Jeanmarie Simpson – Founding Artistic Director

Jeanmarie Simpson is an internationally acclaimed theatre artist and teacher whose career spans more than 40 years. She is the Founding Artistic Director of Arizona Theatre Matters and the founder of The Nevada Shakespeare Company, Nevada’s only full Equity theatre, in residence at historic Piper’s Opera House.

Her two hander, A Single Woman, based on the life of Jeannette Rankin, toured the US, then played Off-Broadway at The Culture Project, then toured to 53 other countries. Her subsequent solo works toured to all those countries and 11 more. Heretic – The Mary Dyer Story and Coming In Hot. As a playwright, her recent works—Pineapple and Other Options, The Jewish Question, Bambino Mio – Bright Little Flame, and When Churchyards Yawn—are now featured on ATM’s YouTube channel.

Learn more about her work.

Tate Richardson – Associate Artistic Director

“If you think accessibility is ‘too expensive,’ wait until you see the price of irrelevance.”

Born and raised in Toronto, Tate Richardson was destined for the theatre. The son of a radical Canadian playwright and a classically trained British actor, he grew up in the Annex district, where artistic salons, late-night script readings, and boundary-pushing performances were part of daily life.

Despite his privileged access to the arts, Tate quickly realized that theatre, as it existed, was not for everyone. His best friend, Rory, was deaf and a passionate lover of storytelling, but when Tate started attending live performances, he saw firsthand how exclusion was built into the system.

That moment changed him forever. Rejecting the conventional theatre establishment, he honed his craft on the Fringe and SummerWorks circuits, where innovation and accessibility went hand in hand with bold, unconventional storytelling.

As Associate Artistic Director of ATM, Tate ensures that every production, initiative, and grant proposal is built with accessibility at its core. He oversees funding strategy, artistic development, and long-term vision, ensuring that ATM remains at the forefront of innovation, inclusion, and undeniable theatrical excellence. Though rarely in the spotlight, his influence is undeniable.

Michael Rawley – Associate Artistic Director

Canadian actor and director Michael Rawley has performed on national and international stages in iconic roles, including Scar in Disney’s The Lion King. As Managing Artistic Director of SaveTheLaSalle, he devotes himself to restoring the historic LaSalle Theatre in Ontario and produces annual shows including Scrooge: A Christmas Carol and Shakespeare in the Park.

With a passion for preserving theatre history while pushing the boundaries of contemporary performance, Michael brings a bold artistic vision to ATM, ensuring that every production balances tradition, innovation, and inclusivity.

Diana Kimetto – Founder/Director, Radiant Voices

Diana Kimetto is the founder of Voces Radiantes/Radiant Voices, ATM’s **Blind voice acting ensemble. She and ATM’s Founding Artistic Director, Jeanmarie Simpson, met at a **WILPF Congress**, where they connected over their shared commitment to accessibility in theatre.

Based in Des Moines, Iowa, Diana transitioned to **voice directing and acting** in 2010 and considers this the most satisfying time of her life, using her talents to advance **inclusive storytelling** and break barriers in theatre.

Ololade Adekanmi – Founder/Director, Hands In Harmony

A distinguished Sign Language Instructor and Interpreter, Ololade is also a certified 3D environment artist and video producer.

Guided by his favorite quote, “Start early, finish early,” he makes a positive impact in both his professional and charitable pursuits.

Maeve Torres – Resident Dramaturg

“A play is never finished. It is simply abandoned at the right moment.”

Half Spanish, half Irish, and raised in Glasgow, Maeve Torres has always existed at the intersection of cultures, perspectives, and stories. Their love for dramaturgy began in their teens, spending hours dissecting scripts in tiny, dimly lit theatres and arguing structure over pints in student pubs.

Now based in Chicago, Maeve is a full-time editor, script consultant, and dramaturg who thrives both in rehearsal rooms and on the page. With an academic background in literary theory and performance studies, they bring a sharp, incisive mind to every project, challenging playwrights to deepen their work while honoring their original intent.

At ATM, Maeve ensures that storytelling is as rigorous as it is relevant—guiding productions through deep historical research, structural integrity checks, and the kind of candid feedback that makes good theatre great.

They will never tell you what to write— but they will absolutely tell you when what you’ve written isn’t working.

John McCann – Audio Supervisor

ATM’s Audio Supervisor and Musical Guru, John is a guitarist and bluegrass mandolinist. As an advocate for the blind, he serves on the Arizona Governor’s Council on Blindness and Visual Impairment and is active in the American Council of the Blind.

Kevin Tye – Production Manager, Audio Designer, Senior Engineer

Kevin Tye is the owner and operator of Albion Sound, where he specializes in sound design and audio engineering.

With a passion for creating immersive auditory experiences, Kevin has built a reputation for his meticulous attention to detail and innovative approach to sound.