Get to know Lindsay Roberts, our new Director of Programs!

We are thrilled to welcome Lindsay Roberts to the ASTEP staff as Director of Programs!

Where did you grow up?
I was born outside of Chicago but grew up outside of Philadelphia so it’s all about soft pretzels and Wawa coffee for me!

Where did you work before joining the ASTEP team?
Prior to coming to ASTEP, I served as the Arts Education Program Manager and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Co-Manager at Young Audiences Arts for Learning New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania, developing and managing multi-disciplinary arts education programming that reached over 350,000 school children each year.

Do you have a background in the arts or teaching?
Definitely! I have been singing and a lover of the arts since I was five years old. Onstage, I am a musical theatre singer and actress. I began my professional career after graduating and soon after joined the Broadway First National tour of MEMPHIS, covering the starring role of Felicia Farrell. I also toured with the Broadway First National Tour of THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY AND BESS and was featured as the “Creole Love Call” singer on the NCL International Tour of Broadway’s After Midnight. Some of my favorite New York and regional credits include portraying Cindy Lou in Classic Stage Company’s New York Revival of Carmen Jones, multiple engagements at New York City Center Encores, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Kristin Chenoweth’s National Tour (where I first met Mary-Mitchell!), the Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, La Jolla Playhouse, and Lincoln Center.

In my formal training, I earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Maryland in Opera/Vocal Performance with a concentration in Music Education and a Master of Science in Arts Administration from Drexel University. I have worked for many years as a teaching artist and arts administrator and I am also a Certified Diversity Professional through the National Diversity Council and specialize in culturally relevant arts education and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the arts sector.

What is the most challenging part of your work?
The balance. There are so many places where I believe the life-changing impact of rich arts education experiences are needed, but there is only so much capacity that one person or one organization has at any given moment. Determining where to focus resources can be a very challenging decision because your heart wants to be everywhere.

What is the most rewarding part of your work?
I love love love seeing the connection between great teaching artists and young people co-creating together. There is nothing better than being a part of the work in real-time.

What about working for ASTEP are you most looking forward to?
I love working with this team and I am so excited about the new direction for ASTEP. I look forward to new partnerships, greater impact, and bringing new and diverse voices into the learning spaces with young people.

What song best encapsulates your working personality?
I actually love working at night, in the quiet, when I can imagine project growth and expansion and think through the work without interruption. Because of that, and also because some of my earliest childhood music experiences come from hits of the 90s, I chose “Dreaming of You” by Selena.

Key lyrics that feel especially relevant when thinking about working from a passion-point are:

Late at night when all the world

Is sleeping

I stay up and think of you…

‘Cause I’m dreaming

Of you tonight

‘Till tomorrow

I’ll be holding you tight

And there’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be

Than here in my room

Dreaming about you and me

I can’t stop dreaming of you

(No puedo dejar de pensar en ti)

I can’t stop dreaming

(Cómo te necesito)

I can’t stop dreaming of you