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A Vital Statement
About Who We Are

Playful Substance​ is deeply committed to the cultivation of a vibrant and diverse community of creatives and audience members. We consciously set the tone for each and every event: We Can Trust One Another Here. We Can Trust Ourselves Here. This is the container that no one wants to break. It feels good to be in a trusted space. It feels good to know that YOU matter and that YOU play an integral part in making the magic of connection happen. That means the whole of you, the all of you, what we see and do not see, is needed and valued in this space. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is not a performance, it is a future that we build together, moment by moment.

A Vital Statement About Who We Are

 Playful Substance​ is deeply committed to the cultivation of a vibrant and diverse community of creatives and audience members. We consciously set the tone for each and every event: We Can Trust One Another Here. We Can Trust Ourselves Here. This is the container that no one wants to break. It feels good to be in a trusted space. It feels good to know that YOU matter and that YOU play an integral part in making the magic of connection happen. That means the whole of you, the all of you, what we see and do not see, is needed and valued in this space. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is not a performance, it is a future that we build together, moment by moment.

Meet Our Team 
Our team is a dedicated group of artists and organizers who believe in creating a space where creativity, trust, and collaboration flourish. Each member brings unique skills, experiences, and passions that contribute to the magic of Playful Substance. Together, we cultivate opportunities for connection, growth, and artistic exploration—because great art happens when people feel seen, valued, and supported.

Bree O’Connor

David Pleva

Cristina Garcia Leon

Co-Founder & Producing ​Artistic Director​
 
Bree O’Connor is a multi-hyphenate theatre maker with over 30 years of indie experience from Minneapolis to New York City. She is a graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School, a member of the 2014 LAByrinth Intensive Ensemble and the League of Independent Theater, a mother of three and a passionate advocate for artist development and the indie community as a whole. 

Bree is currently editing her coming of age memoir (untitled) and a new play Barometric Pressure.
 
Production ​Manager
 
After 25 years in administration at the Circle in the Square Theatre/School, David has been released to create art in the world and more specifically, in NYC. He has also worked in various capacities for Theatre Row, The Goodspeed Opera House, Long Wharf Theatre, Hartford Stage, Thomaston Opera House, and as a NYC stagehand. Through a Google search, he has also found out that it seems that he is also a drummer for a grunge band.

David is currently working with fellow master chefs, Bree and Cristina, to keep serving up prime goods at Playful Substance.
Community Outreach ​Manager
 
Cristina is an actor, playwright and an attorney specializing in Criminal Law. Cristina’s work has been seen on numerous television shows including FBI and New Amsterdam.
 
Cristina is a regular writing contributor to Playful Substance special events, our resident casting consultant for our development programs and the creator of many of our ongoing and special community events including Play Date, Work & Play and the immersive collaboration with LifeWay Network, ​Still We Grow.
 
 

Meet Out Team

Our team is a dedicated group of artists and organizers who believe in creating a space where creativity, trust, and collaboration flourish. Each member brings unique skills, experiences, and passions that contribute to the magic of Playful Substance. Together, we cultivate opportunities for connection, growth, and artistic exploration—because great art happens when people feel seen, valued, and supported.

Bree O’Connor

Co-Founder & Producing
Artistic Director​
 
Bree O’Connor is a multi-hyphenate theatre maker with over 30 years of indie experience from Minneapolis to New York City. She is a graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School, a member of the 2014 LAByrinth Intensive Ensemble and the League of Independent Theater, a mother of three and a passionate advocate for artist development and the indie community as a whole. 

Bree is currently editing her coming of age memoir (untitled) and a new play Barometric Pressure.

David Pleva

Production ​Manager
 
After 25 years in administration at the Circle in the Square Theatre/School, David has been released to create art in the world and more specifically, in NYC. He has also worked in various capacities for Theatre Row, The Goodspeed Opera House, Long Wharf Theatre, Hartford Stage, Thomaston Opera House, and as a NYC stagehand. Through a Google search, he has also found out that it seems that he is also a drummer for a grunge band.

David is currently working with fellow master chefs, Bree and Cristina, to keep serving up prime goods at Playful Substance.

Cristina Garcia Leon

Community Outreach ​Manager
 
Cristina is an actor, playwright and an attorney specializing in Criminal Law. Cristina’s work has been seen on numerous television shows including FBI and New Amsterdam.
 
Cristina is a regular writing contributor to Playful Substance special events, our resident casting consultant for our development programs and the creator of many of our ongoing and special community events including Play Date, Work & Play and the immersive collaboration with LifeWay Network, ​Still We Grow.