Photos by Natalie Clayburn
Photos by Natalie Clayburn
Produced by: Student-Led Arts Initiative
Role: Director / Producer
PAUL MATTHEWS: Reece McAbee
EMMA PERKINS: Ainsley Hammond
TED SPANKOFFSKI: Jeremy Reyes
CHARLOTTE SWEETLEY, ALICE, et al.: Nina Romano
MR. DAVISON, SAM, et al.: Braidy Kirkegaard
BILL WOODWARD, GENERAL MACNAMARA, et al.: Nicolas Brunet
PROFESSOR HIDGENS: Elijah Paruzynski
GREENPEACE GIRL, et al.: Kennedy Jones
MELISSA, COP, DEB, SCHAFFER, et al.: Amora Jones
PRODUCERS: Aiden Clayburn + Sam Matthews
DIRECTOR: Aiden Clayburn
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR: Carmen Rose Del Vecchio
MUSIC DIRECTOR: Ryann Barnash
CHOREOGRAPHER: Nat Harper
AST. CHOREOGRAPHER: Nina Romano
SOUND DESIGNER: Kyle Dean
SCENIC DESIGNER/ PROPS HEAD: Nola Buehler
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Aiden Clayburn
FIGHT DIRECTOR: Sam Matthews
CONDUCTOR/ KEYS 1: Ryann Barnash
KEYS 2: Paulina Kosierkiewicz
DRUMS: John Vandover
SOUND MIXER: Kyle Dean
LIGHT OP: Aiden Clayburn
Photo by Justin Swader
Produced by: Children's Theatre Company
Role: Directing Intern
As a directing intern, I observed the rehearsal and production process for Treasure Island, working alongside director Rick Dildine and fight choreographer Paul Dennhardt. I had the opportunity to ask questions, study their approaches to staging and storytelling, and gain valuable insight into professional directing and movement practices.
Photo by Aiden Clayburn
Produced by: Webster Conservatory
Role: Director
For this project, I directed and fully realized a 15-minute scene of Paper Dolls, taking on multiple creative and technical roles. In addition to directing, I designed lighting, sound, and puppetry, crafting a cohesive visual and auditory world for the piece. I also created the puppets used in performance and led 25 hours of rehearsal, guiding the ensemble through detailed character work and staging. This process showcased my ability to integrate design and direction into a unified storytelling vision.
Photo by Amber Holven
Produced by: Paradise Community Theatre
Directed by: Eric Parrish
Role: Assistant Director / Dramaturg
For Assassins, I developed a comprehensive 48-page dramaturgy packet to provide historical and thematic context for the cast, deepening their understanding of the show's complex material. In addition to regularly leading rehearsals in the director’s absence, I also took on full sound design responsibilities, sourcing, editing, and assembling all tracks to create a cohesive and impactful auditory experience. My work ensured continuity across departments and supported the production's artistic integrity from early development through performance.
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
Produced by: The New Jewish Theatre
Directed by: Rebekah Scallet
Role: Assistant Director / Dramaturg
Took over 250 notes in one week, stayed on book, and assisted with line work while remaining available for all rehearsal needs. Conducted in-depth dramaturgical research on historical and thematic elements, providing contextual resources to support the cast and creative team.
Produced by: Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts
Role: Director
As Director, I devised a theatrical piece inspired by a single-word prompt (Creation). For this project, I explored the question, What is considered life?, incorporating my passion for puppetry. In this 2-3 minute piece, I guided my actors in collaborative sound creation and physical storytelling, emphasizing reactive performance and ensemble-driven movement.
Photo by Aiden Clayburn
Photo by @griffins__photos22
Role: Director & Produer
In a fast-paced, three-hour rehearsal process, I cast, blocked, and staged a dynamic reading of The Actor’s Nightmare. I designed and executed a live soundscape, creatively sourced props—including coordinating with public safety to secure trash cans—and brought the production to life with minimal resources. The result was an engaging and polished performance that showcased adaptability, creativity, and effective leadership.
Produced by: Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts
Directed by: Gad Guterman
Role: Assistant Director
As Assistant Director, I had the pleasure of working with a cast and crew of 42 students. In this experience, I co-led cover rehearsals alongside our stage management team, bringing our director's vision into the room. I communicated directly with the director, acting as a liaison for the cast and crew, and documented over 100 notes from the director to ensure high-quality direction.
Photo by Aiden Clayburn
Role: Director/Producer
As the Director and Producer for the staged reading of The Shark Is Broken, I led the creative and logistical aspects of the production. With only three hours of rehearsal, I efficiently managed the team to ensure a polished performance. I also took on sound design, learning QLab to create an effective auditory experience, and collaborated with an audio engineer to optimize sound for the space. This experience honed my leadership, problem-solving, and technical skills under a tight timeline.
Produced by: Locally Grown Theatre
Directed by: Joe Johnson
Role: Assistant Director / Prop Head
As Prop Head and Assistant Director for Tom Sawyer, I managed all prop needs, sourcing and creating 23 props with a $0 budget while ensuring rehearsal props were ready for every session, approving approximately 25% on the first showing. I also documented over 50 pages of blocking and took detailed staging notes to support the director. This experience strengthened my problem-solving, organization, and communication skills, especially in collaborating with actors ranging in age from 7 to 70.