Jay Ruby
Founder, Co-Director

Jay Ruby is a native of southwestern Pennsylvania, who fulfilled his early instincts to perform by being a prankster, mixing clowning with sports, and playing rock and roll. A student and teacher of Contact Improvisation, Butoh, and physical theater, Jay Ruby traveled abroad to study theater in Europe, where he was exposed not only to traditions of theater, but also to the anarchic art scene of Berlin after the fall of the wall. These experiences were fundamental inspirations in guiding him to found Tsunami on the Square, a free all-ages outdoor performance festival, and The Carpetbag Brigade Physical Theater Company.

A deep believer in pedagogy and cross-cultural exchange, Jay Ruby has organized seminars for international artists in the U.S. and tours that have traveled throughout the U.S., Colombia, Costa Rica, and Canada. He has worked as a mentor and adjunct professor at Prescott College and developed and directed the Performing Arts Program at Kestrel High School. He is a graduate of Antioch College.

Kristen Greco
Co-Director

Kristen Greco sculpts movement and action where the personal, social, political and mythological bodies intersect. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado with a degree in Humanities and Studio Arts (emphasis in performance). Kristen also attended Moving on Center’s School of Participatory Arts in Oakland, California studying somatic education, which she has integrated into her choreographing, directing and teaching. She has performed and studied with members of Human Nature Dance Theater during her time in Arizona and with Scott Wells and Dancers in San Francisco, California. Her directing style has been influenced by her studies with butoh dancer Diego Pinon, acrobatic stilt teacher David Clarkson, the Odin Theater, and her time in Bali studying the overlap between archetype, ritual and community arts. Kristen has led theatrical and dance based workshops for women in prison, special needs adults, youth, community members and performers. She has been a member of Carpetbag since 2000 and a director since 2004.

Anson Smith
Core member