APRIL DUDASH (she/her) helps run the day-to-day operations of Mettlesome Theater and supports the arts nonprofit’s longer-term growth. She is a longtime communications professional, having started her career as a newspaper reporter and then serving in communications in academia, community relations, and health care. She received her Master of Business Administration degree from Elon University and her Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Florida. She also supports community engagement efforts at DPAC (the Durham Performing Arts Center) and serves as the current board chair for Meals on Wheels Durham.

April has been an improvisor since her junior year at the University of Florida. She has participated in long-form, short-form and musical improv as well as sketch comedy. April has performed with teams in Fayetteville, Raleigh and Durham, coached teams, and hosted and produced Late Nite Tonite with April Dudash, a late-night talk show with live and filmed sketches. She has performed with Mettlesome's Golden Age and with various independent teams around the Triangle.

Hello MettlesomeFebruary 26, 2025staff

Lab Coordinator: Zoe Wampler

ZOE WAMPLER (they/them) is an artist and administrator whose work has spanned across dance, theatre, opera and now improv. Based in Durham, NC, Zoe supports artists, students, and audiences through compassionate and thorough coordination work. Some of their favorite projects have included producing an opera performance at Nationals Baseball Stadium, organizing SPROUTS!, a showcase for emerging choreographers in the DMV, and creating a touring virtual reality experience that utilized dance to allow participants to embody performers. Zoe holds a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. They are so excited to be joining the Mettlesome community to support instructors and students through The Lab!

Hello MettlesomeFebruary 26, 2025staff

Board Member: Bam Alston

Brandon “Bam” Alston is an improvisor, actor, and writer from Raleigh, NC. He has been performing improv comedy since 2014, first with DSI Comedy Theater in Chapel Hill, NC and later spent years coaching, teaching, and performing with the Washington Improv Theater in Washington, DC. He is a stakeholder and currently a performer with Mettlesome's "Hush Hush."

Ashley MelzerOctober 16, 2023Current, board of directors

Stakeholder: Jonathan Yeomans

JONATHAN YEOMANS has been improvising since 2008. He's performed, coached and taught all over the Triangle, and studied under improv instructors from theaters in Austin, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City. He's currently on local artist-inspired improv team Golden Age.

Ashley MelzerOctober 15, 2019stakeholders, emeritus

Board Member: Hillary Yonce

HILLARY YONCE is an improviser, actor, writer, producer, and scientist based in Durham, NC. Hillary has been performing improv comedy for over a decade, starting with her undergraduate UNC team CHiPs for which she was also the director, and also performing while in grad school with Univ. of Arizona's The Charles Darwin Experience. Hillary performed regularly at DSI Comedy Theater, and now calls Mettlesome home.

Ashley MelzerOctober 15, 2019Current, board of directors

Board Member: Lauren Foster-Lee

LAUREN FOSTER-LEE is a Durham based actor and vocalist. She studied at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a minor in Vocal performance.

Ashley MelzerOctober 15, 2019Current, board of directors

Stakeholder: Emmett Anderson

Emmett Anderson is a North Carolina based actor, director, and producer. In addition to her work with Mettlesome, Emmett is a long standing ensemble member with the Delta Boys, which most recently mounted productions of ORLANDO and LOVE AND INFORMATION at Manbites Dog Theater.

Ashley MelzerJuly 27, 2018stakeholders, partner, emeritus

Stakeholder / Partner: Rose Werth

Rose Werth is a performer, actor, storyteller, and producer based in Durham, NC. She is a founding partner and stakeholder of Mettlesome. For the last several years, she has performed in shows in North Carolina and across the country with local theater and improv companies.

Ashley MelzerSeptember 8, 2017stakeholders, partner, emeritus

Board Member / Partner: Jack Reitz

JACK REITZ is an actor, writer, and improvisor based Durham, NC. He has been studying improv since 2004, first with the DSI Comedy theater in Chapel Hill, NC, and then with the UCB Theater and The Magnet Theater in NYC.

Ashley MelzerSeptember 8, 2017partner, Current, board of directors

Board Member / Partner: Ashley Melzer

ASHLEY MELZER is an improviser, writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Durham, NC. Born in North Florida, she received her Bachelors in Cinematic Arts from the University of Southern California and then a Masters in Folklore from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Ashley MelzerSeptember 8, 2017partner, Current, board of directors

Stakeholder: Josh Rowsey

Joshua “Rowdy” Rowsey is an underground North Carolina recording artist, actor/improviser, and writer featured on NPR, DJ Booth, Indy Week, and various national publications–most recently performing at the Del Close Marathon alongside improvisers such as Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation).

Ashley MelzerSeptember 8, 2017stakeholders, emeritus

Stakeholder: Dan Desalva

Dan DeSalva has been performing comedy since 2006. Starting as a stand-up, Dan performed throughout the New York metropolitan area, affiliated with the Kids ’N Comedy program at the Gotham Comedy Club in New York, as well as Treehouse Comedy Productions in Connecticut.

Ashley MelzerSeptember 8, 2017stakeholders, emeritus

Stakeholder: Andy Lavender

Andy Lavender hails from TN and performed comedy in NYC, NC, and now Los Angeles.

Ashley MelzerAugust 16, 2017stakeholders, emeritus