Ross Wassermann, AKA Le Petit Yniold, is a native New Yorker who grew up going to the Met with his father. He holds degrees in European History and Theatre Arts from Brown University and an MFA in Directing from the Theatre Department of UCSD, where he studied with Des McAnuff, Anne Bogart, Robert Woodruff and Robert Israel. He is former Associate Artistic Director and Dramaturg of Studio Arena Theatre in Buffalo. His experience in opera is limited but includes work with Jonathan Miller, Mark Lamos and Martha Clarke. In recovery from theatre for the last thirty years, he is also a trained chef, a former restaurateur, co-founder of Brimstone Bakery (in Sharon Springs, NY), and worked for eighteen years in marketing and public relations for winemakers and wine regions.