the creative team

Founder / Artistic Director

Alyssa Jiwani (she/her) is an actor, director, choreographer, singer, dancer, teacher, and arts administrator from Seattle, WA. Alyssa Jiwani is a current student at New York University’s Tisch School of Drama, pursuing a double major in Theatre and Theatre Education (BFA Drama and BA Educational Theatre). Alyssa is passionate about increasing diversity, accessibility, and inclusivity in the theatre industry, which is why she created The Virtual Theatre Co! She believes that the way to change the theatre industry is by providing quality arts education to young artists, and giving them a safe space to create. Her work in this regard has been featured by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Actor Aesthetic blog and podcast, Broadway World, and more! Alyssa loves her TVTC family so much, and is so excited for what the future holds for TVTC! alyssajiwani.com

Associate Artistic Director

Emma Cort (she/her) is a multi-hyphenate artist from Pennsylvania who currently resides in NYC. She is a current student at New York University’s Tisch School of The Arts obtaining a BFA in Drama. Emma comes from a background in virtual learning and is passionate about teaching young artists from all over the world. She has performed in numerous theatre, television, film, and comedy performances over the years and continues to work as a professional actor. At TVTC, Emma leads the improv troupe,TVTCoMEDY, and organizes outreach events with schools. Previous TVTC credits include Steel Magnolias (director), Beauty and The Beast (director), Almost Maine (producer) and The Disney Cabaret (producer). In addition to productions and classes at TVTC, she serves as a private instructor for students. Emma is so thankful for TVTC and the ways we collaborate to create theatre over Zoom. Instagram: @emma.cort

Associate Artistic Director 

Abrianna Berg (she/her) is an NYC-based director, writer, designer, performer, producer, advocate, and arts administrator from Chicago, IL. She currently attends New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts as a drama major. Abri is passionate about making the theater community more inclusive and accessible through her creative work and practices. Outside of theater, Abri enjoys traveling, learning languages, skiing, and visiting art exhibitions. Some of her favorite TVTC credits include: Wildcats: The Cabaret (Director), The Zoom Where it Happens (Stage Manager/Producer/Sound Editor/Assistant Director), and Steel Magnolias (Director). She is ecstatic to be a part of The Virtual Theatre Co! abriannaberg.com

Executive Producer 

Will Ehrlich is a Singer, Actor, Composer and Playwright from Chicago, IL. He has starred in roles like Bobby Strong (Urinetown), J.B. Biggely (How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), Justin LeBoy (21 Chump Street), Sam Carmichael (Mamma Mia), Pumbaa (The Lion King) and, most recently, Gaston (TVTC's Beauty and the Beast Jr.) When he is not doing theater, he loves composing music and playing video games. He has been a vocal student for 11 years, and a Music Theory student for just as long.

Associate Artistic Director

Teresa Bocalan is a New York-based, Seattle-born actress who feels extremely fortunate to be doing what she loves, whether it’s on a stage or in a little Zoom box. National tour: Junie B. Jones (Lucille). 54 Below: CARDED with TheaterWorksUSA. Village Theatre KIDSTAGE: Rent (Mimi), How to Succeed... (Smitty). Must love dogs. Proud AMDA alum!  www.teresabocalan.com

Administrative Lead

Maya L'Abbe is so excited to be apart of this program. Some of her past favorite credits include The Pajama Game RSP (5th Ave.) Mary Poppins (SE), Crazy for you (NHHS). She is beyond grateful to have this opportunity! She can't wait to work with you!

Creative Team Member

Emily Brooks is an actress, choreographer, and teaching artist beginning her junior year in Northwestern University's World Literature and Musical Theatre (performance and choreography) programs, where favorite credits include (as a peformer) Legally Blonde, a reading of Adam Gwon's Scotland, PA, and (as a choreographer) Machinal. Back home in Seattle, she's performed at Village Theatre (2018 Festival of New Musicals), Second Story Repertory (Anne in Anne of Green Gables),The 5th Avenue Theatre (Rising Star Projects 2015-2017), Studio East, and Village Kidstage, and has interned at Taproot Theatre and the 5th Avenue Theatre.

VTC Coordinator / Administrative Lead

Caden Brauch has been apart of several youth productions through Village Theatre Kidstage and Studio East and has also performed in a number of professional shows at Village Theatre and The 5th Avenue Theatre. He attended the Chicago College of Performing Arts last year and is thrilled to be apart of this team.

Administrative Lead

Leanna Niesen is currently double majoring in Theatre and Dance at Muhlenberg College. Originally from near Madison, WI, Leanna started as a dancer at a young age and since has discovered a love for musical theatre. She has taken roles both on and off the stage, as a performer, choreographer, director, and stage manager. She is also passionate about teaching and being a positive mentor for young students, which is why she is so excited to have the opportunity to work with this company!

VNW Director / Administrative Lead

Eliana Coe is an 18 year old writer and performer from the Seattle area. Coe has performed at The 5th Avenue Theatre on their mainstage and as a part of their Rising Star Project, the Village Theatre Mainstage and Kidstage, Showtunes Theatre Company, and Studio East. Coe has written musicals at both Village Theatre Kidstage with their Kidstage Originals program and for The 5th Avenue Theatre with their Rising Star Project’s 10 Minute Musicals program. Coe was a part of the writing teams for both Sincerely Yours (2018) and All That Glitters: A Rock Legend (2019-2020) which premiered at Kidstage and she was a part of the team of Listen which premiered with the Rising Star Project. Eliana is currently co-writing Breaking Point the Musical with Rylynn Davis. Coe will be pursuing a BFA at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in the coming years.

Marketing/PR Director / Youth Engagement Director / VTP Coordinator / Administrative Lead

Aimee Lefkowicz is a songwriter, actress, and vocalist from Seattle! She will be a freshman at Berklee College of Music in the fall studying Contemporary Writing and Production, and minoring in musical theater! She has been involved in various youth led local organizations/productions for the past four years, including working with organizations such as Seattle Theater Group and Northwest Folklife Festival. Creating accessible youth-focused art spaces is so essential and Aimee is so excited to be a part of this important project, bringing artists together virtually, and continuing arts education/opportunities during this challenging time.

VTC Coordinator / Administrative Lead

Annie Coulson is a rising sophomore at NYU Tisch majoring in musical theatre at the New Studio on Broadway and minoring in politics. She is originally from Gaithersburg, Maryland but now her address is in NYC. She started doing theatre since I was 7 years old and has never stopped! She prides herself on being an advanced tap dancer for over 12 years. Annie is super passionate about all things mental health, the importance of women in politics and puppies. She is so excited to start this journey! 

VTC Coordinator / Administrative Lead

Dana Halabe is a professional tap dancer who is currently performing with Alchemy Tap Project, a Seattle based tap company. She is trained in many styles of dance including tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, and lyrical/contemporary. Although she absolutely loves the stage, Dana finds great joy in choreographing dances, mentoring young performers, and teaching routines and technique to her students. Dana is so excited to be a part of The Virtual Theatre Company, and she hopes to motivate and inspire young artists during these darker days.

Creative Team Member

Artemis Zara Gültekin is an actress, playwright, who also loves singing, playing the violin and dancing. She is from Ankara, Turkey, and is currently a freshman at NYU Tisch School of the Arts majoring in Drama, attending Playwrights Horizons Theatre School. She loves all things theatre and is so excited to be part of such an amazing company!

 Workshop Coordinator

Lucy Domingo is a 7th grader at The Overlake School, and is and avid musical theatre performer. Lucy is best known for her Broadway Podcast Broadway Brains, where she has interviewed over 36 Broadway stars and people from the theatre industry. She is using her connections to Broadway stars to bring them to TVTC so they can teach for us! Lucy loves theatre so much and cannot wait to do theatre again!

Administrative Lead

London Keller is a freshman musical theatre major at Marymount Manhattan College. She has been doing theatre since she was 7 and is absolutely passionate about the arts and arts education. Her favorite roles include: Tracy Turnblad in “Hairspray”, Ursula in “The Little Mermaid, Jovie in “Elf The Musical” and Nancy Taylor in the amateur world premier of “Groundhog Day the Musical.” She is a classically trained singer and frequently teaches classes in acting and audition prep. 

Social Media Coordinator 

Jessica is so excited to be a part of the creative team! She is a current freshman at NYU Tisch's New Studio on Broadway and will major in Drama. She has been singing for as long as she can remember and adores theatre. She also loves to not only perform, but be behind the scenes as well!

Associate Artistic Director / VNW Director / VTP Coordinator

Rylynn Davis (she/her) Rylynn is a performer, writer, director, producer, audio/visual editor, podcaster and much more. She most recently directed "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" (Coming January 2021!) As a performer, her favorite past credits include: Fanny Brice (Funny Girl), Bridget (Bring it On), Bret (Calvin Berger), and Miss Shields (A Christmas Story). She is currently playing Maureen Johnson in Rent in a virtual tribute. Rylynn's written works include: Breaking Point: A New Musical, Out of Bounds , This is What They Tell Me. She is currently pursuing a 2 year degree, hoping to transfer to a University in 2022.

Administrative Lead
Jesus Bautista-Feliberti is more than thrilled to be able to help contribute to the world of theatre while we all explore the new age of theatre we are entering. Jesus is a proud alum of Village Theatre Kidstage. He went to New York City to study Theatre at Marymount Manhattan college but has since moved back to Washington to continue his studies at home. Jesus hopes that during this change in theatre we are able to still come together and create art!

Creative Team Member
Sophia Cavanaugh is from Brenham, Texas, and is primarily an actor, but she is also looking into other art forms in the theatre/film industry. Sophia is an incoming freshman at NYU Tisch in Playwrights Horizons. She loves to create art and change people for the better with it. 

Administrative Lead

Katie Kawko (she/her) is an actor, singer, and writer from New Jersey! She is a sophomore at Kean University, pursuing a double major in Theatre and Media & Film. She started doing theatre when she was 4 years old and that's when things started to take off! She also enjoys stand-up comedy, disney, movies, books, and lions! She is super excited to work with you!

Creative Team Member

Ava Meyer is 19-year old student from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She has studied classical voice as well as musical theatre, and loves the arts more than anything. Ava is so excited to work with TVTC, and share her passion for theatre with others!

Creative Team Member

Creative Team Member

Creative Team Member

Drew Winston is a Theatre Arts major at Western Washington University. Born and raised in a small town north of Seattle, Drew has been involved in the theatre scene since he was a small child. Drew has worked with Red Curtain Foundation, Village Theatre, Studio East, and many more companies throughout his career.

Creative Team Member

Victoria Brown is a Junior Entertainment Business major with a directing minor at Oklahoma City University. She has been passionate about theater and the arts since she was 12. When not in the theatre or in class Torie loves to relax by watching Netflix, Reading, or hanging out with her best friends 

Creative Team Member

Kat Capili is an American actress with Filipino heritage. Like many young performers, singing sparked her passion for performing on stage. For more than 7 years, she has been performing on stage as a singer, actress, and musician. At the age of 16 she began screen acting, and has since been admitted to the New York University Tisch School of the Arts to retrieve her BFA in Drama.  

Creative Team Member

Lauren Barkman is a 20-year-old musical theatre major at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Originally from Bucks County, PA, Lauren began dancing at age 8. She loves all aspects of the creative process. She has acted as a performer, choreographer, dance captain, and stage manager on various productions. Performance credits: Newsies, Legally Blonde, Beauty and the Beast, and The Miracle Worker. Choreography credits: Tarzan, Sweet Charity, and The Wizard of Oz.

Creative Team Member

Talia Pirron is a singer, actress, and musical director from Richmond, Virginia and a current freshman at the University of Virginia studying music and French. Talia began singing when she was 6 years old and hasn't stopped since. She attended a high school for the performing arts where she was a double major in voice and musical theater and is a trained classical soprano in addition to her theater training. She also sang with a children's choir throughout middle school and high school, with whom she had the privilege of performing on world stages such as Lincoln Center, The White House, and Carnegie Hall. Talia is extraordinarily passionate about music and theater and is so excited to be a part of The Virtual Theater Company team!  

Creative Team Member

Mariela Rivero is currently pursuing a BFA in Acting & minor in Film Studies at Pace University in NYC, where she is also a member of the Honors College. Prior to entering Pace, she was an understudy and intern at Delaware Shakespeare. Outside of performing, she is passionate about teaching, mentoring children, and making theatre more diverse and accessible. Additionally, she is a media intern at SoHo Shakespeare Company, where she writes for the blog on all things Shakespeare. Insta: @marielarivero.nyc

Creative Team Member
Fabiano Nardone (he/him) is an emerging theatrical performer, passionate about self-expression and individual growth. Fabiano is a current freshman BFA Contemporary Theater major at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Most recently, Fabiano has been interning with the Seattle Children's Theatre, bringing a virtual Musical Theatre education to the regional area. From choreographing and teaching to performing on stage himself, Fabiano is super excited to be immersed into the online theatre scene once again!

Creative Team Member
Mia is an actress, singer and dancer based in New York City and Seattle, Washington. She is currently a junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program at Pace University. Her love for theatre began when she was 13 years old, performing in various shows around the Washington community. Since then, she has performed with various theatre companies in New York City and regional summer stock companies.   

Creative Team Member
Caitlin Sarwono is a 3rd year Music Education major at the University of Washington. She has been performing in musicals since she was in 7th grade and started teaching music junior year of high school. She has been working at the Redmond Academy of Theatre Arts teaching voice classes and summer camps for kids. Caitlin music directed Miscast Cabaret at her high school as well as Heathers the Musical at Ballyhoo Theatre. She loves teaching and is so excited to have this opportunity to work with you!

Creative Team Member
Vincent Bennett specializes in dance! He has been training all his life, and has developed technique in multiple styles over the years. He has been a musical theater performer for the last 5 years, and has performed all over the Seattle area. Prior to theatre, he was trained in classical ballet at Pacific Northwest Ballet. Styles Vincent specializes in include ballet, tap, and musical theatre jazz.

Creative Team Member
Hannah Castrogiovanni is a sophomore year musical theatre major at New York University. She has been studying classical and musical theater singing for almost 7 years now. She became interested in pursuing musical theater as a career during high school and now is working towards being a professional performer in the heart of New York City!

Creative Team Member

Creative Team Member

Coral Plank is a playwright, composer, songwriter, actor, etcetera etcetera, and enjoys a good cookie. She's very passionate about music, writing, and writing music, so hopefully she'll get to do a lot of that soon!

Creative Team Member

Creative Team Member

Creative Team Member

Creative Team Member

Creative Team Member