Board of Directors of Vangeline Theater

Jane Friedman, Chair, Director Howl! Gallery and Howl! Emergency Funds (2013)

Mee Ae Caughey, Director, Ithaca Butoh (2006)

Davey Mitchell, Director, Dancer (2013)

Vangeline Helene Gand, Artistic Director (2004)

Paul Barlett, Advisor, Honorary member, Research Scientist, Saint Peters University (2013)

Shoshana Green, Advisor, Director, Butoh San Francisco (2013)

Joanne Djele, Director (2024)

Raquel Almazan, Director, Indie Space and La Lucha Arts (2024)

Staff

Davey Mitchell: Treasurer/Finances/Budget

Mee Ae Caughey: General Management// Secretary

Jane Friedman: Board Development

Sindy Butz: Workshops and Classes manager - New York Butoh Institute

Vangeline Gand: General Management/ Artistic Direction

Andy Dickerson: Technical Advisor

Michelle Tabnick: Publicity/Marketing

Vangeline Theater is rated at the Platinum Level on www.guidestar.org. Check out our profile here: http://www.guidestar.org/profile/35-2237400

We welcome this year Joanne Djele and Raquel Almazan to the Board.

Joanne Djele is originally from Benin, but has lived in New York for over 30 years. She graduated from Columbia University with a dual master in public policy and clinical social work. While working as a therapist for the musician union and the Actor’s Fund of America, she discovered that she has a passion for the use of holistic medicine in the context of mental health. She is currently preparing to pursue a doctorate in nurse practitioner. Her interests include traveling, art, and writing. Joanne is delighted to be joining the board of Vangeline Theater. 

Raquel Almazan was born in Madrid – Spain, is also of Costa Rican descent and has lived most of her life in the U.S. As an interdisciplinary artist she holds an M.F.A. in Playwriting from Columbia University. B.F.A. in Theatre from University of Florida/New World School of the Arts Conservatory. She develops work as a writer, director, actor, dramaturge and is also a Butoh dance practitioner. Almazan is the Artistic Director of LA LUCHA ARTS, producing several of her original works, including LATIN IS AMERICA play cycle and lecture-performance, a collection of bi-lingual works in dedication to Latin American countries. Select play credits include: La Paloma Prisoner Arthur J. Harris Social Justice Prize/Arch and Bruce Brown LGBTQ Prize – workshop: Signature Theatre, readings: La Mama ETC, INTAR, Labyrinth and The Lark). CAFÉ (Kennedy Center’s Latinidad Award, Columbia Stages workshop directed by Elena Araoz). La Negra (Workshop: BRIC Arts-directed by Mei Ann Teo, readings; Lincoln Center w/ Classical Theatre of Harlem, Teatro Iati). When I Came Home (Pregones- PRTT) La Migra Taco Truck and Dar a Luz (off Broadway NYC Theatre Row, Aspen Stage, New Theatre–FL). Does that Feel Good to you My Lark?: A Doll’s House Adaptation (Bushwick Starr reading/New Georges – Audrey residency, directed by Miranda Haymon). Cross//Roads: Re-framing the Immigrant Narrative (commissioned workshop: La Micro Theatre). Goddesses Return to the Temple, Live & In Color-June Bingham Commission Awardee. Artistic Advisor of R. Piniella’s bi-lingual Hamlet workshop (The Public Theater). She has been awarded a Professional Development residency with the Eugene O’Neill Center Playwrights Conference and Core Apprentice residency, affiliated writer with The Playwrights’ Center. She is the Executive Director of Indie Space.

Photography by Joshua Weiner