NMI VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
PITCH WEEK GUESTS
Marleen Magnoni Alhadeff
Producer, Junkyard Dog Productions
MARLEEN MAGNONI ALHADEFF (Producer) is a Lead Producer of Broadway productions of Memphis (multiple awards including Best Musical), First Date and currently Come From Away (multiple awards including Best Musical) as well as off Broadway Production of Vanities. She and her husband were honored by NAMT for their efforts and commitment toward new works in 2018 and they remain committed to sustained efforts and passion towards new works. Marleen attended the University of Utah for a dance and ballet major followed by the University of Washington for an art & interior design major. She worked for over 30 years in the interior design field for both commercial and residential projects. In 2006 Marleen joined Junkyard Dog Productions as a partner. She is currently a member of The Broadway League, The National Alliance for Musical Theater, one of the Producing Partners of Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre since 2007 and on the Advisory Board of Seattle REP and Pacific Northwest Ballet. In the past she has served on the board of MusiComedy, Cornish College of the Arts Players Club, Mothers Against Violence in America, Seattle Children’s Museum and Chair of the Foundation for Early Learning. Marleen continues to be active in advocating for gun safety, environmental issues, campaign finance reform, civil rights initiatives, and access to the arts.
Joe Barros
Artistic Director, New York Theatre Barn
Joe Barros is a New York-based stage director and award-winning choreographer working on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally, and internationally.
Joe recently directed and choreographed two national tours of A Charlie Brown Christmas (Gershwin Entertainment), the new musical Love and Yogurt in New York, the musical Aida in Singapore, and A New Brain at Five Towns College on Long Island.
New York credits include the Broadway revival of Gigi (associate director, directed by Eric Schaeffer) starring Vanessa Hudgens and Victoria Clark, Cagney (associate director, directed by Bill Castellino), the New York premiere of Dan Elish and Douglas Cohen’s The Evolution of Mann Off-Broadway (starring Max Crumm and Allie Trimm, cast recording on iTunes and Spotify), the world premiere of Marc Acito and Amy Engelhardt’s critically acclaimed rock musical Bastard Jones Off-Broadway, Nine at CAP21/Molloy College, Out of the Box Theatrics’ Alice in Alice’s (Alice in Wonderland at Alice’s Tea Cup with a company of actors with disabilities, co-writer, world premiere at Weathervane Theatre), I Married Wyatt Earp at 59E59 Theatres (Prospect Theater Co./NY Theatre Barn), Hard Times (NY Innovative Theatre Award Nominee for Best Choreography, NY Times Critics’ Pick), Debra Barsha and Hollye Levin’s A Taste of Things to Come (associate director, directed by Lorin Latarro, York Theatre Company, Bucks County Playhouse, Broadway in Chicago), and the world premiere of Cheryl Stern’s Shoes & Baggage (The Cell). With New York Theatre Barn, Joe produced the new musical Sam’s Room, inspired by real stories of nonverbal teens who find a way to communicate.
Regional/International productions include Beaches at Chicago’s Drury Lane (associate director, directed by Eric Schaeffer) starring Shoshana Bean and Whitney Bashor, For Tonight at Goodspeed Musicals and Michigan State University, the world premiere of Brother Russia (associate director/choreographer, directed by Eric Schaeffer, choreography by Jodi Moccia) and The Haunted Hotel at DC’s Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre, Aida at Singapore’s LASALLE College of the Arts, Carrie at Michigan State University (recipient of SDCF’s Guest Artist Initiative program), Small Town Story at The Hartt School (also co-conceived), Tuck Everlasting, Bright Star, Cabaret, Catch Me if You Can, My Way, and Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical (Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute), the world premieres of The Mysterious Candy Factory and Mini Lover (Kaixinmahua, Shanghai), Nine and Die Fledermaus (Music Academy International, Italy), Fall in Love (Seoul, Korea), and workshops/readings of King Kong, Eastbound (by Khiyon Hursey/Cheeyang Ng), Mommie Dearest (by Christina Crawford and David Nehls), and Frankie.
Choreography for films include The Girl Who Left Home with Paolo Montalban (written by Mallorie Ortega), Mangus with Jennifer Coolidge, Leslie Jordan and John Waters, and Petunia with Christine Lahti, Thora Birch, and Michael Urie (both written/produced by Ash Christian).
Steven Alan Black
Producer, Straighten Your Crown Productions, Barn on Fire Residency
Michael Blaha
Producer, Fringe Management
Mike is an entertainment attorney, law professor, arbitrator and stage and film producer. His Los Angeles stage credits include “Bloody Poetry” (Beverly Hills Playhouse) “Cinderella” (UCLA Freud Theater, starring Zsa Zsa Gabor), “Byron” (Odyssey Theater), “Just Loretta,” (The Complex), “Three,” (2100 Square Feet Theater), “Job: The Hip-Hopera” (Stella Adler Theater; Los Angeles Drama Critics and LA Weekly Best Musical nominations), “Hoboken to Hollywood” (Edgemar Theater, LA Weekly Best Musical of the Year), and “Hitler’s Tasters” (Electric Lodge). Mike has also produced several shows at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, including “Richard Parker” (Best International Production), “Nigerian Spam Scam Scam” (Encore Award), “Pick of the Fringe” (Best Cabaret and Variety Nominee), and “Afghanistan is Not Funny.” (Best International Production). Mike’s other U.S. stage credits include “Bukowsical” in Los Angeles and at the New York Fringe, where it won the Best Musical Award, “runt” (Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, New York), “Latina Christmas Special” (Off Broadway), and “Bard Overboard” (Off-Broadway)..
Internationally, Mike has produced almost 100 shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as partners with Nigel Miles-Thomas in Fringe Management, including “runt,” (Fringe First; Sony Radio Academy Award winner for Best Drama for BBC World Service production), “Night in November” (Best Actor Award), “Sabotage: In Fine Form” (Perrier Best Newcomer Nominee), “This Is So Not About The Simpsons” (starring Harry Shearer), “A Night at the Sans Hotel” (Stage Award Nominee), “Elvis: Young and Beautiful” (Edinburgh Evening News Top Ten Fringe Shows), and multiple sold out, 5 star shows including “Trickboxing,” “Bad Arm,” “A Very British Lesbian” and “Agatha is Missing.”
In addition, Mike produced the worldwide comedy sensation “The Pajama Men” (The Times Double Act of the Year, Best Comedy Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Time Out Award for Best in Sydney Comedy Festival) in “Versus vs. Versus” and “Last Stand to Reason” in their sold out runs at the Soho Theater in London and continued his relationship with the Soho by producing comedian Will Franken’s hit show “Things We Did Before Reality” there.
Mike’s film producing credits include “Chi Girl,” (Slamdance Grand Jury Prize Winner), “The Dogwalker,” (Cinefest Best New Director), “runt” (Pan African Film Festival Best New Director Nominee), “Tropicalia” (Telluride Film Festival selection), “Applewood” and the short film “The Legend of Beaver Dam” (multiple international Best Short Awards and Honorable Mention, Sundance Film Festival).
Mike is the on the Board of Directors of New Musicals, Inc., Impro Theatre and Filmmakers’ Alliance.
Email: mike@fringemanagement.com
Cate Caplin
Producer/Director/Choreographer
Cate Caplin has produced, directed, and choreographed over 200 productions and her work has been seen on television, in films, music videos, commercials, and in theatrical venues world wide from the Paris Opera House to the Broadwater Stage.
She is a 34 times Regional and International Theatrical Ballroom Dance Champion, a published writer, and an acting and dance coach.
Cate wrote and directed her first feature film, Mating Dance, which won an Accolade Award, and she has been the recipient of a Garland Award, a Women in Theatre Red Carpet Award, multiple LA Stage Alliance, Ovation, Eddon, and Scenie Awards and an Award of Excellence from the LA Film Commission for her work as a writer, director, choreographer, and producer.
Cate is a Directing Member of Actors Studio West, an Associate Member of SDC, and was honored to receive Playwright Arena’s “Lee Melville Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Los Angeles Theatre Community.”
John Coppola
Director/Choreography
A native of Brooklyn, New York, John Coppola is a multi-talented director and acting coach, whose clients have starred on HBO, Showtime, ABC, CBS, NBC, CW, Netflix, FX, AMC, USA, Lifetime, Fox, WB, TNT and Showcase.
As a director, John has helmed more than 100 theatrical productions in New York, Los Angeles and abroad. His credits include groundbreaking productions of Shakespeare, Brecht, John Patrick Shanley and Caryl Churchill, as well as critically acclaimed adaptations of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly and Cabaret. Reviews available upon request.
As a film director, John’s accolades include the award for Best Director at the New York International Film & Video Festival for his film, Possibility, which also took the Grand Jury Prize for short film In Los Angeles. Then, he directed Bourbon Street, a New Orleans television pilot for Rampart Entertainment. Most recently, he directed In the Basement, a short film that is scheduled for screening at festivals across the country.
John began his career as an actor, whose career took him from the footlights of Broadway to the soundstages of Hollywood. After attending Yale’s prestigious drama program, John first appeared on Broadway in Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs, followed by Biloxi Blues, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, American Buffalo, and the European revival tours of Hair and West Side Story.
John’s television acting credits include Fox TV’s Herman’s Head, NYPD Blue, and Chicken Soup for the Soul, among others. On film, John starred in Into the Paradise and has also appeared in Last Exit to Brooklyn, Out of Gas on Lover’s Leap, and Terry Southern’s You Gotta Leave Your Mark. John also produced and starred-in his award-winning one-man show entitled The DeVivo Variation, which premiered at the prestigious HBO Workspace in Los Angeles, and successfully ran for more than two years on both coasts, garnering two Critic’s Choice Awards and a Dramalogue Award.
John currently lives in Los Angeles, where he is in demand as one of Hollywood’s top acting coaches. He offers his unique style of teaching and private coaching to a thriving group of students, established actors and movie stars.
Jane Dubin
Producer, Double Play Connections
DOUBLE PLAY CONNECTIONS is a theatrical production and management company committed to creating and developing new work.
President JANE DUBIN is a TONY Award-winning producer and the President of Double Play Connections, a theatrical production and management company committed to supporting emerging artists and playwrights in the creation and development of new works. Jane is a graduate of the Commercial Theatre Institute’s 14-week (NYC) and O’Neill Center Intensive (CT) Producing Workshops and Director of Theater Resources Unlimited’s Producer Development Program Master Class.
Ms. Dubin is Chair of the Board of Directors of Houses on the Moon Theater Company and a recent Board member of the League of Professional Theatre Women. She is a member of the Broadway Women’s Alliance, the Off-Broadawy Alliance, and the Off-Broadway League. For two years she was co-curator of the Hudson Valley Writers’ Center New Play Reading Series. She co-produced Hudson River Rising, presenting events in Westchester for One Billion Rising (V-Day) 2013 and 2014. She was a strategic consultant to SPACE on Ryder Farm, an artists’ residency in Brewster, NY and a member of the Grand Jury for New York Musical Festival’s 2015 – 2019 seasons. She served as an evaluator for a NAMT innovation grant panel and for Bethany Arts Community’s residency program. She is a frequent panelist and guest lecturer on theater-related matters. Jane serves on the advisory boards of Elizabeth Mascia Child Care Center (Westchester), Axial Theatre and Dirty Laundry Theatre.
Productions: Current Broadway: Is This A Room, Dana H. Upcoming: The Village of Vale. Previously: The Prom (Drama Desk Award Best Musical), Farinelli and the King (starring Mark Rylance, nominated for 5 Tony Awards), An American in Paris (4 TONY Awards, plus London and National Tour), Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey (Westside Theater and on Tour), Ann, starring Holland Taylor (Lincoln Center); Bandstand (Broadway), Beebo Brinker Chronicles (2008 GLAAD Media Award for Theatre); Groundswell (the New Group), Peter and the Starcatcher (Broadway, Off-Broadway, National Tour), winner of 5 TONY Awards; The Norman Conquests (TONY Award, Best Play Revival), The 39 Steps (OB, Tour); The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (London) and the one-woman show that started it all, MentalPause by Margaret Liston. Film: Radium Girls.
Marco Gomez
Producer/Director, DOMA Theatre Company
Marco is an award winning director (Broadway World, LA Weekly, NAACP, etc) in Los Angeles for his work with DOMA Theatre Co and his recent Broadway credits include – An Act of God, Matilda, On Your Feet, The Color Purple, Latin History For Morons. He is also a film producer and has developed films in the US, Rio de Janeiro, and Rome. He is also the Chief Financial Officer for Spare Some Change, a California non-profit organization dedicated to preventing and assisting run away youth and other arts based non-profits. Marco has over 20 years of experience in real estate development and construction, asset/project/property management, financing, and production and investment. He maintains professional memberships with the National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, Burbank Association of Realtors, Pacific West Realtors, Affordable Housing Management Association and The Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers.
Brian Graden
CEO, Brian Graden Media
Brian served for 13 years as the President of Entertainment, MTV Networks Music Channels and President of Logo until December 2010. As President of Entertainment, Mr. Graden lead and provided programming over- sight to all the MTVN music networks including MTV, VH1, MTV2 and CMT. While there, he developed such cultural phenomenon as The Osbourne’s, P Diddy’s Making The Band, Wild and Out, Run’s House, Pimp My Ride, Newlyweds, Punk’d, and Jackass, to name a few. He also developed and green-lit MTV’s musical flagship, Total Request Live, which helped propel countless artists to stardom. Additionally, he oversaw flagship events like the Video Music Awards. He also green-lit MTV’s biggest hits of recent years, Jersey Shore and 16 and Pregnant. MTV remained the #1 destination for viewers ages 12-24 throughout Brian’s entire tenure. He similarly engineered a ratings turnaround at Vh1 with programs like I LOVE THE 80’s and Best Week Ever.
His most recent venture is the production company Brian Graden Media. In 2013, Brian Graden Media received significant attention and their first Emmy win for their innovative series HitRECord, a new take on the variety show produced with and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The show is made collaboratively by a community of hundreds of thousands of artists from all over the world via the web, and it features short films, live performances, cartoons and much more. In nine years, BGM has delivered 20 seasons of television, including: two seasons of Instant Influencer for YouTube Originals, two seasons of Create Together for YouTube Originals, Band Together with Logic for YouTube Originals, four seasons of Escape the Night for YouTube Originals, Temmoraland for Lifetime, The Disappearance of Natalie Holloway for Oxygen, The Todrick Show for MTV, Walk of Shame Shuttle for VH1, Finding Prince Charming for LOGO, Animal Crackers for CW, Gnarkatz for Rated Red/Go-90, Men Of The Strip for E!, Lance loves Michael for E!, Buying the Business for CNBC and Secret Genius for Spotify. BGM has also developed and delivered pilots for over 30 networks including Netflix, NBC, Oxygen, Peacock, Lifetime, History, BET, A&E, Disney Channel, Bravo, and POP TV and many others. In 2020, Brian Graden Media snagged its second Emmy win for Create Together with Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
In 1996, Brian Graden’s first production company was also a success. He commissioned a video Christmas card from two upstart talents Trey Parker and Matt Stone called “The Spirit of Christmas.” The five-minute short quickly became the underground secret vice of Hollywood, and spawned a little series called South Park, which Graden developed and Executive Produced with Parker and Stone. South Park has received Emmy’s in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 for outstanding animated program; a 2007 AFI Award for Program of the Year; 2006 Peabody Award to name just a few. Today, now streaming on HBO Max and celebrating its 25th year, South Park is also one of the biggest financial successes in TV history.
Starting in 1989, Mr. Graden spent his early years in television working at Fox, a new network at the time, rising to SVP of Development and overseeing such venerable franchises as Cops and America’s Most Wanted. He also created the smash syndicated relationship-show hit, STUDS. Mr. Graden has also continued to consult for clients like the NBCUni Cable family and other networks.
Graden’s interest in music dates back to his days performing in his 80’s cover band, Ace Oxygen and The Ozones, during college, which continues to perform today.
Mr. Graden holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Other awards and honors include an EQCA (Equality California) Award for Commitment to Advancing LGBT Equality, GLAAD Media Vito Russo Award for Excellence in Media, and multiple years on the board of the Hollywood Radio & Television Society. He is also a frequent speaker, most recently keynoting The 4th Cellcom Media Conference in Tel Aviv. He’s also been a keynote speaker at the 2008 Harvard Gay & Lesbian Caucus Annual Commencement, the Reaching Out MBA conference, and as an ambassador for MTV’s Fight For Your Rights: Take a Stand Against violence campaign, which he spearheaded while at the network.
Harmony Harris
Director, Producer, Actor
Harmony Harris, Line Producer at New York Theatre Barn’s award-winning New Works Series, is a native of Tallahassee, FL. Her passion is to create more spaces for the black community to shine their light in the theatre industry. Harmony holds a BFA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Musical Theatre from Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts.
Joseph Hayward
Interim Artistic Director, The York Theatre Company
Joseph Hayward is a director and producer of theatre and live events based in New York. His artistic home is The York Theatre Company, where he currently serves as the Interim Artistic Director. Like The York, Joseph is passionate about developing new works and rediscovering musical gems from the past.
Most recently, he directed How to Steal an Election at The York (the first New York revival), Radium Girls at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Liz Callaway: Their Story Goes On…at The York, A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder at the South Orange Performing Arts Center, Julie Benko Sings Jule Styne at The York, and Desperate Measures at Saint Michael’s Playhouse. Other credits include: And Then There Were None at St. Bart’s/Moss Theatre, Remembering Jerry Herman at The York, and You Can’t Take It With You at St. Bart’s/Hudson Guild Theatre.
Joseph began his career as an assistant and associate to a variety of directors and producers including Bill Castellino, Ray Roderick, Austin Pendleton, Jack Hofsiss and more. For eight years, Joseph continued to hone his craft under the guidance of these directors at theaters across the country.
Michael Jackowitz
Founder & President, WitzEnd Productions
Michael started working in the commercial theater in 1995 with The Food Chain, by Nicky Silver at Westside (Arts) Theater. Over the years he has produced many other commercial ventures, non-profit productions and an opera. In 2013, he founded WitzEnd Productions to create and develop new works in the theater.
CURRENT PRODUCTIONS: SMASH (Imperial Theatre) Some Like it HOT ( National Tour), A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond Musical (National tour), 1660 Vine, a digital theater film (Prime Video, Streaming Musicals), Estella Scrooge a modern re-telling of A Christmas Carol by John Caird and Paul Gordon (Streaming Musicals).
UPCOMING (WitzEnd Projects): The Hawaiian Goddess (Honolulu) by Roslyn Catracchia and Patrick Makuakane. Dark of the Moon, by Jonathan Prince, Lindy Robbins and Dave Bassett and Steve Robson, directed by Chris Gattelli. An adaptation of All the Broken Places by John Boyne. Poseidon by Jonathan Prince and Andrew Lippa.
PAST PRODUCTIONS:Harmony, the musical by Barry Manilow (Barrymore Theater), How to Dance in Ohio (Belasco Theater), Once on This Island, 2018 TONY AWARD Best Revival of a Musical (Circle in the Square Theater and National Tour) and Escape to Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett (Broadway and National Tour). Diana (Longacre Theatre and Netflix 2021). Michael was a lead producer on Tuck Everlasting (Broadhurst Theatre April 2016) directed by Casey Nicholaw, and Daddy Long Legs having completed a successful Off-Broadway run at the Davenport Theater in New York after an 18 city tour including Tokyo, London, Chicago, Los Angeles, Manitoba and Seoul, Korea (multiple Best Musical Awards) by John Caird (Les Miserables) and Paul Gordon. It was the first show ever to be live-streamed from New York in 2015 and continues to be a fan favorite on BroadwayHD. He was also the Executive Producer of Séance on a Wet Afternoon the opera by Stephen Schwartz, World Premiere Opera Santa Barbara (2009), New York City Opera/Lincoln Center (2011) with upcoming Chamber version in development. Gettin’ The Band Back Together recently completed run at Belasco Theater. Lifespan of a Fact starring Daniel Radcliffe, Cherry Jones and Bobby Cannavale recently completed run at Studio 54.
He was a producer of the 50th Anniversary revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway starring Daniel Radcliffe, Darren Criss and Nick Jonas (8 Tony Award Nominations, including BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL 2011), PIPPIN at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London 2011-12 , The Best Is Yet To Come: The Music of Cy Coleman devised and directed by David Zippel, Rubicon Theatre Company/59E59 Off-Broadway (2012 DRAMA DESK AWARD for BEST REVIEW), My Fairytale the Hans Christian Andersen musical by Stephen Schwartz, American Premiere PCPA 2009, My Antonia, an adaptation of the Willa Cather novel by Scott Schwartz at Rubicon Theatre Company and Pacific Resident Theatre Company in Los Angeles (2008 LA Weekly Nominee, Best Production), It’s Only Life (2008 LA Ovation Award: Best Book/Music/Lyrics of an original work), by John Bucchino directed by Daisy Prince (2008 Santa Barbara Independent Award: Best Director), with vocal arrangements by Jason Robert Brown World Premiere at Rubicon Theatre Company, and tick, tick…BOOM!, by Jonathan Larson directed by Scott Schwartz, at the Coronet Theatre in Los Angeles following its successful run at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, CA (2005). As noted above, Michael started his career in commercial theater with The Food Chain by Nicky Silver directed by Robert Falls and starring Hope Davis and Phyllis Newman followed by AVOW by Bill C. Davis (Mass Appeal) at the Century Theater and I, Do, I Do at Queens Theater in the Park with Donna McKechnie. He produced a regional production of Abyssinia at Lyric Stage in Dallas with Josephine Abady directing in 2000.
Michael served as the Musical Theater Liaison for the Harold Prince Musical Theater Program at The Directors Company in New York in 1993. He is a graduate of the Commercial Theater Institute’s Producing Seminar, class of 1996 and continues to serve as Rubicon Theatre’s Director of New Work in California.
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.
Cody Lassen
Producer, Cody Lassen & Associates
Cody Lassen is an American Tony Award-winning and Grammy nominated theater producer and consultant. He is best known for producing the revival of Spring Awakening, which won him an Ovation Award and a Tony nomination.
Lassen was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He earned his MBA from the University of Notre Dame and graduated from DePaul University.
He held live entertainment management positions with Nielsen and NBCUniversal. While at NBCUniversal, Lassen was active in their corporate diversity initiatives and was part of the team that led the company to be named one of the best places to work for LGBT employees. In addition to producing his own projects, Lassen consulted for major studios, producers, theatres and agencies. He oversaw marketing efforts for Los Angeles’ Center Theatre Group and was a production assistant for several films and TV series.
His Broadway productions include Indecent and revival of Spring Awakening and co-productions include Macbeth starring Alan Cumming, “Significant Other“, The Band’s Visit, and Torch Song.
When Lassen joined the production of the Deaf West Theatre revival of Spring Awakening in 2015, it premiered at Inner-City Arts’ Rosenthal Theater in L.A. Under his production management, the show went on to win six Ovation Awards (with 15 nominations), including best musical in two categories, intimate theater and large theater. The latter was won by Lassen together with the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and Deaf West Theatre.
Lassen teamed up with producers Ken Davenport and the Deaf West Theatre, and transferred the show from the 99-seat Los Angeles production to Broadway in just 366 days, an unprecedented feat. The production opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in September 2015. For the show, performed in both American Sign Language and spoken English, the producers were honored with the Champion of Change Award by the New York Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities for their “efforts to increase diversity and inclusivity on Broadway.” The show was a success on Broadway and was even performed at the White House.
He partnered with Daryl Roth to transfer the critically acclaimed Paula Vogel play Indecent to Broadway in the 2016/17 season where it was honored with two Tony Awards for Best Direction and Best Lighting, and nominated for Best Play.
Lassen’s upcoming projects include How I Learned To Drive, a Pulitzer-winning play by Paula Vogel opening on Broadway in 2021, with much of the original cast and creative team from its off-Broadway debut 23 years prior, Alice By Heart, a new musical by Duncan Sheik, Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson, premiering at MCC Theater in February 2019; and Some Lovers, a new musical by Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater opening at the Adirondacks Theatre Festival in June 2018.
Rebecca Lowrey
CEO, MusicalWriters.Com
Rebecca Lowrey, Owner and CEO of MusicalWriters.com, is passionate about creating new works and has spent the past 17 years as a premier music director, vocal coach, and accompanist in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, New York City and everywhere in between. The impressive ability to play anything put in front of her has gained her entry to elite casting rooms, production meetings, rehearsals, and beyond, resulting in a unique skillset that spans more than just music — simply put, she knows what works for a musical. A director and producer as well, Rebecca is adept at getting new shows up on their feet in record time, all while efficiently coordinating the long list of to-dos required to prepare a show for an audience
Rebecca is a champion of diverse casting and production teams (#WomenDirect) and has the pull and connections to assemble unforgettable, live, onstage bands. In 2017, Rebecca began producing a series of intimate productions known as the Living Room Concerts. Starting with simple piano-only performances in her living room with friends, the series expanded to poolside parties and festive holiday gatherings. Her recent credits include the critically acclaimed production of the rock musical Lizzie at Imprint Theatreworks in Dallas, a lauded run of Gutenberg! The Musical! at Amphibian Stage in Fort Worth, and a Rocky Horror Show and 9 to 5 that celebrated the uniqueness of its performers.
You may recognize Rebecca from TikTok, where her popular #DuetWithMe videos encourage thousands of performers to #KeepSinging. Rebecca earned her bachelor of arts degree in music (with a minor in business administration) from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.
Patti Maurer
Producer, Blue Topaz Productions
PATTI MAURER is the proud Founder of Blue Topaz Productions LLC. Broadway Producing credits include: Tuck Everlasting, General Partner in the Alexis Funds with Come From Away, Hello Dolly!, The Front Page, Tina, Hadestown, The Book of Mormon (Aus) and heading to Broadway in 2024, Little Dancer. Shows in development are Ain’t Done Bad and My Pet Dragon. Regional credits include: Evita (Choreographer), Mary Poppins, 9 to 5 (Ass’t Choreographer), Singing in the Rain, 42nd Street, Anything Goes!, How to Succeed in Business, The Drowsy Chaperone (Ass’t Choreographer), Hello Dolly!, Hooray for Hollywood, My Fair Lady, The Producers, A Chorus Line and Sweet Charity. Maurer was awarded BWW South Carolina’s Arts Educator of the Decade in 2020! Maurer previously co-founded 35th Parallel Productions LLC. Maurer is the Artistic and Performing Arts Director at Hilton Head Preparatory School, Island School Council for the Arts (Executive Director), Crescendo Committee (Vice Chair) and Arts Council of Hilton Head (Vice Chair). Maurer was also named Zonta’s Woman of the Year in 2023.
Matthew Quinn
Artistic Producer/Executive Producer , Combined Art Form/Theatre Asylum
MATTHEW QUINN (Executive Producer / Owner, Theatre Asylum) has been involved in theatre production and venue management for well over 20 years in San Francisco and Los Angeles, where he owns and operates Theatre Asylum-Elephant Space. He created Combined Artform in 1998 to produce full and co-productions, explore multi-media, including live online internet programming and be an active member in the performance community. Stand out productions include Santaland Diaries, now in its 12th year at the Eureka Theatre (SF) , BLINK & You Might Miss Me, Jane Austen Unscripted (w/ImproTheatre), A Tuna Christmas, Pulp Shakespeare, How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse- US Version and Tilted Frame. He is on the advisory board and active supporter of the Hollywood Fringe Festival and on the NYU West Coast Gallatin Alumni Board. In 2010 he started the Asylum’s Best of the Fringe (Encore Awards) and from it has co-produced extensions of Pulp Shakespeare, Pokemusical and Sunny Afternoon
Molly Rhode
Artistic Director, Northern Sky Theater
The mission of Northern Sky Theater is to create, develop and present professional musical and dramatic productions that will further the knowledge and appreciation of the culture and heritage of the United States.
The Theatre is dedicated to maintaining standards of artistic excellence; celebrating and illuminating the human condition; reaching a large audience of all ages, including families; and fostering a humanistic work environment with adequate and appropriate emotional, financial and creative support for all those associated with us.
Molly joined Northern Sky as an actor in 2007, directed her first new work in Pen. Park in 2013, and joined the staff as Associate Artistic Director in 2014, and is now the Artistic Director. Her focus is new play development, and she is honored to work closely with so many extraordinary authors. Molly also works regularly with theaters in Milwaukee and Madison, and she represents Northern Sky on the leadership team of World Premiere Wisconsin. It’s been a thrill to witness the success of this statewide collaboration celebrating new plays and musicals! Wisconsin has a truly special ecosystem. Thank you, Northern Sky patrons, for always believing in new work. We make these shows for you.
Stuart Ross
Director, Producer, Writer
Besides creating Forever Plaid, Stuart has directed (and or written) over 50 productions throughout the United States, Canada, and internationally. He directed Forever Plaid at the West End’s Apollo Theatre and the film of Forever Plaid. He wrote Plaid Tidings for theatres in the United States after the tragedy of 9/11. The Sound of Plaid (a glee club sequel to Forever Plaid) has been performed around the world including the Edinburgh Festival.
His other shows include: Radiant Baby – the Keith Haring Musical at New York’s Public Theatre); Enter Laughing the Musical (Drama Desk Nomination); and The Radio City Music Hall Easter Show. His television work includes the sitcom “Frasier” and PBS’ “Great Performances”.
Stuart began his directing and writing journey when he attended the University of Manchester. He later went on to study at New York’s Circle In The Square. He currently resides in both New York and Los Angeles.
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)
Sara Skolnick
Director, Acquisitions & New Work, Broadway Licensing
Sara Skolnick is the Director of Acquisitions and New Work for Broadway Licensing Group and heads International & Touring Licensing, as well. She also recently served, with Tom Casserly, as Director of the Grove/Whitman Commissioning Program, which developed ten new musicals under commission. She previously spent five years as the Executive Producer at Grove Entertainment and, prior to that, worked for over eleven years at Broadway Across America (formerly Live Nation and Clear Channel Entertainment), ultimately serving as Vice President – Production/Director of Development. At Broadway Across America, she also oversaw a commissioning program for the development of new musicals. Sara is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a degree in Comparative Literature and Theatre & Drama.
Joanna Syiek
Artistic Director, Color & Light Theatre Ensemble
JOANNA SYIEK is the founder of Color and Light Theatre Ensemble, a LA theatre initiative dedicated to exploring new works and modern musical theatre. Directing credits include American Idiot (Indy Award Winner – Direction), Lizzie, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Assassins, Company, and Tick Tick…Boom! along with the West Coast premieres of both Things to Ruin and See Rock City and Other Destinations. Her new musical theatre directing credits include Giraffenstein, The Bully Problem, Merely Players, Path to Catherine, as well as The Pokémusical, which received the awards of Best Musical and Best of Fringe from the Hollywood Fringe Festival. More info at www.colorandlighttheatre.com/joanna-syiek.