Shared Artistic and
Administrative Leadership
Spellbound Theatre is governed by a group of artists dedicated to an anti-oppressive approach to theatre making.
The Oversight Committee
The Oversight Committee is a group of Spellbound artists who manage the day-to-day operations and execution of the organization. Susanna Brock, Jody Doo, Asha John, and Melissa Costidis collaborate to complete administrative responsibilities and take the lead on executing the various types of programming that Spellbound offers.
|
Susanna Brock, Oversight Committee Member/Education Manager/Artist
Susanna Brock (she/her) is a disabled, New York based, Swedish theater maker, performer, director and educator who creates multi-sensory, multi-lingual and interactive theater with and for young audiences. She aims to create spaces where young people can dream and play and critically reflect and comment on our world. For the past 15 years, she has had the opportunity to work in many different parts of the world including Stockholm, Paris, Kampala, Nairobi and New York where she has facilitated and performed in school and community-based programs. She is an ensemble member and administrator at the award-winning company Spellbound Theatre, an ensemble member with Flying Leap Productions and has been a teaching artist with organizations like ArtsConnection, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and The Children’s Museum of Manhattan. The past 5 years she has also led training and professional development for The Department of Education, NYU and Bank Street School of Education. In 2020 she graduated with a Master’s of Applied Theater from CUNY School of Professional Studies. |
|
Jody Doo, Oversight Committee Member/Artist Jody is a producer and host born and raised in sunny Singapore. She is passionate about using her work to uplift minority and diverse voices. Currently, Jody is the Global Assistant Producer at The Moth. Previously, she co-founded Global Forms Theater Festival at Rattlestick Theater (4 seasons) and produced/hosted Global Gab (3 seasons) - a monthly panel where she dug deep with fellow immigrant artists. Jody is also ¼ of the Oversight Committee at Spellbound Theatre, which replaces the traditional role of an Artistic Director. |
|
Asha John, Oversight Committee Member/Artist Asha John was born on the islands of Trinidad & Tobago. In 2011 she began working as a teaching artist bringing her love of step, theater, dance, and math to the students of New York City. She has worked with numerous community based organizations using the arts to advocate for all underserved communities (LGBTQIA, immigrant, impoverished, and more). She plans to assist spellbound in expanding children’s theatre nationally and internationally. Since 2011, Asha has been cast in numerous productions for stage and film, encompassing original work as well as classics like Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In 2020, Asha graduated with her Masters in Educational Theatre for Colleges and Communities from New York University and plans to pursue her educational doctorate as well. |
|
Melissa Costidis, Oversight Committee Member/Artist
Melissa Costidis is a New York based creator, producer, editor and member of Spellbound’s collaborative leadership group known as The Oversight Committee. She’s been working with Spellbound for four years after starting as a communications and family engagement intern during her time at NYU Tisch in 2018. She produced and edited Spellbound’s successful virtual series Anywhere with Catbear (2020) and Lullaby Land (2021). She is also responsible for Spellbound’s fundraising campaigns, newsletters, in person event leadership (Free Family Art Days at Brooklyn Public Libraries, pop-up shows at Little Island, etc.) and other administrative duties to support The Oversight Committee. She is passionate about supporting Spellbound artists as they execute their visions for children’s programming on an artistic level and an administrative level. Outside of Spellbound, she works as a substitute teacher, a freelance vegan/vegetarian chef, a freelance social media marketing consultant, and content creator. |
General Manager
Spellbound's General Manager ensures operational efficiency of the entire organization. The General Manager works directly with the Oversight Committee to optimize the shared leadership model.
|
Maureen Donohue (she/her) is thrilled to join the Spellbound Theatre team! Maureen has over 16 years of experience in the arts and nonprofit sector in NYC, most recently with 11 years as Program Manager of the CAT Youth Theatre at the CUNY Creative Arts Team. Prior to joining CAT, Maureen worked in development and events at The Public Theater and Film Society of Lincoln Center, as a nonprofit consultant with Advance NYC, and as an occasional music director and accompanist. She has a Bachelors in Music and American Studies from Tufts University, Masters in Arts Administration from Baruch College, and in an alum of PASE's Emerging Leaders of Nonprofit Management program. Maureen is also the Director of Communications and Administration at the Park Avenue Methodist Church and is a proud Astoria resident.
|
Board of Directors
Spellbound’s Board of Directors collaborates with the Oversight Committee on all decision making related to the budget, fundraising and artistic programming.
|
Janette Martinez is an arts administrator, facilitator, and multidisciplinary artist from the Bronx, New York. Janette has a BM in Vocal Performance from Boston University and an M.S in Educational Theatre from The City College of New York, and she has worked in multiple capacities for organizations such as Disney Theatrical Group, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, New Victory Theatre, Spellbound Theatre, and DreamYard Project on their arts education and community engagement teams. Most recently, Janette led the Human Resources Operations department at Little Island and was a member of the inaugural team that opened the park for New York City, and she is now the Head of Staff, Development, and Inclusion at Camp Arcadia, a wilderness camp in Maine! She loves bringing a creative, emergent, and inclusive approach to organizational leadership to Spellbound, and is grateful to lead alongside the talented ensemble of Spellbound Theatre!
|
|
Krystal T. Brenes (she/her) is a Native New Yorker hailing from Washington Heights. She is of Latina and Italian descent and has been involved in the performing arts since the age of three. She is a graduate from SUNY Purchase (BA) and the City College of New York (MS.Ed) majoring in Studio Production, Arts Management, and Educational Theatre. Currently, she serves as the Board Treasurer for Spellbound Theatre and works as an independent sound designer/engineer for theatre companies in the tri-state area.
|
|
Emily Baldwin (she/her) is a born-and-bred New Yorker currently based in London. Emily has been with Spellbound since 2016; before serving as Board Secretary she was a deviser, teaching artist, and performer, as well as the Family Engagement Manager through 2021. Emily has a BA in Theatre from Northwestern University and an MA in Applied Theatre from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She’s now an Creative Support Worker for Access All Areas Theatre and she spends her spare time roaming the streets of London in desperate search for good bagels, pickles, and black coffee (so far unsuccessful on all accounts).
|
|
Khalia Davis (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist and Artistic Director of Bay Area Children’s Theatre where she recently led the world premieres of a kids play about Racism and The Imaginaries: An Immersive Musical, an original new work created by the newly-formed BACT Writer’s Room. As a director and arts educator, she has worked on Broadway, off-Broadway and regionally with prominent theaters such as First Stage, Atlantic Theater Company’s Atlantic for Kids, New York City Children’s Theater, Disney Theatrical Group, Spellbound Theatre and more. Before assuming her new role as Artistic Director, Ms. Davis served as the Director of Inclusion and Education with Brooklyn Children’s Theatre restructuring their children’s musical theater programming through an anti-racism lens. She made her professional theatrical debut at thirteen years old launching a life-long career as a performer splitting her time between California and NYC. Proud board member for TYA/USA, Spellbound Theater, and The Story Pirates. Awards: 2019 Emerging Leader Fellowship-TYA/USA, 2019 NYCCT Leader Fellowship, 2021 Corey Medallion Award-Children's Theatre Foundation of America. BA in Theater Arts from the University of Southern California www.khaliadavis.com!
|
|
Robert M. Thaxton-Stevenson (he/him) is a native New Yorker, raised in Greenwich Village and living in Brooklyn. He makes interactive theatre for all ages, works with young people in many settings, and designs for the stage. He has directed projects and work-in-progress showings at New Ohio Theater, New York Transit Museum, The New Victory Theater, Park Avenue Armory, Governors Island, and New York University. He is a company member with Atlantic Pacific Theatre, the Verbatim Performance Lab, and Spellbound Theatre. Robert is currently Drama Teacher & Technical Director at the Chapin School and has previously worked as a Teaching Artist at The New Victory Theater, Met Opera Guild, and New York Theater Workshop. He holds a BS and an MA in Educational Theatre from NYU.
|
Ensemble Members
|
|
Andrea Ang
Asha John Ashley Thaxton-Stevenson Blanca Vivancos Cameron Bohla Christine Dehne Colleen Horan Gyana Mella Hannah Johnson-Walsh Jackie Wolff Jono Waldman Julieta Sverdlick Julliette Holliday Lauren Sharpe Lisa Kitchens Marisol Rosa Shapiro Melana Lloyd Nikki Calonge Rebecca Gerrard Robert Stevenson Sarah Folkins Shan Y Chuang Sunder Ashni Timmy Ong Valerie Reid WT McRae Valerie Clayman Pye |
Our Founder
Lauren Jost, Founder, Former Artistic Director
ljost@spellboundtheatre.com
Lauren is a theatre artist and arts educator in New York. She was the Artistic Director of Spellbound Theatre, New York’s award-winning theatre exclusively for the very young. Lauren can occasionally be found performing as a storyteller and puppeteer, but spends most of her time directing and producing Spellbound’s public, school, and national touring theater productions for children ages 0-5. Additionally, Lauren works as a Master Teaching Artist in schools, libraries and community centers around New York with organizations such as The New Victory Theater, Lifetime Arts, and New York University. Lauren is also a mom to J. and L., whose imaginations are her daily inspiration. Check out her blog on arts education and TYA at www.LaurenJost.com
ljost@spellboundtheatre.com
Lauren is a theatre artist and arts educator in New York. She was the Artistic Director of Spellbound Theatre, New York’s award-winning theatre exclusively for the very young. Lauren can occasionally be found performing as a storyteller and puppeteer, but spends most of her time directing and producing Spellbound’s public, school, and national touring theater productions for children ages 0-5. Additionally, Lauren works as a Master Teaching Artist in schools, libraries and community centers around New York with organizations such as The New Victory Theater, Lifetime Arts, and New York University. Lauren is also a mom to J. and L., whose imaginations are her daily inspiration. Check out her blog on arts education and TYA at www.LaurenJost.com