Who We Are
Della M. Cowall, Founder/Artistic Director (she/her) is a Philadelphia-based performer, choreographer, educator and arts administrator. She has choreographed numerous concert dance works and multidisciplinary performances, as well as twenty-five musical theater productions. She holds BFA, MFA Degrees, Yoga RYT-200 Certification and a Graduate Certificate in Arts Administration, is the recipient of two Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Choreography Awards and has shared the stage with some of the finest performing arts creatives. Della’s full-length productions include Carnival of the People, The Most Beautiful Village, Holding One’s Own: Stories About Living with Breast Cancer and #danceforukraine (a popup performance). A quintessential middle child (of nine), she is most comfortable bringing others into meaningful, fun projects and sharing the spotlight. An intuitive artist, teacher and administrator, she strives to create a safe, fair environment and foster creative potential.
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Julia Hoffmann, Board President (she/her) is a New York City-based actor, musician and writer. She holds her BFA in Acting from Shenandoah Conservatory and is a proud Moscow Art Theater/National Theater Institute alumna. Tours: Once the Musical, Rockin’ Road to Dublin, Christmas in Killarney and Cirque Musica. Off-Broadway/Regional: And Her Children, Once, The Spitfire Grill, Smoke on the Mountain, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Almost Heaven,
Buddy, the Buddy Holly Story, Hello, Dolly! and Annie. Apple TV: “Dickinson” (Co-Star, Ep.101). Last year, Julia was featured in The Swell Season’s music video, “Stuck in Reverse.” Julia currently serves as the Artistic Director of Soyulla, a music company based in NYC. She recently co-wrote the new musical, The Blue Eyed Kopp. The musical film will premiere this fall 2026. Follow @blueeyedkoppmusical on Instagram to learn more and visit www.juliamariehoffmann.com to learn more about Julia! Julia is thrilled to be collaborating with and elevating female-identifying artists in NYC, Philadelphia and beyond.
Megan Lohne, Vice President is a NYC-based talent manager, playwright, educator, and arts advocate. She is co-owner of Lohne/Graham Management, where she represents actors working across theatre, television, and film. Megan serves as Chair of the National Playwriting Program for Region II of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, supporting the development of emerging playwrights and new work. Her plays have been developed and presented internationally, including at the Edinburgh Fringe, and published by Smith & Kraus and Next Stage Press. She is passionate about fostering artistic collaboration, mentorship, and expanding access to innovative, community-centered performing arts.
Nyssa Duchow, Secretary is a NYC-based artist involved many artist endeavors. Primarily seen as a musician she also works as a filmmaker, producer, and actor. Nyssa is passionate about collaboration and showcasing new concepts which is why she’s so excited to be a part of Neé.
Maddie Eaton, Treasurer is a NYC-based singer, actor, and songwriter. A Cincinnati native, she attended the University of Michigan, where she earned a BFA in Musical Theatre and a BA in International Studies. Maddie's theatre career has taken her all over the world, including a two-year global tour of Jack O'Brien's The Sound of Music. Other favorite credits include Girl in Once at Rubicon Theatre Company and Mary in A Wonderful Life at The Fireside Theatre. You can find Maddie's original music, including her debut pop/folk EP, Places, on all streaming platforms. When she's not performing, Maddie teaches piano, guitar, voice, and acting to young people all over New York City.
Frankie Sullivan, Board Member is an NYC-based performer, writer, and producer. She’s a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, Maestra, the Dramatists Guild, the Ring of Keys, and the BMI Lehman Engel Advanced Musical Theater Writing Workshop. Claire-Frances is the first and thus far only solo female recipient of the Kennedy Center's National Musical Theater Award through the Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards. She's also a music-maker under her own name and with her band, The Upswing. She's so excited to join the Neé Danse/Theatre team! www.clairefrancessullivan.com.
Donna Bencivengo, Board Member (she/her), is a Philadelphia-based dancer and actor. She has studied, performed and choreographed various styles of dance and taught Latin and ballroom dance. She also acts in community theater productions in and around Philadelphia. She holds a Masters Degree in Psychology and works in the mental health field, formerly as a group therapist and currently as a clinical research coordinator. She is passionate about both the arts and mental health and well-being, and is interested in the ways in which the arts and creativity can promote mental well-being and help people thrive in life. She is happy to play a part in promoting artistic projects with Née.
