Chris Saunders is the Founding Artistic Director of American Lives Theatre where he has directed several shows, all of them Indianapolis premieres, many of them Indiana and World Premieres. Chris has acted, directed and written for the stage in New York, Chicago and Indianapolis. He is grateful to the New Harmony Project for creating such an exciting event for the city of Indianapolis.
Pirronne Yousefzadeh (She/Her) is a director, writer, and educator with a passion for new work that centers and uplifts the stories of global majority communities with buoyancy and joy. She serves as the Associate Artistic Director and Director of Artistic Partnerships at Playwrights' Center. She has developed and directed work at Playwrights Horizons, New York Theatre Workshop, The Public, Soho Rep, Ars Nova, The Kennedy Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Geffen Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, Playwrights' Center, and more. Pirronne is a Usual Suspect at New York Theatre Workshop, New Georges Affiliated Artist, and a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre. She is an alumna of the 2050 Fellowship at NYTW, Williamstown’s Sagal Fellowship, SDC Denham Fellowship, Lincoln Center Directors Lab, Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab, and Drama League Directors Project. Upcoming projects include the world premiere of Kween by Vichet Chum at Merrimack Repertory Theatre. M.F.A., Columbia University. Proud member, SDC. Representation: Ben Izzo, Michael Moore Agency. www.pirronne.com
Ericka Ratcliff is a multidisciplinary artist serving as the Literary Manager at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Coordinating Producer for 100 Free Acts at Goodman Theatre. Formerly the Artistic Director at Congo Square Theatre, she programmed critically acclaimed productions such as Welcome to Matteson, What To Send Up When It Goes Down, and How I Learned What I Learned in collaboration with Goodman Theatre, and served as the Executive Producer of The Blackside digital series. As a director, her credits include Chlorine Sky (Steppenwolf for Young Adults), WHITE! (Definition Theatre), Blues for an Alabama Sky (UIC), Hit the Wall (NIU), and The Wolves (University of Chicago). She is also an ensemble member at Lookingglass Theatre. As an actor, she was last seen on stage in the Jeff Award winning production of Penelopiad at Goodman Theatre. A passionate storyteller and advocate, Ericka is committed to creating bold, resonant work that amplifies underrepresented voices, fosters dialogue and builds community through the power of theatre.
cara hinh (they/she) | cara is a queer, fat, Việt theatre maker and hoosier. They are the Associate Artistic Director at Indiana Repertory Theatre. cara has worked with theatres around the country as a director and educator. Select theatres: Arena Stage, Atlantic Theatre Company, Ars Nova, Berkeley Rep, Breaking the Binary, Hangar Theatre, Ma-Yi, MCC, The Movement, Perseverance Theatre, The Playwrights Realm, The Sống Collective, Village Theatre, Working Theatre and more. cara has been a Drama League Fellow, member of the ‘20-22 Roundabout Directors Group, a Directing Apprentice at Actors Theatre of Louisville, SDC Observer on Hadestown with Rachel Chavkin and a Fellow at Baltimore Center Stage. carahinh.com
Corey Madden was the originating director of DeLanna Studi’s And So We Walked which was produced at leading regional theatres, produced off-Broadway and recorded live by Audible. Corey spent 30 years developing and producing new plays including 4 seasons at Actors Theatre of Louisville and 22 seasons at the Mark Taper Forum where she became Associate Artistic Director. Corey is also the writer and director of Numbered Days (Fountain Theatre) Rain After Ash (AxS Festival) Day for Night (GLOW festival) and Surf Orpheus (Getty Classical Lab).