Download Meet Your Workshop Presenters and Adjudicators

Meet Your Workshop Presenters and Adjudicators
Janet Allard – is a playwright and book writer/ lyricist. Her plays are
published by Playscripts, Inc., Samuel French. They include: Speed
Date, Fashionistas, Incognito, Vrooommm, Loyal, Untold Crimes Of
Insomniacs, and Christmas Carol (with Michael Bigelow Dixon). Ms.
Allard is the recipient of two Jerome Fellowships at the Playwrights’
Center in Minneapolis. Her work has been seen at the Guthrie Lab,
The Kennedy Center, Mixed Blood, Playwrights Horizon, Yale Rep, The
Yale Cabaret, The Women’s Project, Perseverance Theatre, Joe’s Pub,
Barrington Stage, with P73 Productions, NYMF, SPF, as well as Internationally. She is a Fulbright Fellow, has an M.F.A in Playwriting from
Yale School of Drama, and has studied at the NYU Graduate Musical
Theatre Writing program, and worked on the Fox Television series
“New Amsterdam”. She currently teaches at UNC in Greensboro.
Christopher Beaulieu– is the co-founder of the revolutionary arts
education company Creatively Independent, tours internationally as
an actor/director/fight choreographer/teaching artist with over
twenty years experience. He has worked with: Shakespeare & Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival Grey Lock Project, Dell’Arte,
ISTA, Montreal’s Segal Centre, Kennedy American College Theatre
Festival, Performing the World, SETC, Circus Smirkus, State Thespians
(NC, FL), FTC and FATE. He has training with the Society of American
Fight Director. His awards consist of: NEA grant recipient, Paddy Crean Award (SAFD). Currently, Creatively Independent is releasing two
books on their ensemble arts education process.
Mary Ann Bentley– is a retired acting teacher from the University of
South Florida. She has been able to do the two things she loves most:
acting and teach acting. A member of Actor’s Equity still she has the
experience of the stage and has brought it to the classroom. She now
has the pleasure of watching her former students teach, perform,
and direct in schools, on the stage, in films, and on TV. She is able to
continue this work by being here today.
Graciela Binaghi- was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and has been
entertaining and educating audiences for the last thirty five years. A
student of Marcel Marceau and a recipient of a silver medal from the
Academic of Arts, Sciences of Letters, Ms. Binaghi has developed a
unique style of her own. She has worked as a performer, teacher and
ambassador for the arts throughout the US, Europe and Latin America. Ms. Binaghi is also an Arts Integrator teacher and consultant and a
resident of South Florida.
Domenic Bisesti – is a director, choreographer, and performer who
has worked across the country and on the seven seas. Studying dance
since he was four, he loved the stage and performed in Summer
Stock and regional theatre earning his Actors Equity Card. More recently, he has focused working as a dance teacher at Dance Evolution, and directed/choreographer for American Stage, The Show Palace, Eight O’Clock Theatre, and Daron Hawkins & Co to name a few.
His production company, Bisesti Productions, produces musical revue
shows and entertainment for special events.
Randa Black– is a successful actress with 25 years of experience including commercials (Toyota, Delta, Angel Soft, Kelloggs, K-Mart,
Burger King…) Industrial, Episodic Television shows (The Cape, Nickelodeon, Unsolved Mysteries…) and Films (Oscar, Action, Garcia Statue,
The Happiest Experiment…). She was a game show host for Nickelodeons live show, Game Lab, for eight years. Randa loves State Thespian Competitions and enjoys encouraging performers who have a
passion for theatre.
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Anita Bradt– Received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the State
University of New York, where she concentrated her studies in costuming, playwriting, and puppetry. A former Thespian sponsor, Ms.
Bradt has been an Educational Theatre Director for roughly 17 years
during which she has written over 10 self-produced plays and directed
more then 60 shows. Her play “The Cusp of Greatness” is published
with Playscripts, Inc. Philosophically, Ms. Bradt maintains that there is
a kind of spiritual benefit in cheesy melodrama that is important to the
human psyche. She is a card carrying member of UNIMA-USA (Union
Internationale de la Marionette) and encourages everyone who would
like to be inspired by the potential of puppetry to visit her website
www.unima-usa.org
Elaine Bromka– Elaine Bromka has performed and acted in film, TV,
Off– Broadway and regional theater, in roles ranging from Much Ado’s
Beatrice to Shirley Valentine. The Sopranos, Sex & the City, E.R., Dharma &Greg, all the Law and Order shows, Providence, Playing for Time
with Vanessa Redgrave and Catch a Rainbow, for which she won an
Emmy. Cindy, the Uncle Buck mom, and the crazed Stella in day of our
Lives. She will open her one women show “Tea for Three: Lady Bird,
Pat and Betty,” Off– Broadway June 2013. Smith College phi beta kappa and guest artist at over ninety colleges and high schools.
Mike Buck –Mike Buck has been a part of the theater scene for over
twenty-five years as an actor, singer and costume designer.
Mike has been the resident costume designer for The Gorilla Theater
since 2005. Mike's costume designs have been seen at the Straz Center, Mahaffey Theater, SLT productions, Gorilla Theater, American
Stage, Stageworks and many other local and regional theaters. Mike's
favorite costume credits include: Opus, The Importance of Being Earnest, Grease, Shirley Valentine, Elizabeth and Edward, Christmas Trio,
Six Degrees of Separation, Drunken City, The Long Christmas Dinner,
Alice in Wonderland, The Sound of Music, Orson' Shadow, A Christmas
Carol, Pippin, The Emperor' New Clothes, Jack and the Bean Stalk and
so many more!
Kathy Buck -Kathy has over 25 years of theatre experience. She has
acted, directed and/or designed over 100 full length plays and musicals. Mrs. Buck holds a Bachelors of Theater Arts degree from the University of South Florida where she specialized in Directing and Costume Design. She has been a licensed Florida educator for over ten
years teaching acting, on-camera acting, runway modeling and costume design. Many of her former students are acting professionally
across the United States. She recently completed a Masters of Theater
Arts specializing in Production and Design from Southern Oregon University where she studied with industry professionals from the Oregon
Shakespeare Festival.
Christine Chavers – Christine Chavers has restarted her life as an educational consultant, actress and world traveler after teaching in the
Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 37 years and at Florida International University for 16 years. In her former life she taught students in
children’s theatre, elementary, middle, community and high school,
college and university settings. Because she loves and respects all aspects of the theatre she has been a producer, director, designer and
performer, as well. Serving on the board of directors for the Florida
Alliance for Arts Education (FAAE), Florida Association for Theatre Education (FATE) and Florida Theatre Conference (FTC) has helped her
serve Florida arts education. She received her BA degree in Speech and
Drama from Barry University. Her graduate studies have been at University of Miami, Northwestern University, American University and
Florida International University.
Meet Your Workshop Presenters and Adjudicators
Sandra Cockrell- graduated from Mary Washington College with a B.A. in
Dramatic Arts and Speech. She worked professionally with the Vagabond
Players at the Flat Rock Playhouse and the Lighthouse Players in Ocean
City, Maryland. She was a Thespian Sponsor and theatre educator in
Pinellas County. She was the Program Chair for the first State Conference
in 1970. As a charter member of FATE (Florida Association for Theatre
Education) she served as a board member at large and received the “Fate
Educator of the Year” award in 1999. She served as the Secondary Chair
for the Florida Theatre Conference for many years. Currently she is the
Vice President of FTC. In 1997 she was honored with the Florida Theatre
Conference “Distinguished Career Award in Secondary Theatre.” In addition, she was the Secondary Chair for the Divisional Representative on
the SETC Executive Committee.
Gary and Edmund Entin– Gary and Edmund have enjoyed working
professionally in Los Angeles for over nine years as both actors and
filmmakers. Their first feature is titled My Eleventh starring Tony
Award writing John Benjamin Hickey and Marin Hinkle, “My Eleventh” was directed by Gary Entin, written by Edmun Entin and executive produced by Bryan Singer (X-Men 1 and 2, The Usual Suspect). This year they completed their second feature film Geography
Club also directed by Gary and written by Edmund. Geography Club
includes such acting talents as Scott Bakula (Quantam Leap), Ana
Gayster (SNL), Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray) and Alex Newell (Glee).
Some of Gary and Edmund’s acting credits include: The Seeker, The
Dark Is Rising (Fox Pictures), Are You There Chelsea (NBC), Seconds Apart (Lionsgate) and Rest Stop (Warner Brothers).
Ronald P. Colburn- Ronald Colburn is from Valencia College and it has
been his pleasure to have adjudicated the past couple years. He has witnessed a great deal of talent and dedication coming from the Florida
State Thespian Conference. Ronald has worked for the theatre in the
past, 45 years to be exact. Ronald has acted and directed in many Orlando-local theatres and has his own theatre company, Platform Theatre
Company through Valencia College. Ronald has a B.A. in English, Speech
and Theatre, an M.A. in Speech, Theatre and Psychology, and a Ph.D. in
Organizational Development and Behavior. Ronald’s passion is theatre
and he can see no better place to further explore and learn that passion
than the Florida State Thespian Festival.
Todd Espeland- Is a graduate of the internationally renown Dell Arte
School of Physical Theatre and is currently a 2nd year MFA Director
directing students at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. As the
artistic Director of Commedia Zuppa, he creates physical theatre
and mask based performances. In addition, he specializes in training
actors in Mask, Commedia Dell Arte, Physical Acting, Circus and
Shakespeare. He has directed and served as a specialist in making
performance masks and taught master classes Off Broadway, at
regional theatres, at theatres nationally and internationally as well
as at many Colleges and Universities. For the last 8 years Todd has
been an artist in Residence at Kalamazoo College. Learn more about
Commedia Zuppa, our workshops and buy our masks at czuppa.com.
Alex Crow– Alex Crow is a stage manager of Consumer Events at Busch
Gardens, Tampa Bay. He is in charge and assist with the creation and
operation of the large scale events held in the park like Howl-O-Scream,
Summer Nights, and Christmas Town. He also works in the development
and operation of the contracted shows that perform in the park such as
Burn The Floor and Jimmy Osmond’s Holiday Jukebox.. He is a former
member of Florida State Thespians, has performed with Jobsite Theater,
and continues to perform in the Tampa Bay area with WIT Improv.
Jennifer Cunningham– An Irene Ryan nominee, has been onstage and
behind the scenes of numerous productions in Illinois and Florida. Her
award winning and critically acclaimed costume credits include Rag and
Bone, Jane Eyre, Bach Leipzig, An Oak Tree, The Woman in Black, The
Lark, The Lion in Winter, A Christmas Carol, and Cabaret. Her scenic
painting credits include Rag and Bone, Shirley Valentine, An Oak Tree,
The Graduate, Working, Esther, Oklahoma, and Man of LaMancha. Some
of the performances include My Fair Lady, Jekyll and Hyde, Seven Brides
for Seven Brothers (Dorcus), Can-Can, and Anything Goes (Angel) where
she performed in the chorus and as a dancer.
Juliet Fixel- Has a BFA in Theatre performance and minor in Dance
from the University of Florida. Juliet has directed and choreographed several award winning productions in NYC. She is a working
actor, singer, and dancer. She teaches numerous types of dances
including hip hop, modern, jazz, musical theatre and Zumba
throughout NYC and Florida. Her choreography highlights include:
Bye Bye Birdie, Machinal, Jekyll and Hyde, the Wizard of Oz, and
Thoroughly Modern Millie. Stage highlights: The Rocky Horror Show,
Forbidden Broadway, Hair, and The Clean House as well as performing alongside Ne-yo and Lady Sovereign.
Michael Fixel– Michael Fixel’s verse play Salamander Stew had four
productions in 2012, including the New York Fringe Festival, and is
soon to receive a realization by Spokane Radio Theater, as will Paganini, an expert from the new full length verse play Freefall Frostbite.
His Freedom of the Dreamer was recently choreographed and presented by Sandbox Theater in Minneapolis. He is the President of
Parallel Universe Theater Resources and co-sponsor of ITS 6174. He
Amy Dobbert– Amy Dobbert is a Florida State Thespian alumnus and
is also a teacher of Vipassana Meditation. After graduating from
proud to return to help shape tomorrow’s performers. In the intervening Columbia University, he spent two years in India and Nepal, and
years Amy has worked as choreographer, musical director, director, and then lived in Boulder, Colorado, where he studied with Allen Ginsactress throughout Florida. Some highlights include: Director/Musical
berg, William S. Burroughs, and Michael McClure.
Director/Choreographer of Kaleidoscope Theatre Kids Camp, Choreographer for Little Shop of Horrors with Kaleidoscope Theatre, and Musical
Dan Franke– Dan Franke is an English, Speech and Theatre instrucDirector/ Choreographer for Imagination Factory Children’s Theater.
tor from the suburbs of Chicago. He has been teaching at Lemont
Jonathan Dorf– Author of more than 30 published plays with 900+ productions worldwide, including 4am, Harry’s Hotter at Twilight, After
Math, High School (non) Musical, Just Add Zombies and Thank You For
Flushing My Head in The Toilet. He is the co-founded publisher YouthPLAYS, co-chairs Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights and is resident playwriting expert for Final Draft. He has served as Visiting Associate Professor in the Playwriting and Children’s Lit programs at Hollins University
and as US Cultural Envoy to Barbados. He holds a BA in Dramatic Writing
and Literature from Harvard University and an MFA in Playwriting from
UCLA.
High School for the past 7 years, where he has produced, directed or
designed/built more than 35 productions. In addition to his work in
the classroom and on the stage, Dan has served as the Head Speech
(Forensics) Coach, and began the Contest Play and Group Interpretation program at LHS. Dan also served as the Executive Producer
for the Illinois High School Theatre Festival’s All-State Production of
Into the Woods in 2011, and his Speech Team and Contest Play/
Group Interpretation students have achieved state-wide notoriety
and success. Dan holds a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Lewis University and Masters Degree in Directing from
Roosevelt University.
Festival 2013, “The Greatest Festival on Earth” - Page #65
Meet Your Workshop Presenters and Adjudicators
Janet Frenkel– is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic
Arts. She’s worked professionally as an actor, director and producer both film and theatre. She is a former member of the Screen
Actors Guild. She also spent several years running her own production company, working with and coaching young actors who have
gone on to win awards, college acceptance and scholarships and
prominent roles. Her mission is to help young actors know what
the craft and art truly represents. To respect and care for the craft,
and to thrive in their creativity.
Thomas D. Gunthrie– Thom D. Gunthrie brings to City Theatre a
lengthy and varied set of credentials and experiences. He is a veteran public school teacher of 33 years, studio musician, church
organist, clinician, adjudicator, and motivational speaker/
presenter. Thom holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Miami
University, Oxford, OH. A Master of Ed. in Behavior Psychology
from Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. His theatrical credits include
nearly 100 productions at every level of theatre performance including a 2-year gig as a free-lance music director in NYC. He has
worked with performance notables such as Ann Miller, Carol Lawrence, Ed Ames, Gary Sandy, Barry Williams, Joyce Dewitt, John
Raitt and mentored by the late Ross Allan Asst. Conductor Les Mis/
NYC. Thom holds very dearly the crowning achievement of teaching over an estimated 10,000 students with several who made it to
the Broadway stage and the majority who experienced the thrill of
live audience applause in our home community /school theatre
venues.
Marty Hancock- has been attending the Florida State Thespian
Conference for more than forty years. She is retired after teaching
in the Miami Dade County Schools and Miami Senior High School.
During her tenure with the school system, she served as a District
Chair and as the State Director for Thespians. Marty has been adjudicating at district and state conferences, at FTC and at SETC since
her retirement in 1995. She is the recipient of both FATE’s Educator of the Year award and FTC’s Distinguished Career award. She is
also the recipient of a Lifetime Contributions award from Florida
Thespians in 2008 and was inducted into the EDTA Hall of Fame.
Marty has enjoyed being on the Mainstage Committee and likes to
share her years of experience with teachers and students. She is
proud of her former students who have become theatre educators,
professional actors and a Pulitzer Playwriting Recipient.
Heather Harrison– Heather Harrison has been professionally performing for over 16 years. Performing with many companies including Six Flags, Busch Gardens, Bayou City Musicals to name a
few. Heather is currently the Special Events Stage Manager at Busch Gardens Tampa, where she manages several shows.
She also coordinates, plans and manages large scale events. My
Professional Theatre credits include; “This is How it Goes,” as
Woman; “A Little Night Music,” as Anne \; “Laramie Project” as the
narrator. Her musical Theater credits include “Guys and Dolls” as
Sarah, “Company” as Jenny, “Anything Goes” as Hope, and “Fiddler
on The Roof” as Hodel and many more. She is a proud holder of a
Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theatre with a dance minor from Sam
Houston State University in Texas, where she received intense
training in every avenue of theatre, music and dance.
Nicole Haumesser– has over 18 years of professional experience as
an actress, playwright, director and educator. Having received her
B.A. in Theatre\Education from Indiana University, . Nicole has
continued her training with such artist and organizations as the
Kennedy Center, Liz Lerman Dance, The Second City, and the aes
Page #66 - Festival 2013, “The Greatest Festival on
thetic Learning program with Lincoln Center. Ms. Haumesser has developed and facilitated workshops for teaching artists and classroom
teachers in the arts infusion and integration for the National Guild for
Community Arts Education, Florida Alliance for Arts Educators, the Hoffman Institute at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Florida Studio Theatre, and school
directs throughout the country. Currently, she is teaching Acting and
improvisation as Teacher Training coordinator for Ruth Eckerd Hall.
Nicole is a lifetime member of the International Thespian Society, a
member of FAAE, FATE, National Guild for Arts Education, Americans for
the Arts& TCG.
Pam Hickman– Pam Hickman grew up and currently lives in Columbus,
Ohio. Pam attended Capital University in Berkeley, Ohio and graduated
with a B.M. in Music Education K-12 with an instrumental emphasis in
school. She has been involved with many theatre productions during
her free time. She is currently the store manager of the Columbus, Ohio
location of Costume Holiday House. Pam enjoys wig styling, doing special effects make-up classes and helping the local high schools costume
their productions.
Gerald Horne, still serves on the Board of Directors for Georgia Theatre
Companies, Georgia Thespians and is a member of the Hall of Fame. He
has been employed by the Houston County Board of Education for 45
years. He has earned the title of “The Living Legend.” He travels
throughout the United States adjudicating at conferences and schools.
The Florida State Conference is his favorite conference because the
talent is outstanding and the planning of the conference is superior. He
is excited to be here every year.
David Howard– David is a teacher at Forest Hills Northern High School
in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has taught Theater and Video Production for 22 years and has been directing shows for 20 years. His 20
years of directing has included over 60 musical and 20 plays. He took
over 2 programs that were struggling to produce 2 shows a year and
turned it into an extremely successful program that now produces 4
musical and one play per year. He is excited to spend a few days here in
Tampa with a group of students and theater teachers who love the art
as much as he does.
Peggy Huey- Dr. Peggy J. Huey has been active in the professional theatre community in Tampa since 1980, working in various capacities such
as: Director, Stage Manager, Lighting and Set Designer for Stage works,
Tampa Players, Playmakers, Gorilla Theatre, and Salerno Theatre Company for over 50 productions. In addition, she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech, Theatre and Dance at the University
of Tampa where she performed in, stage managed, directed, and designed lights for several University productions, such as Li’L Abner, Godspell, and The Importance of Being Earnest as well as Cabarets and
Staged Readings.
Aaron Jackson– starred in the NBC series California Dreams. Additionally he starred in and produced several feature films. Aaron’s an acting
coach and motivational speaker who travels the country training students and inspiring kids through anti-bullying and drinking and driving
programs. He’s currently an Agent for Simply Think Talent.
Don E. Jones, Jr.- Mr. Jones has been a theatre director in Wisconsin
and a high school drama teacher in New York City, on Long Island, and
Florida. His academic credits include Yale Drama School, NYU, and H.B.
Studios in New York City. Willem Dafoe and the late Jill Clayburgh began
their careers under his direction. He has been recognized as Teacher of
the Year by the Florida Association for Theatre Education and was the
first recipient of the Florida State Thespian Lifetime Achievement Award
which, for 21 years, he has served as Program Chair and Mainstage
Meet Your Workshop Presenters and Adjudicators
Screener. He was recognized by the Florida Theatre Conference with
its Distinguished Career Award. He has adjudicated and presented
workshops at several SETC Conferences as well as five different
southern State Thespian Conferences. He is also a trustee at the Straz
Center for the Performing Arts.
Trish Kelly– Trish Kelly received her Associate of Arts from Florida
State University and went on to receive her bachelor of Fine Arts in
Visual Arts from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg , FL. Ms. Kelly has
also completed classes in Stage, TV, Film and Historic Make up Design at the London College of Fashion in London, England. She has
taught and worked in many of the performing arts and visual art venues in the Tampa Bay area. She is a member of the Technical Theater
department at the Pinellas Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School.
Ms. Kelley continues to work professionally as a costume designer.
Stefani Koorey– Holds a PhD in Theatre History and Dramatic Criticism, an MFA in Theatre Management, and MA in Theatre Arts and
an MIS in Literary Science\Digital Libraries. She has enjoyed a varied
professional life as a professor, writer, professional bibliographer,
dramaturg, storyteller, librarian, and box office manager. She has
presented numerous lectures on Lizzie Borden and publishes and
edits two online publications: The Hatchet and The Literary Hatchet.
Ginny Kopf– Ginny Kopf has been a voice, speech, and dialect trainer
for actors, singers and voiceover actors throughout Central Florida
for over 20 years. Ginny teaches at Valencia and
Seminole Community Colleges, gives private lessons and has given
hundreds of workshops nationally. She has worked extensively as a
dialect coach for Walt Disney World, Universal studios, and many
local theatre companies and school productions. Her two textbooks:
The Dialect Handbook and Accent Reduction Workshop are used
internationally.
Mary Kraack– Currently retired, she was a high school theatre arts
teacher for 30 years in a traditional classroom and 15 years as the
technical director of an 1800 seat performing arts center owned by a
school system. As the technical director, she taught students how to
function as theatre technicians and she specialized in lighting and
sound design. Her teaching experience was all in the state of Georgia.
Mary was an active part in the Georgia Thespian organization
throughout her entire teaching career working her way up to state
director from 1986 to 1992. Two years ago, she established a scholarship fund in her father’s name that offers a financial reward for the
winner of the Tech Olympics at the international Thespian Festival
held in Lincoln, Nebraska. She strongly believes in the true value of
the Thespian organization and the positive impact it can have on high
school students.
Judy Landis- Dr. Judy Landis has been active in community theatre
since High School. Her achievements include: Award Winning Actor,
Producer and Director. Show choirs earned multiple superior ratings
in competitions throughout the southeast on her behalf. She has
directed Youth summer workshops and has been a school drama
director. She has appeared as Hannigan in Annie and Mama Raynele
in Dearly Departed. She also enjoys adjudicating at theatre competitions.
Sandy Levitt– Sandy Levitt is a proud member of the Educational
Theatre Association's Hall of Fame. He has conducted theater performance workshops at festivals and state conferences all over the
country. Credits: associate producer of Broadway Jukebox, co producer of Fanny and Sophie, in Chicago and Miami. Broadway: Wish
me luck, The Romanian Wedding, The Jewish Gypsy and Oy Mama, Am I in
love! Off Broadway: The Rise of David Levinsky, A visitor from Texas, The
Inheritors, The Marriage Contract and The Big Winner. National Companies: George MI, Coco\ Ginger Roger, Anything Goes\ Patrice Munsel,
West Side Story\ James Darren, Fiddle on The Roof\ Kurt Kaszner, Hello
Dolly\ Molly Picon, The King and I\ John Cullum & Constance Tower.
Ted Lewis– Ted Lewis is a stage combat fight choreographer for the past
30 years and has founded two combat and comedy troupes that have
performed at several Florida Medieval and Renaissance Festivals. He is the
founder of the Gainesville Thieves Guild which has performed at the Hoggetowne Medieval festival Faire for the past 24 years. The Thieves Guild
was one of the original fight groups at the Ft. Lauderdale Renaissance
Festivals and the North Florida Renaissance Festivals. They have been
featured at both the Jacksonville and Tallahassee Shakespeare Festivals.
Ted also trained the Society of American Fight Director trainers, Phillp
Yeager and Jim Brown. He spent seven years as both acting coach and
fight choreographer for the Gainesville Dance Company. He has led workshops for the Florida Association of Teacher Educators, National Junior
Thespians, Florida State Thespian and Gainesville Association of Creative
Arts.
Ed Linderman– has the unique distinction of having worked both On and
Off Broadway in 3 capacities; performer ( Fiddler On The Roof, Two Gentlemen of Verona); composer/ author( Something’s Afoot, Broadway Jukebox); and musical director (Godspell, Scrambled Feet, The Upstairs At The
Downstairs) to mention a few of his shows. He began his career at Chicago’s famous Second City and was described in the New York daily News as
“a walking encyclopedia of the hidden treasures of the Broadway Musical”
He has taught at Penn State, Shenandoah and Northwestern Universities,
Interlochen and AMDA. Many of his students are now working on Broadway.
Dori Lloyd-has been costuming and scenic painting for children and youth
theatres, high school, and community theatre groups for over 30 productions, spanning over ten years. She has costumed small and large productions such as “ Roger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella”, ”Jane Eyre”, “Willy
Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”, and “Anne of Green Gables”. Scenic
designs have included the “ Little Town” back drop for “Beauty and The
Beast”, “ White Christmas “ including the winter backdrop, London cityscape backdrop for “Oliver”, and “Singin’ In The Rain”. She Specializes in
adapting ready– made materials to produce inexpensively– made period
costumes.
Jason Longtin– graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music Education
from Stetson University. A music teacher for 14 years, Mr. Longtin became
a National Board Certified Teacher (EA\YA music) in 2007. He spearheaded
the creation of the Musical Theatre program at his high school 4 years
ago, to great success. While collaborating with other directors, he has
music\vocal directed 13 musicals, 11 of which were at the high school
level. Mr. Longtin’s students have performed at Carnegie Hall twice; most
recently with Eric Whitacre on his musical theatre project, Paradise Lost:
Shadows and Wings ( Coming to the West End in 2013)
Matthew MacDermid- Holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and English Literature and has twenty years of experience in professional theatre as an actor, director, and stage manager with five years experience as a high
school theater educator. He has traveled the state of Florida and to the
State Festival in Tampa serving as a one act and individual event adjudicator. His work has brought him to productions of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; Assassins; Much Ado About Nothing; The Man Who
Came to Dinner; Arms and The Man; A Little Night Music; the Spitfire Grill;
Festival 2013, “The Greatest Festival on Earth - Page #67
Meet Your Workshop Presenters and Adjudicators
Triumph of Love and Major Barbara, to name a few favorites. Matty
always enjoys participating in the adjudication process, sharing his
knowledge and experience with the theater professionals of tomorrow.
Sally Maguire Deming-is her name and making moments matter is
her game. “Sunshine” is a creative, inspirational and uplifting light
that thoroughly enjoys passing “it” on. Sally recently received the
International Thespian Lifetime Achievement Award for the Florida
State Thespian Festival and is glad that her lives as well as her workshops are not over! Sally passionately serves as Director of Fine Arts
for Episcopal high school and Eagle Arts Summer Camp. Sally provides
workshops and is a keynote speaker at the local, state and national
levels. As “Sunshine”, she shares spiritual, real life stories, and innovative, creative dramatics. She received FATE 2009 Administrator of
the Year and is thankful for the opportunity to teach and direct.
Elissa Marks– Elissa Marks is in her third year as the drama teacher
and Thespian sponsors at the Fine Arts Academy of Woodland High
School in Cartersville, Georgia. She has been a drama teacher for 112
years and has loved every minute of it, She received a BA in Theatre
Education from the University of South Florida and an MS in Interdisciplinary Arts from Nova South Eastern University. She has directed
numerous high school productions. Ms. Marks is proud to have
brought five one-acts to the Florida State Thespian Festival.
her students have received numerous awards. She was chairperson
of the South Florida CAPPIES program from 2005-2007. She is so
excited to be back home with her Florida Thespian family to serve as
an adjudicator.
Beth Marshall– Beth Marshall is an award winning and critically acclaimed Producing Artistic Director, Theatre Artist and Arts Administrator. Beth has made her living creating original works or producing
traditional works told in nontraditional ways with a strong focus on
touring Fringe Festival Circuits. From 2003– June 2011, Beth was the
Producing Artistic Director of The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival and served as the Vice President of The Canadian Association of Fringe Festival form 2006-2008.
Trey McDuffie is a multi-hyphenate who has worked with numerous
companies around the Tampa Bay area, including Busch Gardens,
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (now the Straz), Spanish Lyric
Theatre, The Players, Tampa Bay Repertory, and Hat Trick Productions. Favorite roles include the Emcee in Cabaret (“Best Supporting
Actor” - SRQ magazine), Applegate in Damn Yankees, and Hysterium
in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. Directing
credits include Oliver!, Driving Miss Daisy, and 3 years with Gorilla
Theatre’s Young Dramatist Project. Mr. McDuffie has stage managed
plays, musicals, and ballets, on stages large and small. Of particular
pride is his ongoing involvement with the Thespian Society, adjudicating and presenting workshops for over 25 years. Mr. McDuffie
holds a B.A. in Theatre from the University of South Florida
Debra McWaters-For more than 15 years, Debra was first the Assistant Choreographer and then Associate Choreographer for director,
choreographer and legendary Fosse protégé, Ann Reinking. With Ann
Reinking, she participated in what anyone would consider ‘dream
projects’ that began with the mounting of both the New York City
Center Encores! production and the (still-running) Broadway production of the Tony Award-winning, smash hit Chicago The Musical,
which originally starred Ann Reinking and Bebe Neuwirth. She then
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careened into yet another award winner, Fosse, assisting Ann Reinking
on the Broadway, West End, and National and European tours. Deb also
was Associate Director & Choreographer for Broadway Under The Stars
at Bryant Park, choreographer for Ben Vereen’s one-man shows, and
choreographer for the workshops of two of composer Frank Wildhorn’s
musicals: Wonderland, which ran on Broadway this past year, and Havana. Earlier in her career, Debra served as Chair of the University of
South Florida Dance Department in Tampa. It was with Ann Reinking
and others in 1991 that Debra co-founded the Broadway Theatre Project, which has developed into a world-class training ground for young
artists. The success of BTP inspired her to author Musical Theatre Training: The Broadway Theatre Project Handbook, published in 2009 by
University Press of Florida.
Logan Mecklenburg– In 2002 she earned her BFA in Theatre Arts from
the University of the Arts. She has since performed on stage and television, directed theatrical events and completed an internship with Philadelphia’s prestigious Mike Lemon Casting Company. Ms. Mecklenburg
has adjudicated FL District Thespian Festival for several years and is
currently teaching theatre classes at American Stage Theatre and Act
Up.
Chris Middendorf- is a retired drama teacher from Hillsborough County
where she taught for nineteen years. After receiving a B.A. in Theatre
from Mudelein College in Chicago, she began her teaching career in the
Chicago area starting two high school drama departments. Chris is on
the State Board of F.A.T.E and adjudicates Thespian festivals around the
state. Since retiring, she has married her drama degree and her Masters in the work she does for her parish and the diocese of St. Petersburg.
Murray Mintz, is Executive Director of The Florida Association for Theatre Education (FATE), the state’s organization of theatre educators. A
retired high school teacher, Murray was recognized by the Florida Theatre Conference as the state’s Secondary Theatre Educator of the Year in
2002, and was listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers for several years. He was also an examiner and trainer in the IB Theatre program. He has directed more than 95 productions in professional, community and education theatres in Western New York and Florida, where
he continues to direct for community theatre in Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Murray taught acting and directing at St. Petersburg College.
He is a member of the Thespian Mainstage screening committee.
Kathy Morath- is an actor and educator, specializing in Musical Theatre
Performance and Musical Theatre History. She is currently a faculty
member at AMDA in New York City. A 25-year veteran of Broadway and
Regional theatre, Ms. Morath has also directed for the stage and served
as Dialogue Coach for PBS-TV’s Peaboy Award winning series, WISHBONE. Ms. Morath also teaches American Musical Theatre abroad,
through her company Sing Smart Act Smart, most recently in Los Cabos,
Mexico and Buenos Aires, Argentina. A former Peer Reviewer for the
National Endowment for the Arts and member of the ASCAP/BMI Workshop and The Dramatist’s Guild, Ms. Morath is a Colorado native and
Brown University graduate.
Nicholas Murphy- received his BFA’s in Theatre and Directing and
Writing for Film and Television from Emerson College. He has worked as
the managing director for RareWorks Theatre Company overseeing the
scheduling, budgeting and casting for each of their eight shows each
season. He also directed and produced for RareWorks Theatre Company, shows include Five Women Wearing the Same Dress (EVVY nominated production), Picnic, I Do!, I Do!, and I Hate Hamlet. He has also
worked at Storyline Entertainment (producers of Chicago and Hairspray
Meet Your Workshop Presenters and Adjudicators
films) as well as The Gold Company (Ellen Degeneres and Jim Carrey’s
agents). He is currently working in Entertainment at Walt Disney
World and pursuing his MA in Theatre at UCF.
Joe Norton- has been an actor, playwright, and producer for various
companies in New York City. He is the Director of Education and Outreach for Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS, the charity voice of the
American Theatre industry. Joe is the recipient of the National HIV/
AIDS Partnership’s Red Ribbon Leadership Award and the 2007 EDTA
President’s Award. In New York, he has been a chosen panelist for
the Annual AIDS in the Arts Conference. Foremost, Joe is serving his
third consecutive term as the Trustee on the Governing Board of the
Educational Theatre Association (and the International Thespian Society), and has returned several times as both Presenter and Guest
Artist at the International Theatre Festival in Lincoln, NE, several
State Conferences, as well as the NY State Thespian Education Association Conferences. He thinks the Florida Thespians rock.
David Lefort Nugent- a New York City- based playwright and composer. Recent productions include his indie rock musical Open the Dark
Door in the New York Musical Theatre Festival (Next Link Grand Jury
selection, Stratford Festival of Canada
commission), and Ugo’s Last Dance, a horror musical co-produced
with the Foundry Theatre (NYC). HE is currently working on the Light
Princess, a new indie rock musical commissioned by Yale Repertory
Theatre. He holds an MFA in Playwriting from the Yale School of Drama, a BFA in Acting from the University of Alberta and is a proud
member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre’s Playwrights Unit in NYC.
Richard Oaxaca - has danced for over 20 cruise ship lines including
Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Carnival and Princess. He was named
America's #1 Male Cheerleader four times by the National Cheerleaders' Association. He's currently a dancer and aerialist for Aerial Angels and a Starfish Circus coach for silks and trapeze. Recently, Richard was featured on MTV/CMT Made as an aerial coach. Reach him
through www.starfishcircus.com
Mama Yeye Oriyomi- Original member of the Women’s Sekere Ensemble, Brain child of 100 Sekeres in Atlanta, Egbe Ekuijo workshops
in Philadelphia and head of Ile Egbe Obinrin, Yeye Olori Oriyomi is
best known and loved by all her students as MAMA YEYE. The Atlanta
cultural community calls her the “SEKERE WOMAN OF ATLANTA.” She
was raised and inspired by the variety of ethnic sounds, tastes, and
rhythms from the African Diaspora. She delights in teaching the ARTS
because it’s an opportunity to create a positive change everywhere
to help save our world. Active with Seven States, Youth Creates and
Absolute Camp Programs of 2008. She is currently finishing up her
annual 2009 tour with the THESPIANS throughout the U.S.! In the
meantime, Mama Yeye is continuing to plant more seeds of opportunity as a sekere percussionist, performing artist, playwright, and
dance and theater instructor. She is available to teach in your area
high schools, colleges, conferences and residencies, classes and workshops throughout the WORLD.
Julia Perlowski- is Director of Theatre Programs at Pompano Beach
High School in South Florida. She is as Ambassador for the Folger
Shakespeare Library’s helping to design and deliver Shakespeare
instruction for drama and English classrooms. She is the recipient of
an NEH grant which enabled her to train with instructors and scholars
at the Folger in 2006. Julia continued her Shakespeare studies at the
GLOBE in London (2009). Julia currently presents workshops for the
Folger at the National Council Teachers of English, the American Alliance for Theatre Educators and Educational Theatre annual conferences as well as various teacher orientations nation-wide. Since the
summer of 2010, Julia has been a Master Teacher in a number of Folger
mini-Institutes where participants experience two days of pedagogy and
performance useful for the stage and classroom. Her recent MUCH ADO
ABOUT NOTHING achieved 8 CARRIES nominations earning a trophy for
Best Costumes.
John Prignano- John joined MTI (Music Theatre International) in October 1996 after many years of production work in Musical Theatre:
Casting, choreography, and directing. As a performer, he toured professionally in musicals throughout the world. For more than 10 years, he
choreographed and performed in special symphony orchestra concerts
designed to introduce children to classical music. Besides his position at
MTI, John currently judges several national talent competitions and
teaches master classes throughout the United States.
Susi Rayburn-Mrs. Rayburn is honored to serve as a Thespian judge this
year. She has performed in over 50 musicals and plays, worked professionally across the Bay Area over the years at venues such as The Gorilla
Theatre and Busch Gardens as well as touring the US and Europe for 3
years as a performer and director with The Missoula Children’s Theater.
She holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre and taught High School in Tampa for
5 years running the vocal and theatre department. Mrs. Rayburn has
directed and produced over a dozen shows and now performs and directs daily as a full-time mom to her 3 year old daughter.
James Rayfeild– has been a theatre educator, director, sometimes actor
and write in the Tampa Bay area for almost fifty years. He holds an
MFA from the University of Texas and studied acting with Viola Spolin in
L.A. HE taught theatre in high school for many years. He was the founding member for Blake High School for the Arts where he taught for ten
years. Hes has directed plays and as an actor, he has appeared in Gordon Mhyer’s “mock– umentary” titled “Artie Infinger, a Portrait,”. Most
recently he has appeared in “Oliver Park”at the Silver Meteor Gallary.
He has also published seven plays for the teen theatre and has had
plays produced in many multiple theatres. He has been the Artistic Director of the Young Dramatists Project for the past six years.
Jeff Revels- Jeff Revels is the Artistic Director of the Orlando Repertory
Theatre. His most recent direction: Kooman & Dimond’s junior Claus
and Florida tour of Kaite Couric’s The Band New Kid. Jeff received the
“Distinguished Career in Theatre for Youth” from the Florida Theatre
Conference and has been recognized by United Arts as “Arts Educator
of the year” numerous times. He is a graduate of Winthrop University
and serves on many arts committees and adjudicates performances
regionally and nationally. Jeff is an active member of Theatre for Young
Audiences/USA, Americans for the Arts, American Alliance for Theatre
and Education as well as more.
Stephen Riordan– After his time as a Florida State Thespian, he attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. He has worked professionally on and off Broadway and has performed onstage in New
York and Florida, as well as Walt Disney World. His original play Lights &
Love was produced in NYC in 2006 and he participated and adjudicated
for the New York International Fringe Festival. Riordan is currently a
director in the area for several theater companies and writes original
work for The Studio at 620. He is currently the manager of on air performance and casting for HSN.
Karl Rogers– Thirty years ago he entered the world of community theatre in northeast Florida and has been active in the art form ever since.
Whether onstage in the stage manager’s chair or a producer, he currently sits on the Board of Directors for Players-By-The-Sea as its
Festival 2013, “The Greatest Festival on Earth” - Page #69
Meet Your Workshop Presenters and Adjudicators
Treasurer. Having worked in almost every theater venue in the Jacksonville area, he is also an active member of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus, the River City Men’s Chorus, The Jacksonville’s Men’s
Chorus, and the Orange Park Chorale. Always a supporter of the arts
and a theater adjudicator at both the state, and local level, he is excited to spend this weekend with the undeniably talented students of
the State of Florida.
Dr. Rockford Sansom-is a NYC actor and voice specialist. He has performed off Broadway and in the Broadway tours of Wonderful Town,
42nd Street (Asia) and Bye Bye Birdie and in numerous regional production. Dr.Sansom has taught at the Shanghai Conservatory (China),
Seoul National (South Korea), University of Latvia, and HB Studios
(NYC), among others, and his vocal coached off Broadway and regionally and worked with Fortune 500 business executives. He holds
Knight– Thompson, Fitzmaurice, and Estill voice certifications. He
attended Capella University (Pd.D.) Central Florida (MFA), west Florida (BFA, BA) and Fort Walton Beach High School ( Troupe 4967).
Audrey Seigler– is a singer, song-writer, actress, director, designer
and theater administrative faculty member at the Patel Conservatory.
She received a degree in Theater Arts and Psychology from Flagler
College in St. Augustine, FL. Seigler is a passionate about the impact
that theater can have on society and enjoys pursuing drama and music therapy through community outreach. Recent directing and design credits include Seussical the Musical, Jr., Our Town, Once Upon a
Mattress and Beauty and The Beast Jr.
Dennis Sims- Former Acting and Directing instructor at the Alexander
Dreyfoos, Jr. School of the Arts for 16 years. Mr. Sims received his BA
in theatre from Palm Beach Atlantic College with advanced training at
the Cincinnati Conservatory, Norton Gallery Acting Conservatory, and
Brigham Young University. He has directed numerous productions
that have mainstaged at the Florida State Thespian Festival as well as
one-acts at the International Thespian Festival and the Florida Theatre Conference. Three productions were chosen to represent the
State of Florida at the Southeastern Theatre Conference with one
production being selected as “Best Play.” Some achievements include
Distinguished Teacher of the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, Men of Achievement, Florida’s First Lady’s Art Scholar,
National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Teacher Recognition, and Disney’s Teacher of the Year nominee.
Don Stalling- Has had an active career as a Stand-Up Comedian, Improv Artist and a commercial, television and film actor. He is an experienced stage combat choreographer who trained with the Society of
American Fight Directors. He produces, tapes and edits independent
and corporate projects each year. Don is a playwright and screenwriter, who has written musicals and educational video projects that are
distributed in school systems nationwide.
Lynn Stallings– Director, Producer, Casting Director Playwright &
Founder of Atlanta Workshop Players. Lynn has performed in over
100 commercials, television shows, radio dramas and enjoyed the
thrill of performing with elephants. As a talent manager and casting
director, she has been instrumental in launching many careers in film,
television, and on Broadway. She directs a theater school and Performing Arts Camp, with The Atlanta Workshop Players.
Kristi Jo Stupka- is an award winning director with a specialty degree
in youth theater education. She has worked with TPS on Jane Fonda’s
inner city school projects, with Jimmy Carter Project on Atlanta Community theater projects, Sundance Festival with specialty in theater
Page #70 - Festival 2013, “The Greatest Festival on Earth”
and many other notable projects. She was the theater founder for DeKalb School of the Arts and won the State’s first original play in the state
One Acts in Georgia.
C. Denby Swanson- is a graduate of Smith College and the Michener
Center for Writers. She is a former Jerome Fellow, McKnight Advancement Grant recipient, Inge Playwright in Residence, and NEA/TCG Playwright in Residence. Her work has been commissioned by the Guthrie
Theater, Children’s
Theater of Minneapolis, 15 Head a Theater Lab, and The Drilling Company, and premiered by Salvage Vanguard Theater; it is published by
Smith & Kraus, Heineman, and Playscrpits, Inc. She is on the faculty of
Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX
Amanda Tepe – Amanda Tepe is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. Her film
work includes Bottom's Up, Dumping Grounds, Crazy, Save the Mavericks, Jelly, Backyard Wedding (MOW), Rob Zombie's Halloween, Pulse,
and Iowa. Tepe also has starred several multi-award winning short
films, including Framed, Dandelion Dharma and Side Effects, opposite
Arye Gross. Some of Amanda's television credits include guest-starring
roles on Without A Trace, Dexter, Days of Our Lives, Studio 60 on the
Sunset Strip, That's So Raven, Entourage, The Inside and October Road.
Tepe's notorious recurring roles include a monotone-speaking drone
with multiple jobs on Disney's Emmy Award-Winning show Wizards of
Waverly Place, Donna the White House Tour Guide on Disney's Cory in
the House and Colleen the evil nanny of Nikolas Cassadine (Tyler Christopher) on ABC's General Hospital. She received her Bachelor of Fine
Arts in Acting from California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts) and studied
at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. Amanda
also holds a Master of the Arts in Educational Theatre from New York
University and is a proud to be a longtime member of the multi awardwinning Interact Theatre Company, based in Los Angeles, where she
met her husband, actor Jeffrey Stubblefield.
Michelle Terl– Director of Theater at Parkway Middle School of the
Arts in Lauderhill FL, she has spent many years leading successful high
school theater programs in South Florida. She is the Founder and President of the Broward Educational Theater Association (BETA), a Board of
Directors Member for the Florida Association for Theater Education
(FATE), and the Program Manager for the South Florida Cappies Program. She is also a Teaching Artist for the Folger Library/ ESU cosponsored Mini– Institute “Shakespeare Set Free”, through which she
continues to share what she learned at The Globe Theatre in London
annually around the state.
Kristina Tollefson – is a member United Scenic Artists and an Assosciate
Professor and Resident Costume and Makeup Design at UCF and serves
as Associate Chair and Undergraduate Coordinator. She holds an MFA
from Purdue University in Costume Design and Technology and a BA
degree from South Dakota State University in Theatre and English. Kristina is the recipient of numerous design and teaching awards including
Stage Directions College Theatre Educator of the Year in 2006 and UCF
Teaching Incentive awards in 2005 and 2010. You can view her work at
www.tollefsondesigns.com
Adam Wagner-received his BFA in Musical Theater from the University
of Cincinnati’s College– Conservatory of Music. He is a self taught pianist and was mentored for three years in songwriting by Craig Carnelia
(working, Sweet Sell of Success). As an actor Adam can be seen as Phil
in the cult film TEETH, which premiered at the Sundance and Berlin Film
Festivals. Most recently, he moved from Helena, Montana, where he
served as Artistic Director of Grandstreet Theatre. His production of “
Meet Your Workshop Presenters and Adjudicators
The Great American Trailer Park” received the Outstanding Direction
and Choreography award at the AACT regional Festival in Fort Collins,
Colorado. Wagner now serves as the musical theater instructor for
Patel Conservatory at the Starz Center for Performing Arts in Tampa,
Florida.
Bob Whittaker- has been the Technical Director at Northwest Florida
State College for the past fourteen years. A graduate of the University
of North Carolina School of the Arts, Bob also provides technical support and expertise for Pensacola’s Winterfest and for the show Fact or
Faked on the Sci-Fi channel.
Pam Ware-serves as Leadership Coach for Educational Theatre Association and has served as president of EDTA, both in Georgia and
Alabama State Directors, is in the Georgia Thespian Hall of Fame, the
Mississippi Thespian Hall of Fame and the Educational Theatre Association Hall of Fame. Pam has served as an adjudicator of one acts
and musical theatre IE’s at conferences throughout the USA and at
the International Thespian Festival for over 30 years. Pam currently
serves on the Georgia State Thespian Board and is in her 46th year of
teaching theatre. Not only does she direct a full season of three plays
and 4 major musicals but also directs summer community theatre for
Gainesville Parks and Rec.
Allison Williams (Starfish Circus) – have performed around the world in
25 countries and festivals from Key West to Alaska. Through our residency program, we come to a school, cast 75 students grades K-12, and
put on a circus show in two weeks. Check them out at
www.starfishcircus.com or on their Facebook: Starfish Circus.
James Warfield- has an array of special skills which he has acquired
through a decade of saying, “yes” to new opportunities. I studied
Theatre Performance at Western Michigan University, moved out of
the cold and down to Florida where I performed a solo Mime Show at
Busch Gardens and played several characters in shows at Walt Disney
World. I have toured with David Copperfield and continue to work as
a magic consultant. I have performed internationally as a Bullwhip
Artist and Fire Eater with the Aerial Angels. I have been featured in
award winning television shows, two dozen movies and several commercials, but would be better known for my stage work at I.O. West
Improv Comedy Theater in Hollywood, CA.
Washington-Aaron Washington a graduate from Wright State University’s Musical Theatre Program. Aaron has been fortunate to work as
an Actor, Director, Choreographer and also as a Theatre Manager. A
transplant from Ohio, Aaron has been here for 6 years and while
here has performed with Busch Gardens of Tampa Bay, Show Palace
Dinner Theatre, SLT Productions and Besseti Productions to name a
few. As well as Directed and Choreographed around the area working
with some talented individuals including some talented Florida State
Thespians
Lindsay Smith Lindsey Smith grew up dancing in Utah and graduated
Cum Laude from the University of Utah with her BFA in Modern
Dance. While in college, she began her professional career at The Hale
Centre Theatre where she performed in shows such as Singin’ in the
Rain, Crazy For You, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. A proud member of
Actors Equity, she moved to Orlando to dance in Walt Disney World’s
production of Beauty and The Beast and had the opportunity to return
to Salt Lake City to perform in a regional production of 42nd Street. As
a teacher, she has worked for the United Spirit Association for 7 years
where she teaches camps, on college campuses, for high school dance
teams. As a choreographer, she has set competition choreography on
teams and soloists in Utah, Washington, and California. While living in
New York City, Lindsey had the opportunity to dance on the Rachel Ray
Show as well as with Liza Minnelli for the opening of the TV Land
awards. Lindsey is a Radio City Rockette and spent 2 years in their National Arena Tour performing in over 50 cities. She currently performs
with the iconic dance troupe at the Radio City Music Hall in New York
City.
Zay Weaver– He has a BA Theater Performance from Western Michigan University. Since 2005, she has been touring the globe with Aerial
Angels, Stand Up Eight, and solo endeavors; performing circus in
street shows, banquet halls, castles, and even a shopping mall in
Dubai. A recent transplant to L. A., Zay is pursuing a film career and
studying long-form imporv at IO West. With a strong focus on new
works, she has directed numerous theatrical circus shows, including
“Fallen”(Alaska and Stratford, ON) “Cirque de Symphony,” (Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra), and “Under the Big
Top” (Kalamazoo Concert Band)
Donna White- holds a BS degree in Speech and Dramatic Art from
Syracuse University, and is a retired drama teacher. She served many
times as President of the Pinellas Association for Theatre Education,
was twice named County Educator of the Year, and has been featured in Who’s Who of American Teachers many times. She received
the Distinguished Career Award from the Florida Theatre Conference
and the Suzanne M. Davis Memorial Award from the Southeastern
Theatre Conference. She is currently the Florida State Representative
to SETC and chairs the Undergraduate/Transfer Auditions at FTC.
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