Mandy has technically been teaching storytelling and children’s theater since she was 11, when she started assisting the drama and folklore teacher at a day camp. Ever since, her main vocation has been teaching, directing, and performing theater. Working both with theater companies and as a freelance educator, she has directed plays and musicals during and after school, and worked with classes to produce curriculum-based theater; her favorite projects are those where the students participate in writing and directing.
She also teaches acting, improv, music, and dance—for school theater programs and for adults. For 10 years, she taught through Northwest Children’s Theater in Portland, OR. She is currently Technical Director and Resident Artist at Bag&Baggage.
Download: Headshot | Acting Resume
Recent Roles:
Gina
in I Fucking Hate Shakespeare
by Gina Femia
Bag&Baggage, directed by Ephriam Harnsberger
March 2-26, 2023
“This solo play is so cared for, beautifully produced, directed and performed” — Gina Femia, playwright
“Very personal show. Mandy was amazing, going through many ages and tones and pulling all of them off.” —Audience review
“Mandy was amazing – I’ve seen her several times but was not prepared for the physical and emotional range she brought to this role.” — Audience review
Judith Bliss
in Hay Fever
by Noel Coward
Bag&Baggage, directed by Lawrence Siulagi
Presented as an audio drama
Released in Three Acts
December, 2020
Ensemble
in The Measure of Innocence
by Anya Pearson
(adapted from William Shakespeare’s Measure For Measure)
Bag&Baggage, directed by Wednesday Sue Derrico
March 5 – 13, 2020
photos by Casey Campbell Photography
Margaret/Dogberry
in Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare, adapted by Gordon Barr
Bag&Baggage, directed by Cassie Greer
July 11 – 28, 2019
photos by Casey Campbell Photography
“Mandana Khoshnevisan, as the bumbling Dogberry, commits fully to the sincere silliness of her character, and her keen physical comedy is spectacular. ” —Christopher Gonzalez, Oregon ArtsWatch
“As Margaret, Mandana Khoshnevisan pulls off some truly unbelievable dance moves, and she brings a muddled intensity to her Dogberry that leaves the audience in stitches. “ —Tina Arth, Westside Theatre Reviews/Pamplin Media Group
Doris,
in La Isla en Invierno (The Island in Winter
by Carlos Zenen Trujillo
Bag&Baggage, directed by Scott Palmer
March 7 – 24, 2019 (World Premiere)
photo by Casey Campbell Photography
Helga ten Dorp,
in Deathtrap
by Ira Levin
Bag&Baggage, directed by Scott Palmer
October 4 – 31, 2018
photo by Casey Campbell Photography
“Mandana Khoshnevisan’s outré psychic, Helga, provides a solid dose of comic relief, especially in Act II, where she goes over the top, but never out of control…” —Tina Arth, Westside Theatre Reviews/Pamplin Media Group
“In one of the most delightful character performances I’ve seen this season, Mandana Khoshnevisan just about steals the show with a pitch-perfect mix of prescience and looniness as Helga.” —Brett Campbell, Oregon ArtsWatch
Biff Tannen,
in Back to the Future: The Musical Parody
book and lyrics by Andy Barrett, music by Matt Insley, Sam Dinkowitz, Dave Cole, and Jim Liptak
Funhouse Lounge, directed by Andy Barrett
(Drammy winner, Outstanding Original Musical)
August 30 – September 29, 2018
photo by Lucy Hobbs
The Son,
in Trail to Oregon
music and lyrics by Jeff Blim, and book by Jeff Blim, Matt Lang, and Nick Lang
Funhouse Lounge, directed by Greg Shilling
April 12 – May 20, 2018
photo by Lucy Hobbs
Paulina Salas,
in Death and the Maiden
by Ariel Dorfman
Bag&Baggage Productions, directed by Cassie Greer
March 8 – 25, 2018
photo by Casey Campbell Photography
“…it is Khoshnevisan who delivers a real tour de force.” —Tina Arth, Westside Theatre Reviews
Mother Gruber/Inga,
in Die Hard: the Parody Musical
by Andy Barrett
Music by Matt Insley, James Liptak, and Sam Dinkowitz
Funhouse Lounge, directed by Andy Barrett
December 1, 2017 – January 7, 2018
photo by Lucy Hobbs
Lady Capulet,
in Romeo & Juliet/Layla & Majnun
by Willam Shakespeare, with added text from The Story of Layla and Majnun by Nizami
Bag&Baggage Productions, adapted & directed by Scott Palmer
July 20 – August 5, 2017
photo by Casey Campbell Photography
“…one of Bag and Baggage’s best-performed productions.” –Brett Campbell, Oregon Arts Watch
“Khoshnevisan offers additional shots of humor playing the protective, frustrated, status-seeking uber-momma without making a mockery of her fierce maternal love.” —Tina Arth, Westside Theatre Reviews
Mae Coleman,
in Reefer Madness
by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney
Funhouse Lounge, directed by John Monteverde
June 23 – July 23, 2016
photo by Lucy Hobbs
“And the reefer-den denizens, particularly Mandy Khoshnevisan, are sure fun-to-watch weed-freaks.” —Lee Williams, The Oregonian
Mandana Khoshnevisan 
