JILL A. BOLSTRIDGE
Co-Artistic Director/
Jill is a theatre director and children's theatre teacher from Wallingford, Connecticut. She has her Master's degree in Theatre and holds a B.A. in Theatre and a B.A. in English Literature from Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. Her recent directing credits include "The Rude Mechanicals" from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Lanford Wilson's "Talley's Folly," and Michael Schulman's "Did You Ever Go to P.S. 43?" She recently directed and adapted Dr. Seuss' Butter Battle Book and The Lorax at the Children's Theatre Company with whom she is also a Teaching Artist through the New York City Board of Education, directing “RESCUE ME: A Musical History of Women” at Queens Jr. High School (IS23). Jill has taught and developed children's theatre and character education material for nearly five years and has worked with students from ages 2-17. Jill is a director and instructor at the Drama Training Institute in Boston, Massachusetts and continues as Associate Director at the Children's Theatre Company in New York, New York.

KARIDA GRIFFITH
Co-Director / Choreographer
A member of the legendary New York City Rockettes, Karida is currently making her broadway debut in the Rockettes tribute to Frank Sinatra: His Voice. His World. His Way. Karida has also performed in the critically acclaimed The Beat, which was featured at the Harare International Festival of Arts in Zimbabwe. She has danced with Universal Arts, and was a choreographer and a member of the script development team for the highly acclaimed play Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. Karida has 'tap danced' across Europe with the Broadway show, BLACK & BLUE and was the principal dancer with the Northwest Afrikan American Ballet for three years. She continues to teach dance at the Henry Street Settlement Theatre Arts program.

DESIREE ROBINSON
Communications Director
As a radio producer, Desi has uncovered and told the story of children and youth whether in light of the education of girls or providing perspective on current issues. She has been working for children's organizations for over 10 years. She has been the Public Relations Coordinator at the nationally acclaimed organization KIDS PEACE which provides children with a variety of care from housing to education. As a performing artist, Desi has performed on Broadway at the LUCIELLE LORTEL THEATRE in association with the Saint Vincent Players. Desi is currently a producer with WBAI Radio.

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Core Staff

MANDY BLEVINS
Stage Manager
Mandy Blevins has taught and mentored young people since 1998 when she first taught drama and directed the play Cheaper by the Dozen to middle and high school students. Responsibilities with three companies included teaching and mentoring teen interns in stage management, her proficiency, and other aspects of the theatre including lighting, scenery building and costuming. Mandy loves working with young people and two highlights over her past theatre teaching experience include directing A Bad Day in Gopher's Breath for the Towel Institute and working with young interns with Children's Theatre Company on the plays The Lorax, The Sneetches, and R.E.S.P.E.C.T., the Musical History of Women (youth version). Mandy Blevins has stage managed theatre productions since 1997. Some of her favorite credits include: RAGS, Capital Playhouse, WA; and the world premier of Salute to Christmas Radio Days, Covered Bridge Theatre, MD. Past tour credits include the East Coast tour of R.E.S.P.E.C.T., The Musical History of Women and the United States tour of Pippi Longstocking. Mandy's most recent production was of 42nd Street with Star Players of Bristol County. She is thrilled to be back with Children's Theatre Company again.

CELESTINA BRADSHER-LAYNE
Production Manager / Choreographer
Celestina is a graduate of the prestigious Frank Sinatra Performing Arts School where she majored in music and theatre. She has performed with Children’s Theatre in over 6 productions including Respect: The History of Women, Nickel & Dimed, and Caucasia. She is currently a freshman at CUNY in New York.

 

 

NATASHA BRUSS
Ethics Education Director
Natasha Bruss studied Human Rights and Political Science at Barnard College / Columbia University. She has worked extensively for CNN International and MTV. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Natasha has lived in Northern China teaching English, and has traveled broadly throughout the world with the prestigious Maxwell School Dance Theatre Workshop as principal dancer. Natasha continues to provide training and workshops in personal and spiritual transformation through the Ruhi Institute and is currently the Junior Youth Coordinator of the Baha'i Community of New York.

CLYDE HERRING
Quilt Making, Collage Curator / Instructor
Award winning Clyde Deloris Herring is a vocalist, quilter and collage artist. Currently, she is an artist-inresidence at the Mount Vernon Public Library in Mount Vernon, NY. Ms Herring has been a Baha'i since 1972 and is the proud mother of two adult children. She loves guiding children along their own path of artist discovery and selfexpression. She noted that working with CTC keeps her innner child alive!!

STEVE MASKELL
Drums
Steve Maskell is an accomplished drummer, percussionist, performer, educator and composer. A veteran of numerous tours and theatre companies, Steve developed a wide range of styles including rock, blues, rhythm and blues, jazz and world beat music. He has also done a great deal of recording studio work, such as, jingle's record dates, etc.

ROYA MOVAFEGH
Co-Founder / Art Director
Roya is a multi-media & photo installation artist. Recently, on Oprah Winfrey’s Martin Luther King TV Special, Oprah gave a full screen viewing of Roya’s book, Wishes in Black & White: Race Relations in America and entitled the show by the same name. Roya’s first book, HARMONY (Macmillan Publishers), is also a photographic homage across cultural boundaries. Roya is also the creator and illustrator of two children's cd rom interactive books: one teaching values & virtues and the other teaching Farsi to children. In 1998, Roya headed the Young Harlem Photographers project which won Second Place with the New York Times and has been a resident artist at Gallery X in New York City.

JUNG E. MUN
Set Design
Jung was born and raised in Korea. Her unique interest in space drove her to study sculpture and Scenic Design. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Sculpture and Master's in Fine Arts in Environmental Design and Scenic Design. She worked as a Set Designer for Korea Broadcasting System for 3 years and worked at "Interior Company" for one year before moving to New York City.

SUNDAY MUSE
Speech & Dialogue Coach
Sunday Muse is a voice actor/teacher/ actor/ writer and creator…As one of Canada's top voice actors, she has done lead roles in shows such as Disney's Emmy award winning ROLIE POLIE OLIE, YAM ROLL as Minamiko/(March Entertainment), JANE & THE DRAGON, (Nelvana),Cheer Bear/CARE BEARS MOVIES, , and more… As an acting teacher Sunday clients have included Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (University of Toronto), Institute of Child Study, Montessori, Covenant House Toronto, National Theatre School, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, Jewish Community Centre.

HIRAM PINES
Acrobatics & Movement Director
Hiram Pines is a writer, actor, acrobat, teacher and sometimes omelette chef. He toured his solo show, The Day the Universe Came Closer, in the summer of 2006 and regularly performs new solo work around town. Hiram has trained at the Toronto School of Circus Arts, taught acrobatics to 4-7 year olds at a Toronto private school and currently trains at the New York Circus Arts Academy. Back in the day, he studied theater at Brown University and trained with renowned mime and movement theater artist Tony Montanaro at his Celebration Barn Theater in South Paris, Maine.

JON REZIN
Engineer / Sound Designer
Jon is a freelance producer and recording engineer who works in and around NYC. He has worked with varying artists from Curtis Blow to the Harlem Boys Choir to Ron Carter. He is currently producing an operatic album to benefit the WTC disaster as well as a couple of tunes for an up and coming R&B artist. Children and the underlaying mission of CTC keeps him coming back to assist in whatever way he can to make CTC a success.

NICOLE RUE
Choreographer
As a singer, Nicole Rue has extensive experience in both choreography and singing jazz, funk, rock, soul and R&B. Her music might be described as neo-jazz infused with soul and fused with pop. She started performing at 13, with the jazz chorus and gospel choir at her junior high school. She got her chance to sing a solo at Amherst College, where she sang with a 25 piece jazz ensemble. While in graduate school at the University of Michigan studying Comparative Literature, she started a band of her own, Bar Sugar, which became a small local success playing in coffee houses and at venues like the Blind Pig. Nicole choreographs heart-stopping hip-hop in a fusion of Brazilian and Capoeira.

LUCY SHROPSHIRE
Vocal Coach / Choral Director
LOS ANGELES TIMES:
"Once in a while an entertainer comes along with such fine vocal abilities and stage presence, she literally stops the show. Singer / songwriter / actor / producer Lucy Shropshire is that kind of performer."

Like many fine singers, Lucy's musical roots were nurtured in church singing gospel and playing piano and organ for her church choir. After studying music and voice at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, Lucy sang along the East Coast forming numerous bands and musical organizations. In 1981 Lucy relocated to the West Coast, performing in almost very mamajor performance venue in Reno, Las Vegas and surrounding areas. Lucy has sang with and for many celebrities which eventually won her the RENO AREA MUSIC AWARD AS BEST JAZZ VOCALIST. Her showrooms have included the Sands, the Stardust, the Golden Nugget and was a member of the production staff of the MGM GRAND where she was a performer and a vocal coach for a cast of over 70 performers.

TITUS THOMAS
Illustrator / Art Director
Titus Thomas has illustrated for the critically acclaimed, "The Little Bill Show", on Nickelodeon Jr and Nickelodeon Online. He also serves as lead designer / illustrator for Varcity clothing, Zinka Clothing, Hollah.com,YSB magazine, Shadowbox Magazine, SONY college music, NYC Parks & Recreation, the upcoming opera entitled BRICOLAGE, and an upcoming animated film, "13" & the National Action Network. Titus's storyboards & character designs have used in short films entitled, "TAG", "FEATHER", "ESPORANZA" ,"MAD ABOUT HARRY"& " NAH, SON ".

ERIC SALAZAR
Associate Music Director / Violin
Eric R. Salazar is a freelancer performer and educator in the NY tri State area. Appearances as soloist, recitalist, Tours with Panamamenian folk Ballet throught Latin America and the US. Major performances at Brooklyn college, Ohio State University, Chicago University Ethnomusicology Workshop. Mr. Salazar is an advocate of music education/performance and spends much of his time working on outreach programs to enhance the lives of those who would not otherwise have access to music.

NAOMI WATANABE
Drumming / Percussion / Band
Naomi has played the drums, and various other percussion instruments for over 10 years and has toured extensively throughout Europe, Asia and the United States. She performs her eclectic selection of world culture music at various venues in all five boroughs.

JEN WILSON
Associate Director
Jen has a background in Child & Family Development and has a Masters in International Education Development from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Science in Child & Family Development from Benedict College. In 1995 Jen co-founded Campaign Hit the Streets and Diversity Dance Workshop- a projects working with children and youth utilizing the performing arts to address various social issues. Jen also traveled with Diversity Dance Workshop in 1994, a performing arts group that addresses race unity, substance abuse, gender equality through the performing arts and classroom workshops. In 1996 Jen was honored by Columbia Fox TV Channel 5 for Service in the African American Community & the 1998 Child Development Major of the Year performing, to also include mentorship, community service and young women's development. Jen works at the institute of international education. Jen has a Masters in International Education Development.

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Resident Staff 2008

ALISON COURTER
Choreographer
Alison started studying and performing as a dancer at a young age. She is a teacher and choreographer at Step in the Right Direction in Red Bank, NJ where she teaches ballet, pointe and jazz for young students. Alison has performed for audiences as large as eighty thousand at Giants Stadium for Monday Night Football's "Clash of the Titans". Alison also worked with Artistic Director, Mehr Mansuri on the Equity / adult production of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. She continues to choreograph for the Children's Theatre Company for all age groups for both staged musicals as well as stand alone dance numbers from Hip Hop to modern to ethnic.

NATHALIE DISPAGNE
Choreographer
Nathalie Dispagne, of Persian and Caribbean background, was born and raised in Paris, France. She's studied and trained many different dance styles, including: hip-hop, belly dancing, modern, jazz, salsa, contemporary, and African dance. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree of Art at the University of Paris and has taught hip-hop in various schools in Paris. Since she moved in United States, she had her certificate from Broadway Dance Center. Nathalie believes that dance is a wonderful means of expression, allowing a greater consciousness to evolve.

ERIC DOZIER
Music Director
Eric Dozier's pursuit of global unity compelled him to found the One Human Family Music Workshop Ministry. Born in Bakewell, TN, Eric's passionate interest in music was apparent at an early age when his parents observed him playing a small plastic piano with a Memphis Slim recording. Recognizing that he was actually playing the correct notes, they immediately purchased a piano for their home, and by the age of six Eric was playing for the church choir. Eric continues to develop his gift, combining his unique style of jazz and gospel. Eric attended Duke University, majoring in Public Policy Studies with an emphasis on youth, race, poverty, and education. His mission is to create the opportunity of experiencing the image of a world united by a true spiritual, rather than mere political, peace and harmony.

PATRICE FYFFE
Stage Manager
A freelance lighting designer for production houses such as Aaron Davis Paul and the Lovinger Theatre.  She currently teaches drama at Harlem’s Children’s Zone.  Patrice acts sings and dances, and is thrilled to be working with the Children’s Theatre Company.  She received her bachelors from CCNY in Theatre.

JEANINE GALLINA
Group 2 Associate Director
A New York Native Jeanine has taught school for fourteen years and currently teaches art in Mineola School District on Long Island. She is a sculptor, set designer, painterand senior stylists for major corporate events throughout the United States. She directs the theater program her school district while also dedicating a large amount of her time to CTC. Jeanine is a Graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology  where she received her degree in Display and Exhibit Design, Queens College in Arts Education, and an M.A from CW Post. In her free time she enjoys cooking.

KIM HARLEY
Choral/Music Director
Since graduation Kim spent a short time teaching music in the New Jersey Public School System. Kim is one of the Praise and Worship Leaders, assistant choir director for the adult and youth choirs and private vocal coach at Brooklyn, New York's 24,000 member Christian Cultural Center led by the Reverend Dr. A.R. Bernard. To date Kim has traveled and ministered in Italy, Russia, Scotland, South Africa and the Bahamas. Kim has been blessed to sing alongside the world renowned Christian pianist Dino and Cheryl Kartsonakis at Carnegie Hall. Kim also conducted a special 100 voice women's choir for incumbent and current Mayor Michael Bloomberg.From childhood Kim has gone to musical schools and has not stopped since.

C.Ann Jensen
Assistant Communications Director
C.Ann, originally from Yokosuka, Japan, is a senior at Utah State University studying Print Journalism and Public Relations. She has been involved with music since elementary school playing violin and percussion. She recently received regional recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists in their annual  Excellence in Journalism competition, placing third in online sports reporting. C.Ann has freenlanced for the Logan Herald Journal and writes for the Utah State University Hardnews Cafe. When she isn't writing she enjoys being an active community citizen by organizing/riding in Critical mass ,attending the weekly peace vigil, and cooking up a storm.

LORY LAZARUS
Associate Music Director / Composer
Lory Lazarus is one of the resident- composers for CTC, and is the author of almost 350 songs. Almost everything Lory writes is about peace and unity, including his musical, "Attack of the Elvis Impersonators," about the spirit of Elvis returning to earth to unite mankind. Lory has written the CTC mini-Dr. Seuss musicals, "Yertle the Turtle" and "The Lorax," and is the writer of the hit song "One World," which has been receiving radio airplay throughout the United States. He wrote 23 songs for "Barney & Friends" on PBS, as well as the theme songs for "The Healthy Kids Show" (Family Channel) and "Hot Properties" (LifeTime Network). He also was a staff writer for the Cartoon Network's "Courage, the Cowardly Dog."


JACK LENZ
Choral Album Producer / Board of Advisors
Jack is a composer and producer whose prodigious talent and prolific output have placed him first in no less than three of tonight's award categories. Jack's list of credits goes on forever. He's scored music and themes for virtually every Canadian television network as well as many U.S. broadcasters and film producers. You've heard his music on Designer Guys, Due South, Goosebumps, Life And Times, CBC's The Journal and Fashion File.Jack Lenz has scored music for many well-known television series and movies, including most recently for Mel Gibson’s ICON FILMS: The Passion of Christ among several other films. For television most recently Mr. Lenz has scored for CBS and CTV's Due South, the series RoboCop and Doc, CBC's The National and Newsworld, as well as the international hit children's series Goosebumps. Lenz also composed the AT&T international theme song for the 1996 Olympics entitled, "It's All Within Your Reach". As a producer, Lenz has worked with Ravi Shankar, the duo Paul Gross & David Keeley and on Doug Cameron's Juno Award-winning album Mona and The Children. Currently, Lenz is scoring the film Men With Brooms, set for release in Canada in 2002, and scoring and producing Nanalan', a series of shorts featuring live-action puppets, for Nick Jr. and Canada's YTV. Jack is the triple winner of the most prestigious Canadian Broadcasting award for composers and has won their News & Sports Television Programming Music Award ; International Television Series Music Award and the Domestic Non-Animated Television Series Music Award.


Nima Majzubi
Group 3 Associate Director
Nima graduated from University of Massachusetts in Boston Majoring in English and History. He has performed in the musicals Working and Hotel Swing directed by Kenneth Green of Disney Theatricals and assisted by Hassan El Amin. He has studied voice for over ten years including at Morehouse College. He was a member of the Boston Bahai’ Youth Workshop performing at national stadiums and theaters promoting oneness through theater, dance, and music.  Nima has sung internationally including cities such as Montréal, Kingston, and Oxford England.

 

DOROTHY MARCIC
Organizational Management Consultant
While Dorothy Marcic is a professor at Vanderbilt University and the author of twelve books, including RESPECT: Women and Popular Music- it is her latest endeavor of RESPECT: the Musical Journey of Women that has taken the theatre by storm, garnering her top reviews from all major critics in Chicago where is currently running. Her other books include Understanding Management, Managing with the Wisdom of Love, and four titles with Golden Books. Many years ago Dr. Marcic worked on the TV show, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. She has traveled the U.S. and the world doing the one-woman show, The Musical History of Women, which has been well-received in Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Holland, England and South Africa. She's appeared on C-SPAN, CMT, and Bravo Network. As a Fulbright Scholar, she taught at the Univ. of Economics in Prague, where she lived for four years. She is married to Dick Daft and has three daughters.

DENISE MARONEY
Costume Design
Denise began working with CTC during the Fall 2006 season. She has served as a costume design assistant on various shows at the Williamstown Theatre Festival '06 and most recently on Gutenberg! The Musical! (The Actor's Playhouse). Favorite costume design credits include Something More Pleasant (NYU), Wounds to the Face (Chashama) & The Animal Project (NYU). She has also designed hats for Far Away (NYU) and makeup/special effects for several projects including Marisol (Hudson Guild Theatre). A recent graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Denise would like to extend a big 'thank you!' to everyone- friends, family, CTC parents & staff- involved in making the costumes happen!!

ANDREEA MINCIC
Set Designer / Art Director
Andreea Mincic has been set designing around the world and recently at the PUBLIC THEATER / Labyrinth Theater Company. She has extensive professional experience as a scenic and costume designer, as well as a lighting designer and scenic painter for theatre and contemporary dance in Europe and US. She chose to work with CTC because she loves children and she was a talented child herself, performing in Peter Pan and other wonderful roles from children's operas.

Martin Miotk
Asst. Set designer/ Intern
Martin is a student of stage design at the University of Arts. He was trained as a painter for theatre at Hamburg State Opera. In his artistic expression, which he perceives as a construct in the form of different media, questions arise, which are reaching far beyond interpersonal level. Martin is from Berlin, Germany.

Mashid Mohadjerin
Photographer
Mashid Mohadjerin received her MFA in photography from the Royal Academy for Arts in Belgium. She has been working as a freelance photographer since 2004.. Her work has been exhibited in Europe, US and one of her recent exhibitions is a traveling IOM group exhibition in Central Asia. She received the International Organization for Migration's Photo Award II place and is the finalist of the  ITS#PHOTOweb competition. .

Neda Neyestani
Education Consultant
Neda has a background in Psychology and Education and has completed a Masters in International Educational Development, from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research has focused on family and community development, and chose the Children’s Theatre Company as the focus for her thesis. Neda joined CTC in 2006 as an ethics teacher and is currently working as an educational consultant.

Caroline Patterson
Assistant Education Director &
Acting Coach
Caroline S Patterson is a New York City native and a recently graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in Theater Studies, a minor in French, and a focus in Education. She has had extensive training in classical theater, including a Shakespearean study with William Houston of the RSC. Caroline has assistant-taught at a number of grade levels, and is close to certification as an elementary school teacher. While a student at Duke, she was cited as one of the Independent Weekly's Best Performances of the Year, alongside professionals such as Sutton Foster.

FRANK SANCHEZ
Music Director / Band Director
As a child prodigy, Frank Sanchez studied with Leonard Bernstein where he established his musical theatre roots. By High school he had already studied with Stephen Sondheim and Stephen Schwartz and later in college with Marvin Hamlisch. He has played the piano at Avery Fisher hall at Lincoln Center. Recently Frank served as the Musical Director, Arranger and transcriber of the Equity production of Respect: A Musical Journey of Women, which subsequently opened to rave reviews in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times. Frank leads the Children's Theatre Company and CTC band this season in Lory Lazarus’s musical adaptations of the Lorax and the Butter Battle Book. Frank currently lives in Long Island where is he completing his double degree in Music and Arts Management.

Diana Sheivpresad
Production Stage Manager
Diana Sheivprasad is thrilled is to be part of the CTC crew once again Her previous credits include Caucasia, Red Devils. Lehman College: Pirates of Penzance, What the Butler Saw, The Blue Monster, and more. Faux- Real Theatre Company: William Shakespeare’s Haunted Pier.  She was recently involved with the Bronx Opera Company assisting with The Impresario & Pagliacci.

CARMELA SINCO
Vocal Coach / Music Director
Carmela Sinco enjoys a career as a collaborative pianist, composer and educator in the New York City area. As a pianist/music director, her repertoire includes opera, artsongs, music theatre, dance and has performed at festivals and recitals in Asia, Europe and the USA. As a composer, she has composed music for films and television series on PBS and CUNY TV as well as independent comedies. She has also been commissioned and premiered by musicians of the Tucson and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestras. As an educator, she has taught from primary to high school to university levels in New York City and Hawaii. Her teaching includes music theory, choral, musical theater and aural training.



SOMA STOUT
Boston Chapter Coordinator
Dr. Somova Stout is a pediatrician deeply committed to improving the health of underserved communities through her work at the Cambridge Health Alliance. Dr. Stout earned her medical degree at the University of California, in Berkeley and San Francisco. She is an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has several publications and has given numerous talks about empowerment of communities in need. In her free time, Dr. Stout volunteers as the Founder and Director of the Raising Peacemakers program, and as the Director of the Children's Theatre Company, Boston. She seeks to improve access to health care in underserved communities and empower children and parents to make a difference in their communities.

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