Our Team
Our team brings extensive experience in family programming, Jewish engagement, musical theatre, and visual media design to creating the K’ilu Kit experience. Each kit features an interactive storytelling audio adventure, original music, and illustrated visual materials designed entirely by our team for you and your family to enjoy.
Jonathan Shmidt Chapman (Founder and Co-Creator)
Jonathan Shmidt Chapman is an award-winning artist, writer, and Jewish educator. As the founder of The K’ilu Company, Jonathan has reimagined Jewish early childhood engagement through theater and play. His projects have reached thousands of families and classrooms across the country. Jonathan was named the Covenant Foundation’s inaugural Jewish Family Education Fellow in 2023. He is also the recipient of a Pomegranate Prize, the Jewish Education Project’s Young Pioneers Award, and the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America Medallion Award. s an internationally recognized artist creating theater for kids and families, Jonathan’s work has been presented by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Kennedy Center, and Seattle Children’s Theatre. His work has been featured by NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, The New York Times, and American Theatre Magazine. He lives in the Chicago area with his husband, Rabbi David Chapman, and their two children Elior and Amitai.
Nina Meehan (Co-Creator)
Nina Meehan is an award-winning director, producer and an internationally recognized expert in arts education and youth theatre. Prior to having her three beautiful children, Nina was a featured Jewish Storyteller at Temple Beth El, Temple Isaiah, Berkeley JCC, Palo Alto JCC, Congregation Beth Israel Judea and many others. Nina is the founder and CEO of Bay Area Children’s Theatre and received her BS from Northwestern University in Theatre with an emphasis in Education and her Master’s degree from University of San Francisco in Nonprofit Administration.
Katie Diamond (Graphic Design)
Katie Diamond is an illustrator, graphic designer, and tattoo artist. She’s illustrated over a dozen books, for adults and children alike. Since 2012, she’s been the Art Director of Flamingo Rampant, a LGBT2Q children’s book imprint based in Toronto. She’s worked in communications and design for nonprofits throughout the country, including The League of Young Voters, The New Victory Theater, and Theatre of the Oppressed NYC. Diamond firmly believes in using art for social change and education. In her free time, she’s probably on the beach drawing weird wildlife or walking her dog.
Adam Blotner & Jenny Pinzari (Original Music and Audio Production)
Adam Blotner & Jenny Pinzari are a married musical creative team. They have produced viral videos that have amassed over 14 million views, and have been featured by Huffington Post, Funny or Die, CAFE, Medium, Variety, and Broadway World. With their musical comedy act ‘Pop Filter,’ Adam & Jenny have performed at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, FringeNYC, The Groundlings Theatre, LA Comedy Festival, and NY Comedy Week. Jenny has also worked as a Digital Content Creator, Associate Producer and Producer for television, digital, and live theater. As a Jewish music songleader and educator, Adam has brought joy to thousands of young people at camps, preschools, religious schools, and synagogues across the country.