Christopher Mcelroen

Artistic Director of the american vicarious. Christopher's most recent project, Fight for America!, premiered in London’s West End in 2025. Debate: Baldwin vs Buckley, premiered in NYC in 2020 and is currently touring through 2026. In collaboration with Grammy Award nominee Gerald Clayton, Christopher developed and directed Piedmont Blues: A Search for Salvation, which was last presented at Harlem Stage in June 2022. Christopher received a Helen Hayes Award for his direction of the world premiere stage adaptation of Ralph Ellison's iconic novel Invisible Man. Christopher had the honor of directing 51st (dream) State, the final work of poet, musician, and activist Sekou Sundiata, which premiered at BAM's Next Wave Festival. Alongside visual artist Paul Chan, actor Wendell Pierce, and Creative Time, Christopher co-produced and directed Waiting for Godot in New Orleans, a year-long community development through the arts initiative in post-Katrina New Orleans. The archives from the production were acquired into the permanent collection of The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Previously, he co-founded the Classical Theatre of Harlem, where he oversaw 41 productions yielding 18 AUDELCO Awards, 6 OBIE Awards, 2 Lucille Lortel Awards, and a Drama Desk Award.

erica laird

Producing Director of the american vicarious. She provides general management and/or financial services to various non-profit organizations including The Flea, Target Margin Theater, Caborca, and Sweet Paws Rescue. Erica served seven years as Managing Director with The Builders Association where she oversaw all the company’s operations and produced the development, premieres and touring of HOUSE / DIVIDED, SONTAG: REBORN and ELEMENTS OF OZ.

Dannah Kelly

Marketing Director of the american vicarious. Dannah brings extensive experience in creative direction and marketing to the american vicarious. With a background in film, television, and theater, she has led high-profile creative projects, including a national Tick, Tick… Boom! campaign for Netflix and long-term rebranding and digital marketing initiatives for emerging companies. Her work spans across media, having developed creative for Scott Brothers Entertainment, OWN, PBS, Nickelodeon, and Max. Grounded in a passion for storytelling, she combines strategic insight with creative execution to bring ambitious projects to life.