Artistic Leadership & Co-Founders Bios

Emily Bunning (she/her)
Is the Artistic Coordinator, Co-Founder, Choreographer of Treehouse Shakers and graduated from Stephens College in Missouri and is a Wyoming native. As a co-founder of Treehouse Shakers, she has choreographed, created and produced almost all of the original work.  Her work has been presented in the New York area at the BAM Fisher, The Ailey Citigroup Theater, GK Arts Center, Queen’s Theater, TPAC, DanceNow at Joyce SoHo, HERE Arts Center, Tribeca Film Festival, Westhampton Beach PAC, LICM as well as various theaters across the nation including Jacob’s Pillow (MA), Alden Theater (VA), and the Aronoff Center (OH).  Emily danced with Aviva Geismar/Drastic Action Dance Company for nine years, with whom she toured to Germany and also performed in Canada, Milwaukee, and at West End Theater, Joyce SoHo, and Symphony Space in NYC, as well as attending Djerassi Artists Residency in CA. Emily has also performed with Gotham Group Dance, Dura Mater and Valerie Green/Dance Entropy, which included a tour of Serbia in 2001. She was invited back to Serbia in 2003 to choreograph/perform with the ERGstatus Dance Theatre. Her teaching experience includes workshops in schools across the U.S. while on tour with Treehouse Shakers, and guest artist at Western Wyoming College. Emily has a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Mara McEwin (she/her) Is the Artistic Director, Co-Founder and writer, and director. Mara has also produced, written, directed and sometimes performed in all of Treehouse Shakers’ 20 original dance-plays including Hatched, which is recognized as being the first dance-play for babies to tour the U.S. by an American artist/company. She has created ongoing arts in education programming for preschools to colleges, and led numerous teaching artist and classroom trainings throughout the country for the past 25+ years. During the pandemic, she helped to quickly transition the company to virtual programming. During this time Treehouse Shakers’ created Pillow Fort, for ages 3-7, a 9-part mini-series to engage young people through the arts at home. Also a Storyteller, Mara was named “Best Storyteller of New York” by NY Press and has performed throughout the nation’s schools, festivals, theaters, colleges, and community events. She is the featured teller for F.I.T’s Toy Design Department and Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, as well as Baby Gap, Miramax, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Turtle Pond Publications, Chocolate Sauce Publishing, The Tribeca Film Festival, to name a select few. She is a writer, voice-over artist and story consultant for Activity Works, an interactive educational video-web series for classrooms across the U.S. She was the subject for a qualitative dissertation on the inclusion of storytelling in the classroom by Dr. Barb O’Neill and a featured 2019 speaker for O’Neill’s Transform Challenging Behavior Conference, the AATE 2021 & 2023 National Conference, and the Theatre and Dance for the Very Young Conference in 2022. Mara co-created Niñopalooza an all day rock concert for kids and Niño Nada, a summer festival of children’s work that was acclaimed by the New York Times. Favorite acting credits include Bloomsday on Broadway with Stephen Colbert and Alec Baldwin, which aired on NPR as well as The Sandpiper at Symphony Space, NYC. She has performed with companies such as Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Theater, Eugene O’Neill by-the-Sea- Festival, Chekhov Festival, among many others. She has worked in film, print, television and commercials. Mara is a former long-term board member on the International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY), NYC Storytelling Center, and serving a second term on the School Leadership Team at Metropolitan Expeditionary School Leadership School in NYC. To read more about life with Treehouse Shakers, living the artists’ life, or raising a creative family, visit her on Insta @maramcewin or her blog at marastreehouse.blogspot.com

Company Bios
Appolllo Bey (he/him) Is the graphic Designer & Illustrator for THS. Appolllo has been creating for Treehouse Shakers for over two decades. He creates the company’s visuals, logos, marketing, and has helped to mark their creative visual brand. He is also the illustrator for the company’s 9-part web series, Pillow Fort. A versatile Creative Director with 20 years’ experience in Fashion, Graphic Design, & Advertising for global brands, Appolllo’s work inspires & elevates the creative process. Appolllo holds an A.A.S in Menswear Design, A.A.S in Advertising and a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from NYC’s Fashion Institute of Technology. Originally from New Jersey, Appolllo currently resides in Sacramento, California.

Kaila Burritt (she/her) Is the Education Coordinator as well as a teaching artist/performer with Treehouse Shakers. Kaila is a professional dancer, singer, and actress, as well as a children’s dance teacher. Kaila grew up in Austin, Texas where she studied dance since the age of 2. After discovering Musical Theater in high school, Kaila went on to receive her BFA in Musical Theater from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Since graduating in 2019, Kaila has been a part of various professional productions as well as teaching in various parts of New York. Favorite credits include Cabaret and Catch Me if You Can at The Candlelight Theater in Delaware, Infernal at the Flea Theater in NYC, and most recently Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Zach Theater in Austin, Texas. Kaila has a passion for teaching with two teachers as parents, and enjoys spreading joy through art with Treehouse Shakers. kailaburritt.com.

Ryan Byrne (he/him) is excited to be joining Treehouse Shakers’ as a performer in the production of The Boy Who Grew Flowers as Rink Bowagon. Originally from the Chicagoland area, Ryan is a graduate of Syracuse Univerisity Department of Drama with a BFA in musical theatre. Favorite shows he has been in include The Wild Party (Burrs), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymore Krelborn), and Cabaret (Emcee). Ryan has performed professionally under the Goodman Theatre and Lookingglass in Chicago and appeared in the Broadway in Chicago production of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer from First Stage & Emerald City Theatre Company. While at Syracuse, Ryan studied under Shapeare’s Globe and worked as an Education Associate for Paramount School of the Arts in Aurora, IL. 

Ashley Chavonne (she/her) Ashley is a THS’ performer and teaching artist from Detroit, MI. She received her early dance training in ballet, jazz, modern and techniques of the African diaspora, continuing her studies at The Ohio State University and earning a B.F.A in dance performance and B.A in strategic communication. She has worked with Detroit Dance Collective as a featured performer and teaching artist, NYC based company Jazz Ain’t Dead as a featured artist, and with Jana Hicks, Marijke Eliasberg, The Next Stage Project and ModArts Dance Collective. Currently a member of The Feath3r Theory, Lauren Beirne Dance Works and Vissi Dance Theater. Ashley has been a company member of Treehouse Shakers since 2010.

Ben Demarest (he/him) Is THS’ Lighting Design & Production Manager. Ben is a New York based lighting designer, production manager, and theater maker. His lighting design work has been featured in every contemporary theater production venue and you’ve heard of and many you have not. Current projects include work with “TRUX” a performance based art collective making devised and site specific work all over NYC. Ben very much enjoys working with the incredible group of fellow makers, Treehouse Shakers.

Ashley Ervin (she/her) Ashley is performer & Teaching Artist for THS. When not performing is a Dance/Movement Therapist originally from St. Louis, MO. She graduated magna cum laude with a BFA in dance and a minor in psychology from George Mason University in 2012. There she had the privilege of working with various choreographers such as David Parsons, Mark Morris, and Jacqulyn Buglisi. Following graduation, Ashley moved to New York City to pursue a professional career in dance. She is a company member of the Treehouse Shakers and Kaley Pruitt Dance Company, and has performed with a host of other artists. She received a MS in Dance/Movement Therapy from Pratt Institute in 2018 and is a registered Dance/Movement Therapist and holds a New York State Limited Permit in Creative Arts Therapy. She specializes in psychotherapeutic approaches utilizing movement, rhythm, play, imagery, verbal and tactile stimulation, and mindfulness. Ashley also works as a Dance/Movement Therapist in the private practice setting at Dancing Dialogue LCAT LMHC PLLC. She leads dance groups with adults and children on the Autism spectrum at Snack Inc. As a psychotherapist at New Alternatives for Children, Ashley engages with children and parents in the foster care system. Ashley is grateful to work as a performer and teaching artist for the Treehouse Shakers.

Sammi Gainer (she/her) is excited to be making her Treehouse Shakers’ debut as a performer in the production of The Littlest Cove! Originally from Orange County California, Sammi is a recent graduate of Belmont University’s Department of Theater and Dance with a BFA in Theater Performance and a minor in dance. Her favorite past projects include The Wolves (#2), The Man of Mode (Dance Captain), Into the Woods (Witch), and Annie Wolfzorn’s original TYA production of Bedtime Chronicles (Gracie). Sammi has performed professionally under the Actor’s Bridge Theater in Nashville, TN and has been apart of winning the Kennedy’s Center’s choice of Best Ensemble of 2020 with her devised work “WHY.” While in New York, Sammi has taken classes at the Barrow Group Theater and participated in projects produced by Theaterlab. When not creating, she enjoys her time by dressing up to go to coffee shops. www.sammigainer.com

Mario Giacalone (he/him) has been a singer, songwriter, musician since the early 70’s. Mario recently joined Treehouse Shakers as a touring artist with Hatched and Olive & Pearl. He has recorded as as a solo artist, with The Human Condition, Inner Gypsy, Regina Palin, and Bill Horowitz. He is a founding member of The Communications Workshop, and has been a member of the bands The Human Condition, Floating, Mario Brothers, Giacalone and Sard, and Mario & Amy. Today Mr. Giacalone continues to perform, and record, with The Mario Giacalone Trio. Mario Giacalone’s music has been featured in the Theater Productions of Neighbors, Comping Attractions, and The Music in Me. His music has appeared in the videos, Crack is the Wack, 5 out of 5, The Ballad of Nikki Teen, and in the film 30 Nights of Sex to Save a Marriage. 

Hayden Kerzie (he/him) is thrilled to be joining the Treehouse Shakers family as a performer in The Boy Who Grew Flowers. Growing up in a military family Hayden calls Hawaii, Florida, California, and Georgia home. He recently graduated from Syracuse University with a BFA in musical theater in 2021. Some of his favorite credits include Cabaret (Emcee), Amadeus (Livery), The Wild Party (Oscar), Spring Awakening (Georg). While in school, he toured with Syracuse Stage in the children’s tour performing weekly at various elementary schools in Suzette Who Set To Sea (Conroy). He is so excited to be back in the world of theater for young audiences and can’t wait to bring to light the magic of theater to so many young minds. 
                                                             
Ella Leh, (she/they), is a Queer theatre artist from just outside of Boulder, Colorado. They began acting at the age of 5 (as a fish in Seussical) and simply never stopped. She recently graduated from Syracuse University with her BFA in Acting, where she received the Arthur Storch Award for leadership in the department. She also studied classical acting at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, playing Feste in a production of Twelfth Night. She currently plays Stevie in Treehouse Shakers’ The Deepest Breath.  insta @ella.leh

Cheyenne Mesura (they/them) Cheyenne Mesura (they/them) Cheyenne is a teaching artist, director/writer, performer, and also the LGBTQIA+ Programs Manager for Treehouse Shakers. They graduated with a degree in both theater and dance and have taught at various children’s theaters across the country and throughout New York State. Cheyenne has been teaching for the past 7 years with a focus on social emotional learning, identity, and community building. They are currently interested in exploring the relationship between anxiety and identity through art and developing art based curriculum that celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community.

Katie Montoya (she/her) Katie is a performer & the rehearsal coordinator for THS. She is a native of Santa Fe, New Mexico and attended the University of California, Irvine where she received a B.A. in dance and drama in 2011. Her studies took her to many parts of the world, including Ecuador with Dramatic Adventure Theater in 2009, and Ghana, West Africa in 2010 where she studied both traditional and contemporary African dance with the Ghana Dance Ensemble. She is currently in her sixth season with Sarah Berges Dance, a bicoastal modern dance company. Other company credits include Arcos Dance, Beth Soll and Company, and Vencl Dance. Montoya is a certified Pilates instructor under the instruction of Roberta Kirschenbaum. She is very grateful for her early training at the National Dance Institute of New Mexico. Katie is thrilled to be performing her seventh season with Treehouse Shakers touring in all of their current repertory.

Trey Mitchell  (he/him) Trey is a performer & teaching artist for Treehouse Shakers. He is a Virginia native, he graduated from North Carolina School of the Arts before receiving his BFA in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah University. Currently, Trey is a company member and teaching artist for Treehouse Shakers and has performed in their productions of Hatched, Let’s Talk About IT! and Under the Tangle. Through Treehouse Shakers he has taught pre-school to college. Most recently he developed Treehouse Shakers’ drama camps in Shanghai, China and surrounding provinces in partnership with UOutlook and Star America Preschool. Trey has worked at Troy University in their Dance and Theatre Departments and is faculty at Broadway Boot Camp. Trey has served as the Master Musical Theatre Instructor and Acting for Dancers Teacher at the Joffrey Ballet School’s Summer South Intensive. His career began portraying Frank Lippencott in the National Tour of Wonderful Town and as The Cat in The Hat, in Seussical. Regionally, he was seen as L.A. in Gypsy at North Shore Music Theatre (starring Vicki Lewis) and as Posner in the regional premiere of The History Boys at Northern Stage Company. Trey is one of the creators of the new musical Sam’s Room. Sam’s Room was part of the National Alliance of Musical Theatre’s (NAMT) 2017 Festival of New Musicals, was the inaugural recipient of New York Theatre Barn’s IMPACT Award, part of Red Mountain Theatre Company’s first Human Rights New Works Festival and played an extended sold-out developmental production at the Cell Theatre.

John Noel (he/him) John works as Treehouse Shakers Film Editor, and was previously a performer with company for many years. He has been performing theater since he was nine years old. Recent roles include Andy in bleachers (Secret Theatre), Jeff in Between Men (Midtown Intl. Theatre Festival), Horatio in Hamlet (American Theatre of Actors), and Andrei in Three Sisters (Onomatopoeia Theatre Co.). He’s also performed in the national tour of Poetry Alive! He is a longtime member of Treehouse Shakers, touring with Hatched since 2014. He is pleased to have originated the lead, Rink Bowagon in Treehouse Shakers’ production, The Boy Who Grew Flowers. He is also the cinematographer and film editor for Treehouse Shakers’ new 9-part web series, Pillow Fort, for ages 3-7 as well as Dance Break. john-noel.com

Anthony Rizzo (he/him) Anthony is a Treehouse Shaker musician & composer. He is a New York based musician, composer, engineer & producer with over 25 years of performing, writing, and recording experience. Some of his recent credits include the main composer for the IFC television show, Maron, which he also co-wrote the main titles. His past contributions to TV and film include: Beware The Gonzo (Corner Store Entertainment), Side By Side (documentary -Produced by Keanu Reeves), Days On Earth (Documentary-Cassflix) and the acclaimed FX series Lights Out, where he is credited as co-writer of the main titles and writer of the Previously On. Most recently he created the soundtrack for the Documentary, Dennis and Lois. Anthony has enjoyed his creative adventures with Treehouse Shakers for the past 6 seasons. He has created live music for Hatched and Olive & Pearl, Treehouse Shakers’ newest work for the early years. He is also the composer for Treehouse Shakers’ web series Pillow Fort.

Olivia St. Peter (she/her) Olivia is a performer & teaching artist, and is excited to be working with Treehouse Shakers. An actor, singer, and dancer from the South, Olivia has been involved with theater from a very young age. She attended South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, and recently graduated from Syracuse University with a B.F.A. in Musical Theater. While in college, Olivia worked at Interlochen Arts Academy as a counselor, and as the Drama Coordinator for Camp Kesem at Syracuse University. She has worked as a voice-over artist for NPR and the Grid Hack, a new app in development. She is also touring with Virginia Repertory Theatre. www.olivia-stpeter.com

Shakira Polite (she/her) Shakira’s company and team, Be Polite Creative, handles marketing for Treehouse Shakers Branching OUT programming. Be Polite Creative believes that the creative entrepreneur is a game-changing resource for small businesses. As an agency, we use that creativity to help brands grow. As CEO Shakira is responsible for shaping the direction and agenda for the agency with a focus on people, purpose and profit for clients. In her role as Creative Director, she works with clients and brand partners to creatively solve business challenges using original ideas that empower consumers. 

Aria Publicover (she/her)  is originally from Halifax, Canada. Aria has been acting professionally since age 8 when she debuted in Trailer Park Boys: The Movie. In Canada, she has worked on shows such as Seed, Mr.D, and Haven. Her award-winning credits include The Pill (Indie Memphis Film Festival) and Weirdos (Canadian Screen Awards, Directors Guild of Canada Awards). In 2018, Aria graduated from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She was involved in an Off-Broadway production of Girl Gone: or Before a League of Their Own and worked alongside Emmy nominee Kate Burton on a new play, titled Diversity at the Ojai Playwrights Conference. Aria has wrapped two films this year titled The Madones and Aversion. She currently is a part of The Deepest Breath cast as Mom. @ariaceleste

Siobhan Stevenson (she/her) is excited to join the Treehouse Shakers team as Program Coordinator. A Bay Area native, she graduated with a BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts where she studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and has been in New York ever since. Since graduating, she has split her time between a career in hospitality and acting and directing, principally with Bizarre Noir Theatre Company, an independent off-off Broadway theatre company currently operating as artists in residence at The Stonewall Inn that has been featured in BroadwayWorld, TimeOut, Playbill, and other publications. She has also performed extensively throughout the tristate area, in venues including The Players’ Theatre, Don’t Tell Mama, TADA! Youth Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Producers Club, and as part of the inaugural cast of immersive theatre piece The Love Letter You’ve Been Meaning To Write New York which was added to the Lincoln Center Performing Arts Library for original work in 2014. She has also worked as a teaching artist in the New York and San Francisco Bay Area. Outside of teaching, performing, and work, she can most often be found at the beach as often as weather permits and playing mom to her pit-lab mix, Buddy.

Rathi Varma (she/her) Rathi was born and raised in Mumbai, India started dancing at the age of 15 alongside pursuing her Diploma in Visual Arts and working as an Illustrator. In 2018, she moved to New York to pursue her career in Dance professionally at Peridance Centre. In Mumbai, she trained under Shiamak Davar’s Institute of Performing Arts and The Danceworx in Jazz, Ballet and Contemporary. Since 2019, she’s has performed with various companies and choreographers namely Anabella Lenzu, Matthew Westerby, Elise Long, Apollonia and Dancers and Dance Into Light by Dina Denis. Apart from being a company member with Chutzpah Dance, Rathi is a part time Teaching Artist with DMF Youth Inc, a non profit organization serving underserved youth through dance, fitness and life skill development. She is grateful and excited to be a part of Treehouse Shakers as a performer, teaching artist and choreographer.

Miranda Wilson (she/her) Miranda is thrilled to be entering her 13th season with the Treehouse Shakers in all of their current repertoire. Miranda Wilson is a native of Kansas City, MO and graduated with her BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Evansville. As an actor, singer, dancer, and puppeteer in NYC, she performs in a wide variety of performances across the city. Miranda is a frequent collaborator with Ryan Raftery on his critically-acclaimed celebrity biopic musicals which have covered the lives of Anna Wintour, Andy Cohen, Martha Stewart, Calvin Klein, Ivanka Trump, Andy Warhol, and, most recently, Kris Jenner and have performed in NY at Joe’s Pub, as well as in LA, San Diego, Philadelphia, and Provincetown. Roles have included: Ralph Lauren, Anderson Cooper, Kim Richards, Alexis Stewart, Anna Wintour’s assistant, Siri, and around 10 other characters in-between. Other favorite roles include: Liz in the world premiere of Every Good Girl Deserves Fun (and other misremembered things) with Clutch Productions; Lucy in Three-Day Hangover’s Dracula; Danielle in Devices of Torture with Skeleton Repertory Theater; Janet in The Island (Fresh Fruit Theater Festival). Miranda starred in a psychological thriller, “The Eve”, and won a Best Actress award for her work. Miranda starred in a short film exploring the world of Alzheimer’s and caretakers, “How You Are to Me,” and won the award of Best Protagonist at the Nevada Women’s Film Festival for her work in the film. 

Spencer Wilson (he/him) Spencer is celebrating six years as a member of the Treehouse   Shakers family! A graduate from Marymount Manhattan College for performance and musical theatre, Spencer has been an actor, singer, dancer and model performing in and around NYC for eight years including opportunities with Lincoln Center, the York Theatre, and Theatreworks USA. www.spencer-Wilson.com

 

Aurora Winger, (she/her), Production Manager, is a theater manager currently finishing her double major in Theater Management and Economics at Fordham University. Besides being the production manager for several Treehouse productions, she is also the lighting designer for Treehouse Shakers’ newest show for the very young, The Littlest Cove. Her biggest passion is making educational and fun entertainment for kids. Her most recent credits include Hedy! the Musical at AMT Theatre, MicroTEATRO at Intar Theatre, and FUNIKIJAM Kids Shows @ Actor’s Temple Theatre! IG @aurorajaid