Theatre Program Staff (2026-27)
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Office Administrative Assistant
About Yining
Yining Shang (she/they) is a stage manager based in New York City and Beijing and a second-year MFA candidate in Stage Management at Columbia University. Her stage management practice centers on safe, collaborative spaces for artists, while her work as a director and script consultant explores dramatic structure and immigrant stories. Selected theater credits include An Adaptation of Julius Caesar (PSM, Columbia University), The Seagull (PSM, Powerhouse Theater), F.O.B. (Director, Vassar College), and Thief of My Life (Script Consultant). yiningshang--theater.com
The Job
Yining provides administrative support and office management for the Theatre Program Office. She assists with classroom organization and EMS reservation management. She also designs and compiles the information for each of the Thesis production playbills.
Schapiro Production & Facility Manager
About Tom
Tom Gilmore started working professionally in theatre in the last century, serving as a stage manager, carpenter, electrician, master carpenter, master electrician, assistant stage supervisor, stage supervisor, scenic and lighting designer, technical director and production manager. Prior to Columbia, Tom worked for The Paper Bag Players, American Family Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Denver Center Theatre Company, American Repertory Theatre and freelance. Hired at Columbia University, Theatre Program in 1996. Tom served as Technical Director from 1996-2013, Thesis Production Manager 2013- 2017, & in his current position since 2017, covering over 350 productions. This year, 2025-26, marks Tom’s 30th season @ Columbia.
The Job
Tom works in partnership with the Assistant Schapiro Production Manager, Dana Sokolov, to oversee and execute all aspects of production for projects in The Theatre and Studio @ Schapiro. Their roles bridge both the creative and logistical sides of production. They handle all the physical elements, like scenery, lighting, sound, video and administrative tasks like managing budgets, schedules, marketing and box office. Dana and Tom collaborate closely with second-year Directors, Playwrights, Stage Managers, Producers, Dramaturgs, and their design teams to help bring each production’s unique vision to the stage.
Co-Student Assistant to the Head of Stage Management
About Sophia
The Job
The Stage Management student faculty assistants serve as the bridge between the students, production staff, and faculty members to support the inclusive environment within the program and to help assist classes and the production assignments throughout the year. They also run the Columbia Stage Management instagram account! @cu.smprogram
Student Assistant to the Heads of the Acting Concentration
About Serena
Serena Lu is an actor, dancer, and rhythmic gymnast based in NYC. She is an 11-time rhythmic gymnastics USA National Team Member and represented the US at the World Championships and numerous international World Cups. As a dancer, she has performed with Movement Headquarters (Barry Kerollis) and Danse En Lair (Yuka Kawazu), and works by Hofesh Shechter, Omri Drumlevich, Crystal Pite, and Robert Battle. As an actor, she has collaborated on a number of dance films and short films that have premiered at Tribeca Film Festival, Virginia Film Festival, Hawai’i International Film Festival, and Mar del Plata Film Festival. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Princeton University in Psychology and a minor in Dance. Prior to pursuing her MFA, Serena was an Investigative Analyst at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Acting at Columbia University.
The Job
Serena makes arrangements for meetings and classes and perform various office tasks, such as arranging guest artist visits, supporting the Acting student body, and scheduling for the Heads of Acting.
Student Assistant to the Head of the Directing Concentration
About Sarah
Sarah Oguntomilade (she/her) is a Nigerian American theatre director, educator, and theatre maker based in New York City and a second-year MFA candidate in Theatre Directing at Columbia University. Her work is shaped by her background in theatre education, facilitating theatre with incarcerated artists, and ethnographic performance, with a particular interest in contemporary Black theatre. She approaches theatre as ceremony, creating communal spaces that ask what we owe one another, interrogate systems of power, and resist simple notions of right and wrong. Current projects include Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau, her Materials production at Columbia University, performing September 25–26.
The Job
Sarah helps curate guests for Visiting Artists and support them during their visit. She crafts and delivesr e-blasts to the CU Director Network and is the point person for the directors' audition weekend in the spring.
Co-Social Media Coordinator
About Ruihan "Renee"
Ruihan “Renee” Yang (she/they) is a New York–based stage manager. She is currently an MFA candidate in Stage Management at Columbia University. Born and raised in Beijing, China, she brings a cross-cultural perspective to her work. Selected credits include: Six Characters (La MaMa), IS GOD IS (Columbia Univ.); Nüwa in Fairyland (Chuang Stage), Puccini’s Il Trittico (Boston University), and Mars Concert 2025 (China tour). All love to family and friends. May there be peace in the world - 愿世界和平！
The Job
As the Social Media Coordinators for the Theatre Program, Renee and Matt are responsible for the social media platforms where Columbia Theatre productions are showcased and advertised. They are in charge of communicating with production teams, taking photographs and videos, and creating content to be published.
Costume Shop Supervisor
About Rachel
Rachel is a Costume Shop Manager, Costume Designer, Fiber Arts Teaching Artist, Costume Technician, and Adjunct Professor of Costume Technology/Design/Crafts.
17 years teaching Costume Design, Costume Technology, Costume Crafts, and Fiber Arts. Teaching credits include: The University of Illinois, University of South Dakota, The New School, Pace University, Marymount College, Hunter College Elementary, and The Dalton School.
15 years of Costume Management. Management credits include: University of South Dakota, The New School, Emerge125, The Classical Theatre of Harlem, and Columbia University.
20+ years theatrical design. Collaborators include: The Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Classical Theatre of Harlem, Trisha Brown Dance Company, Paper Mill Playhouse, Pittsburgh Public, Harlem Stage, Mystic Aquarium, National Black Theater, Carnegie Hall, Theatre for a New Audience, The Ensemble Studio, Lake Placid Center for the Performing Arts, The National Gallery, The Public, The Apollo, The American Shakespeare Center, Elisa Monte, and Emerge125 Dance Company.
www.racheldozierezell.com and www.mspinkycrafts.com
The Job
As the Costume Shop Supervisor, I oversee costume management for all third-year thesis productions at the Lenfest Center for the Arts, which includes directing and acting theses, as well as coordination for the New Plays Festival. I run and maintain the costume shop at the Nash building and in collaboration with production resources maintain the costume stock. Additionally, I serve as a resource for students by providing measurements, offering advice on costume design and costume history, and assisting in problem-solving for various productions and class presentations. Furthermore, I am responsible for training first-year students who are fulfilling their crew assignments in the wardrobe department for all Lenfest productions.
Office Administrative Assistant
About Preston
Preston Kifer (he/him) is a current MFA candidate in Dramaturgy & Script Development and former Artistic and Literary Fellow with the Play Company. As an artist with a degree in political science and background in public policy, Preston seeks to uncover how these fields engage and entangle with grassroots research to incorporate the arts into underserved communities while fast-tracking civic engagement. His research on the decline of protests has been invited for presentation at both the 2025 Pi Sigma Alpha National Research Conference and the 2025 John Hopkins Richard Macksey Symposium. Preston was nominated for ‘Best Playwright’ by Best of Tampa Bay in 2025.
The Job
Preston provides administrative support and office management for the Theatre Program Office. He assists with classroom organization and EMS reservation management. He also designs and compiles the information for each of the Thesis production playbills.
Co-Social Media Coordinator & Co-Student Assistant to the Head of Stage Management
About Matt
Matt Jachim-Gallagher is a stage management MFA candidate at Columbia University. He is from New Hampshire and graduated from Dartmouth College with a BA in Theater concentrating on stage management. He is excited to continue his stage management education and grow his skills. His selected credits include The Legend of Georgia McBride (Berkshire Theatre Group) 1776 (Berkshire Theatre Group), The Wolves (Dartmouth College), A Christmas Carol (Northern Stage), Pippin (Dartmouth College), Pretty Filthy (Dartmouth College), and Urinetown (Northern Stage).
The Jobs
As Social Media Coordinators for the Theatre Program, Matt and Renee are responsible for the social media platforms where Columbia Theatre productions are showcased and advertised. They are in charge of communicating with production teams, taking photographs and videos, and creating content to be published.
The Stage Management student faculty assistants serve as the bridge between the students, production staff, and faculty members to support the inclusive environment within the program and to help assist classes and the production assignments throughout the year. They also run the Columbia Stage Management instagram account! @cu.smprogram
Co-Student Assistant to the Head of the Dramaturgy Concentration
About Mari
Mari Tompkins is a New York based director and dramaturg. Most recently she worked as the Production Dramaturg for Chinese Republicans (Roundabout). As an associate director: Cracked Open (Theatre Row), The Moby Dick Blues (LaMaMa/Ellen Stewart), Twisted, and A Shift of Opinion. Currently, Mari is pursuing her MFA in Dramaturg/Script Development at Columbia University and completed her undergraduate studies at NYU Tisch ’24.
The Job
Mari and Briana schedule meetings, plan events, and coordinate guest visits for the Dramaturgy students for Christian, the head of the Dramaturgy Concentration.
Co-Student Assistant to the Head of the Stage Management Concentration
About Luna
Luna Shan is a second-year MFA candidate in Stage Management at Columbia University. Originally from Shanghai, China, she is a stage manager passionate about exploring different forms of theatre-making and learning from diverse theatrical environments. She has worked in a variety of theatrical settings, including Shanghai Disney Resort, the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, and the Shanghai Grand Theatre. Drawing from her cross-cultural experiences, Luna continues to develop her perspective on collaboration and storytelling in theatre.
The Job
The Stage Management student faculty assistants serve as the bridge between the students, production staff, and faculty members to support the inclusive environment within the program and to help assist classes and the production assignments throughout the year. They also run the Columbia Stage Management instagram account! @cu.smprogram
Office Administrative Assistant
About Lindsey
Lindsey Walko is a 2nd year MFA playwriting candidate at Columbia University. Her work has been presented by Murmuration Theater Company, Greater Boston Stage Company, WriteClub, Lemonade Stand Philadelphia, and Boston University. She is a contributing writer to the arts criticism magazine CultureBot, and spent her summer interning for a few production companies in their development departments. Prior to moving to New York, Lindsey was the artistic coordinator for the Boston Ballet and served as the costume design assistant for HBO's Julia.
The Job
Lindsey provides administrative support and office management for the Theatre Program Office. She assists the office with course organization, classroom assistance, and EMS reservation management.
Manager of Academic Administration
About Kanika
Kanika began working in Dodge in Jan 2024 and is an SoA Playwriting alum (class of 2022). She is a playwright, director, performer, and producer who strives to dismantle historical barriers to theater for underrepresented artists. She is also the co-founder of South Asian theater ensemble and incubator Fresh Lime Soda Productions. Her work focuses on hope, community, and transformation, and she believes in using theater as a tool for collective healing, social resistance, and self-empowerment. Playwriting credits include: 2nd Murderer (SoHo Shakespeare Company), Eight Ways to Plead with a God (Playhouse in the Square, Valdez Theatre Conference), Jyoti’s Bridge (Columbia University), and The Divine Feminine (Fresh Lime Soda Productions).
The Job
Kanika manages and implements key administrative operations of the Theatre Program, including:
- Updating student records on Stellic
- Course and classroom scheduling
- Room reservations
- Events/catering (Orientation, Recruitment, Showcase)
- Clerical needs (copies, office supplies, data entry, etc.)
- Facilities issues
- Managing the office SSP students' schedules and task assignments
About John
John Haas is thrilled to be joining the Theatre Program as the Director of Academic Administration. Prior to coming to Columbia, he served as an Associate Professor of Instruction and Academic Advisor in the Department of Theatre at Northwestern University, where he mentored students in the Theatre major and the Music Theatre Certificate Program throughout their academic and artistic journeys.
John’s background bridges academic administration, student advising, teaching, and performance. He was a member of Northwestern’s Music Theatre voice faculty at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and created a series of repertoire courses focused on composers such as Stephen Sondheim and Rodgers & Hammerstein. Outside of academia, John maintains a professional private voice studio serving students in Chicago, New York, and globally online.
As a performer, John has appeared in Jeff Award-winning productions of Les Misérables and Sweeney Todd, and was a featured artist in the American Music Theatre Project’s reading of La Révolution Française by Boublil and Schönberg. Most recently, he presented a letter he received from the late Stephen Sondheim at the "Yours, Stephen Sondheim" concert at the Ravinia Festival, where he also performed alongside Heather Headley, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
John is a proud member of Actors’ Equity, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the College Music Society, and the Musical Theatre Educators’ Alliance. He is excited to bring his experience and passion for student support, academic collaboration, and the performing arts to Columbia.
The Job
The Director of Academic Administration runs day-to-day management of the Program's academic year, summer, and international programs. They direct instructional and student affairs administration, financial operations, and provide administrative oversight of all production activity and general academic administration for the MFA Theatre program, including any new or forthcoming degree and non-degree initiatives. Duties include:
- All financial matters (purchasing, reimbursement, honorariums, etc.)
- Hiring (full-time/adjuncts/staff/Student Service Positions, etc.)
- All curriculum matters (curriculum changes, new curricular proposals, course catalog changes, etc.)
- Internship evaluations and processing
- Program Policy Creation / Clarification
- Registration Issues (excluding room reservations), RAF forms/degree audits/etc.
- Anything that may need to be elevated to the Dean’s Office/Student Affairs.
Co-Student Assistant to the Head of the Theatre Management & Producing Concentration
About João
João Branco Chaves (he/him) is a Portuguese theatre manager and producer based in New York City and a second-year MFA candidate in Theatre Management & Producing at Columbia University. He holds a B.A. in Business, Organizations & Management and Theatre Arts from Gettysburg College. João has worked with organizations including 321 Theatrical Management, The Glimmerglass Festival, Theatre Aspen, and Totem Pole Playhouse, with experience across company management, general management, and operations. With a global perspective shaped by living across multiple countries and three continents, he is passionate about building collaborative environments. João is deeply thankful for the love and encouragement of his family and friends, especially Vera, José, and Nuno.
The Job
João and Amara schedule meetings, plan events, and assist Steven, the head of the TMP Concentration. They also supports the faculty of the 1st year core course for all TMPs.
Audio Visual Supervisor
About Jacob
Jacob K Robinson is writer and noisemaker from the Texas Hill Country (just like LBJ! Remember him?). He likes a good pair of black Levi’s, mowing the lawn, and hot dogs and beer at an afternoon baseball game. His work has been recognized by the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, and Ojai Playwrights Conference. Since 2020, he has worked with Will Arbery in development of numerous projectors for theatre, film, and television. He is doing his best.
MFA Playwriting: Columbia University
The Job
Student Assistant to the Head of the Playwriting Concentration
About Evan
Evan Brodsky (he/him) is a queer, Jewish, New York based playwright and lyricist. Through writing, Evan enjoys exploring yearning and metaphysics while trying to amplify queer representation. His plays include The Glass Between Stars (The Tank), For(e)bear (Brooklyn Center for Theatre Research), The Memory Centre (Dovecote Reading Series), and Astronauts (Fresh Fruit Festival). He is currently working on an English adaptation of the Israeli musical The One. He is a second-year MFA candidate in Playwriting at Columbia University.
The Job
Evan provides support to James Ijames, head of the Playwriting concentration, and the rest of the Playwriting faculty. He helps organize office hours, guest visits, and facilitate other events for the concentration.
Office Administrative Assistant
About Emily
Emily Griffith is pursuing an MFA in Stage Management at Columbia University. Originally from Utah, Emily brings eight seasons of professional experience from Pioneer Theatre Company, where she worked on over 50 regional productions, including the out-of-town tryout of Shucked. She also managed Sundance’s Summer Theatre for two seasons. Emily, a graduate of Utah Valley University, has earned numerous accolades for her work, including the prestigious Kennedy Center’s Meritorious Achievement Award.
The Job
Emily provides administrative support and office management for the Theatre Program Office. She assists the office with course organization, classroom assistance, and EMS reservation management.
Assistant Schapiro Production Manager
About Dana
Dana Sokolov has been passionate about theatre since childhood and has always known she wanted to be part of bringing productions to life. Before coming to Columbia, she worked as an Associate Production Manager with Tinc Productions, supporting Off-Broadway shows. Dana also freelanced as a production carpenter across various New York City theatres, gaining hands-on experience in scenic construction and operations. She spent summers at The Glimmerglass Festival prior to her NYC experience that played a great role in sharpening her stagecraft skills and deepened her appreciation for the collaborative spirit that defines theatre production.
The Job
Dana works in partnership with the Schapiro Production Manager, Tom Gilmore, to oversee and execute all aspects of production for projects in The Theatre and Studio @ Schapiro. Their roles bridge both the creative and logistical sides of production. They handle all the physical elements, like scenery, lighting, sound, video as well as administrative tasks like managing budgets, schedules, marketing and box office. Dana and Tom collaborate closely with second-year Directors, Playwrights, Stage Managers, Producers, Dramaturgs, and their design teams to help bring each production’s unique vision to the stage.
Director of Production
About Corrie Beth
Corrie Beth (CB) joined Columbia University as a Production Manager in 2012. Prior to her tenure at Columbia, she held positions as a production manager, stage manager, educator, and technical director across New York City, New Jersey, Nebraska, Ohio, and Michigan. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, she holds Master’s Degrees in Stage Management from Wayne State University and in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University. CB currently resides in New Jersey with her husband and two stepdaughters.
The Job
The Director of Production at Columbia University holds a unique role that integrates student, staff, and faculty functions into a cohesive collaborative experience. While production is a central focus, the Director of Production is essential in ensuring that students' experiences align with the curriculum and the overarching goals of the program.
My personal mission is to develop a safe, engaging, supportive, inclusive, and sustainable model for training the next generation of theatrical leaders. I aim to serve as an example of working to the highest standards within the constraints of time, space, and resources. My intention is to empower students to seek innovative solutions, emphasize storytelling, and cultivate meaningful collegiate relationships that extend beyond their time at Columbia.
Ticket Fellow
About Caitlin
Caitlin Berg's co-producing and associate producing credits include Jamie Lloyd's Sunset BLVD. (Tony® Award), Cats: The Jellicle Ball (Tony Nomination) Romeo + Juliet (Tony nomination), Suffs (Tony nomination), Trisha Paytas' Big Broadway Dream, All In, All Out, All Nighter, and Cellino v. Barnes. Current projects: Matchbook Fest, Marcel on the Train. She holds a BA in Political Science from The George Washington University and has previously worked for Secretary Hillary Clinton, Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Phil Murphy, and Planned Parenthood.
The Job
The Ticket Fellow is responsible for securing free tickets from theater events across New York City for Columbia students and faculty. This role involves building and maintaining relationships with theater productions, coordinating ticket distributions, and serving as a liaison between the university, students, faculty, and theater organizers.
Production Resources and Nash Operations Manager
About Britta
Britta grew up in a tiny town in North Dakota that no one has ever heard of. She has worked as an actor, stage manager, marketing manager, and production manager for North Dakota and NYC theaters for the last 15 years. She is a graduated of Columbia's MFA Theatre Program, where she studied acting.
The Job
Britta oversees the operations of the Theatre program within the Nash building. She coordinates the use of Production Resources, which is the area dedicated to organizing and storing all props, furniture, and various equipment used in the department's productions. She also manages the Theatre studio spaces within Nash, ensuring that students and faculty have classroom and rehearsal needs met.
Co-Student Assistant to the Head of the Dramaturgy Concentration
About Briana
Briana Wilson (she/her/hers) is a second year MFA candidate in Dramaturgy and Script Development at Columbia University. Her work spans Michigan, Chicago, and New York City, reflecting a practice shaped by each artistic community she has called home. She began her undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan Flint before earning her B.A. in Theatre Performance from Columbia College Chicago, graduating magna cum laude.
Drawing from dramaturgy, directing, performance, and teaching, Briana creates work that invites audiences into meaningful connection through intentionality in design, and oftentimes community engagement with site specific experiences. As a proud Black artist, she is especially passionate about bringing stories of Black joy to the stage while championing narratives that celebrate the breadth of the Black experience.This year, Briana made her Off-Off-Broadway debut as Assistant Dramaturg at The Tank with Freek and completed Columbia's foundational track of the Teacher's Development Program. She is currently co-directing Jaja's African Hair Braiding at the University of Michigan Flint alongside Janet Haley while continuing to develop new projects through Columbia University. Briana is grateful to be part of Columbia's vibrant theatre community and approaches every production with the belief that theatre has the power to build community, deepen empathy, and leave audiences feeling more connected than when they first entered the room.
Website: briana-wilson-theatre.squarespace.com
The Job
Briana and Mari schedule meetings, plan events, and coordinate guest visits for the Dramaturgy students for Christian, the head of the Dramaturgy Concentration.
Theatre Program Chair & Head of Directing Concentration
About Brian
Brian Kulick is a director, writer, producer, educator, and current Chair of the Graduate Theatre Program at Columbia University. He has been the Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company where he directed Galileo with F. Murray Abraham, The Tempest with Mandy Patinkin, and The Forest with Dianne Weist. He commissioned and co-directed poet Anne Carson's award-winning An Oresteia, collaborated with composer Duncan Sheik on productions of Brecht’s Caucasian Chalk Circle, Man’s A Man, and Mother Courage, and produced CSC's much lauded Chekhov Cycle (Ivanov, The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, The Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard) with Alan Cumming, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ethan Hawke, Joley Richardson, Peter Sarsgaard, John Turturro and Dianne Weist. He initiated CSC’S Music Theatre Initiative and produced revivals of Stephen Sondheim’s Passion and Pacific Overtures. He also made CSC the home for playwright David Ives whose Venus in Fur transferred to Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award for best play.
Prior to this, he was an Artistic Associate and then Associate Producer for the Public Theatre where he directed the New York premiere of Tony Kushner’s adaptation of A Dybbuk, as well as acclaimed productions of Twelfth Night, Winter’s Tale, and Timon of Athens at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Other notable works include: The premieres of Tony Kushner’s The Illusion (New York Theatre Workshop), Kathleen Tolan’s The Wax (Playwright’s Horizon), and Nilo Cruz’s Two Sisters and a Piano (The McCarter Theatre). His work has also been seen at The Mark Taper Forum, San Diego Old Globe, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, ACT Theatre, The Magic Theatre, and Trinity Repertory Theatre where he was the Associate Artistic Director. His work in opera and music theatre includes productions of Carmen, Pelleas and Melisandre, A Soldier’s Tale, The Anatole Cycle, and The Guilty Mother (all for Long Beach Opera), and a remounting of Gordon Davidson’s production of Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Los Angeles Opera).
He is the author of Staging Shakespeare (Methuen), How Greek Theatre Works, The Elements of Theatrical Expression, and The Secret Life of Theatre (all for Routledge). His most recent book, Staging the End of the World; Theatre in a Time of Climate Crisis, has just been released by Methuen.
Thesis Production Manager
About Brendan
Brendan J. O’Brien (he/him) is thrilled to join the staff at The School of the Arts as the Thesis Production Manager. He graduated from Wagner College on Staten Island, New York, with a B.A. in Theatre Design, Technology, and Management, and spent the first part of his career as a freelance AEA stage manager. Stage management highlights include approximately 20 tours and workshops with TheaterWorksUSA, eight seasons as the Production Stage Manager at the Weathervane Theatre in Whitefield, New Hampshire, The Preacher and the Shrink Off-Broadway at Theatre Row, A Wilder Christmas Off-Broadway at Theatre at St. Clements, and the world premiere of Dog Man: The Musical Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, among many others. In 2019, Brendan transitioned away from the freelance life and joined the full-time staff at TheaterWorksUSA as the Assistant Company Manager. He has continued at TWUSA up until now in a variety of roles and capacities, most recently leading Production and Company Management from the post-pandemic return to touring in late 2021 through the present. Highlights include the acclaimed return of Dog Man: The Musical at New World Stages, the world premiere of Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, and numerous national touring productions across the continental United States and much of Canada. Brendan lives in Astoria, Queens and has been happily married to his husband, Xu, since March 2023. Outside of the theater, Brendan is a big Disney fan (he actually got married at Walt Disney World) and an avid board gamer and Disney Lorcana trading card game player.
The Job
Brendan oversees and coordinates all aspects of the Directing Theses, Acting Theses, and New Plays Festival, including budgeting; physical production build, load-in and strike; and labour. In this capacity, Brendan collaborates very closely with students, especially Directors, Producers, Stage Managers, and Playwrights to guide them through the process of realizing their vision for their thesis productions within the Columbia Theatre Program framework.
Student Office Manager
About Anterior
Anterior Leverett (she/her/hers) is a playwright and performer based in New York and a second-year MFA candidate in Playwriting at Columbia University. She received her B.A. in Theatre and Performance Studies from Kennesaw State University in 2015. During her studies, Anterior was fortunate to hone her craft as a performer, director, dramaturg, and writer. After receiving her degree, she began working as a performer and writer for the Atlanta History Center. She continued to hone her writing as a member of the 2018/2019 Horizon Theatre AppCo. She is a Working Title Playwright Rosalind Ayers-Williams Scholarship Recipient, a member of the 2023/2024 Alliance Theatre Lead Reiser Artist, National Black Theatre SOUL Reading series playwright, and a 2024 SheATL Finalist. In 2025, Anterior received an M.A. in Africana Studies from Georgia State University. She is also the recent recipient of the Dramatist Guild Foundation Hansberry-Lilly Fellowship.
The Job
The Student Office Manager manages the team of student office assistants. Anterior manages the [email protected] email and communicates with students regarding registration and program events. She provides appropriate inquiry response and general marketing and admissions support for the SOA’s MFA and Summer Programs. She e-blasts all production audition calls, Schapiro presentation invitations, and academic calendar reminder. She helps manage Theatre classroom and rehearsal space through the electronic room reservation system. She is the final proofreader of all Theatre Program newsletters and playbills. Finally, she provides professional and courteous Theatre Program reception to faculty, students, and guests.
Co-Student Assistant to the Head of the Theatre Management & Producing Concentration
About Amara
Amara Pappas (she/her) is a creative producer originally from Knoxville, Tennessee. With a background spanning theatre, opera, performance, and producing, she holds a B.A. in Arts Entrepreneurship from the University of Tennessee’s College Scholars Program. Now in her second year of Columbia University’s MFA Theatre Management and Producing program, Amara is passionate about cultivating the spaces for artists to create, explore, and innovate. Recent projects include Producing and Company Management Intern for Beth Morrison Projects' PROTOTYPE Festival and Associate Producer for Alex Temple Ward’s Second Act at The Green Room 42. Columbia University producing credits include The Crucible, Pipeline, and Quarryman. Also a trained classical and musical theatre vocalist, her notable performance credits include Lola Lockley in the world premiere of The Burn Vote (River & Rail Theatre Company) and Sally Applewhite in It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (River & Rail Theatre Company).
The Job
Amara and João schedule meetings, plan events, and assist Steven, the head of the TMP Concentration. They also supports the faculty of the 1st year core course for all TMPs.
Acting Students Coordinator
About Alexa
Alexa is a freelance Stage Manager and candidate in Columbia University’s Stage Management MFA. Select Professional: Constantinople (PSM), R is for Writer (PSM), Time Signatures (PSM), Berlindia! (PSM), M4M (PSM), Anne Frank in Mount Vernon, Ohio (PSM), Good Jew (PSM), Women on Fire: Fair is Foul (PSM), Kinderkrankenhaus (PSM), Wasted (PSM), Bullet Points (PSM), Finding Madame Curie (ASM), The Trial on the Potomac (ASM), The Importance of Being Earnestly LGBTQ+ (ASM), The Housewives of Secaucus (ASM).
The Job
The Acting Students coordinator maintains the production calendar for third year actors throughout the year, stage manages Acting Showcase in LA and NYC, liases with Social Media Coordinator to plan media shoots for the acting class, serves as Theatre Department’s representative at performances, showcase, and new student auditions.
Assistant Technical Director
About Alec
Alexander Breck is an eager and driven theatre artist with a focus on Acting and specifically Technical Theatre, having gained over ten years of experience from both academic and professional settings in his short career. He graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and a minor in Business Administration; however, he has since pivoted fully to Technical Theater, leveraging his acting experiences to enhance his skills on the technical side of the industry.
Before joining the team at Columbia, Alexander worked all over the country as a Carpenter, Run Crew member, Set Designer, Audio and Light board operator, Assistant Technical Director and Technical Director in; Maryland (Towson University) Wisconsin (Eau Claire), New Jersey (Surflight), Utah (Utah Shakes) and Philadelphia (Philadelphia Scenic Works). Alexander is passionate about giving a voice to the lived experiences of others who may not have that voice in an everyday setting, especially when it comes to the next generation of artists. He is looking to bring that energy and mentality to Columbia and its students.
The Job
As the Assistant Technical Director (ATD), Alec supports the Technical Director in planning, constructing, and executing scenic designs for the third- and fourth-year Directing, Acting, and Playwriting thesis productions at Columbia University. Working closely with student designers and directors, Alec helps translate design concepts into buildable and safe scenic elements while maintaining the educational values of the program. This role provides mentorship and technical training for students while ensuring all scenic work is executed to professional standards within budget and schedule.
Technical Director
About Aaron
Aaron has spent a career living and working in off Broadway theaters in New York City playing accessory to dreams.
Some dreams are more equal than others but Aaron will always do his best to bring them to life. At long last he still feels lucky.
The Job
I manage the fabrication and installation of theatrical scenery and effects for thesis projects.
Lots of fun for sure.