Meet the Creators

Sam Perry (he/him) was raised by clowns, and spent his childhood performing in and directing Shakespeare. After earning a BFA in Theater Arts with a Physical Theater specialty from Boston University's Theater Conservatory, Sam co-founded the interactive, fire, & performance art group known as The Grasshopper Collective. Sam has performed as an actor, stilt walker, clown, mask maker, puppeteer, juggler, fire spinner, wizard, and movement artist, and has performed and directed in numerous theater companies, circus guilds, stage shows, festivals, parties, and parades. Sam is now 12 years into his role as Regional Coordinator of Chess Wizards, after-school enrichment programming that teaches chess to children ages 6-14. Sam continues to organize fire & flow spin-jams at Estate of Mind and beyond, and has always had a love for storytelling and interactive art.

Pssst.... Frightinsville was Sam's idea! Thanks for your vision & leadership, Sam!

Victoria (she/her) is a serial intentional-community co-creator who has built quirky homes for quirky artists in Toronto, San Francisco, and now whimsical Whitinsville. She began producing community theatre in the '90s, and got into immersive theatre in the Bay Area, where she produces a NYC-themed New Year's party called I<3NYE (iheartnye.com). She's a vocalist (vocalsbyvictoria.com), who loves to sing on stages, and write and record songs of her own. She's been doing social media marketing since before the Y2K bug, has has worked on campaigns for artists like Beyonce, Disney, My Chemical Romance, and more, but is most passionate about helping promote independent artists. She's a professional organizer (organizedbyvictoria.com), with a specialization in communal environments (like makerspaces and co-living spaces), and a passion for helping artists set up functional studios where they can create in a way unencumbered by clutter. She's a co-owner and the community manager at Estate of Mind (est8ofmind.com).

Zenab Ahmed (she/they/it) is a Pakistani-Canadian writer, editor, freelance journalist and creative thinker. She grew up in three countries, and has lived across North America, Europe, and Southern Asia, where she has been involved in numerous politics causes, including those related to Palestine-Israel, Abortion, HIV-AIDS, migrant and refugee solidarity, prison abolition, and global Islamic politics. As a graduate student at SOAS University of London, UK, she studies comparative legal theory on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. She is a published author, and while Zenab has mostly written journalistic and academic works, including for Viewpoint Magazine, Truth Out, and The Guardian Comment Is Free, she has also been exploring poetry, and immersive theater, since living and working in San Francisco. Zenab first came to Estate of Mind in connection with research activities in New England, and has steadily deepened her collaborative relationships with other artists in residence. Zenab greatly benefits from a supportive and nurturing environment surrounded by other artists, visionaries and creative thinkers, and has thrived in her residency at Estate of Mind, particularly under the guidance and mentorship of Victoria.

Stuart (he/him), a musician, audio engineer, and juggler located in Boston. He plays piano, recorder, mandolin, guitar, bass guitar, marimba, and harpsichord, in addition to singing, composing, and songwriting. He performs solo variety shows in addition to performing with his bands, Heartwood Junction, Lampyridæ and Running Out of Tuesdays.

Stuart has also performed with the Harvard Baroque Chamber Orchestra, the Boston Recorder Orchestra, Renaissonics, and a variety of NEC ensembles. He was co-music-director for two musicals at Shippensburg University, and has been the accompanist for many others. For a year, he co-created and accompanied fully improvised musicals at the Harrisburg Improv Theater twice per month.  He is also a recording engineer, mixing engineer, mastering engineer, piano tuner, music educator and expert in ear training. www.stuartryerse.com

B.M., Contemporary Improvisation, New England Conservatory

Autumn (she/her) is a skilled seamstress and tailor, often sewing her own clothes and creating unique designs for her friends and family. Autumn is also a talented Puerto Rican chef who has spent years honing her craft in kitchens around the world. With a passion for both food and fashion, Autumn is a multi-talented creative force, always striving for excellence in everything she does.

Carla Seidel (she/her) is a multi-lingual, German-Chinese painter and sculptor. She was drawn to Estate of Mind by the concept of an artist community, and has found inspiration in co-living as an alternative and viable lifestyle that fosters human connection in an isolating age. Carla has been an indispensable leader during Frightinsville set construction and installation. But her volunteer guest tenure at Estate of Mind soon draws to a close, as she continues along her own horizon-broadening world tour.  Next stops for Carla include: Canada, México, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, India, Singapore, Portugal, and more!

Zelda (she/her), a self-taught mixed media artist, has broadened her artistic horizons from intimate narrative sculptures to a wide spectrum of mediums including painting, papier-mâché sculpting, jewelry-making, photography, and foil collage. She was a driving force in her previous art community in Ogden, Utah. As the successful owner of her unique shop, "Curiosities," from 2012 to 2015, Zelda nurtured a culture of upcycling and art appreciation through community classes and participation in local events like the "First Friday Art Stroll." Zelda is an artist in residence at Estate of Mind, where she contributes creative insights to collaborate on the organization and development of projects and events. Zelda's influence is also seen in the Frightinsville Halloween events, whereher mixed media prowess is on display in her series of intricate draped cement projects. 

Nate (he/him) on a mission to transform the realm of public space. The blank vacant neglected city wall is his muse. His large scale work is either printed or painted. Nate started off working with printed photo murals, but has now discovered he is able to paint in large format. With this new ability, Nate is set to change the face of Boston. He wants to start a street art revolution. Now that giant murals can be painted on the ground or printed with a giant printer the possibilities are endless. Nate wants to inspire kids of any age to paint giant murals. He wants to include the disabled and the acrophobic. There are blank walls everywhere and we must cover them with images that help people escape to someplace wonderful and make people smile. Nate is a self-taught artist, trained in landscape architecture. https://nateswain.com/

Aleesha Bake (she/her) is a multiple award nominated professional voice actor working out of her professional studio in Raleigh North Carolina. She has voiced for hundreds of companies, including Starbucks, The National Park Service, Microsoft and Samsung TV.  Aleesha loves being in her studio recording almost as much as she loves her husband and 5 children.  

You can learn more about Aleesha at www.aleeshabakevoiceovers.com

Serena (she/her) is an actor, singer, and voice over artist from Boston. She moved across the pond to London in 2021 to pursue a Masters in Acting at Rose Bruford College, and absolutely loves exploring new cities and broadening her horizons. Serena has been passionate about acting since childhood, and believes the arts can be a powerful source for positive change.

Recent theater credits include Ida in the acclaimed show, Paved with Gold and Ashes at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Theresa in The Ballad of Maria Marten at the Pleasance Theatre in London. She has played the lead in several short films, and acted in many commercials and industrials. Even as a child Serena loved being on stage; touring across the northeast and performing on national radio programs for the children's band SteveSongs. Serena thinks immersive theater is super exciting, and is thrilled to be a part of bringing Frightinsville to life!

Through the power of storytelling, Trev Allen (he/him) shares his life experiences, journey with mental health, and imagination. Trev hosts  the The Struggling Artist Podcast right here in Whitinsville, MA, and is the curator for The Struggling Artist Record Club vinyl subscription service. Trev has a passion for the New England Music Community and has provided voice over work for several bands across the United States.

Shannon Delaney Ward (she/her) is an actor, theater manager, and teaching artist based out of Brattleboro, Vermont. She is a producer and actor with the Vermont Suitcase Company, most recently touring with their summer production of The Feeble Fantastical. Shannon has acted in several films including Wendigo with All Day Paisley Productions and New Clothes with Vermont Suitcase Films. Shannon is a manager of the Hooker-Dunham Theater and Gallery in downtown Brattleboro, where she books and develops programming and hosts the award-winning comedy game show, Thorn In My Side. Shannon works as a director at the New England Youth Theatre, and runs after-school theater and knitting programs at local elementary schools. 

DeAnna Day (she/her) is a Virginia based actor, writer and consent forward artist. She has trained at T. Schreiber and Stella Ader and The Upright Citizen's Brigade in New York City. She has certified as a consent forward artist with idc professionals. 

Follow DeAnna on Instagram | DeAnna's IMDB Profile

Excited to haunt you with her eerie voices and sounds. A Norton has roots in Massachusetts back to colonial times and is a life-long lover of the arts. She currently resides in Virginia with her family. You can contact her at davoicesnarrator@gmail.com.

Born in South Lake Tahoe CA & raised up & down the California coast, Duane Michaels was always an entertainer. A Radio DJ, an Army Soldier, a Police Officer, a standup comedian and now a full-time actor. Duane can be seen in many projects. Duane is a fight stunt coordinator, stunt man, a prop master, and an armor, as well as a voice and screen actor.

Jeremy Paul deBurgh Edwardes (he/him), was born in England in 1953 the son of a rocket scientist and an actor, which began a lifelong journey exploring the meeting place between art and technology. Currently a multi-media performance artist in residency at the Estate of Mind. A childhood in Montreal in the '60s appearing on stage on television, led to tours in the '70s with the National Theatre School where his mother had studied with William Shatner. Jeremy apprenticed in framing and exhibiting work for the Canadiana House in Calgary, studied Painting and Sculpture at the Alberta College of Art and has diplomas in Integrated and New Media from the Ontario College of Art and Design. As a musical clown in the 90’s, Jeremy worked for the Cirque du Soleil and performed at the Lincoln Center in NYC. As a creative producer, Jeremy has received many international awards including an Oscar for best animated short film in 2005.