Jeanne (she/her) founded Traveling Players Ensemble to give theatre students a joyful, rigorous, and nurturing artistic community to grow up in. She serves as both Producing Artistic and Executive Director, including vision and creative leadership for all educational and artistic activities, organizational direction, and staff management. She collaborates with staff on programming and marketing. She coordinates with the board on partnership development, finances, budgeting, fundraising, and strategic planning.
Jeanne continues to teach and direct all year long for Traveling Players, including directing Shakespeare Troupe in the summer. In her 36-year teaching career, Jeanne has taught for The Folger Shakespeare Library, Catholic University, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Loyola University (MD), Chapin School (NYC), and Interlochen Center for the Arts (MI), where she directed the Shakespeare program. Jeanne has worked in camping for 37 years, directed two other camps, and is a certified Camp Director (American Camp Association) and Instructor with the American Red Cross.
Often doubling as choreographer and sound designer, Jeanne has directed over a hundred theatrical productions. Recent productions include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Commedia Christmas Carol (her own adaptation), Comedy of Errors, Hecuba (Kenneth McLeish’s translation of Euripides), Taming of the Shrew, Antigone by Jean Anouilh (based on Sophocles), Dust by Sarah Daniels, and Cymbeline.
An expert in mask, Commedia dell'Arte, and physical training for actors, Jeanne has presented workshops at the National Conference of the American Alliance for Theater & Education (AATE). She holds an MA in Theater from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MFA in Directing from Catholic University.
She served as a judge for Theatre Washington’s Helen Hayes Awards as well as the English-Speaking Union’s Shakespeare competition. She served as a panelist for Virginia’s Commission for the Arts and Maryland’s Council for the Arts & Humanities. Her lesson plans are published in The American Girls Collection, a Teacher’s Guide. She was selected as one of ArtsFairfax’s three 2015 Middle School Artists-in-Residence, and she also received ArtsFairfax’s 2016 Strauss Artist Award for her distinctive fusing of physical and classical theatre.
In collaboration with the Producing Artistic Director, Robin (she/her) manages financial reporting to the board and funders, fundraising and grants, payroll, bookkeeping, and operations. Robin has worked in arts and nonprofit management for 19 years. She served on the board of the Herndon Foundation for the Cultural Arts from 2005-2015 and managed ArtSpace Herndon on a volunteer basis from the arts center’s launch in 2008 through 2012. She has worked for Traveling Players since 2015.
With a BA in Public Policy and Political Science from Duke University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Robin’s professional experience is in banking, marketing, strategic planning, and finance. In 2013, Robin was honored as one of three “Women in the Arts” by the Council for the Arts of Herndon and was recognized by the Town of Herndon with a Distinguished Service Award. She completed the Leadership Fairfax Lifetime Leadership Program in 2015. She has served on the Arts Education and the Teaching Artist Roster Panels for the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
Robin’s mother, Ruth, was one of the first physical education (PE) teachers in the US, in addition to being a Girl Scout leader and camp director. Robin spent her youth in North Carolina, exploring the outdoors with her family. The Ruthie Award, named in honor of Robin’s mother, is given out every summer to a residential camper and staffer who embodies Ruth’s spirit – boldly navigating the great outdoors while educating others to revel in our natural world.
Morgan (she/her) joined the Traveling Players community in 2007 as a student in the Thespian Ensemble and remembers well the days of being “a middle school theatre kid.” Today, she is the Head of our Middle School Programs, our Thespians, teaching acting classes and directing plays throughout the year, including our Thespian Ensemble over the summer. This is her eighth year on staff. She spent six summers as a camper (Thespian and Shakespeare Ensembles, as well as Commedia and Shakespeare Troupes).
As the Director of Communications & Marketing, Morgan lets the community know about our programs and opportunities - as well as the ways the Traveling Players community can be a transformational experience and a touchstone for the rest of their lives.
Morgan has taught and developed new curricula for our Technical Theatre program as well as middle school classes including Preparing a Role and Scene Study & Acting Technique. She co-developed and now leads our workshop “Embedded Bias in Classical Literature” (with Ryan Fields).
In 2022, she launched and now leads the Greater Washington Middle School Theatre Festival. This festival, hosted by Traveling Players, is exclusively for Middle School students and designed to help them connect and learn with peers from other schools while celebrating the joy of theater.
Recent Traveling Players directing credits include Molière’s Learned Ladies and Tartuffe, Carlo Gozzi's Green Bird, King Stag, and Blue Monster, The Odyssey by Gregory A. Falls & Kurt Beattie, PUFFS by Matt Cox, and The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke, adapted to the stage by James DeVita. She served as Assistant Director on Orlando, Jane Eyre, The Learned Ladies, The Doctor in Spite of Himself, Tartuffe, Rumpelstiltskin, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Morgan also designs and constructs props for Traveling Players productions and mentors the Technical Theatre Apprentices during the academic year.
Other artistic work includes directing Mojo at Studio 115 and Assistant to the Director for Smile Lines at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, where she also worked in the box office for many years.
Emma (she/they) is the Head of our Elementary School Programs, teaching and directing our youngest students all year long, including our summer Mythology Ensemble. She is our Director of Programs and registrar, assisting families as they navigate the website and join the community. They started teaching with Traveling Players during the summer of 2019.
Growing up, she was consumed by her love of Greek Mythology, reading whatever she could get her hands on. She studied Latin in school and even went to a Greek Mythology camp. She was also (and still is) a lover of the outdoors. From sleepaway camp to Girl Scouts, to white-water rafting, horseback riding, hiking, and high ropes courses, she loves adventuring in the great outdoors. She is a graduate of James Madison University, where she earned her BA in Theatre.
Her passion for theatre began with musical theatre, where she trained in voice, dance, and even cello. Her interest in music and movement continues to inspire her directing. She loves creating rhythmic ensemble moments that allow students to work as a storytelling unit.
Through her time at Traveling Players, Emma has been lucky to direct four World Premieres written by our playwright-in-residence, Judith Walsh White: Orpheus & Eurydice, Eros & Psyche, Heracles, and Atalanta. Other Judy plays Emma has directed include Persephone, Ariadne’s Thread, and Pandora’s Fire, as well as Alice in Wonderland by William Glennon, Dracula: A Comic Thriller Starring Shirley Holmes & Jennie Watson by Kent Brown, and Treasure Island by Todd Espeland.
She is the faculty advisor for our student ambassador group, the King's Men, and also teaches Acting and Improv classes and is the lead teacher for our Girl Scout theatre badge program. Emma has served as assistant director for Learned Ladies, Green Bird, Commedia Christmas Carol, King Stag, The Odyssey, Blue Monster, Ariadne’s Thread, and Pandora’s Fire.
Ryan (they/he) is the Co-Head of the High School Programs (with Jeanne Harrison), teaching year-round and directing our Shakespeare Ensemble over the summer. This is Ryan’s eighth year on staff. In addition to being a teaching artist, he is our Outreach Manager, connecting us with the local schools. He represented Traveling Players in ArtsFairfax's DEIA Cohort program in 2021-2022.
Ryan’s a Traveling Players alum, and his closest friends remain those that he made as a high schooler performing Shakespeare with Traveling Players. He is a veteran of our Thespian and Shakespeare Ensembles, as well as Commedia and Shakespeare Troupes, and performed with Traveling Players at the Reston Multicultural Festival and the International Children’s Festival at Wolf Trap.
Ryan directs our Shakespeare Ensemble over the summer, breathing new life into Shakespeare’s plays: Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It (their favorite play), Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Henry IV, Part 1 (Shakespeare’s first history that Traveling Players produced). Ryan has previously directed Orlando by Sarah Ruhl and Jane Eyre by Dr. Christine Davey for Traveling Players’ winter festivals. Ryan has also been an assistant director on Commedia Christmas Carol, Hecuba, Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, and Jack and Beans.
Ryan has developed new curricula for our community and high school classes, including Scene Study & Acting Technique, Preparing a Role, and Ryan's Playlist (an introduction to queer & female playwrights). They co-led two workshops: Embedded Bias in Classical Literature (with Morgan Shotwell) and Directing 101 (with Jeanne Harrison).
Ryan is a Muhlenberg College graduate in Theatre and English. While an undergraduate, Ryan starred in Allentown Public Theatre’s production of The Island by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona.
Jeanne (she/her) founded Traveling Players Ensemble to give theatre students a joyful, rigorous, and nurturing artistic community to grow up in. She serves as both Producing Artistic and Executive Director, including vision and creative leadership for all educational and artistic activities, organizational direction, and staff management. She collaborates with staff on programming and marketing. She coordinates with the board on partnership development, finances, budgeting, fundraising, and strategic planning.
Jeanne continues to teach and direct all year long for Traveling Players, including directing Shakespeare Troupe in the summer. In her 36-year teaching career, Jeanne has taught for The Folger Shakespeare Library, Catholic University, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Loyola University (MD), Chapin School (NYC), and Interlochen Center for the Arts (MI), where she directed the Shakespeare program. Jeanne has worked in camping for 37 years, directed two other camps, and is a certified Camp Director (American Camp Association) and Instructor with the American Red Cross.
Often doubling as choreographer and sound designer, Jeanne has directed over a hundred theatrical productions. Recent productions include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Commedia Christmas Carol (her own adaptation), Comedy of Errors, Hecuba (Kenneth McLeish’s translation of Euripides), Taming of the Shrew, Antigone by Jean Anouilh (based on Sophocles), Dust by Sarah Daniels, and Cymbeline.
An expert in mask, Commedia dell'Arte, and physical training for actors, Jeanne has presented workshops at the National Conference of the American Alliance for Theater & Education (AATE). She holds an MA in Theater from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MFA in Directing from Catholic University.
She served as a judge for Theatre Washington’s Helen Hayes Awards as well as the English-Speaking Union’s Shakespeare competition. She served as a panelist for Virginia’s Commission for the Arts and Maryland’s Council for the Arts & Humanities. Her lesson plans are published in The American Girls Collection, a Teacher’s Guide. She was selected as one of ArtsFairfax’s three 2015 Middle School Artists-in-Residence, and she also received ArtsFairfax’s 2016 Strauss Artist Award for her distinctive fusing of physical and classical theatre.
Cam (he/him) will be joining Traveling Players for the first time this summer. Proud of earning his BFA in Acting from Ithaca College, he served as the Teaching Assistant for undergraduate Voice & Speech and Freshman Voice & Movement classes. Cam has had the privilege of playing some iconic Shakespeare roles including Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, and The Queen in Cymbeline. He has recently started directing and is having a ball being on the other side of the table - sharing the life lessons and skills he's learned from theatre.
Originally from DC, he grew up attending and later working at Calleva Outdoor Adventure Camp here in the area. Currently, he works as a substitute and an assistant director at a private school in Potomac, MD. A free spirit by nature, he has traveled and has had many jobs in different fields. Therefore, he can tell you from firsthand experience how important the skills one learns from theatre are and the difference they can make in the greater world.
Combining the outdoors with theatre? Talk about the most amazing combination in the world. Let's go!!
Emma "Monty" Montgomery (she/her) is a fight director based out of Lexington Kentucky. She is currently working as a Special Education Teacher at Meadowthorpe Elementary. Monty is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, and a certified Advanced Actor Combatant in eight weapons with the Society of American Fight Directors. This is Monty's third summer with Traveling Players Ensemble, and with Shakespeare Troupe. She is so excited to be back in Virginia and a part of this summer's productions!
Casey (he/him) has choreographed fights for Traveling Players since 2006. He has choreographed fights for more than 500 professional and academic productions, including the Guthrie Theatre, Folger Theatre, Round House Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Spoleto Festival USA, Studio Theatre, Wolf Trap Opera, National Players, Washington National Opera, Castleton Festival, Constellation Theatre, Rorschach Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Signature Theatre, and Ford's Theatre. He is a three-time Helen Hayes Awards nominee in fight direction.
Academic productions include Georgetown, American, Gallaudet, and Catholic Universities, along with the University of Maryland in both College Park and Baltimore County. He has taught for the University of Maryland, George Mason University, University of Mary Washington, Peabody Institute, Shepherd University, Catholic University, Regent, and Old Dominion University, as well as serving as a regular guest artist for the Shakespeare Theatre and Folger Library. A Certified Fight Director with the Society of American Fight Directors, Casey has been a guest instructor for Fight Directors Canada and Nordic Stagefight Society. He is certified by the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) and serves as an instructor for SAFD to certify the stage fighters of tomorrow.
Rae (he/they) is a graduate of James Madison University with a B.A. in Theatre and is thrilled to be returning to assistant direct the Mythology Ensemble and tech Shakespeare Troupe tour! Rae is Traveling Players' resident lighting designer and elementary school assistant. Traveling Players lighting designs include: Hecuba, Odyssey, Ariadne’s Thread, Romeo & Juliet, Comedy of Errors, Alice in Wonderland, Commedia Christmas Carol, Dracula: A Comic Thriller, Jane Eyre, Orpheus & Eurydice, Treasure Island, and Orlando. They spent their college years creating, writing, designing, teching, and performing in both mainstage and student-produced works. While having experience in many kinds of theatre, they have always most enjoyed youth theatre. He currently teaches 6th grade at Franconia Elementary, where he also assistant directed their production of Newsies Jr. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his bearded dragon (John Henry "Doc" Holliday), perusing the LEGO website for the latest sets, and cheering on the Capitals. He is ecstatic to meet this summer’s Mythology Ensembles!
Ryan (they/he) is the Co-Head of the High School Programs (with Jeanne Harrison), teaching year-round and directing our Shakespeare Ensemble over the summer. This is Ryan’s eighth year on staff. In addition to being a teaching artist, he is our Outreach Manager, connecting us with the local schools. He represented Traveling Players in ArtsFairfax's DEIA Cohort program in 2021-2022.
Ryan’s a Traveling Players alum, and his closest friends remain those that he made as a high schooler performing Shakespeare with Traveling Players. He is a veteran of our Thespian and Shakespeare Ensembles, as well as Commedia and Shakespeare Troupes, and performed with Traveling Players at the Reston Multicultural Festival and the International Children’s Festival at Wolf Trap.
Ryan directs our Shakespeare Ensemble over the summer, breathing new life into Shakespeare’s plays: Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It (their favorite play), Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Henry IV, Part 1 (Shakespeare’s first history that Traveling Players produced). Ryan has previously directed Orlando by Sarah Ruhl and Jane Eyre by Dr. Christine Davey for Traveling Players’ winter festivals. Ryan has also been an assistant director on Commedia Christmas Carol, Hecuba, Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, and Jack and Beans.
Ryan has developed new curricula for our community and high school classes, including Scene Study & Acting Technique, Preparing a Role, and Ryan's Playlist (an introduction to queer & female playwrights). They co-led two workshops: Embedded Bias in Classical Literature (with Morgan Shotwell) and Directing 101 (with Jeanne Harrison).
Ryan is a Muhlenberg College graduate in Theatre and English. While an undergraduate, Ryan starred in Allentown Public Theatre’s production of The Island by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona.
Abigail Brittle (she/they) is so blessed to join the Traveling Players this summer! Abigail is originally from Seattle, WA, and is a recent graduate from Southern Methodist University in Dallas TX, where she earned her degree in Theatre Studies. Two of their greatest loves are theatre and being outdoors, a combination that makes them excited to spend the summer at camp. Abigail can’t wait to spend more time with Shakespeare, while sharing her passion for heightened text with students. Recent directing work includes Everybody by Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins (SMU Division of Theatre), The Persians by Sophocles (Undermain Theatre), and We are Not These Hands by Sheila Callaghan (SMU Student Theatre). Abi loves to talk about plays, music, TV and writing! They are currently trying to get better at roller skating.
Isaiah (he/him) is super excited to be returning to Traveling Players this summer! He is a graduate of Christopher Newport University, where he earned a B.A. in Theatre with concentrations in Acting and Arts Administration. While there, he worked as a Student Technical Assistant at the Ferguson Center of the Arts and was Vice President of the improv comedy troupe “Laugh Out.” He previously taught Theatre and Photography/Videography at The Marshall School in Fredericksburg, VA. Some of his favorite roles from the past include Caliban in William and Mary College’s production of A Tempest, Conrad in Christopher Newport University’s production of Much Ado About Nothing, and Dr. John Prentice in the Glen Allen's Cultural Art Center's production of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Outside of work, you can find him playing video games or fumbling with his camera.
Mackenzie Cavagnaro (she/her) is beyond pumped to be spending her first summer with Traveling Players! She is a recent graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied drama at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and the Experimental Theatre Wing. At NYU, she served as president of her sketch comedy group, Comic Sans, for two years, where she wrote, directed, and costume designed. She has also worked as an assistant drama teacher at the High School of Economics and Finance in New York City, as well as the Music Theatre Teacher at the Summer Onstage Camp in her home state, New Jersey. She works as a production assistant at Manhattan Comedy School and frequently performs at Gotham Comedy Club as well as Yotel's "A-List Comics" shows. Some of her favorite recent roles she's played are Corin in "As You Like It" at the Stella Adler Studio, and Gina in Tisch Drama Stage's "The Duck." She is very excited to be returning to summer camp, as that's where she first discovered her love for theatre! She loves dogs, is partial to some good old arts and crafts, and is so excited to get started!
Morgan (she/her) joined the Traveling Players community in 2007 as a student in the Thespian Ensemble and remembers well the days of being “a middle school theatre kid.” Today, she is the Head of our Middle School Programs, our Thespians, teaching acting classes and directing plays throughout the year, including our Thespian Ensemble over the summer. This is her eighth year on staff. She spent six summers as a camper (Thespian and Shakespeare Ensembles, as well as Commedia and Shakespeare Troupes).
As the Director of Communications & Marketing, Morgan lets the community know about our programs and opportunities - as well as the ways the Traveling Players community can be a transformational experience and a touchstone for the rest of their lives.
Morgan has taught and developed new curricula for our Technical Theatre program as well as middle school classes including Preparing a Role and Scene Study & Acting Technique. She co-developed and now leads our workshop “Embedded Bias in Classical Literature” (with Ryan Fields).
In 2022, she launched and now leads the Greater Washington Middle School Theatre Festival. This festival, hosted by Traveling Players, is exclusively for Middle School students and designed to help them connect and learn with peers from other schools while celebrating the joy of theater.
Recent Traveling Players directing credits include Molière’s Learned Ladies and Tartuffe, Carlo Gozzi's Green Bird, King Stag, and Blue Monster, The Odyssey by Gregory A. Falls & Kurt Beattie, PUFFS by Matt Cox, and The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke, adapted to the stage by James DeVita. She served as Assistant Director on Orlando, Jane Eyre, The Learned Ladies, The Doctor in Spite of Himself, Tartuffe, Rumpelstiltskin, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Morgan also designs and constructs props for Traveling Players productions and mentors the Technical Theatre Apprentices during the academic year.
Other artistic work includes directing Mojo at Studio 115 and Assistant to the Director for Smile Lines at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, where she also worked in the box office for many years.
Avery Walters (she/her) graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a BFA in Acting and a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. While at CCU, she was involved in the inclusive theatre club, which focused on making the arts more accessible for differently abled individuals and creating space for everyone to feel seen and heard. She was also active in her student-run theatre club, where she directed, designed, and performed in cabaret fundraisers, one-act festivals, and shadowcasts. Some of her favorite recent projects include playing Lady Macbeth and directing a brand-new student-written piece. She loves diving into stories that are bold, messy, and full of heart. When she’s not in rehearsal, Avery’s usually watercoloring, watching movies (with commentary), or being the proud mother of two parakeets. She can’t wait for an amazing summer!
Traveling Players commissions original plays for the Mythology Ensembles from renowned DC-based educator and playwright Judith Walsh White (she/her). A student of ancient myth, she has written eleven plays based in world mythology, including ten commissioned by Traveling Players: Pandora’s Fire, Perseus and the Rock Star, Monkey King, Atum’s Eye, Ariadne’s Thread: the Adventures of Theseus and the Minotaur, Persephone, Atalanta, Heracles, Eros & Psyche, and Orpheus & Eurydice. Two of these were subsequently published by Theatrefolk, listing our first Mythology Ensemble as Original Cast, and have since received performances in Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, Canada, the UK, and Gibraltar, as well as throughout the US.
Judith is an award-winning teacher, playwright, poet, director, and actor specializing in ensemble-guided playwriting and work with young artists. Profiled in The Washingtonian in 1987 as one of DC’s ten best teachers, Judith taught drama and speech for over 20 years at the Holton-Arms School, where she trained Veep’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She taught drama to Jeanne Harrison, Traveling Players’ Producing Artistic Director, starting at age 4, and served six years on Traveling Players’ board of directors. She mentored teachers through the Center for Inspired Teaching (run by Aleta Margolis, another of her former students). As an actor, her range has included Off-Broadway to dinner theatre. She did graduate work at Oberlin, American Conservatory Theatre (ACT), and as a Northwestern University Fellow. She was most recently directing at St. Patrick’s School.
Emma (she/they) is the Head of our Elementary School Programs, teaching and directing our youngest students all year long, including our summer Mythology Ensemble. She is our Director of Programs and registrar, assisting families as they navigate the website and join the community. They started teaching with Traveling Players during the summer of 2019.
Growing up, she was consumed by her love of Greek Mythology, reading whatever she could get her hands on. She studied Latin in school and even went to a Greek Mythology camp. She was also (and still is) a lover of the outdoors. From sleepaway camp to Girl Scouts, to white-water rafting, horseback riding, hiking, and high ropes courses, she loves adventuring in the great outdoors. She is a graduate of James Madison University, where she earned her BA in Theatre.
Her passion for theatre began with musical theatre, where she trained in voice, dance, and even cello. Her interest in music and movement continues to inspire her directing. She loves creating rhythmic ensemble moments that allow students to work as a storytelling unit.
Through her time at Traveling Players, Emma has been lucky to direct four World Premieres written by our playwright-in-residence, Judith Walsh White: Orpheus & Eurydice, Eros & Psyche, Heracles, and Atalanta. Other Judy plays Emma has directed include Persephone, Ariadne’s Thread, and Pandora’s Fire, as well as Alice in Wonderland by William Glennon, Dracula: A Comic Thriller Starring Shirley Holmes & Jennie Watson by Kent Brown, and Treasure Island by Todd Espeland.
She is the faculty advisor for our student ambassador group, the King's Men, and also teaches Acting and Improv classes and is the lead teacher for our Girl Scout theatre badge program. Emma has served as assistant director for Learned Ladies, Green Bird, Commedia Christmas Carol, King Stag, The Odyssey, Blue Monster, Ariadne’s Thread, and Pandora’s Fire.
Rae (he/they) is a graduate of James Madison University with a B.A. in Theatre and is thrilled to be returning to assistant direct the Mythology Ensemble and tech Shakespeare Troupe tour! Rae is Traveling Players' resident lighting designer and elementary school assistant. Traveling Players lighting designs include: Hecuba, Odyssey, Ariadne’s Thread, Romeo & Juliet, Comedy of Errors, Alice in Wonderland, Commedia Christmas Carol, Dracula: A Comic Thriller, Jane Eyre, Orpheus & Eurydice, Treasure Island, and Orlando. They spent their college years creating, writing, designing, teching, and performing in both mainstage and student-produced works. While having experience in many kinds of theatre, they have always most enjoyed youth theatre. He currently teaches 6th grade at Franconia Elementary, where he also assistant directed their production of Newsies Jr. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his bearded dragon (John Henry "Doc" Holliday), perusing the LEGO website for the latest sets, and cheering on the Capitals. He is ecstatic to meet this summer’s Mythology Ensembles!
Nathan Sherwood Liang (he/him) is a composer, producer, and instrumentalist from San Francisco, CA. As a child, Nathan was influenced by the classical and jazz standards enjoyed by his family, and he began his musical education at age eight with the jazz pianist Ken French.
Studying jazz piano, and teaching himself trumpet, guitar, and mandolin with the help of friends and family, Nathan made his way through high school where he played in his school jazz band and studied music theory. Outside of school, Nathan’s jazz trio had regular gigs at a supper club (plus a few performances at other events in San Francisco), he also scored several independent films and plays and entered an original piece in an art competition for climate awareness (winning the Bowseat Judges Pick Award in 2020).
After high school, Nathan took a gap year and continued to develop his interest in scoring: composing original music for more films and plays, studying music theory, orchestration, and film scoring with Berklee and NYU, and embarking on a “100 days of composition” project on Instagram—where he wrote a short original orchestral piece every day for 100 days.
Nathan is majoring in music at Williams College in Massachusetts. He recently worked with a professor on a project funded by the National Science Foundation. He traveled to Ireland, where he recorded sounds of the coast and made The Storm Orchestra – virtual instruments created out of those recordings.
Jeanne (she/her) founded Traveling Players Ensemble to give theatre students a joyful, rigorous, and nurturing artistic community to grow up in. She serves as both Producing Artistic and Executive Director, including vision and creative leadership for all educational and artistic activities, organizational direction, and staff management. She collaborates with staff on programming and marketing. She coordinates with the board on partnership development, finances, budgeting, fundraising, and strategic planning.
Jeanne continues to teach and direct all year long for Traveling Players, including directing Shakespeare Troupe in the summer. In her 36-year teaching career, Jeanne has taught for The Folger Shakespeare Library, Catholic University, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Loyola University (MD), Chapin School (NYC), and Interlochen Center for the Arts (MI), where she directed the Shakespeare program. Jeanne has worked in camping for 37 years, directed two other camps, and is a certified Camp Director (American Camp Association) and Instructor with the American Red Cross.
Often doubling as choreographer and sound designer, Jeanne has directed over a hundred theatrical productions. Recent productions include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Commedia Christmas Carol (her own adaptation), Comedy of Errors, Hecuba (Kenneth McLeish’s translation of Euripides), Taming of the Shrew, Antigone by Jean Anouilh (based on Sophocles), Dust by Sarah Daniels, and Cymbeline.
An expert in mask, Commedia dell'Arte, and physical training for actors, Jeanne has presented workshops at the National Conference of the American Alliance for Theater & Education (AATE). She holds an MA in Theater from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MFA in Directing from Catholic University.
She served as a judge for Theatre Washington’s Helen Hayes Awards as well as the English-Speaking Union’s Shakespeare competition. She served as a panelist for Virginia’s Commission for the Arts and Maryland’s Council for the Arts & Humanities. Her lesson plans are published in The American Girls Collection, a Teacher’s Guide. She was selected as one of ArtsFairfax’s three 2015 Middle School Artists-in-Residence, and she also received ArtsFairfax’s 2016 Strauss Artist Award for her distinctive fusing of physical and classical theatre.
Casey (he/him) has choreographed fights for Traveling Players since 2006. He has choreographed fights for more than 500 professional and academic productions, including the Guthrie Theatre, Folger Theatre, Round House Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Spoleto Festival USA, Studio Theatre, Wolf Trap Opera, National Players, Washington National Opera, Castleton Festival, Constellation Theatre, Rorschach Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Signature Theatre, and Ford's Theatre. He is a three-time Helen Hayes Awards nominee in fight direction.
Academic productions include Georgetown, American, Gallaudet, and Catholic Universities, along with the University of Maryland in both College Park and Baltimore County. He has taught for the University of Maryland, George Mason University, University of Mary Washington, Peabody Institute, Shepherd University, Catholic University, Regent, and Old Dominion University, as well as serving as a regular guest artist for the Shakespeare Theatre and Folger Library. A Certified Fight Director with the Society of American Fight Directors, Casey has been a guest instructor for Fight Directors Canada and Nordic Stagefight Society. He is certified by the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) and serves as an instructor for SAFD to certify the stage fighters of tomorrow.
Riley (she/her) grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and is a graduate from Parsons School of Design in Paris, where she earned her BFA in fashion design. In addition to her diverse background in visual and fine art, Riley has also worked backstage in multiple theatre and musical production positions, including hair/makeup, costumes, props, and scenic painting.
After studying fashion design and garment construction over the last four years, she is excited to return into the world of theatre and is looking forward to working her first summer with the Traveling Players in the costume shop.
Languages other than English: French
Sofía Sidelnik (she/her) is a graduate of Parsons School of Design with a BFA in Integrated Design. She has been sewing since she was six years old and has loved costumes her entire life. Her studies at Parsons encapsulated her love of fashion history, costuming, and fashion practices like mending. When she’s not sewing, she's reading a good book, watching movies, or baking! As an avid reader and design enthusiast, she cannot wait to share her passion with the campers.
Languages other than English: Spanish
Judith Harmon (she/her) graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a B.A. in Costume Design and Business Entrepreneurship. She is an award-winning cosplayer and founder of the business Sew What?!. She has designed or worked on more than fifty productions (including Beauty and the Beast, Steel Magnolias, and The Christmas Revels) with thirteen different organizations and schools. When she isn’t costuming a production, she teaches costume design, sewing, and theater to children of all ages. She has designed several of Traveling Players' school-year productions - Alice in Wonderland, Commedia Christmas Carol, Jane Eyre, Dracula: A Comic Thriller, Treasure Island, and Orlando. To keep up to date with productions, check out the portfolio site www.sewwhatcostumes.com
Riley (she/her) grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and is a graduate from Parsons School of Design in Paris, where she earned her BFA in fashion design. In addition to her diverse background in visual and fine art, Riley has also worked backstage in multiple theatre and musical production positions, including hair/makeup, costumes, props, and scenic painting.
After studying fashion design and garment construction over the last four years, she is excited to return into the world of theatre and is looking forward to working her first summer with the Traveling Players in the costume shop.
Languages other than English: French
Sofía Sidelnik (she/her) is a graduate of Parsons School of Design with a BFA in Integrated Design. She has been sewing since she was six years old and has loved costumes her entire life. Her studies at Parsons encapsulated her love of fashion history, costuming, and fashion practices like mending. When she’s not sewing, she's reading a good book, watching movies, or baking! As an avid reader and design enthusiast, she cannot wait to share her passion with the campers.
Languages other than English: Spanish
Gabi (they/them) is so excited to be joining Traveling Players for the first time this summer! They are a Christopher Newport University graduate with a B.A. in Sociology and Criminology. In college, they played as the goalie for their school's field hockey team and served as the president of their improv comedy troupe "Laugh Out". They have experience working as a nonprofit outreach coordinator, a white water raft guide, and a camp counselor. They also coach field hockey throughout the year. In their free time, they like to read, craft, hike, and play video games or D&D with their friends. They can't wait to help make this summer as fun as it can be!
Victor Rodriguez (he/him) is a medical student who's heading towards a neurologist/neuroscience specialty. He’s very excited to be back with Traveling Players this summer. He’s certified in BLS by the American Heart Association and has participated in some volunteer groups in Mexico servicing schools, nursing homes, and marginalized people. Books, chess, stargazing and recently dancing are his favorite hobbies. After working at Traveling Players last summer, he was inspired by the students to try performing and was in his university’s production of In the Heights.
Languages other than English: Spanish, Japanese
Marian Woodington (she/her) is currently a chorus teacher here in Virginia. She teaches at the middle school level, and has always had a passion for teaching and music. She is a graduate of James Madison University and holds a Bachelor's in Music Education. She spent her time there performing in some of the top choirs at JMU, namely the Madison Singers. Marian has experience not only in music and singing, but in theatre as well. She performed in multiple shows in high school, and has worked closely with the theatre teacher at her school to help run their fall plays. Marian has worked for Traveling Players in previous years, not only as a staff member at camp, but in the D&D Improv classes as a teacher. She loves Traveling Players, and the community it has created, and she is so excited to be back this summer!
Federico Alonso Montero (he/him) is from Argentina. He’s a certified lifeguard and very passionate about sports and outdoor activities. He loves playing and teaching sports like basketball, soccer, handball, swimming, and kayaking. He really enjoys working with kids and sharing what he knows, especially when it comes to staying active and having fun. In his free time, he likes to exercise and spend time outdoors. He’s super excited to be joining the Traveling Players team this summer and looking forward to an amazing camp experience!
Languages other than English: Spanish
Dave (he/him) is the owner/operator of MTR – Mobile Truck Repair based in Sterling, VA. He has been a mechanic for over 40 years and has been with Traveling Players since 2014. Dave specializes in large diesel vehicles – he has a CDL, clears snow in the winter, and is a licensed vehicle inspector in VA. He cares a lot about his big purple friends out on the road – he checks to make sure they’re safe and even decks them out with “Curb Appeal.” He customized several of our buses, including putting chrome hubcaps on our beloved Ophelia.
Jeanne (she/her) founded Traveling Players Ensemble to give theatre students a joyful, rigorous, and nurturing artistic community to grow up in. She serves as both Producing Artistic and Executive Director, including vision and creative leadership for all educational and artistic activities, organizational direction, and staff management. She collaborates with staff on programming and marketing. She coordinates with the board on partnership development, finances, budgeting, fundraising, and strategic planning.
Jeanne continues to teach and direct all year long for Traveling Players, including directing Shakespeare Troupe in the summer. In her 36-year teaching career, Jeanne has taught for The Folger Shakespeare Library, Catholic University, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Loyola University (MD), Chapin School (NYC), and Interlochen Center for the Arts (MI), where she directed the Shakespeare program. Jeanne has worked in camping for 37 years, directed two other camps, and is a certified Camp Director (American Camp Association) and Instructor with the American Red Cross.
Often doubling as choreographer and sound designer, Jeanne has directed over a hundred theatrical productions. Recent productions include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Commedia Christmas Carol (her own adaptation), Comedy of Errors, Hecuba (Kenneth McLeish’s translation of Euripides), Taming of the Shrew, Antigone by Jean Anouilh (based on Sophocles), Dust by Sarah Daniels, and Cymbeline.
An expert in mask, Commedia dell'Arte, and physical training for actors, Jeanne has presented workshops at the National Conference of the American Alliance for Theater & Education (AATE). She holds an MA in Theater from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MFA in Directing from Catholic University.
She served as a judge for Theatre Washington’s Helen Hayes Awards as well as the English-Speaking Union’s Shakespeare competition. She served as a panelist for Virginia’s Commission for the Arts and Maryland’s Council for the Arts & Humanities. Her lesson plans are published in The American Girls Collection, a Teacher’s Guide. She was selected as one of ArtsFairfax’s three 2015 Middle School Artists-in-Residence, and she also received ArtsFairfax’s 2016 Strauss Artist Award for her distinctive fusing of physical and classical theatre.
Emma (she/they) is the Head of our Elementary School Programs, teaching and directing our youngest students all year long, including our summer Mythology Ensemble. She is our Director of Programs and registrar, assisting families as they navigate the website and join the community. They started teaching with Traveling Players during the summer of 2019.
Growing up, she was consumed by her love of Greek Mythology, reading whatever she could get her hands on. She studied Latin in school and even went to a Greek Mythology camp. She was also (and still is) a lover of the outdoors. From sleepaway camp to Girl Scouts, to white-water rafting, horseback riding, hiking, and high ropes courses, she loves adventuring in the great outdoors. She is a graduate of James Madison University, where she earned her BA in Theatre.
Her passion for theatre began with musical theatre, where she trained in voice, dance, and even cello. Her interest in music and movement continues to inspire her directing. She loves creating rhythmic ensemble moments that allow students to work as a storytelling unit.
Through her time at Traveling Players, Emma has been lucky to direct four World Premieres written by our playwright-in-residence, Judith Walsh White: Orpheus & Eurydice, Eros & Psyche, Heracles, and Atalanta. Other Judy plays Emma has directed include Persephone, Ariadne’s Thread, and Pandora’s Fire, as well as Alice in Wonderland by William Glennon, Dracula: A Comic Thriller Starring Shirley Holmes & Jennie Watson by Kent Brown, and Treasure Island by Todd Espeland.
She is the faculty advisor for our student ambassador group, the King's Men, and also teaches Acting and Improv classes and is the lead teacher for our Girl Scout theatre badge program. Emma has served as assistant director for Learned Ladies, Green Bird, Commedia Christmas Carol, King Stag, The Odyssey, Blue Monster, Ariadne’s Thread, and Pandora’s Fire.
Ryan (they/he) is the Co-Head of the High School Programs (with Jeanne Harrison), teaching year-round and directing our Shakespeare Ensemble over the summer. This is Ryan’s eighth year on staff. In addition to being a teaching artist, he is our Outreach Manager, connecting us with the local schools. He represented Traveling Players in ArtsFairfax's DEIA Cohort program in 2021-2022.
Ryan’s a Traveling Players alum, and his closest friends remain those that he made as a high schooler performing Shakespeare with Traveling Players. He is a veteran of our Thespian and Shakespeare Ensembles, as well as Commedia and Shakespeare Troupes, and performed with Traveling Players at the Reston Multicultural Festival and the International Children’s Festival at Wolf Trap.
Ryan directs our Shakespeare Ensemble over the summer, breathing new life into Shakespeare’s plays: Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It (their favorite play), Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Henry IV, Part 1 (Shakespeare’s first history that Traveling Players produced). Ryan has previously directed Orlando by Sarah Ruhl and Jane Eyre by Dr. Christine Davey for Traveling Players’ winter festivals. Ryan has also been an assistant director on Commedia Christmas Carol, Hecuba, Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, and Jack and Beans.
Ryan has developed new curricula for our community and high school classes, including Scene Study & Acting Technique, Preparing a Role, and Ryan's Playlist (an introduction to queer & female playwrights). They co-led two workshops: Embedded Bias in Classical Literature (with Morgan Shotwell) and Directing 101 (with Jeanne Harrison).
Ryan is a Muhlenberg College graduate in Theatre and English. While an undergraduate, Ryan starred in Allentown Public Theatre’s production of The Island by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona.
A retired social worker with a focus on families and adolescents, Zena (she/her) brings expertise on childcare, risk management, and mandated reporting laws affecting childcare workers. She leads a Child Abuse Prevention workshop at Traveling Players’ summer staff orientation and remains on call to the staff as necessary. Zena is the proud parent of two former Traveling Players campers.
In her role as Outreach Specialist at REI, Rhonda facilitates community partnerships. On behalf of Traveling Players, she facilitates and deepens community partnerships (especially with parks and governmental organizations) and teaches Leave No Trace outdoor principles to Traveling Players staff and campers. She also advises on gear and can your backpack fitted perfectly. She is at the Tysons store, just a hop from the Traveling Players Studio, and loves to see Traveling Players families stop by to gear up for summer! Say, “Hi!” if you’re in there! Rhonda served on our Board of Directors for six years, including serving as Chair, and helmed our Nominations Committee for about a decade, welcoming new talent onto our board.
Jeanne (she/her) founded Traveling Players Ensemble to give theatre students a joyful, rigorous, and nurturing artistic community to grow up in. She serves as both Producing Artistic and Executive Director, including vision and creative leadership for all educational and artistic activities, organizational direction, and staff management. She collaborates with staff on programming and marketing. She coordinates with the board on partnership development, finances, budgeting, fundraising, and strategic planning.
Jeanne continues to teach and direct all year long for Traveling Players, including directing Shakespeare Troupe in the summer. In her 36-year teaching career, Jeanne has taught for The Folger Shakespeare Library, Catholic University, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Loyola University (MD), Chapin School (NYC), and Interlochen Center for the Arts (MI), where she directed the Shakespeare program. Jeanne has worked in camping for 37 years, directed two other camps, and is a certified Camp Director (American Camp Association) and Instructor with the American Red Cross.
Often doubling as choreographer and sound designer, Jeanne has directed over a hundred theatrical productions. Recent productions include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Commedia Christmas Carol (her own adaptation), Comedy of Errors, Hecuba (Kenneth McLeish’s translation of Euripides), Taming of the Shrew, Antigone by Jean Anouilh (based on Sophocles), Dust by Sarah Daniels, and Cymbeline.
An expert in mask, Commedia dell'Arte, and physical training for actors, Jeanne has presented workshops at the National Conference of the American Alliance for Theater & Education (AATE). She holds an MA in Theater from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MFA in Directing from Catholic University.
She served as a judge for Theatre Washington’s Helen Hayes Awards as well as the English-Speaking Union’s Shakespeare competition. She served as a panelist for Virginia’s Commission for the Arts and Maryland’s Council for the Arts & Humanities. Her lesson plans are published in The American Girls Collection, a Teacher’s Guide. She was selected as one of ArtsFairfax’s three 2015 Middle School Artists-in-Residence, and she also received ArtsFairfax’s 2016 Strauss Artist Award for her distinctive fusing of physical and classical theatre.
Claire L. Tse (she/her) is a master diversity and leadership facilitator. She uses years of corporate experience to develop practical business workshops. Elements of cultural competence, context conflict resolution, and leadership mindset infuse her well-received presentations. Her current work involves identifying methods to overcome generational, racial, and gender biases so teams can develop both tactical and strategic successes.
Check Freedman is the COO of Captive Audience Prevention Training and Recovery Team. She has decades of operational experience including executive protection of clients in overseas locations, surveillance, counter surveillance, survival, evasion, resistance, escape, armed and unarmed combat. Freedman is currently the NHQ, Senior Program Manager for Critical Incident Stress Management and Resiliency for the United States Air Force Auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol).
EJ (she/her) is returning for her second summer with Traveling Players day camp! She has a BFA in Theatre Directing from Belmont University, where she spent three years teaching with Nashville Children’s Theater. She works in the DMV area as a Stage Manager and Assistant Director, most recently with Shakespeare Opera Theatre. EJ also teaches with Next Stop Theatre’s Stars on Stage program.
Of all the artists, EJ loves working with young artists the most. Their imaginations are vast, and they are excited to learn and explore! Her highest goal in the classroom is to build confidence, foster creativity, and create a safe and inclusive space. She believes that theatre can inspire hope by exploring stories, bringing joy, and creating friendships. She is a lover of physical comedy, creative drama, and of course, Greek mythology!
Hannah Scarlatoiu (she/her) is a Traveling Players alumna, having performed in Shakespeare Troupe and taken fall classes. She is so excited for her fourth summer as a Traveling Players Studio staff member! She is a rising senior at Muhlenberg College, where she studies Theatre with a concentration in performance and is a Creative Writing/Journalism minor. Hannah has performed in several dance and theatrical productions at Muhlenberg and choreographed for a student dance concert this past spring. As well, Hannah is a part-time model in the Lehigh Valley area. She is an active member of Muhlenberg’s Asian Student Association, the Muhlenberg Dance Association, and Muhlenberg’s hip hop dance team (MINT). Hannah is so excited to grow as an art maker by teaching a young generation of theatre lovers!
Traveling Players Studio
Tysons Corner Center – D1L
1961 Chain Bridge Road, Tysons, VA 22102
P.O. Box 1315
Great Falls, VA 22066
