Work Light Productions

________

Work Light Productions is a creator and producer of live theatre. We believe in the power of live performance to bring people together, to entertain and to transform. In a world of endless digital diversions, we strive to create meaningful opportunities for people to share experiences. We are dedicated to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace that values every member of our team - from our producing and management staff to the creative teams, actors, musicians, stage managers, company managers, and technicians that we employ on each production.

The roots of WLP go back to 2005 when founder Stephen Gabriel produced his first theatre for young audiences tour that brought thousands of kids and families together across the U.S. WLP was formed in 2008 when his partner, Nancy Gabriel, joined him in producing its first large-scale tour of Avenue Q, and an office was opened in Summit, NJ. From there the company grew to produce national tours of In the Heights, Green Day’s American Idiot, Mamma Mia!, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Rent, Motown the Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, Ain’t Too ProudMrs. Doubtfire, Company, and many others. WLP also develops original work, including the stage adaptation of Clue, one of the top-licensed plays in the U.S. In 2016, WLP opened a production office in Charleston, SC led by Rhys Williams, Vice President of Production. WLP is proud to manage every aspect of its shows, from Producing to Technical Production to General Management.

Meet The Team

Producing & General Management

Stephen Gabriel

Position: Partner
Categories: Producers

Stephen Gabriel is a founding partner of Work Light Productions, where he also holds the title of President and Executive Producer. Since founding WLP in 2008, the company has grown into an industry leading producing, investment, general management, and technical supervision company with offices in Summit, NJ, and Charleston, SC. Stephen is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and spent over a decade as a working musician, before entering into a successful career as a booking agent with The Booking Group and Columbia Artists Management. Stephen also spent 4 years creating and developing new works for young audiences prior to founding WLP.

Broadway Co-Producer credits include Ain’t Too ProudJagged Little Pill, WaitressHamilton, and Death of a Salesman. Current and upcoming touring productions include Ain’t Too Proud, the Olivier Award winning production of Jesus Christ Superstar, Tony Award winning Best Revival Company, and Mrs. Doubtfire. Other recent touring productions include the RENT 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour, Mamma Mia!, An Officer and a Gentleman, Bandstand, White Christmas, Cinderella, Something Rotten!, Motown, American Idiot, In The Heights, and Avenue Q. Other developmental and producing credits include The Who’s TOMMY (Goodman Theatre), Ain’t Too Proud (West End), Clue, a new comedy based on the Paramount movie, and Julie Andrews, The Gift of Music at The Hollywood Bowl and London’s O2 Arena.  www.worklightproductions.com

Stephen Gabriel

Partner

Stephen Gabriel is a founding partner of Work Light Productions,...

Nancy Gabriel

Position: Partner
Categories: Producers

Nancy co-founded Work Light Productions with her business partner & husband, Stephen Gabriel, in 2008 after spending nearly two decades in Artist Management.  She has co-produced all of WLP’s shows since its inception, and manages the company’s Finances, Administration and HR.   A graduate of the Hartt School/University of Hartford  (Piano/Music Management) and New York University (Master of Public Administration),  Nancy learned the business at IMG Artists, where she worked as a booking agent, artist manager and finally Senior VP & Director of the Dance Division.  She believes that everything she learned from day one of music school through today goes into the incredible job of producing live theater, not the least of which are the lessons she has learned raising her 3 children – her proudest productions.

Nancy Gabriel

Partner

Nancy co-founded Work Light Productions with her business partner

Anièle Fortin-Perkell

Position: Chief Operating Officer/Exec. Producer
Categories: Producers

Anièle joined Work Light Productions in 2012 after beginning her career in commercial theatre in Toronto, Canada. Originally hired as WLP’s Resident Company Manager, she later moved into General Management, and now serves as Chief Operating Officer & Executive Producer. A few of her favorite productions include Mamma Mia!, Rent, Bandstand, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and Green Day’s American Idiot. She is delighted to serve as Executive Producer of the upcoming First National Tour of Company. A graduate of McGill University, she is a certified yoga instructor, musical theatre nerd, Bravo enthusiast, and her favorite role to date, a mom.

Anièle Fortin-Perkell

Chief Operating Officer/Exec. Producer

Anièle joined Work Light Productions in 2012 after beginning her...

Courtney King

Position: General Manager
Categories: General Management

Courtney joined Work Light Productions in 2017 after working in Development at American Repertory Ballet. She was WLP’s Assistant General Manager on productions such as; Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, the 20thAnniversary tour of Rent, Mamma Mia!, Something Rotten!, among others. She was the Associate General Manager for the 1st National 50th Anniversary Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, the 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour of RENT, and West Side Story in Stage Around Tokyo. She is currently the General Manager of the First National Tour of Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, 2nd National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, and the First National Tour of COMPANY! She is a graduate of Rutgers University with a Bachelor’s degree in both Theatre and English. She is a theatre-obsessed, wine enthusiast, and an organizer of all things.

Courtney King

General Manager

Courtney joined Work Light Productions in 2017 after working in...

Matt Kunkel

Position: General Manager
Categories: General Management

Producer/Director/General Manager based in NYC. Directing credits: Camelot, The Sound of Music, An Evening with the Stars, and The Muny Summer Variety Hour (All at The Muny), Follow the Fellow Who Follows A Dream (92nd St Y / Lyrics and Lyricists), Considering Matthew Shepard (University of Michigan Chamber Choir / PBS), The Sound of Music (Virginia Opera/Virginia Arts Festival), Fallingwater (1st reading for The Met). His Associate credits include the National Tours of An Officer and A Gentleman (Work Light Productions) and Elf the Musical, Candide (Carnegie Hall), Footloose, Tommy, and The Music Man (The Kennedy Center), and over 25 shows at The Muny. He’s also the Producer of the 92nd St Y’s Lyrics and Lyricists Program. @mattwkunkel mattwkunkel.com

Matt Kunkel

General Manager

Producer/Director/General Manager based in NYC. Directing credits

Sanjida Chowdhury

Position: General Management Assistant
Categories: General Management

Sanjida (she/hers) is a New Jersey native who greatly adores the state. She first obtained an English degree with a concentration in Creative Writing from Rutgers University. Then, Sanjida pursued her passion for theatre by achieving her Master’s in Theatre at Montclair State University. Prior to Work Light Productions, she always had a passion for theatre management, where she held positions from Administrator, House Manager, and Digital Engagement Coordinator. In her free time, Sanjida likes to work out, go to concerts, or see a movie she has seen a thousand times.

Sanjida Chowdhury

General Management Assistant

Sanjida (she/hers) is a New Jersey native who greatly adores...

Jordyn David

Position: General Management Assistant
Categories: General Management

Born and raised in New Jersey, Jordyn has worked with theatres all over the state, her work ranging from actor to designer and stage manager. Jordyn obtained both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Theatre Studies at Montclair State University. During her time there, she focused on community outreach for local and educational theatre. Her capstone project included partnering with a local middle school to introduce a much-needed theatre program to the students. Post-grad, Jordyn joined the WLP team in 2023 and has worked as the Assistant General Manager on Mrs. Doubtfire, Mamma Mia!, and Clue. During her free time, you can find Jordyn baking cookies, watching terrible rom-coms, and listening to her Broadway playlist for the 1,000th time.

Jordyn David

General Management Assistant

Born and raised in New Jersey, Jordyn has worked with...

Casi Pruitt

Position: Office Manager and Executive Assistant
Categories: General Management

Casi studied under Mark Medoff at the American Southwest Theatre Company at New Mexico State University.  She recently transplanted to the east coast after residing in Washington state for 28 years where she grew her creative career in acting, directing, choreography, and writing.

Directing credits include The Producer’s, Pride and Prejudice, Rainmaker and Oliver! (Lakewood Playhouse – Lakewood, WA) Miracle on 34th Street, and The Foreigner (Tacoma Little Theatre – Tacoma, WA). Favorite acting credits include Muriel in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Truvy in Steel Magnolias, Sheila in A Chorus Line, and Rita in Educating Rita.

Casi resides in Jersey City with her amazing daughter and darling Goldendoodle!

Casi Pruitt

Office Manager and Executive Assistant

Casi studied under Mark Medoff at the American Southwest Theatre...

Finance

Mitchell Skolnick

Position: Controller
Categories: Director of Finance

Mitch is thrilled to join the Work Light team. He has great experience in the finance and accounting world. Throughout his career he made it his passion to streamline office operations and implement process improvements to ensure efficiency in all back-office work. 

His other passion is watching and playing baseball. Baseball is a numbers game so naturally a finance and accounting professional would love to follow the sport.

Mitch currently resides in West Orange with his wife of 15 years and his two kids (Bryson and Lucy)

Mitchell Skolnick

Controller

Mitch is thrilled to join the Work Light team. He...

Marian Osadebe

Position: Senior Accountant
Categories: Director of Finance

Marian joined Work Light Productions as a Senior Accountant in 2023. Prior to that, she worked as an Accounting Professional in the Real Estate, Software, and Hospitality industries for over 9 years. Marian worked alongside Mitch in her previous role in various accounting functions including, but not limited to, streamlining payroll processes, audits, and reconciliations. She is thrilled to be part of the theater industry now.

Having been born in Nigeria, and then moving to the U.S. with her family in 2010, she now calls New Jersey home. She holds an MBA in Accounting and Finance from the prestigious Montclair State University in New Jersey. 

Marian loves to travel. She has been to over 10 countries and counting. In her spare time, she enjoys reading both fiction and non-fiction books and watching TV shows and documentaries. Although Marian has a huge phobia for heights, her bucket list is to go skydiving in Dubai and Bungee jumping off the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado. 

What do accountants say when getting on a train? Mind the GAAP!

Marian Osadebe

Senior Accountant

Marian joined Work Light Productions as a Senior ...

Kimberly Helms

Position: Finance Associate
Categories: Director of Finance

KIMBERLY HELMS is very pleased to be working again with the Work Light Productions team after a previous stint in 2013. She began her career over 25 years ago as house manager at the Paramount & Moore Theatres in Seattle, WA and has since managed dozens of productions world-wide. Broadway: American Idiot; Chicago / National Tours: American Idiot; Spring Awakening, Avenue Q; Chicago; Movin’ Out; Thoroughly Modern Millie; Mamma Mia; Come From Away; Harmony; The Sunshine Boys; The Scottsboro Boys; End of the Rainbow; and Seminar. While living in Los Angeles, she worked as Manager of Operations & Communications at the Music Center Foundation, and more recently left Montana Shakespeare in the Parks where she was honored to serve as General Manager since 2020.

Residing in Bozeman, MT – her most rewarding production to date has been running for 15+ years: creating a nature-filled life with partner Jared Stein + daughter Pax Elliotte + Coonhound “Stetson” & 19 chickens.

Kimberly Helms

Finance Associate

KIMBERLY HELMS [Payroll Coordinator] is very ...

Booking  &  Work Equity Action

Mackenzie Foster

Position: Director of Booking and Engagements
Categories: Booking

Born and raised in Columbia, SC, Mackenzie attended the College of Charleston where she earned her B.A. in Arts Management and a minor in Theatre. After graduating, she moved to Chicago where she worked at Broadway In Chicago in the Production Department and assisted with all tours and shows at the Nederlander Theatre, Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, and the Broadway Playhouse. In 2013, Mackenzie moved back to Charleston, SC to work with Technical Theatre Solutions, and Work Light Productions as the Production Coordinator. After over ten years with Work Light and opening over thirty shows with the production team as the Director of Production Operations, Mackenzie is thrilled to be transitioning to the role of Director of Booking and Engagements.

Mackenzie Foster

Director of Booking and Engagements

Born and raised in Columbia, SC, Mackenzie attended the College...

Brian Harlan Brooks

Position: Director of Work Equity Action
Categories: Work Equity Action
Location: 1

Born in Pittsburgh, PA, and raised in Teaneck, NJ. Dance training at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and The Alvin Ailey American Dance Centre. Acting Training at William Esper Studios. Performing with Forces of Nature, Philadanco, Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre, Deeply Rooted Chicago Dance Theater, Donald Byrd/The Group, Williams/Henry Dance Theatre, and Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance. Theatrical Credits: Vinnette Carroll’s Your Arms Too Short to Box with God, Oprah Winfrey presents: The Color Purple First National Tour and Arthur Arent’s One- Third of a Nation. TV/Film Credits: Sony Pictures Across the Universe, Fox Searchlight Film Lifted, the HBO Series Boardwalk Empire, and Theodore Collatos Tormenting the Hen. Rehearsal Director Credits: Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, Donald Byrd/The Group, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet (interim on tour). Teaching Guest Artist at multiple schools, colleges, and universities. Site Director at Ailey Camp, Missouri.

Associate Artistic Director at Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance. Associate Choreographer for Motown the Musical on Broadway and all U.S. and U.K. tours and productions. (Choreographer re-stager for the U.K. tour). Associate Choreographer on Born for This. Choreographer of First Noel at the Apollo. Co-Director of One Harlem Night. Director of While I Have the Floor. Stage Director of Jesus Christ Superstar promotional video. Currently, Resident Director of Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations Tour, Associate Director of the Jesus Christ Superstar 50th anniversary tour. As part of Brian’s ongoing passion to see art change lives, he is also the Director of Work Light Production’s Work Equity Action Department.

Brian Harlan Brooks

Director of Work Equity Action

Born in Pittsburgh, PA, and raised in Teaneck, NJ. Dance...

Production

Rhys Williams

Position: Vice President, Production
Categories: Production

Rhys Williams has technically supervised every show Work Light has ever produced – from the very first Broadway Junior show, then many more including Avenue Q, American Idiot, Mamma Mia!, and Rent, and now the exciting roster of shows WLP is currently producing including, Ain’t Too Proud on the West End and Tommy

Rhys is based in Charleston, SC where he runs “Work Light South”, the Production arm of WLP. In the early years of Work Light (and before), Rhys did some cool things like working at Spoleto Festival USA for 35 years (including 15 years as the Festival’s Director of Production), being the Assistant Production Manager on the original Broadway productions of Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera, working for over 20 years with Lee Breuer on shows including Peter and Wendy and Mabou Mines Dollhouse, and supervising the installation of dozens of shows on Disney Cruise Line ships. 

Rhys is a proud member of IATSE Local #645. In his personal life, he is an avid Philadelphia sports fan (Eagles and Sixers), loves cooking dinner for his family, and, when time allows, is working his way to earning his 2nd degree black belt in Kempo karate.

Rhys Williams

Vice President, Production

Rhys Williams has technically supervised every show Work Light has...

Tom Klonowski

Position: Director of Technical Supervision
Categories: Production

A native of Detroit, MI, Tom Klonowski first met Rhys Williams by way of Spoleto Festival USA in 2010. Subsequently, he worked on numerous Disney cruise ship projects under the umbrella of Technical Theater Solutions. After touring since 2012, He now serves as the Director of Technical Supervision for Work Light Productions and has supported all touring productions for the company since 2017.

When he’s not working in theater, he can be found enjoying time on the boat with his wife, Reilly, and two children, Finley and Cooper.

Tom Klonowski

Director of Technical Supervision

Tom's entrance into the business was through the 2010 Spoleto...

Ryan George

Position: Production Manager
Categories: Production

Ryan started at Work Light Productions in late 2018. He joined the production team full-time in Charleston, SC after touring with the company’s production of White Christmas. He is a proud product of Philadelphia, PA where he was born, raised, and attended college at Temple University receiving his B.A. in Theater. Some of Ryan’s favorite projects that he has been involved with technically are: WLP’s Bandstand, the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Ring Ceremony, Made in America Music Festival, and Shakespeare in Clark Park. In his free time, Ryan enjoys playing golf, guiding jet-ski tours, and rooting for all Philly sports teams.

Ryan George

Production Manager

Ryan started at Work Light Productions in late 2018. He...

Hunter Storie

Position: Production Manager
Categories: Production

Hunter started full-time with Work Light Productions in 2019 after receiving his B.S. in Theatre and Entertainment Technology from Michigan Technological University. His connection with Work Light Productions started through Rhys Williams after working for him as a Special Projects Carpenter at Spoleto Festival USA in 2018. Hunter has previously served as Operations Coordinator for Sound and Lighting Services, Technical Director for various educational institutions, and helped to manage the haunted attraction, Terrorfied Forest. In his free time, Hunter enjoys board games, disc golf, and doing projects around the house.

Hunter Storie

Production Manager

Hunter started full-time with Work Light Productions in 2019 after...

Tiffany West

Position: Wardrobe Manager
Categories: Production

Tiffany is thrilled to continue her journey as Wardrobe Manager with Work Light Productions. Originally from the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Tiffany studied theatre and dance at East Carolina University. Before joining Work Light in 2019, she was performing locally in Charleston with the Cultural Arts Center Charleston and held many titles including: Dance Captain, Company Manager, Youth Program Director, Assistant to the Artistic Director and Costume Designer. Although her passion is being on the stage, she has always had an interest in costumes and is delighted to be a part of the production side.

Tiffany West

Wardrobe Manager

Tiffany is thrilled to continue her journey as Wardrobe Manager...

Laurence Christopher

Position: OPERATIONS MANAGER
Categories: Production

Laurence joined Work Light Productions in 2024 after revitalizing a theater program at his former high school in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Laurence obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Theater Production & Management as well as business from Temple University in Philadelphia. While attending Temple, he stage managed and directed multiple shows. A few of his favorites include: Head Over Heels, An Enemy of the People, & Side Show. While he was the Director & Technical Director at his former high school, he produced quite a few productions. Some of his favorite include: Little Shop of Horrors, Blithe Spirit, & Peter and the Starcatcher. Prior to being in the education sector, he worked for multiple theater/entertainment companies, including Disney and the Williamstown Theater Festival. Laurence is an avid Broadway Theater and movie goer! If he is not in a theater of some kind, then he is most likely at home cooking, playing board games, or traveling.

Laurence Christopher

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Laurence joined Work Light Productions in 2024 after revitalizing a...

Additional Staff

Linus

Position: Chairman of the Bark
Categories: Additional Staff

Linus joined WLP in 2021, bringing unbridled love and joy to the office and keeping us real.  In addition to his Board duties, he is our Director of Handsomeness and provides us with sage advice in all matters of importance.   Earlier in his career he was a working sled dog at Nature’s Kennel in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where he was the lead on a team of Alaskan Huskies who took guests on hundreds of dog sled trips. A highlight of his career was running Alaska’s renowned race, The Iditarod.  Linus wants you to know that retired sled dogs make excellent pets, and Nature’s Kennel is often offering his amazing friends for adoption as they reach retirement age each season.  You can learn more at https://www.natureskennel.com

Linus

Chairman of the Bark

Linus joined WLP in 2021, bringing unbridled love and joy...