Black Box Movers is a program of The Black Box Collective Inc., a New York nonprofit corporation. Our mission is to empower the future of Broadway by providing accessible opportunities for choreographers and performers in our community; by creating pathways for artists to develop their craft, share their work, and engage with the professional performing arts industry.
our mission
Inclusivity: Committed to fostering diversity in creative teams and providing equal opportunities for all participants.
Accessibility: Ensuring that participation in the showcase is free of charge, making it accessible to emerging talents, as well as hosting affordable and subsidized classes.
Collaboration: Promoting teamwork and partnership among creative teams, performers and industry professionals.
Education: Focused on providing educational opportunities that enhance skills and prepare participants for current and future professional work.
Empowerment: Supporting emerging artists to find their voices and gain confidence in their craft.
OUR VALUES
In November 2024, at the Gregory’s next to Ripley 305, Kellyann Coyle and Abigail Rebekah had one of those over coffee meet-ups that led to the development of The Black Box Collective Inc., DBA Black Box Movers (BBM). Two weeks later it was running— creating community, supporting excellence, and supporting the the future of Broadway.
It started with an inaugural Spring Showcase in 2025. Hosting 9 choreographers, over 110 performs, and a sold out show at Gibney Studio Theater. The first year was welcomed by the NYC dance and theater communities with resounding support. So, the program continued to grow, and is continuing to grow through establishing 501(c)3 status, hosting multiple showcases annually, and creating regular educational programming.
As a volunteer organization, we are dedicated to nurturing the future of Broadway choreography— and we will never not be blown away by the talent and heart that comes forward to back this program.
Participation in the showcase programs is free for performers and choreographers. Our goal is to provide even more accessible and high quality opportunities for our community— whether that be in classes, workshops, or various other programs.
Our Story
our TEAM
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A NYC based performer and multi-hyphenate artist, Kellyann grew up in Northern New Jersey, training with The School at New Jersey Ballet and performing with their professional company. She eventually attended and graduated early from Point Park University with a bachelor's degree in jazz dance and minor in musical theatre.
After graduation, she was an immediate replacement on the Pippin North American Tour before moving to New York City. A reliable performer, she has been hired as an immediate replacement for multiple contracts and prides herself on keeping her cool under pressure. Some of her favorite credits include Mamma Mia (PCLO), Cabaret (The Palace), Grease (The Fireside & DADT), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Rent, where she was the associate choreographer under Chryssie Whitehead. Kelly is a proud member of Actors Equity Association.
In addition to performing, Kelly loves teaching, choreographing and directing. Along with her regular pop up classes, she hosts a monthly Ensemble Jazz class where professional dancers work on their triple threat skills with co-teacher, Kayleen Hecksher. Kelly has recently released multiple dance concept videos and participated in the Dancers Who Choreograph showcase premiering her piece, Beginnings. She also produced and directed her first cabaret, Building a Bridge Cabaret, which was created for artists working towards their O-1 visas featuring 5 Broadway performers and 12 international artists!
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Abigail Rebekah is a performer and choreographer based in New York City. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Modern Dance from the University of Utah School of Dance and graduated with recognition as an Undergraduate Research Scholar for her thesis, Movement for Actors: Practice, Collaboration, and Performance. She also has her 200-hr Yoga Teacher Certification and works in arts administration/grant writing/web design. She has worked as a performer, Dance Captain, Swing, and creative team member.
Choreography/Direction: Anastasia, Wizard of Oz (From Stage to Screen) Fear & Fridays (cHorio Showcase), Oklahoma! (Cornwell Dinner Theater), Shakin’ The Blues (Dance Astoria), Oklahoma!, The Music Man, Newsies, Wizard of Oz, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Troy Community Theatre); Grey Area, Ronald & Edith (U of U); Once Upon a Mattress (Washougal High School); All Together Now, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Eastern Oregon University). Stage: The Music Man, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Christmas Carol, Newsies, Catch Me If You Can, Wizard of Oz, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Sound of Music, Joseph & the Technicolor Dreamcoat.
board of directors
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Logan Epstein is a New York-based performer and choreographer. She began her training at Westchester Dance Academy, where at a very young age she was exposed to some of the top choreographers in the industry. She grew up dancing and competing throughout the country and is trained in all styles. She then went on to attend Pace University where she earned a BFA in Commercial Dance. While in college, she toured with and taught at national conventions and began assisting chorographers in New York and LA.
As a performer, Logan has appeared in commercials, industrials, live performances, and regional theater productions. She is a performer at her core, but her heart lies in creating new musicals, storytelling, and educating. She has assisted top choreographers in all avenues of the industry including theater (Anne of Green Gables workshop, I Can Get it for You Wholesale Off- Broadway debut, A Walk on the Moon at George Street Playhouse, Rent at Theatre Aspen, Fiddler on the Roof in Concert, On Your Feet at Westchester Broadway Theatre, Elf on the Shelf the National Tour), feature film (Your Monster), and television (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon). She also had the opportunity to choreograph the opening celebration gala for the Broadway production of Once Upon a One More Time. Logan made her Off-Broadway Associate Directorial debut in The Lonely Few at MCC Theatre, was the Associate Choreographer of the world premiere of Empire Records and Directed/Choreographed School of Rock at San Antonio Broadway Theater.
Recently, she was the assistant to the choreographer on Chess on Broadway. Made her New York City Center debut as the associate choreographer on High Spirits and just associate choreographed the MET GALA with Joshua Henry.
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Patrick was last represented on Broadway as the Associate Choreographer of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical School of Rock, which he also staged in Sydney, Melbourne, and Seoul. Passionate about making new musicals that cultivate communication and understanding, he is currently developing and co-writing Vacancy, a story that sheds light on the life of Norman Bates from Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’ and the new American play ‘Life, Liberty’ starring Anupam Kher. He serves as the choreographer of Radio 930, a new musical centered around a group of young rebels in East Germany who used banned western rock music to bring about the fall of the Berlin Wall.
He will direct the London premiere of On The Edge, a new musical from composer Sam Hall,
which he also co-wrote, and The Jacqueline Du Pres Project with actor and cellist Mischa
Jardine.
He served on the choreography teams that developed the Broadway bound musicals The Heart of
Rock and Roll, celebrating the music of Huey Lewis, and Ever After, a musical adaptation of the 1998 film as well as Barry Manilow’s Harmony for Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles and The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, The Nutty Professor with Jerry Lewis and Marvin Hamlisch, and the Broadway revival of On A Clear Day You Can See Forever starring Harry Connick, Jr and Jessie Mueller.
He has staged concerts for Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara with the Boston Pops and for Mario Cantone on ABC’s “The View” celebrating Barbara Walters and opening the show’s 14th Season.
He is the co-creator of The Time Step Symposium, a program that connects and supports choreographers and musicians to ensure the future of dance music on Broadway.
As an educator, he maintains a celebrated acting studio in New York City and has served on staff for Britney Spears’ and Usher’s performing arts intensives.
Learn more at www.patrickoneill.me / @itspatrickoneill
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Lee immigrated to the United States in 1989 and spent his childhood in Louisiana and North Carolina. After graduating with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University, Lee served as an aviator in the United States Marine Corps for 11 years, with multiple combat deployments across the globe during his time in uniform.
In 2016, Lee moved to New York and has been working in the finance industry since then. While certainly the least artistically inclined member of the current team, Lee has been an active patron of music and the arts his entire adult life and a proud supporter of Black Box Movers since its inception.
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Sissa Strain is a New York City-based creative director, choreographer, and educator known for her work in commercial dance, circus arts, and new media. A Louisiana native, she trained in dance and theatre from a young age before going on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Dance and Kinesiology from Indiana University and The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. She is currently on faculty at Broadway Dance Center, a 15+ year member of Dance Masters of America, a member of Actors’ Equity Association, and a founding member of the Choreographers Guild. Follow for more @sissa.strain
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Jim Cooney (he/him) is an award-winning director/choreographer and career coach based in NYC. He's currently the choreographer of the new U.S./Canadian tour of The Bodyguard. Most recently, he directed Jacob's Ladder (featuring Tony-nominated Melissa Errico) and worked with Tony-winning Christopher Gattelli, serving as associate choreographer on The Great American Mousical (directed by Julie Andrews) and as associate and tour choreographer for the national tour of Lincoln Center Theater's revival of My Fair Lady.
Highlighted past credits include Between the Sea and Sky (Best Musical award at NYMF), Shooting Star (StageSceneLA award for Best Choreography), The Accused (Atlantic City Casino Show of the Year award), A Chorus Line (Best Musical and BroadwayWorld Best Choreography awards), Sweet Charity (directed by Tony-winning Michael Rupert), and multiple seasons of Broadway Bares (directed by Tony-winning Jerry Mitchell). He also assisted Tony-nominated Randy Skinner on New York City Center's production of Abby's Song (starring Tony-nominated Paul Sorvino) and Ginger (starring Tony-winning Donna McKechnie).
His work also extends into television and film, most notably choreographing a Broadway musical-style demolition starring Tony-winning Kristin Chenoweth for ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and commercials for major brands including Tide, Lipton, and Oral-B. He's also choreographed industrials and events for the likes of Warner Bros., OfficeMax, Oxygen, and Glamour, featuring celebrities such as Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin, Robbie Rosen of American Idol, and Tony-winners Ali Stroker and Alex Newell.
Jim believes art has the power to change lives, including our own, so he's passionate about empowering theater professionals to create careers and lives they love. He does this through hosting the Theater Life Uncensored podcast, founding the Amplified Artists membership community, and private mentorship through his program, Artist Breakthrough. Outside of work, he's an avid traveler who's extensively explored every continent except Antarctica (so far!) and loves planning group trips. He splits his time between NYC and his second home in Mexico. Learn more at JimCooney.me.