All About
Marla Lou.
“The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.”
- Toni Cade Bambara
Marla Lou (they/goddexx/luminary/them/ menace/pharaoh/theirs) is an award-winning creative visionary. You know this luminary from the Hadestown national tour where they performed in 28 cities across North America as a Fate and Persephone understudy. After returning home and building rituals toward their pleasure revolution, they reprised these same roles on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre. They are the founder of Lakay Productions, an Afrikan Indigenous-led creative mycelium network dedicated to empowering radical storytellers. Pharaoh is an international muse and model (Vogue Italia, Oprah Magazine, SavagexFenty). Other professional credits include First National Tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Seven Seconds (Netflix), and Flatbush Misdemeanors (Showtime).
In response to 2020’s national #BlackLivesMatter movement, Marla Lou founded Claim Our Space NOW, an abolitionist organization dedicated to community care, education access, and revolutionary change. Their role as CEO makes them the first and only Broadway performer to act as a grassroots community organizer and lead a non-profit space invested in the global landback movement.
Goddexx is a modern-day Griot who breathes life into all rebel spirits circling their orbit. Sovereignty, transformation, and the unapologetic exploration of pleasure are running currents in their genre-diverse creative river.
Marla Lou was born in Ayiti (Haiti) and raised — undocumented — as a Jehovah's witness in New York City. After leaving the witnesses, they set out on a years-long ritualized healing journey toward liberation. The discovery of their autonomy inspired them to help others do the same; through their work as a multi-powered creative, Marla Lou joyfully invites the Black-Indigenous diaspora to reclaim sovereignty of self and build beyond the limited realities offered by late-stage capitalism. They are invested in harnessing their power to define the future of Black history and make revolution irresistible.
Meet the Team
Latesha Harris
LaTesha Harris is a feral body, abolitionist, and writer. A Texan and Northwestern alumna, they believe in travel and education as foundations for change. They hope their work as the Marla Louniverse Weaver facilitates a collective breaking of chains and creates coalitions built on radical thought. Her writing and efforts have blessed NPR, Variety, Bitch Media, ADI Magazine, Okayplayer, and other publications. When they're not dreaming of better worlds, LaTesha is roleplaying a smelly halfling, dashing through airports, supporting their local library, being asked to tone it down in theaters, dining on something delicious, and making love.
Coco Villa
Coco Villa is a movement director, dancer, interdisciplinary artist, and community builder. In addition to their artistry, they have spent the past decade helping people develop new processes, tools, and habits. Coco’s organizational support is clear, practical and always infused with care. When they’re not working on their own projects or being a spreadsheets freak as a Pillar for the Marla Louniverse, they are swimming in the ocean, making exquisite meals, and taking siestas.
Image by Toni Esposito.
Mente
Mente is a Dominico-Taiwanese artist/multimedia producer. With a background in Univision and 9 years of multimedia production, their work uses satire, music, and other forms of art to address social issues in Latin America and the world. Their project “La Mente Open” has amassed 10M+ views through collaborations with groups like Planned Parenthood and Six on Broadway. Mente's work aligns with their identities as a disabled queer immigrant-- covering topics like colonialism and reproductive rights. They are the mirror (digital producer) in the Louniverse, helping Marla reflect to the public what their vision of the world could be.
Grace Incarnate
grace incarnate is a weaver of divine transmissions who sees liberation of the self as the true portal to collectively liberating all beings. This embodiment cannot be described by what they have done or will do, but rather by what they are: unlimited.
Jules Kulaya
Jules Kulaya is a Puerto Rican / Czechoslovakian designer, artisan, & ethnobotanist born and raised in NYC. They’ve cultivated a 13 year professional career in costume design & production, traversing through stage & screen. This lived experience heavily impacts their driving ethos rooted in play, healing & advocacy for the global majority, LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities. Leaning into their purpose, they teach classes ranging from breathwork, to agua de Florida ceremonies, and printmaking. They foster Kulayascope: a holistic brand and organize community liberation.
Marc Ella Roy
Marc Ella has crafted visuals for the Marla Louniverse since August of 2023. Their process involves in-depth research and continual optimization to build a recognizably revolutionary style that matches the energy of Marla themself. Beyond their work as a designer, Marc Ella is a youth educator and faith leader working in the Episcopal Church, and a singer-songwriter. They enjoy lifting weights, playing board games, and living into their queer faith to resist Christo-fascist agendas,
Jasmine Oswalt
Jasmine Oswalt is the first and original member of Team Marla Lou, working with them since August of 2021. She ensures that the whole Marla Louniverse runs smoothly, from organizing meetings and events, to engaging with clients, and much more. She has two B.A.s in Criminal Justice and English Literature, and her primary passions are research, literature, and curation. She’s most excited to build Marla Lou as a brand, creative force, and Luminary!
