Staff & Leadership

Executive Director

John McEwen has served as the Executive Director of New Jersey Theatre Alliance since 2001.

Prior to the Alliance, John served as Vice President for Development of the New Jersey Network Foundation where he was responsible for providing the leadership for an annual fund goal of more than $7 million in support of NJN Public Television and Radio’s programs and services. Prior to joining NJN, John served as the Director of Development for Paper Mill Playhouse where he oversaw all fundraising activities, long-range planning, and board development.  John provided the leadership for Paper Mill’s successful $10 million capital campaign.

In 1992, McEwen developed the Cultural Access Network Project, a project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and New Jersey Theatre Alliance, for which he received the inaugural Leadership Award in Access from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. John serves as a trustee of ArtPride NJ andFund for the New Jersey Blind. John has served as an adjunct professor in arts management at Seton Hall University, Drew University, and New York University.

John has consulted numerous organizations on board development, long-range planning, fundraising, and cultural access. He received a BA from Montclair State University and an MA from New York University.

John is a graduate of Leadership/New Jersey and was selected as one of 50 nonprofit arts leaders to participate in the Executive Program for Nonprofit Arts Leaders at Stanford University, a partnership of Stanford and National Arts Strategies.

When John is not attending the theatre, he enjoys cooking, collecting glass art, and anything to do with the water—boating, sun bathing, swimming.

Manager of Digital Communications and Marketing

Laurice grew up in Nebraska and Iowa. She moved to NYC to attend the American Musical Theatre and Dramatic Academy in 1999 and has called New Jersey home since 2004.

She has served in many roles at regional theatres across the country. From company manager to scenic artist she has been lucky enough to work with some of the countries leading theatres, including Goodspeed Opera House, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Roundabout Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theatres.

As a choreographer, she has worked with many school show choirs, served on the faculty at Iowa Central Community College, and served as dance captain on numerous shows. 

Prior to joining the Alliance, Laurice was the Outreach Coordinator and Business administrator for the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey, a liberal religious non-profit working for a more just and equitable New Jersey. In the not so near future, she plans to get her Masters in Divinity and Social Change at the Starr King School for the Ministry.

In her free time, she loves to spend time outdoors with and cooking for her husband, Markus, and daughter, Beatrice. Laurice is an advocate, public speaker, and prevention educator in the areas of sexual and domestic violence. She is an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair as a singer, religious educator, communications consultant, and Minister of Hugs.

Marketing and Communications Assistant 

Deonté Griffin-Quick, a native of New Jersey is an actor, singer, and arts administrator who is committed to the advancement and diversity of American Theatre. Deonté joined the NJTA team as an intern in December of 2016 and was enthused to continue his work with the Alliance as the Marketing and Communications Assistant. 

Deonté has been afforded the opportunity to complete internships in various positions with several NJ theatres including New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch and Premiere Stages in Union. In March of 2018, Deonté served as a grant review panelist for Alternate ROOTS (Atlanta,GA) to peer review applications for Partners in Action, a program that fosters and funds social justice partnerships with progressive activist artists from all artistic disciplines in grassroots communities across the U.S. Southern Region. 

Deonté holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with a Communication minor from Kean University and is a candidate for membership of the Actor's Equity Association. As a performer, Deonté has performed at The Prudential Center, Enlow Recital Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the world renowned Apollo Theater in Harlem, Luna Stage Company, New Jersey Repertory Company, and on Fox 5 Good Day NY.