Faculty Directory

Hazel McKibbin

Keshav Moodliar

Keshav Moodliar is an actor from New Delhi, India. He graduated from Delhi University and majored in English Literature. After graduation Keshav applied to, and is the first Indian, to be accepted into The Juilliard School’s MFA in Acting program. At Juilliard in his final year he played the swimmer ‘Ray’ in the play ‘Red Speedo’. Since graduation Keshav has performed Off-Broadway with The Acting Company. He played the role of The Duke in Measure for Measure and was also in Native Son which was heralded as one of the best plays of 2019. He also played Romeo in The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s production of Romeo and Juliet. He recently wrapped shooting the pilot for a new television show for FX which stars Chris Messina and Ari Graynor. He can also be seen in the mini series SINK SANK SUNK starring Laura Linney which is available on Revry TV

Michael Mott

MICHAEL MOTT is an internationally critically acclaimed award winning composer/ lyricist, songwriter, vocal producer and educator with over 15 million streams to his name. Heralded one of Playbill’s “Contemporary Musical Theatre Songwriters You Should Know,” his work has appeared on multiple television networks and has been performed by some of the best vocalists, musicians, symphony orchestras and concert bands around the world.

Mr. Mott’s original musicals include In The Light, A Faustian Tale, Sometimes Love, Mob Wife, A Mafia Comedy and Riding Out The Storm, a ten minute musical, which has been adapted into a short film and won “Best Musical Film” from several international film festivals, including the New York International Film Awards and the Oniros Film Awards in New York City, the Reale Film Festival in Milan, Italy and the Monza Film Festival in Monza, Italy. Additionally, Mott was commissioned to write the music and lyrics to Lucifer as well as the score to the dance short film, Sundown. He is currently writing two new stage musical projects.

Best known for his recording studio work, Mott’s discography includes the LPs “Where The Sky Ends,” “In The Light, A Faustian Tale (Highlights from the World Premiere Studio Cast Recording)” [which debuted at #8 on the Billboard Musical Theatre charts], and “Abandoned Heart,” all distributed by Grammy Award Winning label, Broadway Records. In 2016, Mott started his own independent label, Motta Music, and has released various EPs and singles, including “The Only One,” (feat. Pia Toscano, Blaine Krauss and Ciara Renee), “Here and Now” (feat. Pia Toscano), “Christmas, Will You Stay?” (feat. Laura Osnes), “The Impossible” (feat. Matt Bloyd), “Fly High” (feat. Aisha Jackson) and “To All A Goodnight” (feat. Jessica Vosk), to name a few. He has written original award winning material for NYC’s The Boy Band Project, including “Get Behind My Love” and “Jingle My Bells” (Winner – Best Original Song, 2020 Broadway World Cabaret World Award). 

As an educator, Mott has had the great fortune of working with some incredibly passionate and talented vocalists. Current and previous voice students have been seen in the Broadway and touring productions of & Juliet, A Chorus Line, Aladdin, Chicago, Moulin Rouge, Newsies, Hamilton (Chicago company), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Rock of Ages, Rocktopia, School of Rock, The Light in the Piazza, The Mastery of Edwin Drood, West Side Story (Broadway revival & 2021 Film), and Wicked.

Mr. Mott is currently an Adjunct Voice Instructor at both Fordham University and the New York Film Academy in New York City, Advanced member of the BMI Musical Theatre Writer’s Workshop, proud member of The Dramatists Guild, Actor’s Equity Association, and Voting member of the Recording Academy.

Stephen Nachamie

Stephen Nachamie is an award-winning stage and film director and an accomplished arts educator.

Broadway: She Loves Me – (Associate Director)

New York: Little Shop of Horrors – Reunion Concert (with Alan Menken), Small Town Confessions (with Alice Ripley and Daisy Eagan), Buyer and Cellar, My Name is Asher Lev, Rounding Third (Penguin Rep), Animals Out of Paper (Hudson Stage Co) Driving Miss Daisy, Torch Song Trilogy (with Seth Rudetsky)

Regional: Sweeney Todd (starring Carolee Carmello), Becoming Dr. Ruth (Cincinnati Playhouse), Fiddler on the Roof, Tick, tick…BOOM!, (New Rep), Sex with Strangers, 4,000 Miles (Capital Rep), The Whipping Man (Omaha Playhouse), Lady Day… (WHAT and Capital City Theatre), Camelot, 1776, A Chorus Line (Olney- Helen Hayes Award), West Side Story (Italian Tour).

Film/TV: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade/NBC, Stand Still (Telly Award – Direction)

Concerts and Opera: Music City Christmas (solo shows with Kellie Pickler, Tituss Burgess and Mickey Guyton for the Nashville Symphony), Amahl and the Night Visitors (Steamboat Springs Symphony)

NYFA: Head Over Heels, Carrie on the mainstage, and the Award-Winning Movie Musicals, Winning New York, Bang! Boom! Pow! and What’s Left.

BFA from NYU. Proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society

http://www.stephennachamie.com

Jackie Neale

Jackie Neale is a hybrid photographic artist creating storytelling installations in mediums ranging from alternative processes to low-fidelity recordings. Her process relies on community immersion to depict honest interactions in underrecognized communities and serving as personal testimonials as oral histories. She is the former Online Features Imaging Director at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, completing over 300 storytelling projects over 15-plus years. She is also a published author, and undergraduate Photography Professor at Saint Joseph’s University and the New York Film Academy. Neale has completed residencies in New York City, Philadelphia, Texas, Mexico, Calabria and Milan, Italy.

Till Neumann

Till N. Neumann was born and raised in Munich, Germany. He worked in Film Production before coming to New York City where he worked for hands on as a cinematographer. Till has compiled an impressive resume, shooting over thirty short films, numerous commercials, music videos, and over ten feature films as well as directing numerous commercials, shorts, and a feature film. He spent 3 years living and working in Los Angeles but decided his home and inspiration was and always has been New York.

Till Neumann’s work on El Camino received great reviews from Roger Ebert. He received awards for Best Cinematography for his film The Bakery at the Interpret film festival, as well as a special award for his cinematography at the CineVegas festival for his work on the movie 5up 2down along with best short film awards for The Strange Case Of Marie France at the Newport International Film Festival and the Rhode Island International Film Festival.

Jennafer Newberry

Jennafer recently made her Broadway debut as the Glinda Standby in Wicked after playing Glinda from 2022-2023 in the National Tour of Wicked! She has worked regionally in Disney’s Freaky Friday (La Jolla Playhouse) and Nemo in Finding Nemo: The Musical (Walt Disney World). Other notable credits include Shelley in Bat Boy, Clara in The Light in the Piazza, and Rosa Bud in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She also frequently sings in concerts at 54 Below and voices new work in readings and developmental labs. She graduated with her BFA from NYU Tisch.

Alex Ngo

ALEX NGO is an NYC-based musical theater writer, music director, and educator from Troy, Michigan. A graduate of Oberlin College & Conservatory of Music, he also studied as a composer at the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, where he was accepted into the
Advanced Class. His original songs have been performed at 54 Below and Green Room 42, and his 10-minute musical, Tiktaalik, was featured in the 2024 SOUND BITES Festival by Theatre Now. As a music director, he regularly works with Baayork Lee and
National Asian Artists Project, as well as the charity organization, Blue Hill Troupe. Educational work includes Interlochen Arts Camp, National Dance Institute, The Ailey School, and NexGen Theatre. He has also worked as a music assistant on a number of
new musicals, including Talk to Me (Rosser & Sohne), Techies (Carner & Gregor), and Baked! (Kumar & Liu). Recently, he vocal arranged several Eurovision songs for the podcast Mysteries of the Euroverse.

Kristen Nutile, ACE

Kristen Nutile, ACE, is a documentary editor and filmmaker based in New York City.

Kristen recently co-edited the film TURN EVERY PAGE, directed by Lizzie Gottlieb and released by Sony Pictures Classics. Kristen holds editing credits on FATHOM (AppleTV +), ART & KRIMES BY KRIMES (MTV Documentary Films), LOVE, GILDA (Magnolia Pictures), ADRIENNE (HBO), DEEP RUN (Netflix), EVERY DAY IS A HOLIDAY (PBS). She edited UNFINISHED SPACES, which won an NY Independent Spirit Award and is part of the permanent collection at Museum of Modern Art. Kristen had the opportunity to work on WEED THE PEOPLE and BUSINESS OF BIRTH CONTROL, directed by Abby Epstein and Executive Produced by Ricki Lake. Kristen edited HEROIN(E) which was nominated for an Academy Award, a Peabody Award and went on to win an Emmy Award.

Kristen has directed eleven films. Her own work intersects experimental and non-fiction filmmaking. Kristen’s films have shown around the world, including the Sundance Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival. In 2006, Kristen collaborated with legendary filmmaker, Albert Maysles and Tanja Meding on SALLY GROSS – THE PLEASURE OF STILLNESS, about critically acclaimed dancer and choreographer, Sally Gross.

Olivia Oguma

Olivia Oguma is a born and raised New Yorker and former child actor from Sesame Street with Japanese roots. She has worked extensively in both plays and musicals, on and off Broadway. Broadway: Yellow Face, Mamma Mia!, A Christmas Carol, Les Miserables, Disney’s High School Musical (1st National). Off-Broadway: Letters of Suresh (Second Stage), Addressless (Rattlestick), Hello From… (Playwrights Realm), Luce (LCT3) Emotional Creature (Signature), The Imaginary Cuckold (Moliere in the Park), BFE
(Playwrights Horizons), The Dispute (NAATCO). Regional: Vietgone (Cincinnati Playhouse), Brightest Thing in the World (Yale Rep), Miss You Like Hell (LaJolla Playhouse), Emotional Creature (Berkeley Rep), Snow Falling on Cedars (Portland Centerstage), Spelling
Bee..(Philadelphia Theater Co & Papermill Playhouse) HAIR (Two River Theater), Miss Saigon (NCTheater), The Skin of Our Teeth (Bristol Riverside Theater), BFE (Long Wharf, Winner of CT Critics Circle Award for Best Debut). Film & TV: This is Where I Leave You, Strangers with Candy, Like Father, “Instinct”, “FBI” “Odd Mom Out”, “Younger”,“Law & Order”, “The Good Wife” “The Big C,” “Great News”, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”. Olivia is the co creator/writer/host of DisOrientalism, an Asian American variety show which has a residency at Joe’s Pub.

Lanre Olabisi

Lanre Olabisi is an award-winning writer/director whose films have aired on HBO, Showtime, Netflix, and Hulu. Most recently, he has directed episodes of ABC’s “The Rookie” and its spinoff “The Rookie: Feds.” His short film “A Storybook Ending” streamed on HBO, leading to his participation in the HBOAccess Directing Program and the Disney Entertainment Television Directing Program.

Lanre’s feature films include “August the First” and “Somewhere in the Middle,” both distributed worldwide by Film Movement. His films have played in over 125 film festivals worldwide, including SXSW and Karlovy Vary. He has been nominated for an IFP Gotham Award and a Black Reel Award.

Lanre has taught at NYFA since 2008.

Edward Parks

Edward Parks is the co-founder and executive producer of Higher Content, a production company founded in 2015 with the goal of fostering bold new talent, character-driven stories, and collaborative filmmaking. He formerly founded RIVAL PICTURES, where he produced several award-winning films such as Special, Luv, Caucus and Space Station 76. In 2011, he won the Producers Guild Award for the documentary Beats Rhymes and Life, and was also nominated for a Grammy. In 2017, he produced indie thriller Super Dark Times, which was released by The Orchard in addition to a western, The Ballad of Lefty Brown, starring Bill Pullman, Jim Caveziel and Peter Fonda which A24 released in December 2019. In 2018, he produced, Darkness Visible, which was entirely shot in Kolkata, India with the support of the British Film Institute.

In April 2020, his latest film, Stray Dolls, was released by Samuel Goldwyn films which stars Bollywood star Geetanjali Thapa along with Olivia DeJonge and Cynthia Nixon.

He recently moved back to New York City after spending the past 20 years working in Los Angeles. He’s an adjunct professor at his alma mater, the University of Southern California and also teaches at the New York Film Academy in NYC where he teaches the next generation of creative producers.

Maya Patridge

Maya is an actor and teaching artist based in Brooklyn. She holds a BFA in Drama from NYU, Tisch School of the Arts (Meisner Studio, Experimental Theatre Wing). She teaches at the Terry Knickerbocker Studio and New York Film Academy, she is also a guest artist at Manhattan Theatre Club. Recent acting credits: a new musical, Scammed Into Love, at Theater for the New City, and a staged reading of a new play, The Adventures of Orlando and Virginia, with The Acting Company at The Public Theater. https://mayapatridge.com

Adrien Pellerin

Adrien Pellerin is a musical comedian based in NYC. He has music-directed numerous improvised musicals all over the world, including Baby Wants Candy at the Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe Festivals, and Blank! The Musical at Green Room 42. He produces Shitzprobe, a monthly show that invites Broadway stars to improvise musicals for their first time. His digital series, Night Crew, was released by Comedy Central in 2019, and Adult Swim released his short, STAYDIUM, in 2020. He’s written and performed in multiple musical sketch comedy shows, and created Stupid Music Videos, a Rizzle Original Series. His work has also been featured by Funny Or Die, Vulture, Mashable, UCB, The PIT, and NYC Public Access TV. Insta: @adrienpellerin More at www.AdrienPellerin.com

Ben Mehl

Ben Mehl is best known for playing Dante on Netflix’s YOU and for his lead role in Hallmark’s, My Christmas Guide. He has taught
and directed at the NYU Graduate Acting Program, where he received his MFA in acting and completed a teaching mentorship
in Movement under Jim Calder and Voice under Scott Miller. He has taught at a number of other New York institutions, and as a private coach. He is a member of The Actors Center and a volunteer at the 52nd Street Project. Acting credits include: TV: YOU, THE GOOD WIFE, SUPERNATURAL INVESTIGATOR. Film: MY CHRISTMAS GUIDE, VIRAL BEAUTY, THE FLY ROOM, OFF-DUTY. Off-Broadway Theater: THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR, SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL; (Red Bull Theater); PERICLES, COMEDY OF ERRORS (Public Theater). Regional: THE CRUCIBLE, YENTL (Cleveland Playhouse); TROUBLEMAKER (Berkeley Repertory Theatre); SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION (Williamstown Theatre Festival); HENRY V (Two River Theater); LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST (Chautauqua Theater Company). Other New York: DANNYKRISDONNAVERONICA, JULIUS CAESAR (Wheelhouse Theater); AT THE TABLE (Fault Line Theatre); HABIT (P.S. 122).

Patricia Phillips

American actress and singer Patricia Phillips has altered the history of American Broadway theatre, twice. Known for her power-house soprano, Patricia is the first woman of color to portray the Tony Award winning role, Carlotta, in the longest running show in Broadway history, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. She is also the only woman of color to appear in KINKY BOOTS on Broadway. Classically trained at Carnegie Mellon University, Patricia has a wide range of stage and film credits including the Broadway productions of SWEENEY TODD 2023 (OB Revival Cast), BAZ LUHRMANN’S LA BOHÈME (OBC) SECRET GARDEN (OBC); LIVE AT LINCOLN CENTER – SWEENEY TODD; JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA (OUSC). She can be heard on three original cast
recordings on DreamWorks, Columbia and RCA.

Some of Patricia’s television credits include BILLY ON THE STREET, SHADES OF BLUE, THE TONY AWARDS x3, and THE SOPRANOS. Her film credits include EVERYBODY’S FINE where she performed alongside Robert De Niro. Patricia has appeared as the guest soloist with many symphony orchestras including The Pittsburgh Symphony, The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra,
The Minnesota Orchestra, The Indianapolis Symphony, The Bay Area Symphony, The Harrisburg Symphony, The Sioux City Symphony, and The Virginia Symphony.

Patricia currently serves on the Faculty at The New York Film Academy. She has also taught in the Musical Theatre Programs at Penn State University, Carnegie Mellon University, NYU Tisch New Studio on Broadway and at The Hun School in Princeton.

And! Patricia is one of the choral singers on the Wicked: For Good Soundtrack.