Creative Staff
Kristen Brooks Sandler
she / her
Founder & Artistic Director
Purple haired & proudly queer, Kristen is an award winning director and choreographer whose work can be seen on screen and stage globally. Kristen is committed to physical storytelling, believing movement is the language that can bridge the gap between audience and artistry. Select credits include creations with Nickelodeon, the Hallmark Channel, the Fredericia Theater in Denmark, and the Gothenburg Opera in Sweden.
Select Credits: Shimmer & Shine (Nickelodeon), Your Alice (BAM), Sunny Day (Nick Jr.), Sweatsgiving (International Film Channel), Lysistrata Jones (NYITA Nomination), Unravell’d (Prospect Theater), Oklahoma (LTOTS), Gilded (Capital Fringe - Best Dance), Joseph...Dreamcoat (Scranton Shakespeare), Legally Blonde (MMT). Associate: Hunchback of Notre Dame (Gothenburg Opera, Sweden), Jesus Christ Superstar (Signature Theater, Helen Hayes Nomination). IG: @kristenbrooks19 / @thistle_dance / KristenBrooksSandler.com
Erin Kei
she / her
Associate Artistic Director
Erin (She/Her/Hers) is a professional actor, creator, and teaching artist based in NYC. Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, she attended Syracuse University’s Musical Theater program. Erin has been incredibly fortunate to perform in New York at BAM, MMAC, and in the New York Musical Theater Festival. Some of her favorite regional theater credits include: Asolo Rep, Syracuse Stage, Dallas Theater Center, Phoenix Theatre and Casa Mañana. Film/TV/Commercial credits include: The Path (Hulu), Olay Whips (Commercial), and the new short film SC7NARIO (available on BroadwayHD). Working both onstage as well as on creative teams, Erin is also an associate choreographer to Broadway veteran Enrique Brown (Little Mermaid, Fiddler on the Roof, Music Man, Oklahoma!), as well as Hamilton's supervising choreographer, Jennifer Jancuska. She currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director of Thistle Dance under the direction of Kristen Brooks Sandler. Erin enjoys bringing all aspects of a project together from inception to performance. She is a passionate storyteller who believes art has the power to invite new perspectives.
Kaitlyn Schirard
she / her
Director of Development
Kaitlyn Schirard is a New York based artist. The daughter of a farmer and a teacher, she hails from Florida and is dedicated to sharing her passion for storytelling in all its forms. For Thistle, Kaitlyn works as a wordsmith, grant writer, and creative collaborator, often from a dramaturgical capacity.
When on stage, if she's not performing Shakespeare, she's part of developing new works and "next classics". Her work is passionate and playful with a penchant for language. Since then, she has worked as an actor in New York (BAM, Sheen Center, OTG), regionally (Shakespeare Theater of NJ, Riverside Theater, SSF, OTGWest), and internationally (Edinburgh Fringe, Arcola Theatre).
When not onstage, Kaitlyn works as a creative consultant and grant writer. She's had the pleasure of working and crafting text with such companies as Pinkhouse Productions and Scranton Shakespeare Festival as well as with individual artists.
Eileen Kielty
she / her
Artistic Collaboration Coordinator
Eileen (she/her) is a queer multi-disciplinary artist, teacher and performer as well as a clairsentient intuitive movement coach. She has degrees in both dance and psychology as well as extensive training in somatic integration, embodiment and intimacy practices and is passionate about consent-driven places and spaces with an emphasis on social justice. Eileen has been an associate choreographer, dance captain / swing in many collaborative, original projects including "The Blue Jar'' (Cherry Lane Theatre) and "Kabarett Weimar" (Queensborough Theatre Project). She was the lead teaching assistant / swing for the Rockette's Educational Programs, a founding member / dancemaker of SpunkandCOmpany Dance and trained under the direction of Denise Jefferson at The Ailey School. Eileen believes in the power of creative expression and its ability to reveal the unspoken language of being alive…that the body always knows and movement is our direct connection to our deepest truth.
She is honored to support Thistle through communication, collaborations and educational and event outreach.
@ekielty (IG) / @kaia.evolutions (IG) https://www.kaiaevolutions.com/
Select Collaborators
Click their picture to learn more about each of our collaborators
Lawryn LaCroix
Producer, PINKHOUSE
Will Vicari
Hair & Make Up Designer,
The Wig Associates
Matthew Carlsen
Costume Designer
Alex Tremblay
Composer
David Spadora
Director of Photography
Courtney Liu
Artist In Residence 2021
Krystal Balleza
Hair & Make Up Designer,
The Wig Associates
Megan Quarles
Costume Designer
INNISSENT
Composers
Alex Pepper
Director of Photography
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Shelby Loera
Lighting & Scenic
Adam Honoré
Lighting & Scenic
Anessa Marie
Composer
Vincent Kempski
Composer
Sean Dolan
Director of Photography
Sponsors
