Gary Bernstein

Founder and Executive Director

Gary Bernstein founded Wingspan Arts in July 2001, bringing over 25 years of professional experience and background in business, marketing, producing and arts management to the non-profit organization. Prior to founding Wingspan Arts, Gary spent eleven years on the Board of Directors for Blue Heron Theatre where he was named Managing Director in 1994. Under his leadership as Executive Director, the Blue Heron Arts Center opened in February 1999 on East 24th Street in Manhattan.

During his tenure at Blue Heron, Gary’s production and touring highlights included the Audelco Award winning drama We Are Your Sisters, a riveting tale about slavery seen by over 25,000 young people nationwide, Tony Vellela’s Admissions, the true story of racial quotas at colleges, and a 25th anniversary revival of the Drama Desk Award nominated play Medal of Honor Rag, depicting Vietnam veterans suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Rescuers, a drama about Christians who rescued Jews during the Holocaust, was presented by special invitation at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.

Gary’s Off-Broadway production credits include the 1999 co-production with Roger Alan Gindi of Tony Vellela’s What We Don’t Confess. Working with Queens Theatre in the Park, Gary developed and marketed Celebrating Our American Heritage, a theatre series for young audiences. Gary has also served as an evaluator for the Rockefeller Foundation MAP grants for theatre.

A graduate of Cornell University, Gary spent sixteen years as a marketing executive at leading New York advertising agencies, where he worked with a variety of clients including Hershey Foods, Sheraton Hotels, Panasonic and Merck. Throughout the 1990s, Gary was a consultant and producer developing independent television, video and educational projects. Credits include ‘Brooklyn, USA’ a documentary hosted by Oscar-winning actor Vincent Gardenia which aired on local CBS affiliates nationwide, ‘What’s Up?’ a tourism video featuring Regis Philbin, and ‘A Walk on The Wild Side,’ a marketing video for the New York Zoological Society hosted by the late legendary actor,
Jerry Orbach.

Paul Ashley

Education Director

As Education Director, Paul oversees Wingspan Arts’ education programs in the Tri-State area. Paul has a strong connection to the arts and arts education communities in New York City and has spoken on behalf of Wingspan at many events and conferences, most recently at the 2009 AATE/ATHE: Risking Innovation Conference. In his almost seven years with Wingspan he has been involved as a teaching artist, site director, Associate Director of Afterschool Programs and – as part of the summer conservatory – directed Blood Brothers , How To Succeed and choreographed The IT Girl.

Before Wingspan Arts, Paul spent a number of years traveling nationally and internationally as an actor. His many stage credits include Crazy For You (National Tour), Mame (w/Carol Lawrence and Loretta Swit), and Forever Plaid. In New York he was seen in The Donkey Show (DJ) and in the Fringe Festival award winning a cappella musical, Minimum Wage: Blue Code Ringo!

Paul holds a BA in Musical Theatre from the University of Northern Colorado. He also attended Columbia University’s Institute for Not-For-Profit Management in 2008.

Jessica Bashline

Producing Artistic Director

As Producing Artistic Director, Jessica serves as the creative leader for Wingspan Arts Productions, Special Events, as well as developing curriculum and performance choices for Wingspan’s Conservatory programs.

Prior to joining Wingspan Arts, Jessica worked as an actor and director. She co-founded the Dodger Stage Holdings Children’s Theatre Outreach Program and co-wrote and directed their first production, Jack and the Giant. In 2000, Jessica began working with kids, teaching acting in New York while on tour with Twelfth Night. She began working with Wingspan Arts in 2004 as a teaching artist, and became the company’s first Producing Artistic Director in 2009.

A graduate of Boston University, Jessica holds a BFA in Acting.

Jessica Bailey

Education Program Manager

As Education Program Manager, Jessica designs and implements in-school arts curriculum in elective and integrative programs.

Before the world of Wingspan, Jessica was “Ms. K.” in her middle school classroom in the South Bronx. There, she learned the necessity of cross-curricular teaching learning. She watched her students become truly invested in academic projects that included elements of dance, music, theatre or visual art. Jessica is committed to introducing students to the arts and working to ensure every child has the opportunity to explore their interests.

Jessica holds a BA in Communications and a BA Political Science from the University of California, San Diego and a Masters of Education from Fordham University.

Emily Gnagey

Business Manager

As Business Manager, Emily is responsible for the financial maintenance of Wingspan Arts. She spends much of the day clutching her calculator and munching on numbers. Before Wingspan, Emily ran Ever After Productions, a youth theater company in Michigan. There she honed her skills in teaching, directing and, of course, business management. Emily holds a BA in Arts Management from Eastern Michigan University.

Marissa Porto

Associate Artistic Director

Marissa Porto holds a B.S. in Theatre from Skidmore College and is fairly new to the world of Arts Education. Before becoming a part of the Wingspan team, Marissa spent her time studying theatre and performing in various parts of the country as well as abroad in Sevilla, Spain and Cambridge, England. She looks forward to further pursuing her career in arts education and possibly going back to school for her masters in drama education.

Brooke Rogers

Education Program Manager

Brooke has been working with Wingspan Arts in different capacities for many years, and is very excited to be working for them once again – now in a full-time capacity. Her role is to implement and manage the Wingspan Arts Afterschool Programming.

Brooke has been working with children since she was one herself, cutting her teeth in the world of Outdoor Education, leading Wilderness Trips for girls. She began her career in Afterschool Education while living in Seattle, working for a program called Mad Science. There she discovered a passion for the world of hands-on, extra curricular education, be it through science, outdoor education or the arts.

Brooke brings with her a wide range of experiences, including Camp Director, Parent Coordinator for a NYC Charter School, and Conference Center Manager – all of which have prepared her for the multi-purpose role of Education Program Manager here at Wingspan.

Brooke holds a BA in Literature and Theatre from Reed College.