The imolc team

Nyssa grew up playing violin and performing on stage, graduating with a BFA in musical theatre from the Webster Conservatory of Theatre Arts. She spent several years working and recording around the country as an actor-musician, including performing in the national tour of the Broadway musical Once. Currently Nyssa splits her time between playing violin on and off stage, as well as performing in front of and working behind the camera with her production company OutaLine Productions. For future projects follow @nyssadee and @outalineproductions

Mackenzie Lesser-Roy is an NY-based actor, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and artist. Most notably, she played the lead roles of Girl in the national tour of ONCE and Jovie in the national tour of ELF. She’s worked with renowned directors Jerry Mitchell and Rebecca Taichman as well as worked at various regional theaters. Mackenzie also runs a small business as an embroidery artist. So thrilled to be a part of this very special show! @mackenzie_lesserroy 

Jared Mathis (He/Him) is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful team and support telling this story. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Jared plays for theater and cabarets (most recently supporting Abingdon Theatre's 2022 season) and in multiple bands (Fetch Tiger, First Nature, Nils Van) around New York City. He also works in the worlds of event production, development, and marketing - creating opportunities for people to have enriching and meaningful experiences through art. Jared was born and raised in Sugar Land, Texas and holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing with a focus in Arts Management from Baldwin Wallace University.

Rick Snell is the founder and host of the Mona’s Monday Night Bluegrass Session, a weekly showcase of some of the best American roots music in the New York area since 2011.  He is currently playing the mandolin/guitar chair in the National Broadway tour of Rodger and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!”,  recently at the Kennedy Center and the Fox Theatre in Detroit among many other great venues.  As a guitarist and singer he has worked with many artists over the years including Five Deadly Venoms, finalists at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival competition.  Other notable mentions include national tours in support of Regina Spektor with Only Son, tours and a European run with the Public Theatre’s Obie Award winning “No Place to Go” by playwright Ethan Lipton and his Orchestra, studio work for many national ad campaigns and podcasts like Story Pirates from Gimlet Media, and various performances at places like the Beacon Theatre, Town Hall, the Greek Theatre, Avery Fisher Hall and the United Nations.  

Dr. Alisa Hurwitz (she/her) is a clinical psychologist in group private
practice in New Hampshire, specializing in the Autism spectrum and
gender identity. She works at Dartmouth where she is part of the Gender
Clinic Team in Pediatric & Adolescent Endocrinology. Dr. Hurwitz applies
her professional knowledge to consult with theater companies, conduct
post-show talkbacks and interview Broadway actors. She has been a
presenter with the Empowered Artist Collective, TheaterMakers Summit and at BroadwayCon. She has collaborated on productions with the Cultural
Arts Playhouse, Cue Zero Theatre and The Hidden Ones. Her writing can be
found on the National Alliance on Mental Illness website, Shrink Tank
and at www.drdrama.com and her Musicals & Mental Health series can be
found on Instagram (@thedrdrama) with guests who have included Eva
Noblezada, Jason Danieley, Hailey Kilgore, Lauren Patten, Ali Stroker,
Rebecca Naomi Jones and Ethan Slater.

Monica was last seen onstage at the MacHaydn Theatre in THE

FULL MONTY as Jeannette. Other credits include Dolly Levi in

HELLO DOLLY, Frau Blucher in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, Madame

Thenardiere in LES MISERABLE, Vicky in THE FULL MONTY,

Mother Superior in NUNSENSE, Mother Superior in THE SOUND OF

MUSIC and Meg in DAMN YANKEES. Broadway & touring credits

include LIZA STEPPIN’ OUT starring Liza Minnelli at Radio City

Music Hall, HELLO DOLLY starring Carol Channing on Broadway,

and Madame de la Grande Bouche in the national tour of BEAUTY

AND THE BEAST. In the past 2 years, she has pivoted into recording

audio books and has recently finished her seventh book! Thank you

to Chrissy and Bryan for including me in this very important and

hugely personal presentation.

Angela (she/her) is a dancer and actress from Slidell, Louisiana. She is a proud graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Some current credits include the NYC based tap company, Tap: On Tap, and White Christmas at the Georgia Springer Opera House. She loves going to the movies, taking dance class, and is currently learning sign language! Ang would like to thank her family, friends, BAC fam, AML fam, and everyone who continues to support her on her journey! A very special thanks to Chryssie and Alexis for all that they do. She is so grateful to be a part of Chryssie’s beautiful journey! All the love to you. 

Ig: @angprice_

Temishia Johnson has worked for Riverside Church for three years in the Technical Services Department and was recently promoted to run The Riverside Theatre Department. She holds an MFA in theatre from University of Missouri Kansas City. Temishia is the resident Lighting Designer for Forces of Nature Dance Company, Pure Elements Theatre and Dance and Creative Outlet Theatre and Dance. One of the greatest opportunities she has had was assisting Mr. William Grant III on the Broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.  Other credits include: the premier of Evy Wright’s 3 Girls on Flatbush; Theresa Rebeck’s Mauritius; Torrey Townsend’s Brief Hours and Weeks, and CB Murray’s Pearl the Musical.

A proud Canadian, Austin Sora was recently seen touring North America with The Phantom of the Opera. Prior to that, she was a company member with Bruce Wood Dance, and had the pleasure of performing with the company at Jacob's Pillow. Austin has participated in labs for The Public Theater, Disney, and RWS. In the commercial dance world, Austin has worked with Grammy nominated rapper Lil Uzi Vert in his music video "Demon High," and can be seen in numerous commercials. Austin has assisted Emmy Award winning choreographer Marguerite Derricks and has taught at numerous dance schools, university programs, and nonprofit organizations around the world. She holds a BFA in Dance and a minor in Arts Management from Marymount Manhattan College. 

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Outside of performing and teaching, Austin has an extensive background as an arts administrator, most recently at Arts Ignite and The Clive and Valerie Barnes Foundation. Austin is a Green Captain with the Broadway Green Alliance, and was a co-author and presenter of their greener reopening toolkit. She is a frequent volunteer at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and a proud member of Actors' Equity Association in both Canada and the US. 

Elizabeth Katana Lester is a professional performer based in New York City. Liz began training in ballet at the age of 12 at Maine State Ballet, and continued on to study various forms of dance, theater, and voice in Maine, as well as perform in numerous productions in her community. 

In 2014, Liz began studying with the Portland Ballet Company, where she trained for three years before joining the company as an apprentice in 2017. While with Portland Ballet, Liz was lucky enough to dance for various artists, including Yury Yanowsky, Sabir Yapparov, Nell Shipman, and Adam Sterr. 

In 2018, Liz transitioned to New York City, where she was quickly hired as a dancer and Wendy/Mary Barrie u/s in the 2018-19 National Tour of ‘Finding Neverland’ the Musical, under the direction of Mia Walker(Pippin, Jagged Little Pill, Waitress). In 2020, she continued on with Neverland, this time around taking over the role of Miss Bassett, and acting as a Mary Barrie/Mrs. du Maurier u/s.