Maria Sibylla Merian
Maria Sibylla Merian (2 April 164713 January 1717) was a German-born naturalist and scientific illustrator, a descendant of the Frankfurt branch of the Swiss Merian family. Merian was one of the first naturalists to observe insects directly.
Maria-Christina Oliveras
Born in New York City, Oliveras is first-generation American. The daughter of Beatrice, a nurse, and Luis Tomas, a hospital food service administrator, she grew up in the Bronx. She studied at Yale University, and received her B.A. with honors in Theater Studies. While there, she was an active participant in Yale Undergraduate theater, where she first met Alex Timbers, who she has subsequently collaborated with on a number of projects, most notably "Here Lies Love". She was also a member of the esteemed a cappella groups, SHADES (whose alumni include fellow Broadway colleagues, Anika Larsen and Lauren Worsham) and WHIM N' RHYTHM.