BOARD MEMBERS
MISSION STATEMENT
What if Works is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization offering artists in theatre, film, and music a bridge between academic and professional performance while championing the arts to bring about social-change.
I.D.E.A STATEMENT
What if Works is committed to the principles of IDEA ensuring a workplace that is inclusive of all gender and gender expression, upholding diverse and non-discriminatory practices in its casting policies, with shared equity between all creatives and administrators and whose work on and off stage are fully accessible and ADA / ASL compliant.
MARILYN SKOW
SECRETARY / DRAMATURG
Marilyn is a Professor Emerita from Florida International University where she was Department Chair and Artistic Director of the Department of Theatre. She also served as Head of Design and Production, dramaturg and academic
advisor. She holds an MA in Theatre Arts from Schiller College (Berlin, Germany), and an MPh in Philosophy of Art from Columbia University. In addition to her considerable design experience in academic theatre she also
has extensive professional costume construction and design experience in New York (New York Shakespeare Festival and various dance companies) and Miami (South Florida Shakespeare Company, Momentum Dance Company and
Dance Now Miami) . While most of her work with WIW is focused on dramaturgy and script development she still occasionally does design work.
MARCIA LITTLEY
TREASURER
Music Coordinator for What if Works Marcia is a former founding member of the Amernet String Quartet currently in residence at Florida International University. Marcia is an alumna from The Juilliard School with over thirty years of experience playing classical violin in countless music halls and venues across the world. Marcia heads up WIW’s Emerging Artists program.
PAUL STEINSLAND
VICE PRESIDENT /
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Paul has the pleasure of serving as the Technical Director for the School of Music at Florida International University. It was Paul's love of music and technology that lead him to performance and theatre. Paul also finds time to direct, act, write, compose, designs, stage manage, sing, keep up with his podcasts, and whatever else anyone will let him get his hands on!
ANTON CHURCH
PRESIDENT
Anton is an award winning film maker and sound designer. He received his film training from the University of Central Florida and has a MBA from Florida International University. Anton currently works in film and television helping manage and coordinate productions of various scales for networks like ABC, NBC, Nat GEO, Discovery, Bravo, and Netflix. Anton enjoys devoting his attention to the work that WiW produces. He feels strongly about the role that art plays in changing a society.
PHILLIP CHURCH
FOUNDING DIRECTOR
Having retired after 50 years of professional teaching and directing, 41 of which was conducted with the Department of Theatre at Florida International University Phillip is now focused on the future development of What if Works. Throughout his career Phillip has directed over seventy professional and academic productions many of them from the classical canon. He received his performance training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and earned an MFA at the University of California Irvine. While at FIU he introduced film acting into the BFA program and assisted in development of a Digital Filmmaking Certificate Program. He continues to teach Acting/Directing for TV/Film part-time.
Having written and directed “Flying Solo with Artist X” a “dramatic curation” based on the life of advocate artist Xavier Cortada he is now embarking on the prolific life of Coral Gables developer, George E Merrick.
NATHALIE BRENNER
EVENTS MANAGER
Long-time theater and film enthusiast Nathalie Brenner was born and raised in France receiving her theatre performance training from the Cours Simon in Paris before pursuing a career in the United States. Nathalie holds a BA in Liberal Arts from Florida International University and is currently working as the Senior Special Events Manager for the Wertheim School of Music and the Performing Arts. Passionate about promoting the performing arts as an agency to bring about empathy and change in society, Nathalie looks forward to developing and contributing to WiWs mission and its programs.
JUAN CARLOS GUTIERREZ
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Actor, writer, director, and educator, JC graduated from Florida International University in 2019. He began his involvement in What if Works by leading the community outreach projects Emerging Film-Makers, Emily Dickinson Project, and Flying Solo, centered around mentoring underprivileged youth in filmmaking, solo performance, poetry, and speech. Gutierrez has also worked with City Theatre, Thinking Cap Theatre, and Juggerknot, delivering performances that push the boundaries of immersive theatre, short-form, and social change. In addition to working as a middle school teacher and coaching young actors, he writes and produces award-winning short films that are touring internationally on film festival circuits.