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András Borgula
International
András Borgula is Artistic Director of the GOLEM (Hungarian Jewish) Theatre. Born and raised in Hungary in a secular family (until the age of 13 Andras did not know he was Jewish). After his high‑school graduation he moved to Israel, served in the army and learned theatre directing at the University of Tel Aviv. In 2003, he moved back to Hungary and founded the Jewish Theatre. In 2013, Andras won the best comedy award in the Hungarian Humor Festival. In addition, Andras is the leader of the program team of the CULTURESTREET Jewish Art Festival; he is the President of ZSKF Alliance of Hungarian Jewish NGO's. Andras has his own radio show and regular guest in the Hungarian ATV tv station. He also volunteers in a weekly portion which is a (non Jewish) charity movement for handling food distribution for the homeless and poor.
Deborah Baer Mozes
International
Deborah Baer Mozes is the Founding Artistic Director of Pennsylvania’s first and only professional theatre dedicated to telling Jewish Stories, Theatre Ariel. She gave life to 88 new plays, including the development of the first Jewish ten-minute play festivals, museum theatre productions for the National Museum of American Jewish History, and performances commissioned by various Jewish agencies such as Jewish Family and Children Services. Under her direction, Theatre Ariel produced the work of many Alliance for Jewish Theatre playwrights. She conceived and directed the company’s touring repertoire and Salon Ariel. Prior to founding Theatre Ariel, Deborah served as Literary Manager for the Walnut Street Theatre and directed their acclaimed Independence Studio productions of Waiting for the Parade, With Albert Einstein, and T Bone ‘N Weasel. She was the Associate Artistic Director of Stageworks Touring Company in South Jersey for which she conceived, created, and directed numerous plays about Jersey life and history. Internationally, Deborah worked in Canadian regional theatre (Manitoba Theatre Workshop/Prarie Theatre Exchange) and television; in Israel, she has directed and taught in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Arad. She is co-editor with Julianne Bernstein of VOICES FROM ARIEL: Ten-minute plays exploring the Jewish experience (Dramatic Publishing). For eleven years, Deborah served as Director of Culture for the Consulate General of Israel to the Mid-Atlantic Region. She was a two time President of the Alliance for Jewish Theatre. A year ago she made Aliyah to Israel and presently lives in Tel Aviv.
Renee Calarco
International
A Renee Calarco is a D.C.-based playwright. Her plays include Museum 2040 (The Kilroys List 2020), Bleed (Final 30, Samuel French OOB Festival), G-d’s Honest Truth (Winner, 2014 Jewish Playwriting Contest), The Religion Thing (2013 nominee for the Charles MacArthur Award-Outstanding New Play), Short Order Stories (2007 winner-Charles MacArthur Award), #solestories, and others. Her plays have been produced by Theater J, The Jewish Plays Project, The Welders, 4615 Theater Company, Venus Theatre, Charter Theater, Project Y, Pinky Swear Productions, and others. She’s a founding member of The Welders, and is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild.
Elyssa Nicole Trust
New York City
Elyssa Nicole Trust is an actor, voiceover artist, playwright, screenwriter, and author of the award-winning children’s book Daisy Moves to America. In addition to her work on the stage and screen, she is a co-host of Positive Creativity Podcast. Learn more about Trust at www.elyssanicoletrust.com. @elyssanicoletrust
Carol Weiss
Southern California
My first “professional” job (I was 4) was performing a Yiddish poem on local New York TV.
I’ve always believed: “If you want to change the world, be a teacher.” That’s what I’ve tried to do.
I’ve written 12 musicals for children. My “Snow White” (Dramatic Publishing) has been performed by 200 schools. “Teddy & Harry” won the National Jackie Young Playwriting Contest. “Emperor’s Birthday Suit” was in the Stephen Schwartz ASCAP Showcase. “Alice!” was performed at the Pasadena Playhouse 100th Anniversary. My newest musical, “The Door to America,” is the story of a young Jewish
immigrant couple.
Stephanie Liss
Southern California
Stephanie Liss is a Writers Guild Award winning , and Emmy and Golden Globe, nominated television movie and miniseries, writer. Her documentary, ONE SURVIVOR REMEMBERS, the story of GERDA WEISSMAN KLEIN, won the Academy Award, for documentary short. With it all, theatre is her heart and soul. As a playwright, her plays have been produced all over the country. When the pandemic hit, Stephanie approached ALEPH, about giving her a ZOOM platform, for her new Jewish plays. She approached JEWISH LIFE TV, and they are airing her play ESCAPE FROM TEHRAN, on Sat night, Jan 20, 2024, in conjunction with ALEPH, the first time JLTV, has done original work- the first in a series of Stephanie’s plays. Stephanie also serves as a Los Angeles playwright ambassador of the DRAMATISTS GUILD.
Robyn Shrater Seemann
Southern United States
Robyn Shrater Seemann is a multi-hyphenated theatre artist: playwright-performer-producer. She is the founder and producing artistic director of Artists Circle, an all-women’s professional performing arts company dedicated to creating opportunities and breaking down barriers for Jewish women performing artists. Robyn delights audiences throughout the region with live storytelling performances, and as a writer and performer with Ask Your Local Orthodox Sketch Troupe (LOST), a Jewish women’s sketch comedy troupe. Her award-winning plays have been produced at Adventure Theatre MTC, DMV Q Fest, and Baltimore Playwrights Festival. She is the host and writer of the Shattering The Single Story podcast, and loves to share her unique blend of writing and performing in her workshops on public speaking, storytelling, and improv. Robyn holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Brandeis University.
A.R. Cohen/Corwin
Western United States
A.R. Cohen/Corwin is a playwright, screenwriter, and new-play director & dramaturge who combines her passions for comedy, politics, and irreverence to examine our world. She is currently working on new stories involving the Jewish legacies of Poland. Recent accolades: Full-length play, "Say Goodbye," was a 2022 Finalist for the Jewish Plays Project; Ten-minute play, “How to Save the Polar Bear,” was a 2020 Theater Masters TAKE TEN winner and is published by Concord Theatricals. Based in Arizona but from Northern New Jersey!