Preston
Max Allen

Preston Max Allen (he/him) is a playwright, composer, and lyricist whose work has been performed at the New Amsterdam Theatre, Signature Theatre, Lincoln Center, Chautauqua Institution, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Joe’s Pub, Musical Theatre Factory, and Feinstein’s/54 Below. He conceived and wrote book, music, and lyrics for WE ARE THE TIGERS (album now streaming), AGENT 355 (co-book/dramaturgy by Jessica Kahkoska), and CARRIE 2: THE RAGE, AN UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL PARODY (Jeff Nominee, Best New Musical). Additional musical projects with book writer Edward Precht include A VERY NETFL*X CHRISTMAS MUSICAL: NOW STREAMING LIVE! and AMY ADAMS WINS AN OSCAR. Preston's play MODERN GENTLEMAN was part of the Pride Plays 2020 Festival. Preston is an LA Ovation winner for Best Lyrics/Composition (WE ARE THE TIGERS), member of the Ars Nova Play Group (2019/2020), and alum of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop. Most/best of all, he is father to a perfect cat, Hero @prestonmaxallen

Kelsey Angel
Baehrens

Kelsey Angel Baehrens (she/hers) is an actor, director, and poet. A proud hapa Filipina, she grew up in Kailua, Hawaii. Currently in pre-production as assistant director to Erin Ortman on the new musical Jeannette, written by Ari Afsar and Lauren Gunderson. www.kelseyangelbaehrens.com, @kelseyangelb

Mikayla
Bartholomew

Mikayla Bartholomew is an actress and activist based in New York City. Most recently, she took on the role of Serena and Venus Williams' eldest sister Tunde Price in the new film King Richard due out later in 2021. Other credits include Pure (Cannes Film Festival), Bayano (National Black Theatre), A Doll’s House: Part 2 (Maltz Jupiter Theatre), The Trojan Women, Babes in the Wood (Signature Theatre), LORDES (New Ohio Theatre), CBS’ "The Code" and more. Dedicated to fighting for all Black lives and marginalized communities, Mikayla is a facilitator and the new Social Media Manager for the Broadway Advocacy Coalition. Additionally, she's on the team of warriors and legends who organized, launched and facilitated the Broadway for Black Lives Matter Again forums, the BwayforBLM: The Miseducation forum, has facilitated the Theatre of Change course at Columbia Law School and co-facilitated And Still I Write: A Writing Workshop Dedicated to Black Womxn in support of a new BAC partnership with Exodus Transitional Community. Here is to being Black, to being woman and to taking up space, so that others may do the same. BFA in Theatre, minors in pre-nursing and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University. www.mikaylabartholomew.com

Iranian-born, Award-winning actor Arian Moayed is the co-Founder of Waterwell, a civic-minded and socially conscious non-profit art and education company. He is also a Partner of Waterwell Films, a for-profit film and television company. With the Waterwell non-profit, recent productions include The Flores Exhibits, a series of videos in which artists, lawyers, advocates, and immigrants read the sworn testimonies of children held in detention facilities at the U.S./Mexico border (floresexhibits.org), The Courtroom: a re-enactment of one woman’s deportation proceedings, named "Best Theater of 2019" by The New York Times, and a duallanguage Hamlet (Arian played the title role). Waterwell also created Fleet Week Follies, an annual festival of music, food, and kid-friendly activities, free to military service members and their families. At the Waterwell Education Program, over 250 students per year receive world-class arts training and education in advocacy at the Professional Performing Arts School, all free of charge. He has been a faculty member for nearly 15 years, currently teaching the Artist as Citizen and Senior Capstone. With Waterwell Films, Arian has written/directed the Emmy-nominated thriller, The Accidental Wolf, which was acquired by Topic Studios. Current writing projects include 28 Mordad (Playground Pictures), a film version of The Courtroom (Archer Gray/ Topic) and a film adaptation of The Man in Red. Notable acting credits include Broadway's The Humans (Drama Desk Award), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (Tony nomination), Guards at the Taj (Obie (updated Feb 10, 2020) Award), Emmy-winning Succession (HBO), and an upcoming Shonda Rhimes’ series, Inventing Anna (Netflix).

DENÉE
BENTON

DENÉE BENTON made her Broadway debut and received a 2017 Tony Award nomination, Drama League Distinguished Performance Award nomination, Theatre World Award, and a Lilly Award for her portrayal of ‘Natasha’ in the Broadway production of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (A.R.T). Nat’l Tour/ West End: Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon, Ruby in Season 2 of Lifetime's hit series “UnREAL". Film: Our Friend. She holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University and spent a year starring as Eliza on Broadway in HAMILTON. Next, she can be seen starring in HBO’s upcoming TV series ‘The Gilded Age'

November
Christine

November Christine (she/her/hers) holds a degree in Cellular Biology and Molecular Genetics from the University of Maryland, as well as a BM in Musical Theatre from the East Carolina University School of Music. She produced her award-winning musical MIRROR, MIRROR at the 2015 Hollywood Fringe Festival, followed by a 3-week run in Los Angeles, CA. November’s historical hip-hop drama, LEGACY THE MUSICAL was showcased in London in 2017 and won “Best of Fest” at the 2018 New York Musical Festival. She was recently commissioned to write her latest piece, IDA, an epistolary play about the early years of Ida B. Wells. November is also a BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop Lyricist and 2021 Billie Burke Ziegfeld Award Winner. Having joined the NYCLU Artist Ambassador Program last year, November is proud to be stepping into the role of Co-chair.

Layan
Elwazani

Layan Elwazani is an actor, writer, and director based in New York City. She is dedicated to the generation of new work as an act of resistance. Her favorite projects ask questions about justice, belonging, and community. Some of her stage credits include The Band’s Visit on Broadway, Noura at The Guthrie, We Live in Cairo at American Repertory Theatre, and Yasmina’s Necklace at Premiere Stages. On screen, she’s most recently appeared in The Code on CBS, and in the indie film Boxed In. She is a proud Palestinian-American, and a self proclaimed “ferocious empath.”

Shruti
Ganguly

Shruti Ganguly is a filmmaker and writer based in Oslo and New York City. Shruti was a member of Obama’s ECCO committee of 30 leaders and creators in entertainment, chairing its Asian Caucus, and is on the Creative Council for Emily's List. She has produced several films (including Spirit-winner H., and the Nora Ephron Prize-winner INITIALS SG) that have premiered Sundance, Venice, Tribeca and Berlin. Shruti has directed videos for Google, Unilever, Instagram, Chanel, and crafted the #MySentence series on prison reform for the Obama Administration.

In late 2017, Shruti started honto88, a production company that works in a variety of formats - from narrative and doc features to series, and branded content. She launched it with a narrative feature, GREEN DOLPHIN, by director Chris Kenneally and EP Keanu Reeves. Shruti worked for several years with James Franco on films, and produced an experimental art performance with him and Marina Abramovic, called BIRD SHIT, which premiered at the MoMA. Previously, Shruti worked at NYLON, MTV, and Conde Nast, producing the CLIO-winning 73 Questions series. Shruti sold a genre film to Sony, and is writing a multi-generational drama, based on the book SECRET DAUGHTER. She is an EP on a series on the Harlem Renaissance set up at MGM, and her feature directing debut, PRIYA, AT 12 is slated for production in 2021.

Shruti is a co-founder of the Resistance Revival Chorus, a collective born out of the Women's March that brings together artists and activists to use music and joy as an act of resistance. Shruti is a published writer (Nevertheless They Persisted, Penguin) and a contributing writer for The Juggernaut. Shruti received her Bachelor's degree from Northwestern University, and went to NYU's dual MFA/MBA program at Tisch and Stern. She hails from India, by way of Oman, and believes that all stories deserve specificity, complexity and truth, so they can change the way we exist.

Em
Grosland

Em Grosland is an actor, an artist, and a trans advocate. He is passionate about spreading the concept of gender euphoria to encourage young trans and GNC people to celebrate their gender exploration and discoveries.

They are currently doing research for a series of paintings called Transcestors inspired by the transgender people and gender explorers throughout history. You can see Em in their third season as Nurse Ed Brunstetter on NBC’s New Amsterdam.

Some of his previous acting credits include: Tales of the City, Bull, Law and Order: SVU and the film Ricki and the Flash. And on stage as: Max in Taylor Mac’s Hir (Steppenwolf Theater) opposite Amy Morton and Francis Guinan, The world premiere of Eve Ensler’s Emotional Creature (Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Signature Center), Peter in Peter Pan (Tuacahn Ampitheatre), He received his BFA from Washington University in St. Louis. www.EmGrosland.com. @EmGrosland.

Somáh
Haaland

Somáh Haaland (they/them) is a queer, non-binary, mixed artist from the Pueblos of Laguna and Jemez who has been living in New York since the summer of 2019. In 2017, Somáh earned their degree in theatre arts from the University of New Mexico, where they pursued their love of movement and storytelling that was instilled in them at a young age. Somáh is a published poet, a performer, and a community organizer with Pueblo Action Alliance - a community driven organization that promotes cultural sustainability and community defense by addressing environmental and social impacts in Indigenous communities. Somáh is passionate about using art and language as a vehicle to build new worlds.

Wesley
Han

Wesley Han is a performing artist and writer based in New York City. A versatile actor both on-screen and onstage, Wesley has recently booked roles for Netflix and Paramount Productions, as well as the world premiere of a play reliving the Japanese Internment of the 1940’s. A graduate of Swarthmore College, they are a recipient of the Kaori Kitao Humanities Fellowship for their playwriting and were awarded High Honors for their superlative work in acting and dramaturgy.

As a queer person of color, Wesley believes that all storytellers have a duty to create and shape narratives that effect positive change in the world. At a time when there is so much to grieve, it is easy to share stories of grief - and of trauma, and of suffering - but there must be joy, as well, or we will never find healing. Wesley's focus, as such, is on stories that show women, people of color, and queer/trans folx living their best damn lives. No more peddling our victimhood to our oppressors to score pity points - we are a people with agency, joy in our hearts, and the right not only to survive, but to thrive.

Jacob
Haren

Jacob Haren was born and raised in San Diego, CA and grew up performing professionally. Select credits include: Elder White in The Book of Mormon (Broadway & National Tour), Rock of Ages (Las Vegas), Up Here (La Jolla Playhouse, world premiere), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (The Old Globe), Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me If You Can (Moonlight Stage Productions & Musical Theatre West). Jacob produces his own Youtube Channel “Me+You+Disney+” where he reacts to content on Disney Plus with friends and actors of their respective Disney shows, as well as his one-man show “Pure Imagination” that explores the realities and irrealities of a life in performance. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from UC Irvine. @jacobdharen

Brooke
Ishibashi

[SHE/HER/HERS]

Actor/Singer; Co-founder, Be An #ArtsHero A fourth-generation Japanese American, Brooke hails from a showbiz family. As a professional actor/singer, she originated/developed the role of “Neary” in Cambodian Rock Band and is passionate about exploring anti-racism, social justice, and trans-generational trauma.

Brooke has clowned with Taylor Mac at The Public, been plucked by DJ Nash and Pam Fryman to star in an NBC comedy, crashed American Idol as sketch character “AKIKO!” and performed at La Jolla Playhouse, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Geffen Playhouse, Joe’s Pub & many more.

Brooke is a core member of Fair Wage Onstage and National Councilor for Actors’ Equity Association. Brooke has a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. BeAnArtsHero.com

Maggie
Keenan-Bolger

Maggie Keenan-Bolger is the co-founder of Honest Accomplice Theatre (HAT), a New York-based theatre and media company, producing art for social change from the perspective of historically excluded communities since 2012. Along with many successful NYC productions, HAT has also toured with shows about gender and sexuality for the last seven years. In 2016, Maggie produced and directed HAT's first episode of the free educational webseries, The Trans Literacy Project, and has been releasing episodes since. This includes an episode currently being used in sexual harassment trainings throughout the state of NY, in any place of work with over 15 employees. Individually, Maggie has toured the country as a performer, sex educator and teaching artist and was recognized by the White House when she was appointed an LGBT Leader of the Next Generation by then Vice President, Joe Biden. A two-time Point Foundation scholar, Maggie was named a “Person to Watch” in the Advocate and can also be seen on The Good Wife with Julianna Margulies and in the movie Admission with Tina Fey.

JUDY
KUHN

JUDY KUHN is a four-time Tony Award nominee who most recently starred in the critically acclaimed Trevor Nunn directed production of Fiddler on the Roof in London’s West End for which she received her 2nd Olivier Award nomination.. On Broadway she starred as Helen Bechdel in Fun Home (Tony & Drama League Award Nominations) a role she created in the original Public Theater production for which she won a Lucille Lortell Award. Other Broadway includes the 2016 revival of Fiddler on the Roof; the Roundabout’s hit revival of She Loves Me (Tony Nomination); and the original Bway productions of Chess (Tony & Drama Desk Nomination); Les Miserables (Tony & Drama Desk Nomination); Rags (Drama Desk Nomination); Two Shakespearean Actors (Lincoln Center Theatre), Alan Menken & Tim Rice's King David; and The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Other theater includes: The Visit by John Kander, Fred Ebb & Terrance McNally at The Williamstown Theater Festival; Fosca in Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine’s Passion (CSC/Drama League Award nomination); Eli’s Comin’ (Vineyard Theatre/Obie Award)The Cradle Will Rock (Encores! Off-Center); Three Sisters (Intiman); U.S. premiere of Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles;; The Ballad of Little Jo (Steppenwolf Theatre Co./Jeff Award Nomination);

Judy sang the title role in Disney's Pocahontas as well as the in the sequel Pocahontas II: Journey To A New World. Other film and television appearances include Enchanted, “Elementary”;“Hope & Faith”;“Law & Order”. Judy has performed on concert stages around the world including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, The Royal Albert Hall in London and has recorded four solo CD’s most recently Rodgers, Rodgers & Guettel (PS Classics).

Michael
Kushner

Michael Kushner is NYC’s leading multi-hyphenate and the Executive Produce of the EMMY Nominated series Indoor Boys. Performance: On the Town at Barrington Stage (Pre Broadway, Directed by John Rando), Much Ado About Nothing at Barrington Stage (Directed by Julie Boyd), Sons on the Prophet at GableStage (Directed by Joe Adler). He is the creator of his one man show, Moo With Me (Directed by Max Crumm). Photography: Featured in The NYTimes, Vogue, The Tony Awards, Playbill, and more. Creator of The Dressing Room Project. Michael has photographed Idina Menzel, Julie Andrews, and many more notable artists. Producing: Emmy Nominated web series, Indoor Boys, created by Wes Taylor and Alex Wyse, XaveMePlease, starring Isaac Powell, (Frameline43 Festival in San Fran). Michael is one of the founding members of Musical Theatre Factory, currently in residency with Playwrights Horizons, and was awarded the first ever MTF Builder Award. Upcoming Producing: The Pink Unicorn, a film starring Alice Ripley, written by Elise Forier Edie. During CoVid-19, Michael has stayed active in the theatre community by serving as Director of Photography and producing virtual events such as Moments in the Woods (A Virtual Gala for the HFWAA featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda, nominated for a BroadwayWorld Award), Betsy Wolfe’s A Pants Optional Holiday, and It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play featuring The Skivvies with Laguna Playhouse, and Leslie Kritzer’s Holiday Show for The Actors’ Home. Active participant with Covenant House. In 2020, Michael served as 2020 KeyNote speaker for Florida Thespians. www.michaelkushneronline.com or www.michaelkushnerphotography.com. Podcasts: Dear Multi-Hyphenate and My Broadway Memory with Broadway Podcast Network. Proud AEA Member. Ithaca College BFA Musical Theatre. @themichaelkushner on IG and TikTok.

Treya
Lam

Treya Lam is a multi-instrumentalist songwriter and transdisciplinary artist whose cinematic compositions are built on dynamic classically trained piano, ethereal vocals, meditative guitar and lush chamber-folk arrangements. Their debut album Good News was created by an all womxn and genderqueer team including Catherine Popper (Jack White, Norah Jones) on upright bass, mixing engineer Erin Tonkon (David Bowie, Esperanza Spalding) and headed by Kaki King who produced and released the record on her label June 2018.

Lam was one of the five artists selected for the 2019 Joe’s Pub Working Group residency and was recently invited to develop a work in response to Ledelle Moe’s exhibit When at MASS MoCA. Treya is a Core Member of the eco-theatre group Superhero Clubhouse - and was part of the development team for the musical Mammelaphant which was selected to participate in Theatre Row’s inaugural Kitchen Sink Residency. This piece was initially developed during a residency at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre center has been performed as a work in progress at HERE Artist Center and The New Ohio.

Treya is an active member of the Resistance Revival Chorus with performances ranging from at Carnegie Hall, the Late Show (with Fleet Foxes) and the Delacorte Theatre to direct action events throughout New York and DC. Treya’s song Dawn is featured in the RRC’s debut album This Joy which was released on Ani Difranco’s label Righteous Babe Records. Lam seeks out extraordinary venues and has performed original music at the Prospect Park Bandshell, Greenwood Cemetery, American Museum of Natural History, New York Botanical Gardens, New York Public Library and Madison Square Park.

Jevares
C. Myrick

Jevares C. Myrick is a New York-based Producer/Orchestrator, Composer, Singer, Actor, Dancer and choreographer. Raised in Marietta, GA he is an alumnus of the Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts (Pebblebrook High School) and attended Wright State University on a full scholarship for Vocal Performance. BRODAWAY CREDITS: The Book of Mormon (Swing, Understudy, and Associate Dance Captain) NATIONAL TOUR CREDITS: The Book of Mormon Latter Day Tour (1st national) and the Jumamosi Tour (2nd national) as a swing, understudy, and Assistant Dance Captain. REGIONAL THEATRE CREDITS: Guys and Dolls (MUNY), Smokey Joes Café, All Night Strut, Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors, Grease, Ragtime, Sweet Charity, Aint Misbehavin’, Sophisticated Ladies, and many more. TELEVISION/FILM CREDITS: The Originals (Choreographer, and appeared on 3 episodes). He is a five time Suzi Bass Award Nominee (2 wins). Jevares is also an Ovation Award recipient for Best Male Vocalist. He has written and produced for various recording artists as well as written shows for Six Flags Amusement parks across the U.S. Jevares has also been featured in BroadwayWorld.com and Playbill.com.

Robb
Nanus

Robb Nanus is an award-winning theater, live event and digital producer.

Under his leadership as Executive Director, the Broadway Advocacy Coalition has grown from a volunteer only organization to being nationally recognized as a leader in the arts industry. Since its founding, the organization has partnered with organizations ranging from Columbia Law School and the New York City Council to the Broadway musical Wicked and AT&T and alongside artists including Lynn Nottage, India Arie, David Schimmer, Aja Naomi King and more. The organization was also ecently named Variety's 2020 Broadway Players to Watch.

As a producer he has worked for over a decade in live production, including recent tours of Charlie Rosen’s viral video game sensation the 8-Bit Big Band and the world premiere of NUBIA, the first ever all-black drag extravaganza featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race favorites Bob the Drag Queen, BeBe Zahara Benet, Monique Heart, Peppermint, Shea Coulee, and The Vixen. Much of his work has lived at the intersection of arts and advocacy including the ACLU/NYCLU’s 17th & 18th annual Sing Out For Freedom concerts featuring notable artists like Kelli O'Hara, Lea DeLaria and Rachel Brosnahan; the New York premiere of Andrew Lippa's I Am Harvey Milk starring Kristin Chenoweth at Lincoln Center and several projects with March for Our Lives.

Other projects include viral musical campaigns for the skin care brand Olay featuring Tony Award-winner Ali Stroker and beloved SNL cast member Ana Gasteyer, the live marathon listening session of John Cameron Mitchell’s acclaimed musical podcast ANTHEM: Homunculus in partnership with Luminary Podcasts, the six time award-winning musical Newton's Cradle, the Obie Award-winning theatrical experience The Woodsman at New World Stages, and the Drama Desk Award-winning musical The Lion.

He has worked in various capacities with Hillary for America, Foossa, The Social Edge, Ars Nova, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre in DC, Story Pirates and Turbovote. In his spare time, he volunteers with the Covenant House and is a trustee emeritus of the Awesome Foundation.

Nikki
Pitre

Nikki’s Indian name is khwhele’ which means Meadow Lark. She is a member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and is also Kalispel, Yakama, Nisqually, Cowlitz, Squaxin Island and Taino. She is a direct descendant of Chief Spokane, Chief Ignace, Chief Kamayakin and Chief Leschi. With a true passion to support Native youth and youth-led programming, Nikki serves as the Executive Director at the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute. As Executive Director, Nikki works closely with the Board of Advisors and Youth Advisory Board, manages staff and sets the vision, strategy and priorities for the Center. Nikki oversees finances, manages development of communications, advocacy, programs and is the lead in resource development, partnership development and collaborative strategies.

Nikki sits on the Partnership with Native Americans Board of Directors, an Advisor for Doris Duke Charitable Fund’s Indigenous Peoples Portfolio, a Commissioner for the Aspen Institute’s K-12 Climate Action, Advisory Board Member for Reimagining Children’s Rights, and is a proud committee member for the Miss Indian World Pageant for the Gathering of Nations Pow-wow and promotes other organizations in advisory capacities.

Nikki has worked on behalf of her people her whole life. Her biggest inspiration comes from her daughter, Aplnmarimn’tsu’tn (Carries the Medicine).

Alba
Ponce de León

Alba Ponce de León is a singer-songwriter who cut her musical teeth singing backup at Daptone Records for soul legends like Charles Bradley and Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens. She has recorded with and appeared on dozens of albums for artists like Kevin Morby, Broken Bells, Fleet Foxes, Alicia Keys, Combo Lulo, Ghost Funk Orchestra and more. Alba is currently the composer and bandleader for the Latinx psychedelic-soul band, Alba + The Mighty Lions, who's next single, "Matemática," drops April 16th on Names You Can Trust. She also writes and performs with the art-ivist ensemble, Resistance Revival Chorus. Her single, "Love Army" is featured on their debut album, THIS JOY, out now on Righteous Babe Records. In addition to her life onstage, Alba is a prolific voice actor represented by Atlas Talent. She is the voice behind some of your favorite commercials, animated series, video games, podcasts and more. You can learn all about her past, present and future projects at www.albaponcedeleon.com.

EVA
PRICE

EVA PRICE is an NYCLU/ACLU honoree for her commitment to works spearheaded by female creatives and people of color, and a Crain’s 2020 Notable LGBTQ Leaders and Executives Honoree. She is a three-time Tony Award-winning producer of over 18 Broadway plays, musicals, and concerts, a member of The Broadway League’s Board of Governors, and on the producing team of Killer Content and Abigail Disney’s venture Level Forward. Credits: Oklahoma! (2 Tony Awards, Best Musical Revival); Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill (15 Tony Award nominations); What the Constitution Means to Me (2 Tony Nominations); Angels in America (Tony-winning revival starring Nathan Lane and Andrew Garfield); Dear Evan Hansen (6 Tony Awards including Best Musical); On Your Feet!; Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on Broadway!; Peter and the Starcatcher (5 Tony Awards); Colin Quinn Long Story Short (directed by Jerry Seinfeld); Annie (Tony-Nominated Musical Revival); The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino (Tony-Nominated Play Revival); Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking; The Addams Family; Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical; Drama Desk-nominated Found; The Lion (Drama Desk-winner, Off-West End-winner); Small Mouth Sounds. Eva is the host and creator of the podcast My First Show on the Broadway Podcast Network.

Geena
Quintos

Geena Quintos is a Native New Yorker born and raised in Sunnyside, Queens. She is a first generation Filipinx, born into a huge family filled with people with even bigger hearts. Geena is an artist who is passionate about her hometown, the people that live in it and is dedicated to raising her voice for her community. She began her education in the arts at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for Music & Art and the Performing Arts as an Acting major. After finishing high school, she toured with A Chorus Line as Connie directed by Baayork Lee. Following the tour, she continued working in New York City and other regional theaters around the country. Dedicated to new works and Asian American representation in the arts, she has originated roles in Held Momentarily, Neptune, Jeannette and Soft Power (which has just finished its run at The Public Theater in November 2019). She was also a company member of Seattle Rep’s production of Here Lies Love. She is the Founder of “The Buddy System,” an organization that services the AAPI community by providing accompaniment from trustworthy volunteers to anyone who is worried about getting around safely. Geena is a coffee and dessert enthusiast. She currently lives in Brooklyn and is passionately driven to tell stories that have not yet been told.

Harrow
Sansom

Harrow Sansom (they/them) is a queer, non-binary, transnational, and transracial Korean adoptee that's currently the Operations Director of Theatre of the Oppressed NYC and co-host of Thesis on Joan, a podcast that amplifies LBGTQ+ voices in the NY performing arts scene. Their previous experience includes General Manager and Ensemble member of Honest Accomplice Theatre, a company creating devised work by women and trans people; Production Supervisor of the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Roundabout Theatre Company, and Epic Theatre Ensemble.

Arya
Shahi

Arya Shahi is an Iranian-American writer, performer, musician, director, and producer. He is a co-founder of PigPen Theatre Co., the award-winning folk band and theatre company, as well as @inboxart, an Instagram collaboration which explores the connection between poetry and visual art. He is also a member of the #BARS Workshop NYC at The Public Theater. He is currently at work on a wide range of projects, including stage adaptions of “Water For Elephants” and “The Tale of Despereaux”, a rap album called “The American Grandson”, and a semi-autobiographical novel in verse. He holds a BFA in Drama from Carnegie Mellon University.

Leigh
Silverman

Leigh Silverman has directed over 55 world premiere new plays and musicals. Her Broadway credits include: Grand Horizons (2ST; Williamstown Theater Festival); The Lifespan of a Fact (Studio 54); Violet (Roundabout; Tony nomination); Chinglish (Goodman Theatre; Longacre); and Well (Public Theater; ACT; Longacre). Her recent off Broadway credits include: Soft Power (Public Theater; Ahmanson Theater/ Curran Theater; Drama Desk nom); Harry Clarke (Vineyard Theatre/Audible, Minetta Lane; Lortel nom); Hurricane Diane (NYTW); Wild Goose Dreams (Public Theater; La Jolla Playhouse); Sweet Charity (New Group); All The Ways To Say I Love You (MCC); No Place To Go and The Outer Space (Public Theater). For Encores she directed: Violet; The Wild Party; and Really Rosie. She received a 2011 Obie Award and the 2019 Obie for Sustained Excellence.

Rachel
Sussman

Rachel Sussman is a Tony Award-nominated producer committed to cultivating dynamic, inclusive theatrical work through meaningful collaboration. She is a co-founder of The MITTEN Lab, an emerging theatre artist residency program in her native state of Michigan, as well as The Business of Broadway, a new educational venture designed to democratize commercial producing knowledge. She currently works as a Producer with Plate Spinner Productions in addition to working as an independent producer. Broadway and national tour: co-producer on Heidi Schreck's Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award-nominated play, What the Constitution Means to Me. Other producing credits include: the Obie Award-winning production of The Woodsman (New World Stages/ 59E59), Saturday Night Seder (Story Course), The Peculiar Patriot (Audible Theater), and Eh Dah? Questions for My Father (Next Door at NYTW). A past Women's Project Lab Time Warner Foundation Fellow, Rachel was the recipient of the 2019 Geraldine Stutz T. Fellowship in Creative Producing, founded by Hal Prince in conjunction with Columbia University. She is a graduate of the Commercial Theater Institute and a University Honors Scholar alumna of NYU Tisch. She is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Theatre at Columbia University's School of the Arts. www.rachel-sussman.com

Princess
Victome

Princess Victome is more than excited and honored to have been invited to join this year’s group of incredible artists! She is a Florida-born actor and singer based in Brooklyn, NY. You may have seen her as part of the ensemble of Jeannette at the O’Neill Center’s National Music Theatre Conference in 2019. Princess has always been passionate about centering marginalized voices and bodies in her work. Also, during the pandemic, she has rediscovered her love for rollerskating and sewing!

Instagram: prin_victome