ABBE MERYL FEDER (Producer) is thrilled to have taken a leadership role with JWT after performing as an actress in several productions. Born and raised in New York City, upon graduation from college Abbe returned there to train at American Academy of Dramatic Arts. A perpetual student of the arts and theatre, she is currently studying with Stephen Book. In addition to her roles with JWT, some credits include [film]: Sex Ed, Brahmin Bulls; and [TV] Las Vegas, Pushing Daisies, CSI:NY. She also served as director of operations at IKAR for five years and has been an active leader in the Jewish community since she was a teen. She is excited about contributing to JWT in an additional position, adding her energy to the leadership of JWT and collaborating with innovative talent.
LISA CIRINCIONE is an actress and producer whose stage and screen credits include work in the US, the UK, and Italy. She produced and stars in the short film Porcupine alongside veteran character actor W. Earl Brown, which had its world premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival and has played on screens around the globe, including the prestigious Napa Valley Film Festival and USA Film Festival. She was recently cast in Francis Ford Coppola’s upcoming film and shot an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! She can be seen in national commercials including a spot for Sky Italia with Sandra Oh and in the comedy web-series Mrs. Gary, for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the Los Angeles Web Festival. Lisa received LA Weekly and LA Drama Critic’s Circle nominations for the role of Catherine in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge, at Pacific Resident Theatre. Lisa is a company member at Pacific Resident Theatre and the Road Theatre and is extremely proud to be an artist in residence with Jewish Women’s Theatre. Lisa received her BFA from USC and is fluent in Italian.
ANDREW FROMER is a Los Angeles native and grew up as an active member in the Jewish community through Stephen S. Wise Temple. He attended Windward School in Mar Vista, where his acting career began in plays and musicals. After completing his BFA in theater at UC Santa Barbara and an exciting year of living in Israel, Andrew took a dive into filmmaking and has since branched into production by helping prepare for distribution two feature films he has acted in: AMP Creative’s Highway to Havasu (dir. Jeff Janke) and Mockingbird Pictures’ The Sweet Life (dir. Rob Spera). Andrew also edits, directs, and hosts his own podcast on the entertainment industry, SideKickBack Radio, which can be found at www.sidekickback.com. He is very excited to be on board for an exciting year with NEXT@theBraid.
As the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’s Manager of Public Programming, JULIE GUMPERT works to produce a year-round diverse slate of public programs. Over the last decade working at the Academy, she has also served as the Academy’s Exhibitions Manager, taught in the Media Literacy Program, and coordinated the International Outreach program. Prior to working at the Academy, Julie worked in independent film publicity, documentary film distribution and book publishing. Julie received her Masters degree in Moving Image Archive Studies from UCLA and her BA from the University of Pennsylvania where she double majored in English and Communications. Once a Jersey Girl, she’s now a full time Angelino, living with her husband and two kids.
DEVAN LILJEDAHL is an actor, producer, and theater junkie. She attended the University of Redlands where she fell in love with the stage (and page) and received her degree in creative writing. Her native Southern California roots mean she’s perpetually cold and often in a sweater. Her previous work as IKAR’s Membership and Operations Manager solidified her passion for details and behind-the-scenes curation. Currently she co-produces a monthly storytelling show, Breaker/Broken, where heartbreak and hilarity are weaved together in the perfect mix. Devan is thrilled to be a part of NEXT@TheBraid and looks forward to the incredible productions ahead.
For the past 12 years, MONIQUE LÓPEZ has been a social justice planner and policy advocate working on a variety of issues such as transportation justice, environmental justice, and public space access throughout Southern California. A few of her most notable accomplishments include, leading the participatory design process of a 14 acre public space in the Eastern Coachella Valley, and working with broad coalition of advocates and residents to help secure over $120 million in transit and active transportation investments in environmental justice communities in San Diego. Early in her career, she co-authored an environmental justice ballot initiative to prohibit the importation and disposal of sewage sludge into Imperial County (which was passed by 68% of voters), and Monique played an integral role in coordinating a successful grassroots political campaign.Now based in Los Angeles, Monique is teaching college students about social justice planning and policy advocacy, and is developing a new participatory planning and public policy firm called Pueblo. As an avid storyteller, Monique understands and values the power of the arts to propel advocacy and shift the narrative.
SARAH RESNICK is a stage manager, tour manager, and all-around theater lover. Originally from the Northeast, she has called Los Angeles her home for just under a year. Her favorite stage management credits from around the country include productions of Legally Blonde, Spring Awakening, and Evil Dead the Musical, as well as the LA-based Wicked Lit 2017. When she’s not working in theater, you can find her on the road, tour managing on festivals such as the Vans Warped Tour. Sarah is thrilled to be a part of NEXT@The Braid and looks forward to producing unique and meaningful works with her fellow Arts Council members.
VICKI SCHAIRER is a director for film and theatre and a television producer. She has directed several short films and is currently in development for a handful of new projects. She works as a television producer with credits on shows for Amazon Prime, TLC, the History Channel, and Fullscreen. She worked as a theatre director, production manager, and arts administrator in the greater Boston area prior to moving to Los Angeles in 2014. Vicki directed dozens of projects for the Boston stage and collaborated closely with playwrights to develop new work through workshops and readings. She worked in the artistic department of the Huntington Theatre Company and co-founded the collaborative devised theatre ensemble Project: Project, for which she co-wrote and co-directed original plays. She received her undergraduate degree in physics and theatre from Brandeis University and completed the Summer Institute in Film Production at UCLA.
DAPHNA SHULL is a two-time NEXT Arts Council Fellow, literary manager, and writer, born and raised in Tampa, Florida. She received her bachelor’s degree in Media Production from Florida State University. After graduating in 2014, she headed west to pursue a career in screenwriting and the arts. Today, Daphna works as a museum educator for the Zimmer Children’s Museum and recently joined the JWT staff.
