Stephanie Wieland

Artistic Director, City at Peace-Los Angeles

 

Stephanie spent the past eight years working as an actor, director, and educator in the Midwest and on the West Coast. She joined City at Peace-Los Angeles in October 2005, and has served as the Artistic Director since June 2006.

 

Before coming to L.A., Stephanie lived in Chicago, where she studied at the prestigious Theatre School, DePaul University, and received her B.F.A. in Acting in 1999. Following graduation, she performed in a number of local theatre productions and also spent time working as a casting director for many independent films, including The Rest of Your Life, Winner of the Best Comedy Award at the NY Independent Film Festival. Stephanie served as the Associate Artistic Director for Scrap Mettle SOUL, where she co-directed three original works, including The Whole World Gets Well, which won the organization the Presidential Point of Light Award.

 

Stephanie spent two seasons assistant directing at the Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts, an international educational arts program where teenagers conceptualize, develop, and perform original musical theatre productions. It was during her time at Lovewell that Stephanie’s passion for working with young people blossomed.

 

In Los Angeles, Stephanie has directed workshops for teens with partners such as The Southern California Foster Family and Adoption Agency, St. Anne’s Home for Girls, The Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District, and the California Family Health Council’s Focus on Youth Conference. She has directed plays at The Ruby Theatre, The McCadden Theatre, and was a guest director for the Ruskin Theatre’s Café Play Series.

 

She is inspired daily by the teens at City at Peace and is grateful to have the chance to work with them to use theatre as a tool to create change in our city. stephanie@cpnational.org

 

 

Anwar Shariff

Assistant Director, City at Peace-Los Angeles

 

Anwar Shariff is a native of San Diego, CA. He attended college at UCLA, where he was introduced to theater. After taking several theater classes, Anwar landed lead roles in The Dutchman and The River Niger. While in college, Anwar co-founded the Umoja Project, a campus organization that taught inner-city youth how to initiate community service projects. After graduation, he began working with E.Q.O.P. (Equal Opportunity Productions), through which he got the opportunity to work with youth through theater in Johannesburg, South Africa. He then moved to New York City and landed lead roles in two student films, Kofe and A Late Night Dance. He also began working in the NYC public school system teaching theater arts with the program Young Audiences New York. Returning to California, he starred on VH1’s Kept, a reality show; landed a role on ABC Family Channel’s drama, Lincoln Heights; and was an extra in the L.A. Opera’s Porgy and Bess. He recently traveled to Seoul, Korea to teach theater and English. He is extremely excited to be working with City at Peace, as his work with youth through theater continues.

 

 

Malcolm Cross

Musical Director, City at Peace-Los Angeles

 

Malcolm Cross, Bsc Mus, was born in the UK and graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. As a songwriter/producer, he has enjoyed international success through his own group Morello and through his work’s placement in movies, popular TV shows and commercials. Through his work as an in-demand studio and touring musician (credits include The Wallflowers, Pete Yorn and Spiritualized), he has a wealth of experience of bands and ‘live’ musicianship. He held the position of Music Director/Composer for the award-winning ADC Theater Company, writing music for international touring versions of As You Like It and the original children's musical Hummingbirds. Most recently he has worked alongside legendary R&B music producer Kashif at the iCare Celebrity Music Camps, teaching foster teens how to write and record their own Hip Hop tracks. He is very proud to now be a part of City at Peace-Los Angeles.

 

 

Monica Rossuello

Choreographer, City at Peace-Los Angeles

 

As a choreographer, Monica Luna Rossuello, has created a number of pieces including Evolution of Woman, I Sit, Office Heroes and Paper & Soap. She has participated as Movement Director for the Rockefeller Fellows Conference CSULA Ill Eagles, and as Conference Director for Lady's Choice: Creating Your Own Element. Monica has been Artistic Director for a number of performances including a political arts installation, Pavlov's Song and a montage theater performance, Title of Show.

After graduating with a degree in Neuroscience & Behavior from Columbia University, Monica has been exploring artistry and the power of performance to transform the politics of the mind.

 

She is grateful and excited to be part of the City at Peace team and is impressed by the teens and their passion and attention to our community.