Current Class

Alana Raquel Bowers

Alana Raquel Bowers is an actor, dancer, and producer born and raised in Baltimore, MD. Broadway: CHICKEN AND BISCUITS (Circle in the Square Theater). Off-Broadway: COLD WAR CHOIR PRACTICE (MCC Theater, Clubbed Thumb and Page 73), THE MISER (Moliere in the Park) BERNARDA’S DAUGHTERS (The New Group and NBT at the Signature Theater), WHAT TO SEND UP WHEN IT GOES DOWN (The Movement Theatre Company at A.R.T./New York Theater, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, American Repertory Theater, the Public Theater, and BAM) Regional: THE COMEUPPANCE (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and Wilma Theater). Off-Off Broadway: SCRAPS (the Flea Theater). TV: “Best Medicine” (FOX), “Dr. Death” (Peacock), “FBI: Most Wanted” (CBS). Film: “There She Goes” (Hallmark Channel), “Fantasy Life” (SXSW 2025 Pick). Producer credits: THE BLACK WOLFE TONE (Irish Repertory Theatre, Fishamble), “Transatlantic Commission Project” with Irish Repertory Theater and the Apollo, and Anansi Creative Studio’s “Storytellers Spotlight Series”. She is an NYU Tisch Drama alum.

Amanda Velez

Amanda Velez (she/her) is a theatre advocate, educator, and emerging producer whose work centers belonging and community connection. As a proud Puerto Rican and queer creative, she is passionate about championing performances that uplift underrepresented voices and spark meaningful conversation. She is the founder of Drama & Discourse, a theatre-going experience that creates curated group outings and guided post-show discussion to help audiences reflect together and build relationships through the art of storytelling. Amanda also runs Mandee Marquee, a ticketing service focused on accessibly priced theatre tickets and other live events. She has partnered with organizations such as Airbnb, Viator, and S’more’s Tried & True program to broaden access and encourage new theatrical discovery. Through TPOC’s Producing program, Amanda looks forward to continuing her growth as a producer and fostering spaces where more people feel welcomed, inspired, and truly seen.

Andrew Otchere

Andrew Otchere (aw-tree) is a first-generation Ghanaian-American actor, writer, and producer from Northern Virginia now based in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from the University of Michigan where he studied Theatre Performance, Entrepreneurship, and Sociology. He is the co-founder of o-PONG! Productions: a multi-media creative launchpad for misrepresented voices focused on developing, producing and promoting the work of artists with unique perspectives. Since launching in 2021, he’s built partnerships and produced award-winning shorts films, web-series, and theatre productions in NYC, Los Angeles, Michigan, Connecticut, and beyond. As a collaborator, Andrew strives to bring an innovative eye to every professional and creative opportunity. Previously, he’s had the honor of working with illustrious institutions such as The National Black Theatre, Paramount Studios, and Viola Davis’ JuVee Productions. Andrew is a 2025 CIPA Emerging Producer Fellow, winner of the 2024 Yale Innovation Summit: Creative Innovation Pitch Competition for his original TV-comedy series “Becoming BFA”, inspired by the hit web-series of the same name which premiered in Las Vegas, NV! In a time when provocative art, relatable media, and ethical journalism are in jeopardy, Andrew is empowered to use his artistic practices to help shepherd social change. | Rep: Paradigm Talent Agency / www.andrewotchere.com / @andrewotchere.

Anil Singh

Anil Singh is a Creative Strategist and Cultural Worker whose practice spans theatre, film, and arts advocacy. In under four years, he has contributed to over fifty creative projects and developed a multifaceted career grounded in storytelling, collaboration, and cultural development. As the Public Relations Officer of the National Drama Association of Trinidad and Tobago, he has championed visibility and engagement for the national theatre community through innovative campaigns, partnerships, and initiatives that bridge artists and audiences. In his capacity as a Casting Executive at the Trinidad and Tobago Performing Arts Network, he oversees project teams and talent, managing administration, logistics, budgeting, and client engagement from concept to completion for local and regional projects. As a Theatre Critic, his work centers on showcasing local talent, contributing to digital arts archival efforts, and inspiring creatives to refine and elevate their craft. Driven by a passion for creative empowerment and sustainable growth, he is committed to building pathways for practitioners and positioning the arts as a catalyst for national transformation.

Charlette San Juan

Charlette is a Theatre Artist based in Chicago, Illinois, born and raised in Manila, Philippines. She has recently worked on the Chicago productions of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child (2024) Death Becomes Her (2024), MJ The Musical (2023), as well as Second City revues: “Chaos Theory of Everything” (2025) “This Too Shall Slap” (2025-26) “The Devil’s in the Detours” (2024-25), “Eat, Pray, Bigfoot in Love” (2022-23), “Don’t Quit Your Daydream” (2023-24). She produces the All-Asian showcase at Laugh Factory, “Model Majority”. She is currently an understudy for the Second City Touring Co. and at the Mainstage of Second City.

Emma Clark

Emma Clark is an Asian American performance maker, producer, and facilitator raised in California and based in London. She is co-director of critically-acclaimed performance duo emma + pj and Head of Programme at award-winning studio theatre New Diorama. Recent work includes Scenes from a Repatriation (Royal Court Theatre), Ghosts of the Near Future (Barbican Centre and UK National Tour), The Shivers (New Diorama and UK National Tour), and Atlantic (VAULT Festival). Her work has been seen at venues including the Royal Court, Barbican Centre, New Diorama, Summerhall, Battersea Arts Centre, Shoreditch Town Hall, Capital Theatres, and Theatre by the Lake, and has been supported by Arts Council England, Kakilang (formerly Chinese Arts Now), A New Direction, and house southeast theatre network. She was a 2022 Barbican Open Lab resident artist and Play Artist in Residence at The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre, and has previously served on the Mayor of London’s Creative Freelancers: Shaping London’s Recovery task force sponsored by Fuel Theatre and Actors Touring Company. She was a 2019 nominee for the Total Theatre Award in Innovation, Experimentation, and Playing with Form for the accident did not take place with YESYESNONO. She has lectured in collaborative theatre practice at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama as a visiting practitioner. She holds a BS in Culture and Politics from Georgetown University and an MA in Advanced Theatre Practice from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Hershey Suri

Born in New York City and raised in San Diego, Hershey Suri is a Gursikh artistic director, actor, and law student at the University of Chicago Law School. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Pop Up! Productions, a theatre company dedicated to advancing equity through storytelling by “popping up” in cities across the U.S. Her work centers on the intersection of law, art, and social justice, exploring how storytelling can humanize legal issues and reimagine systems of accountability. A graduate of Pomona College, where she studied Politics and Theatre, Hershey previously worked as a civil rights paralegal at Loevy & Loevy, contributing to cases involving wrongful convictions and police misconduct. Her directorial projects—including the South Asian premiere of Next to Normal at the South Asia Institute—have been recognized by BroadwayWorld, Brown Girl Magazine, and The Chicago Reader. Through her artistic and legal work, Hershey aims to expand representation and empower marginalized communities by transforming stories of struggle into platforms for visibility and change. She hopes to continue bridging performance, policy, and media to build a more compassionate and inclusive cultural landscape.

Ian Joseph Avila

Ian Joseph Avila is a versatile professional in the theatre and entertainment industry, bringing experience across both creative and administrative disciplines. A proud graduate of West Texas A&M University, he concentrated his studies on Producing & Administration and Musical Theatre Directing, building a strong foundation for his work in theatrical operations and creative development. He has held roles with major organizations including SpotCo, ATG Entertainment, Jujamcyn Theaters, and The Drama League, gaining broad experience in production, marketing, and operations. During his four years at SpotCo, Ian Joseph worked across multiple departments—most recently serving as Studio Manager—while contributing to the New Business Development Team. He was also selected for the prestigious SpotCo x Dewynters Exchange Program, an opportunity that allowed him to work within London’s West End and collaborate with international theatre professionals, further expanding his understanding of global theatrical markets and creative processes. Ian Joseph has recently started a new position at Creative Goods as Product Development Manager. Committed to shaping a commercial theatre landscape that is bold, inclusive, and forward-thinking, Ian Joseph strives to elevate diverse voices and help build storytelling that resonates deeply and meaningfully with audiences everywhere.

Jason Aguirre

Jason Aguirre (he/him/el) is a queer, Mexican-American director, book writer, and choreographer. He has developed and presented work at Ars Nova, HERE Arts, Vineyard Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Roundabout Theatre Company, The Public Theatre, EST, and Musical Theatre Factory. He is a Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) Fellow mentored by Susan Stroman, an alumnus of the Directors Group at Roundabout Theatre Company, a graduate of the George and Joy Abbott MFA in Musical Theatre Collaboration at Temple University, a member of the BMI Workshop, and the recipient of the Boris Sagal Fellowship at Williamstown Theatre Festival. Jason is the Co-Artistic Director of UNTITLED Musical Project and the Associate Artistic Director of Vineyard Theatre. He is currently a member of The Civilians R&D Group and an artist-in-residence at Ars Nova. j-aguirre.com

Kareem M. Lucas

Kareem M. Lucas is a Brooklyn-born producer and multidisciplinary artist whose career is rooted in the belief that storytelling is a vital form of ritual and resistance. A NY Emmy-nominated filmmaker and inaugural Jerome Hill Artist Fellow, Kareem has developed and performed work at The Public Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, The Apollo Theater, and American Repertory Theater. Currently, Kareem is deepening his practice as a selected member of the Theatre Producers of Color (TPOC) Producing 101 cohort. His focus is on bridging the gap between creative expression and commercial viability, ensuring that stories exploring the full range of Black humanity are supported by sustainable infrastructure while remaining intimate, raw, and complex. Drawing on his background as a classically trained actor of NYU’s Grad Acting Program, Kareem approaches producing with a unique empathy for the creative process. He views the producer’s role as one of advocacy and collaboration, and is dedicated to building a more equitable industry. He is committed to mastering the financial and strategic frameworks necessary to bring urgent, provocative theatrical events that explode forms to Broadway and beyond.

Kriss Jackson-Harper

Kriss Jackson-Harper is a Black, queer, trans nonbinary artist, storyteller, and founder of Posi Pos Music, a creative hub dedicated to HIV stigma disruption, trans joy, and the liberation of Black queer survivors through multimedia narrative work. Their practice blends performance poetry, photography, digital storytelling, and community-centered education, shaping spaces where art becomes both testimony and transformation. Kriss’s work centers identity, memory, and resilience—often exploring themes of polysecure connection, chronic survival, and the emotional architecture of being Black, Poz, and trans in the world. They bring over a decade of experience facilitating workshops, designing arts-based curricula, and leading cultural storytelling projects across youth, LGBTQ+, and disability justice communities. Their creative portfolio includes HIV Stigma 101/102 workshops, documentary-style photo essays, and experimental visual work that examines attachment, embodiment, and the multiplicity of self. They are currently completing an Editing Certificate through the University of Washington and developing a multi-manuscript project weaving poetry, creative nonfiction, and image-based narrative. Kriss joins TPOC’s Producing 101 course with a commitment to learning producing as cultural stewardship—building stages for stories rarely centered and cultivating practices that are equitable, sustainable, and deeply human.

Kristian Arnell

Kristian Arnell is a proud South Carolinian and Nashville-based multi-hyphenate artist whose work spans directing, performance, writing, producing, and intimacy coordination. Kristian is passionate about illuminating the multiplicities of Black womanhood/girlhood through her work and is committed to cultivating joy-filled, equitable creative environments across stage and screen. Her original one-woman show “A Sweet Tea Communion” exemplifies her vision for stories that preserve history while imagining expansive futures. A graduate of Harvard University with honors in Theater, Dance & Media and African American Studies, Kristian is a recipient of the Louise Donovan Award and the Maurice Sedwell Ltd. Prize. Her recent screen work includes serving as Associate Director on the indie TV pilot “12to21” and Intimacy Coordinator for the short film “Band Practice.” Her stage directing credits include “The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin” and “All the Natalie Portmans.” Kristian recently completed a directing apprenticeship with Street Theatre Company and is now apprenticing with Nashville Repertory Theatre. She is currently directing a half-hour comedy pilot entitled “Book Club”, which explores middle school angst, Black Southern charm, and the power of storytelling. Kristian is also Mosaic Changemakers’ inaugural King Future Changemaker Resident.

Lihi Dor

Lihi Dor is a stage manager, production manager, and emerging choreographer specializing in Contemporary and Partnering. With a strong foundation in both artistic and technical practices, Lihi brings a dual perspective to the creative process, shaping movement onstage while ensuring seamless execution behind the scenes. Her choreographic work is rooted in emotional storytelling and bold physicality. In August 2024, Lihi founded Prints Dance Company, a contemporary dance company dedicated to innovation and collaborative artistic environments. Through this platform, she promotes exploration, creativity, and meaningful partnerships among dancers and creators. Alongside her choreographic practice, Lihi has developed three years of experience in dance festivals, dance productions, and dance film, building a strong skill set in both stage management and production management. She excels at coordinating dancers, crew, and cast, maintaining clear and consistent communication, and managing technical cues with precision. Known for her organization, adaptability, and problem-solving, Lihi thrives in fast-paced performance settings and supports each project from early planning to final performance. Lihi is currently pursuing her BA in Dance at Hunter College, along with a Arts Management Certificate, continuing to merge her artistic vision with her production expertise to ensure each performance, onstage or off, is executed with clarity, intention, and care.

Lour Yasin

LOUR (Lour Yasin) is a Palestinian performer, composer, writer, and producer based in New York City. Born in Jerusalem and raised in the West Bank, she creates work at the intersection of Arab musical traditions, pop, punk, and hip-hop—forging new sounds and stories for the stage. Named one of Arab America’s “30 Under 30” in 2024, she was the first Palestinian selected for the Miranda Family Fellowship (2022) and received the Rim Banna Award for music production (2024). Her work has been presented at Ars Nova, Joe’s Pub, The Red Pavilion, The Tank, and Golden Thread, and her plays have been staged across the West Bank in collaboration with ASHTAR Theatre. Her debut Arab-pop musical, AREA D, reimagines marginalized voices within the global pop landscape and has been recognized for its inventive form and culturally resonant storytelling. Beyond theatre, LOUR writes and produces for Arab pop artists, with work featured in Rolling Stone, Scene Noise, and on Apple Music. She is a 2025 NEST SoundLab Finalist, a MacDowell Fellow, and is currently commissioned by the Sharjah Performing Arts Center to create a new theatrical work premiering in the UAE in late 2026.

marcus d. harvey

marcus d. harvey is a director, actor, writer, producer, and Assistant Professor of Theatre at Montclair State University whose work centers the intersection of artistry, equity, and community impact. A multi-hyphenate storyteller, Harvey brings more than a decade of experience developing new work, helming productions across regional theatres, and mentoring emerging artists. His directing credits include Topdog/Underdog, Redeemed, Hymn, The Wedding Gift, and numerous university productions, with a focus on narratives that explore Black life, social truth, and intergenerational memory. He is currently developing his solo show, The Ghost Seat at the Table, a memory play blending comedy, trauma, and movement. His work is grounded in the belief that theatre should be a liberatory space—one that reflects, challenges, and transforms the communities it serves. marcus’ interests prioritize Black and Brown communities, impact-driven storytelling, and building sustainable pathways for artists. He is committed to expanding access, nurturing inclusive spaces, and shaping a more equitable ecosystem for the next generation of theatre-makers.

Mark Mirasol

Mark Mirasol is a first-generation Filipino-American aspiring theatre producer whose journey spans from attending shows since he was four years old to selling merchandise for Wicked in Melbourne, Australia (while studying abroad during college) to investing in the Broadway productions of Jagged Little Pill and Here Lies Love. Currently a Program Manager in Learning and Development, Mark holds an M.Ed. from Vanderbilt University and has spent 15+ years leading educational programs in a variety of professional environments. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found The Lazy Axe, an indoor axe throwing entertainment venue in Albany, NY, and his competitive spirit led him to become the 2021 World Axe Throwing Champion (Big Axe discipline). Mark is drawn to theatre’s unique intersection of art, business, and education. He’s particularly interested in stories that expand representation and explore how commercial theatre can reach wider, more diverse audiences in meaningful ways. A lifelong theatregoer, Mark is excited to deepen his knowledge of commercial producing and connect with fellow producers of color who share his passion for stories that entertain, inspire, and bring people together.

Melle Powers

Melle Powers is a producer and storyteller who believes every meaningful project begins with a true idea, a brave room, and someone willing to say, “How far can we go together?” She’s the founder of The Make Good Project, a nonprofit that incubates Black women’s artistry through retreats, community programs, and the kind of support that steadies people as they take creative risks. She also runs Joy Powered Productions, where she develops work meant to spark connection, courage, and emotional depth. Joy Powered is preparing its Edinburgh Fringe debut in 2026 with a two-hander about a woman who attends a Shakespeare lecture at EdFringe…and refuses to remain in the role she’s been assigned. The piece examines intelligence, pressure, and what happens when someone finally claims the full force of their voice. Melle’s path to producing runs through acting, writing, DEI practice, and a lifetime of walking into rooms and subtly shifting the emotional center of gravity. She has supported theaters like BAM, Red Bull Theater Company, and Barrington Stage Company, and she consults with Fortune 500 leaders who want creative processes grounded in clarity, integrity, and humanity. She teaches in the MFA program at Yale’s David Geffen School of Drama, guiding emerging artists in collaboration, care, and sustainable artistic practice. Across her work, Melle champions stories that hold people—and expand what they believe they can make.

Michiho Shimasaki

Michiho Shimasaki is a Tokyo- and NYC-based producer and stage manager, currently a sophomore at Fordham University majoring in Theatre: Design & Production. Born and raised in Japan, she moved to the United States at nineteen with the goal of contributing to the growth of Japan’s theatre industry through a producing and arts administration lens, and to build creative bridges between Japan and the U.S. She recently served as a lead producer, alongside Mariana Miranda, for For a Day of Sky, a cabaret at The Green Room 42 showcasing her fellow university artists to the wider community. Her producing work also includes serving as Assistant Producer for Aneesa Folds’ Why Am I Here? at Asylum NYC and for the reading of Samurai of Blue Eyes, a new play by Ryuma Matsuzaka. As a stage manager, her professional credits include Production Stage Manager for The Nutcracker and Marie at NY Dance Artistry and Assistant Stage Manager for Japan Night at Edison Ballroom. She is committed to creating spaces where unheard voices can be recognized and uplifted. She is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of her parents and friends, and to Riza Takahashi for introducing her to this wonderful opportunity.

Nakeisha Daniel

Nakeisha Daniel is a dynamic and versatile artist whose work as an actor, director, and intimacy choreographer has been showcased on stage and screen. A proud native of Atlanta, Georgia, Nakeisha discovered her passion for theater at an early age, which led her to pursue a BFA in Musical Theater from Shorter College and an MFA in Acting from Penn State University. As a dedicated advocate for arts education, she believes it is a privilege to inspire creativity in others. Nakeisha currently serves as Assistant Professor of African American Theatre and Performance at the College of Charleston and the Region 4 Coordinator for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival ASPIRE Arts Leadership Program, continuing her commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists and leaders. Nakeisha is a 2025-26 Long-term Public Humanities Fellow at the Folger Shakespeare Institute, as well as a participant in the 2025-26 year-long combined-mode workshop, “Shakespeare and Black Performing Women”. She is the founding artistic director of The Well Theatre Company in Charleston, SC. Nakeisha is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Nasir Ellis

I am a storyteller, producer, and community curator who creates spaces where people can see themselves, speak their truths, and feel connected. Born and raised in Harlem, my work lives at the intersection of culture, conversation, and collective imagination. NewScope is the heart of that mission—a media company I founded to empower and reconnect community through storytelling that is honest, human, and courageous. Through live events, original content, and community enrichment, we build experiences that remind us of our power and our possibility. My background in broadcast journalism, along with work across media and community development, has taught me how deeply representation matters and how transformative it can be when we center the stories often overlooked. In roles at Condé Nast and Harlem Business Alliance, I’ve supported emerging creatives and entrepreneurs, helping nurture the ideas and narratives that shape our cultural future. With NewScope’s growing slate, I’m committed to creating work that feels lived-in, truthful, and alive. My guiding belief is simple: when our stories have space, they spark connection and connection builds the communities we dream of.

Noxolo Selepe

Noxolo Selepe is a committed producer and project manager with an increasing presence in South African theater. Grounded in an accomplished background of financial management and almost twenty years of administration, strategy, and project coordination experience, she brings together that rare combination of creative insight and business acumen into the arts sector. Her producing portfolio includes leading and managing a number of innovative theatrical works that highlight African storytelling and cultural heritage. She produced The Island in Bloemfontein in 2019, managed projects like A Raisin in the Sun funded by the U.S. Embassy and directed by Dr. Jerry Mofokeng-Makhetha, and managed The Legacy Tour in 2022, which toured to four theaters across South Africa. In 2025, she contributed to staging Mantsopa at the Market Theatre and Macufe, further showing her commitment to narratives told with an indigenous language, spirituality, and identity. She is the founder of Twogetha (Pty) Ltd, established in 2014, and is passionate about developing sustainable producing models that balance artistic excellence with financial viability. Her vision is to elevate African narratives to global stages while creating meaningful opportunities for artists, writers, and emerging producers. She continues to champion culturally authentic, socially impactful theatre that reflects the richness and diversity of African life.

Ray Archie

Ray Archie, Principal Sound Alchemist of Brooklyn Sound Lab and Founder of Notes To The Soul, combines rare musical virtuosity with pioneering technical innovation in audio production. As an accomplished multi-instrumentalist who has performed internationally with Leonard Bernstein and leading orchestras, his mastery spans classical, jazz, rock, and hip-hop, and decades of studio expertise. His unique blend of performance experience and technological prowess—including his role building one of the world’s largest streaming networks at CBS Radio Corporate—makes him an unparalleled creative partner who delivers both artistic excellence and technical precision to every project.

Sue-Tanya Lee

Sue-Tanya Lee (she/her) is an Afro-Jamaican theatre producer and creator dedicated to developing works by artists from marginalized communities. Her producing practice centers care, culture, and imagination—creating and supporting spaces that advance artistic expression. Through a decolonized collaborative process, she engages with artists to develop and bring to life new ways of creating expansive work that moves art and audiences forward. Producing credits include: The Sankofa Trilogy (Theatre Centre, 2025); The Sankofa Trilogy (Summmerworks Festival, 2025); Bitty-Bat & Friends (Toronto Fringe Festival, 2025); Neptune With A Fish (Paprika Festival, 2025); Star People (Leigha Lee Browne Theatre, 2024); The Refugee Hotel (Leigha Lee Browne Theatre, 2023).

Yiqing (Lana) Zhang

Yiqing Zhang (Lana) is a New York based actor, producer, and storyteller. She now serves as the Production Office Assistant at the Public Theater and the co-founder of A Stage Theatre. Her journey is characterized by her unwavering dedication to original theater and her commitment to creating a theater community that is both diverse and accessible. Her past acting credits include: Anti-Gone – Ismene/Sphinx (2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe), The President’s Invitation – Jingyuan (Chain Theatre), AWAKE – Siyu (Walkerspace Theater). Her past producing credits include: Remorse (Dixon Place), Awake (Walkerspace Theater), Monologues of n Women (Theatre Puget Sound, Seattle).

Youri Kim

Youri Kim is a DMV based theatre director, emerging producer, playwright, and educator whose work centers diasporic Korean stories, gender nonconforming bodies, and community accountability in process and production. With an MFA in Theatre Directing from East 15 Acting School in the United Kingdom, she has worked across South Korea, Germany, the UK, and now the Washington DC and Maryland area. She is the founding artistic director of Jaemi Theatre, currently developing the speculative drama Baal with Atlas Performing Arts Center and a new play for the Atlas Intersections Festival. Recent credits include directing peerless KLECKSOGRAPHY:Vox Populi and assisting on Kim s Convenience at Olney Theatre Center. She is a recipient of the SDCF Lynnette Barkley Fund and hopes to use Producing 101 to deepen her skills in ethical fundraising and sustainable producing models that center BIPOC artists and local audiences.