Theatre Philadelphia’s Content + Criticism Cohort

Max Vasapoli, M.Ed. is an Advisor and Adjunct at Drexel, having previously held advisory roles at Penn and UArts. He’s adjudicated dancers across North America for the last ten years, including the Season 8 Finale of Dance Moms. Prior work includes Opera Philadelphia, Cirque du Soliel, and Impact Dance Adjudicators.

Gauri Mangala (she/her) is a first-generation Indian-American queer multi-hyphenate theatre artist and an aspiring grown up. She is drawn to stories that, even in their various levels of fiction-hood, pull out an honest candor about what it means to be human. Gauri is currently a Resident Fellow at Hedgerow Theatre. Follow her on instagram: @hiimgauri

Caity Cook is a dramaturg, writer, and arts administrator based in Philadelphia, PA. Caity has a focus in new work development and has worked with not-for-profit theatres across the country, including Pig Iron Theatre Company, Manhattan Theatre Club, WP Theater, and Cleveland Play House.

Kirsten Bowen is a dramaturg who has written for Broad Street Review, 3Views on Theater, HowlRound Theatre Commons, Breaking Character, and Playwrights Canada Press. She holds an MFA in Dramaturgy from ART/MXAT Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University and a BA in English and Theatre from Smith College.

Krista Mar (she/her) is a theatre enthusiast, avid reader, occasional writer, rookie photographer, novice dancer, life long learner, and activist. She seeks to center and amplify voices of the global majority, decolonize frameworks, advocate for justice, and build community. You can follow her theatre adventures on instagram @krista.reviews.

Carl(os) Roa [they/them] is an interdisciplinary creator, writer, and performer. An alumni of the Headlong Performance Institute, (os)’ work explores the marginalized within the marginalized, and alternative communities living alternative lives. They are currently the Program Manager for the Painted Bride, and a contributor for HowlRound and American Theatre Magazine.

Raised in North Carolina, Mackenzie got her BA in Theatre and BFA in Creative Writing at the UNCW. From there she went to Miami University where she earned a Masters of Art in Theatre, Performance, and Practice. Mackenzie is a playwright and part of the inaugural Rising Writers cohort at Azuka Theatre. When she’s not writing she can be found at her day job; a preschool theatre teacher (it is as fun as it sounds).

Frank Deane-Schierloh is a queer theatre artist based in Philly, who has been working in the industry for over a decade. Their experiences both onstage and off have filled them with a love and respect for theatre and a want to champion theaters committed to diversity, experimentation and inclusion.

Renee Lucas Wayne has been a playwright-in-residence for many organizations including The Salvation Army of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Arts in Education (PAEP), the Philadelphia Department of Recreation, and the Rainbow Connection of the Prince Music Theatre. She was a theater critic for the Daily News.

Seeking to create opportunities for artists of color, Renee has collaborated with like-minded women as a member of Black Magic Woman Productions, which developed new theater works, presented contemporary theater, and re-imagined the Classics. Most recently she brought her talents and unique perspective to the staff of The Bridge PHL as a Co-Director.

Writing across genres, Renee's plays include romantic comedies, (“While The Gettin's Good,” “It’s a Man Thing”), dramas (“Angels Unaware”), historical dramas (“Fly Girl,” Ride Mary, Ride!”), and plays for young audiences (“Fairy Tale Court,” “Kisa! Kisa! Kisa!”).