Laura L. Sligh (pronouns: she, her) is a multidisciplinary artist, who has worked for over 2 decades in the Baltimore, Washington DC area. She received her MFA from The Maryland Institute of Art and her undergrad degree in performance from Morgan State University. Laura’s artistry shows up in many forms. Her work blends texture, visual art, performance, woodworking, written word, and photography. Her art is complex, immersive, visually layered, and often interactive.

Laura Sligh is a director, theater teacher, and visual artist in Baltimore and its surrounding area for many years. She has worked with organizations such as Eubie Blake Cultural Arts Center, The YMCA, YATTS, Arena Players, and Baltimore City Schools. She has also worked as a stage manager, wig, makeup, and costume designer in the Baltimore Washington area and her work has been seen in shows such as Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, Dreamgirls, The Wiz, Oliver, and Once on this Island.

Laura also finds inspiration from the communities in which she works. Her work often deals with the current political climate, urban life, gentrification, and giving voice to the unseen. She can inspire and voice their stories through theater and visual art. Because Laura started as a performer, she understands the process of creating from all sides and equally values all aspects of art-making. Whether on stage or in a gallery, her work is always visually intriguing and thought-provoking. She strives to make art that is relevant and, encompasses all aspects of life and love.

Maya L. James is a Baltimorean with Old Bay and the waters of the Chesapeake running through her veins. She is a multimedia writer, theatre artist, editor, educator, and spiritualist. She also is an alumnus of Howard University where she studied theatre arts and poetry.

Maya grew up surrounded by old women and their stories. Ever since she was a little girl, they would sidle up beside her smelling like hard work and peppermints, needing to unload their troubles, prayers, and blessings on an unbiased ear. This inspired that little bookish girl to pursue the writer’s life. She loves to blur the lines between genres; between the seen and unseen in order to capture the Black, magical surrealism of her world.

Her poetry has been published in Drum Voices Revue, Fokus Magazine, and Understanding and Dismantling Privilege Journal. Maya's fiction has been published in The Liberator Magazine, and various publications. Maya is a fellow of Callaloo (Poetry), The Watering Hole (Poetry), VONA (Playwriting), and Kimbilio (Fiction). She was also a Helen Gurley Brown Education Education Fellow at The New York Public Library.

Theater credits include: Fences (Consultant/Dramaturg) Triad Stage, Greensboro, NC; Mother Wit and Water Born ( Director), National Black Theatre, NY, NY; Itagua Meji (Director), Rutgers University; Sonography of Sound: A Choreopoem (Director/Playwright/Poet) Harvard University; Debajo del Laurel (Director), Teatro Latea, NY, NY; Mi China De Oro (Director) Brecht Forum, NY, NY; and Wading in the Water (Playwright), University of California, San Diego. She currently is the Education Coordinator at Lyric Opera House in Baltimore, Md and resides in Brooklyn, NY.

Nicole Adell Johnson, a native of Baltimore, MD, serves as administrative intern for the Lyric Youth Theater Ensemble. Currently, Nicole is enrolled at Coppin State University pursuing a degree in Arts Administration. Nicole has worked professionally for over 20 years as a dancer, singer, and actress in both Broadway and film. She began her artistic journey at The Baltimore School for the Arts and continued her education at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, eventually graduating from The Alvin Ailey American Dance School. Trained in multiple disciplines of dance, drama, and voice, Nicole is dedicated to spreading the joy and healing power of the arts. Nicole’s mission has always been to serve her community by inspiring, creating, and providing quality training in the arts. She believes the arts should be accessible and inspirational for everyone. After performing on Broadway and across the country, Nicole returned to her hometown to share her extensive experience and knowledge with future artists. She continues to promote her love for the arts through creating, teaching master classes, providing technical and administrative support, and directing artists and communities in the DMV area and nationwide. Nicole is grateful for God’s grace, blessings and the continuous support and love from her family, friends, and mentors.

Credits include: Antigone, Marty & the Hands that Could, Chicken & Biscuits, Coppin State University Repertory (Stage Manager), John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Theater Programming Coordinator), The Harlem Globetrotters (Stage Manager, Understudy), L.T.Y.C (Program Coordinator, Resident Theatre Instructor), Baltimore Center Stage, Antigone (Choreographer, Resident Teaching Artist), The Lion King Broadway and National Tour (Ensemble, Swing, Principle Understudy for Nala and Shenzi), 1st National Touring Company of The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (Vocal Ensemble, Dance Captain), Once on This Island (Erzulie), Lula Washington Dance Company, and Creative Outlet Dance Theater of Brooklyn.