Who We Are
The people behind the MAGIC...
Susan Cherin (she/her)
Susan has spent the last 35 years working with humans of all ages in the performing arts. Most recently, she served as the founder and Executive Director of the JSTAGE Community Theater at The Levine Jewish Community Center for the last ten years, where she taught classes, created camps, and produced, directed and/or musical directed over 50 productions. Susan was also an Adjunct Professor at Winthrop University, where she taught Theatre in the Elementary Classroom, Acting, Voice and Movement, Theatre Appreciation, and Improvisation. Susan has taught private voice, led countless workshops for performers and educators, and has directed and performed professionally in Charlotte, Massachusetts, Arizona, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. Susan believes passionately in the power of the arts to educate, challenge, inspire, transform, and heal, and considers it a magical gift to connect with so many different individuals as they create and grow together. Some of Susan's favorite things are movies, ziplining, restaurants, trips, and time with her adult children Hannah, Rebecca, and Doron, and her Mom, Carol. Susan is grateful to her partner Kayla for turning all her dreams into realities, and for the opportunity to build The Lotus Project together, based on their shared passion that the power of love and community can change the world
...one human at a time.
Kayla Piscatelli (she/her)
Kayla has been working with the tiny humans (and less tiny humans) in the arts since the age of 14. Beginning in the world of dance and then moving into the world of theatre all the while dappling in the world of visual art, Kayla has found the most joy creating and collaborating with young artists and watching them find their voice. For the last 10+ years, Kayla helped build the JSTAGE Community Theatre at the Levine Jewish Community Center where she directed, choreographed, and designed over 30 different musical productions, built and directed a performing arts summer camp, and taught dance, theatre, and visual art classes. Kayla has also directed and choreographed at multiple theaters in the Charlotte area and has performed professionally both in Charlotte and other cities. Kayla identifies as an introvert and absolutely loves rainbows, Harry Potter, books, music, unicorns, writing, coffee shops, sneakers and being a goofball with the incredible collection of tiny humans in her world. With immense gratitude for all the experiences that have gotten her to this point, Kayla is thrilled to be launching her own company with her partner, Susan, who has a gift of making people feel both held and free. She hopes that The Lotus Project will empower humans (of ALL ages) to find their voice, find themselves, and find their superpowers so we can change the world...one human at a time.