Virginia-born and Chicago-based, Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend is an associate member of the Saint Sebastian Players Theater Company, a member of the Dramatists Guild, and President of the Board of Arts For All, a NYC-based nonprofit bringing the arts to in-need youth communities. She has a BFA in Film & TV from NYU and two kids who are disappointed that she doesn't write plays about dinosaurs. www.arts-for-all.org

Denise Smolarek is a Chicago-based theatre artist and film actor with a background in art and teaching. She is thrilled to be a part of Transformation Theatre’s Virtual Reading Series and to revisit playwright Lisa’s plucky women of NYC as they navigate Liz’s move to Texas Hill Country with hilarious bluntness and grandmotherly love. Denise first met Lisa and her Bandera, Texas characters during quarantine and has directed several virtual productions since. Getting back into live theatre earlier this year, she appeared in Storm Theatre’s The Shaughraun, and this fall will direct The Cemetery Club for Scratch Ensemble in Oak Park. Other directing credits include All Mixed Up (Barely Concealed Productions) and The Water Children (A Cuckoo’s Theatre Project). Many thanks to Lisa, Heidi, Tory, to our wonderful cast, and always to my husband and family who support me in all my artistic endeavors.

Victoria Estes is a freelance Dramaturg originally from Illinois. She received her BA in Theatre from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and her MA in Theatre History and Criticism from Catholic University of America. She specializes in new play development and devised theatre. She is thrilled to be working with such an amazing team!