Contributors
The team behind Camp Broadway MyWay has recruited Broadway’s leading subject experts and service providers working throughout the industry to contribute information, product discounts and access to resources to the program. Collectively our goal is to build a stronger, more robust performing arts focused youth sector.
Kristine Bendul
Choreographer (Camp Broadway Annie)
Kristine Bendul is a Broadway veteran and trailblazer, having made history as the first professional female Asian-American ballerina with New Jersey Ballet and as part of America’s first professional gender-neutral ballroom couple. Broadway credits include the original cast of Cinderella (assistant choreographer and partnering consultant), Come Fly Away, Swing!, and On The Town. She earned a Helen Hayes Award nomination for her role in Movin’ Out. Other highlights include Camelot (Live from Lincoln Center) and five productions with City Center Encores. Kristine has done original choreography for Camp Broadway (Annie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Peter Pan). She has worked extensively worldwide as a director/choreographer in theater, television, film, and special events. She has taught at leading universities, including Juilliard, the University of Michigan, and ICMT.
Curtis Holland
Choreographer (Seussical)
Curtis Holland grew up dancing in his parents’ dance studio, the Edwin Holland School of Dance. After high school, he auditioned for Season 10 of So You Think You Can Dance, advancing to the live show and ending up as one of the Top Fourteen dancers of the season. Since then, he has performed on Broadway in The Great Gatsby choreographed by Dominique Kelley, Shuffle Along choreographed by Savion Glover; Mean Girls, directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw; The Music Man starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, choreographed by Warren Carlyle; and Funny Girl, choreographed by Ellenore Scott and Ayodele Casel. Curtis began teaching dance as a teen and has become a prolific instructor who shares his skills and talent with the next generation of dancers.
Theo Lencicki
Artistic Director
Theo Lencicki is a professional actor, director, choreographer, and arts educator and the Artistic Director for the Broadway Education Alliance. He has performed at many regional and international venues, and across the United States on four National Broadway Tours including Hairspray, A Chorus Line, Young Frankenstein and as Riff in West Side Story. Theo is a rostered artist with the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts and was recognized for his professional work and advocacy for arts education as Artist of the Year in 2017. He has staged numerous performance opportunities for young artists including The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (The Jimmy’s), the MACY’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the NY Pops Gala at Carnegie Hall, Camp Broadway Mainstage and events at 54 Below and on Broadway!
Maura Malloy
Writer/Educator
Maura Malloy works professionally as a director, choreographer, writer, performer, and artist educator. Her training in dance includes the Graham and Ailey schools; acting training includes The Royal National Theatre, London, for which she received the American Scholarship. Maura has expertise in arts integration with K-12 unit curricula and is a certified instructor for trauma-informed practices in the classroom and rehearsal room. She has co-developed many performing arts programs over the last 20 years, specializing in curricula for underserved populations. Maura has produced, directed, and choreographed many high school musicals, contemporary plays, and Shakespeare’s works. As an actor, she’s worked Off-Broadway and regionally, and her professional directing/choreographing credits include a wide variety of projects and shows.
Shannon Mullen
Choreographer (Annie and Shrek)
Shannon Mullen is a professional actor and choreographer based in New York City. She has performed on Broadway and served as dance captain for A Bronx Tale and Pretty Woman. Her national tour credits include Hairspray (Tammy), Legally Blonde (Brooke Wyndham) and Rock of Ages (Sherrie) as well as the pre-Broadway production of Come Fall in Love at The Old Globe. Shannon is also a prolific choreographer and has served as the associate director for regional productions of A Bronx Tale, Head Over Heels and Footloose, as well as co-created and choreographed NY’s BoyBand Review and many corporate industrials. She prides herself on her versatility both on the stage and off to foster her ability to bridge the gap between the actors and the audience.
Anna Raful
Script Development
Anna Raful is the Director/Choreographer for the Camp Broadway Shining Stars and other programs including Ensemble performances for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York Pops Birthday Celebration at Carnegie Hall and others around the world. She was the associate Talent Manager for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards and currently serves as a Child Guardian on Broadway working on many shows including Music Man, Mrs. Doubtfire, Days of Wine and Roses and Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
Holly Raye
Choreographer (Camp Broadway Guys and Dolls)
Holly Raye has been a performer, Director and Choreographer for over 30 years. Her Broadway credits include Guys and Dolls, Swing and Dream & Nightmares starring Master Illusionist David Copperfield. She was the dance captain for Houdini: The Musical at the Segal Center in Montreal and has been featured in the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, The Tony Awards®, and Disney Live Productions of Hercules and The Little Mermaid. Holly has also performed with Liza Minnelli and Shirley MacLaine, served as assistant choreographer/dance coach for the film Vanilla Sky, and has directed dozens of shows for kids and teens. Her commitment to teaching now extends to leading seminars to help individuals and families create financially independent lives.
Hope Villanueva
Choreographer (Camp Broadway Guys and Dolls)
Hope Villanueva is an AEA stage manager and the Literary Manager for Bay Street Theatre. She is a recipient of the 2023 AGE Legacy Playwrights’ Grant. Her work has been seen at The Valdez Theatre Conference (Alaska), NAMT’s Festival of New Musicals Midday Cabaret 2023, The Composer’s Showcase of Las Vegas, The Wayward Artist (Los Angeles), Honolulu Theatre for Youth, the Next Act! New Play Summit at Capital Rep (Albany, NY), The Capital Fringe Festival (DC), The Black and Latino Playwrights’ Conference (TX), The Women’s Voices Festival (DC), The Kennedy Center Page to Stage Festival, The Discovery New Play Festival at Ball State (IN), and The Kitchen Dog New Play Festival (TX). Her plays can be heard online on The Parsnip Ship and the INKubator On Air series. Hope is a member of the Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive and the Dramatists’ Guild.
AJ Hernandez
AJ Hernandez, Costume Designer, is a New York City-based theatre artist passionate about Theatre for Young Audiences. He is dedicated to providing theatrical education and opportunities for children who share a love for the arts. AJ discovered his passion for theatre in his small Texas hometown, which inspired him to explore diverse creative paths. While studying musical theatre, he gained valuable experience through internships and projects that enriched his understanding of off-stage artistry. He developed a deep appreciation for costuming, seeing it as an essential part of storytelling. One of his favorite experiences was costuming In The Heights for its regional premiere in New Orleans. AJ is thrilled to be part of the Camp Broadway team, as their commitment to nurturing young talent is close to his heart.
Brian Kelly
Brian Kelly, Scenic Designer, was a theater kid who memorized every Broadway musical as they came out. He attended Point Park University for theater before moving to New York City in the early 1980’s to pursue a career in acting. Soon thereafter he turned his focus to design to work with many theatrical production companies including LaMama, NY Theater Workshop, Folksbienne, and Big Apple Productions. He made his Broadway debut as the scenic designer of a Yiddish musical called On 2nd Ave. Since then, he has worked extensively in television and film. Working from his home in Pittsburgh, he continues to be a prolific designer of corporate events all over the country.
Sophie Lin
Sophie Lin, Makeup Designer, is a multidisciplinary technician and artist born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. Based in New York City, she is a makeup artist, fabric painter, costume designer, and wig technician who began creating illustrations, paintings, drawings and makeup art before she left Taiwan. After high school, she continued her education at SUNY Purchase College studying theatrical costume design. She has since worked as the assistant fabric painter for many Broadway musicals including Sweeney Todd, Hadestown, Illinois, The Outsiders, Water For Elephants, Tommy, and Hell’s Kitchen. She traveled with Into The Woods National Tour as the assistant wig supervisor and has worked as wig and makeup artist for the Santa Fe Opera and other renown production companies.
Joshua Holden
Joshua Holden, Backdrop Designer, is an award-winning puppeteer, actor, director, puppet maker, and full-time joy-maker. Named one of “20 Theatre Workers You should Know” by American Theatre Magazine, he serves as the Puppet Director for Water For Elephants on Broadway, freelances for The Jim Henson Company as a fabricator, puppet builder; and is one of the puppet wranglers on Sesame Street! Joshua performed with Avenue Q, served as the Lead Puppeteer in Peter Pan 360 (Three Sixty Entertainment) and worked with famed street artist Banksy on his piece Sirens of the Lambs. Josha is the creator and host of the award-winning family show The Joshua Show, which toured North America for 10 years after receiving his B.F.A. in Acting from The Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University.
Janea Dahl
Janea Dahl is the creator and author of Drama Notebook. She has a BA in theatre and spent twelve years working in professional theatre. She was the founder of The Young Players, the largest drama outreach program in her state. For nearly a decade, The Young Players served over a hundred schools and employed over thirty teaching artists each year. Thousands of public-school children and teens participated in her award-winning workshops. In 2010, Janea created Drama Notebook using materials she had developed for her own teaching staff. Since then, the resource has steadily grown, allowing drama teachers to have easy access to a wealth of drama teaching materials and scripts.
Dr. Thalia Goldstein
Dr. Thalia R. Goldstein is a former professional actress and dancer. She is currently an associate professor and director of the Applied Developmental Psychology program in the Department of Psychology at George Mason University, where she directs the Play, Learning, Arts and Youth Lab (PLAYlab), and codirects the National Endowment for the Arts Lab, the Mason Arts Research Center (MasonARC). She is a prolific writer on the effects of pretend play, imagination, theatre, and other art forms (dance, marching arts, video games, literature) on child and adolescent development. She earned a BA at Cornell University, MA and PhD at Boston College, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University. She is coeditor of Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts for the American Psychological Association and the author of Why Theatre Education Matters: Understanding the Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Benefits.
Karen Greenfield
Karen Greenfield, Technical Theater Contributor, joined the national office staff of the United States Institute of Technical Theater (USITT) in 2017. She supports all-year educational programming and manages speaker communications for the Annual Conference & Stage Expo. In addition, she is the operational side of the development of the BACKstage CTE High School Exam and oversees the content for eSet and INNOVA on-demand and online course work. A scenic artist, Karen also paints sets for regional and local productions in Syracuse and attended the summer scenic painting workshop at USITT member, Cobalt Studios, in 2017.
Julie Hackman
Julie Hackmann, Arts Administrator/Educator/Director, is a master educator in music and theatre, who holds National Board Certification and a MA in Curriculum Development. She is the Arizona State University Coordinator for Disney Musicals in Schools and a Line Producer for Camp Broadway. With a personal background in musical theatre performance and a deep belief in the power of music and theatre on performers, crew and audiences alike, Julie has directed, musical directed, costumed or produced over a hundred successful musicals both in and out of schools. She is an adjudicator of the ASU-Gammage High School Musical Theatre Awards program and a recipient of the ASU Mentor Teacher of the Year award, as well as the Tempe Diablos Excellence in Education – Above and Beyond award.
Tim Reid
Tim Reid, Educator/Director combines his passions for theater and teaching as the senior curriculum designer for the Broadway Education Alliance. With decades of experience as a classroom teacher, director, and mentor for school theater programs, he channels his expertise into creating dynamic study guides for Broadway and off-Broadway productions. As a teaching artist with the International Schools Theatre Association, Tim has developed innovative programs that integrate diverse global theater practices into student learning. His dedication has earned him nominations for the Disney American Teacher Award and the Excellence in Theatre Education Tony® Award.
Daniel Robey
Daniel Robey, Educator/Camp Director, currently serves as the Theatre Director at Worthington Kilbourne High School in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated with honors from Capital University with a degree in English Education and a focus on Creative Writing and Theatre Studies. With his dual license, he has previously directed shows at Hilliard Bradley High School, Dublin Grizzell Middle School, and Capital University on top of various acting credits. He is also active in the Scouts BSA community, having served as an advisor on the Simon Kenton Council Staff Alumni Board and a National Camp School instructor/merit badge counselor. He is thrilled to do this work to bring together the world of Broadway and the formative power of a “camp” experience.
Grace Schultz
Grace Shultz, Stage Management, is an adaptable and results-driven professional with 15 years of experience in events, artist services, and stage management. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Grace excels in orchestrating successful productions, fostering collaboration, and ensuring operational excellence. Passionate about problem-solving, Grace enjoys developing innovative systems and practices to enhance company functionality. With a deep-seated love for the arts, Grace feels privileged to contribute to this vibrant community. After a decade with the Irish Arts Center, Grace is now working freelance as a stage manager, events manager, and project manager.
Michael Mendez
Michael Mendez, Singer, is a New York City based actor, director and educator. His Broadway credits include Water For Elephants (Original Broadway Cast), Chaplin (Original Broadway Cast). TV: Elsbeth, Last Week with John Oliver NY: Hey, Look Me Over! (Encores!), Fat Camp the Musical (Off-Broadway). REGIONAL: Shrek at Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, Man of La Mancha at Westport Country Playhouse, How The Grinch Stole Christmas at The Old Globe, Damn Yankees at Goodspeed Opera House, Peter and the Starcatcher at Weston Playhouse, and Billy Elliot at North Carolina Theatre. Michael graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.F.A in Musical Theatre and received his M.F.A in Directing from the University of Idaho. Michael is currently an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at Marymount Manhattan College. IG:@mendezzzz
J. Oconor Navarro
J. Oconor Navarro, Music Director, was Music Director for the historic, Tony®-nominated Broadway Production of Here Lies Love, conducted the Grammy-nominated Revival of Caroline, or Change, and has been honored to work for the nation’s most respected institutions including The Public, Playwrights Horizons, The Old Globe, Paper Mill Playhouse, American Repertory Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Guthrie, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center Theatre, and of course, Camp Broadway! He is the Head of Music and Vocal Performance at the New Studio on Broadway at NYU-Tisch School of the Arts, is a recipient of the American Theatre Wing Jonathan Larson Award and serves as Composer-in-Residence at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle NYC; his Liturgical Works are sung worldwide and are available through GIA Publications.
Doug Oberhamer
Doug Oberhamer, Orchestrator, is an award-winning Composer, Arranger, Orchestrator, Music Director, Conductor, Music Producer, and Vocal Coach with credits on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional theaters, national and international tours and Cabaret. He served as an original featured cast member and Associate Conductor/Music Director for the Broadway production of Swing!. Other credits include: Cagney, Wicked, Harmony, A Gentleman’s Guide To Love and Murder, SpongeBob SquarePants, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Saturday Night Fever, Crazy for You, Hamlet: The Rock Musical, We Will Rock You, The Man of La Mancha, as well as Frankenstein, Nunsense, What Do Critics Know?, Dracula, Wanda’s World, Flight of the Lawnchair Man, Women on the Verge, and Gemini. He is also a recording artist and co-creator of KnightHammer and The Oberhamer Brothers- two smooth jazz groups that can be heard on radio stations around the world.
Elaine Ricardo
Elena Ricardo, Singer, is a Broadway performer based out of New York City. She has performed on Broadway in The Great Gatsby (Standby Daisy/Jordan), Water for Elephants (Standby Marlena), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (u/s Carole King), and Mamma Mia! (Sophie). TV credits include Modern Love, New Amsterdam, Law and Order, and The Last OG. You can learn more about Elena and her current and upcoming projects at www.elenaricardo.com.
Christine Riley
Christine Riley, Music Supervisor, is a Music Director and Vocal Coach in New York as well as an Associate Professor of Musical Theatre at Marymount Manhattan College. New York and National Tour credits include: My Vaudeville Man (The York Theatre), Thoroughly Modern Millie (National tour), Addy and Uno (The Kirk), Errol and Fidel, A Moment in Time, a new musical; Gemini the Musical (The Acorn), Perfectly Victorian, and Flight of the Lawnchair Man (37 Arts). Christine also served as the Music Director for many collegiate and amateur productions including Camp Broadway in New York and on tour. She is the author of Music Fundamentals for Musical Theatre, with Bloomsbury Press. Christine received her BM from Ithaca College and an MM from Arizona State University.
Brian Curran
Brian W. Curran, Chief Financial Officer, draws upon over 30 years of practical financial management experience, primarily in the marketing services industry. Brian has mentored entrepreneurs and leadership teams of creative and service businesses of all sizes and maturity, from start-ups to established global enterprises, guiding them through their strategic development and operational optimization. His passion for talent development, and his belief in the value of life skills developed through the performing arts, drive his long-term involvement to the building Broadway Education Alliance and supporting innovative business solutions in the sector.
Susan Lee
Susan E. Lee, Chief Creative Officer, is the founder of the Broadway Education Alliance Inc. She is the architect of many industry initiatives on Broadway. Serving as the Chief Marketing Officer for The Nederlander Organization, she launched Audience Rewards, Broadway’s official loyalty program; the InTheater Network, BroadwayDirect.com, and The National High School Musical Theatre Awards aka The Jimmy’s Awards. As a senior executive at Serino Coyne, she led corporate partnerships including Visa’s title sponsorship of the Tony® Award-winning musical Movin’ Out, as well as Tuesday’s at 7 and Season of Savings. Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, she founded Camp Broadway®, Broadway’s original enrichment program for theater-loving kids, which is the recipient of a 2016 special Drama Desk Award for its contribution to the theater industry.
Brian T. Sherman
BRIAN T. SHERMAN, Advisor, is an entrepreneur, theatre executive and the Founder/CEO of IPEX Artists Agency, a creative and literary agency specializing in representation of authors and intellectual property for the live stage. IPEX clients include playwrights, librettists, composers, lyricists, directors, choreographers, producers, corporate owners of iconic intellectual property and brands, as well as estates, trusts and other institutional owners of entertainment assets. Prior to launching IPEX in 2019, Brian worked for nearly two decades for the world’s leading theatrical publishing and licensing firms, including Music Theatre International, Samuel French Inc., and the Rodgers & Hammerstein Theatricals imprint of Concord Theatricals where he served as Director of Professional Theatrical Licensing. In a career spanning 25 years he has worked with or on behalf of many of the most celebrated authors and shows in the history of theatre.
Robert Sokol
Robert Sokol, Creative Design Consultant, is the founder and creative director of Third Act Services, a role he previously held for over two decades at VIA MEDIA. Robert has been an arts journalist for regional, national, and international platforms for over a quarter-century, and was also the editor and publisher of BAYSTAGES. He served on the boards of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, the American Theatre Critics Association, and other arts and nonprofit organizations. As a producer, Robert brought multiple concerts and readings, awards programs, theatre industry conferences, and nonprofit events to successful fruition in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, DC. He also spent over a decade in finance and operations management roles in the software and television sectors.
Lauren Van Hemert
Lauren Van Hemert, Content Coordinator, is an award-winning arts journalist and founder of Beltline to Broadway. In 2019, she was recognized by WRAL-TV Viewers as Best Podcaster in the Triangle (the 6th largest podcast market). She has also been featured on the Artist Soapbox, In Your City, and American Theatre’s Off Script podcasts. For her coverage and support of the Black Lives Matter Movement, Lauren received the Raleigh Medal of Arts Hero Award and was recognized by Six Broadway as a Queen of the Week. She is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association, Society of Professional Journalists, and Broadway Makers Alliance.