A Singular Home for Plays and Musicals

STEVE SPIEGEL is the founder of Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW), a visionary company dedicated to representing musicals on behalf of their authors for presentation by theatre organizations throughout the world. Prior to founding TRW, Steve Spiegel worked for R&H Theatricals and was an agent at William Morris Agency. Preceding his tenure at R&H and WMA, Steve was President of Music Theatre International (MTI) from 1994 to 2002, culminating his 23 year career which began there in 1979. Throughout his 40 year career, Steve has established himself as the leading authority in the field of worldwide musical licensing. Steve possesses an unmatched knowledge of the business and uses his negotiating skills and network of colleagues, clients and customers to originate industry changing materials and resources. Through innovative marketing and promotional enterprises in conjunction with sales and managerial programs, Steve has enhanced the value and experience of musical theatre presentation and performance. His visionary ideas, products and services have enhanced the rehearsal and performance experience, fostered audience attendance and encouraged student and community participation. Among his groundbreaking contributions are Broadway Junior/Youth editions of shows, digital music rehearsal and accompaniment tools, educator study guides and author instructional materials. Steve continues to introduce unparalleled licensing strategies and develop innovative new products and services to heighten the value of theatre participation and revenue opportunities. Steve has worked extensively with authors, rights holders, agents, elementary, middle and high schools, colleges, universities, civic and religious groups, youth theatres, tours, professional companies, dinner theatres, regional and community theatres, international companies, First Class and Broadway producers. 

In 1996, Steve received the Distinguished Merit Award from the American Association of Community Theatres for Outstanding Service to Community Theatre in America and in 1998, the New York State Theatre Educators Association honored him with their award in recognition of advancement in theatre education. In 1999, Steve received the Florida Association For Theatre Education Arts Advocate of the Year Award. In 2000, Steve received the Educational Theatre Association’s Founder’s Award, the Ohio Community Theatre President’s Award and the US Army, European Division’s Outstanding Support of Theatre award. In 2001, The American Association of Community Theatres once again honored him with their Business Partner Award. In 2008, the Tennessee Arts Academy presented him with their Partner in the Arts Award and in 2009, TRW received the Corporate Partner Award from the American Association of Community Theatres. In 2010 the New Zealand Musical Theatre Conference selected him as their Key Note Speaker and in 2013, the Georgia Theatre Conference honored him with its Distinguished Career Award. In 2015, the mayor of the city of Memphis awarded Steve the key to the city in recognition of his contribution to the city’s performing arts and in 2016, Steve received the Smart CEO award acknowledging TRW’s growth as one of the 50 fastest growing companies in America.  

Steve is an advocate for the arts and his pioneering efforts and expertise have nurtured educational, community and professional theatre throughout the world.

Nomi joined TRW in 2016, bringing a background in arts administration and education, as well as fashion design and production. Nomi’s exposure to theatre began as an underage patron of Broadway shows, sneaking into standing room with her dad every week from the age of two. While attending an arts-based high school, Nomi participated in many, ahem, “non-singing” roles in the theatre, working on everything from costumes and sets to program and poster illustration. Outside of TRW, Nomi is an active volunteer and advocate in her local education community in Brooklyn and is passionate about bringing theatre experiences to students of all backgrounds and abilities. Nomi lives with her two budding mini-thespians and a British journalist husband, and has been rightly maligned as being “very Park Slope.”

Jim Hoare, Executive Vice President, has been involved in theatre education for 48 years. He has helped create the School Editions of many Broadway musicals including SPAMALOT, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, BIG FISH, BRIGHT STAR, and most recently, THE PROM. Jim is a member of the Advisory Board for EdTA’s Educational Theatre Foundation, and a recipient of the New York State Theatre Education Association’s “Rod Marriott Award for Lifetime Achievement in Educational Theatre”. Jim has presented workshops throughout the US and UK and in 2022 received the Florida Association for Theatre Education’s “Outstanding Theatre Arts Advocate” award. Jim is the author of Your High School Improv Show Playbook, (Theatrefolk, 2019) and Your School Theatre Director’s Playbook (TRW Plays, 2022).

MICHAEL McFADDEN has spent close to three decades producing and supervising every aspect of the touring entertainment industry. He has been directly involved in mounting more than 100 Broadway musicals in North America and has produced or managed major titles in Europe, South America and Asia. Productions have included MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT, Ragtime, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, The Will Rogers Follies, RING OF FIRE, Rock of Ages, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Prior to joining TRW, Michael served as Executive Producer for Phoenix Entertainment, a company he founded in 1999. This afforded him the opportunity to extend his national and international show business expertise with first class performing arts organizations, corporations, and venues around the globe. Michael is also the co-founder of Baker Park Associates, Inc., a theatrical management and consulting firm, and the Phoenix Asia Group, a theatrical think-tank dedicated to networking and entertainment investment throughout the Far East.

Michael is a proud member of the Society of Directors and Choreographers (SDC). Directorial credits include North American tours of Camelot, Smokey Joe’s Café, and The Pajama Game as well as international productions of Fame throughout China and Korea, GREASE in Singapore, Malaysia, Macau and Istanbul, and THE COLOR PURPLE in Bermuda. When not traveling, Michael shares his quiet time with his wife LeAnne, and their sons, Sam and Liam.

Fred has been with TRW since 2007. In his over thirty year career in show business he has worked as a performer, musician, director, teacher and arts administrator. in 1982, he earned a degree in Record Production from the College for Recording Arts in San Francisco. Throughout 1985 he played Tom Jones in San Francisco’s long-running Beach Blanket Babylon. Other acting roles include Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar, Tommy in The Who’s Tommy, Lockstock in Urinetown, Lee in True West, Charlotte Von Mahlsdorf and others in I am My Own Wife, Sir-Not-Appearing in Monty Python’s Spamalot and the Emcee in Cabaret. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Fred worked as House Manager for the Nederlander Organization’s west coast operations, including the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. In 1994, he joined swing band Blue Plate Special for a three-year run, appearing at top venues nationwide, including regular gigs in L.A. at The Derby and The Viper Room, San Francisco’s Fillmore West, and The Desert Inn in Las Vegas. They recorded A Night Out (Slimstyle) and appeared on compilation Swing This, Baby (Beyond). In 1997, he was recruited by Steve Spiegel, then president of Music Theatre International (MTI) in New York, as the Project Manager for the original development of the first Broadway Junior series. Fred lives in California with his family.

With over three decades of experience in the theater industry, Lysna began her career as a Costume Coordinator and Dresser for leading New York not-for-profit theaters, including the Public Theater, the Wooster Group, and Folksbiene, before serving as assistant to renowned producer Arthur Cantor. She later moved into television, working as Membership Coordinator for the Writers Guild of America East, where she managed membership affairs for writers and researchers at NBC, CBS, and ABC.

Lysna’s deep ties to the theater world eventually led her back to artist representation, working with theater writers, composers, and lyricists—including Alan Menken and Carol Hall—at The Shukat Company, Ltd. She spent ten years at Samuel French, finishing her time there as Director of Acquisitions and Business Affairs, before moving to Playscripts, Inc. as Director of Acquisitions. In 2018, she joined Theatrical Rights Worldwide as Director of Professional & International Licensing, and in 2020, she was appointed Executive Director of TRW Plays, the company’s new division, by Owner and CEO Steve Spiegel.

Passionate about developing new and diverse theatrical voices, Lysna serves on the Advisory Board of Dramatic Question Theater and has participated on the selection committees for Kean University’s Premiere Stages Festival, the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Festival, and the Eugene O’Neill National Music Theater Conference.

CRAIG POSPISIL is Vice President of TRW Plays, and for the last two years he has worked to acquire exciting new plays from established and emerging authors for TRW to license around the US and the world. He created the anthology series TRW Presents: Short Plays, editing three volumes so far, and plans to edit a monologue books series as well. He began working in theater licensing after receiving his MFA from New York University’s Dramatic Writing Program. He was hired as the Director of Nonprofessional Rights at Dramatists Play Service and, over the next thirty years, oversaw a fivefold increase in licensing. Working alongside Robert Vaughan, Director of Professional Rights, who also now works at TRW Plays, Craig helped take DPS from a second-ranked play publishing house to the forefront of the industry, and he was eventually named Vice President for Acquisitions. He pushed for the company to acquire plays by new writers and voices, serving greater audiences. Craig created and edited the Outstanding Men’s and Outstanding Women’s Monologues, Vols. 1&2 and Outstanding Short Plays, Vols. 1-4, and The Apartment Complex and Somewhere in America, two volumes of previously unpublished short plays by Pulitzer Prize-winner William Inge. In addition, Craig is an award-winning playwright and the author of Months on End, Journey to the Poles of Inaccessibility, The Dunes, Life is Short and Somewhere in Between, as well as more than 60 short plays. His work has been seen at Purple Rose Theatre, Stage West, Detroit Rep, Barrington Stage, Bay Street, City Theatre (Miami), New World Stages, around the US, and in two dozen countries on six continents, and translated into Cantonese, Dutch, French, Greek, Hungarian, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish.

ROBERT LEWIS VAUGHAN was born in Amarillo, Texas. His family moved between Amarillo, other towns in the panhandle, and so many places in Colorado all through his childhood he can’t remember how many schools he went to. At 18 Robert moved to New York City to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and he never looked back. His plays, including Praying for Rain, The Rest of the Night, and Weird Water, among others, have been produced internationally. He is now working on The Panhandle Plays, a series about the Texas Panhandle. Part one, The Saga of Johnny Pardue, is complete. It includes the full length works: A Room That Gets No Sun, Strange Interludes at the Pitchfork, and A Dance in Pandemonium. Robert’s novels, A Normal Kid, and The Puma and the Darkness, are coming soon. The photo is old, but who cares?

Joel has been a proud member of the TRW team since 2022. Currently the Vice President of Professional and International Licensing, he has led several other departments in his years at TRW including Publications and Amateur Licensing.

Originally from Bristol, CT, Joel has been involved in theatre his entire life and is a trained stage manager. He holds a B.S. in Theatre and Psychology from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Joel has worked in the theatrical licensing industry for over 15 years, including many years spent at Dramatists Play Service as the Manager of Operations, HR, & Events and at Broadway Licensing as the Manager of Operations. There is an extremely good chance that you have met Joel at one of the many theatre conferences and festivals around the country and he has given you a show recommendation (or six).

When not talking to theaters and licensing some of the greatest plays and musicals you may ever perform (humble brag), Joel can be found either aimlessly meandering the streets of NYC for his next cup of coffee or uptown at home with his husband, Clark, and their adorable gremlin, Bernie.

Michael McDonough’s career in theatre can be traced back to the 5th grade when he played the turkey in his grade school Thanksgiving assembly. He attended The National Theater Institute and with a degree from Wabash College, Michael worked as an actor for many years before joining Music Theatre International where he managed the Amateur Department under the tutelage of Steve Spiegel. Recruited by On The Road, Michael became the Booking Manager for the national non-Equity tours of Hairspray, Movin’ Out, Sweeney Todd, etc. Michael then landed as Company Manager for Norwegian Cruise Line – originating the role of supervisor to 60+ artists with over 50 weekly performances of the branded shows Blue Man Group, Cirque Dreams, Nickelodeon at Sea, Legends in Concert, The Second City, and Howl at the Moon. A longtime resident of Hell’s Kitchen, Michael happily treks to TRW through Times Square twice a day. The photo, by the way, bears little resemblance to him!

Ernie Bird is an award-winning American composer, writer and artist, heading TRW’s Music Department. A 2023 Jonathan Larson Award finalist, and a 2024 Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriter, his musical RISE, in collaboration with librettist Gabrielle Mirabella, had its Off-Broadway debut at the Kaufman Music Center in 2022. Bird & Mirabella also co-wrote the musical audio drama What Will She Do Next?, featured on Apple Podcasts, the New York Times, Chicago-Sun Times, and endorsed by Common Sense Media. His musical piece The Ukrainian War Diary was presented at the National Opera Center in 2023. His musical Sunday Brunch, co-written with Rachel Aberman, was showcased in the fall of 2023 at 54 Below and Green Room 42. After being awarded a full scholarship and the Departmental Fellowship, Ernie attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he received an MFA in Musical Theatre Composition. A Berklee College of Music alumnus, he is a Guest Composer at Columbia University School of the Arts, a Member Composer of the BMI Lehman Engel Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop, and a Participating Composer at NYU’s 2024 Opera Lab (in association with American Opera Projects). imerniebird.com

Marshall Foltz is an experienced marketing professional and graphic designer who has worked extensively in marketing for the theatre. He most recently worked with Vineyard Theatre as the Digital Marketing Manager developing their fearless new brand along with their design team in London. In addition to marketing, Marshall is an accomplished playwright, whose plays have been presented around New York City. His short play, THE HUG, was recently published by Dramatists Play Service. He studied Musical Theatre and Playwriting at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. When Marshall isn’t working in marketing or writing a play, he can usually be found with his corgi in Prospect Park or traveling somewhere fun.

Mike Cefalo is a New York-based creative working at the intersection of live performance, digital storytelling, and music. He holds a B.M. in Music Theatre from Baldwin Wallace University and brings a multidisciplinary approach to his work as both an artist and a communicator. As a performer, Mike has appeared on Broadway in New York, New York, Off-Broadway in White Rose, and on the national tour of The Band’s Visit.

Catherine is honored to head the amazing US Amateur team at TRW! Starting her theatre journey early, Catherine joined the Helen Hayes Youth Theatre in Nyack, NY at age 9 and did over 30 shows with them before graduating high school (including two collaborations with TRW and Nickelodeon!). Catherine went on to get her degree in Theatre and Sociology at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY and study abroad in Italy (Milan), Russia (Moscow Art Theatre), and the UK (British American Drama Academy at Oxford). After graduating, she worked as an apprentice at the Williamstown Theatre Festival for a summer before returning home to NYC and completing two years of conservatory training at the Maggie Flanigan Studio. Catherine started at TRW during the pandemic and is thrilled to spend every day supporting groups all over the country while they mount successful productions of TRW titles!

Ali is a freelance producer and dramaturg who is passionate about creating environments that enable artists to do their best work. She has worked in commercial theater at TT Partners and Fourthwall Theatrical, was the executive fellow at New York Theatre Workshop (2021-2022), and has interned at a variety of off-Broadway theaters, including Second Stage and Atlantic Theater Company. Her work has been seen at NYMF, Irondale Center, Dixon Place, Urban Stages, Theater Under St. Marks, Theater for the New City, and Yo Soy LOLA (Boston). She is so excited to be the amateur licensing representative for the north and northeast here at TRW!

Olivia joined TRW in June 2022 as an Amateur Licensing Representative. Born in California, raised mostly in Colorado, and now an avid fan of all New York City has to offer, she is enjoying working with the people of the Western half of the United States from which she hails. Olivia earned her degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In her spare time there, she was invited to perform with a swing dance group, and to bring a dramatic production to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She is a published author, penning a book entitled Racism in American Stage & Screen with Dr. Walter D. Palmer. Prior to joining TRW, she interned at Primary Stages, where she helped create a written/video archive of Off-Broadway luminaries through interviews and extensive research for their Oral History Project. Olivia came to TRW after a stint working at Broadway Licensing and is enjoying spending her working hours supporting amateur groups as they produce TRW musicals. When not working or attending copious amounts of theatre, Olivia spends her spare time consuming live entertainment in any form, walking her dog, Henry, in the park, and raising service dogs for Canine Companions.

Sara is excited to be joining Amateur Licensing team at TRW! Born and raised in New Jersey, she has been seen on stages big and small throughout the NY/NJ area. After graduating from the SUNY Cortland in 2020 with a Bachelors of the Arts in Musical Theatre, she was featured as one of “Broadway’s Rising Stars” at the Town Hall in NYC in 2022. When she is not performing, she can be seen as a bartender at several Broadway theaters. Sara is excited to bring her passion and knowledge of theater to help groups create productions that instill the same in others.

Wazir Ibrahim joins TRW after holding supervisory positions in the banking industry as well as management jobs in automotive sales. Acknowledged as a collaborative team member, Wazir has assumed leadership roles from demonstrating his commitment to product sales and an expertise towards instituting programs and procedures to foster relationship building and profitability. His hi-touch approach to customer service has often been recognized and his energy and motivation bring immeasurable value to TRW. Among his proudest academic achievements was receiving his high school’s Character, Responsibility and Leadership Award.

Danna has been with TRW since 2022 and holds the position of Project Coordinator. A native of Gt. Barrington, MA, Danna has a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Emerson College. She’s excited to be serving our customers throughout the U.S. Danna was previously employed in the licensing department at Dramatists Play Service. Fun fact: Danna is an actor, playwright and portrait painter.

Laura’s love of Musical Theatre began at a young age when she joined the children’s branch of her local Amateur Operatic Society, as well as taking part in school shows. Ensemble roles in productions such as BUGSY MALONE, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS whetted her appetite and she joined the adult section of the society just as soon as she was old enough. Supporting roles in THE KING AND I and THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS cemented her desire to follow a career into the arts. Laura completed a BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre in 2008, studying at the Southern Theatre Arts Centre near Brighton. After graduating Laura took many lead vocalist roles in a variety of different settings, and always retained her great passion for Musical Theatre. Having joined TRW in 2017 for the opening of the UK office, Laura is thriving in a different side of the industry that she loves and, amongst other things, really enjoys helping and encouraging a new generation of performers, writers and composers within the wonderful world of Musical Theatre.

Kayleigh has always had a passion for musical theatre from a young age. Kayleigh studied at Italia Conti where her training and knowledge grew as a performer. After training, she then went onto perform in various pantomimes, theatre shows, TV work, holiday parks and theme parks within the UK and abroad. During this time, Kayleigh also taught dance/musical theatre classes where she could pass on her experience to children of all ages and abilities, entering them in exams and shows of which she enjoyed to see them grow as performers through her work. Kayleigh is excited about her journey here at TRW.

Freya has been with TRW for seven years, during which time she has developed extensive expertise in amateur licensing across the UK and Ireland, as well as European and international markets. She has played a key role in building strong relationships and supporting the continued growth of amateur theatre worldwide.

Her passion for the industry began at a young age through performing, which inspired her to pursue a First Class BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre from the University of Winchester. Alongside her creative training, she developed a strong interest in the business side of theatre, ultimately shaping her career within the licensing sector.

Freya is committed to championing inclusivity, accessibility, and professionalism within the arts. She takes pride in contributing to a company that enables communities across the globe to experience and share the joy of live theatre.

John Kurzynowski is a formerly Brooklyn-based, currently London-based theatre maker, director and facilitator. He served for nearly a decade as the Founding Artistic Director of Theater Reconstruction Ensemble for which he conceived and directed critically acclaimed works of devised theatre and several scripted collaborations with playwright Jaclyn Backhaus, including You on the Moors Now, Set in the Living Room of a Small Town American Play and The Three Seagulls, or MASHAMASHAMASHA!. As a freelance director, performer and producer, he has collaborated with award-winning artists Joshua William Gelb, David Greenspan, David Herskovits, Kate Marvin, Tina Shepard, tjb and internationally renowned companies The Talking Band, Target Margin Theater and Tempting Failure, among others. His work has been developed and presented internationally at such venues as The Brick, Central Film School, The Chocolate Factory Theater, HERE Arts Center, The New Ohio Theatre and Soho Rep’s Walkerspace. He is the Artistic Director of Not Quite Theatre co., a new London-based laboratory for experimental theatre and performance. As an educator, he has taught at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Italia Conti and Brunel University London. He trained at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (MFA Performance Practice as Research) and NYU’s Experimental Theatre Wing (BFA Drama).