YAP Broadway Intensive Bios

Donna Vivino

DONNA VIVINO was most recently seen as Grizabella on the National Broadway Tour of "Cats" which closed in early March. Broadway credits include Wicked, Hairspray, Les Miserables, Fame Becomes Me, and Saturday Night Fever. Last year Donna starred in the Off-Broadway in the one-woman musical Waiting for Johnny Depp (Rave Theatre Festival Outstanding Performance Award). Other theatre credits include Next to Normal (BRT), Finks (Theatreworks SV - SF Theatre Critics Circle Award Nominee), Merrily We Roll Along (Los Angeles Ovation Award Nominee. Film/TV: Submissions Only (Serena Maxwell), Everyday People, Married to It, and The Sopranos. Donna is co-founder of the youth arts program Journey to Broadway. Journeytobroadway.com which currently offers online programming in the performing arts for all ages. For more info follow her on Instagram & Twitter @donnavivino . For Hendrix - my Love and Light.  

E. Clayton Cornelius

A veteran of the stage, E. Clayton’s career spans over 22-years on Broadway. He can currently be seen in the hit Broadway musical,Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations. In addition to acting, he has also invested/produced numerous Broadway shows and is the recent honoree of the "Legacy Robe." IG/Twitter: @EclayCorn

Jessica Phillips

Jessica Phillips currently stars on Broadway as Heidi Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen after originating the role in the production's critically acclaimed First National Tour. Other original Broadway roles include Sheriff Marla opposite Raul Esparza in Alan Menken's Leap Of Faith; Marian in Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert (Toronto and Broadway); Next To Normal (Diana standby), Jesus Christ Superstar, The Scarlet Pimpernel (versions 1, 2 & 3) and Off-Broadway in Next To Normal. Regional credits include Deathless (Michelle) directed by Tina Landau for Goodspeed Opera House; Unknown Soldier (Ellen) at Williamstown Theatre Festival (dir. Trip Cullman); It’s Only Life (Jessica) at Rubicon Theatre Company (dir. Daisy Prince); Into The Woods (Witch); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie). Jessica’s film and television work include La Vida Inesperada (2014) The Impostors (Stanley Tucci, Dir); ”Elementary”, “Royal Pains”, “Unforgettable”, “The Ordained”, “Bronx Warrants” and, most notably, 4 seasons as A.D.A. Pippa Cox on “Law & Order, SVU”. In 2015, Jessica appeared as a featured vocalist for ASCAP’s 100th Anniversary Celebration of New Music at The Kennedy Center honoring, among others, Benj Pasik and Justin Paul. In addition to her concert appearances across the country, Jessica’s voice can be heard on multiple cast albums and on iTunes with her band 10th & Carlisle.

James T. Lane

James T. Lane- From Philadelphia. West End: The Scottsboro Boys, A Chorus Line - Revival (Palladium Theatre). Broadway: Kiss Me, Kate (Paul), King Kong the Musical ,The Scottsboro Boys (Ozie Powell/Ruby Bates), Chicago and A Chorus Line (Richie Walters). National Tours: Jersey Boys, Cinderella, Fame the Musical. Regional Theatre: Mary Poppins (Bert) Drury Lane Theatre, The Wiz (Tin Man), Broadway at Music Circus,The Old Globe, The Little Mermaid (Sebastian) The Muny, A.C.T and Dallas Theatre Center. Encores/Off Center: Promenade,Grand Hotel, Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope Concerts: Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops, Ottawa Symphony and many more. Mr. Lane teaches music theatre dance when and wherever anyone will let him! Instagram: @jamestlane

Erica Mansfield

Erica Mansfield is an established Broadway performer, visual stylist and rising host on the scene.  This year you will find her in the world premier of Mrs. Doubtfire on Broadway. She was also in Broadway companies of Bandstand, Mamma Mia, Pippin, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Kiss Me Kate, Finding Neverland, On the Town, On the 20th Century, and Evita. She has also been seen in Film, On Tv and performing at Radio City Music Hall. Erica was born in France, raised in Texas and has been in New York since the age of 18 working as a Broadway actress, singer and dancer. Alongside her performing career Erica works as a visual stylist with one of the industry's top stylists in the media markets and is a lifestyle contributor for NBC's The Hub Today covering fashion, fitness, travel, food and arts and entertainment. She also conducts Masterclasses bringing original Broadway Choreography to students nationwide. Erica enjoys the spice of life and hopes to continue bringing her adventurous spirit to her career!

Jacob Brent

Jacob Brent is currently the head of Musical Theatre James Madison University hailing from New York City where he spent ten years as a Broadway performer, a professional director and choreographer, and a teacher. Jacob holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts and Dance and a M.F.A. in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University. Jacob is best known for his portrayal of Mr. Mistoffelees in the Broadway, London and Video productions of CATS. He is the only performer to have appeared in all three and the only actor to perform in both of the record-breaking performances of the longest running Broadway and West End show. He also had the privilege of working with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber while in the original cast of STARLIGHT EXPRESS in Las Vegas. As a director and choreographer his work can be seen Off Broadway, regionally and in summer stocks across the country. In 2016, he choreographed WE ARE THE TIGERS, which was recently produced Off-Broadway. Other credits include, RAGS (Off Broadway), THE WIZ (Virginia Rep), NEWSIES (Forestburgh Playhouse), THE LITTLE MERMAID, FOOTLOOSE (Clinton Area Showboat Theater) XANADU (Watertower Theater) and LYSISTRADA JONES (PACE University), FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM and AVENUE Q (Weston Playhouse), GUYS AND DOLLS and HELLO, DOLLY! (Indianapolis Symphony) He served as the choreographer for West Cost regional premiere of THE PRODUCERS (Diablo Theater Company.) Recently he directed WEST SIDE STORY and THE SOUND OF MUSIC for Shenandoah Summer Music Theater. Additionally, Jacob is one of the few approved to re-stage the original production of CATS, which he has done many times around the world. When not working on productions, Jacob teaches in New York City at both Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway and well as highly involved in the Junior Theater Festival and Broadway Jr. productions inspiring a new generation of young actors. He adapted the high school editions of CHICAGO and A CHORUS LINE and has directed the premiere productions of LEGALLY BLONDE JR., RENT school edition, and AVENUE Q school edition.  Jacob currently serves as a Vice President of the Musical Theatre Educator’s Alliance and a proud member of Actors Equity Association.

Richard H. Blake

Blake made his Broadway debut in Teddy & Alice, starring Len Cariou at the Minskoff Theatre in 1987. The following year he appeared as Boy McDuff in Macbeth, starring Christopher Plummer and Glenda Jackson, onBroadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre.Blake then starred as the title character in the 1989 Broadway musicalPrince of Central Park, becoming (at 14) the youngest Broadway performer to have his name above the title of the show. Back on Broadway, he took over the role of Roger Davis in Rent and originated the role of Gus in the 1999 musical Saturday Night Fever; he also joined the national tour as Tony Manero. He also took over the role Link Larkin in the Broadway production of Hairspray. Blake originated the role of Glen Guglia in the 2006 Broadway version ofThe Wedding Singer at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. He then starred in the Legally Blonde musical at the Palace Theatre, originating the role ofWarner Huntington III alongside Laura Bell Bundy and Christian Borle. He can be heard on both The Wedding Singer and Legally Blonde cast recordings. Blake had a lengthy run as Fiyero on the First National tour ofWicked as well as on Broadway. He joined the Broadway cast of Matilda the Musical in the roles of the Escapologist, Sergei, and the Party Entertainer. He then took over the role of Tommy DeVito in the Broadway

production of Jersey Boys, starred as Lorenzo in the musical adaptation of A Bronx Tale on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre and is currently on the National Tour of A Bronx Tale.