MEET COLLABORACTION’S GROUP FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

To create work that incites knowledge, empathy, dialogue and action it takes a diverse community of changemakers.

TO CREATE, PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN INNOVATIVE, DYNAMIC AND ENGAGING WORK IT TRULY TAKES A VILLAGE

Meet our team of incredibly talented, intelligent and passionate individuals and community organizations committed to art that sparks conversations and incites change.

STAFF

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Anthony Moseley (he/him)

Anthony has been the Artistic Director of Collaboraction since 1999, using theater as a tool of knowledge, empathy, dialogue and action. Through this work, Moseley has commissioned and collaborated with thousands of artists to build a more equitable future for Chicago through projects including Sketchbook Festival, Peacebook, Encounter and The Light youth theater festival. As a writer/director he created Crime Scene: a Chicago Anthology and its four sequels, This is Not a Cure For Cancer, Connected and A Blue Island in the Red Sea. In 2018, Collaboraction was honored with a Comcast/Ovation Stand for the Arts Award and an Otto Award for “ground-breaking political theater.”

Interim Managing Director

Beverly Dines (she/her)

Beverly is an artist, producer, and has over 10 years of progressive operational management and leadership experience in the for profit and nonprofit sector. Specializing in project development, research supervision, organizational advising, and budget management.
Beverly serves as a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.’s Lambda Chi Sigma Chapter. She believes in the transformative power of collaboration and utilizes art and theater to tell stories that resonate with diverse audiences. As both an actor and storyteller, Beverly infuses her performances with authenticity and empathy, portraying characters like Minnie/Angela in “Parade” and as an ensemble member in “One in Four”. Beyond acting, she also produces devised works, and serves as an operations leader in Chicago’s fintech ecosystem.

PUBLIC RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE

Jay Kelly (he/him)

Jay is a Chicago PR specialist with more than 30 years of experience representing non-profit performing arts organizations including theaters, dance companies, music organizations and festivals. He has proudly represented Collaboraction since 2011. Other clients include Chicago Children’s Theatre, Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA), Lucky Plush Productions, Manual Cinema, Paramount Theatre, Physical Theater Festival Chicago, Season of Concern, Teatro Vista, Theater Wit and TimeLine Theatre Company. He launched Jay Kelly PR in July 2017 after seven years as Vice President of Arts and Culture at a mid-sized PR firm. He also served three years as an adjunct marketing professor at The Theatre School at DePaul University in the performing arts management program. For more, visit jaykellypr.com.

Administrative Assistant

Amanda Blanco (she/they)

Amanda Blanco is a Chicago-based stage manager who has worked with Albany Park Theater Project, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago Childrens’ Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Collaboraction, and Barrington Stage Company. As a collaborator, Amanda enjoys working with young people and she is passionate about spaces that foster creativity, center social equity, and promote liberation and consent-based practices. Amanda’s work spans across traditional and non-traditional theatre performance, and other live event management.

Marketing Coordinator

Toby Everhart (they/them)

Toby Everhart is a queer playwright and dramaturg who focuses on stories about queer history and trans narratives. While living in Seattle for 5 years, Toby founded the Seattle Trans Clothing Swap- a regular mutual aid event centered on giving trans/nonbinary people free gender affirming clothing and access to other resources. Since moving to Chicago a year ago, they have been writing plays and working as a tarot reader and astrologer throughout the city. Toby is excited to join Collaboraction and showcase all of the artists’ hard work for audiences to enjoy.