About the "crew of patches"
Because we do not have a permanent theatre home, Contemporary Classics actively partners with other groups for performance space, reaching new audiences and increasing the community impact for each organization. This “homeless” state is one of the reasons we call ourselves “A Crew of Patches” - we travel from “patch” to “patch” with our performances. The name also reflects the motley coat of a Shakespearean Clown (or Fool), created by sewing patches of old or discarded clothing together in a mishmash of textures and colors, like a patchwork quilt. In fact, the word “patch” itself came to mean “Fool” because of this form of dress. Interestingly, the word “motley” is not limited to fool’s clothing, but also represents the contrasting characteristics of a Fool’s personality. Simultaneously free and subservient, divine and devilish, honest and deceptive, wise and foolish, fools do not truly fit into any of the deeply hierarchical positions of Shakespeare’s (or our) time. Instead, Fools, or “Patches,” transcend societal norms by being simultaneously a part of society and outside of it, giving them the ability to examine and comment on it.
Anja Lee, Artistic Director of Community (on leave),is a multilingual, multicultural, and multiracial actor, playwright, teaching artist and corporate facilitator and coach, hailing from NYC, and living in Atlanta. Anja began her career in the arts over 20 years ago as an acting apprentice at the Cleveland Playhouse. Since then, she has performed with theatres across the country, including Atlanta Shakespeare Company, North Carolina Black Repertory, The National Black Theatre, Harlem Shakespeare, New Perspectives Theatre, New Jersey Repertory, and The Billie Holiday Theatre Off Broadway. Favorite roles include Goneril in King Lear, Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing, and Lindsay in Brothers From the Bottom. Anja has also had recurring TV appearances on All My Children, As the World Turns, One Life to Live, and as a Guest Host on the QVC Network.
Anja currently works as an Allyship Facilitator with the Alliance Theatre, as well as the Alliance @ Work Program and Alliance Theatre Teaching Artist Program. Anja is a graduate of the first cohort of the Institute for Equity Activism in 2020 and is passionate about her work with Equitable Dinners and Out of Hand Theatre, facilitating important conversations about racial equity and social justice in our community. Out of these important connections with other arts professionals, Anja was supported to write her first one act solo play, Mixed Up describing her journey of growing up multiracial during the Loving Generation, which had its first reading with Actor’s Express Theatre.
Anja is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. www.anjalee.net
Charlie T Thomas, Interim Artistic Director of Community, is an actor, writer, director, and producer based in Atlanta, GA. He graduated from Mercer University with a dual major in Theater and Playwriting. In Macon, Charlie acted in almost 20 productions, wrote two short plays, and helped start an arts program at a local church.
In 2016, Charlie accepted an apprenticeship with Atlanta Shakespeare Company. Since its completion, he has performed in fourteen of Shakespeare’s works. He also started his own group, Remedy Theatre Project, which pairs productions with charities. Remedy Theatre Project is a company, a gateway, and a meeting place. All of Remedy's productions have a direction and purpose. Artists are able to extend their reach into the world while striving to provide strong, clear storytelling in productions with diverse casting and themes. Remedy rehearses in a truncated process, usually during off days and times, so that artists can continue other gigs and opportunities while working with the company. Twelfth Night, Remedy’s inaugural production, raised money for the Mental Health Association of Georgia.
After performing in numerous high school, community, and LORT productions in western Massachusetts, Mike Weiselberg, Managing Artistic Director, graduated with a BFA in Acting from Syracuse University. Mike then moved to New York City where his directing credits include The Comedy of Errors, A Servant of Two Masters, The Taming of the Shrew, and Animal Farm. Mike then joined Personal Space Theatrics (PST) as Associate Artistic Director.  Producing credits at PST include A Christmas Carol, The Duchess, Orchidelerium, Nicotine, Don Juan in Chicago, and Because He Can. While a senior PST staff member, Mike launched the Eretz Theater Reading Series in conjunction with the Israeli Consul for Cultural Affairs. Eretz's mission was to bring renowned Israeli plays and playwrights to American audiences. Producing credits include Ya’akobi, Liedenthal, Re’ulim, Sonya Mushkat, Best Friends, and Murder. After the success of Murder’s staged readings, PST and PS 122 produced the US premiere of Mike’s adaptation in October 2005, which he directed. In 2006, Mike moved to Los Angeles to work in TV/film and started out as an assistant to the Executives in Charge of Production for the Style Network. From there, he moved to First Look Studios and Nu Image Films where he assisted the President of Domestic Television Sales, licensing movies such as The Expendables, Rambo, and Olympus Has Fallen to various cable networks and streaming platforms. In 2013, Mike became Director of Program Acquisitions for the Turner Networks in Atlanta, screening, evaluating, and negotiating over $2 billion worth of movies and series for TBS, TNT, TruTV, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, NBATV, CNN, and HBO Max.
In 2015, Mike joined the Georgia Renaissance Festival’s street cast, creating the original character of Avi Mavet, Undertaker extraordinaire, and leading the VIP Joust Crew for four summer festivals.  Most recently, Mike returned to the stage after an 18-year absence to play the Duke of Albany in King Lear, directed by Susanna Wilson. He currently lives with his wife Vikki and their cats in East Atlanta.
Susanna Wilson, Artistic Director of Programming, began her professional theatre career as an actor in Washington State almost 30 years ago. She began working with non-profit theatre in 1993, when she joined the company of Book-It Repertory Theatre, a page-to-stage theatre company with a strong educational arm.  She stayed with Book-It for ten years, working with the company as it developed into a small regional theatre with 13,000 subscribers. Susanna later became the Artistic Director of a semi-professional company in Redmond, WA in 2007 after serving as the Education Director and Marketing Associate.
In 2003, Susanna took a directing gig with a theatre on Seattle’s Eastside, SecondStory Repertory theatre. After directing and teaching with the company, she became the Education and Marketing Director 3 years later. In 2007, Susanna was named Artistic Director, taking the helm of an organization in deep financial crisis. With SSR’s Managing Director and Board of Directors, Susanna raised the necessary funds by seeking out new donors and holding a series of special fundraising events. Nonprofit consultants helped craft debt-reduction and long-term sustainability plans, and helped the company develop operating policies and practices for the board, allowing it to fulfill its governance and fiduciary roles. With momentum and support from this wide variety of sources, SecondStory met and exceeded its revenue goal in 2 months. Susanna has since consulted several nonprofit companies in various stages of development to help them create plans for sustainability and growth. As a director, adapter, and producer, Susanna has been instrumental in bringing dozens of works to the stage for multiple companies in the Pacific Northwest and Georgia. A lifelong learner, Susanna went back to school in 2017 to complete her master’s degree at the University of Exeter, which included a residency at Shakespeare’s Globe. After graduating at the end of 2018, Susanna moved to Gwinnett County, Georgia, where she edited and directed a modern-dress King Lear for Contemporary Classics (formerly Gwinnett Classic Theatre) and an Appalachian <i>Romeo and Juliet for CAPS (a division of SPA) at Everett’s Music Barn in Suwanee. She now teaches both independently and for a local arts school, serves as the Development Director of Suwanee Performing Arts (SPA), and creates theatre every chance she gets.