PITCH WEEK SESSION #1 GUESTS

Steven Alan Black

Producer, Straighten Your Crown Productions, Barn on Fire Residency

Nico Juber

Music, Lyrics, and Book, Millennials Are Killing Musicals

Recently named one of the “Women to Watch on Broadway” in 2023 by the Broadway Women’s Fund, Nico Juber is an award-winning musical writer, playwright, Millennial mom, and twenty-year lymphoma survivor. Her original comedy, Millennials Are Killing Musicals (O’Neill NMTC Semifinalist ’21 & ‘22), has been previously showcased through New York Theatre Barn’s New Works Series and sold-out concert presentations at Vitellos (mostlyNEWmusicals) and 54 Below.

Her show Winner, co-written with Joe Barros, is being developed by New York Theatre Barn and New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. Her short sci-fi musical, Holo, won one of the top awards in the 2020 NAMT 15-Minute Musical Challenge, had its premiere at the Beck Center for the Arts (with Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre, directed by Ciara Renée) in February 2021, and was selected for the 2021 Broadway OnDemand Short Film Festival. With collaborator Selena Seballo, she was one of the Drama League Light the Lights Challenge winners for their song “Our Next Act,” performed by André De Shields at their benefit in October 2021. She is a proud member of ASCAP, Dramatists Guild, Ring of Keys, League of Professional Theatre Women, and current Maestra Moms affinity group co-chair. Nico holds a B.A. from Tufts University. @stuffnicolikes

Josh Katzger

Director of Marketing, The Rev Theatre Company

Josh has served The REV in several capacities since 2005. He spent several seasons acting and road managing with The REV on Tour before joining the administrative staff in 2015. As Artistic Associate, Josh developed and administered The REV’s Junior Stars and All Access programs while directing, writing, and providing administrative support for The REV on Tour and coordinating The REV’s new musicals series, The PiTCH. He has also appeared in several REV productions at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. In January of 2022, Josh became the company’s Director of Marketing. He is committed to ensuring the theatre is accessible to all and that The REV continues to touch the hearts and minds of Central New Yorkers, young and old, for many years to come. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Central Florida and an MFA in Theatre Performance from Arizona State University.

Nicole LaFountaine

Producer, Straighten Your Crown Productions, Barn on Fire Residency

Nicole LaFountaine, the dynamic force behind Straighten Your Crown Productions, began her professional theatre journey over 30 years ago, initially as the assistant to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Really Useful Group. She then returned to her hometown of Fire Island Pines, carving out a successful path as a real estate investor and property manager. Driven by an unwavering passion for the arts, Nicole has dedicated her “third act” to a full-time return to her theatrical roots.

Throughout her real estate career, Nicole remained dedicated to the arts as a performer, investor, producer and philanthropist holding several committee and board positions with organizations such a Broadway Cares, Equity Fights AIDS, The Fire Island Dance Festival, and the Fire Island Pines Arts Project.

Now, at the helm of Straighten Your Crown Productions, Nicole has taken her wealth of experience to create a hub for creative minds to flourish; connecting people and creating spaces where artistic expression can thrive. It’s not just about making something; it’s about making something extraordinary, and it is not just WHAT we make, but HOW we make it that truly matters.

Nicole’s commitment to creating these artistic spaces remains at the forefront of her endeavors. Her leadership is characterized by a deep understanding of the evolving dynamics within the theatre and film industries. She perceives the challenges posed by escalating commercial production costs and is steadfast in her mission to provide opportunities for new voices to be heard, ensuring their productions receive the exposure needed to succeed in commercial markets. Through the Fire Island Pines Arts Project, alongside New York Theatre Barn, Nicole is the co-creator of the Barn on Fire new musical writers’ residency program, which provides writers and creative teams an opportunity to develop new original musicals while also collaborating with a like-minded community of artists. She also founded the SYC Development Initiative, a non-profit arts organization committed to support the creation of original content while ensuring that creators and performers receive a living wage for their invaluable contributions.

Blair Russell

Founder/Lead Producer, Blair Russell Productions

Blair Russell is a Tony nominated producer, developer, supporter, and lover of theatre and live performance whose experience ranges from fringe festivals to Broadway shows. His most recent projects include the hit concept album of EPIC: The Musical by Jorge Rivera-Herrans, the 12-time Tony-nominated Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris, Lizard Boy by Justin Huertas, and the concept recording of the new musical For Tonight by Shenelle Salcido and Spencer Williams.

As Co-founder and Director of Operations for Resounding, he produces immersive and technology-based entertainment events across the country.

Blair has been a guest speaker/artist at a number of institutions including the University of Maryland, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts, and the York School in Monterey, CA. Blair has served as the Producer-in-Residence for the Johnny Mercer Wrtiers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals for two years. He was also a visiting lecturer for the semester-long Atelier program at Princeton University where he collaborated with composer Georgia Stitt on her oratorio The Circling Universe.

Blair has appeared as a guest on a number of podcasts (American Theatre Artists Online, A Star Is Bored, Backstage Talk, Broadway ReFocused), web series (Actors Unscripted, Awkward Conversations, Be Our Guest! – Live and In Color, Dreamland XR, In The (Home) Office – Goodspeed Musicals), and at global conferences (National Alliance for Musical Theater, Global XR Conference, Immerse Global Summit Series)