theatre
Steven Cardona • Acting, Musical Theatre
Steven Cardona is a teaching artist for Disney Theatrical Group and resident teaching artist for TheaterWorksUSA.
Steven is the creator of Innovative Theatrics (Ig: @Innovative_Theatrics) a new web-series featuring musical numbers from New York composers. As the theater director of Art House Astoria, he has helmed many productions including The Lion King, Willy Wonka, Annie, and Seussical. His performance credits include: The Wiz (Scotland), Click Clack Moo (Canada/ US national tour), “The Untitled John Mayer Project”, The Little Orchestra Society concert series, Money$hot: a new musical. Associate Director/Choreographer: Clint Black's Looking for Christmas (The Old Globe), Murder For Two (Second Stage/New World Stages/1st National Tour), Yeast Nation (writers of Urinetown), ZM: Zombie Musical (writers of Urinetown), Law and Order SVU. BFA: The Boston Conservatory.
Laura Ware • Acting, musical theatre
Laura Ware, originally from Southern California, arrived in Astoria in 2007 with her two suitcases and a laptop after spending two years out on the National Tour of Mamma Mia! where she played the role of Rosie.
Laura is an actress, singer, and director, having recently directed Art House Astoria's The Wizard of Oz Young Performer's Edition! In addition to being the Director of Finance and Human Resources for Art House Astoria, she is also the editor of the theatre website, StageAgent. Since arriving in New York, Laura has appeared on As the World Turns and on the Nickelodeon kids' show The Naked Brothers Band as well as in the World Premiere of Things As They Are in the New York Musical Theater Festival. Some of her favorite stage roles include Miss Hannigan in Annie, Maggie Jones in 42nd Street, and Reverend Mother in Nunsense among others. Laura holds a BFA in Acting and an MFA in Musical Theater and she is a member of Actors Equity Association.
Paul Weissman • Acting, Theatre
Paul Weissman is a New York City-based actor and playwright who has been performing in both theater and film for the past twenty five years. He has acting credits in both drama and comedy and is also a playwright and short story author.
Shelby O’Brien • public school theatre teaching artist
Shelby O'Brien recently graduated from Oklahoma City University where she got her BFA in Acting. Shelby grew up in the Tampa Bay area, where she fell in love with musical theatre, acting and dance as well as teaching children in the performing arts. She is a recent resident of New York, and has spent most of her life in the wonderful sunshine state, Florida, but is loving her time here so far! She grew up in a performing arts conservatory program and went on to study theatre in college. Shelby is trained in acting, voice, musical theatre and a variety of dance styles including: jazz, tap, and musical theatre dance. Her recent credits include:performing in an Off-Broadway production of, “Bonhoeffer: Last Days,” working with Phantasmagoria Orlando, performing in the Tampa Theatre festival and doing murder mystery dinner theatre events! She has a passion for performing and working with kids and could not be happier to continue pursuing that passion.
Jenn Schulte • public school theatre teaching artist
Jenn Schulte is a former actor and proud mom of two who adores being a Teaching Artist in Queens! She is thrilled to be a part of Art House Astoria, where her own kids have been taking classes for years now. Jenn is especially passionate about creating original work with her students—from musicals, to plays, to monologues, or puppets!
As an actor, Jenn has worked on Broadway, in commercials, and TV. Jenn graduated from Barnard College (at Columbia) with a BA in Theatre and Trinity Rep Conservatory (at Brown) with an MFA in Theatre.
Kevin Smith Kirkwood • public school theatre teaching artist
Kevin Smith Kirkwood was most recently seen guest starring on the new CW series “Katy Keene.”
He made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award winning musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and earned a 2005 New York Innovative Theater Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor for “It'sKarate, Kid!” Kirkwood would go on to receive a New Hampshire Theater Alliance Award Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor for "Violet" and won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his performance in "RENT." After performing in the entire Broadway run of the Tony Award Winning Musical “Kinky Boots,” Kevin went on to play the role of the 'Scarecrow' in the Broadway at Sacramento Music Circus production of “The Wiz,” which received rave reviews.
On film, Kirkwood stars as 'Roxy' in the newly released horror feature film entitled “Condemned” (written and directed by Eli Morgan Gesner and also starring Dylan Penn and Lydia Hearst). He can also be heard voicing the character DJ on Season two of Marvel's Wolverine Podcast: The Lost Trail.
Kirkwood created and stars in the wildly popular and critically acclaimed solo show, "CLASSIC WHITNEY: ALIVE!" which has played to sold out houses at Joe’s Pub, The Cutting Room, on cruise ships around the world, and even a command performance at the Whitney Houston estate.