CREATIVE TEAM
SHENELLE SALCIDO - BOOK/MUSIC/LYRICS
Shenelle is a composer, lyricist, and playwright who seeks to tell original stories through music and lyrics that are narrative driven but are also singable out of context; utilizing a combination of elements that might be found in pop, rock, folk, or classical music. She co-wrote an original musical called For Tonight which has been seen at New York Theatre Barn, Goodspeed Musicals, the Isle of Man, Michigan State University, and Queensbury Theatre. The UK Concept Album of “For Tonight” was released in 2021 and is available on all platforms. She is currently working on a solo project titled the Castillo Challenge, a musical inspired by the quirks of Shenelle’s own mixed-race family. She is a 2022 Performing Arts Fellow with the Utah Division of Arts and Museums and was a 2017 participant in Company One Theatre’s Playlab.
SPENCER WILLIAMS - BOOK/MUSIC/LYRICS
Spencer is a musical theatre educator, choral director, composer and playwright. He co-wrote For Tonight, a new original trilingual musical, that has been seen at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, Goodspeed Musicals, Isle of Man’s Gaiety Theatre, Michigan State University, the cell with New York Theatre Barn, Queensbury Theatre in Houston, TX, and with workshops at The Union Theatre in London, and the London Welsh Centre. The UK concept album of For Tonight has reached over 100k streams and is out on all digital platforms. Upcoming: Adelphi Theatre (West End concert) - September 2023
In educational theatre, he has produced the high school premiere of two Duncan Sheik musicals: Whisper House (Kyle Jarrow) and Alice by Heart (Steven Sater, Jessie Nelson); An Evening With Stuart Brayson (with music from From Here to Eternity), The Stories of Tonight and has directed/musically directed/produced over 40 musicals and musical revues. Favorites include: Les Miserables, Chicago, Frozen and The Wedding Singer.
Spencer has conducted choirs at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican; Paris, France; Cadogan Hall in London, England; Canterbury Cathedral; California’s Disneyland; and at Carmel Mission. Upcoming Tour: The Children of Eden (David Geffen Hall, New York City - Feb 2024). He also worked at San Jose Stage Company as resident Musical Director and Education Director for six years, where he also founded the Bay Area High School Top Honor Awards.
Spencer has performed internationally at WORLD EXPO in Tokyo, Japan, CHILDREN’S FOLKLORE FESTIVAL in Matha, France, on national television on THE GONG SHOW, and been featured on TLC’S TRADING SPACES. Boston University: Master’s of Music Education. Member of: Dramatist Guild, ASCAP, NAMT, Mercury Musicals Development (MMD) and Musical Theatre Network (MTN). Love to Thomas and Stephen.
BLAIR RUSSELL - LEAD PRODUCER
Blair is a producer, developer, supporter, and lover of theatre and live performance whose experience ranges from fringe festivals to Broadway shows. His most recent projects include the Tony-nominated Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris, Lizard Boy by Justin Huertas, For Tonight by Shenelle Salcido and Spencer Williams, and the concept recordings of TikTok sensation EPIC the Musical which has over 75 million streams on Spotify. As Co-founder and Director of Operations for Resounding, he produces immersive and technology-based entertainment events across the country. Blair is currently Co-President of the Board of New York Theatre Barn, Vice Chair of the Board of The New Harmony Project, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Goodspeed Musicals. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Technical Theatre/Stage Management.
NICK EVANS - DIRECTOR
Nick was the Director of the streamed version of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ during the pandemic, featuring Sir Derek Jacobi and Sam Tutty, and nominated for The Stage Awards. His reimagining of Jesus Christ Superstar in Mexico City won multiple awards, and he was also nationally recognised for creating and directing the Hear the People Sing project in celebration of the life of Jo Cox MP. His work as an Associate and Resident Director has seen him play a part in many West End and touring productions including Billy Elliot the Musical (Victoria Palace), Bat Out of Hell (Dominion, Toronto, Germany), Rock of Ages (West End), and international tours of Mary Poppins and Mamma Mia. He was also the Associate Director of Laurence Connor’s Arena Tour Production of Jesus Christ Superstar in the UK and in Australia.
KEVAN ALLEN - CHOREOGRAPHER
Kevan’s extensive body of work can be seen with major recording artists including Kylie Minogue & Tom Jones, commercials & corporate events for clients including Nike, Sony, Hugo Boss & Walt Disney and his film work that includes 13 going on 30 with Jennifer Garner & Andy Serkis and the Disney animation feature Chicken Little. He worked closely with Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber on the BBC TV series Over the Rainbow, Any Dream will Do and I’d Do Anything and was the featured choreographer on the groundbreaking hit TV Series Popstars. Other TV work includes America’s Got Talent, Jane & Friends, Strictly Dance Fever, So You Think You Can Dance and The Graham Norton Show. Theatre includes: Jesus Christ Superstar (World tour/ DVD);The Taming of the Shrew RSC (UK/US Tour);Some Enchanted Evening(Cadogan Hall);Chess in Concert (Royal Albert Hall/ DVD);The Winslow Boy (The Rose Theatre);Titanic (Andrew Lloyd Webber Theatre);My One and Only (Prince Edward Theatre);In Whatever Time We Have (Royal Opera House); Sondheim Tonight (The Barbican Concert Hall);Urinetown (Andrew Lloyd Webber Theatre);Mr. Wonderful (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); The Night of 1000 Voices;(The Royal Albert Hall); The Cole Porter Centenary Gala (Prince Edward Theatre);The Royal Variety Show (London Palladium);Imagine This (The New Union Theatre).
Hugo Boss chose Kevan to be their featured choreographer & face for their Global Ad Campaign and he is the artistic director of the KVN Dance Company. www.kevanallen.com www.kvndancecompany.com
JEN GREEN - ORCHESTRATOR
Jen is a London based composer, orchestrator and arranger. She works regularly with the leading names in musical theatre and music production and has orchestrated for artists including Alison Moyet, Elaine Paige, Rick Wakeman, Beverley Knight, Pixie Lott, Joss Stone, Mick Hucknall, The Shires, Ian Broudie, Squeeze, Graham Coxon, Paul Carrack, Tom Robinson, Noah Stewart, Billy Bragg, Bella Hardy, Kate Rusby, Gabrielle Aplin, I am Kloot, Hue & Cry, Bright Light Bright Light. Jen read music at Worcester College, Oxford, where she studied composition with Robert Saxton, and holds an MA in Musical Theatre from Goldsmiths, University of London.
IESTYN GRIFFITHS - MUSICAL DIRECTOR & MUSICAL SUPERVISOR
Originally from Pembrokeshire, Iestyn is a Musical Director, Keyboardist and Producer, and the Co-Founder and Director of The West End of Wales (The WeoW). As a freelance Producer, Iestyn has produced videos and tracks for the likes of the BBC, S4C and Steffan and The Welsh of The West End, as well as the online content for The WeoW.
Iestyn is currently working a varied remote schedule, including lecturing at Cardiff University, creating piano backing tracks for West-End performers, producing videos and audio tracks for TV & Radio, as well as working on several new, exciting projects. He recently produced #GWLAD! - an online concert hosted by The WeoW for St. David’s Day, which featured performances from acts such as John Owen-Jones, Lucie Jones & Rhod Gilbert, as well as an address from HRH The Prince of Wales.
STEWART J CHARLESWORTH - SET AND COSTUME DESIGN
Stewart is a UK based, multi award nominated set and costume designer, whose work spans plays, musicals, opera and dance, as well as immersive and site specific productions. Known for his visual dramaturgy and collaborative nature, his design work has been seen both nationally and internationally from Dubai and China to London’s West End.
JAI MORJARIA - LIGHTING DESIGNER
Jai trained at RADA and won the 2016 Association of Lighting Designer’s ETC Award.
Theatre design includes Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Haymarket Theatre/Lyric Hammersmith/Sheffield Theatres); Cuckoo, Graceland (Royal Court); Othello (National Theatre); The Trials (Donmar Warehouse); Chasing Hares(Young Vic); Wuthering Heights (St Ann’s Warehouse/National Theatre/US Tour/Wise Children);My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) (Ambassadors Theatre/Garrick Theatre/Underbelly/Turbine Theatre); Birthmarked(Bristol Old Vic); Scissors (Sheffield Theatres); Cruise (Duchess Theatre); August in England, House of Ife, Lava (Bush Theatre); Worth (Arcola Theatre/New Earth); The Cherry Orchard (The Yard/HOME/ETT); Cherry Jezebel (Liverpool Everyman); Big Big Sky, The Hoes (Hampstead Theatre); The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Northern Stage); Out of the Dark (Rose Theatre Kingston); Shuck’n’Jive, Whitewash (Soho Theatre); Anansi the Spider (Unicorn Theatre); I’ll Take You To Mrs. Cole(Complicite); Glory (Duke’s Theatre/Red Ladder); Cuzco (Theatre503); Losing Venice (Orange Tree Theatre); 46 Beacon (Trafalgar Studios with Rick Fisher); Out There on Fried Meat Ridge Road (White Bear Theatre/Trafalgar Studios 2); Acorn (Courtyard Theatre. Off-West End Award nomination for Best Lighting).www.jaimorjaria.com
DEBORAH VOGT - DRAMATURGY
Deborah is a Canadian writer and dramaturg that works with projects in the UK, the US, and Canada. Most recently, she was commissioned to write a new musical surrounding teens and mental health intended for Broadway 2024.
In addition, she wrote the book for the award-winning musical Carry On, the sold out musical Sylvia’s Hotel, and the YouTube musical Finding Face Time. In London, her work has been seen at the Old Red Lion Theatre, Drayton Arms Theatre, Tristan Bates Theatre, and Shoreditch Town Hall.
As a dramaturg, Deborah has read hundreds of scripts and worked with dozens of writers on new musicals at various stages of development. She has a Masters of Dramaturgy and Writing for Performance from Goldsmiths, University of London and worked as the performance programmer for JW3 London.