Spellbound Artists and Staff
The Board of Directors:
Joanna Sheehan Bell (President)
Marli Reifman (Secretary)
Kenneth Sjoberg (Treasurer)
WT McRae
Lauren Jost
Annie Montgomery
Joanna Sheehan Bell (President)
Marli Reifman (Secretary)
Kenneth Sjoberg (Treasurer)
WT McRae
Lauren Jost
Annie Montgomery
Lauren Jost, Founder/Artistic Director
ljost@spellboundtheatre.com
Lauren is a theatre artist and arts educator in New York. She is 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 is 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
Susanna Brock, Education Manager/Artist
susanna@spellboundtheatre.com
Susanna is a native Swede who spent some time in Paris before ending up in Harlem to pursue a BFA in jazz singing. Music and theater has always been a big part of her life - starting ballet as a 5 year old, moving on to gospel singing in middle school and falling in love with improve in high school. Here in New York she has gotten the chance to perform jazz in different venues and to develop her skills as an actor through musicals and physical theater. Her passion for education developed during her years in New York when saw the need for art based learning. She has taught theater and singing to children and adults in Stockholm, New York and Kampala, Uganda.
susanna@spellboundtheatre.com
Susanna is a native Swede who spent some time in Paris before ending up in Harlem to pursue a BFA in jazz singing. Music and theater has always been a big part of her life - starting ballet as a 5 year old, moving on to gospel singing in middle school and falling in love with improve in high school. Here in New York she has gotten the chance to perform jazz in different venues and to develop her skills as an actor through musicals and physical theater. Her passion for education developed during her years in New York when saw the need for art based learning. She has taught theater and singing to children and adults in Stockholm, New York and Kampala, Uganda.
Emily Baldwin, Family Engagement Manager/Artist
emily@spellboundtheatre.com
Emily Baldwin is an arts educator/director/performer/puppeteer, with a focus on accessibility and early childhood. In addition to working with Spellbound, she has also been a Teaching Artist with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Kaiser's Room, and DOROT. Emily graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Theatre with a certificate in Theatre for Young Audiences. While in undergrad she served as the Artistic Director for Seesaw Theatre and a member of Team Education for Purple Crayon Players.
emily@spellboundtheatre.com
Emily Baldwin is an arts educator/director/performer/puppeteer, with a focus on accessibility and early childhood. In addition to working with Spellbound, she has also been a Teaching Artist with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Kaiser's Room, and DOROT. Emily graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Theatre with a certificate in Theatre for Young Audiences. While in undergrad she served as the Artistic Director for Seesaw Theatre and a member of Team Education for Purple Crayon Players.
Rebecca Gerrard, Artistic Associate
Rebecca Gerrard is a Scottish theatre-maker from a devised, contemporary theatre background now living in NYC. Over the past 7 years she has created and toured original productions for leading TYA companies in both Scotland and the USA: Spellbound Theatre, Starcatchers and Fish and Game. Rebecca also creates and facilitates collaborative theater programs for young people and adults. Since moving to NYC in 2016, she has delivered programs in public schools, daycares, juvenile detention centers,prisons and summer camps for various organizations including Spellbound Theatre, Opening Act and The Town Hall.
Rebecca Gerrard is a Scottish theatre-maker from a devised, contemporary theatre background now living in NYC. Over the past 7 years she has created and toured original productions for leading TYA companies in both Scotland and the USA: Spellbound Theatre, Starcatchers and Fish and Game. Rebecca also creates and facilitates collaborative theater programs for young people and adults. Since moving to NYC in 2016, she has delivered programs in public schools, daycares, juvenile detention centers,prisons and summer camps for various organizations including Spellbound Theatre, Opening Act and The Town Hall.
Spellbound Artists
Andrea Ang
Sunder Ashni
Blanca Vivancos
Colleen Horan
Hannah Johnson-Walsh
Janette Martinez
Jody Doo
Khalia Davis
Lauren Sharpe
Lisa Kitchens
Nikki Calonge
Robert Stevenson
Sarah Folkins
Marisol Rosa Shapiro
Asha John
Valerie Clayman Pye
Christine Dehne
Melana Lloyd
Gyana Mella
Jackie Wolff
Jono Waldman
WT McRae
Valerie Reid
Melissa Costidis
Sunder Ashni
Blanca Vivancos
Colleen Horan
Hannah Johnson-Walsh
Janette Martinez
Jody Doo
Khalia Davis
Lauren Sharpe
Lisa Kitchens
Nikki Calonge
Robert Stevenson
Sarah Folkins
Marisol Rosa Shapiro
Asha John
Valerie Clayman Pye
Christine Dehne
Melana Lloyd
Gyana Mella
Jackie Wolff
Jono Waldman
WT McRae
Valerie Reid
Melissa Costidis