Meet the CrossTown Staff...
Erin McDonald, CrossTown Theatre Director
Erin is a third year MFA candidate in Drama/Theatre for the Young at EMU. She holds a BA in Theatre from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. Erin has worked as a summer teaching artist with the Lexington Children's Theatre where she taught children ages 3 - 16 years theatre. Erin has also spent the past four summers working with the Harvey Cavalier Camp as the Little Cavs Theatre Director and as a production teacher, writing scripts, directing summer productions and teaching creative drama to 3 - 9 year olds. While at Eastern, Erin has performed in Antigone, Blackwater Ballad and directed in the Annual One Act Festival. Erin is currently directing the Children's Theatre Tour 'Sideways Stories' at EMU. Erin is currently working as the Graduate Assistant for CrossTown Theatre Troupe.
Jenny Sawtelle - Koppera, CTT Founder, CTT-Wayne Memorial High School
Jenny is scheduled to complete her MFA in Drama and Theatre for the Young at EMU in December 2010. Jenny is one of the founding CrossTown Theatre Troupe Directors and worked closely on each of the three CTT productions during 2009. Recently, she has also directed productions with Ann Arbor Civic Theatre and The Young Actor’s Guild of Ann Arbor. Jenny has also lived and worked in Chicago where she has taught French, dance, and theatre at North Shore Country Day School, performed as a member of Actors’ Equity at such theatres as the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre, and choreographed numerous productions at her alma mater Northwestern University. Jenny is thoroughly inspired by her work with CrossTown and hopes to see CTT grow and continue its work in 2010 and beyond. Jenny is teaching at the ECA (Early College Alliance) program's site.
Ariel Jones, CTT-Wayne Memorial High School
Ariel S. Jones is a graduate student at Eastern Michigan University working toward a Masters in Drama/Theatre for the Young. She earned her Bachelors of Arts from The University of Michigan- Ann Arbor; where she studied Communication Studies and African American Theatre. She has worked with organizations such as, Arizona Black Film Festival and Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. Ariel is interested in the effects of drama activities on comprehension and literacy in the classroom. Ariel is teaching at the Wayne Memorial CrossTown Theatre Site.
Jillian Carey, CTT-Wayne Memorial High School
Jillian Carey is a 1st year MA candidate at Eastern Michigan University in the Drama/Theatre for the Young program. She completed her undergrad at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin with a Bachelors in Theatre for the Musical Stage and a Minor in Psychology. She hopes to someday use her theatre, music and dance background in a therapeutic type setting with children. For now, she just loves to help spread the love of theatre to youth of all ages and cultures. Jillian is also extremely fond of visiting museums and interested in history. Ask her about her gnome collection. Jillian is a teaching artist at the Wayne Memorial High School Crosstown Site.
Richard Wright, CTT-Willow Run High School
Richard A. Wright after serving in the US Army where he attained the rank of Sergeant, attended Gordon College and Armstrong Atlantic State University where he received his BA in Theater with concentration in Theater Management and BA in Theater Performance. Richard holds a MA from Eastern Michigan University in Drama Theatre for Young Audiences and is currently working towards an MFA in the same field at EMU. Richard has also been a member of the Hilberry Repertory Theatre, WSU's graduate theatre program. During his career Richard has toured professionally throughout the nation and recently was the Company Manager for the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield MA, where he worked alongside the best and brightest of Broadway. Richard has taught workshops throughout the nation on Role-playing, Improvisations, Basics of Acting, Make-Up, Theater Games, Community Theater Development, History of Storytelling, Theater Etiquette, and Theater Marketing and has taught theatre and communication on both the collegiate and secondary levels. Richard is currently the Executive Director of Lamar Arts Summer Programs in Barnesville GA., where he also serves on the Board of Directors. Richard is teaching at the Willow Run CrossTown site.
Tae "Big Fire" Yoo, CTT-Willo Run High School
Big Fire is a second year M.F.A. candidate in Drama/Theatre for the Young at Eastern Michigan University. He holds an M.A. in performance studies from New York University and a B.F.A. in Acting from the Korean National University of Arts in Seoul, Korea. He has taught with the CrossTown summer program, Ann Arbor Young Actor’s Guild Summer Camp and has directed Beauty and the Beast at Willow Run High School. His expertise lies in mime, movement and stage combat. Big Fire is teaching at the Willow Run CrossTown site.
Diviin Huff, CTT-Ypsilanti High School
Diviin Huff is a second year MFA candidate in Drama and Theatre for the Young. She holds a BA from University of Michigan in Psychology and African American History. She has taught K-12 in Ypsilanti, Chelsea, Wayne Westland, Milan and Ann Arbor. She is so excited to grow with the students in CTT. In her spare time, she is a writer, performer, Yogi and hula hooper. She enjoys sunny days, glitter and bubbles. Diviin is teaching at the Ypsilanti High School CrossTown Site.
Jawan Jackson, CTT-Ypsilanti High School
Jawan is a Communication major and senior at Eastern Michigan University. Jawan is an actor and musician who has sang in numerous venues across the United States. Jawan loves spending time with his six God kids, sleeping, and steak and eggs for breakfast. He describes himself as positive, driven and motivated. Jawan is excited to be joining CrossTown as a teaching artist for the Ypsilanti High School CrossTown site.
