Jamie Aznive
Audience Services Manager (She/Her/Hers) Jamie’s love for theatre evolved when she started working at WFT as a student in 2009; participating as backstage crew, producer’s assistant, box office clerk, and Captioning Coordinator. Jamie has worked as the Box Office Manager for Interlakes Theatre (IST) in Meredith, New Hampshire. At IST she received her first directional credits in 2013 with the Children’s Theatre production of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Jamie graduated from Wheelock College with a degree in Education Studies and Theatre, and in 2014 she became the Box Office Manager at WFT, where she also trains new work- study students in effective practices for both Front of House operations, and Box Office. Jamie’s passion for merging theatre and education is reflected in her work for both production and educational capacities, as a Teaching Artist, Stage Manager, and Director. JAznive@bu.edu
Jenna Corcoran
Marketing Specialist (She/Her/Hers) graduated in 2017 from Boston College where she received a B.A. in Communication and Theatre. She has been involved in Boston theater since the age of six when she played Gretl at her first home, Turtle Lane Playhouse. Most recently, Jenna has been involved with SpeakEasy Stage Company, Arlington Friends of the Drama and Arlington Children’s Theatre. When not marketing productions, Jenna loves directing and performing. Favorite credits include, Spring Awakening (Ilse), American Idiot (Extraordinary Girl), Bye Bye Birdie (Ursula), Assassins (Director) and Singin’ in the Rain Jr. (Director). Jenna loves to work with young artists who share her passion for theatre. She is grateful for the opportunity to promote the incredible WFT @ BU productions and education programs, and work with so many wonderful local organizations and patrons. Jcorc@bu.edu
Jeri Hammond
Director of Education & Community Engagement (She/Her/Hers) brings to her work over thirty years experience as an educator and a lifelong passion for the arts. An alum of Wheelock College, Jeri has degrees in early childhood/ elementary education and special education with a minor in theatre arts. She also holds advanced degrees in Reading/ Literacy Development and Educational Leadership. She loved her years as a teacher of students in grades K-2, more than twenty of which, at the Driscoll School in Brookline. Jeri has been part of the Wheelock Family Theatre “family” since the very beginning and has worked as a teaching artist in the education program, a director, and both backstage and on stage. A member of Actor’s Equity, Jeri was seen on the Wheelock Family Theatre stage in such roles as Mayella in To Kill a Mockingbird, Emily in Our Town, and Mary Warren in The Crucible. She loves her work as Director of Education where she plays a role in fostering empathy, creativity, and intellectual curiosity in the hundreds of students (pre-K-grade 12) who participate in Wheelock Family Theatre at Boston University’s Education Program each year. Jerih@bu.edu
Kaden Mays
Work Study Student (He/Him/His) is a first-year student in the Boston University School of Theatre working towards his BFA in Acting. He also hopes to also take on the musical theatre concentration. He grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas, a small art hub in the middle of the south, a place that he feels has greatly influenced his work as a storyteller, performer, and artist. He began performing in theatre productions at the age of 10 and does not plan on stopping anytime soon. Aside from theatre performance, he also enjoys performing stand-up comedy and impersonations.
Keith Orr
Administrative Director (He/Him/His) joined WFT in August of 2017 as the Manager of Marketing & Development. Prior to joining WFT@BU, Keith worked for 10 years as a Project Director/Project Manager for the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts (AAC) where he worked on a variety of initiatives, most recently related to the AAC merger with Fenway Health. Keith was also the Executive Producer & Co-Host of One In Ten on WFNX, the first LGBT radio talk show on a commercial FM station, from 1995 to 2010, and was named the Boston market’s “Best Radio Talk Show Host” in 2001. Keith was also a member of the Ryan Landry’s Gold Dust Orphan’s and has previously served as a member of the Executive Committee for the company. Keith grew up in Cranston RI and has been Boston resident for 30+ years. He currently resides in South Boston. Korr@bu.edu
Emily Ranii
Artistic Director (She/Her/Hers)serves as Academic Program Head of BU’s Summer Theatre Institute (BUSTI), and Lecturer for BU’s Opera Institute. She has directed Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, James and the Giant Peach, and Charlotte’s Web for Wheelock Family Theatre; After Life, Sweets by Kate, The Cradle Will Rock, and Hydrogen Jukebox for Boston University; Mrs. Packard for Bridge Repertory Theatre Company/Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company; Tongue of a Bird for New Repertory Theatre; 9 Parts of Desire for Playmakers Repertory Company; The Normal Heart, Heisenberg, Romeo and Juliet, Brigadoon, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer for Burning Coal Theatre Company (Company Member since 2002); as well as Blood Wedding and The Body Project for Cornell University. Emily has collaborated as an Associate Director on World of Wires at MIT and Live Video Editor on Persona with Beth Morrison Projects, both productions adapted and directed by Jay Scheib. Previous arts leadership/teaching positions include Assistant Professor of Performing Arts at Wheelock College, Visiting Lecturer at Cornell University, and Artistic Director of ArtsCenter Stage in Carrboro, North Carolina. Emily holds an M.F.A. in Directing from Boston University and a B.A. in Theatre Arts and English from Cornell University. Eranii@bu.edu
Lana Sage
Work Study Student (She/Her/Hers) is a freshman performing arts student at Boston University’s School of Theatre working toward her BFA. She hopes to also pursue a musical theatre concentration and possibly minor in either voice performance, writing, or film/tv. She recently obtained her Associates Degree in General Studies and a Musical Theatre Career Endorsement as part of an early college program. Lana is a storyteller, beginning her career in Portland Oregon. She has been working professionally in print, film and regional theatre for over 10 years and has been writing, directing, and choreographing regional productions since 2017. She also sings, plays guitar, piano and ukulele and writes songs, short stories, plays, novels, and poems. Recently, she started writing for Broadway World as a student blogger. Lana has a passion for analyzing and discussing books, film, music, theatre, and art. Website: www.lanasage.com
Nick Vargas
Associate Artistic & Education Director (He/Him/His) is a proud alum of Emerson College where he studied theatre education and directing, and is currently pursuing his MBA at Questrom School at Boston University. WFT directing credits include Little Women, Ragtime, Stuart Little, Seussical (Boston Children’s Museum), A Year With Frog & Toad (Boston Children’s Museum) The Drowsy Chaperone (Teen Ensemble). Nick previously served as the Casting Director and Artistic Associate at Imagination Stage, in Bethesda MD and was a founding member and Artistic Director of Field Trip Theatre in Washington, D.C. Navargas@bu.edu
