Staff
Shonnita Johnson
Festival Director
Email: production@charmcityfringe.com
Shonnita Johnson is a Baltimore-based arts leader, producer, and creative strategist. In her role as Festival Director, she leads artist curation, program development, and large-scale festival production, supporting one of Baltimore’s most vibrant platforms for independent performance and interdisciplinary work. Her leadership focuses on expanding access for emerging artists, strengthening community partnerships, and building sustainable infrastructure for the city’s creative ecosystem. With over a decade of experience across performance, education, and cultural production, Shonnita brings a multidisciplinary approach to arts leadership that connects live performance with entrepreneurship and community engagement. She is also the Owner and COO of Focused on Creatives and Founder of ShonniJ Productions, initiatives that support artists through space, programming, and collaborative opportunities. A graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts and Point Park University, her work centers artist-driven systems that strengthen Baltimore’s creative economy.
Kiirstn Pagan
Marketing Coordinator/Festival Photographer
Email: marketing@charmcityfringe.com
Kiirstn is a Baltimore-based photographer who specializes in capturing the region's expansive arts and culture scene, including performances and events, artists and institutions, and productions of all shapes and sizes on stages large and small. Recent clients include Everyman Theatre, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, The Voxel, Interrobang Productions, Submersive Productions, UMBC, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Opera Baltimore, Extreme Lengths Productions, The Acme Corporation, Fells Point Corner Theatre, BmoreArt Magazine, and the Baltimore School for the Arts. See her work at www.kiirstnpagan.com.
Board of Directors
Michael Brush
Co-President
Email: michael@charmcityfringe.com
Michael is a teacher and writer with an affinity for the theatre. Upon graduating from Towson University, Michael moved to Baltimore to teach high school English for Baltimore City Public Schools. He has noted, "that was fun," but his love and admiration for the theatre led him in another direction. Michael soon began working as an adjunct professor at the Community College of Baltimore County, which has given him the time and ability to bring a fringe festival to the city he adores so much.
Zachary Michel
Co-President
Email: zach@charmcityfringe.com
Zach is a musician, writer, and theatre aficionado. A graduate of UMBC, Zach moved to DC for work with National Geographic, where he continued writing and acting in student films, Cap Fringe, and producing short films. Zach and Mike worked on the Great American Web Series during which time Fringe grew from an idea into an reality. See his absurd comedy @MostlyZach.
Becky Eisen
Vice President
Email: becky@charmcityfringe.com
Becky currently serves as the Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications with the Baltimore Community Foundation. Prior to that, she worked with McCormick & Company for over a decade. She lives in Baltimore with her husband, Adam, and two children, Netta and Isaac.
Cathy Wagner
Volunteer Committee
Email: cathy@charmcityfringe.com
Cathy currently works at the Maryland State Department of Education. She has worked for a variety of arts and non-profit organizations including Everyman Theatre, The Early Childhood Education and Development Center (formerly PACT), Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando Theatre Project, and the Orlando International Fringe Festival. In addition to volunteering for the Charm City Fringe, Cathy supports Baltimore Theatre Project where her husband Chris Pfingsten is the Producing Director.
Jackson Tucker
Fundraising & Outreach
Email: jackson@charmcityfringe.com