For NYC-based High School Students: learn about having a career as a Playwright or Producer. In-person on Sunday mornings, totally free.
For adults: learn those skills you wish they taught you in theater school! On Thursday nights, virtually during select months of the year.
Lillian Hilmes (she/they) is a Brooklyn based Electrician and Lighting Designer. She graduated from Missouri State University with a BFA in Lighting Design, and is an alumni of The Juilliard School Professional Apprentice Program. Most recently, Lillian designed the 2024 Blackbox Play Festival for The Gallery Players. They were also the Master Electrician for SheNYC’s Off-Broadway debut shows Bloodshot and Fort Huachuca. https://
Kaisha S. Huguley is a New York based multi-hyphenate (actor, theatre maker, & creative) originally from Washington, D.C. Kaisha’s recent stage credits include Kinky Boots (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina & John Engeman Theatre), The Full Monty and Miracle on 34th Street (Argyle Theatre) Kaisha has performed in a solo cabaret at The GreenRoom 42 in promotion of her first EP Villain Era which is available on all music streaming platforms. Most Recently, Kaisha was in the production with Clue at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina!
Kaisha creates content on TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube documenting her journey as a musical theatre artist & creative living and working in New York City. Kaisha’s audience knows her as the woman who quit her full time job with the federal government to move to New York City to become an actor and she’s been taking them on this journey with her ever since she took the leap.
Kaisha is the quintessential multi-hyphenate as she works as an actor, arts administrator, educator, EDI Professional, and is currently training to become an Intimacy Director. Follow her @kaishacreates on TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube for updates!
Tosin Olufolabi (she/her) is a sound designer, deviser, facilitator, and performer who was trained at the University of Richmond. After graduating, she joined dog & pony dc as a company member and continued her training in 2016 – 2017 as the sound apprentice at Olney Theatre Center. NYC: Bite Me (WP Theater). DC/MD/VA: Gloria (2018 Helen Hayes Nomination for Outstanding Sound Design for a Hayes Production); There’s Always the Hudson and Hi, Are You Single?; Incendiary; The Sensational Sea Mink-ettes (Woolly Mammoth); Ain’t No Mo (Woolly Mammoth/Baltimore Center Stage); Life is a Dream (Baltimore Center Stage); Crying on Television, Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, The Sound Inside, The Chinese Lady, Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Everyman Theater); School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play; it’s not a trip it’s a journey (Round House Theatre); Moses, Fires in the Mirror (Theater J); The Thanksgiving Play (Olney Theatre Center); A Wind in the Door (Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences).
Shira Wolf is a General Manager at KGM Theatrical where she manages Broadway and Off-Broadway shows of all sizes. A proud ATPAM member, previous credits include The Ferryman, Mean Girls, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Shira co-founded SheNYC’s education program, CreateHER,and has seen over 65 high school students graduate the program as young playwrights and producers. Shira graduated from the University of Michigan with a dual degree in Psychology and Performing Arts Management.
Sarah Groustra (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based, Massachusetts-born playwright. Recent productions: The Laundry Play (The Chain), Insertion (B Street Theatre Company), Hangups (Playdate Theatre). Sarah was named a 2022 Ascending Playwright by Yonder Window Theater Company and is currently developing a new play with UC4 Playwrights’ Group at The Road Theatre. Sarah is a proud alumna of The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals and a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is currently developing full-length plays with Under Construction Playwright’s Group (the Road Theater, LA) and Yonder Window New Works Collective (NYC). Her play Insertion is premiering at B Street Theater in Sacramento, CA in July. Insertion was also a finalist for the 2023 Jane Chambers Prize. BA: Kenyon College (2022). @ladypoachedegg // sarahgroustra.com
Elizabeth Addison is a multi-hyphenated artist, theatre-maker, and creative recovery coach. She has written three musicals inspired by her recovery journey, “This is Treatment”, “F**k! Now What?!” and “Chasing Grace”, and just began writing her next musical, “In Between…” which will premiere at 54 Below in October 2023. Elizabeth was recently appointed Artistic Director of the New Works Department at 2nd Act and is on the advisory board of The Recovery Theatre Project.
Alexandra Palting’s stage acting highlights include CATF, Olney Theatre Center, The Kennedy Center, and InterAct Theatre. Onscreen, she has appeared on Law and Order. Her career as a singer has taken her from the swing clubs of Baltimore to the Vatican, and she has performed her own music at The Lincoln Theatre and Merriweather Post Pavilion. 0874 was developed in residence at The Kennedy Center and SheNYC is her NYC Off-Broadway debut.
Dylan is an NYC-based writer and director. Her plays have been Finalists or Semifinalists for the Orchard Project, the Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival, the Parity Development Award, and the O’Neill’s National Playwrights Conference. She served as Director’s Assistant on the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect and runs a murder mystery party company, Ghost Ship Murder Mysteries. BA Wesleyan University, MFA NYU Tisch. Member of Lincoln Center Directors Lab and TedxBroadway Young Professionals Cohort.
Samantha Stone is a New York City based playwright, theatre artist and educator, originally from Roosevelt Island and currently residing in Harlem. Her work focuses on creating theatre for social change and shedding light on prominent issues through a new lens. She is especially passionate about creating roles for women, trans, and non-binary actors of all ages and backgrounds.
Brooklyn-based composer Gillian Fox Orwoll has spent the past sixteen years honing her skills in composition, songwriting, and performing. She recently signed to Rexius Records, through which she’ll be releasing two original songs later this year under the name Fox Indigo. She’s recently obtained her MFA in Film Music Composition at Brooklyn College. She’s excited to be taking the lead role (in her very first acting gig!) as Arachne in her musical Bloom.
Dena Igusti is an Indonesian Muslim writer born and raised in Queens, New York. They are the author of CUT WOMAN. Their work has been produced and performed at The Brooklyn Museum, The Apollo Theater, Teen Vogue Summit, Players Theatre, Prelude Festival, Center At West Park, The Tank, and more. Their work has been featured in Teen Vogue, HowlRound, American Theatre, and more. They are a 2023 Asian American Writers’ Workshop Open City Fellow.
Leigh Flayton is a playwright whose play, Classic Six, was a finalist in the 2021 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, a semifinalist in that year’s Austin Film Festival’s Playwriting Competition and a finalist in the 2022 Premiere Stages Play Festival. In 2018, an industry reading of Too Close to Home starred Judith Light and, last year, Leigh co-wrote All the Lonely Women with director Inés Braun, which premiered at the Global Forms Festival in Manhattan.
Nakisa Aschtiani is super excited to be returning to the SheNYC/LA Festival Team. She made her debut with this organization in 2016 with her play, “Children of Camelot.” This is her third time here, and she can honestly say it gets better each time! Thank you to the incredible “Bismillah” company and for all the love and support. Kisses to her parents, hubby, and puppies!
Natalie Nicole Dressel is a transgender writer/actress currently living in North Hollywood, CA. In 2019 she attained her MFA in writing for the Stage and Screen from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA, and in 2013 she earned her BFA in Theater from Michigan State University. She is a graduate of the UCB LA improv program, and currently makes her living adapting foreign language scripts for dubbing artists.
Sarahjeen François is a Haitian-American performer and Myth-maker whose creative work is an exploration of the rich storytelling practices of the Afro-folkloric. An MFA Acting graduate from CalArts, Sarahjeen’s artistic endeavors have led her to work with The Playwrights’ Center, The Atlantic Center for the Arts, Castello San Basilio, Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, CalArts Center for New Performance, Teatro Línea de Sombra, Horizon Theatre Company, Peach State Opera, and Out Front Theatre Company.
Margaret Owens is most recently a graduate from UCLA ’23. Her musical RoseMarie has enjoyed several professional staged readings. Her recent work The Chosen delighted audience at the UCLA Bruin Fringe Fest in ’22. As an accomplished singer songwriter she has released 13 self-produced albums available on all streaming platforms. She performs regularly at spiritual centers across the country. Margaret enjoys writing about hard emotional subjects and thrives by setting these life challenges to music.
Maddie Nguyen (she/her) is a playwright, actor, and poet currently based in Los Angeles, CA. She received her BA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Acting from the University of Portland and is also an alumnus of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Critic’s Institute. Previous original works produced include the Zoom play, “The Guest” (University of Portland and Peninsula College). She is represented by Forever Icon Talent Management and Image Powerhouse.
K. PARKER (she/her) is a director, writer, and actor. Parker began her Atlanta career as a directing and acting dual apprentice at Actor’s Express. Afterwards she began producing her own work with the help of several local theatre companies including Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company, Actor’s Express, and most recently Synchronicity Theatre where she produced her comedy one act How to Be A Lesbian, as a part of their Stripped Bare Arts Incubator project. Parker is excited to be mounting her first full length play with SheATL!
Brianna Kothari Barnes is a multi-dimensional artist who works professionally as an actor, singer-songwriter, and composer/lyricist. She is a 2022 NYC Women’s Fund Grant Recipient and 2021 Finalist for The Jonathan Larson Grant. Her debut album, Hierophanies: Manifestations of the Sacred, made the first round on the 2021 GRAMMY Awards® ballot for consideration under Best Contemporary Christian Album. Writing Credits: LET THERE BE LIGHT (Book, Music, & Lyrics) – Best Musical/Best Score at The New York Theatre Festival (2018), RATHSKELLER: A MUSICAL ELIXIR (Book, Music, & Lyrics) – Best Musical in BroadwayWorld’s Off-Off-Broadway Awards (2021), WALKING WITH BUBBLES (Music & Lyrics) – Drama Desk and Off-Broadway Alliance Nomination for Best Solo Performance (2023). A graduate of the esteemed College Conservatory of Music – The University of Cincinnati (CCM), Brianna has performed professionally around the country at Florida Studio Theater, The Engeman Theater, The Wick Theater, Theatre Aspen, and Capital Repertory Theater and starred as Lucy in The National Tour of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Literary Rep: Amy Wagner of A3 Artists Agency. www.Brianna-Barnes.com. @brianna_barnes_
Alexis Elisa Macedo (she/her) is a versatile Chicana performer and produced and published playwright from Fresno, California, now based in Providence, RI. She’s a National Theater Institute Alum (Advanced Playwriting ‘20, Theatermakers ‘22) and has her BA in Theater Arts – Acting Emphasis (Fresno State ‘21). Macedo is the recipient of the KCACTF/LORT Leadership Fellows Meritorious Achievement, Individual Artist Fellowship from the California Arts Council, and a Miranda Family Fellow Alum. Macedo is currently a Lime Arts Production’s Line Producer, a Latinx Steering Committee Member and a teaching artist for NTI and Teatro ECAS. Her original works include I Don’t Speak Spanish (Julia de Burgos Cultural Center, SOL Fest 2020), Hombres Verdaderos (Top 12 semi-finalists, Concord Theatrical’s 46th Annual Samuel French OOB Short Play Festival, Lime Arts Productions’ TBTF) Red Hood(ie) (Lime Arts Productions TBTF, published by Next Stage Press) and, CHICANA LEGEND (The Fools Collaborative, SheATL Arts). You can find Macedo’s originals on New Play Exchange, Youtube, and her website www.alexiselisamacedo.com.
Seeking Musical Theater Actors for the following roles:
JOHN CASEY (Any ethnicity, 30s male)
A dynamic actor who can span life from a young college graduate to a mid-aged finance mogul. Confident and motivated, he is determined to make something of himself and get his mother out of her abusive marriage. Wants to get out of his small town and away from his alcoholic father. Begins his journey hopeful and optimistic, with pure motives, but grows increasingly irresponsible with his choices as the obstacles of life hit him. His pain drives him to become an addict, and his pride is ultimately his downfall. Voice type: Rock Tenor that becomes Rock Baritone as he ages. Ability to play guitar is a major plus.
THE BARTENDER (Any ethnicity, 30s-50s female identifying or nonbinary actor)
Tough-as-nails owner of Rathskeller. Equally intimidating as she is maternal, both feared and loved by her staff, dark yet wise with a wicked sense of humor. A wildly commanding presence that is at times other-worldly, and other times as real as it gets. Voice type: Rock Belt. Raspiness and ability to riff is a plus.
LINDA/BAR STAFF (Any ethnicity, 50s-60s female)
John’s mother, sweet spirited, small town mom, protective and caring of John, sees the best in people. Voice type: Soft Mezzo Soprano. May join ensemble vocals on some group numbers from off stage.
BILL/BAR STAFF ( Any ethnicity, 50s-60s male)
John’s father, long-time functioning alcoholic, rugged and hardened by life, a mean-spirited bully to his wife and son, often oscillating from jovial to intense on a dime. Non-singing role but may join ensemble vocals on some group numbers from off stage.
TY (Any ethnicity, 30s female or nonbinary actor)
John’s best friend. A goofy, glass-half-full, hakuna-matata outlook on life. A rebel against hustle culture. She has a heart of gold and would do anything for those she loves. Would’ve dropped out of high school without John’s friendship. Doesn’t need society’s version of success to be happy. Voice Type: Pop/Rock Soprano Belt.
BECCA (Any ethnicity, 30s female)
John’s love interest, beautiful, kind-hearted, believes in John, frustrated with where she is in life. Wants to be loved and respected for who she really is. Voice Type: Pop/Rock Soprano, sings with more head voice than any other character.
TASHA (Any ethnicity, 30s-40s female)
Ty’s sister and John’s co-worker, over-the-top obnoxious personality. A “Wolf of Wall Street” type in heels. Obsessed with work and getting to the top, but equally obsessed with play. Is driven by greed. She’s the life of the party, but will cut a bitch if you’re in her way. Can be condescending and conniving, knows how to play the game. Voice Type: Big Pop/Rock Soprano Belt. (High Belt and ability to riff a plus).
PEYTON (Any ethnicity, 20s-30s female or nonbinary actor)
John’s assistant at the firm. Smart but anxiety-riddled up-and-comer in the firm. Book-wormish and awkward but determined to get what she wants, and willing to risk everything. Voice Type: Pop/Rock Soprano Belt.
BAR STAFF (Any ethnicity, All ages and gender identities)
These three ensemble members make up the Rathskeller staff who act as partygoers, back-up dancers, office workers, bar patrons, etc. Great Pop/Rock Singers that can move well
Casting for the following roles in Chicana Legend:
WOMAN #1 (Mama Mora/Mia/Selena)
– Can play the energy of a Mama, 1st grade tomboy, and the iconic Tejano music star.
– Bilingual
– Chicanx/Latine
WOMAN #2 (Abuela Mora/Ms. Brown)
– Can play the energy of an Abuela and a First grade teacher.
– Bilingual
– Chicanx/Latine
MAN #1 (Jose)
– Can play the energies of age 6 – early 20s
– Bilingual
– Chicanx/Latine
-Class clown. First language is Spanish. Energetic. Has trouble focusing. Loves to make other’s laugh.
MAN #2 (Jose’s PAPÁ/Boy in the Club)
– Can play the energies of a Father and a Frat boy
– Bilingual
– Chicanx/Latine
Was recently laid off from his job in construction. Breaking traditional gender norms, he does his best to make sure he walks Jose into school, his shirts are clean, and he has a good lunch.
Seeking actors for the following roles:
SHILOH (she/her) black, aged 16-20
Petulant and opinionated, never signed up for motherhood and is very vocal about her disbelief in God
JESSIE (he/they) any race.
Transmasculine or non-binary living a stealth life. Age could range from 25-50. A very caring and kind husband to Shiloh. He loves her, but not as much as he loves God. Very devoted to his faith.
YOLANDA (a woman, she doesn’t believe in pronouns) any race 35-60.
She sits comfortably under the thumb of the Christian totalitarian government. Extremely traditional. Smug and condescending. “Nice Nasty” as the southern folks would say
GABE (any gender) black/person of color, ageless/genderless.
The messenger angel. Rebellious, plans to lead a revolution against God.
All roles must be strong actor/singers with an excellent ability to harmonize. Must be available to rehearse in June with two performances and the SHE L.A. Festival in Hollywood, CA at the Zephyr Theater the week of July11-17. All ethnicities encouraged to apply for the following roles.
JOE KENNEDY JR., Ensemble 3, Dr. Parker. Eldest son being raised for the throne. High tenor C, 20’s-30’s.
ROBERT, Ensemble 7. Irish Bartender, late 20’s. Leads a simple life. Falls for Rosie. Irish tenor strong A.
This show is also seeking a stage manager.
Bahar: Seeking a Femme-presenting Persian/ME actor to play 30s, Iranian, Darius’ roommate.
Seeking 3 femme actors aged 18-25 for the following roles:
MARY GRACE (14) – sweet, curious, trusting little sister.
HELENA (21) – Mary Grace’s fiercely protective older sister with a bit of a temper.
VERA (20) – the newcomer. Cautious, even, caring.
Seeking actors for the following roles:
Sari – (She/Her, Indonesian, 18-25) A vivacious and elegant singer. Loud and cocky but knows how to light up a room. Has dreams of becoming a singer, hence why she takes any opportunity to be in front of a mic and a back track. Sticks to her roots even if her friends think it’s uncool. Is in love with Lisa and doesn’t care who’s watching. Despite this, she feels the pressure to start a nuclear family due to the traumas of late 90s Indonesia. Born and raised in Makassar but spent her teens and young adulthood in Jakarta. Must speak/pronounce Indonesian. Must be able to learn and sing an Indonesian song.
Fina – (She/Her or They/Them, Indonesian, 18-25) Sari’s best friend and Lisa’s colleague. She hosts private parties for queer Indonesians and usually knows who’s who in the Jakarta lesbian scene. She is sarcastic and deadpan but fiercely loyal to her friends, even if her friends don’t see it that way all the time. Knows how to read other people’s emotions. Cool and chic. Ability to speak/pronounce Indonesian a plus, but not required.
Older Sari (She/Her, Indonesian, 40-55) Bold and sarcastic, but at times forced to make herself small to cater to the community around her. While not completely jaded by the events that have transpired in her life, constantly wonders if she’s made the right choices for herself and loved ones, especially in regards to giving up her dreams, marrying a man, and starting a family. Very protective of her daughter, Diah, but tends to project her life experiences onto her. Vivacious and elegant. Must speak/pronounce Indonesian. Must be able to learn and sing an Indonesian song.
Older Fina – (She/Her or They/Them, Indonesian, 40-55) A closeted lesbian film director and successful queer socialite largely due to her family’s wealth. Extremely supportive of her friends, but often wishes they had a more carefree approach to life. Sarcastic and deadpan, but has become more sentimental as time goes on. Ability to speak/pronounce Indonesian a plus, but not required.
Diah – (She/Her or They/Them, Indonesian, 18-25) Sari’s daughter. Loves her mother deeply, and while she doesn’t know her mother’s past, she always feels like she can relate to her somehow. Tells her mother everything, but is very private about what goes on in her dating life because she gets easily embarrassed. Despite her embarrassment, she loves Melli dearly and isn’t afraid to show it, just not in front of her mom.
Seeking actors for the following roles:
GRACE – Dark-skinned Black/Afro Latina woman, mid/late 20’s average size, Mezzo with notes of Rock and R&B. She is a dreamer who has lost her ability to dream. She is a wallflower. She wants to fit in but always seems to be on the outside looking in.
THE WRITER- Dark-skinned Black/Afro Latina woman, mid/late 30’s. average size. Alto. Ambitious. Full of fear. Survivors Guilt. Wounded child. A dreamer who has found her way back to her dreams but her ambition can get in the way.
TESSA/MOTHER- Black woman, early 40’s, average size, belter. Tessa is sweet and has a childlike vibe and sound. The Mother has a slight Dominican accent but is also a bit childlike.
SHERI/JANESSA- Black woman, early 40’s, full figured, belter. Sheri is a bit shy, unsure of herself and a bit uncomfortable in her body. Janessa is more self assured, but something is missing.
CECE/THE BLACK TONY AWARD WINNING WRITER/DIRECTOR OF STAGE AND SCREEN- Light skinned Black woman or Afro/Latina. As Cece, she is a very attractive, confident butch. As TBTAWWDS… she shifts from Lil Kim to Donatella Versace to a “proper” business woman. Who the hell is she? Mid 30’s. Alto. R&B
TANISHA//RESIDENT 1/DETOX COUNSELOR/GOSSIP- Black Woman, late 30’s, alto. As Tanisha, she can easily go in and out of a Trini and American accent. Smart. Gossip.
VICKY/RESIDENT 2/GRACE (Rehab the Musical) Light skinned Latina, 30’s/40’s. As Vicky, she has a Dominican accent. As Grace in act 2, she’s quite bougie. Alto.
KELSEY/RESIDENT 3/TESSA (Rehab the Musical) /GOSSIP White, early 20’s, slender build, mezzo. As Tessa in Rehab the Musical, a very sweet and fragile white woman.
Everyone is a part of the Ensemble.
Seeking musical theater actors for the following roles:
Bolina – Lead. 20s. One of the villagers, a gardener, and Arachne’s best friend. Kind & patient, but she’s growing increasingly frustrated with Arachne’s brash decision-making. She is passionate about making progressive change, but believes justice won’t be achieved overnight. BIPOC encouraged. Vocal range: Soprano
Zeus – Lead. 20s-40s. Tall and domineering. Powerful. Leader of the Gods. Toxic masculinity personified. Can be very manipulative and always finds a way to justify his cruelty. BIPOC encouraged. Vocal range: Bass
Apollo – Lead. 20-30s. A kind but oblivious fellow. Dumb but well-meaning. At first, he sees no harm in how the Gods treat the mortals, but through meeting and falling in love with Bolina, he slowly faces the truth of the harm they’ve created. BIPOC encouraged. Vocal range: Tenor
Poseidon – Supporting. 20s-30s. Perennial “frat boy” and Zeus’s right hand man. He doesn’t respect the villagers and doesn’t take anything too seriously. Comic relief. Full of sarcastic jokes. BIPOC encouraged. Vocal range: Tenor
Ensemble – All ages. Proficiency with harmonization. Vocal range: All
Danielle DeMatteo is a writer/composer and Artistic Director of SheNYC Arts. After working in the creative department at Jujamcyn Theaters (working on such shows as Kinky Boots, Jersey Boys, The Book of Mormon, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Something Rotten!, two seasons of Encores! at New York City Center, and more), she wanted to put her creative producing skills to work fixing the gender gap in the Broadway industry. She founded SheNYC Arts in 2015 and is eternally grateful to all of the other talented artists who have helped it grow and develop since then. Most recently, she was on the worldwide Production team at Disney Theatrical Group, working on Frozen, The Lion King, and Aladdin around the globe. As a writer, her musicals have run off-Broadway, in Boston, and Chicago; her most recent piece, QUEEN ANNE, was the 2021 recipient of the Brooklyn Arts Council grant for musical theatre. In addition to her work in theater, she was one of the original organizers of the Women’s March on Washington, and has worked on a number of New York political campaigns, including as the Campaign Manager for Art Chang’s 2021 Mayoral run. She was recently featured in Forbes Magazine and was named one of Five Women to Watch as Broadway Returns by Shonda Rhimes’ publication, Shondaland.
Emily Rellis is an actor, producer, intimacy choreographer, certified Lucid Body teacher and has been been working with SheNYC since its inception in 2016. She considers herself a “multi-hyphenate creative” having worked in numerous stage, film and television productions in NYC, LA, and across the regional East Coast market in several aspects. No matter what role she is in, Emily makes it a priority to use the tools of consent, boundaries, and communication to give every actor a sense of true holistic autonomy and empowerment – both on and off set. http://www.emilyrellis.
Erika Miranda is a Mexican/Norwegian actor and producer. She received her BFA in Acting from The Theater School at DePaul University (Chicago, IL). She pursued additional training from the London Academy of Dramatic Arts (London, England) and the Upright Citizens Brigade (New York City, NY). Erika is the Founder of Cafecito Productions and an Executive Producer for SheATL, an offshoot of the SheNYC Arts Initiative. Cafecito Production’s film, Mi Casa, can be seen on all HBO platforms.
Caitlin Hargraves is an American/Chilean actor, educator, and producer based in Atlanta. She received her BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and her MA from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Currently, Caitlin teaches acting courses as a faculty member at Emory University where she is also the Co-Artistic Director of Theater Emory. She is an executive producer of the SheATL Arts festival and Cafecito Productions, a film production company whose first short film Mi Casa, which Caitlin also stars in, is currently playing on all HBO platforms. Since 2021 Cafecito Productions has made 3 short films, which have screened at film festivals like Palm Springs Short Fest, Cucalorus, Cleveland International Film Festival, and many more!
Eh-den is a multidisciplinary arts administrator working to support artists whose voices often go unheard. She has worked for a wide range of companies and organizations including Brooklyn Academy of Music, The New Group, Third Rail Project, the Public Theater, the Apollo Theater, and New York Public Radio. She is also the Director of Development at SheNYC Arts.
Lauren has been one of the most produced playwrights in America since 2015, topping the list thrice including 2022/23. Her musical adaptation of The Time Traveller’s Wife premieres on the West End this fall. She is a two-time winner of the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award for I and You and The Book of Will, the winner of the Lanford Wilson Award and a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. She is a playwright, screenwriter, musical book writer and children’s author who lives in San Francisco. She graduated from NYU Tisch as a Reynolds Fellow in Social Entrepreneurship. LaurenGunderson.com
Kristy Thomas was born and raised in Kansas City, MO and has been an educator most of her adult life. She is committed to strengthening communication and relationship building on topics dealing with Diversity in education and other organizations. She also believes that empowering educators to lead discussions in their diverse communities is key to continued educational success. A part of this is the ability to create inclusive work environments for all so that organizations can not only build stronger, but smarter in all aspects. Kristy aims to address the stigma associated with diversity, equity and inclusion with the ultimate goal of fostering dialogue and encouraging action. Kristy has worked with educational institutions, non-for-profit organizations and boards, created videos to address school districts work toward creating equality for all, workshops with teen leadership groups, executive counsels, human resource and recruiting officers and hopes to continue expanding her reach to other groups in need of her services. She holds a certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University, MBA in Educational Leadership w/ Principal Certification, MFA in Acting & Directing, and BS in Secondary Theatre and Speech Education. Kristy proudly operates Always Writing 4 U a writing and publishing business in addition to Thomas DEI Consulting LLC.
Angela Johnson (she/her) is the Founder of Invest In Access, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to increasing social equity for people who live with disabilities. To that end, she and her team strategically focus their efforts on establishing relationships with companies and influencers that have the capacity to implement adaptations to communications, event management, human resources and operationational best practices in a way that will result in equitable access for all.
In addition to her leadership of Invest In Access, Angela is a Biden-Harris Administration White House Advance Associate. In this service role, Angela has been federally vetted to prepare and staff both domestic and international events in support of United States Principals; POTUS, VPOTUS, FLOTUS, SGOTUS. Responsibilities include preparing and executing airport, crowd, site, hotel, and press logistics as well as liaising with and directing community stakeholders, Elected officials, United States Secret Service, and members of the White House Communications Agency. Assignments vary in duration; averaging 2 to 3x a quarter.
Prior to entrepreneurship Angela worked across the industries of education, development, finance, and national politics. She attributes a combination of her diverse upbringing, quiet personal life and array of professional experiences to be why she leads Invest In Access so successfully today. She welcomes you to contact her at angela(at)invest-in-access(dot)com.
Angela Johnson (she/her) is the Founder of Invest In Access, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to increasing social equity for people who live with disabilities. To that end, she and her team strategically focus their efforts on establishing relationships with companies and influencers that have the capacity to implement adaptations to communications, event management, human resources and operationational best practices in a way that will result in equitable access for all.
In addition to her leadership of Invest In Access, Angela is a Biden-Harris Administration White House Advance Associate. In this service role, Angela has been federally vetted to prepare and staff both domestic and international events in support of United States Principals; POTUS, VPOTUS, FLOTUS, SGOTUS. Responsibilities include preparing and executing airport, crowd, site, hotel, and press logistics as well as liaising with and directing community stakeholders, Elected officials, United States Secret Service, and members of the White House Communications Agency. Assignments vary in duration; averaging 2 to 3x a quarter.
Prior to entrepreneurship Angela worked across the industries of education, development, finance, and national politics. She attributes a combination of her diverse upbringing, quiet personal life and array of professional experiences to be why she leads Invest In Access so successfully today. She welcomes you to contact her at angela(at)invest-in-access(dot)com.
Rachel Sussman (she/her) is a Tony Award-nominated producer, educator, and entrepreneur committed to cultivating collaborative theatrical work built on trust and transparency. A producer with Plate Spinner Productions, she is also a co-founder of The MITTEN Lab, an emerging theatre artist residency program in her native state of Michigan and The Business of Broadway, an educational initiative to democratize knowledge about the commercial theatre industry. 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 at The Minetta Lane), and Eh Dah? Questions for My Father (Next Door at NYTW). In development: Suffs by Shaina Taub, premiering at The Public Theater in Spring 2022. A past Women’s Project Lab Time Warner Foundation Fellow, Rachel was the recipient of the 2018-2019 Prince Fellowship in Creative Producing. She is a graduate of the Commercial Theater Institute and a University Honors Scholar alumna of NYU Tisch. She is an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s School of the Arts and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. www.rachel-sussman.com
Scott Wilcox is senior counsel at Loeb & Loeb LLP, where he maintains a diverse entertainment and media practice, with experience advising clients on the licensing, acquisition, disposition, financing and exploitation of entertainment properties, including for live stage productions, film, television and new media. His clients include producers, playwrights, bookwriters, composers, lyricists, studios, screenwriters, directors, designers, general managers, podcasters, music publishers, musical artists, streaming services, investors, authors, performers and rights holders.
In his live stage practice, Scott advises theatrical producers and general managers on a range of issues, including the development and financing of new theatrical works; the day-to-day production, management and marketing of Broadway, off-Broadway, touring, regional, West End and other overseas live stage productions; and the licensing of live stage rights in global markets. In addition, Scott advises U.S. nonprofit theaters on a diverse array of production and governance matters. For example, he works with leaders of nonprofit theatres to address a variety of production issues arising from live and digital performances and to manage risk and conflicts of interest.
Prior to Loeb, Scott was head of legal and business affairs for a leading live stage production and general management company, with shows on Broadway, on the West End and touring in the U.S. and internationally. Before attending law school, Scott was a general manager and a company manager for Broadway, off-Broadway and touring productions and the executive director of a nonprofit theatre.
Scott graduated magna cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Management and Producing from Columbia University’s School of the Arts and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan. Scott served as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman in the Southern District of New York.
Scott is a contributor to the Entertainment Industry contracts treatise and is a member of the advisory board for The SIE Society, an alliance for social impact entertainment. In 2016, the Federal Bar Council bestowed its prestigious Thurgood Marshall Award for Exceptional Pro Bono Service on Scott for his leadership in the pro bono community, including representations of artists through Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and of various non‐profit organizations.
Eh-den Perlove is a multi-disciplinary arts manager throughout the United States. For over 10 years, Eh-den’s career has focused on development and production management. She has worked for a wide range of companies including the Apollo Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music, the New Group, Third Rail Project, the Public Theater, and more. Currently, she works in development at SheNYC Arts and New York Public Radio. In her spare time, she runs a civics-based educational organization, the America 101 Project. She has a Master’s degree in Business Design and Arts Leadership from Savannah College of Art and Design and a Bachelor’s degree in Stage Management from Pace University.
Julianna Yonis is a writer, actor, and producer based in Los Angeles. Julianna is incredibly excited to be a part of the SheLA team for a second year. Who knew that the cool group of women she found on the internet would gift her with so many laughs, puns, and spreadsheets? Julianna has worked in various capacities at the Sundance Institute, Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s The Ground Floor, The Los Angeles Music Center, Teatro Il Sipario Strappato, and Wonderscape Entertainment. She is pursuing a dual degree from Stanford University in Theatre & Performance Studies and Science, Technology, & Society. You can read her deepest, darkest secrets on Instagram @juliannay_.
Sydney (Syd) Skidmore is a Los Angeles based actor and writer. She is stoked to be back as a show mentor for the second time, supporting female artists in telling their stories! Syd recently graduated from USC’s BFA acting program. Since then, she has starred in a big ‘ole handful of short films, and is now channeling creative energies into writing and producing her own. See more of her work at www.sydneyskidmore.com @skidneysydmore
Jennifer Whiteley (show mentor) is excited to be back with SheLA for the 2020 season. She joined the festival last year as the Associate Production Manager and is now the show mentor for This Will Be Our Year. Jennifer has spent the past 5 years stage managing around the country, most recently in Los Angeles as a Production Assistant at The Geffen Playhouse. She now resides in Connecticut with her husband, 2 cats, and future baby girl. She hopes you enjoy the hard work that everyone has put into the festival this year!
Jenna Ng Lowry is freelance stage manager in NYC. She serves as Normal Ave’s resident production stage manager. In addition to her work with SheNYC, her credits include productions with Urban Stages, Parity Productions, The Fire This Time Festival, and recently Moby-Dick at the American Repertory Theater. Jenna holds a BA in Theatre from Muhlenberg College.
Gracie Goheen is a graduating senior at Stanford University studying Management Science & Engineering and Theater & Performance Studies. She produced, directed, and/or performed in over 15 productions during her time at Stanford. Currently, she is revising her original play All the Difference – which combines mobile app technology and audience participation for a unique choose-your-own-adventure immersive theatrical experience – following its 2019 workshop production.
Joyee To is excited to return for her second year with She NYC Arts! Starting as a show mentor last year, she is back as Assistant Producer for SheNYC. With a stage management background and previous experience at New York City Center, Juniper Street Productions, Production Core, and Disney Theatrical Group, she looks forward to bringing her expertise and passion for the arts to a space that showcases new and unique stories.
Jenna Tatman is thrilled to be a part of SheNYC for the second summer after assistant producing SheNYC’s Noteworthy concert last fall. She is currently a community manager with Serino Coyne and handles the social accounts for Broadway, National Tours and Off-Broadway shows.
Lauren Harris, a Philadelphia Native, graduated with honors from the University of Southern California with a double major in Dramatic Arts (emphasis on Acting) and Spanish (fluent). She has studied at the Berridge Conservatory in Normandy, France, The Pig Iron Theatre Company in Philadelphia, PA, and the British American Dramatic Academy in London, England. Lauren wrote, produced, and co-starred in a feminist web-series titled It’s A Girl Thing, which received Best Series Awards at The Florence Film Awards, London Independent Film Festival, Venice Film Awards, and was featured as part of The California Womens’ Festival, Los Angeles Filmmakers Showcase, Miami Web Fest, and Madrid Film Festival. Most recently, she co-produced, directed, and starred in Defining Dodo, a Latinx/LGBTQ story premiering this fall. For more on Lauren’s bragging rights, visit laurenelizabethharris.com.
Ari Conte is a performer and producer. She has assisted on productions such as Dear Evan Hansen (Broadway), The Greatest Showman (FOX), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon) and most recently, Tick Tick…Boom! (Netflix) as a Producer’s Assistant. Her one woman show, The Women We Carry, premiered at The Green Room 42 in NYC in June 2019 and then in Massachusetts. She recently studied Commercial Producing at The Commercial Theater Institute as the Fred Vogel scholarship recipient. She is a proud Show Mentor for She NYC Arts. www.ariconte.me.
Elisabeth Frankel is a theatre-maker, working in playwriting, directing, producing, adapting, and dramaturgy. Her original plays include The Visitors; 2076; The German Party; Neuroclear; The Progenies; and Jerusalem is Beautiful. Winner of the Kennedy Center Planet Earth Award; US Marine Corps Heritage Drama Prize; Young Playwrights Inc. National Competition; New Jersey Play Series; and Hopwood Prize for Drama. Finalist for the Playwrights Realm Fellowship; PlayPenn Writers Conference; Actors’ Theatre of Louisville Heideman Award; twice, Columbia@Roundabout Reading Series; Jewish Plays Project; and Drama League Beatrice Terry Residency. Twice semi-finalist for the Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference. Education: BFA in Theatre Directing, University of Michigan (Go Blue). MFA in Playwriting, Columbia University.
Faith Porter is a graduating senior at Pace University studying Arts and Entertainment Management. Faith has interned at over five professional theatre organizations in New York City such as Kids Creative, The Theater Center, TADA! Youth Theater, Jujamcyn Theaters, and CreateHer. Faith is currently the Founder and President of Frequency A Cappella. Under her leadership, the group has become a 3x ICCA Northeast Semi-Finalist.
Cady Huffman (Director) Throughout her more than 30 years as a performer Tony winning actress Cady Huffman has also written, produced and directed for theater and film as well as mentoring young writers, directors and musicians. She is a popular host and auctioneer for many charity events and has directed galas for The Drama League and Creative Alternatives of New York, among others. So yes, she has a Tony Award (which is awesome!) but what drives her are the collaborations with creative minds that have literally taken her all over the world and stretched her ambitions in directions she has dreamed of since her days on the hardscrabble streets of Santa Barbara, California.
Ryan Bovée (Director) Visiting from Austin, Texas, Ryan Bovée’s recent directing credits include Annie Baker’s Circle Mirror Transformation (Texas State University) and a reading of Ms. Murphy’s latest work, Cutter (ATX). He studied under the late Dr. John Robert Hood at TSU, where he drafted the spoken-word play, ARTWORLD. Keep in touch: ryansbovee@gmail.com
Anna Watts (Assistant Director) is a New York based actor and writer. New York credits include: Stalling (Playwright, Callie), Measure for Measure (Elbow), Mescaline (Robot and fight captain). Anna received a BFA in Theater Arts from Hofstra University. Thanks Mandy and Danielle for keeping me involved in this festival!
Martina Bonolis (Director) is an actress and director. Recent directing credits include Whose City? Our City! at the American Theater for Actors and Six Characters in Search of an Author, an original adaptation by Wise Fish Theater Collective at 440 Studios. She is the creative director of Wise Fish Theater Collective.
Mandy Murphy (Playwright) is a New York based playwright/actress. She is a native Texan with a BFA in Acting from Texas State University. Recent readings/workshops include Valer with LoneStar Theater Co. (NYC) and Cutter (Austin, TX). In addition to From A to Double D, she is currently working on three original plays that will be workshopped in both Austin, TX and NYC by the end of 2017. Big thanks to SheNYC! www.mandymurphyplaywright.com
Charlotte Ahlin (Playwright) is a writer, actor, artist, and native New Yorker. She holds a degree in creative writing from Oberlin College. Currently, she writes for the books section of Bustle.com, and one of her short comics appears in the new science fiction anthology, All the King’s Men. Charlotte is also a founder and Associate Artistic Director of Fat Knight Theatre, a nonprofit theatre company. www.charlotteahlin.com
Kristy Thomas (Playwright) hails from Kansas City, MO and now resides in North Hollywood, CA. She has been an active part of the art of theater since she was three years old evolving from actor to writer and also an educator. She owns and operates a literary and publishing business that deals with short stories and one act plays for acting competitions (www.alwayswriting4u.com). Her motto, “Tell your story, it is the best story ever told.”
Kelly Lynne D’Angelo
Book, Lyrics
Kelly Lynne D’Angelo (book, lyrics) is a television writer and is half of the musical theatre writing team Dahan & D’Angelo (Starry, The Count of Monte Cristo). Recent credits include TBS’s “Final Space”, “My Little Pony: Equestria Girls”, “Littlest Pet Shop”. You’ll also find Kelly performing with her improv team Musical! The Musical! or hosting shows on Twitch, such as Geek & Sundry’s Tales From The Loop or Dungeon & Dragon’s Girls, Guts, Glory. Follow @kahlanrock for more! #starrylife
Matt Dahan
Music, Lyrics
Matt Dahan (music, lyrics) has written song and score for over a dozen films, including the movie-musical How Sweet It Is (Academy Awards semifinalist: Best Original Song, Best Original Score), and Break: The Musical (Independent Series Award: Best Soundtrack). On stage, he contributed music to an adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo (2015 Hollywood Fringe Festival), as well as composing and performing in The Babies (Off-Broadway). Visit mattdahan.com for more.
Mandy Murphy is an NYC-based playwright from Texas. She writes southwest stories with a big city flair. Her most recent productions include From A to Double D at The PIT Loft & The SheNYC Summer Theater Festival 2017 where she was awarded The Dionysian Award for Best New Play. This summer, her new play Cutter will be presented in The Playground Experiment’s Evolution process in NYC. Big THANKS to SheNYC! mandymurphyplaywright.com
Annie Pulsipher
Book/Lyrics
Annie Pulsipher specializes in writing dark comedies, trying to normalize menstruation through ill-timed period jokes, and eating buffalo wings. Her work has been featured at locations around the country including SLC’s Kensington Theatre, Carnegie Mellon, the Kennedy Center through KCACTF, and the Tribeca Film Festival. Her screenplay, The Glowing Gene, won the Tribeca Film Festival’s 2017 Sloan Grand Jury Prize. She has an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon under Rob Handel. www.pulsipherplays.com
Alex Petti
Music/Lyrics
Alex Petti is a composer from Massachusetts who grew up as a pop punk rocker. Though his dreams of headlining Warped Tour have ended, the energy of the genre still infuses his music. He studied classical music composition in college at Carnegie Mellon University and is now hustling towards becoming a full time theater singer-songwriter. He lives in New York City and spends most of his spare time thinking about pizza and politics.
Music/Lyrics
Alex Petti is a composer from Massachusetts who grew up as a pop punk rocker. Though his dreams of headlining Warped Tour have ended, the energy of the genre still infuses his music. He studied classical music composition in college at Carnegie Mellon University and is now hustling towards becoming a full time theater singer-songwriter. He lives in New York City and spends most of his spare time thinking about pizza and politics.
Playwright
Natalie Margolin is a playwright, actress, improviser, and graduate of Kenyon College. Her play, The Power of Punctuation, premiered off-Broadway in the summer of 2016. The Power of Punctuation was a New York Stage and Film Founders Award finalist, recipient of Kenyon College’s James E. Michael Playwriting Award and the Thomas Turgeon Memorial Award. She is currently developing her play, Tutus, which has been workshopped in both Chicago and NYC. Most recently, Natalie was a part of Fault Line Theatre’s “Irons in the Fire” with her new play, All Nighter. Natalie is a resident playwright at Colt Coeur (artistic director Adrienne Campbell-Holt). She lives in NYC and continues to write and perform.
Co-Playwrights
Elinor T and Drew Vanderburg create theater to confront urgent social issues for a more just society. Elinor is a DC-born writer, voice actor, and Creative Director with Fresh Ground Pepper. Drew is an urbanist, activist, and musician. Fave credits: Exit Art, Grace Exhibition Space, Built For Collapse, Bread and Puppet, Joe’s Pub, Title:Point, WiseFish, and Exquisite Corpse Company. Their science-fiction musical, The Human Incubator, premiered with SheNYC in 2017.
Producer, LA
Kristy Thomas is presently living in Los Angeles, CA and in her ninth year as a high school theatre arts teacher. She loves working with teenagers preparing them for the next step of their lives. She has also spent time teaching theatre arts at a local community college as well as being the acting coach on their main stage performances. She created a literary and publishing company, Always Writing 4 U, where she writes one act plays for middle school, high school and college competitive acting teams across the country with state and national level champions. She has a passion for writing so does her best to write daily either for her business, a new play she’s working on, or a television pilot idea she has in the works. The tagline for her business is the same for her life as a writer, “Tell your story. It is the best story ever told.”
House Manager
Shira Wolf is currently the office manager at Bespoke Theatricals, where she assists the general management teams of Broadway shows including School of Rock, Angels in America, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child andThe Boys in the Band. She is thrilled to be a part of the SheNYC festival for a second year. Shira graduated from the University of Michigan.
Board Member & CreateHer Coordinator
Hannah Rosenthal is currently the producing associate at Ruth Hendel Productions. Previously, she worked in the theatre department at United Talent Agency and at Laura Stanczyk Productions. Last fall Hannah produced Cry Eden at Access Theater. She has interned with MTC, Nickelodeon, and Frankel Green Theatrical Management. Hannah is a graduate of the Commercial Theatre Institute (Fred Vogel Scholarship) and the University of Michigan.
Board Member & Director of Digital Media
Madelyn Shaffer is an actor, playwright, and director based in New York City. Her new play Fall (Apart) Together premiered Off-Broadway in the 2016 SheNYC Arts Summer Theatre Festival, and she could not be more excited to join the Board of Directors this year. Madelyn is an alum of Texas State University with a BFA in Musical Theatre, performing in Anything Goes (Erma), Hair (Jeannie), Almost, Maine (Villian, Marci, Rhonda), Other Desert Cities (Brooke Wyeth), and directing Stephen Karam’s Speech & Debate. She has since worked regionally with Connecticut Repertory Theatre (The Music Man, Funny Thing…Forum), and Off-Broadway starring as Sissy Slater in the aforementioned production of Fall (Apart) Together (Best Actor in the 2016 Festival Award). This summer, Madelyn is proud to attend the 2017 Artist as Citizen Conference at the Juilliard School, and direct Caitlin Turnage’s Holes in the Human Flesh in the Samuel French New Play Festival. madelynshaffer.com.
Board Member & Production Supervisor
Katie Kavett is thrilled to return to SheNYC for the third year. Other stage and production management credits include Blank! The Musical, Sky-Pony’s The Wildness, Church and State, HeadGame, 12 NYMF shows, and a ton of other festivals, concerts, and events. She was the recipient of the 2012 NY Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Stage Manager. She also works in operations at Flatiron School. katiekavett.com
Board Member & Producer, NYC
Ari Conte is a New York (but Boston bred) performer, producer and proud board member of She NYC Arts. She is a Co-Producer of The Shakespearean Jazz Show (NYMF 2017) and formerly the Assistant to Oscar/Tony/Golden Globe winning songwriting duo, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. She currently works on the Amazon TV Series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as the Assistant to Actress Rachel Brosnahan. www.ariconte.me.
Board Member & Managing Director
Brenna Kilpatrick is currently an account executive at Daryl Roth Advertising and assists in strategizing, creating, and executing advertising campaigns for over 50 Off-Broadway and Broadway productions. Brenna is excited to be a part of the SheNYC festival, as an associate producer, for the second year. Previously, she has worked with Jujamycn Theaters and Stage Entertainment. Brenna is a graduate of New York University.