ABOUT MSTDA
The Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance has offered music, theatre and dance training along with performance opportunities for all ages for over 35 years in the Roosevelt Island community.
Our Mission
MSTDA nourishes creativity by providing high quality music, theatrical and dance training as well as performing opportunities to everyone in our diverse community. We offer every person, child or adult, the opportunity to participate in the arts without discrimination due to race, color, national origin, sex including gender and orientation, cultural background, socio-economic status, age, ability, or disability. With a robust scholarship program no one is turned away for financial reasons.
“What we want to create for children are safety nets, places where children can build up their resilience, self esteem, feel loved, and feel wanted. It has been amazing for me to see some of my patients who I knew had experienced trauma or neglect in their biological home, really emerge on stage at MSTDA. I can’t tell you how important this is. MSTDA is like another family. It’s more than about performing, it’s about belonging. It’s about people telling you that you did a great job.”
— Dr. Katherine Grimm, Roosevelt Island Pediatrician
Kristi Towey
Executive Director
Kimbirdlee Fadner
Artistic Director
Gina Enock
Board President
Joanne Eichel
Board Vice-President
Tanya Starace
Board Secretary
Teaching Staff:
Jeanne Castagnaro, Kay Clark, Mary Di Mauro, Michael Eliran, Steven Eng, Jonathan Fadner, Kimbirdlee Fadner, Makenzie Gomez, Ashleigh Herndon, Yukari Ikegaya, Makiko Ishimori, Taylor Lansey, Jacqueline Lucid, Debra Orenstein, Haley Ostir, Barbara Parker, Joselito Placio, Holly Roberts, Pena Verde, Mark Waite, Asha Yates
Supporting Staff: Zackry Childers, Michael Hicks, Rachel Reuben, Debra Ochsenreiter
Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance programs are made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Public Purpose Funds.
Special thanks to MSTDA official photographer Irina Hage of Irina Island Images