Staff and Board
Jesse Bernstein, Artistic Director
Jesse Bernstein is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Speech and has over 30 years’ experience working in film, TV and theatre. He has performed at the New York Shakespeare Festival (alongside actors such as Mandy Patinkin and Denzel Washington), the Berkshire Theatre Festival, the Arden Theatre Company, Ventura Theatre Company and the Walnut Street Theatre Company. In 1999, he originated the role of Reuven in Aaron Posner and Chaim Potok’s stage adaptation of The Chosen. His TV credits include appearances on Law & Order, Veronica Mars and Days of Our Lives. Directing credits include Shipwrecked!, It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play, Gifts of the Magi, and several children’s musicals for the Walnut Street Theatre; The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged) (Cardinal Stage); Heathers: The Musical (Penn Players), Member of the Wedding (Rutgers-Camden) and more. Writing credits include several outreach plays and the solo shows Ethics of the Fathers (aka The Gangster and Grandpa) and The Scribe. Jesse wrote and directed the short film Allergy (official selection, Audience Awards and LA Comedy Shorts Fest) and wrote, produced, and starred in the short alongside Alison Brie and Liza Weil in the short film Us One Night (official selection: Williamstown Film Festival, NewFilmmakers LA). He has taught for theatres and organizations in Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia as well as at Northwestern University College, the Cherub program, and University of the Arts. Jesse is a member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA and serves on the board of the Alliance for Jewish Theatres.
Drew Russell DuBoff,
General Manager
Drew Russell DuBoff is an experienced remote business manager for 6-figure, 7-figure, and 8-figure bloggers, brands, and media companies in the finance and business sectors. He received an M.B.A. Concentration in Organizational Leadership from Johnson & Wales University, where he also received a B.S. Restaurant, Food and Beverage Management, Craft Brewing Minor and a B.S. Culinary Arts & Food Service Management, Sommelier Minor. From 2019-2020, Drew served as an Executive Vice President for DECA Inc.’s Collegiate Division. He is a frequently cited business expert, with quotes in publications such as Yahoo! Finance, Business Insider, MSN, GoBankingRates, The Penny Hoarder, Clutch, Business.com, and more. His thesis, “The Effect of Positive/Negative Framing on an Individual’s Desire to Socially Share a Scored Lead-Generating Quiz,” has been downloaded 215+ times. Drew is also an active actor throughout New Jersey and Philadelphia, performing with companies such as Ritz Theatre Company, Grand Theatre, Haddonfield Plays & Players, Delaware Valley Opera Company, Theatre on the Verge, and more. He is presently adapting the French grand opera, La juive, into musical theatre.
Alize Francheska Rozsnyai,
Communications & Business Manager
Alize is a professional Opera Singer and Actor, as well as Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Alter Ego Chamber Opera, the Philadelphia-based chamber opera company founded in 2019. She is delighted to be assisting Theatre Ariel, and to support a company with such a meaningful purpose and mission. A graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music with a B.M. and M.M. in Vocal and Opera Performance, Alize has performed regionally and internationally at notable venues including Carnegie Hall and with the Philadelphia Orchestra, with Opera Philadelphia, Chautauqua Opera, the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, Italy, Opera Den Nye in Bergen, Norway, Opera Dordogne in Périgueux, France, and many more. Passionate about being a voice for change in the classical music and opera industries, Alize loves to perform brand new works, and is also a librettist. She has helped to create over 20 roles in World Premieres, and has had 4 of her original operatic works performed so far. She is represented by Matthew Laifer Artist Management. www.AlizeSoprano.com.
Deborah Baer Mozes, Founding Artistic Director
1993-2022
Throughout her years running Theatre Ariel, Deborah gave life to 79 new plays, including the development of the first Jewish ten minute play festivals and museum theatre productions for the National Museum of American Jewish History. She served as Literary Manager for the Walnut Street Theatre and directed their acclaimed Independence Studio productions of Waiting for the Parade, With Albert Einstein, and T Bone ‘N Weasel. Internationally, Deborah worked in Canadian regional theatre and television; in Israel she has directed and taught in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Arad. She is co-editor with Julianne Bernstein of VOICES FROM ARIEL: Ten-minute plays exploring the Jewish experience (Dramatic Publishing). Deborah served as Director of Culture for the Consulate General of Israel to the Mid-Atlantic Region. Deborah was the Coordinator of Hadar’s Rising Song Institute and directed the drama program at Kohelet Yeshiva High School. In 2022, she made aliyah to Israel, where she continues to make theatre.
Board of Directors
Co-Presidents
Judy Guzman, Marci Wilf
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Vice President of Strategic Planning
Beth Rothschild
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Vice President of Audience Development
& Engagement
​Alan Susser
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Treasurer
Steve Slone
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Vice President of DEI/HR
Julie P. Meyers​
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Vice President of Development
Samantha Hacker
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Members
Marissa Barnathan
Nancy Baron-Baer
Nancy Bennett
Stephen Gollomp
​Lonnie Klein
Susan Lodish
Jess Meyers
Adena Potok
Gloria Spitz
Cantor Eliot Vogel
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Emeritus Board
​Deborah Baer Mozes, Founding Artistic Director & Israeli Liaison
Susan Frost, Co-Chair
Ethel Hofman, Co-Chair
Stefanie Seltzer
Barbara Spector