Vali Forrister

Vali Forrister is the co-founder and Producing Artistic Director of Actors Bridge Ensemble, a professional theater company and actor training program in Nashville, Tennessee.12 She co-founded the company in 1995 with Bill Feehely.5 Forrister has produced over 90 productions for the company, acted in and directed over 30, and authored six.1

In addition to her work with Actors Bridge Ensemble, Forrister:

• Founded and leads Act Like A GRRRL, an autobiographical writing and performance program for teenage girls and adult women12
• Holds an M.A. in Performance Studies2
• Serves as adjunct faculty at Lipscomb University2
• Adapted Act Like a GRRRL into a university course at the Tennessee Prison for Women2

Forrister has received several accolades, including:

• Nashville Business Journal's Women of Influence Award as a "Trailblazer"
• Vanderbilt University Women Mentoring Women Award
• Broadway World STAR Award
• Consistently listed as one of Broadway World Nashville's "Top Directors" and "Top Actors"
• Member of Leadership Nashville's Class of 2014
• Inaugural recipient of the Louisa Nelson Award in 20162

Her work focuses on producing socially conscious, contemporary plays that engage audiences in conversations about justice, equity, and inclusion.34