Staff

Heather Lanza (she/her), Producing Artistic Director
heather.lanza@nextstoptheatre.org

Heather is a NYC/DMV-based director, producer, and arts educator. Directorially, Heather focuses on new play development and devising original new works. Her pieces have been premiered and workshopped at Juilliard, HERE Arts Center, Epic Theater Ensemble, Keen Company, Waterwell, The Gallery Players, The Davenport, NY International Fringe, The Paradise Factory, Access Theater, The Kraine, Theater for a New City, The Players Theater, Bleecker Street Theater, Emerging Artists Theater, Magic Future Box, Manhattan Repertory Theater, and many others. Regionally, her works have been seen at Virginia Children’s Theater, Berkshire Fringe, Redhouse Arts Center, and the John Drew Theatre at Guild Hall. Heather is the Producing Artistic Director of NextStop Theatre in Herndon, VA. Heather is also the co-founder of the NYC-based Making it Happen Productions, which focuses on the voices of emerging artists who seek to use theater to engage audiences in dialogue and promote change.

Along with directing, Heather is actively engaged in Education and Applied Theater, previously serving as the Artistic Director of the Waterwell Drama Program and director of Education for Waterwell. As a teaching artist, Heather has worked for organizations such as the Creative Arts Team’s Youth Theater, Waterwell, Harlem Children’s Zone, and CUNY/Project Rwanda. SDCF Observership Class Member, Julie Taymor World Theater Fellowship Finalist, WP Lab Semi-Finalist, and Drama League Fellowship finalist. She is an alumnae of the La Mama Director’s Symposium and Lark Literary Wing. Heather holds a BA in Directing from Fordham University and an MA in Applied Theater from CUNY School of Professional Studies. Member: Stage Directors and Choreographers Union. For more info, visit her website at www.heatherlanza.com.

Vicki Kile (she/her), Executive Director
vicki.kile@nextstoptheatre.org

Vicki Kile has traveled a unique path to her current position as Executive Director of NextStop Theatre. In her previous career, Vicki spent over 30 years working in corporate finance and accounting. She developed an extensive background in strategic program and project management, system and business process re-engineering, and change management. Her professional expertise and experience eventually led to her appointment as a Vice President within the Finance Division of Freddie Mac, one of the largest corporations in America. Vicki was first introduced to NextStop Theatre in 2014 and quickly began to fall in love with the theatre and NextStop, in particular. Vicki was asked to join the board of directors in 2015 and was then elected President of the Board in 2016. In 2021, after more than six years of exceptional volunteer service and in particular, after providing critical leadership to help guide NextStop through the extreme financial and logistical challenges of the pandemic, Vicki agreed to step down from the board so that she could be appointed to the newly created position of Executive Director. In her new role (and career), Vicki is excited and eager to use her extensive financial and management skills to help re-build and further strengthen NextStop into an organization that is able to both entertain and serve our community long into the future.

Tomoko Azuma (she/her), Director of Development
tomoko.azuma@nextstoptheatre.org

An experienced arts management and fundraising professional with over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit field, Tomoko is delighted to be a part of NextStop Theatre Company. She brings knowledge, experience, and skills from her previous roles at the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras, where, as Executive Director, she helped create, systematize, and implement a successful development plan for the organization. Her experience also encompasses artistic operations and administration, finance and budget management, membership recruitment, and event planning. Ms. Azuma has served as a grant reviewer for various arts commissions and councils in the Washington Metropolitan area, and served locally in Herndon as a Board member and volunteer at small nonprofit organizations.

Jessi Shull (she/her), Director of Education
jessi.shull@nextstoptheatre.org

Jessi Shull has been a performer and educator in the DC metro area for 9 years and could not be more excited to begin this new adventure at NextStop Theatre! She is also a teaching artist with the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts and Creative Cauldron (Falls Church), in addition to working as a choreographer for several Fairfax County schools. When she’s not teaching or choreographing, she loves to be onstage herself. Favorite past roles include Lucy in Bright Star (Reston Community Players), Jerusha Abbott in Daddy Long Legs (Creative Cauldron), and Claire in Ordinary Days (NoVA Nightsky Theater). Jessi earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Elon University where she also completed an Undergraduate Honors Fellowship in the discipline of theatre dance history and preservation. She currently lives in Sterling with her husband, Josh, and their two kitty cats- Lilo and Moo.

John “Jack” Wilson (he/him), Technical Director
jack.wilson@nextstoptheatre.org

Jack Wilson is an accomplished technical director who has worked at NextStop since 2022. He has also worked at other professional theaters in our area including Mosaic Theatre and 1st Stage. Trained as a fine artist in 2D design and with extensive experience in carpentry and theatrical/film production, Jack brings a wealth of talent, skills, and creativity to his work at NextStop. He started his career in residential carpentry and moved into theater to combine his interests in the creative arts with craftmanship. Jack also has an avid interest and background in film.

Emma Smith (she/her), Lead Electrician
emma.smith@nextstoptheatre.org

Emma E. Smith is honored and delighted to be a part of the NextStop Staff as their Lead Electrician. She grew up loving the DMV theatre scene, including seeing The Wolves at NextStop. During academic breaks from undergrad she did electrician work in the area. She graduated from Baylor University with a BFA in Theatre Design and Technology and came back home excited to work in this theatre scene! Her first show with NextStop was The 39 Steps (Stage Manager) and worked as an electrician on multiple shows in the 2023-2024 Season. She's grateful to have joined this wonderful staff as Lead Electrician during Reefer Madness. Past work experience includes The Young Actor's Theatre (Tallahassee, FL), Rorschach Theatre, Breakout Theatre Company with TheTheatreLab, Prologue Theatre, Keegan Theatre, Signature Theatre, The Young Festival Stage (Waco, TX), Baylor University Opera Theatre, and over 14 mainstage productions at Baylor University Theatre.

Jasmine Proctor (she/her), Production & Casting Coordinator
jasmine.proctor@nextstoptheatre.org

Jasmine was first introduced to NextStop as an actor, in her role as the Governess during their 2020 production of The Turn of the Screw. With several years of Administrative experience at various levels, Jasmine served previously as the DC Reads Coordinator at her alma mater The Catholic University of America, where she coordinated and handled logistics for CUA students to provide tutoring services to local DC schools. She also managed social media logistics for Canady Foundation of the Arts, an arts non-profit founded and ran by Black women, and she currently handles medical curriculum logistics and planning at Uniformed Services University. In 2023, Jasmine began an intense search to find a position where she could utilize her theatre and administrative brain. During her time at NextStop, she has assisted in all things production and casting for their seasons. In addition to her administrative work, Jasmine is a Helen Hayes nominated actor who has had the privilege of performing with Faction of Fools Theatre Company, Constellation Theatre Company, Adventure Theatre Company, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, and Flying V Theatre Company.

Rebecca Ballinger (she/her), Marketing Manager
rebecca.ballinger@nextstoptheatre.org

Rebecca has been fortunate enough to perform on the NextStop stage (and parking lot!) since 2019. Now stepping into an administrative role, she’s eager to help market the amazing work of NextStop throughout the DMV area. With over six years of experience in communications and development in the nonprofit sector, Rebecca previously served as the Communications Coordinator for The Women’s Center. She also managed communications for the Ennis Academy of Performing Arts in Ireland and was a Development Assistant with Young Playwrights’ Theatre, founded by renowned playwright Karen Zacarías. In addition to her administrative work, Rebecca is a Helen Hayes-nominated actor and has had the pleasure of performing with Solas Nua, Studio Theatre, Constellation Theatre, 1st Stage, Imagination Stage, Keegan Theatre, and Adventure Theatre.