CRYSTAL RAE  is an actress, playwright, producer, and puppeteer. First produced by On The Verge Theatre in collaboration with Houston's Ensemble Theatre, Rae’s Tied was the recipient of the Black Seed Grant Award and was named Houston’s Best new play by the Houston Press in 2023. Jason Carmichael was named “Best Actor” for his role in the show. Tied appeared at the United Solo Festival Nov. 11, 2025 and was awarded Best Emerging Playwright. Tied is completing a 12 show run at Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company in 2026. She is more than elated that her work Lil’ Man Saves Christmas has been a part of The Ensemble Theatre’s tour- ed roster for the past three years and is currently producing a new family friendly audiobook, Harlow’s Harmonica. She leads puppetry workshops for incarcerated youth through Houston’s Brave Little Company. Her play Code Feet received a reading with A.D. Players and Ensemble’s New Voices Festival. It has been a joy to co-produce Making Elijah, a documentary, now in post, which centers around the journey of miscarriage and the hope that beckons on the other side. Learn more at  www.crystalraeproductions.com