OUR TEAM
Ann Sabbah, Executive Director
Ann Sabbah is an artist, project manager, arts supporter and third-generation Denverite. After experiencing the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017 she was determined to start a Denver Fringe Festival to add to the expanding arts scene in Denver.
“I’ve been under the spell of the creative arts my entire life. The arts have the power to uplift, inspire and transform, to make people feel, think, look at things differently, heal, and connect. Live performance offers shared experiences that bond communities together. It provokes conversation and builds resilience. I believe in providing opportunities for more artists and creating live performance that can be experienced by as many people as possible.”
Basil Sabbah, Operations and Technology
Basil has extensive experience building new things and implementing technology.
Kalen Acquisto, Development and Outreach Director, Fringe photographer
Kalen is an entrepreneurial community builder and a natural connector with a deep passion for the arts and sustainable economic growth. Born and raised in Denver, Kalen lived in New Zealand for a few years and was deeply involved in the Fringe festival there. She's excited to grow the Fringe in her hometown after seeing the impact it had on her New Zealand community. The founder of Kalen Jesse Photography, she loves empowering artists and entrepreneurs through photography/photographing the arts!
Esther Varney, Volunteer and Venue Coordinator
Esther is a Colorado native and avid supporter of the arts in all forms. She volunteers at several Denver arts organizations and attends as many live performances as possible. She firmly believes that stages are magical places where anything can happen and she’s always happiest in an audience along for the ride.
Samantha Piel, KidsFringe Coordinator
Samantha Piel is a graduate of CU Boulder with a BFA in Acting and BA in Humanities. Samantha has worked for Kidz Camp, EXPAND, Camp Shakespeare and Miners Alley in theatrical education and is beyond excited to continue this theatre education work at KidsFringe.
Tanis Gonzales, KidsFringe Coordinator
Tanis Joaquin Gonzales has a BFA in Acting from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He is Mexican-American, Greek, and has roots with the Navajo Tribe, is a lifetime martial artist, wrestler, vocalist, and more recently an actor. Tanis has experience teaching children, and has hosted a number of workshops in the values of artistic and creative thinking as well as understanding the value of hard work.
Leo Fernandez, Website & Technical Support
Leo is a Computer Science graduate and he works on developing and maintaining the websites.
Claire Hayes, Venue Management Lead
Claire Hayes is a BFA3 at The Theatre School at DePaul University studying Theatre Arts, Directing and General Management. She currently works as House Manager at The Harris Theatre of Music and Dance in Chicago.
Maxwell O'Neill, Tech Director
Maxwell is a graduate of the University of Denver with a BA in Theatre. Maxwell has worked for the PACE Center, Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Meow Wolf, and Jurassic World: Exhibition as a stagehand, exhibition artist, and many other roles.