J*Company Youth Theatre Directors

Joey Landwehr, Artistic Director

is the proud Artistic Director for J Company Youth Theatre, 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, Kristin Chenoweth, Victoria Mallory, Joel Grey, Kaye Ballard, Michael Feinstein and the late, great Howard Keel. Joey has worked in all medias of entertainment and is a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), 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. In San Diego Joey has worked with Diversionary Theatre, the San Diego Shakespeare Society, La Jolla Playhouse WAM Project, The Old Globe, Lipinsky Family Jewish Arts Festival, San Diego Junior Theatre, Orchestra Nova San Diego (Formally the San Diego Chamber Orchestra.) and The Actors Alliance Festival winning five different excellence awards. At J*Company he has had the privilege of directing during the 2005-2006 Season: RUMPELSTILTSKIN IS MY NAME, 2006-2007 Season: OLIVER!, YOURS, ANNE, DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE STORY OF HANSEL AND GRETEL, 2007-2008 Season: DISNEY’S THE JUNGLE BOOK, ELTON JOHN AND TIM RICE’S AIDA and DISNEY’S 101 DALMATIANS, 2008 -2009 Season: POCAHONTAS (San Diego Premiere), INTO THE WOODS, FIREFLIES: THE STORY OF THE ARTISTS OF TEREZIN - FEATURING THE ORIGINAL CHILDREN’S OPERA BRUNDIBAR (World Premiere), 2009-2010 Season: ROGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S SOUTH PACIFIC, THE KING AND I, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, CINDERELLA, 2010-2011 Season: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, 13 – A NEW MUSICAL, CHILDREN OF EDEN.

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

Emily Calabrese, Educational Administrator

is one of San Diego's finest teachers for very young children. She earned her BFA in acting at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She has taught and performed in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, CA. In Charlotte, North Carolina she co-founded a theatre company in which she produced, directed, and performed in original works with adults and young performers. Her teaching style specializes in Commedia dell' Arte, circus skills, musical theatre, and movement. Her greatest joy is helping children of all ages transform their natural play into theatrical expression.

EMAIL: emilyc@lfjcc.com

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 Director -Disney's MULAN)

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!

Deven P. Brawley – (Choreographer -Disney's MULAN)

performance and choreographic career spans over 12 years. He has danced and toured with the companies of Faith Jensen-Ismay, Patricia Rincon, Michael Mizerany, and Walt Disney World Co, in addition to special projects with various companies including The San Diego Opera, The PGK Project, San Diego based pianist Peter Gach, Colette Harding Contemporary Dance Company, and Malashock Dance. Brawley has performed at festivals worldwide including the American Dance Festival, USA; Tanz in Olten, Switzerland; and SOLA, USA. Choreographic highlights include Wireless City Version 2.0 with Eveoke Dance Theatre and The Palomar College Foundation, Tortured Soul at Copley Symphony Hall, The Encinitas Garden Festival in conjunction with Patricia Rincon Dance Collective, The Shel Suite a project for the City of Del Mar and DK Dance Factory. In 2007, Deven began d'shire dance --San Diego's First All-Male Dance Company. Since its inception Brawley and the company have received critical acclaim. In his spare time Deven enjoys quiet nights at home and planning his upcoming projects.

Tim McKnight (Musical Director -The Who's TOMMY)

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 (Choreogrpher-The Who's TOMMY)

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.

Jason Chase (Musical Director -Thoroughly Modern Millie)

Jason has served as the Musical Director for numerous National tours in North and South America as well as across Europe.   He has worked on The King and I, starring Stephanie Powers, Jesus Christ Superstar, Starring Ted Neeley, Ragtime, Grease, 42nd Street, On the Town, Kiss Me Kate, Damn Yankees, Into the Woods, Big River, Cabaret, The Goodbye Girl, The Music Man, Evita, Cinderella, Annie Warbucks, Forever Plaid, The Wiz and Pacific Overtures. He also was the Assoc. Musical Director and Conductor for the U.S. National tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, starring Patrick Cassidy and American Idol‘s Amy Adams. Jason is an accomplished composer of film, song and stage.  He composed the film score to the movie The Runaway; the score, lyrics and book for Jehanne, the Musical as well as the North American Debut of the musical, A Christmas Carol. He has served as the vocal coach and accompanist for the Metropolitan Opera, the Chicago Lyric Opera, NYU’s Tisch School for the Arts and the Missouri State Opera. Jason was the choral director and arranger for 2 years with the national tour of The Colors of Christmas, starring Peabo Bryson, James Ingram, En vogue, John Secada, Oleda Adams, Jody Watley and Marilyn McCoo and was on the original artistic staff for Bravo Televisions “On with the Show” serving as Musical Director and Arranger.  He was also the Musical Director for 4 years with Camp Broadway in New York. 

Claudia Gomez-Vorce (Choreographer-Thoroughly Modern Millie)

Coming from a lineage of professional dancers, beginning with Mexican ballet folkloriko, Claudia Gomez Vorce also embraced other disciplines including Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Hip-Hop. Claudia furthered her studies and was inspired by tap dance legends such as Bunny Briggs. Claudia has taught tap and performed at nightclubs and theaters throughout Southern California, New York and internationally. She has appeared in national tap dance events including Tap Extravaganza / Flow Bert Awards and has been mentioned in "Dance Magazine". Claudia produces and is the director of "Groove On Tap!", "Olio The Show", and "The Cherries Jubilee", all productions of Olio Productions, Inc. a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization which is dedicated to the preservation, education and presentation of jazz music and its American vernacular dances.

RC Haus (Musical Director -Xanadu)

RC joins JCC with over 20 years of experience in choral conducting, musical/theatrical production, song writing, and music arranging. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Southern California Vocal Association, a licensed music teacher, and a member of the board of directors of the San Diego Master Chorale. RC has served as Musical Director for recent local productions of The King and I, South Pacific, Urinetown, Scrooge the Musical, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He also directed, Ah! Tempo, one of San Diego’s leading male vocal ensembles, and was the assistant artistic director for the well-known San Diego Men’s Chorus. RC also worked as a TV producer in the Bay Area for 10 years, and hosted a nightly television program called Coast to Coast. Recently, he worked for 6 years as choral director of the School of Creative and Performing Arts. 

Karen Li (Choreographer - Xanadu)

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. 

William (BJ) Robinson (Private Voice Instruction)

A modern day music man, William BJ Robinson has been progressing in the musical world through instrumental, vocal, and directorial practices. In 2005, BJ went on to concentrate on vocal performance at the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. His studies led him to performances of choral masterworks with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, including Beethoven’s 9th Symphony under the direction of Neeme Järvi in 2006 and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana under the direction of Jacques Lacombe in 2008. BJ also toured with the MSU Singers through Russia in 2008, performing at Rachmaninov Hall of The Tchaikovsky Conservatory, The Hermitage, and The Russian Museum. In 2010, BJ recorded a Latin-jazz tune entitled ‘Meetchu In Machu Picchu’ by the brilliantly artistic Larry Zeiger, which was immediately followed by the making of its music video. Developed into a musical short film, Meetchu In Machu Picchu: A Musical Journey premiered at the Conga Caliente Film and Music Festival last November in Tampa, Florida.

Currently, BJ is pursuing his Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance, with plans to complete a Masters in Conducting. He is also a staff accompanist for Southwestern College and choreographer for its Chamber Singers, artistic staff within the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus, as well as Baritone Soloist and section leader at All Saints Episcopal Church.