Meet the Creative Artists

Meet Neila K. Ettienne

Neila K. Ettienne is an actor, children's book author, director and educator and young playwright. She received her BA in Theatre from Cameron University and recently completed an MFA in Acting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She was born and raised on the island of Grenada, where she founded a theatre for youth company called The Creative Arts Theatre. As Artistic Director, Neila’s main aims are to foster and encourage young people to share their stories through drama and to keep Caribbean culture alive through the performing arts.

As a playwright, Neila has written Monkey See, Monkey Do, DonkOlympics, Anansi and La Diablesse, and Dirty Dreams. Neila’s acting credits include The Bayside Story, No Money No Love, I can do it mama,Uncle, Sparky- The Firefly Born Without a Light, Playhouse Creatures, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Triumph of Love, and A Year with Frog and Toad. Most recently, Clybourne Park, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Actions and Objectives and Caroline, or Change. As a working artist and educator in the United States, Neila strives to introduce and educate her students and fellow artists about Caribbean literature, folklore, and traditions. 

Meet Todd Siff

Todd Siff, a theatre artist, musician, and arts educator has great interest in a collaborative project between the North Carolina Theatre for Young People and The Creative Arts Theatre in Grenada. Since receiving his BFA in Theatre Arts from Boston University, he has been working as an artist and educator in the field of TYA for numerous organizations, focusing on international theatre, theatre for social change, and devised theatre. He has had the opportunity to work domestically and internationally with the Australian Theatre for Young People, Zach Scott Theatre (Austin, TX), Avila (Caracas, Venezuela), and Lovewell (Sweden).

Todd just completed his MFA in Theatre for Youth at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG), under the mentorship of 2004 Ann Shaw Fellow Rachel Briley, where I also work for the North Carolina Theatre for Young People (NCTYP). A core value of NCTYP is to foster connection and collaboration with innovative organizations within the international TYA community. During his time at NCTYP and UNCG, he have begun a new global devising project called The Acceptance Project.