Photo by Gabriela Della Corna

Mirirai Sithole (she/they) 
Founder & Co-Creator

 An actor by trade, a writer by necessity, and a community builder by practice. She   was born in Zimbabwe, reared in Massachusetts, and is currently based in Brooklyn,   NY. Mirirai attended Adelphi University where she majored in Theatre in the College   of Arts and Sciences and minored in Human Resources from the Robert B.   Willumstad school of Business. She believes that everyone is an artist in some way   and to live fully is to actively engage with the triumphs and tribulations of life.
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Leslie Roth (she/they) 
​Co-Creator

Photo by David Noles

An actor, director, writer, organizer and teacher who believes in the power of story to heal, transform and expand what is possible.  Learn More

Francesca Fernandez McKenzie (she/her)
Co-Creator 

Photo by Jeffrey Mosier

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An actor, producer and educator originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. She tells stories for her liberation, which is tied to yours. 
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​Jeremy Feight (he/him)
Co-Creator

Photo by Emily Lambert

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A NYC-based multi-hyphenate artist who specializes in using multiple fields of expertise (Acting, Writing, Music etc.) to inspire love and acceptance in others. He is a lover of collaboration across societally constructed boundaries in the hopes of telling stories that provoke each member of his audience, and make us all feel seen.  Learn More 

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Victoria Teague (she/her)
Co-Creator

Photo by Benjamin Boucvalt

A Brooklyn based dramaturg, literary manager and text coach. She works as an Artistic Associate and marketing director for Random Access Theatre, a theatre company dedicated to bringing new life to classical texts.
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​F. Binta Barry (she/they)
Casting Director

A casting assistant currently working with Telsey + Co Casting. She has worked at organizations such as Arena Stage (Washington D.C.) and Manhattan Theatre Club (NYC), as well as boutique casting offices like Calleri Casting. Learn More

Thomas Dieter ​(he/him)
Resident Stage Manager ​

An AEA stage manager, who is also a writer, performer and education consultant. He is thrilled to contribute to the mission and programming of
​AYE DEFY.​​
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Julianna Claase (she/her)
Brand Strategist 

A designer and brand strategist, who believes in a holistic and human-centered approach, building brands and helping entrepreneurs and movement-makers tell a unique visual story. Learn More 

Alaina Chester (she/her)
Web Designer 

Web designer, and actor-singer, who founded A For Artist, a web designing resource for artists and creative freelancers to build, renovate, and modernize their digital platforms. Learn More

James Weippert (he/him/they)
Co-Creator ​

​​A director, actor, and writer – but not necessarily always in that order. Born and raised in New York, he currently works out of Austin, Texas. 
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Annie Middleton (she/her)
Creative Producing Partner to Diana Oh

A Brooklyn-based Creative Producer and Development Consultant. She works with Diana Oh and a number of individual artists as a producing partner.
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