Meridith C. Grundei (she/her/hers) is a New York newbie, actor, improviser, producer, and voice-over artist. She holds an M.F.A. in Contemporary Performance from Naropa University in Boulder, CO and is a member of Actors Equity and an Associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Meridith’s recent directing credits include Bite-Size, an evening of micro-theatre with Off-Center at The Denver Center and MOVE, an evening of unique theater with the Naropa MFA in Boulder, Co. 

In 2017 Meridith received the True West Award with her husband, Gary Grundei and Henry nominated for her work as director on Beowulf, A Thousand Years of Baggage with the Boulder company, The Catamounts. In 2016 she was recognized in the Westword as one of Colorado's 100 Creatives. She is an Associate Artist of LOCAL Theatre Company in Boulder, CO and proud member of StateraArts. For more about Meridith visit: www.meridithgrundei.com

Chie C. Morita (she/her) seeks creative solutions to everyday debacles. She is a co-founder and partner of FORGE, a boutique consultancy devoted to helping artists and companies take the next step in their own work. In all she does, Chie seeks to liberate the artist from cultural stereotypes and negative self-stories. Always eager to challenge the norms under which we were taught to create, she consults and mentors on proactive planning, financial literacy, and the practice of collaborative asking. Most recently, Chie served as the Deputy Director at Town Stages, a Cultural Arts and Event space in Tribeca, where she created, curated, and managed the Sokoloff Arts Fellowship Program, which offered space, mentorship, and resources to makers of all kinds. While at Town, she had the pleasure of working with artists such as Third Rail Projects, The Macallan, Art Beyond The Glass, Milajam, Spotify, Fault Line Theatre Company, and many others. In New York, she has worked with Tony-Award-winning Broadway Producer Joey Parnes (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, End of the Rainbow), institutions including The Public Theater, Ars Nova, and New York Neo-Futurists (who, under her care, were awarded three Drama Desk nominations), and such independent artists and ensembles as Heather Christian and the Arbornauts, Esperance Theater Company, Extant Arts Company, UglyRhino, Panicked Productions, Fresh Ground Pepper, and art.party.theater.company. Chie is also a collaborator on the Wonderland Historical Society in New Orleans, a proud board member of The Musical Theater Factory and a co-producer on an Untitled Kopp/Reece Superhero musical in development.

Rachel Spencer Hewitt (she/her/hers) is the founder of Parent Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) for the Performing Arts, a collective of individuals and theatre organizations committed to family-friendly practices in the theatre. PAAL's mission is to empower and advocate for the parent-artist, both employee and freelance, in collaboration with theatre organizations in order to raise awareness of parent artist obstacles in the theatre and create work-life balance interventions, healthy work culture, stable protocols, and accessible pathways to employment. Rachel received her BA in Drama from Trinity University and MFA in Acting from the Yale School of Drama. She earned her equity card understudying and performing at the Yale Repertory Theater. Her professional acting resume includes Broadway Debut in tony-nominated King Charles III at The Music Box theater, regional theater and off-Broadway productions, including the Paula Vogel/Tina Landau New York premiere of A Civil War Christmas. She recently moved to Chicago and has founded a national online community and resource initiative to highlight, identify, and create dialogue on motherhood in the theater arts on her blog AuditioningMom.com.

Mara Jill Herman (she/her/hers) is an actor, educator, writer, and producer based in Astoria. Her developmental highlights include The Band’s Visit (Playwrights Horizons) and Sam’s Room (Theatre Barn’s Impact Award). As a soloist, she has appeared at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Feinstein's/54 Below, and with the Orchestra Japan in Disney On Classic. Favorite productions include On The Town (Hildy), Rent (Maureen), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide), and Jesus Christ Superstar (North American tour). Mara frequently appears with America's Sweethearts, the all-female vintage trio. She directs/produces concerts at The Green Room 42 including Stronger Than Hate: A Benefit for Tree of Life Synagogue and Changemakers: A Celebration of Women and StateraArts. Mara is a proud alum of the National YoungArts Foundation. Select writing credits include coauthor of So You Wanna Be A Superstar? The Ultimate Audition Guide (Running Press Kids) and contributor to Musical Theater Today, Vol. 3 (Yonkers International Press). In 2011, Mara received the Young Alumni Service Award from University of the Arts. www.marajillherman.com @marajillherman