THE TEAM
Producing Staff
LEO LION
Founder & Artistic Director
Theatremaker and game designer. Founded Firebird at 13. Director, performer, playwright, educator. Edinburgh Fringe 2025 & 2026.
SONJA DIGHE
Associate Producer
Theatre producer with international experience. Specializes in development, casting, and fundraising. Supports Firebird's mainstage and special events programming.
Teaching Artists
Joshua Henry Brelsford · Isabelle Pflanz
Emeritus Staff & Leadership
Zoe Senese-Grossberg (Associate Artistic Director) · Nick Roblee-Strauss (Artistic Producer) · JB Morrissey (Production Manager) · Thomas Manfred Pflanz (Technical Director)
Frequent Collaborators
Rae Bell · Wyatt Camery · Sophie Falvey · Yev Gelman · Katie Homer-Drummond · Alex Nemfakos · Kamau Nosakhere · Benny Rendell · Maximillian Romanov · Eli Wassertzug · Juli Worth
In Memoriam
Alioune Fall · Daniel Zuzworsky
IN THE PRESS
★★★★★
"An existential must-see. Leo Lion gives a remarkably nimble and emotional performance — interactive, hilarious, and touching."
BingeFringe Magazine · HELP ME!!!!
★★★★
"It's clever stuff, and he's very funny in his spontaneous interactions. The audience participation never feels forced or embarrassing."
The Scotsman · HELP ME!!!!
"The smart and inventive Firebird interpretation captures the urgency of a young writer with talent and a big, rich story to tell."
FrontMezzJunkies · Frankenstein
Thinking Theater NYC
"Sweeping audiences through an engrossing fusion of tragedy and comedy." · Boy My Greatness 2024
Read →Theaterscene
"Pageantry, entrancing stage pictures, enchanting dance sequences." · Boy My Greatness
Read →TDF Stages
"Theatre by Teens for Audiences of All Ages" — feature on Firebird's youth-led model · 2016
Read →Huffington Post
"Teen-Run Theater Company Brings Treasure Island Off-Broadway" · 2016 / "Bringing the Wonder Back to Alice" · 2015
Read →Awards & Recognition
Nominated Best Theatre — Spooky Awards 2025 · HELP ME!!!! (Horror at the Fringe)
National Youth Theater Award, Direction of a Play — 6 consecutive years · Leo Lion (2015–2020)
For productions including Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Treasure Island, Romeo + Juliet, Our Town, The Tempest, and An Enemy of the People
National History Day — Winner · Iago (student, Firebird education program)
Also supported by: New York State Council on the Arts · Lower Manhattan Cultural Council · Alliance of Resident Theatres New York · Fractured Atlas