Road Less Traveled Productions Bridge Program Announces Mentees In Class Of 2023

Road Less Traveled Productions welcomes its inaugural group of mentees into its 2023 Bridge Program.

"As we kick off our first year, I am excited to have found such talented and motivated individuals to be part of our first class. We are excited to get these individuals trained by our mentors, and propel their careers into the Arts Industry. This is the first of many Bridge Program classes, and we anticipate changing the lives of many young artists of color for years to come." said Program Director, Peter Johnson.

Mentees of the 2023 Program Include:


Liam Rio

Senior at City Honors high school. Studying Performance. Will be Mentored by RLTP ensemble member Kristen Tripp Kelly in The Thin Place. Accepted into NYU Drama school, will attend this Fall.

Brenda Bridges

Studying Stage-Management; Will be mentored by RLTP ensemble member Sarah Foote in The Thin Place. Has BA in Theater/Media from Buffalo State College.

Crystalis Bonilla

Studying Assistant Directing; Will be mentored by RLTP ensemble member Victoria Pérez in Sweat. Has BA in Theater from Buffalo State College.

Michael Jordan

Studying Sound Design; Will be mentored by Nick Quinn in Sweat. Has BA in Theater from Buffalo State College.

Martell Thomas

Studying Stage Management; Will be mentored by RLTP ensemble member Steve Brakey in Sweat. Currently a senior at Niagara University as a Theater major.

The RLTP Bridge Program is 16-week hands-on paid internship program sponsored by Road Less Traveled Productions specifically targeted for students and early career artists of color looking to get experience in the theatre industry to help develop their long-term career path. This unique opportunity is designed to promote diversity and inclusion for artists of color seeking a serious career in the arts industry.

The RLTP Bridge Program is a custom-built program that will provide members access to opportunities to any area of interest in the theatre industry to fit their needs. Students and early career artists of color will gain extensive knowledge in one specific concentration of the theatre arts including; Directing, Acting, Playwriting, All Areas of Design, and Stage Management. The Program is designed to increase the student's awareness and appreciation for all areas of theatre with an emphasis on collaboration.

The RLTP Bridge Program is led by Program Director Peter Johnson, an academic instructor, actor and casting agent in Western New York. The program also includes collaboration with RLTP Ensemble member and Raíces Theatre Company Artistic Director, Victoria Pérez. (Raíces Theatre Company is currently in residence at Road Less Traveled Theater).


Program Director Peter Johnson biography:

Peter Johnson is an actor, producer and casting director from Buffalo, New York. He is a graduate of New York Film Academy where he studied the art of acting and filmmaking. As an Actor, he is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and has TV credits from networks such as Lifetime, ION, and Hallmark, along with major studio credits from films such as Marshall and The First Purge. Peter has over 15 years' experience being on stage and in front of the camera. He has collaborated with The Road Less Traveled Theater in the past starring in shows such as Race and Farragut North. Peter also owns his own independent production company; Xavier Productions, that specializes in the production of theater and film projects. His most recent produced film, The Blackness Project is a feature length documentary that provides in-depth interviews on race and culture from the minority perspective and was a featured story on CBS News in the Morning in 2019. Peter also has film industry credits as a Casting Director. He is the third member of the company "Casting Buffalo" which casts films, commercials and industrial training videos throughout the Tri-state area. In addition to these creative endeavors, Peter has an MFA from the University at Buffalo in media production and is a professor at SUNY Buffalo State College in their theater department. His mission as an artist is to continue to create educational work and inspire a generation of young artists that will elevate urban art and culture to the next level.

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