DESIGN COORDINATOR

Ange Hardenburg (they/them) is a filmmaker, artist, and writer who skillfully weaves touching tales through metaphor and memory. With a focus on LGBTQ+ characters, they celebrate love, acceptance, and the beautiful messiness of belonging, exploring the intersections of horror and humor. Whether through profound prose or quirky skits, Ange infuses their work with warmth and humor. When not crafting their next creative project, you can find them on adorable dates with their stunning wife and charming beagle puppy.

They're passionate about supporting the communities they belong to, believing in leaving places better than they found them. Ange is excited to contribute their video editing experience, graphic skills and problem-solving abilities to the committee as the Design Coordinator.

Ange is an explorer involved in numerous creative endeavors, from their work at the Emmys and participation in film festivals to contributing to short story anthologies. Whether deep in a book, scaling rock walls, snorkeling with sharks, or crewing a 100-year-old sailboat, they embrace diverse experiences with relish. Follow their whimsical journey on Instagram or Substack @Saltiwrites.

ARTIST LIASON

Ashley DeFrancesco (she/they) is an improviser, actor, artist, and stage manager who delights in collaboration, bringing joy, and building communities. Ashley grew up in the theater here in Los Angeles and cannot get enough of it! They have worked with various theaters during the last 10 years, and most closely with the Morgan-Wixson Theatre. She has been their stage manager for many productions and as a member of the MWT Board. While serving, Ashley worked with them to create and found their New Works Festival, DEI Committee, and enacted policies and procedures to create a safe and welcoming space for historically marginalized groups. They have recently performed with their indie improv group, Honesty Popcorn, in various venues throughout LA, and is joining back at MWT to stage manage their production of 9 to 5.

OPERATIONS COORDINATOR/PROGRAMMING

Aurora Zenith (she/her) is a trans producer, performer, musician, and writer with over a decade of experience in live event production. She was the lead singer of indie rock band Please Do Not Fight and co-founder of Dragon Wagon Radio, a podcast network where she created, hosted and produced flagship show 'The House Show Show'. Most recently she was Production Coordinator on the short film Out for Delivery which had it’s premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Aurora is passionate about building resilience within trans community, playing D&D, and helping friends make their idea into real life. She currently lives in Los Angeles, CA and is writing a new musical.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Carrie Wogaman (any pronouns) is a trans and non-binary performer, writer, designer, and dungeon master. They've worked in immersive and interactive theatre spaces for over a decade, and have experience in theme parks, proscenium theaters, escape rooms, digital venues, and many other fun and wacky stages. Their people management and spreadsheet game is off the charts and they've created systems for everything from salon training to retail maintenance to event scheduling to mechanical inventory. They're passionate about D&D and making it an accessible game to all where everyone feels welcome, valued, and important to the table. Their greatest loves of their life are playing make-believe with their friends and making the world a better, safer, and kinder place for good people.

DONOR COORDINATOR

Chloe Corcoran (she/her) co-starred in Being: Trans by Lemonada Media, and has acted in "A Third Space" at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. In addition to her work in community engagement and fundraising, she has given over 50 talks on trans rights, education, and inspiration and now serves as the Chair of the Transgender Advisory Board for the City of West Hollywood. You can learn more from her website, www.chloe-corcoran.com.

PROGRAMMING

Elisawon Etidorhpa (She/Her) is an actor, writer and director who has had two short plays produced “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Seeking Faith” and premiered as a director in 2024 at the Hollywood Fringe Festival with “A Third Space.” As an individual who has worked in the many sectors of theatrical production her goal in joining the Programming Committee for Joy who Lived is to help boost more diverse stories and shows. Elisawon is passionate about bringing the art of the communities she's a part of and serves to life and believes that creativity builds true connection amongst the people.

FRONT OF HOUSE COORDINATOR

Jasmine Mosebar (she/her) is an actor, writer, improviser, and transgender representation consultant. She has also served as a Front of House Manager for a variety of Theaters across the greater Los Angeles area over the last 10 years. If you've walked in a door at a LA theater at some point, there's a high chance Jasmine opened that door for you. Jasmine recently performed in the TGI2S Festival and can also be seen around the LA indie improv scene. Also, if you go to Broadway World's website and search "Animal Crossing Expert" her name will come up.

SET DESIGNER

KC McGeorge (they/them) is a production designer working in film, streaming, and live entertainment. Their theatre design credits includePatrick McDonald's Big Bear, Matt Cox’s Witches in Salem and Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern, which has played Off-Broadway, at the Sydney Opera House, and is currently on National Tour. Since 2021, they’ve worked at Dropout, where they’ve production designed the comedy series Breaking News, and Art Directed fifteen seasons of Dimension 20. 

FOUNDER/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Laser Webber (he/they) is a trans musician, performer, and producer. He founded Laservision Productions, was in the band “The Doubleclicks,” wrote musicals “Teaching a Robot to Love,” “Love Chicken,” and “A Shark Ate My Penis.”

ACCESSIBILITY COORDINATOR

Luca Franklin-Willis (he/they) is a guy who is passionate about accessibility EVERYWHERE. Like, he could talk to you about universal design for hours. His passion for accessibility comes from a deeply personal place, as he is chronically ill, uses a mobility aid, and is autistic/ADHD. Beyond his accessibility work, Luca is a writer, director, and performer with a background in film production. They are also a writing coach who loves working with other writers to make their stories the best they can be! They love making comedies, dramedies, queer love stories and the occasional spooky fantasy, as a treat.

Other things Luca is passionate about: fanfiction and fandom culture, sting rays (and all other sea creatures,) early childhood development, the importance of play, movies!, trying to replicate his mom’s incredible cooking, g e n d e r, community building

EDUCATION DIRECTOR

Maddox Pennington (he/they) is an experienced facilitator of writing classes and workshops from Creative Writing 101 to Advanced College Writing. A life-long writer and performer, he began directing and producing after moving to LA in 2021. He has been featured as a writer, director, and performer with the Native Voices Theater Company. His work has been developed with the Moving Arts MADLAB in LA, the Creative Nations Festival in Boulder CO, the Kayenta New Plays Festival in Ivins, Utah. He has directed development workshops for playwrights Madeline Sayet for Fort Worth’s SparkFest and Dillon Chitto with Native Voices. Creative Director of the Trans Conversation Project, he has produced and directed his queer and trans-centered plays Love Chicken and Annex in award-winning productions in the Hollywood Fringe Festival. As Director of Education for the Joy Who Lived Festival, he’s passionate about making inviting and inclusive spaces for new theater artists to learn, connect, and create. He’s a member of the current cohort of the LA Writer’s Workshop at Center Theater Group where he is also a Teaching Artist for the Observers Program, and a 2025 recipient of the LA New Play Project grant for Embers Borne West. His next project is a Generation Now Theater for Young Audiences commission called Picture Day.

VENUE + AUDIENCE MANAGER

Producer and creative multi-hyphenate Petey Gibson (he/him) is thrilled about a second year with The Joy Who Lived. With 22 years production experience in theatre, cabaret, and film, Petey brings to JWL his unique approach to event creation that centers joy, trust, and collaboration.

An avid community builder, Petey serves as Producer for Celebration Theatre's annual TRANS LINEAGE project, and Co-Producer of THEM FATALE, a much-loved Drag King fundraiser show Los Angeles, raising over $40K to date for local queer and trans organizations. As a filmmaker, he was honored to receive 3 Audience Awards on the indie fest circuit for his feature THE SYMPATHY CARD, and has written and produced several shorts and a webseries. He is a proud member of the LA LGBT Arts and Culture Coalition.

Outside of his producing work, Petey is an actor, writer, teacher, and Groundlings-trained comedian. His TV credits include 3 seasons as C Hemingway on FOX's ALERT, BROAD CITY, GRACE & FRANKIE, NCIS: NEW ORLEANS and TRANSPARENT. Theatre credits include World Premieres at AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATER and LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE.

TRANS STORIES BOARD REPRESENTATIVE

Revel Langshall (they/them) is a trans nonbinary genderqueer genderbereft person who has worked in varied nonprofits doing fundraising and grantwriting for over 34 years. They use the 10 Principles of Community Centric Fundraising as well as valuable lessons learned throughout their life as a forest dweller, partner, and parent to drive their work.

ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

Tammy Gorokhov (she/her) is a girl of many passions, including but not limited to theatre, math, science, reading, and community engagement. When she's not organizing community outings to a local theatre or some nerdy event, you can find her and her dachsund Merlin curled up in her human-sized dog bed with a good book and a hot cup of tea. Though not a performer or at all comfortable on a stage, she loves finding new and unique ways to engage with her passions, often behind the scenes in an administrative capacity (just like this!). She has also designed several escape rooms through USC's premiere escape room club Escape SC, both online and in person, several of which have achieved international renown.

SOCIAL COORDINATOR

The Moon Houston (e/they) is a writer, director, aspiring librarian, and is excited to be joining Joy Who Lived as social coordinator. A proud second generation Angeleno, in their academic career, the Moon studied marginalized identities in film and in libraries with the hope of creating a better future for their people, for all people to enjoy, and they believe first and foremost the conduit for that change is in education and art. the Moon is also a proud Black nonbinary neopronoun using lesbian Aquarius who wears all their identities as badges of hard earned honor. When e's not offering a helping hand, the Moon can most often be found with their nose in a book. Literally any kind of book. And e loves recommendations. Don't be shy. They don't bite. They believe in asking for consent first, duh!