Rebecca Drew (Creative Sparks, Director) is excited to be a part of Hardscrabble Theater’s children’s program! While Rebecca has been seen performing across Long Island, Queens, and Manhattan and even recently appeared on the Hardscrabble stage in their first ever musical, her day job consists of being a NYCDOE Special Education Teacher. Rebecca received her MSed in Special Education 1-6 and BSed in General Education 1-6 from St. John’s University. The combination of Rebecca’s professional experience alongside her theatrical experience over the years is one Rebecca is happy to bring to the Creative Sparks program. 

Native to Brooklyn and residing in Long Island, Mahi is an Indian-American actress who juggles being a wife, mother, teacher, as well as working in theater as a director, music director, and choreographer. Mahi has been performing in skits and playing instruments all throughout her childhood and adult life. She got a taste of real acting in high school, when her drama teacher introduced her to Stanislavski and sense memory. Mahi’s love for teaching brought her to Long Island University in Brooklyn, where she studied Theatre, Music, Education, and English Literature– focusing on writing and text analysis. She worked as an editor on numerous projects, including Naked I Came, a full-length novel by Ian Kumar (Published on Amazon, 2015), and as the sole editor & dramaturg (2018-2020) for Two Princes, a full-length musical. Mahi has worked as an actor, director, music director, and choreographer for Studio Theatre in Lindenhurst’s Youth Theatre Program, Kenwal Day Camp in Melville, Merrick Theatre and Center for the Arts, as well as various main stage productions. Mahi currently works for the NYC Department of Education as a Paraprofessional, having completed all current mandatory state training regarding working with children, recognizing signs of autism & abuse, as well as CPR and seizure training. She has a lot of experience working with children of all ages (Pre-K to high school), classifications, and special needs. Whether the children have experience with theatre or whether they are just beginning, Mahi aims to use her professional background, as well as her acting experience and interpersonal skills to create a warm, welcoming, and trusting environment for students to grow, thrive, and cultivate their abilities to their highest potential, while being safe and having lots of fun!

Leah Raquel Petraglia is a Long Island based singer/songwriter, music director, performer, and a cappella enthusiast. After graduating from Hofstra University with a degree in Music Business, Leah co-founded Black to Gold, an award-winning professional a cappella group that has performed at major festivals across the Northeast. She has also worked as a clinician, leading workshops and masterclasses on songwriting, arranging, and group performance. As a songwriter and solo artist, Leah earned a 2024 CARA nomination for Best Original Song and continues to release music in the pop/R&B space. She also performs with Broadway Goes A Cappella while pursuing opportunities in the musical theatre space. Most recently, she music directed Hardscrabble’s production of Disenchanted and is excited to be a part of this production of The Rainbow Fish Musical as the Music Director!

Rebecca Drew
Director
​Grades 3-5

Leah Raquel Petraglia
​Musical Director
Grades 6-12

Alexandra Thomas graduated with her BFA in Theatre Arts Performance from Hofstra University. Since graduating in 2010, she has worked on stage, back stage, teaching, and private coaching. Previous classes have been taught at Merrick Theatre & Center for the Arts, South Shore Theatre Experience, and HAFTR High School. She has also helped her students to win numerous awards at the Hofstra University Shakespeare Scene Competition. She loves to teach cold reading, audition prep, Shakespeare interpretation, scene breakdowns, acting through song, and more!

Rita Sarli is an actor, director, and coach who has spent over 10 years sharing her passion for theater with students ages 4 to 18 at various Long Island theaters and high school programs. With a knack for bringing stories to life, she has directed shows like Once Upon a Mattress, The Mad Ones, The Breakfast Club, RENT Jr., The Jungle Book, and Finding Nemo the Musical. Rita has also created and directed cabarets and musical revues, celebrating the joy of performance. She’s dedicated to inspiring young performers and spreading the magic of storytelling wherever she goes.

Mahi Singh

Director

​Grades Pre K - 2

Danny Higgins
Director
​Grades 6-12

Rita Sarli​

Tina's passion for music and performing has always been a driving force in her life. With a background as a music education major, she pursued her love for music by teaching students from Pre-K to 8th grade, where she found immense joy in sharing her passion with young learners. Her dedication to the art form extended beyond the classroom, as she performed in numerous musicals and directed productions for students of all ages. Tina's experience in both performing and directing has allowed her to cultivate a deep understanding and appreciation for live theater. Now, she is thrilled to be a part of the Hardscrabble Theater, where she can continue to share her love for the performing arts and bring the magic of live theater to audiences of all ages.

CHILDREN'S THEATER
​BOARD ADVISORS

Alexandra Thomas
​Program Director

Danny Higgins is a Long Island-based NYSCA-sponsored artist who has been doing theater for twenty-four years. He has directed and produced well over eighty productions, featuring playwrights like Miller, Williams, Albee, Vogel, Kushner, Ruhl, Shakespeare, Euripides, and many more. He received a AA from Nassau Community College and is currently pursuing his BA in Theater at Brooklyn College. He is also a Theater Tech Consultant for the Great Neck School District.

CHILDREN'S THEATER STAFF

Tina Lauro