisa Loomer, “Anna In The Tropics” by Nilo Cruz; “Living Out” by Lisa Loomer, “The Waiting Room” by Lisa Loomer. He has assistant directed Doug Wager at the Mark Taper Forum and Jo Bonny at Second Stage in New York. Armando received national recognition from the NEA and the Theater Communications Group as a recipient of their Career Development Program for Directors. 

Specializing in collaborative new works, Paula taught costume design and dress studies at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania for 23 years. She designed for the new opera, Friday After Friday, sponsored by Opera America Grants for Female Composers in NYC and the Fisher Ensemble’s LA premiere of Monticello Wakes. As a Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble Artist, she designed the world premiere of Gunpowder Joe. She has also designed for the Idaho Shakespeare Festival; Phoenix Theatre; Arizona State University; and choreographers in Philadelphia, Boston, New York, and Taiwan. She has given talks at the Museum of International Folk Art and conferences in Toronto, Edmonton, London, and Macedonia. She received her BFA in Costume Design from California Institute of the Arts and MFA in Scenography from Arizona State University. She is currently a Docent at the Getty Villa Museum in Malibu, California

Andreas is a pianist-composer born in Athens, Greece. As a solo pianist, he has been featured in Piano Spheres, Jacaranda Music, Hear Now Festival, and Bargemusic. After winning the First Prize for his work Synchronism 3:5 in the international competition IBLA Grand Prize, he toured in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Georgia. While studying at Indiana University, he was the pianist of the New Music Ensemble. His composition Metamorphosis was awarded First Prize in Cum Laude Music Awards. His soundtracks for film and theater have been featured in the New York Times Op-Docs, LA Greek Film Festival, and the Getty Villa. He has a PhD in Composition from UCLA and a PhD in Piano Performance from University of Macedonia–Greece, dual Master’s degrees from Indiana University (MM Piano, Composition), and a Bachelor’s from Temple University (BM Piano).

Originally from Brisbane, Australia, Claire made the move to Los Angeles in 2021 where she earned her Associate’s Degree in Acting from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Upon graduation, Claire was offered and accepted a place in the Academy’s 2022-2023 Company where she received her Certificate in Advanced Studies in Acting. Claire also holds a Diploma in Performance from Trinity College London. Her past theatre credits include Carly in Neil LaBute’s “Reasons to be Happy”, Marcy in “Dog Sees God”, Eve in “Waiting for the Parade” and Maureen in “Stags and Hens”. She also has many film credits to her name. Her recent Stage Manager credits include “Much Ado About Nothing” at the Hudson Theater as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival and 14-Forty & Studio’s production of “Chekhov in Love” at The River LA.

Effie Samios, founder of Istros Media, is a multi-award winning digital creation company that specializes in delivering creative content seamlessly across multiple channels, using the best practices, ideas, people and technology to provide innovative solutions for design, broadcast graphics, content creation, viral marketing, database development, print and video production.

Peter Chakos is four-time Emmy Award winning producer and editor. He has won multiple People’s Choice Awards and an ACE Eddy. He produced and edited all of “The Big Bang Theory” and “Will & Grace.”  Other credits include “Two And A Half Men,” “Mike & Molly” and “Mom.” He has collaborated with Lyras on multiple theater and film projects.

Anna Kupershmidt, is an LA based Stage Manager and Stage Technician. She has had the opportunity to run shows at the Broadwater Theatre, Rogue Machine Theatre, The Hudson Theatre, The Fountain Theatre, Universal Studios Hollywood, The LACC Theatre Academy, Youth Academy of Dramatic Arts and The Getty Villa.

Heidi is an accomplished Los Angeles hair professional. As the key stylist  on ARISTOTLE/ALEXANDER, she brings a wealth of experience from her work in the city's top salons to her continued commitment to her own successful business, Canvas Hair Studio LA.  Her background spans on-site styling for a score of both fashion and award shows, as well as her dedication to the education of her craft.  Heidi is passionate about art, fashion and music and stays attuned to the latest trends that fuel her creative vision. 

JOEL DAAVID (Director/Designer) is an award-winning theater director/designer since attending the American Film Institute. His career accomplishments also include directing/cinematography for numerous film and video projects.  Awards include Ovation, LA Weekly, NAACP and LADCC Theater Awards. He directed/designed the award winning production of "The Miracle Worker" at the Matrix and  Edgemar  Theatres, and the new production of Tennessee Williams’ “Baby Doll” at the Lillian Theatre, the multi-award winning “Frankenstein” for Theatre Tallahassee, the epic story of "Camille" (Claudel) at the Greenway Arts Alliance, the world premiere musical “Caligari’s Cabinet of Curiosities” written by Vanessa Claire Stewart and most recently “Sweeney Todd” for the Monticello Opera House.

Orion Barnes has been choreographing, teaching and performing stage combat and theatrical intimacy, professionally for over 25 years. In that time, he has also taught fencing to children and young adults at fencing studios in New York, Boston and Los Angeles. He is currently on faculty at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (LA Campus). Orion believes in a consent-based approach to intimacy and stage combat and that actors of every shape, size and skill level must have a solid foundation in both.  Intimacy training includes Theatrical Intimacy Education and Intimacy Directors and Coordinators (Certified Consent-Forward Artist). He has built fights for East/West Players, The Group Rep, New Jersey Shakespeare Festival & Oak Park Shakespeare Festival in addition to several high profile film, television and stage projects, training the likes of Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway, Chris Pine, and Sir Ben Kingsley, to name a few.

Matt is a multi-award winning designer who has been active in the Los Angeles theatre community since 2003, After graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in Theatre, he began collaborating with a diverse range of companies, including Sacred Fools (of he’s a member), Theatre of NOTE (also a member), the Elephant Theatre Company, Rogue Machine, the Echo, Son of Semele, Theatre 68, Open Fist, Action! Theatre Company, and many more.  He has collaborated with Lyras on “The Common AIr,” “The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs” and “Plasticity.” Most recently, he designed the lights for “Aristotle/Alexander” at the Getty Villa Theater Lab.

After years running some of Hollywood's most innovative event spaces, Jon founded Immerse Studios, a Los Angeles-based media studio, specializing in bringing visual content and experiences into the real world. He graduated Harvard with a degree in Digital Media, and continues to work with Fortune 500 companies.

Tim is a devotee to the moving image. Creating visuals that tell stories with beauty and rhythm is a specialty. Tim is the administrative head and creative director of Immerse.

Aristotle/Alexander was originally commissioned by the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Getty Theater Lab. It was first performed at the Getty Villa on April 2024 to sold-out audiences. We are grateful to Ralph Flores, Anna Woo and the impeccable staff for the opportunity to develop and present this play to the public.

We wish them the speediest recovery after the fires. The Ancients signed off their missives with "ἐρρωμένον σε οἱ θεοὶ διαφυλάττοιεν.” May the gods guard your well-being.

Los Angeles needs the Getty now more than ever.

Patty Onagan Consulting specializes in theatre and live entertainment, creating strategies that include marketing, communications, publicity, as well as producing and special events.

April Webster is an Emmy award-winning casting director, based in Los Angeles, known for her work in film and television. Webster has worked with some of the most successful directors, including several projects with J.J. Abrams. She has been nominated for thirteen Artios Awards, and has won three in addition to her four Emmy nominations. Her casting credits have included “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, “Star Trek,” “Mission: Impossible III,” “Tomorrowland,” and “Lost.”