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Call Us: 703 - 987- 1712

Email Us: info@travelingplayers.org

Visit Us: Studio in Tysons Corner Center, 1st Floor
DL01, Traveling Players Studio, 1961 Chain Bridge Rd, Tysons, VA 22102
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Meet the Team

JEANNE HARRISON, MA, MFA

Jeanne's Bio

Jeanne (she/her) fulfills the functions of both Artistic and Executive Director, including creative direction and vision for all educational and artistic activities, organizational management, and staff supervision.  She collaborates with staff on operations and marketing and liaises with the board on partnership development, finances, budgeting, fundraising, and strategic planning. 

Director for Shakespeare Troupe in the summer, she also directs and teaches year-round classes.  In her 34-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 35 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 well over a hundred theatrical productions.  Recent productions include Hecuba (Kenneth McLeish’s translation from Euripides), Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, Antigone by Jean Anouilh (based on the Sophocles), Dust by Sarah Daniels, and Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Merry Wives of Windsor and Merchant of Venice.  An expert in Commedia dell'Arte and physical training for actors, Jeanne has presented workshops at the National Conference of the American Alliance for Theater & Education.  She holds an MA in Theater from University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MFA in Directing from Catholic University. 

She has served as a judge for the English Speaking Union’s Shakespeare competition and for theatrewashington’s Helen Hayes Awards.  She has served as a panelist for Virginia’s Commission for the Arts (IV-A) and Maryland’s Council for the Arts and Humanities.  Her lesson plans are published in The American Girls Collection, a Teacher’s Guide.  Selected as one of the ARTSFAIRFAX’s three 2015 Middle School Artists-in-Residence, she also received the ARTSFAIRFAX’s 2016 Strauss Artist Award for her distinctive fusing of physical and classical theatre. 

ROBIN CARROLL, MBA

Robin's Bio

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 over 18 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. 

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 worked for Traveling Players since 2015.  She has served on the Arts Education and the Teaching Artist Rooster Panel for the Virginia Commission for the Arts. 

Jeanne's Bio

Jeanne (she/her) fulfills the functions of both Artistic and Executive Director, including creative direction and vision for all educational and artistic activities, organizational management, and staff supervision.  She collaborates with staff on operations and marketing and liaises with the board on partnership development, finances, budgeting, fundraising, and strategic planning. 

Director for Shakespeare Troupe in the summer, she also directs and teaches year-round classes.  In her 34-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 35 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 well over a hundred theatrical productions.  Recent productions include Hecuba (Kenneth McLeish’s translation from Euripides), Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, Antigone by Jean Anouilh (based on the Sophocles), Dust by Sarah Daniels, and Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Merry Wives of Windsor and Merchant of Venice.  An expert in Commedia dell'Arte and physical training for actors, Jeanne has presented workshops at the National Conference of the American Alliance for Theater & Education.  She holds an MA in Theater from University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MFA in Directing from Catholic University. 

She has served as a judge for the English Speaking Union’s Shakespeare competition and for theatrewashington’s Helen Hayes Awards.  She has served as a panelist for Virginia’s Commission for the Arts (IV-A) and Maryland’s Council for the Arts and Humanities.  Her lesson plans are published in The American Girls Collection, a Teacher’s Guide.  Selected as one of the ARTSFAIRFAX’s three 2015 Middle School Artists-in-Residence, she also received the ARTSFAIRFAX’s 2016 Strauss Artist Award for her distinctive fusing of physical and classical theatre. 

Robin's Bio

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 over 18 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. 

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 worked for Traveling Players since 2015.  She has served on the Arts Education and the Teaching Artist Rooster Panel for the Virginia Commission for the Arts. 

MORGAN SHOTWELL, BA

Morgan's Bio

Morgan (she/her) has worked in arts administration for the past six years, with a focus in marketing and sales, including with Signature Theatre’s box office in Arlington Virginia.  She holds a BA in Theatre from the University of Mary Washington with a concentration in Directing.  

Morgan joined the Traveling Players community in 2007 as a student in the Thespian Ensemble, where she currently helms it as our lead director.  Recent Traveling Players directing credits include The Odyssey by Gregory A. Falls & Kurt Beattie, The Blue Monster by Carlo Gozzi adapted by Nathan Weinberger and Toby Mulford, PUFFS by Matt Cox and The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke, adapted to the stage by James DeVita.  Previously, she served as our Assistant Director on 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.

Other artistic work includes directing Mojo at Studio 115, working as the Assistant to the Director for The Country Wife at the University of Mary Washington and Assistant to the Director for Smile Lines at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia.  Morgan has also worked as Designer on productions such as Arachnophobia at George Mason University (puppets) and Mindset: A Surrealist Rock Opera with Off the Wall Productions at the DC Capitol Fringe Festival (costumes).

EMMA MEARNS, BA

Emma's Bio

Emma (she/they) started with Traveling Players during the summer of 2019.  She now works full-time year-round as Program Manager in addition to her artistic work.  Recent Directing credits include Eros & Psyche, Alice in Wonderland, Persephone, Heracles, Ariadne’s Thread, Atalanta and Pandora’s Fire.  She also teaches Improv classes and is lead teacher for our Girl Scout theatre badge programs.  Previously, Emma was assistant director for Green Bird, Commedia Christmas Carol, The King Stag, The Blue Monster, Ariadne’s Thread, Pandora’s Fire.

She is a recent graduate of James Madison University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Theatre.  During their time at JMU, they participated in several productions and workshops put on by Stratford Players, serving as both a Costume Designer (The Other Shore, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other, The Feast) and an Actor (Bellwether, What You Will, Box and Cox).  They also served as an Assistant Costume Designer on JMU’s Mainstage (Contemporary Dance Concert, Fig Leaves and Open Letters). She served as the Treasurer, a Performer, and an Assistant Director for JMU’s Rocky Horror Club.

Morgan's Bio

Morgan (she/her) joined the Traveling Players community in 2007 as a student in the Thespian Ensemble, where she currently helms it as our lead director.  Recent Traveling Players directing credits include Carlo Gozzi's Green Bird, King Stag, and Blue Monster, Moliere's Tartuffe,  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.  Previously, she served as our Assistant Director on 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.
 
Other artistic work includes directing Mojo at Studio 115,  and Assistant to the Director for Smile Lines at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia. 

Emma's Bio

Emma (she/they) started with Traveling Players during the summer of 2019.  She now works full-time year-round as Director of Programs in addition to her artistic work.  Recent Directing credits include Eros & Psyche, Alice in Wonderland, Persephone, Heracles, Ariadne’s Thread, Atalanta and Pandora’s Fire.  She also teaches Acting and Improv classes and is lead teacher for our Girl Scout theatre badge programs.  Previously, Emma was assistant director for Green Bird, Commedia Christmas Carol, The King Stag, The Blue Monster, Ariadne’s Thread, Pandora’s Fire.

She is a graduate of James Madison University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Theatre.  During their time at JMU, they participated in several productions and workshops put on by Stratford Players, serving as both a Costume Designer (The Other Shore, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other, The Feast) and an Actor (Bellwether, What You Will, Box and Cox).  They also served as an Assistant Costume Designer on JMU’s Mainstage (Contemporary Dance Concert, Fig Leaves and Open Letters). She served as the Treasurer, a Performer, and an Assistant Director for JMU’s Rocky Horror Club.

RYAN FIELDS, BA

Ryan's Bio

A Traveling Players student for four years, Ryan (they/he) is a veteran of the Thespian Ensemble, Shakespeare Ensemble, Commedia Ensemble, and Shakespeare Troupe, plus various classes and the Reston Multicultural Festival and the former International Children’s Festival at Wolf Trap, which was organized by ARTSFAIRFAX. 

This is Ryan’s seventh year on staff and they continue to teach during the academic year.  They have developed several new curricula for our community and classes. With Morgan Shotwell, they developed Embedded Bias in Classical Literature; with Jeanne Harrison, he developed Directing 101.  Ryan has introduced five new classes for high school students: Scene Study & Acting Technique, Preparing a Role, Shakespeare 101 & 201, Ryan's Playlist, and Intro to Queer & Female Playwrights.  He also serves as Outreach Manager.

After a four-year hiatus, Ryan returned to Traveling Players for summer 2021.  He directed their favorite play, As You Like It with the Shakespeare Ensemble that first summer and adapted The Two Gentlemen of Verona in 2022, followed by an adaptation of Traveling Players' first history outing, 1 Henry IV this previous summer. They'll continue to adapt with 2024's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Ryan had the pleasure of assisting his mentor, Jeanne Harrison, for 2022's winter show, Hecuba. Previously Ryan assisted in directing Shakespeare Ensemble’s The Two Gentlemen of VeronaA Midsummer Night’s Dream and As You Like It, and our Commedia Ensemble’s Jack and Beans with Traveling Players.  

Ryan is a Muhlenberg College graduate, where they studied Theatre and English and performed in productions of Romeo & JulietAgamemnonWig Out! and an adaptation of Henry VI called Glory.  He also directed a production of Moliere’s The Imaginary Cuckold and assisted in a production of Bertolt Brecht's The Exception and the Rule. While an undergraduate, Ryan starred in a professional production of The Island by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona. He will represent Traveling Players as part of ARTSFAIRFAX’s DEIA Cohort program.

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Mailing

P.O. Box 1315
Great Falls, VA 22066

Studio

Traveling Players Studio
Tysons Corner Center – DL01
1961 Chain Bridge Road, Tysons, VA 22102

Traveling Players Ensemble is funded in part by ArtsFairfax and the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
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