ABOUT OUR FABULOUS TEAM

OFC Creations is incredibly proud of our extensive team of talented individuals that make what we do possible. To ensure the best experience for our students, performers, and audiences: OFC's full time team, our teaching artists, and our production assistants are screened with an extensive background check and are first aid certified through the Red Cross.

We can't wait to see you at the theatre!

The Full Time Team

Eric Vaughn Johnson

Executive Director

Johnson is an award-winning director from Rochester, and has been at the forefront of 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), featured as a Rochester “Extraordinary Person” (News 8 Now), and most recently as "transforming Rochester into a mecca of performance art," (Brighton Connections Magazine).

Mr. Johnson is the Founding Executive Director of OFC Creations, leading and expanding the company since 2005 to offer educational theatre programs, professional theatrical entertainment, and immersive experiences including Johnson's new restaurant, The Old Farm Cafe. Thousands of students have had the opportunity to learn entertainment industry standards under Johnson's leadership, many of whom Johnson has featured in professional productions.

Along with the ongoing 2,000+ students Johnson leads annually at OFC Creations, Johnson has established and revamped drama programs at local schools across the area including Plank South, Barker Road, Seton, World of Inquiry, St Joseph's, Harris Hill, and more. Many of Johnson's students have gone off to prestigious musical theatre colleges, booked talent agents, and have become entertainment industry professionals.

Previously, Johnson served as the Program Director of Rochester Association of the Performing Arts, the Artistic Director of SNAP Musical Theatre, and the President of Greece Performing Arts. Johnson has managed numerous performing arts centers, namely the 2,000-seat Kodak Center for Performing Arts (formerly Theatre on the Ridge). Working closely with countless local and National show promoters, Johnson managed and coordinated concerts and events such as "The Beach Boys," "Vicki Lawrence," and "Kenny Rogers."

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, breaking box office records at each performance.

Over the years, Johnson directed numerous professional musical productions on the Kodak Center Main Stage, 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. Johnson's directing ability specializes in storytelling choreography and transforming an ordinary story into an experience.

When not directing and producing, Johnson has starred in James and the Giant Peach, The Rocky Horror Show, and the wildly popular Golden Girls Parody Musical series as Dorothy. Mr. Johnson can also be seen in William Fichtner’s feature film Cold Brook.

Johnson's mission is to continue enhancing the arts in the Rochester region through interactive experiences, community partnerships, and creating outlets for youth to become the next generation of theatre professionals.

Contact Eric Vaughn Johnson at Info@OFCCreations.com

Or by calling 585-667-0954 ext. 1

Hunter Ekberg

Operations Manager, Technical Director, and Teaching Artist

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

Caeli Carroll

Full Time Theatre Arts Instructor

Carroll is a choreographer and dancer who recently graduated from Ithaca College receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts Management and Dance. She has been dancing since the age of three and has been performing in theatre since the age of eight. During her time at Ithaca, she was a dancer, teacher, and choreographer for two dance companies, danced in the theatre departments Dance Concert, and worked as the Assistant Choreographer for their spring musical. Carroll recently returned from New York City where she participated in Dance Lab New York’s Broadway Choreography Intensive where she worked with some of the top professionals in the industry, including Josh Prince, Jeff Calhoun, JoAnn M. Hunter, and Al Blackstone. One of her favorite work experiences was working as a choreographer and dance instructor for Interlochen Center for the Arts summer program. Carroll believes that dance is a beautiful and fun outlet for expression and has limitless storytelling potential. She is incredibly excited to work at OFC and hopes to share her love and passion for the creative arts and spark a similar passion in the students!

Contact Caeli Carroll at Caeli@OFCCreations.com

Or by calling 585-667-0954

Courtney W. Schutt

Events and Rentals Manager, and Teaching Artist

A Rochester native with her BFA in Theater Performance from Niagara University, Schutt 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. She resides in Brighton with her husband, Eric and daughter, Parker.

Schutt 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 Events and Rentals Manager, Schutt 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

Kitty Lipski

Scenic Director

Lipski is a Scenic and Costume Designer whose specialties include scenic painting, fantasy and trick costumes, wig styling, and stage effect makeup. She received her BFA in Theatrical Design and Technology with a double concentration in Costume Design and Scenic Painting from Emerson College in Boston.

She started her career at OFC 13 years ago, designing and creating for our fearless leader, Eric Vaughn Johnson. She also appeared onstage and onscreen in a number of OFC’s earlier works.

Since returning from college Lipski has been a freelancer for OFC and other theaters in the area but is thrilled to be taking on a more comprehensive role at OFC, focusing all her effort on creating rich onstage worlds for actors of all ages to play in.

As Scenic Director, Lipski will be spending most of her time in the scene shop painting backdrops and set pieces for our beautiful new stage. She will also step over to the costume department to produce specialty pieces and wigs as needed. A few noteable OFC costume credits include Squidward in “Spongebob, the Musical”, the Fairy Godmother in “Bibbidi Bobbidi Cinderella”, “Sister Act” and the regional premier of “Hunchback of Notre Dame”.

She is so thrilled to see the creative force that OFC has become in this area, and is honored and excited to keep creating theater magic as a resident designer of her favorite theater company.

Contact Kitty Lipski at Kitty@OFCCreations.com
Or by calling 585-667-0954

Stephanie Roberts

Theatrical Costumer

Roberts is a born and raised Rochester native. She received her BFA in Theatrical Design and Production with a double concentration in Costume Design and Stage Management from Niagara University. She minored in studio arts, fine arts, and dance.

Since returning from college, Roberts has been a contracted costumer for OFC Creations and other theatres and schools in the area. Roberts is excited to be coming on board to create costumes that help to create the characters of the show. Roberts has costumed over 100 productions so far in her career including notable OFC credits: “Spongebob the Musical”, “Little Shop of Horrors”, and “The Golden Girls Musical.”

Contact Stephanie Roberts at Steph@OFCCreations.com
Or by calling 585-667-0954

Sarah Trine

Cafe General Manager

Sarah Trine is a native of upstate NY who has been working in area kitchens and theatres for the past 16 years. She is so proud and excited to join the OFC family! She loves honing her natural culinary skills, where she can specialize in menu planning, catering, and indulging a community's love of great food.

When she’s not tending to her menagerie of animals at home - including a small cast of chickens - she can be found gardening fresh ingredients or testing new recipes. She looks forward to taking on her role as General Manager, and being part of such an inspiring ensemble, but most of all seeing everyone at The Old Farm Cafe. She is delighted to now call OFC home, as there’s truly no other place like it. Break a leg this season! www.TheOldFarmCafe.com

Contact Sarah Trine at Sarah@OFCCreations.com
Or by calling 585-667-0954

Teaching Artists & Production Assistants

Kaitlyn Baldwin
Merchandise Manager &
Social Media Manager

Baldwin is a professional, Off-Broadway performer who has led stages all over New York City, Canada and Rochester. She has sung with legendary performers such as Kelly Clarkson, Lou Gramm, Kool and the Gang and had the opportunity to sing along side Bonnie Tyler’s band members.

Kaitlyn has performed with OFC for the past several years playing iconic roles such as Aldonza (Man of La Mancha) at the Century Club of Rochester, Nancy (Oliver) at OFC’s Main Theatre. When not on stage, Baldwin is a seasoned makeup artist who assists with weddings, proms, headshots, and makeup/skincare education.

Contact Kaitlyn Baldwin at Kaitlyn@OFCCreations.com

Jonah Martin
Teaching Artist

Martin studied Musical Theatre at Lancaster Bible College and is a multi-instrumentalist and has performed in a myriad of shows all over the country. Credits include Almost Heaven: John Denver's America (Denver), Ring of Fire (Cash), Stand By Your Man: The Tammy Wynette Story (George Ritchey), The Alaska Cabin Nite Theatre (Charlie McGonagall), the national tour of The Buddy Holly Story (Joe B. Mauldin), and Newsies (Jack Kelly).

Contact Jonah Martin at Jonah@OFCCreations.com

Orlando Boxx
Teaching Artist

Boxx is thrilled to be working with OFC Creations once again! He is a recent graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College, where he studied Music and Marketing. The most recent shows he has been in were Songs For a New World (Man 1) and Man of La Mancha (Anselmo) with OFC, Newsies (Elmer/Brooklyn Newsie) at JCC and Anything Goes (Sailor Quartet) at Roberts Wesleyan. Most recently he has choreographed For Sale, an original show with Roberts Wesleyan. Boxx is so excited to join OFC!

Contact Orlando Boxx at Orlando@OFCCreations.com

Lizzi Lou
Teaching Artist & Production Assistant

Lou is a Rochester based choreographer, actress, creative and educator of young minds! Lou received her degree in Theatre Performance from Monroe Community College and specializes in children's dance and theatre instruction— although her focus is never confined to one outlet. Lou is energetic, silly, LOVES Disney and rainbows, and credits her artistry to her raw passion for children, performing arts and life!

Contact Lizzi Lou at Lizzi@OFCCreations.com

Hadley Strelau
Teaching Artist

Strelau is a Rochester native and has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Nazareth College. No stranger to the stage, she can often be seen performing around the Rochester area in various productions and events, and as backup vocals for Josh Groban. As a teaching artist, Strelau strives to instill confidence and joy through the arts in all her students. Favorite performance credits include: The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy Gale), Newsies (Katherine Plumber), Little Women (Beth March), and Urinetown (Hope Cladwell)

Contact Hadley Strelau at Hadley@OFCCreations.com

Jonathan Benn
Teaching Artist

Benn is currently studying as a BM Music Education student at Nazareth College. He has worked with performers and directors such as Corey Cott, Cara D’Emanuele, and most recently has worked with Brett Smock of the REV Theatre Company at Nazareth College on scene selections from American Psycho the musical. Some of Jonathan’s credits include Leading Player (Pippin), Andy Lee (42nd Street), and Harvey Johnson (Bye Bye Birdie).

Contact Jonathan Benn at Jonathan@OFCCreations.com

Guest and Seasonal Artists

Jay Simmons GUEST ARTIST Simmons is an actor, director, fight choreographer and private acting coach in Rochester. He has studied theatre for 31yrs and 26yrs+ experience in professional and regional theater locally and nationally. He has studied Ballet, Jazz, Modern and classical vocal training in opera for 15 yrs. He has created multiple summer camps, and has done over 100 master classes at area schools, programs and colleges. J was featured in the CITY paper's “Rochester 10”, one of his highest honors.	Alexandria Ireijo SUMMER ARTIST. Ireijo is an actor, singer, dancer, and artistic professional originally from Oahu, Hawaii. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theatre from Nazareth College 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.	Tripp Hanson GUEST ARTIST. Hanson has appeared on Broadway as well as stages across the planet (including in each of the 50 United States!). On Broadway, he was in the original Tony Award winning Best Musical, ‘Crazy for You’, the Tony Award-winning Best Revival of ‘Kiss Me, Kate!’, the Tony Award-winning ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’, ‘Boys from Syracuse’ and ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’. He went on to appear with Liza Minelli, Tommy Tune, Peter Allen, Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Sutton Foster, and Chita Rivera.
Brynn Tyszka GUEST ARTIST. A theatre arts graduate of Nazareth College, Tyszka previously toured nationally with NETworks (Jekyll & Hyde) and ArtsPower productions (From the Mixed Up Files...) and has worked regionally with Geva Theater Centre (A Chorus Line, Urinetown, and Pride & Prejudice) and Playhouse on Park in CT (Side by Side by Sondheim). Tyszka is the new Artistic Director at Blackfriars Theatre.	Emily Beseau SUMMER 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.	Eric Schutt GUEST 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).
Monique Franz GUEST 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.	Courtney Larkin GUEST 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.	Marissa DelVecchio GUEST 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.
Shari Bischoping GUEST 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 GUEST 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.	Jeannie Hines-Clinton GUEST 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.
Judith Ranaletta GUEST ARTIST. 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.	Harrison Sakai GUEST ARTIST. Sakai is currently studying as a BFA Musical Theatre student at Nazareth College. Most recently he was involved in the collegiate premiere of Chaplin the Musical at Nazareth, as well as a workshop of the new musical Modern by Selda Sahin and Derek Gregor. Some of Sakai’s other past credits include Leo Bloom (The Producers), Mr. Mayor (Seussical), and Bill Snibson (Me and My Girl).	Calvin Staropoli GUEST ARTIST Staropoli is excited to be returning to OFC! He most recently appeared in the Company Theatre's production of Richard II where he played the Duke of Aumerle and in OFC's Golden Girls Musical. Other recent credits include RCP's Antony & Cleopatra (Octavius Caesar) and the Fringe Festival one-act play Cell Outs (Larry & Royce U/S). He directed a production of Almost, Maine here at OFC last year, and will return to directing next year with Dinner at Eight, Dead By Nine.
Marge Mattioli GUEST ARTIST. Mattioli last performed at OFC in 2 productions: Wrapping Around the Christmas Tree and the role of Gemma in The Tribute to Connie Francis. She graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a BA in English/Theatre. Marge received her Masters in English Secondary Education from SUNY Brockport and NYS Certification to teach. Marge has performed on stage and film for 35 years.