Kelly is an LA-based actress, writer and producer from Frisco, Texas. Kelly graduated from Southern Methodist University with B.A. 's in Film & Media Arts and Religious Studies, and later completed a continuing education course in Nonprofit Management.

Shortly after graduation from SMU, Kelly moved to Los Angeles to study acting at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting & Theatre. Kelly remains an active alum.

Kelly started A Light in Dark Places in 2016 as a means to shed light on the often avoided topic of suicide. Her father had taken his life a few years before, and the stigma, shame and isolation that came along with her grief created in her a need to break down the stigma surrounding mental health, not just for herself but for others who struggle.

Kelly currently serves as the Executive Director of ALIDP as well as the Artistic Director of ALIDP’s Plays for Hope series. She also has two op-eds published in the Dallas Morning News and is a recipient of the John T. O’Malley Humanitarian Award bestowed by the prominent youth mentorship program TopAchievers.

Matthew Fuller has accumulated nearly 30 years of experience in Investment and Portfolio management. As the Founder and Managing Director of XO Wealth Management in 2016, he maintains discretionary management of his clients’ investment portfolios including both Public and Private investments. The firm has increased to 5 advisors and manages over $700 million in client assets and growing.

Ana Roza is a Slovenian actress and a graduate of The Stella Adler Academy of Acting & Theatre in Hollywood. She has starred in several award-winning shorts such as 8½ Circles, Nympho's Diary & Silent. She volunteers her time as an actress for LAPD's Mental Health Intervention Training which educates law enforcement on de-escalation techniques that reduce life-threatening scenarios that involve the chronically mentally ill members of the community. She has been a board member of A Light in Dark Places since 2019.

Salim moved from Bolivia in 2011 and studied acting at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre Los Angeles. He has since helped produce different stage shows including the first production of a Light in Dark Places. He also works as an actor both on film and stage. He's very proud of how much ALIDP has been able to grow and looks forward to what's next!

After relocating from El Paso, TX. to Los Angeles, CA., Art built a career in field of Live

Entertainment. For over 23+ years he has worked with artists such as: Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, Ann-Margret, Barbara Streisand, Jane's Addiction, Luis Miguel, k.d. lang, Colbie Caillat, Adam Lambert, David Cook, David Lee Roth (Van Halen) and The Go-Go's, among others.

His smart work and professional growth have positioned him to make the transition from Tour

Management to Artist Management. He is also is Co-Executive Producer of the Critics' Choice Award Winning Documentary: "The Go-Go's", the story of this all female pioneering and iconic band which he has worked with for over 17 years.

In his spare time, he enjoys urban street photography, fostering rescue dogs and watching his favorite tv show, M*A*S*H.

Ale is an actress and singer from Guadalajara, Mexico. She began her career at a very young age, by the age of 15 she starred in many musicals including, El Principe Rana, Peter Pan, and the Mexican version of Disney’s High School Musical. She has ben part of many successful Spanish Tv Shows such as Codigo Paranormal (LATV) La Rosa de Guadalupe, Como dice el dicho (Univision) and in film; El Buchon (Hulu). In the states she had the opportunity of training in the Stella Adler Academy of Acting LA, and her credits include “Judgment on a Grey beach” , “Seucy and Boto”, “Undefined fraction” at La Mama ETC in NYC.

Jessica is a Dallas-based psychotherapist operating in private practice, supervision, and adjunct professorship. She holds both undergraduate dual degrees in Psychology and Sociology from Penn State University and a graduate degree in Social Work from Columbia University in New York.

Jessica first became interested in mental health and suicidality in high school after exposure to a close friend’s struggle with self harm. This interest developed in college as she studied psychology and took hold as she gained real-world experience as a volunteer crisis counselor for a local community agency. After graduate school, she worked at the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) at Bellevue Hospital in New York City where she encountered a vast array of mental health struggles, including various dimensions of suicidality.

Jessica moved to Dallas in 2015 where she met her actor-husband, Ryan, who introduced her to both Kelly and ALIDP in 2019. After enjoying several years of taking part in post-show talk-backs for ALIDP, she recently joined the board in 2023.

Bruce has been an associate of ALIDP, and on its Board of Directors since its founding.

As an actor, Broadway credits include the Tony Award-winning revival of CABARET and the premiere season of Tony Randall’s National Actors Theatre; NY Shakespeare Festival productions of RICHARD III (w/ Denzel Washington) and OTHELLO (w/ Raul Julia and Christopher Walken). Off-Broadway: SYLVIA (Sarah Jessica Parker) for the Manhattan Theatre Club. Los Angeles credits include the Mark Taper Forum, Pasadena Playhouse, The Odyssey, The Zephyr Theatre, Deaf West Theatre, and many others. Numerous TV and Film appearances include Law and Order, Criminal Minds, Castle, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, Black-ish, Agent Carter, The Mindy Project, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Five Days at Memorial for Apple TV+.

Also an acting teacher and coach for over 30 years, Bruce has taught workshops on the plays of Anton Chekhov in Oxford, England, in Denmark, and in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has taught at The Yale School of Drama, Princeton, the University of Scranton, The Actors Center of NY, Stella Adler (NYC and LA) and the British American Drama Academy (BADA). Bruce’s webinars, SECRETS OF CHEKHOV, were a series of Master Classes on Chekhov’s major plays and are available for streaming (only to subscribers—go to: www.secretsofchekhov.com). He also is a teacher of Shakespeare acting and a champion of Verse Speaking.

Bruce’s directing credits include critically acclaimed productions of UNCLE VANYA and KING LEAR at the MET Theatre in Los Angeles, as well as THE CHERRY ORCHARD, WILD HONEY, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, CLOUD 9 and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM for the Stella Adler Academy in Hollywood.

He earned his MFA at Yale School of Drama (1988).

After coming on board as a director for the inaugural year of A Light in Dark Places, Blake knew that he would love to continue to be able to help Kelly and the organization in whatever ways he could. Since then, he has written a couple different plays for the events, as well as serving on the board and play selection committee. He believes that the topic of suicide has been shrouded in secrecy and shame for far too long.

Blake also produced, wrote and acted in the recently released film Dylan and Zoey.

Katie is from Dallas, Texas where she coaches developmental youth soccer for FC Dallas. She graduated with a degree in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2021. During her time at school, she was so intrigued by nonprofits that she couldn’t help but jump at the opportunity to be a part of her older sister’s nonprofit.

Katie became passionate about mental health and suicide after her father took his own life in 2011. Although not an actress, art has been a crucial component in Katie’s life during her grief journey. She is an avid DIYer and loves nothing more than when her big sis refers to her as a creative designer ;)

Katie is passionate about changing the way we stigmatize suicide because she wants her daughter to grow up in a better world than she did.

Rick Peters was born in Michigan…many years ago. After discovering Theater at a young age, Los Angeles beckoned. Rick studied with the amazing Stella Adler and started a career as an actor in television, film and voice over that has lasted for over 30 years.

In 2015, Rick returned to Stella Adler Academy of Acting & Theatre as a teacher, where he currently teaches On-Camera 1 and 2, Audition Skills, Script Analysis and Play Production. Outside of these classes, Rick also dedicates his time to the Stella Adler Outreach Program for Youth.

He has had the very good fortune of directing and acting in multiple A Light in Dark Places productions and was honored to join the Board of Directors.

Nimalee is a psychotherapist specializing in chronic suicidality, substance and process addictions, personality disorders, attachment trauma, racial and institutional trauma, and anti-oppression approaches to clinical practice. She is passionate about destigmatizing attending therapy and talking openly about suicide. Therefore, she values equipping community members with psychoeducation and resources as they are often a crucial first point of contact for those at risk.

Nimalee holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminology, Law & Society with a minor in Biological Sciences from the University of California at Irvine, a master’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine University as well as a master’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in professional clinical counseling from the University of Massachusetts Global. Additionally, she completed three years of doctoral coursework and training in clinical psychology at Pepperdine University. She has served in a variety of treatment settings across the continuum of care, including shelters for unhoused people, hospitals, residential and outpatient treatment centers, and academic institutions. She is robustly trained in evidence-based treatment modalities such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and also draws upon psychodynamics, attachment theory, and Motivational Interviewing techniques to help clients explore and overcome barriers to change.

When not practicing therapy, you can find Nimalee choral singing, interior designing, and playing with her golden retriever.

Christina Zamora made the leap to Los Angeles from Denver in 2018. Her time in LA has been focused on exploring her acting passions while continuing a career in Real Estate. Free time includes cuddling with her dog- Sir Maximo, catching the sunrise on a hike, learning how to surf, or basking in the sun. Mental health is something very important to her and she is so happy to be a part of A Light In Dark Places.