Creative Team

Erin Glass

FOUNDER

Learn More

Jamie Parganos

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Learn More

Hadley Cronk

DIRECTOR of education and PROGRAMS

Learn More

Samantha Parrish

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Learn More

Pooja Tripathi

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Learn More

Elizabeth McGuire

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Learn More

Erin Glass (Founder), fell in love with theatre when she attended her first drama class in the 3rd grade in Corsicana, TX. In that class Erin found a place where she felt fully accepted, learned skills she still uses today, and made lifelong friends. She went on to earn a degree in theatre from Pepperdine University and worked in theatre, television, and film, in LA, Edinburgh, and New York. Erin has always loved working with kids and became a teaching artist in 2000 working with kids of all ages. In 2004 Erin created Broadway Bound Kids as a way to provide joyful and creative performing arts classes where kids could gain self esteem, make new friends, and learn about theatre, voice, and dance. Since 2004 Broadway Bound Kids has served thousands of students and has expanded to include master classes, weekend programs, summer programs, trips to see Broadway Shows, full scale musicals, after school programs in schools, and customized workshops. In addition to her work with Broadway Bound Kids, Erin is also an actress, director, and an Emmy Award winning producer. As a producer and director she works mostly with Warrior Poets, (Morgan Spurlock's production company, creator of the Super Size Me documentary.)

​Jamie Parganos (Executive Director), naturally gravitated toward theater arts from a very young age. As a child, she would write and direct countless original plays starring various family members and perform them at family gatherings. She began her foray into the field of education as a teaching artist and theater arts coordinator at Queens Lutheran School and the United Federation of Teachers Charter School, where she wrote and directed four original musical productions. As an artist and educator with over twenty years of experience in arts and educational after school programs, Jamie has worked as a Program Director, Education Director and consultant at various organizations throughout New York City, including LEAP, Manhattan Youth, Groundwork (Good Shepherd Services), South Asian Youth Action and the YWCA. While at Groundwork, her program was featured as one of the best in the country in Education Week. She has also participated in leadership panels and administered trainings for the Department of Youth and Community Development and The After School Corporation (TASC). Jamie is also a touring musician and recording artist and has been featured on both college music and Billboard charts. She is honored and excited to be joining the Broadway Bound Kids family as the Executive Director.

​Hadley Cronk (Director of Education and Programs), is thrilled to return to Broadway Bound Kids after a stint at the University of Washington pursuing her Masters in Social Work. Hadley had a theatre-obsessed upbringing in Georgia, where she participated in as many local productions as she could.  After high school she moved to New York to study Musical Theatre at NYU.  Beginning as a Teaching Artist at Broadway Bound Kids, Hadley saw the impact our programming had on kids who were struggling, misunderstood, or just looking for a place to belong.  She eventually joined Broadway Bound Kids' administrative staff to help support the programs she loved in a different way.  Hadley is looking forward to applying the principles and values of social work to the incredible work already being done by our team in the communities we serve.  ​

Pooja Tripathi (Marketing Director) is a producer and writer, known for producing the web series Amsterdam Avenue. She has worked as a marketing associate in the fashion industry and plays violin professionally.

​Samantha Parrish (Program Director) found the stage in high school when she performed in her high school’s first ever musical, Grease. After growing up in Forney, TX, Samantha obtained a bachelor's degree in Musical Theatre from Ouachita University in Arkansas. Immediately after graduating she hit the road with Missoula Children’s Theatre. She toured with The Frog Prince and The Little Mermaid across 38 states. Teaching and directing shows each week, Samantha introduced theatre to underserved areas across America reaching over 2,000 students.  Samantha then worked professionally in the Dallas theatre circuit before touring with Dallas Children’s Theatre in The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. Since moving to New York in 2013 she has had the honor of teaching with Broadway Bound Kids, a company whose mission mirrors her own, to inspire and empower kids using the performing arts.After spending years directing our free Saturday Program for middle schoolers who are underserved in the performing arts, and directing our assisted tuition program for high schoolers, Broadway Bound Workshop, Samantha is passionate about creating free and reduced cost Programming all around the city. She is honored to serve BBK as a Program Director for Broadway Bound Players, Broadway Bound Workshop and P.S. 158.

​Elizabeth McGuire (After School Coordinator) is thrilled to be working with Broadway Bound Kids as an Administrator and Teaching Artist! After discovering a deep rooted passion for Performing Arts Education she has been teaching dance, choreography and theater ever since. She believes in the lasting impact arts education has on every kind of student, and is so happy to further that work at BBK. Outside of teaching, Elizabeth is a director, choreographer and performer. She is the Artistic Director, Co-Founder, and Resident Choreographer of ToUch Performance Art, a multi-media performing arts company specializing in immersive and unique production. Since 2011 ToUch has created and produced sold-out shows in New York and Boston, and was Artist-in-Residence at American Repertory Theatre for three years. Outside of ToUch, she has performed with artists such as Buglisi Dance Theatre, Sinking Ship Productions, and BitterSuite: UK, and has choreographed several shows including Camelot (Mac-Haydn Theatre), Dancing Girl (Connelly Theater), and You Do Not Look (Signature Theater). Elizabeth looks forward to continuing her journey as an advocate for arts education at Broadway Bound Kids, and to continue to serve the wonderful communities and students we reach!

---

Teaching Artists

Ian Coulter-Buford is a native of southern Illinois, based in New York City. Ian is an award-winning performer, choreographer, top 40 international recording artist, instructor, and creative director. Most recent credits include u/s Lazarus and Male Swing in Joe Iconis’ Broadway Bounty Hunter Off-Broadway, and his Henry Award Nominated performance as Archie Stone in Trav’lin: The 1930’s Harlem Musical at Arvada Center.  Other credits include touring as Tap Brother in Broadway’s After Midnight, Ken in Smokey Joe’s Café (Riverside Theatre FL), Disney’s Aladdin (The Muny), The Scarecrow in The Wiz (Maltz Jupiter & The Black Rep St. Louis), and Jacob in La Cage Aux Folles (Lake Dillon Theatre.) TV/FILM: Modern Love (Amazon). Choreographer credits include, Camp Morning Wood (Off-Broadway) and Fat Kid Rules The World world premiere in association with LiveWire Theatricals.  He is represented by The Mine Agency. Love God, Love People, Love the Arts.

​
​Jackie Kraft is currently working towards her BFA in Acting at Marymount Manhattan College. She is originally from Glen Mills, Pennsylvania and is so thrilled to have the opportunity to study here in NYC. Back in Philly, Jackie interned at People’s Light Theater and performed at the Walnut Street Theater. Jackie also greatly enjoys comedy and is an actor and writer for her school’s Sketch Comedy team. Jackie’s favorite childhood memories were made during theatre classes and camps, and she hopes to help create that same wonderful experience for her students at Broadway Bound Kids.

​

​J.R. Whittington is thrilled to join the Broadway Bound Kids family!   JR has directed and choreographed over 20 different Broadway jr. productions from Los Angeles to New York City.  He is a current teaching artist for Disney Theatrical Group, Riverdale Children's Theater, and New York Edge.  His Broadway and National tour credits as an actor include; A Chorus Line Revival, Mamma Mia, Bombay Dreams, Annie Get Your Gun Revival and Starlight Express. Favorite TV Credits include; General Hospital, Gossip Girl, The Temptations Mini-series, All My Children, and Every Little Step Documentary.

Katie Galuska is pursuing acting, singing, and musical theatre in NYC.  She graduated from Chapman University in California, with a BA in Theatre. Two years ago, Katie moved to New York to chase after theatre and discovered her love of teaching in the process. She loves being able to see children grow and fall in love with theatre, as she's done, since she was their age. A chance to inspire, laugh and learn with them is amazing!  Her past credits include: various NYC cabarets including the 2017 So You Think You Can Belt competition, Daisy Hilton in Side Show, Margot in Legally Blonde, Lauren in Crazy, Just Like Me (Chapman University) and Sonia's Voice in They're Playing Our Song.

​
Kristin Wetherington first discovered theatre at the age of 11 in her local children’s theatre production of The Princess and the Magic Pea and was immediately hooked.  Originally from North Carolina, Kristin dreamed of the big city which led to over ten years of professional work as a performer including tour, numerous Off-Broadway credits and appearances all over the regional theatre circuit.  She has been working with The Stanley Issacs Community Center for the past two years on their Beacon to Broadway Program.  She has a BFA in Acting and Musical Theatre from East Carolina University where she graduated with honors, continued her training at The Neighborhood Playhouse in Manhattan and Moscow Art Theatre School and received her MFA from the American Repertory Theatre Institute at Harvard University.

​Kylie Fletcher is thrilled to be joining the Broadway Bound Kids team as a dance and drama educator! Born and raised in Seattle, WA, Kylie earned her B.A. in Theatre Arts with Minors in Music and Management from Boston College. She is a Brooklyn-based Director/Choreographer who recently served as one of the Directing Fellows at Barrington Stage Company. As a dancer, Kylie has performed at Yankee Stadium as a member of the Golden Eagles Dance Team, and has been a student of Physical Theatre workshops in France and Italy. She has taught children in Boston and Seattle, and loves to bring the words in stories to life onstage.

​Luke Hamilton is a NYC based actor/singer/dancer and teaching artist originally from Calgary, Canada. After graduating from the University of Miami in 2015 he has gone on to perform internationally with the USO Showtroupe, all over the country with the Something Rotten! 1st National tour, and at some of the most prestigious regional theatres in the country including North Shore Music Theatre (Jersey Boys), The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (Follies), Ogunquit Playhouse (Saturday Night Fever), Gateway Playhouse and Connecticut Repertory Theatre (Xanadu, West Side Story, Gypsy, A Chorus Line, Les Miserables). He has performed alongside Broadway veterans including Tony-nominees Adam Pascal, Rob McClure, Emily Skinner, Terrence Mann, and Tony/Emmy Winner Leslie Uggams and has made appearances on The Tonight Show and Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve. Luke can be seen in the upcoming Off-Broadway production of No Strings!

​Meg Kiley Smith fell in love with performing as a kid growing up in California, and is so excited to join Broadway Bound Kids and the next generation of theater kids here in NYC. Favorite acting credits include work with Punchdrunk and Everyday Inferno in NYC, The Other Voice and HartBeat Ensemble in Hartford, and regionally and on tour with the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Montana Rep, The Gamm, and MaineStage Shakespeare, among others. Proud Equity member and National Theater Institute alum.

​Michael Axelrod is an actor and teaching artist based in Brooklyn. He has taught acting and improv for three years in NYC public schools, as well as abroad in Ecuador, Tanzania and Slovakia. He recently finished a two year run as a swing in the Off Broadway play Puffs at New World Stages. He has performed at The Signature Theatre, The Flea, Dixon Place, HERE Arts Center, New York City Center, among others. He is very excited to join Broadway Bound Kids!

​Natalie Jones is a freelance theatre artist based in Astoria, Queens. A South Jersey native, Natalie first discovered her love for theatre as a shy five-year-old back in 1996 through the Our Gang Players, a community theatre group in her hometown, and she hasn’t stopped since! Since receiving her BA in Theatre (Performance) from Stockton University in 2013, Natalie has worked with numerous companies throughout New York and New Jersey as an actor, director, teaching artist, stage manager, dialect coach, and more. Her theatre work has also brought her to places like Long Island, Chicago, and Greece (on two separate occasions)! In addition to Broadway Bound Kids, Natalie currently works as a teaching artist and workshop coordinator for Story Pirates.

​
​Natalie Myrick is a musical theatre artist from North Carolina who made her onstage debut under a chandelier of toilet paper rolls in her sisters’ homemade production of Phantom of the Opera. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in Dramatic Art and Global Studies, with a minor in Vocal Performance. While at UNC, she performed in musicals such as Spring Awakening (Wendla), The Last Five Years (Cathy), and Legally Blonde (Margot), as well as in improv shows and original plays. After graduation, she spent a year in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, where she wrote, designed, toured, and performed in educational musicals with English Musicals Korea. More recently, she has performed at regional theaters and festivals in North Carolina and New York, and she is especially interested in original musicals in development. She is thrilled to make every day a masterpiece with Broadway Bound Kids!

​
​
​Owen Scott is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the NYU Steinhardt Theater Education program. Hailing from MA, he's been an actor and teacher for many years, and is very excited to be joining Broadway Bound Kids. You may have seen him pop up on HBO's "The Deuce" or "Law & Order: SVU." Performing and teaching are his passions, but in his free time you can find him hosting trivia nights around Brooklyn or working on his podcast, "Controller Freak." Owen is thrilled to be working in a group of such talented educators and artists!

​
​Sam Blain is a proud Broadway Bound Kids teaching artist.  She is also Co-Artistic Director of Hit The Lights! Theater Co., which has performed Off Broadway and is the current Company in Residence at Ars Nova. She has been seen in numerous Broadway workshops and readings in NYC. Samantha has a B.F.A. Musical Theater degree from Emerson College and was awarded a scholarship to attend Atlantic Acting School of which she is now an Alum. She is a teaching artist for several organizations such as Broadway Classroom and Atlantic Acting School to name a few.

Samantha Greenlund, originally from Washington State, is a professional dancer who earned her performance degree at Oklahoma City University. Since, she has performed all over the world for many artists, dancing in various productions and shows, ranging from Las Vegas to Paris, France. All the while,she has had a strong love for musical theater and passion for choreography and teaching. She has choreographed musicals and routines throughout the years and have taught all ages from the wee little ones to adults - and beginners to advanced. She now resides in NYC and is looking forward to joining the Broadway Bound Kids team.

​

Savanah Knechel is a teaching artist, playwright, choreographer, mask maker, and puppeteer based in New York City. Currently she is finishing up a masters in Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities at NYU. Previously, she has taught in Philadelphia and Sarasota, FL.

Taylor Morgan Marsh is thrilled to be a part of the Broadway Bound Kids family! Her most recent credits include the 2nd National and International tours of Sister Act the Musical, and Off-Broadway's Totally Tubular Time Machine (Debbie Gibson). She is a proud graduate of New York University and Atlantic Acting School.