Education

John is an actor, singer, and teaching artist. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the University of West Florida, and is an alumnus of the American Stage Apprenticeship Program. Currently, John serves as the Education and Outreach Associate, working alongside public county schools and other community members to bring theatre education to as many students as possible.

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John’s mission as a theatre professional is to fight to make theatre accessible to BIPOC and other marginalized groups. He is a firm believer that Education is one of the most impactful ways to do so.

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Don’t stop. Stay Loud. “¡No pare, sigue, sigue!”

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Nicholas was most recently seen in American Stage’s Digital School Tour production, FAIRYTALES REIMAGINED credits include STUPID F**KING BIRD, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, THE ICEMAN COMETH (Tampa Repertory Theatre) The FANTASTIKS (freefall theatre) A FEW GOOD MED (Stageworks Theatre) SILENCE: THE MUSICAL, TWELFTH NIGHT(Jobsite Theater) POPCORN FALLS (Walnut Street Theatre) COLOMBINUS (Innovocative Theatre) amongst others. Education: Point Park University and University of South Florida. He’s happy to be returning to American Stage again to create this unique theatrical experience for children and families.

William is an award winning actor, director, music director, dancer, and singer. He began music directing at age 15 and attended Berklee College of Music. While working with a big band orchestra, William fell in love with ballroom dancing and traveled the world for years as a professional dancer. He has worked in every aspect of theatre for over 40 years. His most rewarding projects include developing a wheelchair ballroom dance program and performing for area elderly memory care homes.

Alexa holds a B.A. in Performing Arts from the University of Tampa where she performed in many shows, including Moon Over Buffalo, Temptation, and Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. After this, she spent a few years in Chicago where she continued to learn and perform theatrically and on screen in television shows such as Empire and The Exorcist. She has been working with a number of theaters in the Tampa Bay Area since moving back to Florida, including American Stage. You may have seen her in the recent virtual school tour Fairytales Reimagined: Stories for a New World or in the virtual reading of The Polar Bear Society. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to pass on everything she has learned and contribute to her community through the arts.

Ryan is a singer, songwriter, actor and music director. She is a Berklee College of Music alum where she studied Contemporary Writing/Production and Vocal Performance. During her time at Berklee she discovered a love for composing, arranging, and music directing. She was heavily involved in the growing Musical Theater Performance and Writing Initiative. After college, Ryan spent time performing in various cities in Ohio before moving to Chicago where she attended classes at The Second City and began teaching private voice and piano. Since moving to St. Petersburg she has music directed theater camps for American Stage and South Tampa Center for the Arts.

Ivy has recently been seen as Jenny Rappaport in the featured film “I Need I Want” . Additionally as Mom in the comedy film “What Tha Hell”, “The Decision” as Belinda, and Shaun in the comedy series “Nothing Else Matters”. However, Ms. Sunflower’s first love is the stage. Cassandra in Big Girls Need Love Too (Inkwell Centre), A Conversation With Myself as April (Outcast Theatre Collective), and behind the scenes as the Assistant Director of Dionysus On The Down Low (Outcast Theatre Collective) have been a few. Ivy also teaches improv virtually for beginner performers. She’s working to open up a black box theatre for the community. She received her degree from Broward College and has trained with  Robert Nation, A TALE OF TWO CITIES and Daniel Torres, EVITA. Ivy wants to thank her partner Cash, her family and friends for their support in making this dream happen.

Davina Reid is an actor and member of SAG-AFTRA. She was raised in the entertainment world by her father, an actor, and mother, a school teacher. After traveling the country, married to the military, Davina returned to her entertainment roots by training in acting and improv. She was part of the first graduating class, and first house team (As Per Usual) from the previous American Stage Improv program. Some of her film and TV credits include Cha Cha Real Smooth on Apple TV and American Rust (S1E10) on Showtime. Her theatre credits include: It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at American Stage, and Rory Lawrence’s I Think She’s the One at The Straz Center Ferguson Hall. Davina is excited to be a part of the teaching artist team with American Stage and to help bring the fun of improv to the St. Petersburg community.

Cranstan, born and raised in St. Petersburg, FL,  is an award-winning film and stage actor, director, writer, producer, and United States Talent Olympic Medalist. He loves honey nut cheerios with 2% milk and is a huge fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No judgment). Cranstan has a long history with American Stage since 2010. He’s held roles in Dominique Morriseau's stage play Pipeline as Dun with other American Stage credits including; A Raisin in the Sun as Bobo, Two Trains Running as Wolf, and RENT as Benny. Cranstan's not only been heavily involved on the performance end for American stage, but he also has been involved on the teaching end and has worked in many of our high school, middle school, and summer camp programs. Cranstan is truly grateful to have the opportunity to share his gifts in the arts within his community with the theater company he's always admired.

Juan Rodriguez is an energetic, motivational musical director, pianist, singer, and educator. He recently composed music for the play The Moors for Eckerd College. Over 30 years of regional Music Directing credits inclde: Stageworks:  Evil Dead STRAZ: Shout! , Nunsense A-Men, Eight O Clock Theater: Sweet Charity, Eckerd College: Spelling Bee, New Bedford Festival Theater: Mamma Mia!- co-dir. Jennifer Swiderski (Broadway Cast) Betsy Padamonsky (Donna Nat. Tour)  Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Oliver!, Cats, 42nd Street, Gypsy, The Producers, A Chorus Line, Singin in the Rain, Sound of Music, Grease Moss Hart Memorial Award productions of Les Miserables and Hairspray. Other Dir. credits inclue:  Forum, Once on This Island, Into the Woods, The Secret Garden, Bat Boy, Titanic, Smokey Joe’s Café, Once Upon a Mattress, Man of La Mancha. Next to Normal (Wilbury Theater) Evita (Studio Theater).  Music Supervisor- Norwegian Cruise Line. Successful vocal and piano coach.

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José Avilés hails from Philadelphia and is so excited to be joining the American Stage team in beautiful St Pete, Florida! He has been an actor, director, producer, arts administrator and theatre arts educator for over 30 years. Most recently he directed the Philadelphia Premier of Elliot a Soldier’s Fugue by Philadelphia’s own Quiara Alegria Hudes for the Walnut Street Theatre Independence Studio and a professional public reading of the same play at the Arden Theatre Co., as well as a TYA workshop production of The Real Life Adventures of Jimmy de las Rosas by Ricardo Gamboa at Passage Theatre. José is the co-founder/Artistic Producing Director of Teatro del Sol where he directed and produced the world premiere of Good Cuban Girls by Iraisa Ann Reilly and Philadelphia premiere of La Gringa by Carmen Rivera. José is the former Director of Education Outreach for the Arden Theatre Company, Taller Puertorriqueño and former Education Associate at The Walnut Street Theatre respectively. He’s also the current Director of Education at American Stage.