Our Board
The Yale University Dramatic Association is run by an eleven member undergraduate Executive Board which oversees the daily operations of the Dramat. This includes curating a season of 6 shows and choosing or hiring directors for its productions. The Dramat’s membership includes around 100 Yale undergraduates as well as many honorary and lifetime members.
Lily Pérez (President; president@yaledramat.org; she/her/hers) is a junior in Branford College from Washington, DC majoring in Theater and Performance Studies. Lily has been involved in theater at Yale as a producer, actor and dramaturg since the era of Zoom productions, a lifestyle sustained by GCal culture and the Yale Hospitality magic bars. Outside of theater, she can be found working as a Peer Liaison for La Casa Cultural, a Writing Partner for the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning, and a House Manager for Undergraduate Production.
The President is responsible for coordinating the activities of the Board and ensuring the effective functioning of all departments within the Association. She represents the Association in any negotiations with Yale University and runs all meetings of the Executive Board and of the Producing Membership.
Kali Jupiter (Vice President; vp@yaledramat.org; she/her/hers) is a junior in Berkeley College majoring in Computer Science. She is from New Orleans, Louisiana, arguably the greatest city in the world. She has acted in a number of shows at Yale, but has a special place in her heart for Dramat Board. When she’s not suffering through a CS pset, Kali can be found working at the Afro American Cultural Center, singing with her acapella group (shoutout OOTB), or enjoying a lavender lemonade from Koffee.
The Vice President assists the President and conducts meetings in the absence of the President. She takes responsibility for all Association correspondence, including that with the alumni, as well as being in charge of fundraising.
Abbie Thomas (Treasurer; treasurer@yaledramat.org; they/them/theirs) is a junior in Silliman majoring in African American Studies and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. They’ve worn a few hats in Yale theatre, directing or dramaturging various productions around campus, but always end up back at one Dramat load-in or another. When they’re not in the green room pretending to study, Abbie can be found at the nearest thrift store, running to a work shift at the art gallery, or sitting in the Silliman courtyard taking pictures of their friends.
The Treasurer is in charge of the Dramat’s finances. They help shows stay on budget, compose the budget, and do the Dramat’s taxes. They also create yearly reports to track costs and expenditures and drive the organization’s financial planning.
Meridian Monthy (Secretary; secretary@yaledramat.org; she/her/hers) is a sophomore in Trumbull majoring in Political Science and History. She joined the Dramat with the sole purpose of putting a joke at the end of every bulletin but has since fallen in love with the theater-making process. When not in a theater, she is writing sketch comedy, making and consuming quesadillas, or hyping up Houston.
The Secretary takes minutes at Board meetings. She is also responsible for the administration of all email and membership lists, as well as for compiling and sending out the weekly Dramat Bulletin. The Secretary is also responsible for many of the daily operations of the Dramat, including coordinating elections.
Casey Tonnies (Production Officer; prod@yaledramat.org; she/her/hers) is a junior (23′ +1) in Morse College majoring in Chemical Engineering. She is from Louisiana and did technical theater throughout high school but quickly found herself doing theater in college too. Her main focus at Yale has been as a lighting designer and master electrician, but she’s no stranger to cut calls for Dramat sets crews. At any given time she is probably working in a theater, working on psets, or…. wait those are probably the only two options (re: being a STEM major). Above all though, she is excited to help productions go up safely and to welcome new and returning Dramat theatremakers.
The Production Officer is responsible for communication between the Dramat and the School of Drama and is also the primary liaison to the Technical Advisor. She is in charge of ensuring that all show activities are carried out safely and efficiently, and that all Drama School facilities and equipment are treated with the utmost care. She is in charge during load-ins and strikes of all Dramat shows.
Ryan Pascal (Fall Mainstage Producer; ms1@yaledramat.org; she/her/hers) is a sophomore in Trumbull College studying Film and Media Studies and African American Studies. She is from Los Angeles, California where she pursued dance and explored her love of theater. Outside of the Dramat, she can be found working as a Training Director for the Model United Nations team, watching television, or FaceTiming her dog.
The Fall Mainstage Producer produces the biggest show of the fall semester. Her responsibilities include (in collaboration with the rest of the Executive Board) selecting the show and hiring the professionals. She lines up the student staff and crew, organizes auditions, creates the budget, runs production meetings, and coordinates with the fire and safety inspectors. Ultimately, she makes sure that the show goes up on time, within the budget, and in the best form possible. As Company Manager, she assists the organization in managing personnel.
Armanti Reed (Policy Director; policy@yaledramat.org; he/him/his) is a senior in Pauli Murray from Chicago, Illinois. He is a film major, but he stepped into the theater world when he came to Yale and it’s too late to go back now because that’s where about 80% of his friends are now! He loves to perform so that is where most of his Dramat involvement originates, but he loves that he is taking on a different kind of role as Policy Director. Outside of theater, Armanti can likely be found obsessing over any number of reality-competition shows, his favorite being The Amazing Race, which he plans on winning one day.
The Policy Director acts as point person to ensure that the Board is following through on the Dramat’s goals of being as inclusive, accessible, and equitable as possible. He also collaborates with the Outreach director on accessibility efforts and works with President to integrate his work into the overall agenda and goals of the Executive Board for the semester.
Ellie Burke (Outreach Coordinator; outreach@yaledramat.org; she/her/hers) is a junior in Silliman majoring in History on the Cultural History track. She produces shows but most recently worked as props designer for the Dramat’s production of Rent. When she’s not finding tires for set dressing, Ellie sings in an a cappella group, makes coffee at the Silliman Acorn, and keeps first-years alive in the woods as a FOOT leader.
The Outreach Coordinator facilitates the Dramat’s outreach efforts both within and without the Yale community, including its collaboration with Pathways to the Arts and Humanities.
Peter Li (Special Events Coordinator; specev@yaledramat.org; he/him/his) is a junior in Pierson studying C.S. + Art, with special interest in how AR engages with theater. He served on the ‘21-‘22 Executive Board as the Spring Mainstage Producer and has returned to host DraProm. He also acts, designs, and will never produce again 🙂
The Special Events Coordinator organizes all of the extra events for the company, such as the birthday party, membership dinner, and DRAMATalks.
Rhayna Poulin (Spring Mainstage Producer, ms2@yaledramat.org; she/her/hers) is a sophomore in Morse College from Maine studying Psychology on the Neuroscience track. In the theater world, Rhayna has primarily been a lighting designer and producer and she has also served as the Box Office Manager of the Dramat. Outside of theater, she writes for the admissions office and does research in neuroimaging and public health labs on campus. When she’s not studying, Rhayna enjoys drinking boba, creating unnecessary spreadsheets, and taking long walks around Science Hill while listening to ABBA.
The Spring Mainstage Producer’s duties are essentially the same as those of the Fall Mainstage Producer. However, the Spring Mainstage is generally a straight play, and exceptional students are given the opportunity to design alongside the professional director and designers.
Maya Li (Marketing Director; marketing@yaledramat.org; she/her/hers) is a sophomore in Trumbull College from Tampa, Florida planning to major in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Although most of the time she’s in the theater is spent stage managing, she has also dabbled in acting and lighting design. Outside of theater, you can find Maya stopping to pet every dog she sees on the street.
The Marketing Director works with graphic designers to create posters, programs, and signboards to advertise each Dramat show. She is responsible for securing advertising contracts for programs, as well as coordinating with Yale and local media for advertising and reviews of Dramat shows. The Marketing Director also maintains the Dramat website and social media.