OUR STORY
“In a bustling city like New York, it’s easy to feel lost, especially for young people. They need a space where they can build confidence, connect with others, and explore their creativity. Unfortunately, many don’t have quality access to the arts, leaving them without an outlet to express themselves or a community to belong to.
Growing up, I was fortunate to be part of a youth theater that shaped who I am today. As a professional actor and performing arts teacher living and working on the Upper West Side for the past decade, I realized that something was missing—a place where kids could find the same joy, confidence, and community that I once experienced. It’s hard to watch young people miss out on opportunities that could help them flourish, especially in a city as big and brimming with possibilities as New York.
That’s why I started Broadway Rise—to create a space where people of all ages can discover their potential through engaging Performing Arts classes. Here, our students gain confidence, try new things, and find a sense of belonging that’s often hard to come by. Broadway Rise isn’t just a theater program; it’s a community where everyone has the chance to shine.”
Eloïse Ghislaine
THE TEAM
Eloïse Ghislaine, Founder & Program Director
Eloïse Ghislaine is a seasoned performer, educator, and the founder of Broadway Rise — a vibrant performing arts program dedicated to cultivating confidence, creativity, and excellence in students of all ages.
With over 15 years of experience as a voice, music, and acting teacher, Eloïse has guided hundreds of students toward artistic growth, helping them find their voice, build their skills, and shine both onstage and off. Her teaching combines professional-level rigor with warmth, joy, and a deep respect for each student’s unique journey.
Originally from Australia, Eloïse earned her Bachelor of Music in Theater from the Australian Institute of Music and a Graduate Diploma in Vocal Performance from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
As a performer, she has appeared on iconic stages including Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and toured extensively across Southeast Asia. Since relocating to New York City, she has become a regular in the city’s cabaret and jazz scene, performing at venues such as Birdland Jazz Club, Don’t Tell Mama, The Duplex, and 54 Below.
Alongside her artistic career, Eloïse has also built and operated several successful businesses in the tourism and ecommerce sectors. This entrepreneurial experience brings a sharp strategic lens to her leadership at Broadway Rise, where she combines artistic vision with strong operational foundations to build a thriving, sustainable program.
For the past decade, she has taught performing arts on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, offering training in acting, voice, piano, and guitar, and leading workshops for children, teens, and adults. She has also served as a guest instructor at Broadway Dance Center.
At Broadway Rise, Eloïse unites her global performance experience, business acumen, and passion for arts education to create a space where performers of all ages are empowered to grow, connect, and rise!
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Lil Malinich is an actress, director, acting coach and producer from London, Ontario.
Lil Malinich is an actress, director, acting coach and producer from London, Ontario. She is a member of Broadway-affiliated theatre company Working Artists Theatre Project and co-founded the award-winning company Theatre Soup. Her diverse body of stage work includes classic and contemporary plays including Timberlake: American Pulp, Life Without Parole, and the biographical play Fruits Unheard Of in which she portrayed American photographer Diane Arbus.
Feature film and TV credits include Construction and Paradise, "All My Children" "Gotham," "Law & Order" and "Godfather of Harlem."
In addition to training at the Susan Batson Studio, Lil has studied with Maggie Flannigan, Terry Schreiber and Giles Foreman, holds an Honors B.A in English and Dramatic Arts and a Bachelor of Education. She has worked internationally as a teacher in Canada, Paris, Rome and New York at the Susan Batson Studio.
Lil directed and produced the NYC premiere of The Way I Am, a one-woman show inspired by the life and work of Barbra Streisand as well as They Called Me Rita, a play inspired by Rita Hayworth which premiered at the United Solo Festival. For the Verve Project she directed Laundry & Bourbon and for New York Theatre Festival Lucy & Lucy which won Best Short Production and Best Actress Awards. Building community is pivotal to Lil's work. She has collaborated with the David Lynch Foundation (For Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace) in creating staged reading fundraiser events, and developed the NYC screening series for David Lynch's documentary Meditation, Creativity, Peace.
Lil is currently the acting instructor at the Joffrey Ballet School and working with MTTM Theatrics in the development of their musical Chester & Julia. With Sprouting Pictures she recently co-directed the short film The Main Event and is a judge for the New York, Hollywood, Cannes and Venice Short Film Festivals.
Lil also coaches Forest Whitaker: Projects include Big George Foreman, "Andor," "Emperor of Ocean Park" and"Godfather of Harlem."
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Azudi Onyejekwe believes that every performer has a unique story to tell—and his teaching philosophy centers on empowering actors to connect authentically with material, build confidence, and bring truth and specificity to every performance. He fosters a supportive, challenging, and joyful environment where students can take risks, develop technique, and grow both as artists and individuals.
Azudi is a New York City-based actor, director, musician, and educator with an extensive background in theater, television, and film. His Broadway credits include Violet and The Great Comet of 1812, where he worked alongside Tony Award-winning creatives. His television and film appearances include Madam Secretary, HairBrained (starring Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser), and performances on major networks including CBS, ABC, and NBC.
As an educator, Azudi is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at LIU Brooklyn, where he teaches Scene Study On-Camera Performance. He has previously taught at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and Molloy University. Azudi holds a BFA in Theatre and Africana Studies (Double Major) from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and a Master of Science in Education Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania.
As a teacher, Azudi brings both professional experience and a deep understanding of craft to his students, guiding them toward fearless performance and truthful storytelling. His approach blends rigorous technique with a passion for character exploration, helping students prepare for auditions, stage, and screen with clarity, precision, and heart.
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An established music director and multi-instrumentalist, Rachel Kaufman has worked on well over 300 musicals and cabaret shows worldwide. She is passionate about helping singers build confidence, develop strong technique, and connect to their music so they can perform at their very best.
Career highlights include Off-Broadway (Tale of Two Cities 10th year reunion concert at Birdland Theatre, Goldstein: The Musical with Megan McGinnis, Oliver! with Brian Stokes Mitchell, Schoolhouse Rock Live!, and A Taste of Things to Come directed by Lorin Latarro), Tours (Rent, Phantom of the Opera, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Five Guys Named Moe, Smokey Joe’s Café), and Regional (Tom Jones at North Shore, Hallelujah, Baby! directed by Arthur Laurents, Golf: The Musical).
She has collaborated with Broadway legends such as Donna McKechnie, Baayork Lee, Hinton Battle, Savion Glover, and Donna Murphy. In addition to theater work, Rachel has played for auditions, improv comedy groups, churches, piano bars, and orchestras on cruise ships.
As an educator and collaborator, Rachel is committed to guiding singers with encouragement and expertise, helping them take risks, grow with confidence, and experience the joy of making music.
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Rosie is passionate about guiding young performers toward artistry rooted in consent, agency, and authentic storytelling.
Rosie Corr is a director, choreographer, and arts educator whose work spans Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theaters, and educational settings across the country. Her approach emphasizes collaboration, inclusivity, and nurturing a creative environment where every student can take ownership of their craft.
On Broadway, Rosie served as assistant to Tony Award–winner Warren Carlyle on Harmony. She has also worked as an associate to multi–Helen Hayes Award–winner Marcia Milgrom Dodge on the Northeast regional premiere of Waitress at Olney Theatre Center.
Her recent directing and choreography credits include Nothing Like Broadway (Off-Broadway, Marjorie S. Deane), Kittens (Hollywood Fringe Festival, Best Musical Nominee & Stage Takes Top Ten), Healing Mined (World Premiere, TheaterLab), Next Year in Connecticut (Best Choreography Winner, SheNYC), Mere Waters (SheNYC, World Premiere Director-Choreographer), Goddess of the Hunt (Workshop Premiere Director, Fresh Fruit Festival), and 1776 (Stagedoor Manor, Choreographer).
Her upcoming work includes Mindy Kaling’s Matt and Ben at the NuBox Theatre.
At Broadway Rise, Rosie brings deep professional experience and a student-first philosophy — creating space for young performers to build confidence, develop technique, and tell powerful stories on stage.
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Vivienne is passionate about helping young performers discover confidence, connection, and authenticity through storytelling.
Vivienne Claire Luthin is a New York–based director, teaching artist, and actor. She previously served as Artistic Director of Piknik Theatre and has spent the past eleven years directing and teaching theater across the country.
A graduate of Webster Conservatory with a BFA in Acting and a minor in Music, Vivienne began her career as a Fellow at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Her recent directing credits include Singin’ in the Rain Sr. (Lenox Hill Neighborhood House), A Year with Frog and Toad (Piknik Theatre), Matilda The Musical Jr. (Steamboat Springs Middle School), Peter Pan (A Community Collaboration Production), and The Music Man Kids (Choreography, Columbia Prep).
As an actor, Vivienne has appeared in productions with the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, as well as originating roles in several world premieres with Piknik Theatre, including The Paper Bag Princess, The Boy, Mole, Fox, Horse, and Patches.
At Broadway Rise, Vivienne brings her experience as both a director and performer to create a collaborative, inspiring space for students to grow their craft. She believes that every student has a story worth telling — and her greatest joy is helping them find their voice, step into their light, and shine with confidence both on and off the stage.
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Rae is passionate about creating theater that moves, inspires, and gives every voice a chance to be heard.
Rae Covey is a writer and composer whose work bridges emotional storytelling with musical innovation. A graduate of Northwestern University, she is a member of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop and has developed her original works in theaters, incubators, and festivals across the country.
Her musicals — NOISE, WHERE WE ARE, and PAINTING FAYE SALVEZ — have been presented at Joe’s Pub, Tuacahn Theatre, The Tank, the New York Musical Festival (NYMF), and other creative labs nationwide. Her music has also been performed through the York Theatre’s New Works Series, Prospect Theater Company, Titchfield Festival Theatre (UK), and Brooklyn Children’s Theatre (as part of commissions from 2022–2024).
Rae’s honors include being a finalist for the 2023 Fred Ebb Award, and she has been a semifinalist for Signature Theatre’s LaunchPad Residency. In 2024, she was featured in the Playbill Songwriter Series, sharing selections from her works WHERE WE ARE and NOISE.
In addition to composing and writing, Rae works as a vocal coach and collaborative musician, supporting artists as they bring musical theater stories to life.
At Broadway Rise, Rae brings both creative vision and musical mentorship — guiding students not just in technique, but in how to tell their stories through song.
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Madelyn is enthusiastic about guiding young people toward the performing arts and encouraging them to shine.
Madelyn Guyet is a multi-hyphenate theater artist and educator, dedicated to creating an engaging, accessible, and equitable learning environment for students interested in the arts.
With over 10 years of education, experience, and training, Madelyn is thrilled to be part of the Broadway Rise team. She is a proud union member of Actors’ Equity Association and has worked professionally since earning her degree in 2023. A graduate of Boston University, she holds a BFA in Theatre Arts Performance, a minor in Special Education, and a concentration in Musical Theatre — a combination that reflects her deep passion for both performance and teaching.
Madelyn’s work spans a wide range of educational settings, including high school acting conservatories, special education classrooms, group musical theater programs, and one-on-one coaching. Her approach is student-centered, nurturing, and rooted in helping each performer discover their unique voice and presence on stage.
She’s excited to bring her dual perspective as both a working actor and educator into the classroom, inspiring future generations of confident, creative performers.
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An accomplished composer, pianist, and music director, Justin Witwick is passionate about helping singers discover their most authentic voices and thrive as performers. He works with students of all levels, from hobbyists to pre-college track performers, guiding them to develop healthy, expressive, and confident singing.
Justin earned his B.M. in Vocal Performance from the University of Delaware, where he focused on vocal pedagogy and the science of singing, studying the work of Estill, Doscher, and Titze. His professional credits include music directing Anything Goes, Godspell, Footloose, Batboy, and Urinetown at theaters and schools such as Stagedoor Manor, Hudson County Tech, and Cranford Dramatic Club. As a composer, he has written and orchestrated Somerton Man for The Green Room 42, contributed to the N.E.O. Voice Festival in Los Angeles, and is currently developing the First TikTok Song Cycle.
Alongside his professional work, Justin maintains a thriving private voice studio in Manhattan and serves as a vocal consultant for High Tech High School. Above all, he is deeply passionate about teaching voice and empowering singers to grow, create, and find joy in their artistry.
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Marika is dedicated to helping performers of all ages build confidence, refine their craft, and unlock their full creative potential.
Marika Abe is a dynamic multi-disciplinary artist whose talents span musical direction, piano, acting, and dance. A true force on and off the stage, Marika has established herself as a sought-after performer and creative collaborator, equally at home leading a score from the piano as she is delivering a captivating performance under the spotlight.
A graduate of Mercy–Mount Manhattan College in New York City, Marika holds a degree in Theatre Performance and Musical Theatre. Her work includes critically acclaimed regional and Off-Broadway productions, most notably The King and I at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre—directed by Tony-nominated Marcia Milgrom Dodge—and The Selfish Giant, based on Oscar Wilde’s classic tale.
In addition to her performance work, Marika has served as dance captain, vocal coach, and assistant music director on a range of productions across the U.S., and has headlined concerts in both New York and Japan. Her concert appearances include performances at Lincoln Center, York Theatre Company, and prominent cultural venues in Yokohama, where she has produced and led her own sold-out musical events.
Marika’s artistry is marked by precision, emotional depth, and a profound commitment to celebrating individuality through music and storytelling. Guided by the belief that “Everybody is beautiful,” she continues to bring joy, connection, and artistic excellence to audiences around the world.
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Joseph is passionate about empowering young performers through music, structure, and meaningful collaboration.
Joseph K. Ivan is a highly skilled music director, pianist, conductor, guitarist, and educator dedicated to cultivating excellence in musical theater. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a focus in piano and a minor in Musical Theatre, as well as a Master’s degree in Theatre Music Direction. His work bridges professional theater and education, rooted in a commitment to both artistic integrity and student development.
Joseph has worked in theaters and schools across the country and recently joined the Broadway community as a music assistant to Olivier and Tony Award-winning conductor Alan Williams on Sunset Boulevard (2025 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical) and Elf the Musical. He conducted his thesis production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying as the final component of his MFA.
To date, Joseph has music directed or served as associate music director for over 20 productions, including Falsettos(Penn State) and Zombie Prom (Stagedoor Manor). He is also an experienced pit musician, performing on both piano/keyboards and guitar.
At Broadway Rise, Joseph brings a clear, supportive, and musically rigorous approach to his work with students. He is committed to building strong musicianship in young performers and believes in using theater to challenge, engage, and elevate both the performer and the audience.
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Elena is enthusiastic about guiding young people toward the performing arts and encouraging them to shine.
Elena is a Music & Creative Movement Teacher, Educator and Performer. Her goal is to instill her passion for the performing arts to young artists,and to provide them with tools to express their creativity and personality.
After graduating at Cà Foscari University in Venice, Italy, she continued her studies in Musical Theatre at the New York Film Academy in NYC.
As an educator, Elena has served as the resident performing arts teacher at La Scuola d'Italia and has also taught in the Children's Summer Program at The Juilliard School.Elena is also an experienced Stage Manager having worked at numerous festivals throughout the city and for the Broadway musical, “Gettin’ The Band Back Together” (Belasco Theatre).
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Charlie is dedicated to shaping aspiring performers through his expertise as a musical director, helping them find their voice and thrive on stage.
Charlie Yokom is a NYC-based music director, pianist, and educator who has performed throughout the country and world. He is the Musical Director at Broadway Rise Academy, bringing a wealth of professional experience to the program. His Broadway national touring credits include Waitress (Associate Music Director), Hairspray Associate Music Director), and Elf the Musical (Music Director/Conductor). He also served as the Music Director and Conductor for the global tour of The Sound of Music.
Up next, Charlie will be music directing the world premiere of World's Greatest Loverat the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
With over 15 years of experience as a music educator, conductor, and mentor, Charlie has worked extensively with young performers, helping them develop confidence and master the skills necessary to shine in productions ranging from school musicals to large-scale professional tours. Previously, he served as the Director of Music at St.
Joseph's School, where he developed innovative music curricula and led students to achieve notable musical accomplishments.
Beyond his work in education, Charlie is passionate about fostering musical growth in the community and has organized numerous musical events and workshops to inspire performers of all ages. He strongly believes that a foundation in the arts and the confidence to perform in front of an audience create lifelong skills that extend far beyond the stage. At Broadway Rise Academy, he strives to provide a collaborative and supportive environment where aspiring performers can develop their talents and love for musical theater.
OUR MISSION
At Broadway Rise, we are dedicated to building confidence in our students by immersing them in the world of performance. Our mission is to empower them to express their unique voices, develop their talents, and gain the self-confidence to shine in all aspects of their lives.
By providing opportunities for students to participate in theater, music, and dance, we help them develop essential life skills, such as teamwork, communication, and self-discipline. Our program is committed to fostering a supportive community where every student feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential.
By participating in our program, students learn to trust their instincts, embrace their uniqueness, and grow into confident, capable individuals.
