Ansa Akyea (pronounced An-ssa A-Tchay-Ya) (He/Him/His) is proud to be a 2023-24 NNPN producer in residence with Mixed Blood Theater (MN). Ansa is a freelance theater director and AEA/SAGAFTRA actor based in the Twin Cities. Ansa is passionate about BIPOC new work and bringing marginalized and diverse voices to the theater industry. With over 25 years of stage experience, an avid collaborator and promoter of new work, he recently directed Red Dragon by Tonderai Munyevu in the Afro Atlantic Playwrights Festival, Lynn Nottage's M'lima's Tale with Ten Thousand Things Theater, Junk by Ayad Akthar at the University of Minnesota, Snowy Day, and Mufaro's Beautiful daughters (TYA) with Steppingstone Theater (MN). Other directing credits included touring shows for Mixed Blood Theater, Penumbra Theater's summer institute, as well as The Playwright Center and others. Ansa is board member of the Minnesota Playwright Center, holds an MFA and MA from the University of Iowa (00).