J*Company Youth Theatre Directors

Joey Landwehr, Artistic Director

is the proud Artistic Director for J Company Youth Theatre. Winning over 40 awards for his work with young artists in San Diego; including a special creativity award for shaving his head with his lead in THE KING AND I, Yul Brynner style, gaining over $10,000.00 for Rady Children’s Hospital, Cancer Unit. Earning him the title Joey “Do Anything For The Arts” Landwehr. He moved to San Diego after being a professional actor and director in New York City working on and off Broadway, national tours, regional theatre and directing and soloing at Carnegie Hall. Joey received his MFA in acting and directing from The Ohio State University and has studied under such instructors as Betty Buckley, Marcel Marceau, Francis Sternhagen, F. Murry Abraham, Twila Tharpe and has had the great privilege of working with such greats as Phyllis Diller, Sam Harris, Harvey Fierstein, Kristin Chenoweth, Victoria Mallory, Joel Grey, Kaye Ballard, Michael Feinstein, Betty Buckley, Patti LuPone and the late, great Howard Keel. Joey has worked in all medias of entertainment and is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), the Director’s Guild of America (DGA), the Actors Alliance of San Diego (AASD), and Americans for the Arts (AFTA). Since moving to San Diego Joey worked for the San Diego Performing Arts League as Membership and Community Development Director; in 2007 he received the “40 Under 40” Award from San Diego Metropolitan Magazine for outstanding leadership in the arts. Joey was also honored as the 2011 Newsmaker in the Arts. In San Diego, Joey has worked with Scripps Ranch Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, the San Diego Shakespeare Society, La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe, San Diego REP, Lipinsky Family Jewish Arts Festival, San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Symphony, Orchestra Nova San Diego and The Actors Alliance Festival winning five different excellence awards. At J Company he has had the privilege of directing RUMPELSTILTSKIN IS MY NAME, OLIVER!, YOURS, ANNE, DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE STORY OF HANSEL AND GRETEL, DISNEY’S THE JUNGLE BOOK, ELTON JOHN AND TIM RICE’S AIDA and DISNEY’S 101 DALMATIANS, POCAHONTAS (San Diego Premiere), INTO THE WOODS, FIREFLIES: THE STORY OF THE ARTISTS OF TEREZIN - FEATURING THE ORIGINAL CHILDREN’S OPERA BRUNDIBAR (World Premiere). RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN’S SOUTH PACIFIC, RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN’S THE KING AND I, RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN’S THE SOUND OF MUSIC & RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, 13 – A NEW MUSICAL, CHILDREN OF EDEN, DISNEY’S MULAN, **THE WHO’S TOMMY, **THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, **XANADU, FUNNY GIRL, YENTL (World Premiere), GYPSY – A MUSICAL FABLE & HELLO, DOLLY.

**In partnership with La Jolla Playhouse

EMAIL: joeyl@lfjcc.com

Nan Pace, Managing Director

is the Managing Director at J*Company. Nan Pace has been a part of San Diego’s landscape for more than a decade. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA, she moved to San Diego in 1994 and began her career in television (Fox 6) and radio (760KFMB). With 13 years of experience in marketing, media relations and events management, combined with seven years in non-profit public relations/communications and project management, she has established herself as a committed and respected professional. Past projects include the San Diego County Fair (2000-2003), 2001 Buick Invitational, WalkAmerica (2001-2003) and Charger Backers annual Celebrity Golf Tournament (2003-2006). Nan’s work in the arts, and at the Lawrence Family JCC, includes the San Diego Jewish Film Festival (2006 & 2007) and the 2008 JCC Maccabi Games®. Nan is a dedicated volunteer and advocate for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA -San Diego Chapter). Aunt to three nephews and two nieces, she has a passion for arts programming and working with J*Company’s talented young artists.

EMAIL: nanp@lfjcc.com

J*Company Professionals

Judy Grant, ON THE TOWN Musical Director

Judy grew up in the San Francisco where she started playing piano at age 4. She went to UCLA graduating with a degree in Business/Economics and a minor in Music. Judy worked in television for CBS and Fox Television in San Francisco and for ABC News in Los Angeles. Judy’s love for Musical Theatre began after playing dozens of shows for Peninsula Civic Light Opera in the Bay Area, which her husband co-founded. After having children, Judy retired from her TV career and returned to her music. She began teaching for the Las Virgines School District in Los Angeles as a Music Specialist for K – 6th graders, where she built a music program emphasizing performance. While teaching, Judy found time to perform regularly in Woodland Hills, and for both Temple Judea in Tarzana and Temple Ahavat Shalom in Northridge and is now known as the “lounge lizard” because of her performances in venues across San Diego. Currently Judy teaches music to Kindergarten-3rd graders for Temple Solel, and directs the Temple’s Junior Choir. She also teaches private piano lessons in the Encinitas area, where she lives with her husband Hal, daughters Rachel and Lindsey, and labs Buddy and Bocca.

J*Company Artists

Susan Huniu (Musical Direction)

Susan Huniu has displayed a passion and love for the arts that has given her a variety of experiences. She is very excited to be returning the J*Company and San Diego after a brief move to Orange County. She graduated from Stetson University in Florida with a degree in Music Education focusing on vocal performance. She has performed professionally in various venues including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Atlantic City, Busch gardens, and Disney’s MGM Studios where she played the title role of The Little Mermaid as well as many other characters. Some of her regional theatre credits include Big River, EVITA, Funny Girl and HONK!

Tim McKnight (Musical Direction)

Tim McKnight is a professional musician and teacher in the San Diego area. He holds his Bachelor in Music Education and Masters in Vocal Accompanying and Coaching from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In addition to being the Director of Music at Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Escondido, he also teaches a studio of 25 piano and voice students. Tim has served as musical director, conductor, vocal coach and pianist for numerous productions at San Diego Junior Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, Youth Theatre Conservatory, Starlight, Canyon Crest Academy, North Coast Repertory Theatre, and many others.

Roxane Carrasco (Choreographer)

Roxane Carrasco is a proud member of Actors Equity Association, AFTRA, and SAG and has over 25 years of experience as a professional Actress working on Broadway (CHICAGO), International and National Broadway tours (CHICAGO, WEST SIDE STORY, A CHORUS LINE, WIZARD OF OZ), Broadway Workshops (LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE, THE LORCA PROJECT) , TV (AS THE WORLD TURNS, LAW & ORDER SVU, BROADWAY ON BROADWAY) and Regional Theaters (LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE, SAN DIEGO REP, OLD GLOBE, THEATREWORKS). As a Choreographer/Director and Teaching Artist in the Performing Arts, Roxane has over 22 years experience. Highlights include Master Classes in Musical Theater all over Europe,Canada, and the U.S. at prestigious Universities, Dance Studios, Theater Companies & for Broadway Classroom; Clases de Sevillanas at the University of Granada, Spain; The Education Director for INTAR Theater in NYC; and several years as a teaching artist for San Diego Unified School District & Chula Vista City Schools. Roxane has a B.A. in Theater from UCSD and is excited to work with the talented kids at J*Company.

Karen Li (Choreographer)

Karen recently completed her undergraduate education at UC San Diego, graduating with a double major in Theatre and Dance. She is currently establishing her professional career as a dancer/choreographer/playwright/actor. As a result, she is quite busy and can often be found gazing into the cloudy La Jolla sky, dreaming of sun and having the time to enjoy it. She recently choreographed Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog, Live in San Diego, and appeared in it as a dancing, snooty, homeless fangirl with time-travelling pigtails. She is proud to be the assistant coach of the nationally ranked UC San Diego Dancesport team and is excited for a great year to come.