TROY ANTHONY

Troy Anthony (he/him) is a Kentucky-born composer/lyricist, director, and theater-maker based in NYC practicing Black queer joy. Troy has received commissions from The 5th Avenue Theater, The Civilians, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Public Theater, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and The Shed. He’s enjoyed residencies with BLKSPACE,  Chelsea Factory, The O’Neill Theater Center and Village Theater.  Additionally, he’s presented work at Joe’s Pub, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, JACK, Prospect Theater Company, the National Alliance of Musical Theater Conference, and 54 Below. He has also been seen performing at the Delacorte in the Public Theater’s Hercules, Twelfth Night and As You Like It . Troy recently received the Vivace Award from the Bret Adams and Paul Reisch Foundation. Troy’s work lives at the intersection of art, social justice and community practice. In this spirit, he currently serves as the Creative Director of Fire Ensemble Inc. as a home to develop his work and to share the joy of singing in community. The Fire Ensemble is currently in-residence at The Shed and is generously supported by the Mellon Foundation and the Darnell-Moser Charitable Fund.

AMANDA FRANKLIN

Amanda Franklin (she/her) is an emerging community advocate and arts administration leader currently serving as a producer at Fire Ensemble Inc. Previously she has held positions with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (Cincinnati, OH), the College – Conservatory of Music (Cincinnati, OH), and DreamYard Project (Bronx, NY) working at the intersection of music, social justice, and community. Amanda has founded mentorship programs for young girls that focus on self-esteem and professional development and is also a founding board member of The Fire Ensemble.Amanda earned her Bachelor of Arts from Northern Kentucky University and has Master’s degrees from the University of Cincinnati’s Lindner College of Business and the College- Conservatory of Music.

MARIE CISCO

Marie Cisco is a Film, TV, and Broadway Producer. She has worked for The National Black Theatre, The New Black Fest, The Apollo, and The Public Theater where she produced the development of New Work for internal shows and Broadway transfers. Marie worked as a Creative Executive for Lee Daniels Entertainment where she worked on several pilots and as a Co-Producer for the feature film The US vs. Billie Holiday. She most recently served as the Producing Partner and Managing Director for Stardust Films by Common where she built a robust development slate and produced several short films including, SXSW featured “Glitter Ain’t Gold”. She is also a Co-Producer for the 2024 Broadway Revival of The Wiz. Marie serves as the Executive Producer for The Fire Ensemble.

JAIDA DENT

Jaida Dent (she/her) is a growing journalist and creative, working as the Fire Ensemble’s Artistic Fellow. She is set to graduate from CUNY Brooklyn College in May with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Media Studies. With a focus on arts and culture, she has written for and held leadership positions on The Brooklyn College Vanguard and Brooklyn College’s radio station, WBCR. As an artistic fellow, she communicates the experiences and joy of the Fire Ensemble on social media and to the wider community.

SAM APPIAH

Sam Appiah is an internationally renowned musician, producer, and arranger—an architect of sound and harmony whose artistry spans gospel, jazz, funk, blues, and classical music. As a dynamic freelance artist, he has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including the Kennedy Center, Apollo Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Beacon Theater. His career is marked by collaborations with artists such as Sefton Brown and Mack Frost. He has also showcased his talents with The Boston Pops, on the Tamron Hall Show, and at the Holland Festival, further solidifying his reputation as a versatile musician.Beyond the stage, Sam is deeply interested in psychology and finding inspiration in diverse cultures through travel. He’s a dedicated food lover and rock-climbing enthusiast who also enjoys movies—especially those featuring Denzel Washington. Currently, Sam serves as the Music Director for the legendary vocalist Darlene Love as well as The Fire Ensemble led by Troy Anthony.