Carolyn Little has been the New Jersey Chapter Director of the Educational Theatre Association since 2013. She has a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Human Services and a concentration in Secondary Education from Montclair State University. She also holds a master’s degree in Higher Education: Leadership for Student Success from Walden University and a master's degree in Theatre from Regent University. She began her career in 2002 at Toms River High School North, in Toms River, NJ, teaching English and Theatre. She directed the after-school theatre program there since 2006 which included NJDFL, the musical, fall and spring plays, and the International Thespian Society Troupe #7455. In 2022, she accepted a position as a theatre instructor at the Grunin Performing Arts Academy in Toms River, NJ. Her and her theatre colleague rotate each year with their direction of the gal drama and the musical. She also co-advises both Black Box Players and the International Thespian Society Troupe #6185. Carolyn has served on the ArtsEdNJ September Ready Taskforce, the Count Basie Theatre's mindALIGNED Programming Committee, and the Educational Theatre Association's Broadway Back to School Committee. In 2013, she received the United Way's Live United Young Altruistic Professionals Award for her creation of Operation Storm TROUPErs, a community-service group serving those impacted by Superstorm Sandy. In 2018, Carolyn was honored to receive the Educational Theatre Association's National Inspirational Theatre Educator Award. In 2021, she was humbled to be nominated and awarded the New Jersey Thespian Educator of the Year. In 2024, Carolyn was recognized as a “True Champion For The Arts” by T-Mobile in their Teacher Shout Out for July. “I regard the theater as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.” - Pablo Picasso

Jason Wylie is a dedicated student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Education. He has a notable background as an alumnus of the STO program and is currently serving as the High School Festival Director for the third year. Jason has also gained valuable experience as the Managing Director Associate at the historic Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, for the past year. Furthermore, he has been appointed to the Production Adjudication Committee for the International Thespian Festival and Educational Theatre Association. Jason is committed to expanding programming at the State Festival to make Festival a more accessible and inclusive space for all. Jason implemented the VSA (Very Special Arts) categories in 2022 and is an inaugural member of the NJ DEIA Committee and currently serves on the Bylaw/Governance, Professional Development, and Risk Management Committees for NJ Thespians.

Previously, Jason served on the Production team for the 2020 Virtual All State Show, Songs for a New World, which was selected as a Mainstage Production at the 2021 International Thespian Festival. He has also worked as the Costumer, Director, and Theatre Competition Coach at Northern Burlington Co. Reg. High School in Columbus, NJ, where he had been able to expand programs that have helped develop his love for theatre.

Alison Sussman received her degree in Theatre Arts from Drew University. After leaving school, she worked at George Street Playhouse (GSP) as the Associate Director of Education and Outreach where, among her many other duties, she coordinated (and often taught) the theatre classes and summer camps. She has been teaching theatre and English in New Jersey public schools since she left GSP in 2001. In addition to directing plays and the drama program at her school, she has created numerous theatre workshop, festival, and performance opportunities for students. In August of 2014, Ms. Sussman commissioned and directed a new play with students which was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival; she returned with students in 2017. Ms. Sussman was Robbinsville School District Teacher of the Year in 2008 and the Mercer County Teacher of the Year in 2009. She directed our first NJ All-State Show, Girls Like That , for the 2019-2020 festival.

Dr. Penna is a Theater Teacher in the Arts Academy at Toms River High School North and the Troupe Director for Troupe #7455. Dr. Penna has a Ph.D. in Education from Walden University, MPhil in Education from Walden University, MA in Theater Studies from Montclair State University and a BFA in Musical Theater from Syracuse University. Dr. Penna has over 25 years of experience in the Theatrical Arts. Dr. Penna has worked professionally on Broadway, National Tours, and Regional Theaters. Dr. Penna is a proud member of the Actors Equity Association (AEA),and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). Dr. Penna is a Council  Member on the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a State Board Member for The New Jersey Thespian Society, a Board Member for the National English Honor Society and a School Board Member on the Asbury Park School Board. Dr. Penna was the recipient of the 2022 NJ State Teen Arts: Educator of the Year Award, the 2022 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award: for Outstanding Educator, the 2022 Monmouth Arts: Arts Education Award, the 2022 International Thespian Society: Inspirational Theatre Educator Award, the 2019 Montclair State University Foxy Award for Excellence in Theater Education and the 2018 Basie Award for Best Lighting Design of a Drama.

Zach joined the NJ State Board in 2015. He’s a 2013 graduate of the Gloucester County Institute of Technology’s Academy of Performing Arts & Troupe 5480. Zach is a certified EMT in both NJ & PA. Zach is heavily involved with EdTA, serving on the Advocacy Leadership Network & the Thespy Committee. He serves NJ as the Advocacy, Workshop, Fundraising, Adult Awards & Outreach Chairs. Zach is the Secretary to the School Nurse at GCIT and the Co-Thespian Troupe Director. In 2023, he was named the Support Staff of the Year and was inducted into the GCIT CTSO Wall of Fame for his work with both Thespian and SkillsUSA. He’s the 2012 SkillsUSA National Gold Medal Winner, advocating for suicide & mental health awareness. He was also named the 2018 EdTA Volunteer of the Year with the ALN & the 2019 ArtPride New Jersey's Distinguished Arts Advocate presented at the New Jersey Governor's Awards in Arts Education. In June 2023 & June 2024 - the team at GCIT received the Superior Educator Award at the International Thespian Festival Thespy Awards for having the highest number of student superior medals at the festival.

Elisabeth Campbell is a graduate from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University where she received her BFA in Acting. She also studied abroad at The London Academy of Theatre. She has taught Drama at Cumberland Regional High School since 2004 and helped create the Drama Academy program, where students study a vast curriculum of theatre for all four years of their high school experience. Her program was recently recognized by the Educational Theatre Association for being a Premier School for Theatre Education.  She also directs the fall play at CRHS and was one of the first teacher participants in the Shakesperience competition at Rider University, modeled after the festival at the Folger Theatre in Washington D.C.  Her most recent fall plays include The Outsiders, Puffs, Tower Stories, Radium Girls, As You Like It, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Elisabeth has acted, directed, and served as vocal coach for many regional and community theatre companies, including The Delaware Shakespeare Festival, The Levoy Theatre, and Rowan College of South Jersey. Some favorite recent roles performed include Mrs. White in Clue, Mrs. Gibbs in Our Town, and M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias. Elisabeth has served on the NJ Thespian Board as the judging coordinator since 2020.  She is a big believer in theatre education and strives to help her students understand that the skills learned in theatre will serve them in any future career.

Robert J Klimowski is the Performing Arts Center Manager and Technical Director for the Academy of Performing Arts  at BCIT Medford. Rob is a South Jersey native and he is a graduate from Rowan University with a BA in Technical Theatre. He has worked all over the Tri-State area for the past few years as a Free-lance Scenic Carpenter and has worked with many theatres as their Technical Director and Designer as well. He is the 2017 & 2018 Foxy Award recipient for Outstanding Lighting Design in a play. He currently runs his Scenic Rental / Custom Build shop in Cherry Hill - RJK SCENIC PRODUCTIONS, LLC. Rob has run the Tech Olympics and Advanced Tech Challenge for the past two years. He is very excited to be a member of the NJ Thespian Society State Board. "If the World is a Stage... It needs someone to run it" - Stage Technician  

Lucinda Fisher holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theater Arts with a concentration in Acting and a Masters Degree in Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she worked as a Teacher Assistant in Acting and Tap I and II classes. She is the founder and advisor of the Jr. Thespian Troupe at Delaware Township School, where she also teaches and directs the elementary and middle school drama program. She is a performer herself and has worked in many professional and community theatres throughout the tristate area. She was the 2017 Best Actress winner for the Mountie Awards and has been nominated several times for the same category since. She is the director of Summer Children's Theatre at the Perkiomen School and the former director of Children's Theater at Music Mountain Theatre. She teaches many different forms of dance at studios throughout New Jersey and instructs private vocal lessons. Lucinda is an evaluator for the Rising Stars Awards for Paper Mill Playhouse and is a proud member of both Alpha Psi Omega and of Thespian Troupe #3035. Lucinda is looking forward to continuing to spread her love of theater to the next generation and to create many exciting opportunities for our Junior Thespians.

Scott F. Cooney is a professional actor/director turned teacher who has been preparing and coaching students for their college auditions for over 20 years and is the head acting instructor at BCIT Medford’s Academy of Performing Arts.  Mr. Cooney is the troupe director of BCIT Medford's International Thespian Society troupe 7891 and is an active member of the NJ Thespians State Board.  Mr. Cooney was the recipient of the 2015 Foxy Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play for his original immersive adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic Romeo & Juliet and the 2020 Peter Filichia Award for Pushing the Envelope in Academic Theatre for his production of Macbeth: The Scottish Play in a Galaxy Far, Far Away.   In April 2020, Mr. Cooney was selected as one of three theatre educators to participate in an online panel to discuss techniques and tips for teaching theatre online during the pandemic by the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) in a webinar entitled "Let's Talk Teaching Theatre Online and was interviewed and featured in EdTA's Theatre Education Community Spotlight for May 2020.  In 2023, Mr. Cooney was honored with the esteemed Jo Anne Fox Award at Montclair State University's Annual Theatre Night Awards.  The award is awarded each year to a theatre teacher who is deemed “an inspiration to his/her students, whose passion for theatre is infectious, and who creates a community, a loving extended family in his/her school in the process of producing high-quality productions.”  Mr. Cooney is excited to be on the State Board and looking forward to another successful year.    

Tyler Daddario is the Manager of Theatrical Programming & Presentations at Philadelphia Orchestra & Ensemble Arts (formerly the Kimmel Cultural Campus) in Philadelphia, where he works with the programming and education teams on produced performances and events. Previously, he was the Education Director & Broadway Season Coordinator at the Levoy Theatre in Millville, NJ. As a freelance director, designer, and manager, Tyler has worked with companies including the Forestburgh Playhouse, the Broadway Theatre of Pitman, Cumberland Players, Cedar Creek HS, The Levoy Theatre, Triple Threat Workshop, and the Off Broad Street Players. He is a graduate of Rider University and interned in Walt Disney World & with iTheatrics at the Junior Theatre Festival. He was awarded a NJACT Perry Award for producing & lighting Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the 2019 Broadway World NJ Award for lighting Mamma Mia!, both at the Levoy; the 2021 Broadway World NJ Award for lighting Ragtime with TTW; and the 2023 Montclair Theatre Night Foxy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design for Disney's Beauty and the Beast at Cedar Creek HS. www.tylerdaddario.com

John T. Stephan graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s degree in English and K-12 Subject Matter Education and a minor in Theatre. He earned a Master’s degree in Theatre from the University of Northern Colorado’s Department of Theatre and Dance. He most recently earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Directing through the University of Idaho's Theatre Arts Department. Outside of Washington Township HS, Mr. Stephan directs and choreographs for college, community, and semi-professional theatre companies including Camden County College's Theatre Department, The Off Broad Street Players Theatre Company at the Levoy Theatre, and The Broadway Theatre of Pitman. He has directed/choreographed productions of: Bye Bye Birdie, Damn Yankees, Grease, Anything Goes, RENT, Shrek the Musical (NJACT Perry Award Nomination for "Outstanding Choreography"), Disney's The Little Mermaid (NJACT Perry Award Nominations for "Outstanding Choreography" and "Outstanding Production of a Musical"), The Will Rogers Follies: A Life in Revue, Sister Act: The Musical, Titanic: The Musical, Disney's Beauty and the Beast (NJACT Perry Award Nominations for "Outstanding Choreography," "Outstanding Direction," and winner for "Outstanding Production of a Musical"), Evita, Mamma Mia!, (NJACT Perry Award Nomination for "Outstanding Production of a Musical"), The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Always Patsy Cline, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Pippin, Bright Star, Into the Woods, Big Fish: The Musical, Ragtime, and Parade (upcoming). At WTHS, he currently teaches Theatre Academy I, Exploring the Theatre, Advanced Theatre, Honors Theatre Performance Studio, and English 12, in addition to directing the annual all-school fall play and spring musical.

Jessica Benvenuti (Mrs. B) is excited to be returning to the NJ Thespian Adult board this year. In the past, she created the Props IE category and stage managed the NJ All-State Shows. She has also acted as a judge at the New Jersey Festival and is the NJ Festival Properties Coordinator. She is currently the Opening and Closing Ceremonies Stage Manager and the Chapter Select Props Coordinator. She helped to facilitate the creation of Troupe 4883 at Ewing High School back in 2015. She continues to teach Science and set design at Ewing High School. She graduated from Rider University with a BA in Special Education and Technical Theater as well as her certificate in Leadership. In addition to teaching, she acts as a props master for shows all over New Jersey.

Katie Knoblock (known as Ms. K by her students) is the proud troupe co-director for Thespian Troupe 5480. She has been teaching theatre at Gloucester County Institute of Technology since 2015. She received her B.A. in Acting/Directing and her Masters in Theatre Education both from Rowan University. When she isn’t running around GCIT directing productions, coaching sports, or planning trips and dances, she is acting and directing at local theatres such as The Ritz Theatre Company, The Grand Theatre, and Haddonfield Plays and Players. Since 2019 she has loved her time on the board and is excited to be involved with an organization she truly believes in! 

Mrs. Valerie Gargus is the Festival Director and New Jersey Thespians Community Administrator for the NJ Thespian Board of Directors. She loves the challenge of making sure everyone has time to do all they want to do at the festival!  In 2015 Mrs. Gargus retired from Northern Burlington County Regional High School (Troupe 4762) where she had taught theatre and directed plays and musicals since 1980.  She has a BA in Drama from William Paterson University and an M.A. in Teaching Speech & Theatre from Montclair University.  She received her school’s Educator of the Year Award in 2015, the NJ Governor’s Award in the Arts for Outstanding Speech & Theatre Teacher in 2008, the Best Practice award from the New Jersey State Department of Education for her Directing a Play course in 2002, and the Outstanding NJ Thespian Director in 1999. She was inducted into the NJ Thespians Hall of Fame in December 2019.

Nicky Malone serves as the director and producer of the HHS Theatre program and the Theatre Council advisor. She founded and chartered Troupe 10385 and serves as its troupe director. She holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Education with focus on English, Theatre, and Creative Writing. She also holds a Master of the Arts in Teacher Leadership, Gifted & Talented Education, and Creativity from Rider University. She is a certified teacher of theatre, speech arts and dramatics, and English. She was recently certified to teach the Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Development curriculum for high school and college students. She is a locally produced playwright, who studied under the mentorship of William Mastersimone. In addition to her role in theatre, she serves as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Middle States Region Production Team. She resides in Hillsborough, NJ with her husband, three children, two kittens, one puppy, and chickens.

Dr. Jim DeVivo is a theatre teacher, director, and researcher with over 25 years experience. He teaches grades 7-12 in the Holmdel Township Schools, is an adjunct professor of educational theatre at NYU and Adelphia University, Artistic Associate for the New Plays for Young Audiences Series at the Provincetown Playhouse (NYC), and the creator of Young Playwrights Guide, a playwriting resource for young writers and their mentors. Prior to classroom teaching, Jim specialized in the development of theatrical work by and for youth as Director of Education for Writers Theatre of New Jersey and produced the annual New Jersey Young Playwrights Festival. His research is published in Youth Theatre Journal, ArtsPraxis and the Routledge Companion to Theatre and Young People. Jim received the Lowell S. and Nancy Swortzell Graduate Scholarship (2008), a NJ Governor’s Award for Arts Education (2009), an Award of Excellence from the NJ Theatre Alliance (2018), and is a member of the Liverpool Central School District Fine Arts Hall of Fame. He earned PhD and MA degrees in Educational Theatre from NYU and graduated magna cum laude with University Honors from Niagara University with a dual major BFA in Theatre and English. Jim is married to Bridget DeVivo, the award-winning Director of Drama at Oak Hill Academy in Lincroft, with whom he co-directs a troupe of three children and one pug… some of whom take direction well. www.jimdevivo.com

BIO INCOMING

Benjamin is a current undergraduate student at Harvard University pursuing a
B.A. in Molecular and Cellular Biology. An alumnus of Troupe 3411, he is ecstatic to now serve as the merchandise coordinator and work with the vastly talented members of the NJ Adult Board! During his time as a thespian, Benjamin received a Superior Thespy Award for Stage Management in 2022, was named a 2024 NJ All-State Thespian, and served as the STO Co-Chair for the 2023-2024 school year. He has experience teaching students of various ages serving as an associate teaching artist at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, specifically serving the student productions program. When he's not in school, you can find Benjamin at the Algonquin Arts Theatre as a rehearsal stage manager or as a member of the ensemble! Benjamin is very excited to be involved in planning a fantastic year for NJ Thespians!

BIO INCOMING

A graduate of New Jersey City University and Saint Peter's University, Sarah has worked in education for 25 years. In her time as an educator, she has directed 19 shows, musicals and dramas and done fundraising coordinating for a children's theater troupe as well. Students in her high school level shows have gained scholarships to the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts in NYC.

BIO INCOMING

Kayla is a multi-disciplinary theatre artist who teaches Theatre & Public Speaking at Overbrook High School and is the troupe director for Thespian Troupe #6052. She received her B.A. in Theatre Arts and her Master's in Education K-12 from Rowan University and has experience teaching students ages four to adulthood. When she isn't teaching, she can be found with a coffee in one hand and a play in another; freelance directing and acting in the Philadelphia & South Jersey region. Kayla is excited to be involved with the NJ Thespian Adult Board and looks forward to creating memorable experiences for all!

BIO INCOMING

Lauren McClellan has been a member of the theatre community since a young age. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelors degree in Theatre Education. During that time she served as president of Alpha Psi Omega, the honors theatre co-ed fraternity and served as a student director in the lab theatre. Since that time, she served as assistant director for many shows such as The Prom, The Laramie Project, Little Shop of Horrors, Wizard of Oz and many more. Currently, Lauren is the Theatre Program Director at Lindenwold High School. She is thrilled to serve on the ITS board as the Social Media Co-Chair. In her personal time, she loves spending time with her husband, Patrick, her pets, Blu and Kelce, and nieces, Charleigh and Coree.

Jessica is a proud graduate of Rowan University, holding a B.A. in Theatre Arts/Musical Theatre as well as a M.A. in Theatre Arts Administration. She also attended Stockton University pursuing her M.A. in Education via the Alternate Route Teaching program. Jessica is a dedicated theatre educator and professional, determined to bring the best to her craft and to her students. She is the proud founder and artistic director of Bellarine Theatre Company, located in Southern Ocean County. She continues to work professionally throughout the region, and brings her expertise with her wherever she goes - whether it be into her Theatre & Dance classroom at Southern Regional High School, or onto the stage. When Jessica is not onstage, backstage, or in a classroom, you can find her snuggled at home with her husband, pups, bunny, and her son Aaron!