Dr. Aya Esther Hayashi (she/her) is a Japanese American theatre artist, fundraiser, and musicologist, currently serving as the Development Director at The People’s Theatre. Her doctoral research focused on race/ethnic performance in musical theatre and the music created within science fiction/fantasy fan communities. Her essays and interviews are published by Routledge, Intellect/University of Chicago Press, and Transformative Works and Cultures. As a fundraiser, she has successfully raised over $4.5 million in capital, government, private foundation, and corporate support. She keeps her creativity active by producing intimate musical theatre productions featuring artists of the global majority through her company Okaeri Productions, and performs and directs with AfterWork Theater. Ph.D. in Music, The Graduate Center, CUNY. IG: @ayaesther www.ayaestherhayashi.com