Playwright

Jodi (she/her/hers) is an actress and playwright with more than 16 years of experience in the entertainment industry. At the age of 18, she moved to Florida and was immediately welcomed with three back to back hurricanes. Ever the optimist, she stayed in Florida where she went on to perform in a multitude of different shows and parades at several different theme parks including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and the Nickelodeon Hotel. As an Artistic Associate, performer, and playwright with Whiskey Theater Factory, Jodi hopes to create a community where artists feel welcomed, confident, and free to explore their creativity. In her free time, Jodi loves to play softball and travel to new destinations.

Director

Graduating with her B.A from The Ohio State University in 2021 She is grateful to her parents for their unwavering belief in her. When she's not under the spotlight or backstage, you can find her in the classroom, creating wonders with her students.

Stage Manager

Liz Bernstein is a Florida local and a professional in the Learning & Development space. She's been a part of the WTF Collective since the very first 1-minute play festival. You've seen her on stage as Sophia in The Saints of West Orange County at Orlando Fringe, and behind the scenes in shows such as How It Gets In and Rome and Her Sister. Liz loves the craft of creating art, whether a staged reading or a full production, and she loves getting the chance to work with such dedicated and professional artists, in WTF and beyond. 

Dramaturg

Gian Arellano is an Orlando-based writer, performer and dramaturg. His most recently produced play, MILK, premiered at the Renaissance Theatre Company in the spring of 2024, marking his professional debut as playwright. The play additionally went on to be a finalist in the Best of Orlando Theatre 2024 in the Orlando Sentinel. His next play, The Last Bear, will also premiere at the Renaissance in May for the 2025 Orlando Fringe Festival. Gian has previously performed in Whiskey Theatre Factory’s staged reading of Combined and currently serves as the dramaturg for their staged reading of Sunny. He writes poetry and submits to literary magazines in his spare time. Insta: giancarellano.

Producer

Bethany Dickens Assaf is a Producer, Playwright, Dramaturg, Director, Actor, and all around theatre-maker passionate about new works. Her plays have been read, developed, and produced across the country, including at Orlando’s Fringe, where her play The Vast of Darkness won Best Play-Drama in 2023! In addition, her theatre projects have received grants from United Arts of Central Florida and the Greater Columbus Arts Council and she’s produced over thirty new plays and short play festivals in Orlando alone.

Ms Dickens Assaf’s former arts nonprofit roles include Literary Manager at MadLab Theatre of Columbus, Stage Management with the Actors’ Theatre of Columbus, and administrative roles with The Ohio State University’s Arts and Humanities Discovery Theme, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra and Central Florida Community Arts. Ms Dickens Assaf also brings 12 years of grant writing experience to WTF - she also currently writes for Orlando Family Stage and Playwrights’ Round Table.

When she’s not making new plays happen, you can find her reading, running, obsessively checking her fantasy football team, or hanging out with her wonderful 2 year old, Mateo!