Directing Team- Summer 2023
Amina Gilbert (Fate Director)
Amina Gilbert is an almost-graduate from Columbia College Chicago with a BA in Theatre with concentrations in Directing and Lighting. She grew up studying music and theatre in Boulder, and is proud to work with New Musical Project for the second time! She loves hiking, yoga, reading, and dancing like nobody's watching. Previous works include James and the Giant Peach Jr (asst. director), I and You (asst. director), The It (lighting designer), Tango Palace (director), Whelmed, a Clown Cabaret (performer, creator, director), and Polly the Musical (director). She aspires to be a clown who lives in the woods!
Chevez Smith (Hairy Scary Director)
Chevez Smith (she/her/hers) born and raised in South Carolina, is a first-generation college graduate from Coker University located in Hartsville, South Carolina. She received her BA in Theatre Performance in May of 2021. Chevez has focused her work in graduate school on the art in local communities, combining specifically the climate community and theatre for the empowerment of the youth. Her passion is to bring forth a survivable, and thriveable future with theatre and dance for all. Known for her willingness and helpful spirit, she is always looking for opportunities to be those traits to work. Chevez continues to love herself through being a black woman, a poet, an activist, and a feminist in the world today. Chevez received her master’s for Theatre Studies in May of 2023 from the University of Colorado Boulder. Stepping out of the performance aspect of theatre, she looks forward to directing more and leading young people in the future. Outside of the world of theatre she loves to travel, write poetry, facilitate programming, try new foods, and attend concerts. However, nothing beats enjoying downtime with family and friends!
Benji Stasny (Roll With It Director)
Benji Stasny is a PhD student at CU Boulder studying the intersection of queer futurity, climate communications, and improvisational pedagogy. While in grad school, Benji has developed workshops using theatrical techniques to communicate climate change which he has led in Boulder, Chicago, and London. Benji partnered with NYC’s Climate Change Theatre Action to help produce CU Boulder’s 2021 production of Climate Cabaret. Benji also works frequently as a director, having worked on Twelfth Night, Treeson: an eco-musical, and Roll With It (Parlando), Company (CU Boulder), Mamma Mia (Fairview High School), The Fall of Man (ATLAS Black Box), and several new plays since 2021. He will be directing Freaky Friday at Fairview High School this coming fall. A few favorite acting roles include Genie in Aladdin (Disney Cruise Line), Harry in When Harry Met Nancy (Off-Broadway), Pirelli in Sweeney Todd (Arizona Broadway Theatre), Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret (Sierra Repertory Theatre), Zach in A Chorus Line (The Palace Theatres). Benji is thrilled to be back directing with Parlando for the second time this summer. Thank you for supporting live theatre!
Elle Tyler (Music Director)
Elle Tyler wants all people to experience the wonder and joy that come with creating and encountering music and theater. For the last ten years, she has taught toddlers through elders in general music, piano, and songwriting, and has served as musical director for full-scale theatrical productions and community cabarets. As part of the duo The Bootlegger’s Wife, she writes and performs original songs inspired by favorite works from East of Eden to It’s a Wonderful Life. The group had the opportunity to open for Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore in 2018. While completing her masters in piano performance and pedagogy at the University of Colorado, she began teaching at Parlando School of Musical Arts, where she still maintains an active studio. She also has a piano studio at her home in Erie, Colorado.
Elle currently performs as half of the duo Chansonniers—women performing music composed by women, from the Baroque era to Broadway. She is a 2022 Artist in Residence at the YMCA of the Rockies. In addition to stand-alone songs, Elle has written and produced an Easter cantata entitled Good News!, and two full-length musicals (This Year and The Door). @ellegtyler @chansonniers.music