USE leadership

KELLY KIRKLEY

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER

Kelly (he/him) is proud to serve as ED of USE. He is an actor/singer, who enjoys Shakespeare/classical theatre, and has performed with Titan Theatre Company and regionally with George Street Playhouse, Mainestage Shakespeare and Arizona Broadway Theatre. In the last few years, Kelly has shifted focus to arts administration. In addition, he works full-time in the finance industry. He credits his arts education for the skills to transition into a different field, giving him the capacity to collaborate and interact with others and to adapt to any work setting. As a Black, Queer artist, Kelly is proud to produce events that support his peers and center the voices of historically ignored artists. He hopes to continue to foster spaces for his community members to share their art and cultivate their skillsets.

INDIA STACHYRA

SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING MANAGER

India Stachyra (she/her) is an interdisciplinary theatre artist and administrator based in NYC. Her academic and theatre education includes Sarah Lawrence College (BA - Theatre, French, Psychology, Literature), British American Drama Academy (London Theatre Program, Year-Long Advanced) and HB Studio in New York. Her written and directorial work has been seen at HERE Arts Center, The Sheen Center, Balance Arts Center, and The Players Theatre.

In addition to her artistic endeavors, India has employed both her creative and organizational talents in positions such as Social Media & Marketing Coordinator at Underground Skills Exchange, Marketing Manager for award-winning playwright Ingrid Griffith, and previously as Social Media Coordinator at The City College of New York (CCNY), Marketing Coordinator at CO/LAB Theater Group and the off-Broadway run of Mas Que Un Pétalo, Executive Assistant at Theatre Communications Group (TCG), Artistic Programming Apprentice at The New Victory Theater/New 42, and Administrative Intern at Tectonic Theater Project.

India is the founder and producer of Soundscape Theater, a platform for new 3-10 minute immersive audio plays by emerging writers. Visit soundscapetheater.com to learn more.

LAURA BETZ

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER

Laura Betz (she/her) is a NYC-based actor, writer, and deviser (shoutout to USE for the devising education). She pursues work mostly in TV and Film while also devising her first solo theater piece, ‘Ode to the Obsessions That Made Me’ which she happily premiered at last year’s That’s A Wrap! She is a six year member of Take Action workshop taught by Jon Shear and a teaching artist with Stem to STEAM, an Irondale Theater Company program. Her formal acting training began at Muhlenberg College and continued upon moving to NY in 2014, remaining indebted to so many teachers and fellow artists here. Building relationships with USE’s artists and evolving USE’s programs to serve them continues to be a magnificent puzzle to co-create! See clips of her work at www.laurabetz.net!

RILEY JO PAYNE

OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

Riley Jo Payne (they/them) is a non-binary multifaceted theatre artist based in Brooklyn, NY. They hold an MFA in Acting from The New School of Drama, where they deepened their passion for collaboration, devising, and new works while serving as a Facilitator for the LGBTQ+ Affinity Group.

Riley has performed and collaborated with New York-based companies such as New Perspectives Theatre Co., Tier5, Ensemble Studio Theatre, GOLD Comedy, and the nobodies collective. They are also a Staff and ensemble member with the Underground Skills Exchange (USE). In addition, Riley has extensive experience working with youth-focused organizations, including Camp Half-Blood, Drama Kids International, and Treasure Trunk Theatre, fostering creativity and confidence in young artists.

As a writer-in-residence with Theatre East, Riley has had staged readings of their plays The Pigeon and A Girl’s Guide to Smoking. Riley is dedicated to amplifying the voices of gender-nonconforming individuals through their work as an artistic coordinator, teacher, writer, and actor.

Discover more of their work at rileyjopayne.com.