Meet Our Staff

Eric Vaughn Johnson

Executive Director

Johnson is an award-winning director from Rochester, and has been involved with countless theatrical and film productions both on- and off-stage. He has been described as "an influential part of Rochester Arts” (West Side News), as "one of the leading figures in Rochester's musical arts scene" (Pittsford Neighbors Magazine), and was recently featured as a Rochester “Extraordinary Person” (News 8 Now).

Mr. Johnson is the Founding Executive Director of OFC Creations Theatre Center, a theatre company and performing arts center focused on youth engagement, performing arts education, and connections with the community. Founded in 2005 by Johnson, OFC offers classes in acting, singing, and dance at the brand-new OFC Creations Theatre Center after being at many different locations over the years. Students have had the opportunity to perform in both educational and professional shows under the direction of Johnson including: The Little Mermaid, Oliver, and Miracle on 34th Street.

In 2016, Mr. Johnson became the President of the Greece Performing Arts Society (GPAS) and led the organization for three years into their “50th Anniversary Next Chapter." In his second year as president, Mr. Johnson was described as leading “the 300-person performing membership… [into] an artistic and financial renaissance” (Monroe Post). In 2017, Mr. Johnson brought the re-opened Greece Theatre Company and Greece Choral Society together for the regional premiere of Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the beautiful Lyric Theatre.

Johnson served as the Program Director of Rochester Association of the Performing Arts (RAPA) for five years. At RAPA, Johnson designed all educational programs for students from ages four to eighty-four during the academic year and summer. Johnson also directed many of the RAPA Family Theatre and Youth Theatre season productions.

Johnson is most recognized for directing and co-writing the world premiere of Eddie Money's original stage show, Two Tickets to Paradise: The Musical, at the Kodak Center. Johnson worked directly with the late Money-Man writing and arranging a majority of the new script and broke box office records at each performance.

Over the years, Johnson directed numerous professional musical productions on the main stage at the Kodak Center, including: West Side Story, Mary Poppins, the first Rochester production of Sister Act, Oliver, as well as the Upstate New York premiere of It’s Only A Play, and the regional tour of A Year with Frog and Toad to name a few.

Mr. Johnson has created and expanded many drama programs in several local schools, including: Seton Catholic School, Pittsford Middle School, World of Inquiry (School No. 58), St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Plank South Elementary, and Penfield Harris Hill. Previously he served for four years in Greece as the Artistic Director of SNAP Musical Theatre, a new summer program working with up to 80-students in each production.

Performing has always been a joy for Mr. Johnson. At the 2015 Rochester Fringe Festival, he starred as the musical narrator, Ladahlord, in James and the Giant Peach and in 2016 portrayed the comical, gender-bending Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Show. Mr. Johnson can also be seen in William Fichtner’s feature film Cold Brook and continuing his on-going role as Dorothy in The Golden Girls Musical series.

He believes strongly in community partnerships. In 2014 Mr. Johnson partnered with Facing Race, Embracing Equity for a benefit production of The Wiz at the Rochester Museum and Science Center. In 2015, he brought OFC Creations and the Rochester Latino Theatre Company together to produce the Rochester premiere of In the Heights for several sold-out performances, and reprised the partnership in 2019 again with In the Heights for the next generation of performers. In 2018, Mr. Johnson and the Out Alliance partnered to bring the world-wide entertainer, Miss Richfield 1981, to make her Rochester debut at the Kodak Center. In July of 2018, Johnson published his first book, My Quarter-Life Crisis, reflecting on his passion and encouraging young artists to follow their dreams.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson didn't just continue, but expanded theatre offerings in the Rochester region by opening the OFC Creations Theatre Center. Johnson loves taking on new projects and finding new and innovative ways to grow the arts in our community.

Contact Eric Vaughn Johnson at Info@OFCCreations.com

Or by calling 585-667-0954 ext. 1

Hunter Ekberg

Operations Manager & Theatre Arts Instructor

Ekberg, a native Minnesotan, serves as the Operations Manager of the OFC Creations Theatre Center and as an American Sign Language Interpreter in a wide range of settings and applications. Onstage, Ekberg has breathed life into characters such as Snail (A Year With Frog and Toad), Fairy Godmother (Bibbidi Bobbidi Cinderella), The Gingerbread Man (The Gingerbread Man), Long John Silver (Treasure Island), and Rose Nylund in the sold-out run of OFC Creations’ production of Thank You for Being a Friend: The Golden Girls Musical.

Ekberg has flexed his directing muscles working with young creatives on wide array of projects as Be More Chill and Rent. However, his greatest enjoyment stems from the "mental Rubik's Cube" of seasonal intensives in which youth performers put on an entire full-length show in the span of one month. He has accomplished this feat with shows such as Into the Woods and Little Women where he worked in nearly every role in the theatre simultaneously (From Artistic Director to Lighting Designer). Ekberg, an experienced pianist and vocalist himself, has furthered his musicianship by vocal directing Newsies, In the Heights, Mamma Mia, Heathers, Annie Jr., Be More Chill, and the Upstate New York Premiere of The Spongebob Squarepants Musical.

Ekberg believes strongly in the incredible transformative power of performing & strives for a world where kids of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities are able to experience the joy of being on stage.

Contact Hunter Ekberg at Hunter@OFCCreations.com

Or by calling 585-667-0954 ext. 2

Alexandria Ireijo

Full Time Theatre Arts Instructor

Ireijo is an actor, singer, dancer, and artistic professional originally from Oahu, Hawaii. She is currently based in Rochester, NY. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theatre from Nazareth College in Rochester, New York and has worked with some of the best Musical Theatre professionals: Bob Cline, Bob Moss, Brett Smock, Jeff Whiting and more! Her favorite theaters to perform at include The Rev. (formally FLMTF) and Manoa Valley Theatre. Apart from theatre, Ireijo has worked in childcare and education with children ranging from 6 weeks old to 18 years old. She believes that theatre provides a safe outlet for expression, exploration, and best of all, fun! She strives to nurture her students and coach them to their fullest potentials. Ireijo encourages students to work hard, expand their critical thinking skills, step up to responsibility, and unapologetically be themselves. Her goal at OFC Creations is to create a safe and supportive environment for anyone who wishes to step up to center-stage and challenge themselves!

Contact Alex Ireijo at Alex@OFCCreations.com

Or by calling 585-667-0954

Courtney W. Schutt

Sales and Rentals Manager

A Rochester native with her BFA in Theater Performance from Niagara University, Courtney has been fortunate enough to share stages at Blackfriars Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Kodak Center, Out of Pocket Productions, JCC Centerstage, the Century Club of Rochester, Pittsford Musicals and as the lead vocalist of local pop/rock group That Party Band. She is a performance educator for local organization Impact Interactive – a theatre-based training company that helps organizations create healthy, diverse and inclusive learning and working environments and has been adjudicating acting for RBTL’s Stars of Tomorrow program since 2016. Since 2018, Courtney has served as the Business and Communications Manager at Dresden Public Relations - overseeing business operations, event planning and management and client/media relations. She resides in Brighton with her husband, Eric and daughter, Parker.

Courtney is no stranger to OFC Creations - directing both school break and summer camps since 2018 and appearing on stage in Shout! The Mod Musical (Green Girl), Nunsense (Sister Robert Anne), Spring Awakening (Ilse), The Wild Party (Queenie) and Vanities (Mary). As Sales and Rental Manager, Courtney looks forward to bringing her love for performing arts and ample experience in the sales, hospitality and public relations/marketing industries to create new opportunities and memorable experiences at the OFC Creations Theatre Center!

Contact Courtney Schutt at Courtney@OFCCreations.com
Or by calling 585-667-0954 ext 3

Kelsey Blackerby

Activity Manager

Blackerby is a graduate of Webster Thomas High School and a current senior at SUNY Geneseo where she studies Communication and English. Kelsey grew up performing in the Rochester area where her favorite credits include Enid Hoopes in Legally Blonde and Aunt March in Little Women: The Musical. While she loves performing, Kelsey found a real passion for stage managing when she entered college. In the summer you can find Kelsey as one of our camp admins with our teen and pint size performers. An alumni of the Disney College Program, Kelsey learned leadership and management skills from some of Walt Disney's finest. Inclusivity is very important to Kelsey and she works hard to make everyone feel welcome.

Contact Kelsey Blackerby at Kelsey@OFCCreations.com
Or by calling 585-667-0954

Brianna Ross

Office Manager & Theatre Arts Instructor

Ross is a recent graduate of the State University of NY at Fredonia with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theatre. Brianna has been performing in the Rochester for over a decade, favorite credits including The 39 Steps, Dogfight, Into the Woods, and Anything Goes.

While theatre performance is a passion, for the past three years Brianna has been involved in a combination of Summer Theatre Administration for OFC and, more recently, directorial positions with OFC for numerous shows.

Contact Brianna Ross at Brianna@OFCCreations.com
Or by calling 585-667-0954

Meet Our Artists

Judith Ranaletta ARTS PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR CENTURY CLUB. Ranaletta is well known as the long-time, former Vocal Music and Drama Director at Greece Athena High School, where she successfully grew a thriving Performing Arts Program. Many of Judith's former and present students perform on Broadway and around the country each season.	Frankie Paparone GUEST ARTIST Paparone: Broadway/NYC: Shrek, Elf (Madison Square Garden). Off-Broadway: I Spy a Spy. National/international Tours: Elf, Fame. Regional: Goodspeed, Muny, Ogunquit Playhouse, Kennedy Center, North Shore, Maine State Music Theatre, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Cape Playhouse, Geva Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Gateway Playhouse, Northern Stage, and Weschester Broadway. Outside of performing Frankie is a dance educator and adjudicator.	Monique Franz TEACHING ARTIST Franz is an international songwriter, playwright, and theatre director whose programs have taken place across the Eastern globe. She is celebrated In Hong Kong as the head performing arts mentor of the former International Academy of Film/Television where she taught Hong Kong’s most phenomenal talent in onstage/on-camera acting, voice, and movement. Monique has held children’s enrichment workshops in Egypt, India, and Ethiopia, where she instructed hundreds of kids in the arts.
Jonah M. Martin GUITAR TEACHER. Martin studied Musical Theatre at Lancaster Bible College. In addition, Martin is a multi-instrumentalist and has performed in a myriad of productions all over the country. Credits include Almost Heaven: John Denver's America (Denver/Company), Ring of Fire (Cash/Company), Stand By Your Man: The Tammy Wynette Story (George Ritchey), The Alaska Cabin Nite Theatre (Charlie McGonagall), the national tour of Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story (Joe B. Mauldin), and Newsies (Jack Kelly).	Emily Beseau TEACHING ARTIST. Beseau is a graduate from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. She co-directed choral music in her professional fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota as well as studied ballet, jazz, and tap for several years at the New York Academy of Dance. She has performed in various shows in the Rochester community.	Hadley Strelau VOICE TEACHER. Strelau is a Rochester native and has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Nazareth College. No stranger to the stage, she regularly performs as a backup singer for Josh Groban, and has traveled throughout Western Europe as a featured soloist with The Sound of America. Her most notable credits include: Newsies (Katherine Plumber), Peter Pan (Tiger Lily), Clara, My Love (Clara Wieck), and The Old Maid and the Thief (Miss Pinkerton).
Eric Schutt TEACHING ARTIST Schutt is a Fredonia acting graduate and has been seen off stage teaching vocals with shows like Addams Family and Spamalot. Schutt also frequently performs in Rochester in shows including: Titanic (Jim Farrell), Hands on a Hardbody (Greg), Meet Me in St. Louis (John), My Fair Lady (Jamie) and Sweeney Todd (Anthony).	Sable Stewart TEACHING ARTIST Stewart is no stranger to the stage. Most recently, she played Gary Coleman in Blackfriars theatre’s season closer, Avenue Q. Some of her favorite previous roles include Deloris Van Cartier (Sister Act), Charlaine (Ain’t Misbehavin), Vanessa (In the Heights), Dorothy (The Wiz), and Paulette (Legally Blonde). Sable Studied Psychology and Interfaith Studies at Nazareth College.	Jeannie Hines-Clinton TEACHING ARTIST. Clinton has sung at Lincoln Center with Tony Award-winner Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Misérables), she has been a part of the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival since 2005 and recently joined Sir Tim Rice in his US premiere of From Here to Eternity in the summer of 2016. Jeannie has been an educator in the Performing Arts in the Rochester area for over 13 years, worked with RBTL with the Stars of Tomorrow Program.
Courtney Larkin TEACHING ARTIST. Larkin holds a Bachelor's degree from Nazareth College in Adolescent Math Education and she is a Special Education Math teacher at Greece Athena High School. Courtney also has had the pleasure of choreographing for Greece Athena Middle School, Greece Olympia, Greece Odyssey, Artists Unlimited, OFC Creations, Next Generation Theatre, Greece Olympia Center Stage Show Choir, GAMS Show Choir, and teaches at Danc'letics of Rochester. She has performed in multiple community shows.	Mandi Lynn Griffith-Gurell TEACHING ARTIST Gurell is a Rochester native with a BFA in Dance. She studied improv at Ensemble Studio Theatre in NYC, then went on to own and direct New York Academy of Dance for twelve years, here in Rochester. Mandi has participated in the local theater community as choreographer, performer and director and has been involved with productions for Blackfriars Theatre, GPAS, JCC CenterStage, Webster Theatre Guild and Roberts Wesleyan, as well as OFC. She also co-founded Last Fool Productions.	Shari Bischoping TEACHING ARTIST Bischoping is a 5th grade teacher with an undergraduate degree in Childhood and Special Education, a concentration in Theatre, and a Masters in Literacy from SUNY Geneseo. Shari has assistant choreographed the Victor high school musical, choreographed teen show choirs, and vocal directed for the Henrietta Summer Drama program. When Shari is not working with students, she enjoys acting in the local theatre community herself!
Rebecca Kemp TEACHING ARTIST Kemp is a choral/general music teacher at Park Road Elementary School in Pittsford where she works with students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. She also serves as the vocal director for Barker Road Middle School’s 7th and 8th grade musical. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Music degree in music therapy and music education from Nazareth College and a Master of Science degree in creative arts therapy. She currently performs around the Rochester area with Concentus Women’s Chorus.	Briana Blair Kelly TEACHING ARTIST. Kelly is a multidisciplinary artist and dance educator based in Rochester, NY. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from SUNY Fredonia and an MFA in Choreography and Performance from SUNY Brockport. Kelly is adjunct faculty at Niagara University where she teaches Jazz and Irish. She is also the Director of the Main St. 56 Dance Company where she teaches Tap, Theater dance, Irish, and Contemporary.	Lizzi Adams TEACHING ARTIST Adams is currently attending MCC where she is pursuing a degree in Theatre Arts and Music Performance. Lizzy serves as President for MCC’s Theatre Troupe and has choreographed and instructed for numerous ensembles and musical productions. Adam's favorite past roles include Lucy from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and Sister Mary Leo from “Nunsense”. Adams credits her artistry to her raw passion for theatre, children, and arts education.
Vincent Salvadge TEACHING ARTIST Salvadge is in charge of youth outreach at the Lyric Theatre, and the Founder/Director of Lyric Voices: a resident show choir at the Historic Lyric Theater. He has a private studio teaching voice, piano, and acting. Vincent has performed throughout Europe and the United States. He has had the privilege of performing at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, Italy, Notre Dame in Paris, France, The Dijon Opera House in Dijon, France, and Dante's Cathedral in Florence, andItaly.	Rebecca Hetherington TEACHING ARTIST. Hetherington is a Rochester area native who grew up dancing and teaching dance lessons, getting involved in, and falling in love with theater at a young age. Rebecca has a BA from SUNY Stony Brook in Child & Family Studies and English and, on her return to Rochester, worked with both the Off-Monroe Players and Everyone's Theater Company, both on and off stage. She is the mom of 3 young boys, ages 6, 4 and 1, and a small business owner in the city.	Katie McCombs McCombs is currently attending MCC, pursuing a degree in Communications. She is a veteran student of dance trained in ballet, tap, jazz and ballroom dance. Throughout her middle and high school years she performed in over 30 musical productions and choreographed for youth theatre throughout the Rochester area. Past musical theatre credits include Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins) , Wednesday (The Addams Family), among many others.
Hector Manuel TEACHING ARTIST Manuel recently returned from New York City and has been acting and directing across Rochester. His credits include: The Wild Party, the regional tour of A Year With Frog & Toad, and Oliver. You may have also recently seen him in the world premiere production of Eddie Money’s musical, Two Tickets To Paradise.	Marissa DelVecchio TEACHING ARTIST. DelVecchio is a recent graduate of Niagara University with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance. Most recently, she toured the United States and Canada with Missoula Children's theatre for which she directed and acted in their production of Peter and Wendy. Since returning to her hometown in Rochester, she is very excited to be a part of the theatre community that started her passion for the arts.	Crystal Robinson TEACHING ARTIST Robinson holds a Bachelors’ degree from SUNY Fredonia in Music and Elementary Education and her Masters degree from SUNY Brockport. She is a Music Education teacher at Greece Athena Middle/High School. Crystal also has had the pleasure of being the choral director for several GAMS theater productions and for the GAMS Show choir. She also teaches piano, voice and musical theater at Danc’letics of Rochester.