Tova Halpern

Founder and Artistic Director

Tova Halpern is an accomplished theater director and educational theater specialist whose career spans over a decade and a half. She earned her B.A. in Theatre Arts from Rutgers University where she notably revitalized the Hillel Theatre Company. After graduating, Tova worked on Broadway under Richard Frankel Productions, contributing to high-profile shows such as Hairspray, Stomp, and Young Frankenstein. She returned to academia to earn a Master’s in Educational Theater from New York University (NYU). Inspired to merge her passions, Tova founded Fresh Theatre Arts, an educational theater company serving schools across New Jersey, offering storytelling, performance workshops, and creative experiences for youth. In the summer of 2023, she was honored to collaborate with Keith Presty on the Highland Park Theater Company summer teen program. With a dual commitment to the stage and the classroom, Tova Halpern weaves together professional theater experience, educational leadership, and creative mentorship. Whether through her work with Fresh Theatre Arts or as an adjunct professor at Mason Gross, Tova is grounded in the belief that theater is not just about performance—it's a powerful way to help people find their voice, tell their stories, and connect with others.

Teaching Artist Guild (TAG)
International Teaching Artists Collaborative (ITAC)
American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE)
Association of Teaching Artist (ATA)
Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE)
Educational Theatre Association (EdTA)
KAPPA DELTA PI International Honor Society In Education (KDP)
Rising Star Award from the Rutgers Hillel, Rutgers University
PHI ETA SIGMA National Freshman Honor Society, Barry University

Jessica Nappa

Artistic Coordinator and Musical Theatre Specialist

Jessica graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College. She began working as a director and music director with New Jersey Repertory Theatre while she was still in high school. As a performer, Jess has toured nationally and internationally, most notably as Snow White in the Snow White International Tour. She performs with regional theatres including McCarter Theatre Center, The Growing Stage, and Castle Shakespeare Repertory, the latter which she does yearly as the leading ladies in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth. Jess is also a professional chorister with The Same Stream Choir and can be heard on their previous and upcoming recordings wherever you stream music. Jess discovered her love for singing at age 2, and love for theatre when she appeared in her first show at age 6. In both performing and directing, Jess's goal is to help children discover how music and theatre can inspire, empower, and transform lives.

Nava Chefitz

Art Specialist/Party Motivator

Nava Chefitz is a college student working on getting a bachelor's degree in fine arts at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Nava has experience in a variety of arts. She has been dancing since she was 3 years-old, playing piano since she was 10 years-old, and has been in multiple high school theater performances. In high school, Nava found time to do many extra curricular activities while keeping up with her studies, mastering her time management skills. This has proved useful in college to balance her classes, labs, homework, social life, and participation in the University Choir. Nava also enjoys working with children. She has been a sleep-away camp counselor multiple times at camp Moshava IO, where Nava attended since she was a camper. She was also a group leader for three years at Congregation Ohev Emet and has assisted Fresh Theater Arts with productions and Bat Mitzvahs. Nava channels her bursting energy to help motivate children to express themselves through the arts.

Megan Midgley

Dance

Megan Midgley recently graduated as a Ed.M Dance Education Candidate with K12 Teacher Certification at Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Education. She completed her full-time student teaching at Trenton Central High School under the mentorship of Elizabeth Zweirzynski, Ed.M in December of 2022 where she taught ballet, modern, jazz and hip hop to all of the dance students. She is currently the co-director of Evolution Dance and Performing Arts Academy in Brick, New Jersey, where she teaches hip hop, contemporary and improvisation. Along with directing the studio, Meg has choreographed for all ages to perform at regional and national dance competitions where she has received three choreography awards. Meg completed her 200 hour RYT Yoga Certification in December of 2020 through Even Flow Yoga in Red Bank, New Jersey, and teaches vinyasa classes all over Monmouth and Ocean County. Professionally, Meg is a company member of Cardell Dance Company based out of Philadelphia under the direction of Silvana Cardell. Meg’s passion for performing led her to tour the company’s two well known works, “Supper! People on the Move” and “Deer’s Cry,” in four different cities along the East Coast. Prior to her graduate studies, Meg graduated with a BA in Dance from Georgian Court University in 2018 where she performed in pieces by Silvana Cardell, Sidra Bell, Brian Sanders, Ten Hairy Legs, Gregory King, Megan Mazarick and Steven Vaughn. While attending University, she studied abroad in Vienna, Austria where she performed and participated in the Impulstanz Dance Festival. Other training Meg has completed was the Parsons Dance Company intensive where she studied and performed with the company for three consecutive years at Marymount Manhattan College. She also participated in the Pilobolus Summer Intensive where she performed at Jacob’s Pillow alongside Momix and the Pilobolus company. She graduated from Howell High School in the Freehold Performing Arts Center with a focus in dance, in 2014. She competed on the company team of Center of Dance Arts where she performed in the styles of tap, hip hop, jazz, contemporary and musical theater.

Luke Ferrell

Acting/Directing/Technical Theatre

Luke is a New Jersey based teaching artist and stage director. He is currently studying theater arts, history, and education at Rutgers University, where he also directs and serves on production staffs for productions with Livingston Theatre Company and Cabaret Theatre. Some of his directing and teaching artist credits include The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the Little Mermaid, Annie, High School Musical 2, Singin' in the Rain, Sweet Charity, the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Heroes of the Fourth Turning. He is thrilled to be able to share his love and passion for theatre with young thespians!

Elayna Rose Broillet

Musical Theatre/Improv/Acting

Elayna Rose Broillet is excited to be a new teaching artist a part of the Fresh Theatre Arts community. She received her BA from Wagner College in Theatre Performance and shipped it up to Boston for her MA from Emerson College in Theatre Education/Applied Theatre. Coming back to the NJ area, Elayna brings movement-based practices and experience with improv in her teaching style. Having background in all three disciplines (singing, acting, and dancing), she has experience in choreography and teaching acting when she is not performing. Her teaching philosophy that movement can do most of the storytelling with or without words to accompany them. In her work with ESL students, she discovered movement was a way to alleviate the anxiety and expectation to communicate with words. It connected her with students whose first language is not English and challenged her to teach theatre/drama in another language. She is very much grateful and excited for this journey with FTA and hopes to encourage the next generation of artists/teachers/performers of all cultures and backgrounds.

Katelyn Loss

Musical Theatre/Dance

Katelyn graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting (concentration in Musical Theatre) and a minor in Dance from Slippery Rock University. She recently moved to New Jersey where she has been performing and teaching theatre, dance, and yoga classes! Since moving to New Jersey, Katelyn has had the opportunity to perform regionally as Clarice in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at The Growing Stage and P.B. in One Slight Hitch at Hunterdon Hills Playhouse. Some of her other favorite past theatre credits include Ella in Cinderella, Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense, Vanessa in the World Premiere of Techies: The Musical, and Ophelia in Hamlet. Outside of performing, Katelyn has been teaching young performers for over 6 years, and has enjoyed seeing all ages and abilities blossom into the artists they want to be. Her goal as a teaching artist is to encourage students to fully explore their inner performer, utilize theatre and dance as a way to express themselves, and gain confidence in the amazing and unique humans they are. Katelyn is so excited to be a part of the FTA team, and she can't wait to share her love for theatre with her students!

Matt Abad

Assistant Teaching Artist

Matt Abad is currently working towards his BA Theatre Studies major at Montclair State University. Matt enjoys performing! His previous roles include Mamma Mia (Ensemble), Into the Woods (The Baker), Grease (Roger), and Footloose (Ren McCormack). Matt would like to thank the Fresh Theatre Arts team for allowing him to come aboard and create shows and entertain all of you!

Kayleigh Wharton

Musical Theatre

Kayleigh has always had a love for the arts, and it’s been a central part of her life for as long as she can remember. From participating in a number of musicals to recently performing in various music gigs, she is passionate about using her voice and creativity to connect with others. She is so excited to work with kids and share her love for the arts with them. The arts have had such a positive impact on her growth, and she hopes to inspire the next generation to experience that same joy, confidence, and sense of self through the arts.

Natalie Moses

Digital Marketing and Communications Manager

Natalie Moses is a recent MBA graduate from Binghamton University’s School of Management with a concentration in Marketing. Natalie has been passionate about the arts for as long as she can remember. She participated in choir and musical theatre throughout her high school career. She spends her free time listening to music and singing, reading, watching tv, and exercising. In addition to her artistic background and passions, Natalie is a very organized and business savvy individual with a strong foundation in business and marketing. She aims to combine that education and knowledge with her deep passion for entertainment and the arts to succeed in her career. With a creative approach and a strategic mindset, Natalie is dedicated to growing the company’s online presence and engaging with its community. Leveraging expertise in digital marketing, content creation, and audience engagement, Natalie works to amplify the company’s mission and drive its success in the educational theatre space. Through innovative campaigns and thoughtful storytelling, Natalie aims to connect with audiences and elevate the company’s brand.

Kai Stevens

Graphic Designer

Kai has been designing promotional materials and merchandise for theatre since his sophomore year of high school, when he drew up a poster for Twelfth Night with a computer mouse, free digital art software, and a lot of patience. He is currently pursuing a B.A. in theatre and English at Williams College, where he acts in productions with the Department of Theatre. Kai is so grateful for his experiences with Fresh Theatre Arts, the Highland Park Drama Club, the HPTC, and the HPYTC, which have all guided him toward the path he’s on today. He is honored to contribute to local youth theatre as he continues learning and growing as an artist.

Stephanie Beda

Acting/Directing

Stephanie has been a theatre lover for her whole life. Starting out in her JCCs Rising Stars theatre program Stephanie has been acting and singing and preforming pretty much every chance she got. She went on to attend and then graduate The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts with a degree in Film, Television and Theatre arts where she learned various theatre techniques such as the Meisner technique and the Suzuki method which helped her learn how to use her voice and body to create a story and become a strong actress. She has worked on plenty of film sets and has her own IMDB page. Stephanie pours her heart into her craft and now having become a mother wants to share her love of theatre and music with every child that wants to explore their creativity and passion. She’s looking forward to working with Fresh Theatre Arts and commits to their goal of educating children in this beautiful craft with smiles and laughter and heart.

Danielle Cornell

Jumping Jellybeans/Yoga Teaching Artist

Danielle Cornell is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts NYC, where she studied theatre and movement for the actor. Danielle has had a love for performing since she was a child, and pursued dance and acting at a young age. She also enjoys working with children, and began teaching creative movement for children shortly after finishing school. Danielle is an Equity Actor who has performed on stage and in film and TV throughout New York and New Jersey. She is excited to join The Fresh Theatre Arts team and looks forward to continuing to encourage children to pursue their dreams!