Melany Bell is GREAT-FULL for The GrandCestors before Us; for an opportunity to share our stories. Because of The Grandcestors, Melany is an award-winning musician, actor, painter, writer, activist, and instructor. Born and raised in Seattle, WA, Melany has traveled to 49 of states over 30 years, including  every public school in the state of Nevada. Melany joins the Seattle Rep Youth Engagement team to assist in the integration of nutrition, visual art, and spoken word into Seattle Rep's work with teaching artists and students in the community.

As an artist, Melany has worked at and studied with Israel Hicks, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Erickson Theatre, Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Libby Apple, The Old Globe Theater-San Diego, Tony Taccone, Intiman, Tacoma Actors Guild, ACT Portland, Tim Bond, Stephen Terrell, Penny Metropolis, The Pantages and Ahmanson Theaters, and the great Lloyd Richards. Melany holds a B.F.A. in Theater Arts from Purchase College of the Arts, three Certifications in Nutrition and Applied Kinesiology, and is an ambidextrous painter. Excited to be a part of a stellar team of great artists, and to create performance and learning opportunities for the next generation of artists and educators.

Dedra Woods is an Actor/Educator/Creator and Collaborator. She has been working in the Seattle arts scene since 2012. She has had the privilege to perform with several companies around Seattle including The Williams Project (A Bright Room Called Day, Small Craft Warnings, The Time of Your Life), Seattle Public Theater (Fire Season), Intiman (Wild Horses, Wedding Band), Seattle Shakespeare Company (Medea), upstart crow collective (Bring Down the House, Richard III), Book-It Repertory Theatre (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings), and ArtsWest (An Octoroon, The Revolutionists). Dedra has also worked in television, film, and as a voice-over artist. She is the creator and curator of Artists of Color in Seattle. AOC(S) is a place to celebrate the BIPOC artists in our town and their work, while inviting everyone in to bear witness to their humanity and artistry. AOC(S) strives to lift the voices of marginalized folx and support local Artists in the Seattle area and on the national scene.

A native of New Orleans, LA, Allyson Lee Brown received her MFA in Acting from the University of Washington School of Drama. She is also a proud graduate of the illustrious Spelman College where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Drama. Her professional credits include Bulrusher (Intiman Theatre), Citizen: An American Lyric (Sound Theatre/The Hansberry Project), Skeleton Crew (ArtsWest Playhouse), Milk Like Sugar (ArtsWest Playhouse), The Tempest (Seattle Shakespeare Company), and the world premiere of Reparations (Sound Theatre/The Hansberry Project). In addition to her passion for acting, Allyson enjoys mentoring, teaching and encouraging youth to tap into their greatness!

Alex Lee Reed (he/they) is a recent Seattle transplant via Flint, MI. Alex received a B.A. in Theatre Performance from the University of Michigan – Flint in 2012. In addition to their current role as Associate Director of Arts Engagement, Youth & Learning at Seattle Rep, Alex has worked locally as a teaching artist for Seattle Children's Theatre, Lathyrus Theater Company, and The 5th Avenue Theatre.

As a writer, director, poet, performer, artist, educator, and mentor, their work is centered on the intersection of being a Black, queer, gender nonconforming individual. With a strong focus on equity and social justice, Alex is a champion for underrepresented groups, particularly QTPOC youth.

Off the clock, Alex lives for new adventures, puppy cuddles, chocolate-cherry ice cream, and chasing sunsets.