Meet The Team

Graduated with her BA in Theatre Arts: Directing & Acting with a Costuming concentration & Fine Arts Business minor from DeSales University and has been working in all aspects of theatre ever since. After living in Philadelphia for 10 years, Kristine moved back to South Jersey and jumped right back into the performing arts community. Here she noticed a desire for reviews to acknowledge the hard-working and extremely talented theatre community and decided to take matters into her own hands; thus South Jersey Theatre Critics was born.

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Mike grew up in Burlington NJ and has been a fan of theater since his Aunt took him to a small church play when he was younger. He’s seen large Broadway productions and enjoyed them, but he became a fan of local community theater while watching a production a few years ago that friends were a part of. Mike has also always enjoyed writing, and telling a good story. When he is not enjoying local community theater he is probably playing video games, eating good food with Kristine, or spending time with friends and family. Mike is excited for the opportunity to join SJTC and share the magic of not only theater, but local community theater with others. He feels it is important that everyone knows how easily they can find good, quality shows right in their own South Jersey backyard. It is also important that everyone knows how much work and passion go into manufacturing these many entertaining and essential productions.

Originally from Winslow, NJ, Brian recently moved back to the area after living in Manhattan for the last 10 years. During that time he has been seen on various national tours, cruise lines, dozens of regional contracts, and everything in between. He is the CEO and a talent agent for The Hell's Kitchen Agency, a New York based agency having placed over two dozen actors in various Broadway shows, as well theatrical endeavors spanning all 7 continents. When approached to review with SJTC, Brian jumped at the opportunity to not only celebrate the artists he's surrounded by, but perpetuate dialogue around the high caliber of Theatre in this community.

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(She/Her) is honored to be a part of South Jersey Theatre Critics. She joined at the start of 2024 and has found a great joy in supporting the arts locally while utilizing her writing minor. Aimee is an elementary music teacher and a music director/performer with 20+ music direction credits and 50+ performance credits. Aimee also is working on creating her own musical and is thrilled to have so many different works and writing styles to learn from. Her favorite part of reviewing is getting to see performances that she otherwise might not have gotten to see and sharing the evening with her fiance. 

An actor, a writer, an occasional director, a baker, a soap and candle maker, a cat mom, a lover of all things Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars, a MBMBAMino, a D&D-er, and the vice president of Burlington County Footlighters, where she's spent the better part of 17 years. Alex shares an apartment with her 2 cats, Linus and Agnes (only one of them is well-behaved), and her wonderful fiance Matt (he is mostly well-behaved) who she met during a production of "Dead Man's Cell Phone". She thought he was mean and unfriendly at the time and, naturally, as every love story goes, a year later, they were dating.

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A full time student at Long Island University, Cassidy plans to receive her BFA in musical theatre. She has been performing since she was 5 years old, and has worked at theatres across South Jersey, including Haddonfield Plays and Players, the Ritz, and Voorhees Theatre Company. Cassidy has worked with Kristine a couple times and was honored when she asked her to be a part of her review committee! 

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Amber Kusching is proud to be a reviewer with South Jersey Theatre Critics! Amber is a South Jersey-based playwright, director, actress and theatre reviewer. In the past ten years, Amber has been a part of over 200 shows in the local community, Philadelphia, NYC, and virtually. Amber holds a degree in theatre from Montclair State University. At 30 years old, Amber has directed more plays than years she’s been alive and she has written more than 100 plays ranging from one-minute to full length pieces. Amber is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and is also a regional reviewer for BroadwayWorld.com. When Amber is not working on a show or writing, she enjoys bowling with her mom, building Legos with her fiancé Tony, and spending time with their cats Gatsby and Cleocatra. 

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Stephen Kreal started in theater in 2018, and has been in numerous productions since that time. Recent credits include “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” (Schmendiman) and “Doubt: A Parable” (Father Flynn), both at Masquerade Theater. He played Phil Bennett in  “Epic Proportions” at Playmasters Theater Workshop (September 2023), “Sordid Lives”(2023) and “The Shadow Box”(2022) at Haddonfield Plays and Players, “Natural History” performed at BCF in 2021, and the role of Mr. Wilson in “Harvey” at Village Playbox (2020). He is a local public school teacher with two adult daughters (Abigail and Victoria) and his son-in-law, Mattthew. He is in a long-term relationship with Lisa Croce. Stephen is an advocate for raising awareness about heart disease, and would like to encourage everyone, if you have not done so already, to talk to your doctor about a cardiologist consultation: “The life you save could be your own”.

Mj Smith (He/Him) is new to the New Jersey theatre scene and is so glad to have found South Jersey Theatre Critics! As an artist, actor, and now writer, he’s been thrilled at the opportunity to dive deep into the art that he has seen so far thanks to this organization and his amazing boyfriend Will Reid. After growing up in the theatre and pursuing theatre and American Sign Language at the University of Virginia, Mj has been seeking the chance to get back to it after moving to New Jersey and found that chance with South Jersey Theatre Critics! Mj is grateful to his boyfriend, Will Reid, for pushing him to apply to be a writer and supporting him through every line, and for his family and friends who have cheered him on at every moment in his life!

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April Johnson is a lifelong resident of south Jersey. She works for Exelon Corporation and has her own brand, Dope Churchy Girl, as a life coach/content creator/beauty business. April and wears various hats in the SJ Theatre scene as a performer, director, and stage manager. It is a pleasure and an honor to serve as a reviewer with South Jersey Theatre Critics. Thank you Kristine! 

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Evan Harris is a comedian and actor best known for his work with The Hotspurs!, South Jersey’s greatest improv comedy troupe. He’s been seen onstage at Haddonfield Plays & Players, The Ritz Theatre Co., Burlington County Footlighters, and Masquerade Theatre in numerous shows. It’s his passion for Theatre, Bachelor’s in English, and insatiable lust for attention that make Evan the perfect fit for writing reviews for SJTC. He would like to thank the irreplaceable and proudly gluten-free Kristine Bonaventura for the opportunity to write again.

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A South Jersey resident for over thirty years, Lori fell in love with theatre in her youth, and decades (and decades) later, her passion for the arts shows no sign of subsiding. Lori has performed in countless shows throughout her life, as well behind the scenes work doing costume design, events production, video production, graphic design, marketing, and sound design. By day, she is Temple Beth Sholom’s Communications Manager, mother of three and grandmother (Bubbe) to two gorgeous babies. Many thanks to Kristine Bonaventura for the opportunity to bring attention to the tremendously talented theatre folk here in South Jersey.

A Philadelphia based actor of stage and screen. She frequently acts in independent films which can be seen in various film festivals and on streaming services. After graduating from college Angela wanted to continue to explore her passion for theatre so she got her start in community theatre in the Delaware County theatre scene. Since the pandemic she’s primarily been acting at theatres in New Jersey. Angela is secretary of the Blue Moon Theatre in Woodstown and MTM Players based out of Kelsey Theatre in Mercer County. She is also a reviewer for NJACT. Angela is excited to review with South Jersey Theatre Critics and bring this committee across the river to Pennsylvania! As a reviewer she hopes to highlight things that the average audience member wouldn’t notice and give credit where credit is due for exceptional work! 

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A high school English teacher who has worked at Maple Shade High School for over fifteen years.  Alongside teaching, theater has always been a passion of hers.  As a teen, Lisa performed in her school shows, but as she got older, she realized she preferred to work behind the scenes as opposed to appearing onstage.  For 8 years, she directed shows at Maple Shade, with some of her recent directorial credits including Beauty and the Beast, The Addams Family, Puffs, and RENT: School Edition.  In 2019, she was asked to assistant direct The Laramie Project with Lori Howard for Maple Shade Arts Council, which ignited her interest in community theater.  She has since worked on many shows at Burlington County Footlighters and The Ritz Theatre Company and has loved every minute of it!  Currently, Lisa is stage managing Gint, set to open in June at The Ritz.  When she found out about South Jersey Theatre Critics, she knew that writing reviews would be a great way to combine her enthusiasm for both literacy and theatre arts.  In her first year as a reviewer, Lisa critiqued four local shows and she looks forward to many more opportunities to share amazing theatre productions with all of South Jersey!

A BFA graduate of Hofstra University’s theatre performance program, Ash Kotter finally returned to theatre in 2023 after a twelve-year hiatus of career building, mothering, and life-ing. By day, she channels her love of people problem-solving by leading Human Resources for small to mid-sized businesses (but she’s not like a regular HR, she’s a cool HR). By the light of the moon, she’s a poet, performer, and the Community Education and Outreach Officer of For The Whim Productions. She’s beyond grateful to the South Jersey theatre community and SJ Theatre Critics for bringing her into the fold with open arms. Looking forward to joining this dialogue that moves the heart of local theater to center stage.

Josh Buffington was born and raised into Theatre and always loves being around the arts. Currently enrolled at Georgian Court University for a Bachelors in Sports Management, is on the Men's Soccer team at Georgian and plays on the Esports team. He was recently on stage at Haddonfield Plays & Players. He has a strong passion for anything theatre and always will sing karaoke with his friends. Josh is happy to be a part of this lovely group and will continue to spread love for theatre. He would love to thank Kristine for this opportunity as well as his friends and family!

A native of Marlton, Laura has been involved with community theatre in South Jersey for almost 15 years. After graduating from Gettysburg College in 2023 with a BA in Theatre Arts, she returned to the area to complete a year-long apprenticeship at the Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia. She has also become involved with several regional theatres post-grad, including the Ritz Theatre Company and the Broadway Theatre of Pitman. Her expertise in the field ranges from performance to administration, and she has held positions in Marketing, Front of House, and Production, among other departments. When not on stage, Laura can be found at the zoo, wrapped in the nearest blanket, or watching the Jurassic Park movies over and over and over. She has fostered a love for writing from a young age, and she is ecstatic to blend two of her passions together as a reviewer for South Jersey Theatre Critics! 

Dominic Traini is thrilled to be a reviewer for SJ Theater Critics!  He is currently a junior in high school and loves to do theater! He often works with the Broadway Theater of Pitman as a crew member and actor in their shows! Outside of theater Dom wants to attend collage to be a psychologist for teens with autism!