Meet Maestro and her Mates
Linda ( Maestro)
Linda is a classical singer and music educator based in New York City.
Her love for singing grew throughout her childhood and eventually became her lifelong passion. She has performed in operas and musicals throughout the New York area.
About 10 years ago, she was asked to lead a children's choir. This experience sparked her interest in music education. She began teaching general music in parochial schools and also developed an after-school music and summer program centered around classical music.
Nikki was born and raised in the snowy tundras of Buffalo, NY. She started her singing career at a young age in her back/front yard where her family’s rescue dog, Benji, and later, the entire neighborhood, would be entertained. Nikki started dancing when she was 4 years old and immediately fell in love with tap, jazz, and tutus! In no time, Grandma Joan had her singing and dancing at every family party and in Church! In school, she performed in plays, musicals, select choirs/show choirs (including NYSSMA), playing flute/oboe in orchestra and band.
Crew
Created By
NIKKI CASSERI
LINDA TEIXEIRA
Executive Producer
NIKKI CASSERI
Producer
LINDA TEIXEIRA
Production Manager
BRANDON SCHRAML
Director of Photography
and Creative Consultant
CARLOS BIDO
Production Design and Illustrations
JOHN & WENDY
Academy Award Nominated Director
CATRIONA RUBENIS-STEVENS
Director
BRICKEN SPARACINO
Script Supervisor
RACHEL SALIN
Hair and Make Up Designer
JAERRI SUMTER
Costume Designer
JENNIFER ANDERSON
Production Crew
BENJAMIN CULPEPPER
DEWEY CADDELL
ERIC BAILEY
Music Arranger and Musician
GERRY DEMAN
Music Recorder/Mixer and
Underscoring Composer
TOM LEE
Video Editor and Colorist
PAUL DEMONTE
Studio Sound Mixer
SADAH ESPII PROCTOR
Supervising Sound Editors/Designers/Mixers
KEN GOODWIN
EVAN JOSEPH MUSIC
Dialogue Editors
SHANA NELSON
CHRISTIAN OCHOA-DIAZ
JAMILA LONTOC
Visual Effects Editor
MILTON GUANGA
Spanish Voice Over Talents
Maestro-SUSANA BALLESTEROS
Prima Ballerina-DIANA ROSANO
Spanish Translator
SHANNEN RIVADENEIRA
BTS Photography and Social Media
LYNN FARRELL
KAITLYNN LEE-CULPEPPER
Web Design
LEO GRINBERG
Linda is currently finishing her Masters of Music Education at Queens College. She is also the co-founder of the QueensSound Ensemble, a chamber music group. She lives with her husband, Joe, and is the mother of a fun-loving toddler named Henry!
Nikki's extracurricular activities included dancing, acting classes at Studio Arena, and voice lessons. She even produced and performed cabarets on her front lawn with friends, selling tickets to neighbors and donating the money to charitable organizations.
She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University at Buffalo, is a member of Actors Equity and SAG-AFTRA and has been seen in Theatre/TV/Film/Commercials nationally and in the NYC area. Nikki also works as an educator/actor for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) at the NYC Zoos and Coney Island Aquarium performing for and teaching Kids and Adults alike. A composting animal enthusiast, she plays softball, dodgeball, kayaks and loves incredible adventures!
Nikki ( Prima Ballerina)
Kirk ( Mr. Kirk)
Kirk is an international performer and creator with over 20 years devoted to children’s entertainment. Clown, puppeteer, singer, and dancer — Kirk has spent a large portion of his career touring with theatrical productions such as: ‘Mr. Popper’ on the first national tour of Mr. Popper’s Penguins, 'Mr. Conductor' on the first national tour of Jim Henson's Dinosaur Train Live! , and as an official voice & costume performer for Scooby Doo in Warner Bros. Scooby Doo Live!. On film, Kirk can be seen as Oscar in the youtube web-series Oscar and Herman PLAY INSIDE! Kirk is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association.
When not making magic for Maestro, Prima and friends, Kirk is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of 4PuppetPeople - a NYC based production company creating original children’s media through puppetry.
His custom puppet creations have been seen around the New York area including the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, and NY Aquarium, as well as educational theaters throughout the country. Kirk also serves as a puppeteer/writer/director with the Wildlife Conservation Society education department.
Kirk currently resides in New York City with his collection of Donald Duck Memorabilia. He can often be found having tea while amusing his adorable black cat Salem.
Jackie ( ASL Interpreter)
Jackie works for a domestic violence agency developing services for Deaf survivors in the NY area. She holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Criminal Justice from Rochester Institute of Technology and a Masters in Public Administration from SUNY Binghamton. After college, Jackie substitute taught grades K-12 at the New York School for the Deaf.
Jackie is a huge proponent for services that are accessible for Deaf people. As a fellow member of the Deaf community, she loves the opportunity to give kids a safe space to learn with full communication access. Jackie believes that offering our show in American Sign Language encourages inclusivity for all.
Over the last year Jackie learned how to play chess and hasn’t won a game yet. She also has a “fur-baby” cat named Ziggy.
Dream Sweet Films
Meet Nikki and Brandon! The dynamic married power duo behind Dream Sweet Films.
Their mission is to create and produce films and web series that will entertain, impact, and educate. Their projects are made with love and care and a little bit of magic!
They live in a cozy Queens apartment, not far from the candy cane steam stacks of NYC!