Our Staff and Board
Clare Solly (she/her)(executive director), a confessed seltzer addict, is an assimilated New Yorker, having lived here for over twelve years. A writer/actress/singer Clare has been performing and storytelling for over thirty years including a couple of Off-Broadway credits. Basically, at any time, she could burst into a story or song, and sometimes Shakespeare. She is extremely excited to be tapped to be part of The Bechdel Group's leadership, as she truly believes the world needs more meaty roles for women (as she seems to get cast most often in supporting male roles these days). She also does some fun work over at Patrynize Productions, has written a few novels and can often be found Off-Broadway at Playhouse 46. Feel free to come to Bechdel workshops and chat with her or visit her website.
Gina L. Grandi (she/her)(founder and literary manager) worked in the San Francisco Unified School District for 13 years, teaching 4th grade, 5th grade, and high school Theater and Humanities. As a founding teacher of Metropolitan Arts and Technology HS, Gina designed and implemented the school-wide drama program; productions included After Juliet, Discontented Winter, and bi-annual student-devised work. After moving to New York, Gina served as the Program Director at Opening Act, a non-profit that provides free after-school theater programs for New York City’s high schools. She is currently an assistant professor and the coordinator of the general theatre concentration at Appalachian State University. Other fancypants credits: Artistic Associate and Dramaturg for NYU's New Plays for Young Audiences series, editorial board of the peer reviewed journal Voices in Urban Education, curriculum consultant for Two River Theater, Doctorate in Educational/Applied Theatre from NYU.
Marina Zurita (she/her)(resident director)is a theater director born in São Paulo, Brazil, and based in New York City. Among her credits are Saudades (LaGuardia Performing Arts Center; Consulate General of Brazil in NY); Riven (NYC Women's Fund grantee); For The Time Being (NY Winterfest; Dixon Place); and Mother Tongue, an original piece conceived by her and performed at UNCSA MainStage season in 2022. Marina is a former resident artist at the Target Margin Theater (NYC), and currently a Directing Fellow at Et Alia Theater (NYC), at the Kennedy Center (DC) and at the Lab at A.P.E (MA). Marina has a passion for developing new work and through her work at The Bechdel Group she hopes to open space for artists to practice their craft and stories to be nurtured.
Cristina Angelica (she/her) (casting director) is an actress, singer, writer, artist and collaborator. A Cuban/ Puerto Rican first gen Miami Native, bred New Yorker. Proud SAG-AFTRA member, alumni of the Atlantic Acting School’s full time conservatory and Artistic Advisory Board Member for NYU’s New Plays for Young Audiences. She could most recently be seen playing Vera Franks on “The Equalizer” (CBS). Off-Broadway credits include the 2019 NYT Critic’s Pick, “Our Dear Dead Drug Lord” (WP Theatre). She is an eco-feminist, mama earth loving, music aficionado and is so excited to be part of the Bechdel group to help fiercely amplify women’s voices.
Adam D-F. Stevens (he|they) (board member), MA, RDT, is a joyous Black, gender creative individual. They are a Registered Drama Therapist (RDT) who works at the Cooke School & Institute and Churchill School & Center guiding young people with developmental differences. They are the Artistic Director of the Collideoscope Repertory Theatre Company (CRTC) in the NYU Program in Drama Therapy. They serve as an adjunct faculty member in the Drama Therapy Programs at Antioch University in Seattle and Marymount Manhattan College in NYC. They sit on the Board of Directors for the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA) as Chair of the Cultural Humility, Equity, and Diversity Committee. Most recently, Adam was invited to be Drama Therapist in Residence with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Through his clinical artistry, Adam looks to center the voices and experiences of marginalized folx.
Fiona King (she/they) (casting director) is an arts administrator and writer from San Francisco, CA. They have a broad theatrical background in everything from props to directing to acting, but can nowadays be found most often behind a computer. Fiona has previously worked with theatre companies such as the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, and the Nederlander Organization in New York. She holds a theatre and sociology degree from Smith College in Northampton, MA, and is a proud recipient of the Samuel A. Eliot, Jr. and Julia Heflin Award for distinguished directing in the theatre. Fiona moonlights as a science educator at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and their favorite plant is the red mangrove.
Tiffany Lloyd (she/her) (board member) is just a half Taiwanese girl growing up in the suburbs of TN who yearned for the lights of NYC. A mother, actor, producer and all around Jane of all Trades. Tiffany he been working different levels of production for over 20 years. The past 6 years she has been with Julius Nasso Productions working on projects in US, China, Italy, and Kuwait, to name a few. She is also currently the Production Manager for Axiom Space in Houston,TX, documenting the first Private Astronaut Mission to the International Space Station.
Tiffany is a conservatory trained actor, hanging her hat with the Tom Todoroff NYC Studio & Conservatory in which she still supports administratively. She is looking forward to growing with the Bechdel Group and giving women a stronger voice in theater and society overall.
M.J. Moneymaker (she/they)(digital communications director and board member) is an artivist/writer, analyst, learner, and U.S. Navy veteran. They are a digital communications specialist who uses their skills in art, data analysis, and writing for digital content and media production. An experienced media producer, they have worked as a screenwriter; web designer and producer; social media manager; and video editor. M.J. has an MFA in Creative Writing and a BA in TV/Film Production. Previously, she's worked for OutRight Action International, WITNESS, as the Production Supervisor for NYC LGBT Community Center's TV Show, and as a freelancer on projects like the Academy Award Winner for Best Documentary Short Subject, "Freeheld".
Patti Veconi (she/her) (resident dramaturg) is a Brooklyn-based music and drama teacher, director of youth theatre, and playwright. Her scripts are available through Eldridge Publishing in the US and Lazy Bee Scripts in the UK. Patti holds theatre degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University (BFA) and New York University (MA). Though her niche is writing in the adolescent voice, Patti’s short plays featuring older adults have also been produced in theatres around the country. (There’s just something about senior citizens and seventh graders.) She is also an avid vegetable gardener and award-winning quilter.
Clare Solly (she/her)(executive director), a confessed seltzer addict, is an assimilated New Yorker, having lived here for over twelve years. A writer/actress/singer Clare has been performing and storytelling for over thirty years including a couple of Off-Broadway credits. Basically, at any time, she could burst into a story or song, and sometimes Shakespeare. She is extremely excited to be tapped to be part of The Bechdel Group's leadership, as she truly believes the world needs more meaty roles for women (as she seems to get cast most often in supporting male roles these days). She also does some fun work over at Patrynize Productions, has written a few novels and can often be found Off-Broadway at Playhouse 46. Feel free to come to Bechdel workshops and chat with her or visit her website.
Gina L. Grandi (she/her)(founder and literary manager) worked in the San Francisco Unified School District for 13 years, teaching 4th grade, 5th grade, and high school Theater and Humanities. As a founding teacher of Metropolitan Arts and Technology HS, Gina designed and implemented the school-wide drama program; productions included After Juliet, Discontented Winter, and bi-annual student-devised work. After moving to New York, Gina served as the Program Director at Opening Act, a non-profit that provides free after-school theater programs for New York City’s high schools. She is currently an assistant professor and the coordinator of the general theatre concentration at Appalachian State University. Other fancypants credits: Artistic Associate and Dramaturg for NYU's New Plays for Young Audiences series, editorial board of the peer reviewed journal Voices in Urban Education, curriculum consultant for Two River Theater, Doctorate in Educational/Applied Theatre from NYU.
Marina Zurita (she/her)(resident director)is a theater director born in São Paulo, Brazil, and based in New York City. Among her credits are Saudades (LaGuardia Performing Arts Center; Consulate General of Brazil in NY); Riven (NYC Women's Fund grantee); For The Time Being (NY Winterfest; Dixon Place); and Mother Tongue, an original piece conceived by her and performed at UNCSA MainStage season in 2022. Marina is a former resident artist at the Target Margin Theater (NYC), and currently a Directing Fellow at Et Alia Theater (NYC), at the Kennedy Center (DC) and at the Lab at A.P.E (MA). Marina has a passion for developing new work and through her work at The Bechdel Group she hopes to open space for artists to practice their craft and stories to be nurtured.
Cristina Angelica (she/her) (casting director) is an actress, singer, writer, artist and collaborator. A Cuban/ Puerto Rican first gen Miami Native, bred New Yorker. Proud SAG-AFTRA member, alumni of the Atlantic Acting School’s full time conservatory and Artistic Advisory Board Member for NYU’s New Plays for Young Audiences. She could most recently be seen playing Vera Franks on “The Equalizer” (CBS). Off-Broadway credits include the 2019 NYT Critic’s Pick, “Our Dear Dead Drug Lord” (WP Theatre). She is an eco-feminist, mama earth loving, music aficionado and is so excited to be part of the Bechdel group to help fiercely amplify women’s voices.
Adam D-F. Stevens (he|they) (board member), MA, RDT, is a joyous Black, gender creative individual. They are a Registered Drama Therapist (RDT) who works at the Cooke School & Institute and Churchill School & Center guiding young people with developmental differences. They are the Artistic Director of the Collideoscope Repertory Theatre Company (CRTC) in the NYU Program in Drama Therapy. They serve as an adjunct faculty member in the Drama Therapy Programs at Antioch University in Seattle and Marymount Manhattan College in NYC. They sit on the Board of Directors for the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA) as Chair of the Cultural Humility, Equity, and Diversity Committee. Most recently, Adam was invited to be Drama Therapist in Residence with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Through his clinical artistry, Adam looks to center the voices and experiences of marginalized folx.
Fiona King (she/they) (casting director) is an arts administrator and writer from San Francisco, CA. They have a broad theatrical background in everything from props to directing to acting, but can nowadays be found most often behind a computer. Fiona has previously worked with theatre companies such as the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, and the Nederlander Organization in New York. She holds a theatre and sociology degree from Smith College in Northampton, MA, and is a proud recipient of the Samuel A. Eliot, Jr. and Julia Heflin Award for distinguished directing in the theatre. Fiona moonlights as a science educator at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and their favorite plant is the red mangrove.
Tiffany Lloyd (she/her) (board member) is just a half Taiwanese girl growing up in the suburbs of TN who yearned for the lights of NYC. A mother, actor, producer and all around Jane of all Trades. Tiffany he been working different levels of production for over 20 years. The past 6 years she has been with Julius Nasso Productions working on projects in US, China, Italy, and Kuwait, to name a few. She is also currently the Production Manager for Axiom Space in Houston,TX, documenting the first Private Astronaut Mission to the International Space Station.
Tiffany is a conservatory trained actor, hanging her hat with the Tom Todoroff NYC Studio & Conservatory in which she still supports administratively. She is looking forward to growing with the Bechdel Group and giving women a stronger voice in theater and society overall.
M.J. Moneymaker (she/they)(digital communications director and board member) is an artivist/writer, analyst, learner, and U.S. Navy veteran. They are a digital communications specialist who uses their skills in art, data analysis, and writing for digital content and media production. An experienced media producer, they have worked as a screenwriter; web designer and producer; social media manager; and video editor. M.J. has an MFA in Creative Writing and a BA in TV/Film Production. Previously, she's worked for OutRight Action International, WITNESS, as the Production Supervisor for NYC LGBT Community Center's TV Show, and as a freelancer on projects like the Academy Award Winner for Best Documentary Short Subject, "Freeheld".
Patti Veconi (she/her) (resident dramaturg) is a Brooklyn-based music and drama teacher, director of youth theatre, and playwright. Her scripts are available through Eldridge Publishing in the US and Lazy Bee Scripts in the UK. Patti holds theatre degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University (BFA) and New York University (MA). Though her niche is writing in the adolescent voice, Patti’s short plays featuring older adults have also been produced in theatres around the country. (There’s just something about senior citizens and seventh graders.) She is also an avid vegetable gardener and award-winning quilter.
