Anna Westbrook, Founder, Executive Producer Composer / Playwright, Lead Trainer and Original Cast Member
Anna is an experienced leader who has managed multiple large-scale artistic and educational programs in New England, Texas, and the Caribbean. In 2018, Anna produced Isabel and the Runaway Train in Austin, Texas, drawing a crowd of 300 audience members and collaborating with over 10 local businesses & organizations. She now leads the Isabel training programs and oversees Isabel production needs. She has been the recipient of many state and private grants, including several Community Initiatives Grants from the City of Austin’s Cultural Arts Division, and a Q-Rental Subsidy Grant from the Creative Fund. Anna is a recipient of the City of Austin’s prestigious Artist Access Program, and will be bringing Isabel to life onstage in April 2022.
Prior to pursuing her theatre career, she published several children’s books, started her own educational company, and she managed relationships with over 40 businesses who used her two published children's books and associated lessons. Anna has written curriculum on Dominican-Haitian Relations that has been published by the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at NYU. She has a B. A. in Music with a specialization in Composition from Connecticut College. You can learn more about Anna on her website.
To ask questions about Isabel training needs, check out our training page or send Anna an email.
Fernando Velez, Production Manager, Trainer and Original Cast Member
Fern Velez graduated from The University of Texas with a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology. He has 12 years of theater experience, as an actor, director, and technical director. He strives to use the arts to create social change. He has worked as a Policy Analyst at the Texas State Capitol. He currently leads the Isabel and the Runaway Train Production Team, which includes organizing live productions, writing and editing video training content and speaking at advocacy events. He also co-trains with Anna Westbrook during the touring Isabel Sexual Maltreatment Response Certification. In addition, he is a co - founder of Isabel’s umbrella organization Reimagine Normal, PBC.
To ask questions about production or training needs, send Fern an email.
Bella Rockman (aka BRock), Consulting Mental Health Professional
Neuropsychotherapist & Mental Health Media Correspondent, Junice Isabella Rockman, known as Bella or "B-Rock", uses her time spent in law school, experience working in newsrooms & Clinical Brain-Based training, to better understand clients’ perspectives. She integrates EMDR, CBT, & Relational Trauma Recovery models into her work. Her experiences living & studying abroad in over 17 countries, offers her widely recognized inter-cultural, global, compassionate, yet direct approach.
www.jrocktherapyinstitute.com
Instagram: @jrocktherapy
Mykkaela Garcia, Online Community Coordinator and Original Cast Member
Since being cast in the original production of Isabel and the Runaway Train in 2018 as Isabel, Myk has been a part of the Isabel community in more ways than one. From recording the Isabel cast album in 2019 when she was still in college to becoming officially a part of the team the year after graduating in 2020, she’s been around town! You can find Myk in charge of our social media accounts, leading our student internships, and helping Anna produce projects for the Isabel community. When she’s not working on all things Isabel, Myk is a working actress in Central Texas doing anything from staged musicals to TV shows on streaming services and cable. You can also find her in our newest on demand webinar! Maybe one day you’ll see her on your favorite show! Check out her instagram @mykkae_a
Ansel Lowry, Creative Director
Ansel is an Austin-based artist with specialties in creative direction and creative writing/playwriting. By day, Ansel works as a screenwriter for a cybersecurity education company. By night, she’s Isabel and the Runaway Train’s creative director…and also sometimes by day. Though her two specialties are writing and directing, Ansel enjoys anything centered around creative collaboration. She’s extremely passionate about storytelling and the power it has to change people’s lives for the better.
Jennifer Crump, Technical Director and Lighting Designer
Jennifer has been on Team Isabel since its founding in 2018. She is currently the Technical Director and Lighting Designer for the theatrical production. She has been working in the Live Entertainment and Events industry for about 15 years now.
"My identity has always been wrapped up in my craft as a lighting designer. When I am designing light, I treat it as if I am painting with watercolors. Watercolor is very similar to lighting. The artist has to build everything up in layers to see the final picture. During a show, we want to engage the audience by layering in the different pieces of the story so that they leave the theatre with empathy, understanding, and inspiration." If you would like to view some of Jennifer’s work, please visit her website.
To ask questions about technical needs, send Jennifer an email.