About Us

Board & Staff

Board of Directors

Joyce DeNicola-Friedman
Angelina Fiordellisi

Angelina Fiordellisi is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Cherry Lane Theatre. Her Off-Broadway Productions include The American Dream and The Sandbox written and directed by Edward Albee, starring Judith Ivey, Dutchman by Amiri Baraka, directed by Bill Duke, starring Dulé Hill, Happy Days by Samuel Beckett, directed by Joseph Chaikin, Saint Lucy’s Eyes by Bridgette Wimberly, directed by Billie Allen, starring Ruby Dee, Women on Fire by Irene O’Garden, starring Judith Ivey, directed by Mary Robinson, Havana Is Waiting by Eduardo Machado, directed by Michael John Garces, Bhutan by Daisy Foote, directed by Evan Yionoulis, Black Humor: the comedy of Lewis Black written and performed by Lewis Black, directed by Mark Linn-Baker, Hoodoo Love by Katori Hall, directed by Lucie Tiberghien, Jailbait by Deirdre O’Connor, directed by Suzanne Agins, Open Heart written by and starring Robby Benson, directed by Matt Williams, slag heap by Anton Dudley starring Vincent Kartheiser, directed by Michael Morris, Huck and Holden by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Giovanna Sardelli, The Lady with All the Answers by David Rambo, starring Judith Ivey, the 25th Anniversary production of Nunsense written and directed by Danny Goggin. Notable co-productions include Lascivious Something, The Ladies, Gun Club, The View from Here, The Gravity of Honey at Dublin Theater Festival, 15 Minutes at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Additionally, Angelina has developed and produced the work of over 50 dramatists including Pulitzer winner Suzan-Lori Parks, Ward Just, and Margo Jefferson, as well as David Adjmi, Sheila Callaghan, Julia Cho, Bathsheba Doran, Sam Forman, Katori Hall, Rajiv Joseph, Eliam Kraiem, Deborah Zoe Laufer, Rogelio Martinez, Winter Miller, Christopher Shinn, and Anne Washburn. She has commissioned numerous plays including One Night…by Charles Fuller, a one-woman play about Edna Ferber by Adriana Trigiani, The Cook by Eduardo Machado, String of Pearls by Michelle Lowe, an untitled play by Daisy Foote, and a new musical by Anton Dudley.

In 1998, Angelina created and launched the OBIE-Award winning Cherry Lane Mentor Project with Edward Albee, Charles Fuller, A.R. Gurney, Tony Kushner, Wendy Wasserstein, Michael Weller, and Susann Brinkley. She subsequently created programming including Master Class Series inaugurated by Edward Albee; Celebrating Black Playwrights Program; Tongues: a reading series; Celebrating Women Playwrights Program; Cherry Lane’s Heritage Series; Cherry Pit: Late-Nite Series, Solo Fest at the Pit.

Angelina spent 8 seasons as a participating artist and Advisory Board member of The New Harmony Project, 3 seasons in the Carnegie-Mellon Showcase of New Plays, four seasons with New York Stage and Film at Vassar, one season with Labyrinth Theater Company at Bard, and one season at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. As an actor, Angelina’s work has been seen on Broadway, National Tours, Off-Broadway, Dublin Fringe, Regional theater, children’s theater, film and television.

Most Valued Credits: Wife by Matt Williams and Mother by Matisse Elizabeth and Fredrick Emerson Stefan Williams.

Laura Fredricks, JD

Laura Fredricks is an expert philanthropic advisor, international inspirational and motivational speaker, attorney, and best-selling author. She is the owner of her own boutique consulting company, which provides training, coaching, and proved best practices to a select number of nonprofits and businesses, to raise significant money efficiently and effectively from a variety of existing and new sources.

Laura is a well sought after speaker, both nationally and internationally. When you hear Laura speak, there is no doubt you will be entertained, energized and well educated. For the past 17 years Laura has been teaching nonprofit business management; leadership; fundraising trends; annual, major gift, planned giving, special events; and capital campaign courses on a certification and master’s degree level for New Your University, Columbia University, Duke University, University of Pennsylvania and the Smithsonian Institution. Her speaking engagements include yearly presentations at the Association of Fundraising Professional’s (AFP) International Conference; eight International Web Conferences for AFP; keynote speaking presentations for numerous AFP Chapters nationwide; and the Council for Support for Advancement and Education and Planned Giving Councils.

Her best-selling books are “The ASK: How to ASK for Support for Your Non Profit Cause; Your Creative Project; and Your Business Venture” (Jossey-Bass 2010); “The Ask: How to Ask Anyone for Any Amount for Any Purpose” (Jossey-Bass 2006) and “Developing Major Gifts: Turning Small Donors into Big Contributors” (Jones and Bartlett 2001).

This year Laura has been doing extensive work in Russia, helping that country develop a more “philanthropic culture” by applying some of the fundraising techniques of the American Fundraising Model. In February she was invited by Troika Dialog Bank to be the keynote speaker at The Global Economic Russia Forum in Moscow and spoke on the topic “Maximizing Philanthropy During Economic Recovery,” as well as a speaker on Michal Milken’s philanthropy panel.

This past May, Laura gave a presentation on “Fundraising for Political Campaigns and Businesses” to the Moscow chapter of the Women’s Democracy Network, and a master class on “The Important Role of Communications in a Fundraising Campaign” for the NGO Russian School Foundation.

Two years ago, Laura trained and provided individual giving strategies for the Vice Chancellors, senior staff, and advancement staff of University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia and was a keynote speaker at Universities Australia Marketing, Communication and Development Conference. She has just been invited to speak in New Zealand next May for the Fundraising Institute New Zealand.

Formerly Laura was Vice President for Philanthropy, at Pace University in New York, NY, where she raised over $92 million in six years. She oversaw all aspects of fundraising and alumni relations for a staff of 35 on five campuses.

She served as Associate Vice President for Development at Temple University, Philadelphia, where she began fundraising toward a $300 million capital campaign, managing and coordinating the major and planned giving programs, corporate and foundation funding, and alumni relations for 15 schools and colleges, two hospitals, and the athletic program. Prior positions include Major Gifts Manager for Deborah Hospital Foundation where she raised $6 million from grateful patients in one year; Assistant Director of Development for Temple University’s School of Medicine where she raised an unprecedented $1 million in the annual fund; and Director of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, where she began a major gift program and bequest society.

Laura is a journalism graduate from Rutgers College, New Brunswick, NJ, and holds a law degree from Western New England College School of Law. Prior to her fundraising career, she clerked for an appellate court judge in Pennsylvania, and practiced law for over six years as a Deputy Attorney General IV for the Attorney General’s Office, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, specializing in civil litigation.

Her community involvement includes serving as a board member for the Association of Fundraising Professional Greater New York Chapter, Cherry Lane Theater, and Operation Homefront; an advisory board member for New York University and Columbia University’s Masters in Fundraising Programs; and a volunteer for the Bowery Mission; Bedford, Barrow, Commerce Block Association; and the Caring Community.

www.laura-fredricks.com

Carol Lippert Gray

Carol Lippert Gray has had an eclectic career as both an award-winning public relations professional, specializing in the not-for-profit arena, and journalist, writing in fields as diverse as crafts and corporate finance, philanthropy and parenting. She is most proud, however, of her two daughters and two grandchildren. A New York native and chauvinist, she lives and works in Manhattan, and is thrilled to be associated with the Cherry Lane, a New York institution with a luminous history and vibrant future.

Scott Ramsey
Matt Williams

Matt Williams is best known as the creator and executive producer of the hit series “Roseanne,” and the co-creator and executive producer of “Home Improvement,” one of the most successful programs in television history. Williams started his television career when he joined “The Cosby Show” during its premiere season and worked as a writer/producer on the show for three subsequent seasons, during which time his work was honored with Emmy and Humanitas nominations, as well as sharing a Peabody Award for outstanding achievement in television writing. He also served as co-creator of the Cosby spin-off, “A Different World.”

In 1989, Williams formed the bi-coastal production company Wind Dancer with principals Carmen Finestra and David McFadzean. Under the Wind Dancer banner,  in addition to “Home Improvement;” Williams co-created and executive produced “Carol & Company,” starring Carol Burnette; “Buddies” with Dave Chappelle; “Thunder Alley;” “Soul Man;” and “Costello.”  Once again, his work received Emmy and Humanitas nominations and won numerous People's Choice Awards.

In film, Williams co-wrote and produced Disney's award-winning “Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken.”  He also served as executive producer for the critically acclaimed drama “Firelight” with Sophie Marceau; produced and directed “Where The Heart Is,” starring Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd; produced Nancy Meyer's romantic comedy “What Women Want,” with Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt; and co-wrote, produced and directed “Walker Payne” starring Jason Patric and Sam Shepard.

Most recently, Williams and Wind Dancer Films along with Mandalay Vision, produced the feature film “Bernie,” directed by Richard Linklater and starring Jack Black and Matthew McConaughey. Wind Dancer Films and Identity Films are currently producing “As Cool As I Am,” directed by Max Mayer and starring Sarah Bolger, Claire Danes, and James Marsden. Currently, he is writing a half-hour program based on the stand-up comedy of Leanne Morgan for TvLand, and his company is also actively developing television projects ranging from an hour-long drama for Showtime with “Dexter” creator James Manos, to animated children’s programming for PBS.

Moving to New York in 1976, Williams immersed himself in every aspect of theatre, from building sets, hanging lights, acting, and, ultimately, directing a series of one-act plays at the former Wonder Horse Theatre in the East Village. Matt has directed over 20 productions in educational, regional, and Off-Broadway theatres, presenting everything from Neil Simon comedies to Lanford Wilson dramas.

As a playwright, Williams began his career with a collection of one-act plays entitled, “Bruce Lee Is Dead And I’m Not Feeling Too Good Either.” His one-act play, “Jason And The Nun,” won the Double Image Festival of Short Plays Award and, subsequently, was published by Samuel French. Williams’ first full-length play, “Between Daylight and Boonville,” premiered in New York to critical acclaim in 1980, and was subsequently performed at the Kennedy Center as part of the American College Theater Festival.

Williams, along with his partners at Wind Dancer and Daryl Roth Productions, co-produced the stage production of “Camping With Henry And Tom.” In June, 2000, he and Wind Dancer co-produced the “The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin” at Playwrights Horizons. Williams also directed Robby Benson’s musical “Open Heart” at the Cherry Lane Theater.

He serves on the board of The University of Evansville, where he received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He received a Masters of Fine Arts in theatre at the University of New Orleans.

Williams is a founding board member of The New Harmony Project, a writers’ retreat dedicated to nurturing new plays as well as a founding board member at the Cherry Lane Theatre.

Matt lives in New York with his wife, actress Angelina Fiordellisi, who is the owner and artistic director at the Cherry Lane Theater. He and Angelina are the proud parents of Matisee and Frederick.

Advisory Board

Honorary Board, Commemorative

Staff