Alva Rogers (Brooklyn, NY) Collaborated on Aunt Aida's Hand and Stained. Rogers is a writer/performer, who has been active in the downtown New York City scene since 1986. Called New York's "Down Diva" by the Village Voice, Rogers addresses the issues of race and gender with uncanny wit and directness, and draws upon musical styles ranging from jazz to gospel, blues to funk. The New York Times has described her as " . . . a natural mimic, brilliantly funny and acidic in her portrayals." She has performed at many of New York's major venues, including P.S. 122, The Kitchen, The Knitting Factory, and Central Park's Summer Stage series. She recently received an M.F.A. as a book writer/lyricist in musical theater writing from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She is a recipient of the Dance Theatre Workshop New York Dance and Performance Bessie Award (1995) as co-creator of the stage adaptation of Stained.