Tiffany is an actor and teaching artist from the Bronx, NY. She competed for the world championship team in speech and debate at Western Kentucky University and was ranked top three public speakers in the nation. Her most recent credits include Shavon in Damages at Ars Nova Ant Fest. She’s taught students at schools across…

David Samuel (he/him/his) is a first-generation Ethiopian- American, born in Texas and raised in Maryland. He is also an actor, musician, writer, and producer. As a writer and performer, he recently shared his five-act solo show, “Away, You Ethiop!” as part of his residency at BRIC Arts House as part of the 2022/2023 BRIClab Performing…

Director of Production

Kyle Gates is excited to join the Classical Theatre of Harlem as the Director of Production. Most recently Kyle served as Producing Manager for Playwrights Horizons Theater School, an NYU Tisch studio, producing 50+ student theater projects a year. Before working in educational theater Kyle was a stage manager for over 15 years working on…

Ethan Hawke

Ethan Hawke is a four-time Academy Award®-nominated artist and one of Hollywood’s most multi-faceted stars, Ethan Hawke is an actor, screenwriter, director, producer, and best-selling novelist. He recently directed the critically-acclaimed six-part documentary, The Last Movie Stars, about Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman. Hawke’s recent onscreen roles were in the TV series Moon Knight, the…

Director of Education and Community Engagement

Stacey Scott is a Juilliard graduate, founder of Setting Your Stage, an acting coaching program, and current working actress in the entertainment industry. Stacey is excited to lend her skills to the Classical Theater of Harlem as Director of Education and Community Engagement and continue to work and interact with today’s youth in theatre arts. 

Director of Philanthropy, Reform Alliance

Kelli brings over 20 years of experience in nonprofit development to CTH’s board of directors. She currently serves as the Senior Director of Philanthropy at REFORM Alliance, an organization that aims to transform probation and parole processes by changing laws, systems and culture to create real pathways to employment and wellbeing. Prior to REFORM Alliance,…

Partner, Loeb & Loeb

Carol Kaplan has broad experience advising clients on licensing, acquisition, disposition, financing and exploitation of intellectual property assets within and across multiple platforms, including in connection with live theatre, immersive events, film, television and new media exploitations. She has excellent relationships in the live-stage industry, and worked in the field as a writer, director and…

Database Administrator

Sydney is currently a drama student at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with training in Musical Theater and Screen Acting. Before joining CTH, she worked with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and has performed with theater companies across the east coast. In addition to CTH, she presently serves as a Drama Department representative…

Director of Literary Programs

Director of Literary Programs

Shawn René Graham is a freelance writer and dramaturg from San Jose, California who has worked with many writers including Dennis Allen, France-Luce Benson, Nilo Cruz, Steve Harper, Walter Mosley, Lynn Nottage, Paul Rudnick, Susan Sontag, Dominic A. Taylor, Judy Tate, and Cori Thomas. She has been a guest dramaturg at the O’Neill Playwrights Conference, the…

Betty Shamieh

Playwright in Residence

Betty Shamieh, Playwright In Residence and recipient of the prestigious Andrew W. Mellon Foundation National Playwright Residency Program Fellowship, is an acclaimed author of fifteen plays.  Her Off-Broadway premieres include The Black Eyed (New York Theatre Workshop, Director: Sam Gold) and Roar (The New Group, Director: Marion McClinton).  Roar was selected as a New York Times Critics Pick and…