mainstages is happy to present our Summer 2023 Theater Directors,Teaching Artists and Performers!

Aaron Kaplan (he/him)- Teaching Artist, Asphalt Green

Aaron Kaplan is an actor and teaching artist currently based in NYC, with roots in ATL and LA as well. He has appeared in multiple films and series, performed in numerous tours and off-broadway shows, and studied with a diverse selection of teachers all across the country in addition to teaching his own workshops in multiple states. At its core, Aaron’s work is all about affecting his audience. Whether he is tickling the funny bone of thousands or helping one person deal with something difficult in their lives, as long as Aaron has affected someone in a positive way, he has done his job. Art has always been a source for change, it can and will change the world. Visit TheAaronKaplan.com for more!

Amy Crossman (She/Her) - Teaching Artist, Camp Canadensis

Amy Crossman is an AEA actor, teaching artist, playwright, and sometimes clown. As an actor, she's worked with Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Boomerang Theatre Company, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, and Chenango River Theatre, among other places. As a teacher, she's taught at HVSF, PSF, Queens Theatre, Hangar Theatre, and Manhattan Theatre Club, as well as privately. She's studied with a lot of kind and funny people including Judy Gold, Chris Bayes, Karl Bury and Mark H. Dold. She loves Diet Coke, Harry Potter, and therapy. www.amycrossman.com.

Brielle Raddi (She/Her) - Teaching Artist, Camp Veritans

Brielle Raddi is a recent graduate of Muhlenberg College where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with an Acting Concentration and a double minor in Film Studies and Music. Brielle grew up in the theatre, having begun to engage in the performing arts at a very young age, and since has successfully added numerous credits to her resume. The stage is her home, acting is her craft, storytelling is her life, and empathy is her mantra. She is thrilled to be working with mainastages where she can continue to share all of this with the world’s youth and be a catalyst for empowering the creativity of storytellers and leaders of the future. www.brielleraddi.com @brielleraddi

Gunnar Manchester (he/him)- Teaching Artist, Camp Yomi and Lansman Day Camp

Aaron Kaplan is an actor and teaching artist currently based in NYC, with roots in ATL and LA as well. He has appeared in multiple films and series, performed in numerous tours and off-broadway shows, and studied with a diverse selection of teachers all across the country in addition to teaching his own workshops in multiple states. At its core, Aaron’s work is all about affecting his audience. Whether he is tickling the funny bone of thousands or helping one person deal with something difficult in their lives, as long as Aaron has affected someone in a positive way, he has done his job. Art has always been a source for change, it can and will change the world. Visit TheAaronKaplan.com for more!

Hannah Freeto (she/her)- Teaching Artist, Eisner Camp

Hannah Freeto is thrilled to be joining mainstages this summer! Hannah is a recent graduate from IU South Bend where she earned her BFA in Theatre Performance with a minor in Marketing. She has been on stage and off since she was 6 years old, and is currently a working actor/director! Last summer, she spent her time in New York City at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting to further her career. While not on the stage, you can find her reading, playing games, spending time with friends, or hanging out with her cat, Peggy. Hannah is so excited to create, collaborate, and inspire the next generation of artists. https://www.hannahfreeto.com/ @hannahjfreeto

Joana Tshulares (she/her)- Teaching Artist, Camp Settoga

Joana Tsuhlares is a NYC based actor, director, and teaching artist originally from Short Creek, West Virginia. She holds her BFA in Acting from Shenandoah Conservatory, where she studied under LAByrinth Theater's Scott Hudson and Martha Wollner. Joana's recently produced and co-starred in the new play Rift at The Tank, she's also assisted such directors as: Zachary Elkind, Chris Murrah, and Dara Malina. Credits and upcoming projects can be seen on her website: JoanaTsuhlares.com.

Kamala Rose (she/her)- Performer

Kamala Rose is a Brooklyn based singer and actress. She graduated from Syracuse University with a BM and completed training at the William Esper Studio. Having performed in many TYA shows, she is always happy when her passion for performing can be used to entertain audiences of all ages.

Kelsey Kline (She/Her) - Theater Director, JCC Orlando

Kelsey is a recent graduate of Rollins College where she received her BA in Theatre Arts with a triple emphasis in Directing, Musical Theatre, and Performance, as well as a minor in Dance. Kelsey believes in using theatre as a tool for education and confidence-building in children no matter the age. She hopes that once her students become adults that her time with them has helped them become confident, responsible, life-long learners.

Kim Hoyle (she/they)- Teaching Artist, Emma Kaufman

Kim Hoyle is based in Richmond, Virginia, Kim will be completing their senior year at Virginia Commonwealth University this coming fall. She has been teaching since she was fifteen and can't wait to grow her toolbox this summer at Emma Kaufmann Camp in Morgantown, West Virginia where she is the Theatre Specialist and Director for their camp production of Annie Jr.! Teaching theatre brings Kim a lot of joy so she is so grateful to Mainstages and EKC for this opportunity!! This is going to be the best summer yet!!

Madeline Whiteshell (she/her)- Teaching Artist, Explorer Day Camp and PS 169

Madeline Whitesell is a Brooklyn-based director and teacher whose work deals with the intersections of music, theater, and visual art. Madeline works with the very old and very new, aiming to derail the current conventions of opera and music-theater. She takes particular inspiration from contemporary dance, light art, pedagogy of the oppressed, dialectical materialism, and her experience with chromesthesia . She has developed work with Beth Morrison Projects, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The PROTOTYPE Festival, National Sawdust, The HERE Arts Center, FringeArts, The Tank, Opera NEO, Opera on Tap-New York, The Manhattan LGBT+ Community Center, and The Krannert Center for Performing Arts. Her music video Isolate was an official selection at the 2022 Ann Arbor Film Festival.

Magali Guerre (she/her)- Performer

Magali Guerre is a french performer from Paris. She played Geraldine in the off-Broadway show The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the 30th street Theater, Brandi in Down with the most beautiful of the Flock, during the New York Theater Festival at the Latea Theater. As well as being a swing in Xanadu at the Heights Players.She is a graduate from the ECM of Paris and the New York Conservatory for Dramatics Arts and originated the role of Pugsley Addams in the french version of The Addams Family (Palace theater/Casino of Paris Theater). She also teaches french in the city and entertains tourists on Topview buses!

Maggie Connick (She/Her) - Teaching Artist, Camp Canadensis and LUHI

Hello! My name is Maggie Connick and I am a recent alum from West Texas A&M with a BFA in Acting. I am a traveling teaching artist/performer. I was recently traveling the North West teaching kids the amazing art of theatre, and I'm excited to start the incredible work here in New York. Theatre is an amazing art for children to develop and grow.

Meredith Fox (She/Her) - Teaching Artist, Substitute

Meredith is an NYC-based performer and teaching artist originally from Lancaster, PA. She was most recently seen making her Off-Broadway debut in FunikiJam's, "Totally Awesome Summer!" She originated a role on the "CoCoMelon LIVE!" national tour, and has performed in regional theatres around the country, and as a Cast Member at the Walt Disney World Resort. She graduated from Elon University, where she received her BFA in Music Theatre and BA in Arts Administration.

River Sumner (they/them)- Teaching Artist, Twelve Trails

River Sumner graduated from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy for the school’s Acting For Camera Program. She found a beautiful community of other creators, where she was able to even further expand her passion for performing, writing, and directing. River loves writing plays and poetry, where she was able to then go forth and publish her own novel, and spring forth a small writing and tutoring business. River learned from her aunt and mother that she could do just about anything if she put her mind to it. She set her number one goal: to spread joy and happiness around the world through acting. She is excited for a brand new chapter of her life with mainstages!

Valentina De Giulio (She/Her) - Theater Director, Camp GUCI

Hi! My name is Valentina and I'm from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I've been acting since I was little and I am currently finishing my degree in Directing. I hope to create a production where children are proud of themselves, but also enjoy the entire process!