Elyse Ribbons
Founder, Cheeky Monkey
Theater

Elyse Ribbons is a playwright, actress, blogger, director and radio host. Born in Detroit Michigan, raised in North Carolina and a Beijing resident for the past 7+ years, she is the founder of Cheeky Monkey Theater, which has produced five plays and created the ShiFen Theater Festival; As one of the hosts of CRI’s Mandarin-language program “Laowai Kandian” she enjoys the challenge of explaining the American perspective while carefully avoiding any of the words on the censored list.

Image via bfishadow

Her contribution to a harmonious society is mainly in the form of comedic plays that embraces stereotypes and proceeds to mock them. In her spare time, she organizes ChocoJing, Beijing’s Chocolate Appreciation Society.