EDUCATOR

CURRENT UPDATES

SMJ is the Executive Director of Andy’s Summer Playhouse in Wilton, NH
SMJ will be teaching TWO classes for CCT’s 2026 Winter Academy: Mime Time (ages 8-12) & Own the Stage (ages 13-16). Registration is now open!

For the last ten years, SMJ has served as a director, choreographer, teacher, mentor, and coach to students of all age groups from 5 to 35 years old at high schools, colleges, universities, professional theaters, and in Zoom rooms & on YouTube playlists throughout the United States. SMJ is committed to making everyone feel more comfortable in their bodies, advocating for the physical, mental, and emotional safety of young theatermakers, and bringing high-quality theater education to underserved communities. A mime of 18 years, SMJ began training at the School for Youth Mime Theatre at Kenyon College in 2007. SMJ has been taught by Gregg Goldston, Rick Wamer, Stephen Chipps, Lorie Heald, Dan Griffiths, Danielle Conover, Susan Wang, and Mike Wang.

SMJ’s highlights as an educator include directing the first high school productions of John Proctor is the Villain and Fun Home (Ohio EdTA), Once on This Island JR, the first joint production between all six high schools at the MLK Educational Complex (Lincoln Center Theater Education), the middle school premiere of Filthy Rich Blood (Grace Church School in NYC), and The Wolves (Westerville South HS), as well as choreographing Carrie the Musical (Ohio EdTA). SMJ has been very active at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center (a Mentor, Dramaturg, & Director for the Young Playwrights Festival, a Mime Instructor, & Education Apprentice/Assistant), the Ohio Educational Theatre Association (Workshop Presenter, Adjudicator, & former Board Member), New York Thespians (Workshop Presenter & Adjudicator), The 24 Hour Plays / New Victory Theater (Playwright Mentor), Stage the Change (Playwriting), Life Jacket Theatre Company / Sam & Devorah Foundation for Trans Youth (Guest Artist), Playdate Theater (Guest Artist), East Side Community High School (7th Grade Theater Teacher) as well as numerous other high schools throughout the state of Ohio.

Click Here for SMJ's Education Resume

HIGHLIGHTS

John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower
DIRECTOR
FIRST U.S. HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION
2025 All-Ohio Show for the Ohio Educational Theatre Association

FEATURING Alise Orodi, Payton Theile, Gini Meekin, Gio Gooden, Noelle Hampton, Simon Newkirk, Jonathan West, Jackson Vargo, Anna Foltz, Hope Rooney, Daria Lesmerises, Comfort Hanson, Lauren Ngo, Clementine Metz, Bauer Embrey, Frank Carrell, Miles Gilchrist, & Lucy Robinson
with Seth Sprang (Technical Director), Kristy Rodriguez (Producer), Jennifer Ludwig (Producer), Rachel Kuta (Stage Manager), Amabelle Chan (Assistant Stage Manager), Preston Bronder (Assistant Stage Manager), Clementine Metz (Choreographer), Lola Brown (Assistant Director), Wittman Sullivan (Assistant Technical Designer), Griffin Braniger (Lighting Designer), Carter Rohr (Assistant Lighting Designer), Cedar Yau (Set Designer), Liam Davidson (Assistant Set Designer), Asher Light (Sound Lead), Eddie Kasl (Sound Lead), Audrey Millhoan (Props Designer), Aubrielle Behary (Costume Designer), Xae Grace (Assistant Costume Designer), Juju Ludwig (Hair & Makeup Designer), Desmond Ducy (Run Crew), Garret Knapke (Run Crew)

Photos by David Myers & Asher Light

Filthy Rich Blood by Alexis Elisa Macedo
DIRECTOR
Grace Church School - Middle School (December 2024)

Performed by sixteen 6th-8th graders, Produced by Susan Sterman-Jones, Costume Design by Somie Pak, Light Design by Lydia Brinkmann, and Set Design by Daryl Embry.

Once On This Island JR. by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty
DIRECTOR
Produced by Lincoln Center Theater for the Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Complex (April 2024)

FEATURING Students from all six high schools in the Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Complex in NYC
with Choreography by Danielle Criss & Music Direction by David Boyd.

Fun Home by Lisa Kron & Jeanine Tesori
DIRECTOR
FIRST U.S. HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION
2022 All-Ohio Show for the Ohio Educational Theatre Association

FEATURING Abbey Brinkhoff, Maren Rhoads, Lucy Robinson, Ren Gleason, Tenley Stitzer, Sammi Robinson, Cole Stellato, Mahad Yusuf, Payton Theile, Madison Yanichko, Bella Price, & Tyler Zwick
with choreography by Riley Bannister, musical direction by Nina Fisher, stage management by Grace Pruchnicki, Tara Gontkovic, & Rosemary Burmester, lighting design by Elise Selevaag, scenic design by William Blank, and props design by Grace French.

CARRIE by Michael Gore, Dean Pitchford, and Lawrence D. Cohen
CHOREOGRAPHER
2019 ALL-OHIO SHOW for the Ohio Educational Theatre Association

FEATURING Delia Brennan, Riley McIntyre, Emma Fullen, Bella Glaser, Casey Merren, True Chin-Parker, Sophia Shai, Kelly Faherty, Oliver Runyon, Josiah Holloway, Jacob Weinheimer, Carson Shrader, Caleb Jingo, Justin Ly, Mac Christian, Molly Gallagher, Emma Murphy, Ellie Newman, Kandy Otchere-Boakye, & Emily Stowers
with direction by Luke Bovenizer, musical direction by Ian LeRoy, technical direction by Derrick McPeak & Baylee Roberson, production management by Grant Perry, stage management by Ashley Bright, lighting design by Eli Suarez & Izzy Nichols, sound design by Tori Perdue, costume design by Claire Duncan & Lilah Benjamin, props mastering by David Braden, publicity by Megan Masciola, and crewed by Meredith Bean, Grace Mayo, & Ethan Riehle.

Selected Credits from Westerville South High School (OH)

The Wolves
Director

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
Directed by Matthew Wolfe
Fight & Flight Director

Catch Me If You Can
Directed by Matthew Wolfe
Fight & Intimacy Coach

Newsies
Fight Choreographer at Dublin Scioto HS (Ohio)

Trans Voices: A Storytelling Event for Trans & Nonbinary Young Adults
Life Jacket Theatre Company and Sam & Devorah Foundation for Transgender Youth

Young Playwrights Festival
Eugene O’Neill Theater Center / Sophia Chapadjiev, Artistic Director

Master Class with New Albany High School (Ohio)

TESTIMONIALS

  • "Working with SMJ over the past five years, they have always made me feel and genuinely believe that I was being supported and cared for while also being pushed to work harder and go further in my acting than I ever thought possible. This is a fine line that not many people can accomplish. Not only does SMJ become an impactful teacher in the lives of their students, but also a kind and compassionate mentor that will consistently help others reveal the pure greatness in themselves."

    —Desmond Fernandez

  • "When studying with SMJ, I felt free to articulate at all times. Whether that be an opinion, a concern, or a discovery, they truly did everything in their power to make every single one of us students feel heard. They also challenged us to work outside of our comfort zones and to try new methods of working collaboratively. Working with SMJ was hands down one of the most fruitful artistic experiences I have had thus far!"

    —Joan Milburn

  • "I credit much of my success as a performer to the teachings and workshops of SMJ. From stage combat, to mime, to living and thriving in the theater world, SMJ has taught me the skills and techniques I needed to not only audition well, but to set me on a promising path for the future. When I was required to perform a dangerous hand-to-hand combat stunt while I was in high school, SMJ taught it in a way that was easy to learn, and it went flawlessly onstage every time. They’re fun, creative, and extremely talented."

    —Abby Messina

  • "SMJ has this talent of making even the most foreign concepts seem within reach! Their passion encouraged me to learn, their talent inspired me to grow, and they’re a teacher that truly doesn’t rest until their students are thriving. I had so much fun in their classes, and felt so supported the entire time as well."

    —Savannah Ritz

  • "They had the perfect combination of lightheartedness and no nonsense that allowed the students to learn comfortably while enjoying their lessons with SMJ."