Who's Who

Broadway Education Alliance

Photo of Brian Curran Brian Curran Vice President/Treasurer

Brian draws on over 40 years of practical financial management experience, primarily in the marketing services industry. As a manager (and more recently as a consultant) 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.…

Photo of Susan E. Lee Susan E. Lee President

Susan introduced Camp Broadway LLC in 1995 and has since managed the brand, business, and program development. She is also the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of the non-profit organization Broadway Education Alliance. She served as Chief Marketing Officer for The Nederlander Producing Company of America. During her time there, she successfully developed and launched Audience Rewards; The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (The Jimmy’s Awards); and InTheatre Network, which is now operating across all Broadway theatres.…

Photo of Lauren Van Hemert Lauren Van Hemert Communications Manager

Lauren Van Hemert is an award-winning arts journalist, podcast host, and founder of Beltline to Broadway. She is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association, Society of Professional Journalists, and Broadway Makers Alliance. In 2021, she earned the Raleigh Medal of Arts for her coverage and support of the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Photo of Katie Wingler Katie Wingler Program Manager

I’m honored to be a part of the team that presents The Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance, Greater New York City’s high school musical theater awards program. Founded in 2011 by Broadway Education Alliance Inc, The Roger Rees Awards celebrates theater arts education and recognizes the talents of students both on- and off-stage.…

Roger Rees Awards Production Team

Photo of Theo Lencicki Theo Lencicki Awards Director, Choreographer

THEO LENCICKI is a professional actor and arts educator based in New York City. A graduate of Penn State University, he has performed in various 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. In addition to performing, Theo is a musical theatre instructor, director, and choreographer for numerous workshop classes and educational and professional productions.…

Photo of Doug Oberhamer Doug Oberhamer Music Supervisor

Doug’s credits include the Broadway productions of Wicked and Rocky, as well as the national tours of Crazy for You and Thoroughly Modern Milly. He was a featured cast member and Associate Conductor/AMD of the Broadway Musical: Swing! and Composer of the new musicals in development Believe in Love and Errol and Fidel which won “Best of the Fest” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival.…

Photo of Christine Riley Christine Riley Music Director

CHRISTINE RILEY 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).…

Photo of Sam Shapiro Sam Shapiro Production Stage Manager

Sam Shapiro mentors performers to make their dreams come true! Happiest at the intersection of entertainment and education, and a former high school Drama teacher, Sam has coached and managed performing artists for over 18 years. Former students are on Broadway, leading national tours, TikTok famous (5 million+ followers), an America’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer, original singer/songwriters, and attending top university Musical Theater programs.…

Roger Rees Awards Adjudication Team

Photo of Maura Malloy Maura Malloy Performance Coach

MAURA MALLOY works professionally as a director/choreographer, writer, performer, and artist educator. She is thrilled to be joining the New Faces 2023 coaching team! Favorite NYC roles: Helena, A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Phoebe, As You Like It; Adriana, The Comedy of Errors; Weird Sister/Lady McDuff, Macbeth; Prospero, The Tempest; The Syringa Tree. Directing/ choreographing credits include Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, Sense and Sensibility, Measure forMeasure, Our Town, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, Fiddler on the Roof, Macbeth.…

Photo of J. Oconor Navarro J. Oconor Navarro Music Director

J. served as Music Director on the Broadway Production of Here Lies Love. He is also Music Director/Arranger for Camp Broadway, Music Director at Lincoln Center Theatre Education Department, and Composer in Residence for The Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, NYC. A recipient of the American Theatre Wing Jonathan Larson Grant, J. is part of the founding faculty at the Musical Theatre Intensive at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, and is a Visiting Assistant Arts Professor and current Head of Music and Vocal Performance at The New Studio on Broadwayat NYU-Tisch Department of Drama.

Advisors

Douglas Denoff

Rick Elice

Nancy Nagel Gibbs

Jarvis B. Manning, Jr.

Uma McCrosson

Merri Sugarman