Our People

Courtney Laine Self

Director of Theatre Arts and Technology

Courtney has been the Director of Theatre Arts and Technology at NJIT since November 2023 and is excited to be working with such a fantastic program and group of students. She has been a freelance professional director/choreographer based out of NYC since 2013. Favorite directing credits include the regional theatre premiere of Fun Home at Millbrook Playhouse, the World Premiere of Sheila and Moby for Flying V Theatre in DC, winning the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival at The Vineyard Theatre, and the World Premiere of The Tunnel Play in the NY International Fringe Festival. She has directed and/or choreographed at regional theatres and universities all over the country in addition to her work in NYC.

Courtney was a founding artist-in-residence for 92NY’s Music Theatre Development Lab. Her Associate Director credits include Oliver! at the Goodspeed Opera House, the Broadway Workshop of Poupelle of Chimneytown at Signature Theatre, and Proof of Love Off-Broadway co-produced by New York Theatre Workshop and Audible Theatre. She was also the SDCF Observer for the pre-Broadway NYC workshop of Big Fish with Susan Stroman.

Previously, Courtney was a professor of Theatre and Dance at Southern Illinois University, the Director of Education at Duluth Playhouse in MN, and was a teaching artist with Broadway Jr. through NYCDOE’s Theatre Department and the Arthur Miller Foundation Program, among others. She has presented at several national theatre and dance conferences such as ATHE, SETC, MATC, and NDEO and published a chapter in the Routledge Press Publication, 50 Key Stage Musicals.

MFA: Directing, Southern Illinois University; BFA: Music Theatre, The Hartt School; BA: English, specializing in Dramatic Literature, University of Hartford. courtneylaineself.com

Rodney Reyes

Associate Director of Theatre Arts and Technology

Rodney Reyes is a versatile playwright, filmmaker, and theatre artist with a dynamic career spanning stage and screen. He has written and directed plays showcased at esteemed venues like NYC’s Gene Frankel Theatre and Abingdon Theatre, and co-founded Cuchipinoy Productions, producing over 20 works in NJ and NYC. Transitioning to film, Rodney launched Fictional Films Productions in 2013, debuting with Not Fade Away, which won Best Short Film at the International Film Festival Manhattan. His latest film, Pangloss, claimed victory at Kevin Smith’s Smodcastle 37-Hour Film Challenge in 2024. Holding a BA in Theatre Arts from Rutgers University and an MFA in Film from Vermont College of Fine Arts, Rodney continues to write, direct, and produce impactful works. He also nurtures emerging talent as Associate Director of the Theatre Arts & Technology program at NJIT.

Janelle Zapata Castellano

Administrative Assistant

Janelle Zapata Castellano is a Boricua Producer, Director, Applied Theatre Facilitator and Arts Administrator. She is currently a Master's Student, seeking an MA in Applied Theatre, which uses theatrical practices to educate in classrooms and communities. She is the Co-Artistic Director of Step1 Theatre. Her work has been seen at The Flea, The Clemente, and Joe's Pub. She actively works towards creating a theatrical landscape that is culturally competent, consent forward, and trauma informed through her directing and facilitating, as well as through consulting for other theatrical organizations.

Raymond Gintner

Manager of Theatre Operations

Ray has been doing theatre at NJIT since 1992, building sets, hanging lights, and occasionally getting the sound working. He is a tinkerer, deeply learning how things work and fixing them when they stop working. His art is lighting design, co-designing almost eighty theatre productions for NJIT. Ray took the lighting design lead after his collaborator passed away, designing light for every show from 2021 through Spring 2024. Recently Ray has focused on Operations. He spends time helping guest designers through the theatre’s technical traps. He guides student groups through the production of their shows, assists administrative departments with Student Orientations, myriad award ceremonies, and the occasional educational program. He fosters a friendly and productive environment for the Newark community, helping to mount dance recitals, concerts, plays, film shoots, film screenings, and more. The students are his motivator. Young adults change quite rapidly in the four years from freshman to senior, and Ray finds working with them, mentoring them, and helping them discover who they want to be as an adult to be very rewarding.

Daniel Douress

Theatre Technician

Daniel is a multi-talented theatre technician specializing in stage management and technical direction. With a strong background in carpentry and a love for all aspects of production. His calm demeanor and ability to handle any situation under pressure makes him an invaluable member of any production team. Daniel graduated from Kean University with a BFA in Theatre Design and Technology. Danny has been an AEA Stage Manager for the past 17 years and in that time has toured with 7 TheatreWorks/USA productions as well as several PushCart Players tours. He has been apart of the NJIT Theatre Program for 11 years. Danny has also worked for Premier Stages as an intern, master carpenter, assistant technical director and production manager. With these years of experience in the industry he has developed a keen eye for detail and a strong sense of organization.

Emily Edwards

University Lecturer

Emily Edwards (she/her) has worked with theatre students at NJIT, Rutgers - Newark, Brooklyn College, NYU, Columbia University, Westminster Choir College, and the National Theater Institute. Originally from Oregon, she has a dance and movement background and has performed both nationally and internationally. These days, Emily focuses on directing, intimacy direction, and fight direction. She has worked with many NYC theater companies and institutions in various capacities including Lincoln Center, The Public, The Playwrights Realm, HERE Arts, LaMama, New Georges, The Flea, The Brick, Vampire Cowboy Theatre Company, Midnight Radio Show, and more. Emily was also the managing director of modern dance company Gehring Dancetheatre for 10 years in NYC. This will be Emily’s 3rd year at NJIT as full-time faculty, and 15th year as a member of the NJIT Theatre community. Last season she directed and choreographed the NJIT production of Legally Blonde. Emily believes in meeting students where they are and helping them to level up through empathy and encouragement. MFA - Directing, Brooklyn College. Associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Union.

Currently Teaches: Living Theatre, From Page to Stage, Acting 2, Directing 1, Theatre History 1, Theatre History 2, Theatre and Technology, Acting Fundamentals for Animators (Digital Design Dept.)

Louis Kornfeld

Adjunct Professor

Louis Kornfeld has been lucky enough to make improv and the teaching of improv his full time career since 2006, with classes that emphasize simplicity, patience and honesty. He's been a proud member of NYC's Magnet Theater since it first opened its doors, and has acted and toured all across the country, including a stint aboard the NCL Gem performing with Second City Theatricals. He can be seen making up a new hour-long play each week with his duo partner Rick Andrews in 'Kornfeld & Andrews' ("Two improv masters" according to the NY Times!). In addition, he's also an award winning writer with stories frequently featured on The Truth podcast. You might have seen him in some. commercials, too!

Jonathan Zencheck

Adjunct Professor

Jonathan is a born and raised New Yorker. With roots in the theater world, coming up through the off broadway ranks as a technical director and production manager, he switched gears in 2018, using his theater skills to transition into building theme parks as a Project Manager. After 4 years with Universal Studios in Orlando, he returned home to New York City where he currently works as a Creative Producer and Production Manager for guest experiences in the Museum, office, and theatrical spaces.