2023-2024 Producers in Residence
Over the course of the 2023-24 season, NNPN will support six Producers in Residence: four First Year Residents and two Second Years. From coast to coast, and with founding Member Theaters and new additions alike, these early and mid-career producers will get hands-on New Play experience, professional development, and an expansive community. We are thrilled to have them join the Network and look forward to supporting their work this year and in the years ahead.
Ansa Akyea
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).
Fatima Dyfan
Fatima Dyfan is a producer, director, writer, and performer currently in residency at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company through the National New Play Network (NNPN) Producer in Residence Program. Fatima is the BOLD Rising Director assistant directing the world premiere of My Mama and the Full-Scale Invasion, the world premiere of The Sensational Sea Mink-ettes, and the regional premiere of Amm(I)gone in Woolly’s current season. Fatima engages the local community as the Artistic Advisor to the Black Theatre Ensemble at Georgetown University. Prior to this, Fatima served as the Fellow of the New Work Department at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company through the Miranda Family Fellowship Program. Fatima graduated from Georgetown University with a B.A. in African-American Studies and Government with a Minor in Theatre Performance Studies. Fatima is a first-generation Sierra Leonean American from Northern Virginia.
A Black radical humanist in the making, Fatima is interested in exploring the intersections of identity including race, gender, sexuality, and spirituality, arts, and culture through storytelling and community work. Fatima’s artistry is centered on research and dramaturgy with an awareness of harm reduction, consent, anti-racism, collective organizing, justice, and healing practices to address global issues. As a lifelong learner, Fatima continues to refine her skills in critical analysis, the performance of theatre, dance, and song, visual and design art, and writing in poetry, prose, speech, essay, and computer language for AI and virtual reality. Fatima is deeply inspired by her studies but finds sparks of influence from high fashion and glam, astrology, ratchet reality television, cooking, working at the local Jazz club, and being with loved ones.
Liana Irvine
Liana Irvine (she/they) is playful, methodical, and optimistic as a dramaturg, producer, and community organizer for new plays. With intimate interrogation and empathetic communication, Liana advocates for theatrics that entangle the ecosystems of playwrights' worlds and audiences' realities.
- Select credits: People's Light (Surround Programs producer, Production dramaturg), The Workshop Theatre (Writers Intensive Moderator); InterAct Theatre Company (NNPN Producer in Residence, Dramaturg, Reader)
- Current roles: Second Year NNPN Producer in Residence at NNPN Core Member Theater, InterAct Theatre Company (Philadelphia), Vice President of Regional Activity for Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, Advisor Council for GroundWater Arts, and Member of Philadelphia Asian Performing Artists
- Mission: to craft theatricality using sustainable systems, artistic delight, and emergent strategies in order to cultivate collective discovery, nourishment, and empathy
Sofia Guadalupe Lugo
Sofia (She/They) is an early career creative passionate about sharing powerful BIPOC narratives. Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Sofia's mission is to empower and is driven to bring collaboration, hard work, dedication, and motivation to a forward-thinking environment.
As a member of a minority community, Sofia understands the importance of representation and aims to create art that promotes authenticity and self-expression within marginalized groups. They believe in the power of storytelling to create meaningful connections and inspire positive change.
With a Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts, Sofia has gained valuable experiences in various creative roles, including assistant stage manager, vocal director, director and producer. Notable stage productions in which Sofia has been involved in include "Living Out" by Lisa Loomer (Directed by Alexandra Meda), "The Tenth Muse" by Tanya Saracho (Directed by Claudia De Vasco), "Our Lady of 121st Street" by Stephen Adly Guirgis (Directed by Guillermo Aviles-Rodriguez), "The African Company presents Richard III" by Carlyle Brown (Directed by Christine Menzies), and "Scorched" by Wajdi Mouawad (Directed by Christine Menzies).
Sofia's ultimate goal is to collaborate and connect with other creatives to showcase BIPOC narratives to their community and the world. They aim to promote and create art that not only heals but empowers others, especially those from marginalized communities, to be themselves. Sofia is the NNPN Producer in Residence at Studio Luna.
Jena Rashid
Jena Rashid is a Pakistani, female-identifying playwright who is currently based in Orlando, FL. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a BA in Theatre Studies and a minor in music in 2021. She has worked as a stage manager, director, playwright, actor and other roles throughout her career. Since she graduated, she has interned at Orlando Shakes and Florida Studio Theatre and currently works with Jobsite Theater as a Producing Associate and with the Orlando Shakes as the NNPN Producer in Residence. In addition, she still writes plays when she can, and her works can be found on the NewPlayExchange.org. Her plays have been workshopped and developed since 2018. Most recently her plays 'The Ultimate Cheeseburger' and 'Therapy' were professionally workshopped and her plays 'The One with the Ghost' and 'Dinner Date' received world premieres.
afrikah selah
afrikah is a Black, queer multihyphenate cultural worker with specialized experience in the areas of dramaturgy, producing, new play development, and arts criticism. They hold a B.A. in Theater and a certificate in Multicultural Theater from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Since September 2021, afrikah has been the inaugural New Work Producer at Company One Theatre, whose mission is to build community at the intersection of art and social change. Creating a bridge for the public to engage with the work and conversations created by local community and grassroots organizations. Their C1 dramaturgy credits include Black Super Hero Magic Mama, and can I touch it?, under the mentorship and guidance of New Work Director Ilana M. Brownstein.
As a cultural worker, afrikah’s mission is to create intentional work that activates dialogue and welcomes community action at the intersection of identity, time and space, social change, and care-centered engagement for artists and audiences. As a writer, Afrikah has written for the A.R.T., New England Theatre Geek, and 3Views on Theater, offering thoughtful reflections in how we examine and engage with performance art.
afrikah serves as the NNPN Producer in Residence at Company One Theatre, where they are growing as a generative, producorial catalyst. They are also a 2023 TCG Rising Leader of Color, where their journey continues to inspire and uplift.