Our Team
Our entire team here at Off The Lane consider ourselves lucky to be surrounded by such dedication and passion. From the Board of Directors, Co-Chairs and Program Managers, our volunteers and Advisory Board, everyone is invested in providing a communal home-base and safe space for creative development. Click on each team member’s headshot to learn more about them!
Kristal Mallookis
President
Originally from Littleton, Colorado, Kristal graduated from University of Northern Colorado and moved to NYC to pursue dance. Very soon after moving to the city, she started putting her entrepreneurship roots to use by working side gigs in between taking dance class and auditioning. Being able to find work for her actor/dancer/singer friends was exciting and fulfilling. In 2007 Mustard Lane launched and her vision of creating a transparent company with a safe and fun work environment came to life. Kristal is thrilled to bring that same passion to Off The Lane and the artistic community as whole.
Jillian Schiralli
Vice President
Jillian graduated from Ball State University with a BA in Musical Theatre. Having grown up in the theatre world, she was thrilled when she booked the National Tour of Cats, quickly after graduation and thus began the big move to NYC. After 15 years in the city, she now calls herself a true New Yorker! Soon after her move to the Big Apple, she started working with Mustard Lane in-between performing gigs. Now with over 10 years under her belt with the company, she works full-time as the Director of Special events for Mustard Lane, as well as the Event Coordinator for Meaux Space, the event space where ML’s headquarter is located. She is passionate about helping create beautiful events, whether at Meaux Space, Mustard Lane or for Off the Lane. She is thrilled to bring her knowledge of the “NYC streets” to the community of Off the Lane!
Christine Schermerhorn
Secretary & Mentorship Chair
With experience from hosting to working on a Nickelodeon sitcom, Christine is a seasoned professional. Her work ethic and attitude have carried her through New York City, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Over the years, you may have seen her as a guest joker on “Impractical Jokers” (TruTV), as Calvin on “Henry Danger” (Nickelodeon), as Jamie on “The Rookie” (ABC), or as Valerie on Seasons 1 and 2 of “Puppy Place” (Apple TV+). You’ve likely heard her as the voice of Bodie, the virtual helper and spokes-voice for “Sounds True One.” She is also the main antagonist of the critically acclaimed and award winning game “Thirsty Suitors” (Outerloop Games & Annapurna Interactive). Everyday is she grateful for the privileged life she has, as many transgender women are underrepresented and at high risk of discrimination and danger. Her passion for Off The Lane comes from the responsibility to help others since she would not be where she is without the help of those before her.
Gerome Samante
Board Member
Gerome is originally from Hong Kong and has been in NYC for 11 years. He is now the producer for the iconic theatre-nightclub, The Box and has been in the production world for over 10 years. Gerome studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and participated in Musicals, Shakespeare and more
Gerome is extremely honored to be part of the board of Off The Lane. He can’t wait to be a resource and to help educate the younger generation of artists making their transition to New York City.
Ayana Major Bey
BOOST Co-Chair
Ayana Major Bey is a voice-over artist, actress, mentor/coach and podcaster. She is a NJ native, who is of Guyanese Heritage, and has loved the performing arts and theatre since she was a little kid. Select stage credits include: “Dreamgirls”, “Hairspray,” “Sister Act”, “Little Shop of Horrors”, and “After Midnight”. Select voice over credits include: Sephora, Google Chromebook, Starbucks, Ally bank, Square, and Dropbox. BFA Musical Theatre; Montclair State university, MA in Acting; The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She is the Host and Exec Prod. of The Artist Pivot Podcast, a bi-weekly show highlighting pivots and life lessons from the perspective of artists, those who work in and around the arts and arts educators. She is also an avid traveler and has visited 27 countries thus far. Ayana wants to see artists not just survive but thrive and through the BOOST program she is able to help them develop their goals.
Jillian Vitko
BOOST Co-Chair
Jillian Vitko is an actor/singer/musician/writer/filmmaker/comedian based in New York. She performs on the weekly show On the Spot (Broadway Comedy Club) as well as the monthly show True Crime the Musical (The Players Theatre), which she co-created with her comedy duo Beautiful Dreamers Comedy. She premiered her solo show Synesthesia the Musical at Edinburgh Fringe Fest in 2019 (PopDust Stand-Out Show) and has adapted the script into the screenplay Synesthesia Story (Best Screenplay – FFTG Awards, Brno Film Fest, Robinson Film Awards). The film (currently in pre-production) has been fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas. The first single from the film, Color Me Crazy, is streaming on all music platforms, as is her EP, Glimmers. Her short film HoneyDough has won awards such as Best Dark Comedy, Best Actress, and Best Writer at various film festivals. You can catch more of Jillian’s film work on Netflix, TUBI, Amazon, and more. On stage, she originated the roles of Hannah in Scar Tissue (Playwright Horizons, Connelly Theatre) and Brooklyn in Serving Time the Musical (Royal Family Theatre). As an actor, she’s represented by Glitter Talent Agency and DreamMaker Talent Management. She also works as a writer/producer with 99 Cents Productions, musical improv instructor, tutor for various subjects, video captioner, and, of course, Co-Chair for the BOOST Program. She’s been living the multi-hyphenate life for many years, and she strongly believes in artists creating opportunities for themselves! She’s so thankful to be able to help people branch out on their artistic journey at Off The Lane. More at: jillianvitko.com
Sophie Brubaker
Producing & Programming Director
Sophie Brubaker (@sophiebrubaker) is a bubbly California-raised, NYC-based producer, performer and event host! Sophie graduated from the University of California at Davis with a BA in Theatre and Dance and a BS in Human Development, and there she also began an internship with Off the Lane. Since moving to New York City, she fell in love with creating imaginative, social spins on producing and performing in theatre. She started the ColLab program at Off the Lane in 2022, which specializes in developing interactive and interdisciplinary live performance work, and she is a co-founder of In Confidence, an organization that produces secret, interactive shows in unlikely places. Sophie is also an actor in The Murder Mystery Company, and she performs in and hosts interactive shows in NYC regularly. Sophie is ecstatic about growing Off the Lane’s reach in this city by meeting artists where they are at and continuing to develop new, communal work!! www.sophiebrubaker.com
Rachel Sabo-Hedges
Artistic Director & School Partnerships Chair
Rachel Sabo-Hedges (she/they) is a multi-hyphenate director, developer, and producer raised in Boone, North Carolina. She first connected with Off The Lane through their mentorship program during her senior year at Western Carolina University. After moving to New York, Rachel became the associate director for Tony Award nominee Hunter Foster. Since then, she has continued to associate direct while also directing and developing new work throughout NYC. Coming from a family of theatre artists and performers, Rachel was immersed in the industry from a young age as a child actor—storytelling runs in her blood. She gravitates toward work that centers hope and love, and she’s often found gathering artists to explore new scripts or uncovering the life stories of strangers. She’s drawn to theatre that is muscular, surprising, and a little bit magical.
Mindy Cooper
Advisory Board
Mindy Cooper thrives when collaborating with passionate, creative minds. And this is supremely and beautifully underscored and embraced at OffTheLane.org. She always enjoys working with individuals driven by purpose, open to growth, and committed to empowering emerging artists and the arts. And OTL’s mission to support, nurture and mentor young artists resonates deeply with her artistic visions. She finds deep fulfillment in OTL’s vibrant community-centered dedication to making the arts more accessible and sustainable for new generations of creatives. And looks forward to all the wonderful work ahead!
As a Director, Choreographer and Performer in the Broadway community for over 4 decades, her passion for new works has always steered her career. Starting as a performer on Broadway in Chicago (Original Revival Cast),Titanic (Original Cast), Beauty And The Beast, and Song & Dance, she segued to creating works early in her career. For Broadway- Dracula- The Musical, Wrong Mountain. For Off-Broadway/ National Touring-50 Shades-The Musical Parody, The Eternal Space, Mars/Venus Live, Soul Doctor, Five Course Love, Hoi Polloi, Being Seen (FringeNYC), Deployed (NYMF), and multiple Broadway By The Years (Town Hall). Most recent Readings and Commissions- Open, Stay The Musical (OTL), Mothers(NNPN), My Friend Hafiz, The Thing About Time, and Ocean In A Teacup. Her extensive regional work has won multiple Broadway World Awards, Bay Area Theater Critics Awards, and Theatre Bay Area Awards. She is Stage Director of Ranked, whose trajectory is followed in My So-Called High School Rank, an HBO Documentary. Multi-Media works include Long Time Coming, Tomorrow I May Be Far Away (with Rita Dove), collaborations with Recording Artist/NPR host Lara Downes, Still Will Be Heard (Peak Performances), Songs From Eagle Pond with composer Graham Sobelman, and Juliet And Romeo with Writers/Composers Paul Gordon and Curtis Moore. Other works include NBC’s Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and numerous commercials, benefits and corporate shows around the world. She is Co-Founder/Co-Director of Catalyst: A Theatre Think Tank a new works festival. mindycooper.com @mcoopergrenke