Meet Our Staff
The people working behind (and in front of) the scenes to keep BCT chugging along!
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Amy White Graves
Founder, Executive Director
Amy founded Brooklyn Children’s Theatre in 2004. Since then, she has worn every hat at the company including Music Director, Director/Choreographer, Production Manager, Publicity and Marketing Director; Playwright and Lyricist; Set, Prop, and Costume Designer; Book Keeper; and Grant Writer. Her previous life was as an actress/singer in the Off-Broadway hit “I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE” for over 1200 performances. Amy believes that working with children is the most amazing way to experience the theatrical art form. She holds a B.F.A. in Acting from NYU Tisch-CAP 21 and is a member of Actors Equity Association.
Jessica Wu
Interim Artistic Producer
Jessica is an award-winning NYC-based playwright, director, songwriter, educator, and actor. Performance credits include the Broadway revivals of A Chorus Line and Miss Saigon, and she is the writer of numerous theatrical works including several full-length musicals – YOU, ME, I, WE (O’Neill Conference Semi-Finalist, Live & In Color Finalist, Winner of NAAP’s Discover New Musicals), and Poupelle of Chimney Town (debuting in Tokyo, Fall 2021; NYC, Summer 2022). In addition to her writing, Jessica is an Adjunct Theatre Professor at American University in Washington DC, and a Lyricist-Mentor with the Harvard-Radcliffe G&S Players. After spending several years running a Times-Sq non-profit theatre as Associate Artistic Director, Jessica is now the owner/operator of her own consulting and development company Inspirative Creative.
Nick Robertson
General Manager
Nick is a composer, playwright, teaching artist, and arts administrator in New York City. He holds a BA in Dramatic Arts (Playwriting) from UC Santa Barbara and an MA in Educational Theatre(Colleges and Communities) from NYU Steinhardt School of Education. Nick is also an alum of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Songwriting Workshop Advanced Class. Nick is a two-time recipient of the Lincoln City Fellowship, which funded the production of two musicals for young audiences written with Willa Bassen, Dido the Queen (2016) a bluegrass adaptation of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and Perfect! (2017), an original musical produced by Kidz Theatre. As a teaching artist, he has worked in schools and after-school programs across the country.
Isis Bruno
Development Associate
Bronx Native, Isis is an alum of NYU Tisch’s drama department. She is an artist, choreographer, director and writer. Her art sits at the intersection of a 4 year old who believes in fairy tales and a twenty something queer Black-woman who believes in revolution. She applies this politic in her work “untitled”, a choreopoem about the maturation of Black love most recently put up at Hickory Playground. Other credits include performer in Theater Mitu’s Utopian Hotline, a step choreographer/Adelaide’s u/s/ featured ensemble in the Guthrie Theater’s production of Guys and Dolls and Danielle in Black Spectrum Theater’s production of Bring it On.
Ariel Estrada
Grant Writer
Ariel has performed for television, film, commercials, industrials, digital media, and Off- and Off-Off-Broadway and regionally. Ariel is the Founding Artistic Director for Leviathan Lab, an award-winning creative studio for Asian American performing artists. He currently serves as an Associate Consultant for Benvenuti Arts, which works with arts-based nonprofits to bolster their operations, grow their fundraising efforts, and lay the groundwork for a bright and sustainable future. Past arts administration experience has included work for Asian American Arts Alliance, Actors’ Equity Association, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He is a recipient of a Webby Award as a producer with the AANHPI media collective CollaborAzian. He currently serves on the boards of Musical Theatre Factory and the Episcopal Actors Guild, and on the advisory board of Houghton Hall Arts Community. He is also an arts advocate, grant writer, social media strategist, and Fortune 500-level graphic designer. His leadership has been recognized by National Alliance of Acting Teachers, Theatrical Intimacy Education, artEquity, New York Community Trust, New York Foundation for the Arts, and Theatre Communications Group. arielestrada.com | leviathanlab.org
Gail Guerre
Community Outreach Manager, Wardrobe Supervisor
Gail Guerre is a professional with a degree in Business Administration, and Elementary Education from City College School of Education with over 20 years of experience working with children between the ages of 6-18. Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of working with students with special needs and diverse learning styles, tailoring her approach to meet their individual requirements and foster their growth and development. Gail’s background includes specialized training in trauma-informed education, enabling her to create a safe and supportive learning environment for students who have experienced trauma. This training has equipped her with the necessary skills to address the unique needs of these students and provide them with the care and understanding they deserve. She is deeply committed to empowering children to reach their full potential and is dedicated to ongoing professional development to enhance her skills and knowledge in the field of education.
Nafisa Tabassum
PS179 Program Manager, Weekend Support Staff
Nafisa is a Bangladeshi Muslim educator with a foundation in Childhood Education and Psychology, holding a Bachelor’s degree from Hunter College. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Special Education at Hunter College and aspires to transition from a General Education Elementary School Teacher to a Special Education Teacher upon graduation. Her journey with the Brooklyn Children’s Theater (BCT) began when she joined as an intern at 16, and she has been an integral part of the community ever since. Over the years, she has grown from an enthusiastic intern to the Program Manager of BCT’s satellite program. She is driven by her passion for working with creative children and collaborating with exceptional staff. Her deep commitment to empowering children to reach their full potential, coupled with her dedication to ongoing professional development, underscores her desire to make a lasting impact in the NYC education system. Nafisa feels right at home within the BCT community and is continually inspired by the creativity and talent of the young performers she supports.
Nicky Thompson-Martin
Weekend Program Manager
Nicky holds an Associate’s Degree in Theatre from Borough of Manhattan Community College. Nicky was in BCT as a high school student and has gone on to stage manage 9 Teen Players productions. He has also, at various times, served as BCT’s Wardrobe Supervisor, costume designer, OASIS chaperone and teaches BCT’s Sunday Show In A Season class. Much love to his family, his cats, and the love of his life, Te-J. “Express yourself, don’t repress yourself.”