Ahkai Franklin is a New York city native. He has taught, performed, and produced throughout the tri-state area and beyond for over two decades. Ahkai continues to teach and perform and can be seen in the movie Barry (Netflix 2016) and in the collection of shorts, Pixar in Real Life (Disney+).
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 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
Brittany is a Magna Cum Laude Hunter College graduate, currently studying for her master's in Educational Theater at the City College of New York where she holds a 4.0 GPA. Brittany continuously strives to provide an environment of joy and encouragement for her students, trying to always help them strive for progress, never perfection.
Gabriella (she/her) is a NYC based actor, singer, and dancer with a B.F.A in Theatre Arts from Molloy College. Her favorite credits include originating a role in the musical 'And They Were Silent...' written by her and her friends and playing the role of Elle Woods in 'Legally Blonde.' In addition to teaching and performing, she loves walking and playing with dogs and spending time with her friends and family.
Hal is a lifelong learner with a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Memphis. And thus far, have spent their teaching years with The Nashville Children's Theater and the Atlanta Workshop Players. They are incredibly excited to get to camp this summer and help foster their love for the arts to their campers, and can't wait to see the magic that will be created this summer!
Kayla Raniero is a composer, vocalist, and pianist holding a BFA in Communication Studies from Temple University. After writing, recording, producing, and creating the cover art for 24 instrumental EPs and 1 full-length album within 1 calendar year, Kayla released her debut vocal album, "Toxic Phantom." Kayla recently completed her second "Toxic Phantom" promotional tour and is currently writing her sophomore vocal album. Also an internationally published poet and actor with film credits including "The Thrill of Being Followed" and "Philadelphia: The Great Experiment", Kayla seeks to use art as a means of making people feel less alone in their emotions and experiences.
Karis is a rising senior at Molloy University's CAP21 program for Musical Theatre. She has been working with children in an educational and childcare capacity for 6 years and has been an actor all throughout her life. She is looking forward to an amazing summer experience!
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.
Kira was born and raised in Kaneohe, Hawai'i and has been in New York City for three years studying Drama and Theater Education at NYU. She loves teaching as well as taking classes in dance and movement, and does a good deal of cooking in her free time. Kira is thrilled to join the Mainstages team this summer and can't wait to make magic with some superstars!
Born and raised in Ohio and currently living in Dover, New Hampshire. Jack of all trades and master of some. I act, I teach, I create, I learn, I grow, and try to leave everything and everyone better than before. If it's not bringing joy and gratitude I don't want it.
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 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.
Michelle Cage is a theater artist who has enjoyed numerous collaborations with NYC companies including Urban Stages Theatre, The Skeleton Rep(resents), and HEREWEGO. Having graduated from The New School '19 with a focus in playwriting and education, she works to spread more self-acceptance, bravery, and a sense of play in every single classroom she enters
Nadia Sepsenwol is a Russian Jewish writer/performer living in New York City, whose work is about the intersection of trauma and identity. Her most recent play Tarantula received a grant from New York Foundation for the Arts in August 2021, and was a semi-finalist for the Juilliard School’s Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellowship. She wrote and stars in the short film Bitsy’s Noir, which will be released in festivals in 2022. She has a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of Virginia and an MFA in Acting from Columbia University School of the Arts, and has a tattoo of a mustachioed octopus on her right shoulder.
Sabrina Kalman is a New York City-based teaching artist and performer, working nationally and internationally. She feels honored to continue her work with Mainstages this summer as a Director and Choreographer. Above all, Sabrina is committed to bringing her mission, theatre as a force for good in this world, to fruition!
Tyler is thrilled to be joining mainstages for his first summer yet! Hailing from San Francisco, CA, Tyler has ten years experience teaching dance, theatre, creative writing, and social/emotional learning to students grades pre-K to 8th. When he's not teaching, Tyler writes sketch comedy for BoogieManja comedy collective in NYC and is a writer and actor for the Laugh Index Theatre's sketch comedy web series
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!
