Previous Presenters

 

Steven Ramon Abaroa, Adjudicator.
Steven has been acting since he was eight years old. He received his formal training at Brigham Young University, then South Utah University through the Utah Shakespeare Festival and more recently at the Shakespeare London Globe Theatre. He teaches Theatre Arts at Highland High School in Gilbert, AZ. He is a member of the Arizona Thespian State Board where he serves as the chairman of the rules committee.
Brett Ambler, Adjudicator. 
Brett Ambler has been working in Colorado for the past 4 years.  Favorite local roles include Buddy Holly (The Buddy Holly Story), Princeton/Rod (Avenue Q), Malcom (The Full Monty), Prince Herbert/Historian/Not Dead Fred (Spamalot), and Pinnochio (Shrek) all at BDT Stage.  At the Arvada Center he played Emmet Forrest in Legally Blonde. And in Richmond, VA he played The Cat In The Hat (Seussical The Musical) and Snoopy(Y.A.G.M.Charlie Brown) at The November Theatre, formerly Theatre IV.  When not on stage Brett might be making music or getting outdoors.
Jessica Austgen, Workshop Presenter.
Jessica has been onstage with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival (CSF) as Phebe in As you You like Like iIt, Macduff in Macbeth and Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing. Her regional credits include the title role in Miss Julie, and a role in Curious Theatre Company’s The Dead Guy, The Women, Comic Potential and Last Train to Nibroc. She has served as a member of CSF’s Living Shakespeare troupe since 2005, performing Shakespeare and facilitating workshops across Colorado. Jessica earned her B.F.A. in performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Blake Babbit, Guest Artist New York Film Academy
Blake Babbitt is an admissions counselor at the New York Film Academy. In addition to working at NYFA, Blake is an accomplished New York based actor, emerging playwright, and award-winning director. Recent Off-Broadway credits include Baylis in Blackbird, Berowne from Love’s Labors Lost in the 45th Street Theatre’s annual Shakespeare Festival, and Joe in the premiere Dan Savage’s of Seeking Savage Love at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Blake has also worked closely with Oscar and Tony Award Nominee Murray Schisgal (Tootsie) on his new play Wallstreet Fandango. Other theatre credits include, Tim in Suburbia, Richie in Lover’s and Other Strangers, and Adam in Complete Works Of William Shakespeare. TV and film credits include Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX), Bottom Feeders (an original TV pilot), and Passed Over (an original web series). Blake recently won a best play award for his direction of emerging playwright Josh Billig’s Benefit of Friends at the American Globe Theatre. Blake has studied at the renowned Larry Singer Studios in NYC, is an acting graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, and an arts endorsed acting graduate from Denver School of the Arts.
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Nathan Balser, Guest Artist
Nathan Balser just joined the Performing Arts Department at Western Wyoming Community College . He was recently in New York performing on Broadway. He received his Masters of Fine Arts in Modern Dance from the University of Utah.
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Cory Barrett, The Center and Rainbow Alley, Guest Artist
Cory Barrett works for The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of Colorado as the Director of Rainbow Alley and Youth Services in Denver, Colorado.  He also has an extensive background in choral and vocal music.  As a tenor vocalist, Cory has performed both as a solo artist and in ensembles throughout the United States and Europe.  He has also conducted a number of small youth and adult chamber choruses throughout his career.  He continues to also make guest appearances as a solo artist. Cory has also been the producer of 4 theatrical productions as the Director of Rainbow Alley, while serving on the executive committee for the Pride Youth Theater Alliance.  Cory is dedicated to promoting healthy living in the areas of emotional and mental health.  Furthermore, he is strongly committed to promoting the ultimate quality of living for all people, especially LGBTQQIA2-S youth and their heterosexual allies, who often have no voice and live their lives in fear.
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Stuart Barr has been working in theatre since 1985. He is currently the Technical Director for the DCPA Department of Education. He has also worked as an actor, director, set designer, and lighting designer. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association as a stage manager. His education includes degrees or certifications in Theatre, Radio/TV Broadcasting, Scenography, and Massage Therapy. He has performed in Film, Television, TV Commercials, Regional Theatre, Children’s Theatre, Outdoor Drama, and Theme Parks and spent 2 years as a Radio Announcer. He has worked as a Set or Lighting Designer at many local theatres including: The Arvada Center, Town Hall Arts Center, Lakewood Cultural Center, and The Aurora Fox Cultural Arts Center. He was a Teaching Assistant at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and has taught for Arapahoe Community College, The National Theatre Conservatory and the Denver Center Theatre Academy.
Paul A. Belden has performed professionally for children for the past 34 years. Beginning with the Storytellers resident company of the Denver Children’s Museum, he went on with his Children’s Theater/Elementary Education degree to become one of the founders and owners of KIDSKITS, Inc. This renowned local theatrical company included a performing troupe of 6-16 year olds, a conservatory and talent agency. Among the many successful former members is Tami LoSasso, the talented director at Lakewood High School. Paul continues to entertain as his character Dornob, performing mime, magic, juggling, storytelling, songs and balloon animals.Bio photo
Ashley Bellet is the Assistant Professor of Costume Design at Oklahoma City University. She received BAs in English and Theatre Design from The University of the South at Sewanee, and her MFA in Theatre Design from The University of Memphis. She has taught previously at The University of Memphis and the University of Tulsa. She has designed scenery and costumes for The University of Tulsa, Theatre Tulsa, Light Opera Oklahoma, Playhouse on the Square, Circuit Playhouse, and Theatreworks in Memphis. She is an active member of KCACTF Region 6 and Vice-Commissioner of Programming for the Education Commission of USITT.
Monte Black, Adjudicator/Workshop Presenter.
Mr. Black holds a BS in theatre and dance from the University of Wyoming with emphasis in choreography and performance and received an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with emphasis in choreography and teaching. Specializing in jazz dance, he has studied with master teachers Joe Tremaine, Gus Giordano, and Frank Hatchett. He toured nationally with the 15th anniversary revival of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and has performed in many outstanding regional theatres nationwide, sharing the stage with such luminaries as Roy Clark in Paint your Wagon, Joanne Worley in Hello, Dolly, and Eddie Bracken in Babes in Toyland. While at UNC, he has choreographed West Side Story, Brigadoon, Carousel, and 42nd Street for the Musical Theatre Department along with Damn Yankees, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof and Hairspray (International Thespians) for the Little Theatre of the Rockies. His interests in jazz, modern, and dance technology coupled with his vast performance history make him a vital and inspiring artist and teacher.
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Hilary Blair, Workshop Presenter.
Ms. Blair is a professional actor and voice-over artist with over 25 years of teaching experience. As an educator, she has worked across the US and in the Denver area with a variety of businesses, business professionals, schools, arts centers, and theatres including teaching “Voice In Performance” at University of Denver and Metro State. Ms. Blair is also part of the creative team that developed and continues to disseminate the Teaching Artist Training (TAT) program across the country. Locally, she has acted with the Arvada Center, the Shwayder Theatre, Industrial Arts Theatre, Shadow Theatre, Denver Center Theatre Company. She toured four seasons with the DCPA’s Living History High School Residency Program and is now co-director. In addition, Ms. Blair is the voice coach for Count Me In and Make Mine a Million $ Business . She holds an MFA degree from the National Theatre Conservatory and a BA from Yale University. She is a member of Toastmasters and VASTA.
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J. David Blatt, Adjudicator.
J. David Blatt (Scenic Designer) is the faculty scenic designer at the University of Northern Colorado. He has over 125 different design and directing credits. While at UNC, he has designed the sets for “Marathon 33”, “Once in a Lifetime”, “Aida”, “Raisin in the Sun”, “Sweeney Todd”, “You Can’t Take It With You”, “Harvey”, “Guys and Dolls”, “Cosi Fan Tutte” and many others. His worked has appeared in the Virginia Shakespeare Festival, the Georgia Shakespeare Festival, the Wayside Theatre, Little Theatre of the Rockies, Creede Repertory Theatre and several other companies. He received his MFA in Design from the University of Utah and has taught with the University of Tulsa, Wichita State, Idaho State and Viterbo University. While at these schools, he has received several design awards from ACTF, sending work to both regional and national conventions. He continues to work with the William Inge Playwriting Festival, having designed the tributes for (and working with) Arthur Miller, Neil Simon, Stephen Sondheim, Tina Howe, Arthur Laurents, Harvey Schmidt, Tom Jones, Paula Vogel, and Arthur Kopit. He is a strong advocate for the arts in Colorado education and loves coming yearly to the Thespian Festival!
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Sondra Blanchard is a professional actor, teaching artist and clown who has been creating and performing original plays both nationally and internationally for the last fifteen years. Clown-wise, she has worked with the New Pickle Circus, Big Apple Circus Clown Care, and performed her one-woman shows, among them Fly!Trap. Sondra has studied with such masters as Bill Irwin, Yury Belov, Dodi DiSanto, Jeff Raz, and Ronlin Foreman. Locally, she is adjunct faculty at UNC and mentoring at Naropa University. She has also taught at Community College of Aurora, the Arvada Center, The Art Underground, and choreographed for Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids. Sondra holds an MFA in Theatre: Contemporary Performance from Naropa University and is a graduate of the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre.Bio photo
Alberto Bonilla, Workshop Presenter.
Alberto is originally from Gilbert, Arizona, where he received his BA in acting at Arizona State University. He also attended The British American Dramatic academy Academy in Oxford, England, before moving to the east coast to receive his MFA from Rutgers University at the Mason Gross School of the Arts. Recent TV credits include Law and Order: Criminal Intent (recurring role), The Sopranos (Alonso), and in a recurring role on All My Children as “”Tommy”” the intern. Film credits include Knight Fighters “Guy”(lead), The Nanny “”Juan,”, Angel “Angel”(lead), and a TV sitcom pilot called Strait no Chaser with Bronson Pinchot (Perfect Strangers). Alberto also freelances fight/stunt directing. Currently, Alberto runs an independent film company, is a playwright and director in residence at the 78th Street Theatre Lab in New York, and is Assistant assistant Director director of Admissions admissions at the School for Film and Television. “Walking to America” was his first published play.
Kate Boyles, Workshop Presenter.
Kate is a graduate of The Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas – Summer 2010. She is a senior at Smokey Hill High School and has previously worked for the Aurora Fox Theatre.
Linda Brennan is on the faculty of AADA, (Voice and Speech Department Chair), South Coast Repertory, and Theatricum Botanicum, where she teaches voice, speech and dialects. Film and TV credits include American Pie, The Scorpion King, Sonny, That’s Life (CBS), The Hughleys (UPN), For the People (Lifetime). Besides extensive individual coaching, Linda has coached hundreds of theatre productions including Streetcar Named Desire (South Coast Rep), The Crimson Thread (Pasadena Playhouse), Arms and the Man (A Noise Within), Old Times (El Portal Center for the Arts) and The Nibroc Trilogy (Actor’s Co-Op).  Linda has an MFA in Acting from Brandeis University and an MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. She has presented at ATHE (The American Theatre in Higher Education) on various topics, including Take the Valley Out of the Girl! and is a voice and speech consultant for Braintracks Audio in Los Angeles. Linda is a licensed psychotherapist in the state of California, where she works with performing artists experiencing performance anxiety. Linda is a member of SAG, AFTRA, and the Television Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Linda is a member of VASTA (Voice and Speech Trainer’s Association). Her article, T’s and Sympathy: Adventures in the Hollywood Dialect’s Trade appears in the VASTA Journal, “Essays on Voice and Speech”.
Toni Rae Brotons, Workshop Presenter.
Toni Rae has been acting in the DC area since 1998. Prior to that she spent two years with the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival and also worked for the Educational Theatre Association assisting Nancy Brown, EdTA’s director of educational programs. Toni Rae has performed in many genres of theatres, including new works, children’s theatre, musical theatre and classical theatre. The last three years she has performed with the award-winning Taffety Punk Theatre Company in their Riot Grrrl’s (all female) Shakespeare productions, playing the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Lucio in Measure for Measure, and most recently, Calphurnia and Lucillius in Julius Caesar. Other favorite roles include Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Percy in The Spitfire Grill, Medea in Homokay’s Medea, and Lucille in Junie B. Jones & A Little Monkey Business, for which she was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award. During the day Toni Rae earns her keep as director of education for a trade association. Toni Rae is a member of the Actors Equity Association and aspires to produce her own cabaret show in the near future.
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Max Brown, Adjudicator and Kansas Chapter Director
Kansas teacher Max Brown has been teaching high school theatre for nearly forty years, and has been at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas since it opened in 1985. He has championed anti-censorship campaigns, spent seven years developing the Kansas Theatre Teacher’s workshops, and established Kansas City’s Starlight Theatre high school and college internship program, which continues today. He became Kansas chapter director in August 2009.
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Richard Burk, Workshop Presenter.
Richard is the Program Director of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Casper College in Casper, Wyoming. Holding degrees from Simpson College (B.A. in Theatre Arts) and the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign (M.F.A. in Acting), Richard is also a member of the “Master Acting Teacher Program at the Actors Center in New York City. In August of 2010, Richard directed an investors’ production of Mary the Magdalene by James Olm, at the Chelsea Studios in New York. Magdalene will open under his direction at the Theatre at St. Clements in New York on June 14, 2011. In addition to his academic training, Richard has trained with Robert Cohen, Slava Dolgachev, Arthur Lessac, focusing on truth in acting.
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Will Burns, Workshop Presenter.
Will is the winner of the first sponsored Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival national award for Excellence in Sound Design. He is the Designer of over 30 professional and college productions in theatres ranging from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains. Will has taught workshops and classes at United States Institute of Theatre Technology symposia, at colleges, and for Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas. He has been nominated as ‘Rising Star’ at USITT.
Harrison Butler, Workshop Presenter.
Harrison is an actor and a director and teaches acting, voice, and movement at the University of Northern Colorado. His theatrical experience began right here in Colorado at Durango High School. His love of the theatre quickly grew and eventually led him to New York City after attending the Colorado State Thespian Convention in 1997 to attend acting conservatory at the School for Film and Television, now the New York Conservatory for Performing Arts. During his time in New York he worked as an actor in film, commercials, and theatre. Credits include the play What Remains at the New York Fringe Festival, several leads in independent films, including Leaving the Garden and False Start. He received his Bachelor’s of Acting at the University of Northern Colorado and then went on to pursue his Master of Fine Arts in Theatre at the University of Texas at Austin, where he also received a certification in Voice Studies from Barney Hammond. Acting Roles at the University of Texas include Constantin in Big Love, Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Ganya in the premier of a new adaptation of The Idiot. Professional Roles in Austin include Mr. Mayor in Seussical the Musical at ZACH Theatre and Eros in Re: Psyche at the Blue Theatre and the University of Texas. Harrison is proud to be back in his home state of Colorado, teaching at his alma mater, and looks forward to more great theatre here at the University of Northern Colorado. Previous roles here include Jonathan Harker in Dracula: The Case of the Silver Scream for which he received an Irene Ryan Nomination, Jack Ross in A Few Good Men, Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing. He has also been seen in Little Theatre of the Rockies productions, including roles as Ben in The Sunshine Boys, Dr. Jeremiah Mears in God’s Man in Texas, and Mitch in Tuesdays with Morrie. In the spring of 2011, he will direct The Adding Machine in the Norton Theatre.
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Kerstin Caldwell has been performing and studying the art of improvisation since she was first introduced to it in high school. She received much of her education in Chicago at Second City and iO, where she studied the theories and teachings of the late Del Close while performing with various Harold teams. She has also performed in Denver with Bovine Metropolis, Rattlebrain, The Second City Denver, and in 2005 Kerstin was a founding member of the Denver Improv Festival and the GroupMind Foundation. Since 2003, Kerstin has taught packed workshops at the Colorado Thespian Conference and created the conference’s first improv showcase called Improv Frenzy. Most recently, she has had the pleasure of experiencing the work of Viola Spolin and Paul Sills through the Wisconsin Theater Games Center and is deeply honored to have also been a student of Alan Arkin.Bio photo
Diane Carr, Adjudicator.
Diane is responsible for chapter/state relations for the Educational Theatre Association; she is also responsible for adult educational programming. Diane holds a master’s in secondary education and retains teaching licensure in Ohio and Kentucky. She also holds a master’s in English and an MBA. In her spare time, Diane is a costume designer for Cincinnati theatres, is on faculty at CCM Preparatory, on the executive board of Cincinnati Enquirer’s Acclaims, and a member of the board for the Cappies of Greater Cincinnati.
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Jennifer Carrabetta, Workshop Presenter.
Jennifer was the drama director and dance teacher at Chaparral High School in Parker from 1998–-2004. Her  directing/choreography credits include Les Miserables, West Side Story, Once on This Island, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls, and many more. The Indiana University graduate now stays home with her little girl, Isabella, and works with Cherry Creek Dance and local Thespians thespians from time to time.
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Don Childs, Workshop Presenter.
Don began his theatrical career at the San Francisco Actors Workshop during the theatrically active 1960’s. During his tenure with the Workshop he spent his summers at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival (for 5 years) working as a technician, lighting designer and finally as Technical Director. When the Workshop founders went to New York to take over the Lincoln Center Theatres Don returned to college where obtained a BA from the University of Iowa and an MFA from Indiana University. A teaching career has taken Don from San Diego to Montreal and many places in between. Don has designed over 200 plays, musicals, dance concerts, and exhibitions. His work has been displayed at the Prague Quadrennial where the production that he lit for set designer Ladislav Vychodil won the Gold Medal for Scenography. Among Don’s favorite designs is the production of Not about Nightingales, which was produced at Sam Houston State. Nightingales brought him a number of awards including an invitation to exhibit in the inaugural World Stage Design exhibition in Toronto in 2005. Don was named Artist of the Year by the Texas Educational Theatre Association in 2007. Don is the current chair of the Southwest region of the United States Institute of Theatre Technology. Don left the world of academia to concentrate on the consulting and designing areas of his career. He recently founded the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas to train designers and technicians for the ‘high-tech’ world of entertainment technology, which has its center in Las Vegas. Don is a member of USITT, IATSE-USA 829, and IAAM.
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Jane Childs is the Director of Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas and has a varied 45 plus year theatre past including costuming, assisting her husband Don on his scenic and lighting design projects, performing simultaneous French translation for Ladislav Vychodil, and being the den mother to many years of theatre students. Her managerial and development skills bode well for SILV’s partners and for her work as VP – Development with the SW Chapter of USITT. Her studies have included Indiana University, La Sorbonne, and University of Iowa. Jane prides herself on the meshing of good materials and good practices with good people for the best future for our industry. Jane also shares husband Don’s true passion for theatre and teaching and his demand for integrity from those you work with be they students or collaborators which drove his work on a daily basis.Bio photo
Louise Clark, Workshop Presenter.
Louise has an MA in Drama and Theatre Education and a BA in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Warwick. She was a student at Calderdale Theatre School for seven years and now continues her commitment to the school as a workshop leader, stage managing productions and accompanying students to national and international festivals, and producing and directing multi-media aspects of the productions to work in conjunction with live action. She has had worked and trained with the Trestle Theatre Co, RSC, Birmingham REP, Horse and Bamboo Theatre, Classworks Theatre Co, Language Alive (TIE) and Jonothan Neelands (Drama in Education). She works nationwide as a Drama Facilitator and teaches both the Youth Theatre and education programs in schools, the community, and at Waterside Theatre. Louise has worked for International Schools Theatre Association attending theatre festivals across Europe. She recently worked on a film project with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Education Department in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Louise has worked for the past four years for Dramart Productions delivering and leading courses in TV & Film and Drama at various locations in the UK.
Maggie Cochran, Workshop Presenter.
Maggie is the make-up, retail and costume manager of Norcostco Denver, Maggie has taught professional make-up workshops for five years around the Denver metro area. Maggie is also a proud member of Hunger Artists Ensemble Theatre. Her recent directorial work includes Letters to Home, an original Hunger Artists production, and An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe. Maggie holds a Bachelors bachelors of Arts arts in Theatre theatre from The Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Jennifer Condreay, Adjudicator.
Jennifer Condreay just retired in June after 30 years of teaching high school theatre. After receiving an M.A. from the University of Denver, her career started at Boulder High School and then moved to the Cherry Creek School District. A former Alliance for Colorado Theatre president, she received the Colorado Theatre Educator of the Year award, the English English-Speaking Union Fellowship to study with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and three Cherry Creek teacher Teacher of the Year Awardsawards. She taught theatre at an international high school (TASIS) in London, and established a theatre exchange program with a high school in Paris. He has directed 22 musicals, two of which were featured on the Thespian main stage in Lincoln. Jennifer is now working for School tours Tours of America, designing Broadway show tours for high schools and acting in local theatres.
Bill Conte, Ph.D., Casper College Guest Artish.D, Theatre, The Graduate Center, City University of New York; M.A., Theatre, New York University; B.A., Writing and Literature, New York University. Before coming to Casper College, Bill was active in the New York City theatre scene for over 25 years. As artistic director of the Sicpa Ensemble (Staten Island Center for the Performing Arts), Bill staged productions of T.S. Eliot’s Waste Land at an abandoned industrial site and a retelling of the Prometheus legend over four acres of grounds at Snug Harbor Cultural Center. For three years the group produced new work in storefront theatre spaces in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, and staged experimental performance art events in venues throughout the city. As artistic director of Theatre SanGreal, Bill translated the entire Divine Comedy of Dante and staged Inferno in a successful off-off- Broadway run in Soho. In cooperation with the New York City Department of Parks, he staged the Paradiso at Midland Beach on Staten Island as a dance-theatre event accompanied by original music performed by a full orchestra. His productions of Macbeth and The Tempest were also staged on the beach on sets crafted from drift wood and other detritus, and since joing the staff at Casper College, he has directed productions of You Can’t Take It Wth You, R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots), and Death of a Salesman. Bill is the recipient of numerous grants and awards for his work in the theatre. His doctoral dissertation, “A Spectacle to the World”: The Performance of Christian Virgins and Monks in Late Antiquity, examines the “performativity” of early Christianity and demonstrates how the Church Fathers used ideas of performance to construct Orthodox Christian identity.Bio photo
Dee Covington is a founding member of Curious Theatre Company.  As the Education Director there she created Curious New Voices, a playwriting program for young writers 15 – 21 years old.  Her belief that everyone has a unique story to tell has enabled her to produce countless new plays on the Curious stage.  All powerful, original and full of theatrical integrity.   She also teaches, acts, directs and writes professionally in the Denver community.Bio photo
Rick Cowden, Guest Artist Metro State University
Effective, innovative leader with terminal degree credentials and an exceptional track record in professional video production and higher education. Inspirational visionary with demonstrated success in transforming organizations to increase productivity, efficiency, and morale. Multiply-talented omnitasker with uncanny ability to manage widely varied number and types of work items. Focused and driven, but with a keen sense of humor and calm under pressure. Outstanding written and verbal communicator having earned the reputation of fostering an environment in which colleagues are positioned to maximize their individual expertise and, therefore, perform at their highest levels
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Theresa Collins, Workshop Presenter.
Theresa Collins is the theatre director at Centaurus High School, has been teaching theatre for 23 years and has directed more than 90 workshops in high schools, middle schools and community theatres. She has a master’s in directing from Roosevelt University. She considers herself a “Jill of All Trades”; besides theatre classes, she also teaches PE/aerobics, core language arts classes, various electives, and she advises the school newspaper. She has been an aerobics instructor off and on since the late ’80s! Go leotards and leg warmers!
Bud Coleman is an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder and Chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance. A former dancer with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Fort Worth Ballet, and Ballet Austin, he has directed and choreographed over two dozen plays and musicals, including Rent, Seussical, Pippin, Wonderful Town, The Mikado, Into the Woods, Hair, and Six Degrees of Separation. September 2008 he directed / choreographed Sondheim’s Company in Vladivostok, Russia, under the auspices of the U.S. State Department Cultural Envoy program and was selected to be a 2009-10 Fulbright Lecturer at Waseda University and Kyoritsu Women’s University in Tokyo.Bio photo
Rena Cook is Professor of Voice at the University Of Oklahoma School Of Drama where she teaches voice, speech and dialects.  In her 20 year career, she has served as voice and dialect coach for over one hundred shows including Cosi, The Real Thing, The Beauty Queen of Leenane and Richard III.  She conducts the voice master class for the national Irene Ryan Finalists at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Washington, D.C.   Rena holds an MA in Voice Studies from the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, an MFA in directing from the University of Oklahoma.  Her new book Voice in Action: A Young Actor’s Guide to Vocal Expression is published by Methuen Drama. She has taught at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and at Central School in London.  Her voice workshops are favorites at Thespian Conferences throughout the US and UK.
Kerry Cripe, Guest Artist
Kerry M. Cripe, MFA in Technical Direction, Florida State University; BFA in Theatre Design & Technology, University of Evansville, Evansville, IN. Senior Instructor, Technical Director. CU faculty member since 2002. Previously Assistant Professor of Theatre, Director of Theatre at the University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, 2002-2002; and Instructor of Theatre, Technical Director, and Production Manager, University of Southern Indiana, 1997-2000. Professional credits include work as Technical Director/Production Manager for New Harmony Theatre, New Harmony, IN; and Scenery Director for the Utah Shakespearean Festival.
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Laurence Curry, Workshop Presenter.
Mr.Laurence Curry has worked professionally as an actor, dancer, and choreographer the past fifteen years internationally. With the Denver Center: Full time teaching artist, Hip Hop Jambalaya (director), Living History program (actor), Streetcar Named Desire, The Madwoman, Fences (Company actor). Laurence received his BA from the University of Northern CO. Most recent work includes, Curious Theatres Collapse, the movie Assassins Code, dancing in Opera Colorado’s Rusalka and choreography for Live Well 2012.Curry has a BA in Theatre and Dance from University of Northern Colorado. He has worked professionally as an actor, dancer, martial artist and choreographer over fifteen years. Favorites include- Film and Commercials: Asteroid, Strange Land, Things to Do in Denver When Your Dead, Coors, Nintendo, Ford, and Schwinn. Dance Companies: Oakland’s Savage Jazz Dance Company, Monster Shop Bumpin, Mora Porvida. Stage: The Denver Center Theatre Company’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire, Zoo Story performed in Ireland, Arvada Center’s production of Aida. Kaiser Permanente’s educational theatre programs, Imagination Makers Theatre Company, DCTA Living History program.
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Mary Dailey, Adjudicator.
Mary Dailey is a music director and vocal coach in Denver. She has extensive experience as a music director and audition accompanist for main stage productions and children’s theatre. Venues include Town Hall Arts Center, Avenue Theatre, Aurora Fox Theatre, Country Dinner Playhouse, Pinnacle Theatre, Backstage Theatre in Breckenridge, Boulder’s Dinner Theatre, and the Lakewood Cultural Arts Center. Favorite productions include “The Fantasticks”, “Phantom”, “Secret Garden”, “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”, “Crazy for You”, and “Love Perfect”. Mary is the recipient of the Colorado Theatre Guild’s 2011 Henry Award for Music Direction (“Chicago”, Town Hall Arts Center). She has also been honored for her work in musical theatre by BACKSTAGE WEST in Los Angeles and the Colorado Coalition of Community Theaters. Mary has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with an emphasis in voice and accompanying, a Masters in Education, and a K-12 Principal’s License. She recently retired from 27 years in Colorado schools where she taught music at all grade levels and was an elementary and high school administrator.
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Joe and Danielle DeMers, Workshop Presenters.
Joe and Danielle are known for their crazy air steps and energetic style of dancing. They are very versatile dancers ranging from modern jazz to vintage blues to performance Lindy Hop. Since they started competing together in 2006, they have won over 30 national titles, with most notable, Lindy Hop placements at national jitterbug championships, Boston Tea Party Strictly, Camp Jitterbug Strictly, and Rhythmic Arts Festival; they dance on the four-time international championship team, 23 Skidoo. They continually train and travel worldwide for dance movements and techniques. They pride themselves with preserving original dance styles while continually striving for new ideas. www.joeandnelle.com.
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Brenton Daviau is a Colorado based actor, designer, and film artist who graduated at The University of the Arts located in Philadelphia with a BFA in Acting. He was one of the four founding members of Applebox Theatre Company in Denver and was one of the current founders of Second Sight Theatre Company in Philadelphia. He last appeared in his own one man show, The Human Cartoon that premiered in Broomfield, CO, July 2012.  His producing credits include Dog Sees God: Confessions of a teenage blockhead (2010), Summertree (2010). His recent stage credits include The Blue Monster, (King Fanfur) (2010) by Carlo Gozzi, adapted by Aaron Cromie; The Dark End of the Street, (Pantalone) (2009) Original Commedia Lazzi at the Merriam Theatre, Buried Child, (Bradley) (2009) by Sam Shepard; The Cider House Rules Parts I and II (Ensemble) (2009) by Peter Parnell, at the Merriam Theatre. He has studied the style of Commedia Dell’ Arte with professionals such as Fabrizio Paladin and Aaron Cromie.  www.brentonsdaviau.comBio photo
Mark Drum, Adjudicator.
Mark Drum recently graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a BA in Theatre. While at UNC, Mark was featured in their University marketing ranging from their commercial, website and print ads. He has been a loyal thespian and active volunteer for the Educational Theatre Association, helping out at several junior conferences, state conferences as well as the International Thespian Festival. In 2006, he was selected to be an International Thespian Officer as the Publications Editor/Secretary/Webmaster. Currently he is working on Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful, which is schedule to be released March 2013.
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Meaghan K. Dunham, Adjudicator
Meaghan earned her MFA degree in theatre directing from the Hilberry Repertory Company at Wayne State University. As an educator, she has worked extensively in both the public and private sector, writing curriculum, coordinating outreach programs and working as an artistic consultant. Meaghan has been a theatre educator at Grosse Pointe South High School for the last eighteen years, during which time she has had four productions chosen for main stage performance at the International Thespian Festival, and her students continue to receive numerous individual event and scholarship awards. Ms. Dunham is currently working with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival Company to coordinate specialized workshops on Shakespeare for local students. She continues to work nationally as an EDTA adjudicator and guest artist, and is thrilled to once again work with the Colorado Thespians.
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Krista Carson-Elhai, Adjudicator and California Chapter Director.
Krista Carson Elhai has taught high school theatre for 28 years and has directed 300+ productions. She has over 500 students in her program at Claremont HS, which produces 7-10 shows a year, with 11 sections of theatre, and an International Baccalaureate Theatre program. Her productions have performed mainstage at both the CA State Thespian Festival and the International Thespian Festival. Serving on the CA State Thespian board since 1993, Krista is in her third term as the California State Thespian Director. She is on the board of the California Educational Theatre Association as Co-Chair of the New Teacher Committee, and is the Western US Representative on the EdTA Advocacy Task Force to study issues and promote national policies that impact K-12 Theatre Education. Krista has taught numerous workshops throughout California on fundraising, time management, marketing, Theatre Advocacy, and coaching Theatre Educators on how to make their Theatre programs the center of a school. A two-time Finalist for the LA Music Center Bravo Award, Krista was recently awarded a Chase Fellowship from the LA Music Center which sent her to the Broadway Teacher’s Workshop to study with Stephen Sondheim. She has received the CA Educational Theatre Association’s Theatre Teacher of the Year, and was inducted into the EdTA Hall of Fame in 2009.
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Amanda Earls, Adjudicator.
An alumni from University of Northern Colorado, and originally from St. Louis, Amanda  is currently the 8th Grade Theatre elective teacher, and a guest artist teacher, for Denver School of the Arts.  Just coming off of a four month run of “Mary Poppins” as Miss Andrew, Amanda obtained her Actors Equity card shortly after college and has been working professionally since.   As a vocalist, Amanda has performed with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in “An Evening with Gershwin”, conducted by the late Marvin Hamlisch.  She was in the first National Tour and International tour of “The Great American Trailer Park Musical”.  Favorite credits include Yitzak in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”, Maureen in “Rent”, Amy in “Company”, and Tricia in the Regional Premiere of “Dog Sees God”.  Amanda has been in over a dozen productions at The Arvada Center, including “Legally Blonde” and “Hairspray”, and now resides in Boulder.
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Nick Embree, Workshop Presenter.
Nick is the Head of the BFA Theater Design and Technology Program in the Ira Brind School of Theater Arts, at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. At UARTS, Nick oversees an exciting mix of faculty members, outside pros, and students designing 12-18 shows per year in five different performance spaces. In addition to his teaching work, Nick is an active freelance set designer with many East Coast theater credits plus a few for regional theaters around the country. His most recent Philly credit was for the world premiere of SILVERHILL, by Tom Gibbons, at Interact Theatre Company. His most recent regional theater credit was for the PTTP Rep, in Delaware, where he designed CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF for director Adrian Hall. Nick holds a BA from Dartmouth College, an MFA in set design from Temple University, and also studied at NYU’s Tisch School. Nick has been nominated for four Barrymore awards (Philadelphia’s Tony) for his set design work.
Derek Epstein, Univeristy of Wyoming Guest Artist
Derek Epstein is currently a senior at the University of Wyoming where he is studying Scenic Design. At the University of Wyoming Derek has been a part of many productions ranging from dance, plays, musicals and opera. Derek has currently work at the Snowy Range Summer Theater, Idaho Repertory and most recently at Contemporary American Theatre Festival in West Virginia. One of Derek’s greatest passions is Computer Aided Design which has been a hobby of his since high school and has now grown into a hobby and career path.
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Amy Feinberg is the Head of Directing Playwriting and Production at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and the Producing Artistic Director of The Hypothetical Theatre Company in NYC.  In New York, she has directed the premieres of There or Here by Jennifer Maisel, My Sweetheart’s the Man in the Moon by Don Nigro, Beautiful Hills of Brooklyn starring Joanna Merlin, The Action Against Sol Schumann by Jeffrey Sweet, Ordinary Heroes and Almost Grown Up by Aviva Jane Carlin, Gun Club by Hunt Holman, Quake and Sparrow Project by Melanie Marnich, Sitting Pretty by Amy Rosenthal, Buying Time by Michael Weller and its extended run with the help of SB Productions;  The Heart of Art by Michael Weller, Mickey’s Home, American Blues, Hot Date, and the critically acclaimed Ghost on Fire by Michael Weller.  For the National Park Service, Amy wrote, directed and produced Ellis Island Stories which was in residence at Ellis Island 1992-2000 and now tours nationally to schools, festivals, etc.  Other NY and Regional Credits include: Goldineh Medina (Curious Theatre in Denver), Topdog/Underdog at The Freedom Theatre (Forbidden Culture), There or Here workshop at Play Penn, Brass Birds Don’t Sing for True Colors & Jewish Theatre of the South in Atlanta, Almost Grown Up for Sacramento Theatre Co, The Action Against Sol Schumann at JTS in Atlanta, West Coast premiere of Quake, Shedding Light at Shadowland Theatre, Gun Club at Cherry Lane, etc.  In Philadelphia, Amy has directed the Philly premieres of The Walls by Lisa Dillman, Quake, Jennifer Maisel’s Match, and Shedding Light by Rich Orloff, and a classic production of To Kill a Mockingbird for Uarts.  Amy holds an MFA in directing from Northern Illinois University and is a proud member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, the Actors Equity Association and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.Bio photo
J E R Friedenberg, Workshop Presenter.
(BA Wake Forest University, MFA Carnegie Mellon University) Director of Theatre and Senior Lecturer at Wake Forest University where he has taught for over 20 years, Mr. Friedenberg’s background is in design and production, directing and producing. In addition to work in the professional theatre, he has served on the boards of several theatre and arts organizations. For the past 8 years, he has focused on the admissions and recruiting process in education and has lead workshops and panels on this topic for various groups. Mr. Friedenberg is a director, producer, KC/ACTF Respondent, and Adjudicator for State and Thespian organizations for design, stage management, marketing, and 1-act events.
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Davida Wright Galvin, Workshop Presenter.Bio photo
Krista Gano, Workshop Presenter.
Krista has 15 years experience working in the entertainment industry. She worked with Tony Award-winning producer Stephen Eich at The Geffen Playhouse. At the Geffen, Krista worked on producing 4 shows per year, along with special event performances, such as Marcel Marceau and the 1st Annual Gala Celebration hosted by Jason Alexander and Annette Bening. In 2002, Krista became the Executive Director of The Groundlings Theatre. In addition to producing 5 shows a year, she also produced The Groundlings 30th Anniversary Season, including a Gala celebration co-hosted by alumni Will Ferrell, Cheryl Hines, Chris Kattan and Lisa Kudrow. Under her leadership, The Groundlings expanded The School and Training divisions, launching the careers of Kristen Wiig (SNL), Jim Rash (Community) and Stephanie Courtney (Flo on the Progressive Commercials). Since leaving The Groundlings in 2006, Krista co-founded the company Innovative Improv Solutions where she creates communication training classes that are rooted in improvisational exercises, and are tailored to their client’s specific goals and needs. Clients include Sony Electronics, 20th Century Fox, ESPN, Blue Sky Animation Studios, My Space, The Grammy’s and UCLA. Most recently, Krista has begun to pass on her knowledge to up-and-coming actors by teaching at the Colorado School of Acting. She is thrilled to see others take strides forward, whether an actor who takes a risk to find a deeper place or an executive who realizes how to better motivate others. It is a privilege to be a part of those moments.
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Shelly Gaza, Adjudicator.
Shelly Gaza is an Assistant Professor of Theatre, specializing in Voice & Speech and Acting Styles. She has an MFA in Acting from Wayne State University, a BFA in Acting from Millikin University, and has studied at the Moscow Art Theatre School in Russia. Shelly is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association, Actors’ Equity Association and is Chair of the Denver Actors’ Equity Liaison Committee.
As an actor, Shelly has worked with theatre companies across the country including the Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Paragon Theatre (Denver), Talisman Theatre (Chicago), and The JET and Hilberry Repertory Theatres in Detroit. She received the 2003 Oscar Wilde Award for Best Actress for her work in A Streetcar Named Desire at Hilberry Repertory, and the 2006 Finlayson Acting Award at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Shelly has also performed with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and done film, television and radio work including national commercials for HGTV, Red Roof Inn Hotels, and Coors Light. Shelly has taught theatre at Minnesota State University Moorhead, Wayne State University, the Actor Training Program at Utah Shakespeare Festival/Southern Utah University, Lake Dillon Theatre Company, and the Eliot Street Collective in Denver. Shelly now lives in Thornton, Colorado with her husband and two children.
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Tim Grant, Actor and Guest Artist
Tim Grant is a graduate of Catawba College with a BA in Theatre, and has been acting professionally in theatre and film for over 20 years. He directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scapino!, Bridge to Terabithia, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Comedy of Errors, and The Moon is Down . Tim has taught Technical Theatre for Actors, Acting for the Camera, and every spring, Shakespeare. Before moving to Denver in 2002 he worked extensively with the Children’s Theatre of and for many seasons with such programs as StARTS at Winthrop College, Queens College Shakespeare Camp, and The Old Courthouse Youth Theatre. In addition to his work with kids in the theatre genre, he worked with Corrigan & Johnston Casting Agency, and worked on numerous films and commercials.
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Stephen Gregg, Playwright and Guest Artist
Stephen is no stranger to Thespian Conferences across the country, and his popular This is a test One Act is a headline show across the country. Stephen Gregg’s plays include This is a Test, Small Actors, S.P.A.R., Twitch, One Lane Bridge, and many others. This is a Test has been on Dramatics magazine’s list of most-produced one-acts for over twenty years. Gregg writes the Playwright Now blog at schooltheatre.org
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William Goldyn was nominated by his students and was chosen as one of the top theatre arts educators in Los Angeles.  He is a National Board Certified Teacher and a Center Theatre Group “Bravo Award” recipient who has directed over 40 high school productions, including Peter Pan, Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, A Chorus Line, Beauty and the Beast, The Shadow Box and Dreamgirls.  His award-winning production of The Crucible recently returned from performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.  Besides receiving an MA in Theatre Education from the University of Northern Colorado, Mr. Goldyn was also educated in Oxford, Prague, and Vienna; for the latter, he was chosen as one of only fifteen teachers in the United States.  He currently teaches all levels of acting and directing, Play Production, Advanced Voice & Speech, and Improv at a new and ground-breaking visual and performing arts school in Downtown, Los Angeles.Bio photo
Paul Hampton, Adjudicator.
A teacher at Columbus High School in Columbus GA, Paul has 24 years of experience working with young adults in theater arts. Under his direction Columbus High has reached the finals of the GHSA One Act Play Competition 8 out of the last 9 years, including 3 State Championships. He has served on the Georgia Thespian’s Chapter Board for 12 years and is currently in charge of Individual Events for the Georgia Thespian Conference. Paul was recently inducted in the Georgia Thespian Hall of Fame. When not directing shows at his school, Paul is a stage manager at the Springer Opera House, the State Theater of Georgia.
Chelsey Hannah, Guest ArtistBio photo
Danielle Hatley, Guest Artist Overstreet DanceBio photo
Brian Hapcic, Workshop Presenter.
Brian has been working in theatre and the entertainment industry since 1989. Before arriving at UNCO, he was employed as a Professor of Lighting and Sound Design at the University of Southern Maine, as well as the University of Southern Mississippi. He is a member of USITT and I.A.T.S.E. local 339, and has completed designs for theatre, opera, dance, television, video, and media installations. Some credits from over 100 designs include work with such companies as the Maine State Music Theatre, The Southern Arena Theatre, The Montana Repertory Theatre, Bigfork Summer Playhouse, and The University of Southern Mississippi Repertory Dance Company. He earned his MFA in Lighting Design and Technology from The University of Montana, and a BA in English from Ohio University. In 2004 he was awarded the KCACTF Faculty Fellowship for meritorious achievement as a professor of Lighting Design.
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Melissa Faith Hart first had the idea of setting Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter to music when she was 19, while attending college in Boston, Massachusetts, and reading the classic, compelling novel. It sparked her to compose the music and lyrics for “Be Still My Child” – the first song that started her down the multi-year path of creating a full-fledged musical. Developed over the years while Melissa balanced school, motherhood, and a professional career in training and sales, today Scarlet Letter…the Musical represents Melissa’s life’s opus and embodies the dream of seeing her words and songs on stage. “I feel blessed to be a mother myself and in many ways understands Hester’s road and drive for her daughter Pearl,” she says. Melissa began acting and singing in school, church plays and musicals, and then ventured out to local community theaters as an actor and director.
Lawrence Hecht has been acting, directing and teaching professionally for more than 35 years. In his 15th year with the DCPA, he is a company member with the DCTC. He was a company member, Conservatory Director, Artist and Repertory Director at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco for more than 20 years. Mr. Hecht has worked with numerous regional companies including; Curious Theatre Company, Creede Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Arizona Theatre Company, Berkeley Rep, the San Francisco New Play Festival, San Diego Rep, and Modern Muse. He is a graduate of the University of San Francisco and has an MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theatre. Film roles include Neal Prescott in The Scream Trilogy.
Erik Hellman, Guest Artist
Erik is a professional actor based in Chicago where he has appeared at Steppenwolf Theatre: Honest, Elephant Man and Huck Finn; Chicago Shakespeare Theatre: The Madness of King George, Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, Edward II and Court Theatre: Arcadia, Titus Andronicus, Comedy of Errors and The Mystery of Irma Vep for which he was nominated for Chicago’s Jeff award. Other Chicago credits include Writers’ Theatre, Timeline Theatre, Remy Bumppo, Chicago Dramatists, Next Theatre, The House and Strawdog. Regionally, Erik played the title roll in Romeo and Juliet at Indiana Repertory Theatre and other leading roles at Milwaukee Repertory: I Just Stopped By to See the Man; Houston’s Stages Theatre: Mr. Marmalade and Oh, The Humanity; The Geva: Dracula; Shakespeare Santa Cruz: Romeo and Juliet and All’s Well That Ends Well and as Macbeth Off-Broadway at the Mirror Rep. Erik’s film and TV work includes The Dark Knight and The Chicago Code. Erik grew up in Denver, attended East High School and mentored with Tony Church, founding member of the RSC and emeritus head of DCPA’s three year training program. He is a graduate of Northwestern University.
Markas Henry, Workshop Presenter.
Markas Henry is an Assistant Professor of Costume Design at the University of Colorado, Boulder where he teaches Costume Design, Makeup Design, Illustration & Rendering and Fashion History.Professional costume and scenic design work has been seen on Broadway (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beauty and the Beast), Off-Broadway (The Great American Trailer Park Musical), Film (Elf) and two Britney Spears US/ World tours. Markas‘ Colorado designs have been seen on the stages of Curious Theatre, Opera Colorado, Theatre Aspen, Telluride Rep and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. His costume designs can be seen in the recently released film Leading Ladies, set in the world of amateur ballroom dance and starring/ featuring several dancers from SYTYCD? (www.leadingladiesmovie.com)
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Matthew Herrick is a multi-faceted theatre artist and educator, recently transplanted from a vigorous acting and teaching career in New York City, to Greeley, as a Professor of Musical Theatre at the University of Northern Colorado. Matthew has taught singing, acting, and voice/speech throughout NYC and beyond.  His students can be seen in leading roles on Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours, Disney parks, and major regional theatres throughout the country, as well as multiple scholarship recipients to the top Musical Theatre programs in the country.  He previously taught at NYU Tisch School of the Arts at CAP21, The University of Texas at Austin, and various private studios throughout NYC and Utah. With his equal understanding of singing, acting, speech, and dancing, Matthew believes in developing musical theatre actors through continual inter-disciplinary correlative training – where the actor, singer, and dancer are ‘one.’  As a performer, he has worked throughout the NYC industry, from musical theatre to Greek drama, to soap operas, commercials, concerts, cruise ships and beyond. He received his Master of Fine Arts in Acting from The University of Texas at Austin and his BFA in Musical Dance Theatre from Brigham Young University.  Matthew is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association, Voice and Speech Trainers Association, and the National Association for Teachers of Singing.
For more info. – www.matthewherrick.net
Matt Herrrick
Kent Homchick, Guest Artist
Kent has practiced his craft as a scenic designer in several American regional theaters, including the American Conservatory Theater, The Seattle Repertory Theater, PCPA Theaterfest, and The Denver Center Theater Company. Kent is a free-lance designer and an Associate Professor of Production Design for the College of Arts and Media, University of Colorado Denver. He received his MFA from the Carnegie-Mellon School of Drama. Presenters digital portfolio: http://carbon.ucdenver.edu/~khomchic/portfolio/homchick_portfolio.htm
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Brian Hughes, Workshop Presenter.
Brian Hughes studied at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland, and has worked and studied with some of the top names in theatre, including Barry McGovern, Peter Woodward and Eric Morris. Brian spent several years in Los Angeles working in film and television as an actor, casting director and producer. He produced and co-produced several music videos, commercials and short films, including A Love Letter to Steve McQueen (official selection, Dances with Films), Situation Normal (COLA award nominee) and Impersonal Impression (winner, Slamdance: Anarchy Film Festival). Brian returned to the stage, and Colorado in 2004 and has been seen in productions of The Winter’s Tale, Nickle and Dimed, Rozencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Scarlet Letter and Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol. Brian currently works as the Executive Director for KRFC-FM and serves as the President of the Board for Openstage Theater and Company in Fort Collins.
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William Ilkley, Workshop Presenter.
William trained at Rose Bruford on the B.A. (Hons) Theatre Arts Course and his regional theatre credits include Bolton Octagon, Manchester Royal Exchange, Newcastle Playhouse, Birmingham Rep, Theatre Clwyd, Watford Palace, Harrogate Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, Derby Playhouse, Leicester Haymarket, York Theatre Royal, and The West Yorkshire Playhouse. He was a leading actor with John Godbers’ Hull Truck Theatre Company from 1988 to 2001 and has worked often on the West End. Touring Theatre includes the Edinburgh Festival, Donmar Warehouse, the Swan Theatre RSC Stratford, and numerous National Tours. William has over 80 TV credits and numerous film credits, with the BBC, Walt Disney Productions, and North Country Pictures. He owns and runs the company DRAMART PRODUCTIONS LTD., which specializes in running performance arts workshop courses for schools and colleges, with courses taking place in Spain, Greece, Italy, South Africa, USA, Stratford and London. You can visit their website at www.dramartproductions.co.uk. William’s Official Website is www.williamilkley.com.
Brian Jackson Brian is a University of Northern Colorado graduate with a BA degree in Musical Theatre.  He has been working performing in the Boulder/ Denver area for the past 14 years.  Most recently Brian was seen at BDT Stage in “The Buddy Holly Story”, and earlier this year had the privilege of directing and choreographing “Forever Plaid.”  Favorite rolls include Sir Lancelot in Monty Python’s Spamalot, Smudge in Forever Plaid, Franz Libkind in The Producers, Nikki/Trekkie Monster in Avenue Q and Cornelius Hackel in Hello Dolly.  Brian has also has the opportunity to be the lighting designer for productions of Shout, Nunsence, and multiple Pops Concerts.  Brian also spent 5 years choreographing and doing lighting design for the BDTA.  Brian is thrilled to return to the Colorado Thespian Convention as an adjudicator after going thru the process as a high school student 18 years ago.  Break a leg!! Brian Jackson
John Jankow. Adjudicator.
John is known to Colorado audiences for performances with Rattlebrain Theater, Paragon Theater, and Impulse Theater, as well as work at Little Theater of the Rockies at UNC. In the Portland, OR, he was in critically acclaimed productions at the Artists’ Repertory Theater, including Wit and Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde.
Jennifer Jirous is Director of STEM, Arts and Information Technology for Career and Technical Education at the Colorado Community College System, and producer of the immensely successful annual CTE Creative Careers Expo.
Dr. Laura Jones is a professor of theatre at Colorado State University.  Dr. Jones served as Associate Chair in CSU’s School of the Arts and Director of Theatre for nine years.  Laura’s directorial credits span a forty-year career and include titles from the classical canon (Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac and Shakespeare’s The Tempest) as well as twentieth century classics (Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge and Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple – both the male and female versions).  She has directed numerous musicals (personal favorites include Guys and Dolls, Cabaret, and West Side Story) and children’s theatre productions (The Emperor’s New Clothes and James and the Giant Peach).  With a special interest in plays by and about women from Susan Glaspell’s Trifles to Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues, Laura is drawn to plays that examine gender roles and sexual orientations:  Diana Son’s Stop Kiss, Caryl Churchill’s Cloud Nine, and Tony Kushner’s Angels in America.  Her productions have been chosen as regional finalists by the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival, most recently in 2005 and 2008, and she was awarded a KC/ACTF national fellowship in dramaturgy in 2009.
Rebecca Joseph, Guest Artist, Vintage Theatre
Rebecca Joseph is a Denver native who has worked on Broadway and in the West End in addition to professional theatres in Seattle and Denver. She has a Master’s Degree in Theatre Studies from the University of London and a Bachelor’s Degree from New York University. Rebecca loves to work behind the scenes to help mount productions and specializes in doing challenging musicals on a small scale.
Jennifer Johnson earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance from Barat College and the Barat Conservatory of Dance in Lake Forrest, IL. She has danced and taught throughout the Denver Metro area and has contributed to the Denver Arts community for over 14 years. Jennifer is a former Denver Broncos Cheerleader and her passion for the promotion of dance is demonstrated by her commitment to share her talent with youth. Jennifer also serves on the Board of Directors of Dance Arts Studio. She has choreographed over 10 shows for different Colorado high schools, and currently instructs a movement class for people afflicted with Parkinson disease.Bio photo
Michael Kary, Guest Artist Grand Canyon University
For the past 12 years, Michael has been working as an actor and writer in New York, Los Angeles, and San Diego. His credits include: Fame on 42nd Street (Original New York Cast); Hay Fever (New Jersey Shakespeare); Trojan Women, Pericles, Taming of the Shrew, Smash!, and Twelfth Night directed by Jack O’Brien (The Globe Theatres); Bandido! written and directed by Luis Valdez (San Diego Rep); Ivona, Princess of Burgundia (Sacred Fools Theatre); and Smoke on the Mountain (Lamb’s Players Theatre). He is co-founder of Nobody in Particular, an award winning production company with whom he has written and produced three television pilots (Deal With It, Little League, and Surviving Out of Doors with Louis) and a Shakespeare workshop for high school students. His plays include: The Servant and the Fool, Dial P for Peanuts (with David Hayes), and a one man show currently titled: God Knows What. Michael holds an MFA from the University of San Diego and is currently directs productions and teaches acting and writing at Grand Canyon University.
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Elizabeth Karsell, Workshop Presenter.
Elizabeth Karsell (Director of the Colorado School of Acting) has taught performing arts at Macy Gray Music Academy and Silverlake Conservatory in Los Angeles, as well as at her own studio just outside New York City. Elizabeth continues to act in films, in addition to creating projects and coaching actors. Her performing background includes leads in over 25 plays and musicals, with title roles in Cinderella and Gypsy, and over a dozen films including Waking Up in Reno with Billy Bob Thornton, and a turn as Judy Garland in Warner Brothers’ James Dean. She holds a degree in Communications and Music from DePauw University, and has worked in film production and development at Michael Douglas’s Furthur Films in New York, and the Spark Factory in Los Angeles. Elizabeth loves to help young actors gain the confidence and professionalism they need to get where they want to go. She, along with her husband Troy Horne, have an acting school devoted to teaching acting in the digital age. Their school, the Colorado School of Acting has two locations: Lakewood and Centennial, and you can find out more information by visiting http://coloradoschoolofacting.com
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Andrea Kehler is the Producing Artistic Director of Broadway Training Intensive (formerly Broadway Comes To Denver, and now expanding beyond the Denver area), and the Creative and Marketing Director of Broadway Bound Kids in New York City. Andrea began her professional performing career in her teens when she appeared with the National Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  Favorite performing credits include How to Succeed… (Hedy La Rue), Cinderella (Anastasia), Nunsense (Sr. Robert Ann), Cut to the Chase (Little Angela), Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow & Toto puppeteer), Snoopy (Woodstock), Peter Pan (Tinkerbell),The Gregory Hines Tribute.  She has been honored to perform with and/or work along-side legendary entertainers including Ann Reinking, Ben Vereen, Sam Harris, Terrence Mann, Alix Korey, and Charlotte d’Amboise. Directing and choreography credits include Seussical, All Shook Up, Bye Bye Birdie, Dear Edwina, Behind the Camera, Road Trip, and multiple musical reviews. She directed the dance program and founded the acting program at The School of Blessed Sacrament in NYC, co-created and directed Summer Theatre Project in Denver, Colorado, and has taught in programs ranging from The Butler University Department of Theatre (while still an undergraduate student), to the Denver Center Theatre Academy at the DCPA, and many schools and studios across the country.
Mary Ann Kehler successfully trains singers ranging from working professionals to those other teachers have labeled “tone deaf.” She is one of only 70 teachers of Speech Level Singing in the world to have attained Level III or higher certification and is also the Executive Producer of Broadway Training Intensive (formerly Broadway Comes To Denver, and now expanding beyond the Denver area).  Mary Ann trains singers of all styles and her students include musical theatre professionals, pop recording artists, lead singers for rock and R&B bands, classical choral soloists,voice teachers, music educators, worship leaders and singer/songwriters. She is a college audition coach and has students in top colleges and conservatories all over the country. She is co-author of a book on auditioning for college programs which will be published later this year. Mary Ann is a musical theatre director with over 65 shows to her credit. Companies under her direction have appeared with the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing…, been televised live in Europe, twice appeared in the opening number of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, entertained on the White House Ellipse and at Lincoln Center, in addition to dozens of high-profile events in the Rocky Mountainregion. Mary Ann is on the founding board of International Voice Teachers of Mix and is a mentor for other teachers in that organization. Her studio is in the Denver Technological Center; she teaches regularly around the country, and worldwide on Skype.
Geoffrey Kent, Workshop Presenter.
Geoffrey is a professional Fight fight Director director and stage combat teacher based out of Denver, Colorado. He is an instructor at the National Theatre Conservatory graduate program and the University of Denver and has taught at universities across the country. Geoff is the resident Fight fight Director director for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and Opera Colorado. www.thefightguy.com
Zachary Keller, Adjudicator.
Before joining the faculty of UNC’s School of Theatre, Zachary served as an Instructor in Penn State University’s School of Theatre where he also received his Master of Fine Arts in Theatrical Scenic Design. His recent scenic design credits include Sir Patient Fancy, Assassins, The Apple Tree, Ordinary Days (world premiere), Pentecost, Parade, WPSU’s Musical Theatre Spotlight 2006-2009. He has been a Sound Designer for numerous productions ranging from straight plays like The Laramie Project and Mother Courage & Her Children to large cast musicals such as 42nd Street and Jekyll & Hyde. Zak has also served as a Scenic Charge Artist or Prop Master for dozens of productions. In all areas of design and technology, Zak specializes in digital integration, ranging from virtual modeling and lighting to large-format printed scenery and props, to projection and interactive soundscaping. He has been an active Member of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology since 2001 and the Professional Photographers of America since 2006. This year, WPSU’s Musical Theatre Spotlight 2009 was Honored with the Mid-Atlantic Emmy® for best documentary. In 2005, Zak was honored with the Herbert J. Bailey Endowed Graduate Fellowship at Penn State. In 2008, he was twice honored as both a recipient of a Creative Achievement Medal from Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture and as the recipient the School of Theatre’s Anne Gibson Award for Professional Development in Theatre Design and Technology. He has also been honored several times for meritorious achievement in scenic design and sound design by The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
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Brian Kelley holds and MFA in Technical Direction from Ohio University.  He has worked in both professional and educational theatres.  They include The Des Moines Metro Opera, Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festival, Arizona Theatre Company, The Washington National Opera, Olney Theatre Center, Ohio University, University of Arizona and Ashland University.   He is currently the Technical Director for the Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Theatre Department.  Brian is a member of USITT.
Tanner Kelley, Guest Artist.

Tanner is an active music director, performer and teacher around the Denver-Metro area. He is the Executive Music Director for Inspire Creative where he has directed, performed, conducted, and music directed shows, summer programs, and children’s choirs for the last 8 years. Tanner is the High School Music Theatre Education Director for StageDoor Theatre and has music directed for Dylan’s Down With the Arts, St. Luke’s Performing Arts Academy and recently, his company was granted partnership with the PACE center in Parker where he now music directs and teaches classes. He is a frequent performer at the Adams Mystery Playhouse, a musical theatre and acting judge for Denver’s ThesCon and is a performing arts teacher for the Douglas County School District. Tanner has sung with groups such as The Sound of the Rockies, All State Mixed and Men’s Choir, Spin Quartet, The Colorado Korean Choir, Calvary Baptist, Littleton Chorale, and The Candlelight Singers. He is a proud member of the Evans Choir, with performance credits including the opera “The Poet Li Bai,” (Los Angeles production) and Bravo! Vail Musical Festival with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Tanner was ranked 1st place in musical theater singing in the 2010 national association of teachers of singers competition for Colorado/Wyoming, and has a DCSD Apple Award Nomination, which recognizes Outstanding Teachers. Some favorite credits include: Shrek: The Musical (Broadway World Nomination), Barfee in Spelling Bee, Mr. Andrews in Titanic, Mushnik in Little Shop, Buddy in Sideshow, Maestro Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi, Barrel in Urinetown, Lycus in Forum and Nicely-Nicely in Guys and Dolls. Tanner is a graduate from the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, holds his Colorado Teaching License through MSU Denver and is a Master of Music Ed student at ASU.

Tanner Kelly
Brian Kinney, an Emmy-nominated make-up artist and a Journeyman in IATSE Local 706 Make-up Artists and Hairstylists Guild, has been a professional makeup artist working in film, television, theater, and print for more than ten years. Trained in Makeup artistry in London, England, Brian has made his mark in FX labs, on set, and in classrooms across the U.S. and Europe. With a background in special effects makeup, his work can be seen weekly in any given crime scene and autopsy room on television shows such as CSI:NY, Rizzoli & Isles, NCIS: L.A., and 1000 Ways To Die. His character makeup work can also be currently seen on Madmen, Modern Family, Community, The Middle, and Justified. As Makeup Department Head, he recently completed the features  “Scenic Route,” “Beneath The Dark,” and “Julia X 3D”.Bio photo
Brenda King, Guest Artist CU
Brenda is Costume Shop Foreman for the University of Colorado’s Department of Theatre and Dance, as well as the Costume Director for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. She also managed costume shops at the George Street Playhouse (New Brunswick, NJ) for eight seasons, the McCarter Theatre (Princeton, NJ) and Paper Mill Playhouse (Millburn, NJ). Brenda also designs costumes. Recently her design for Morisot Reclining at the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company received a Henry Award Nomination, and a 2009 Camera Eye Award. Other experiences include working at Carelli Costumes (New York, NY) creating costumes for Broadway shows, movies & operas.
John Knight, Adjudicator. 
John, who has been teaching and directing high school drama in Illinois since 1988, currently directs theatre at Glenbrook South High School in the Chicago suburbs. Active in the Illinois Speech and Theatre Association as well as the Illinois Theatre Festival, John holds an M.A. in Directing directing from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. John has also performed professionally for many years around the Chicago area, where he has worked with several directors from the Goodman and Steppenwolf Theatre.
Cherity Koepke was drawn to music at an early age. A lyric soprano, she began singing at the age of 15 and has performed such roles as Eponine (Les Misérables), Guinevere (Camelot), Maria (The Sound of Music) and Adelaide (Guys & Dolls). In 2004, Ms. Koepke won the prestigious Thespian Tribute award for her performance of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. She attended the University of New Mexico, where she earned her degree in Child Psychology. Koepke also minored in theater, focusing on directing in addition to vocal performance. In 2001, Koepke began working as a behavior specialist with the Albuquerque Public School System. She continued to study theatre, becoming a Shakespearian trained actress through the Addison program. She has performed such roles as Katherine (Taming the Shrew), Juliet (Romeo and Juliet) and Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing). Well-versed in both performing and directing the classics, Koepke has directed productions such as, Inherit the Wind, The Tempest, A Little Night Music, Pirates of Penzance and A Lion in Winter. Koepke’s operatic work began in 2002 with the Santa Fe Opera as an artist-in-residence where she performed various roles throughout New Mexico including Norma (Norma) and Liu (Turandot). She also served as Director, Librettist and Vocal Coach, for their “Let’s Make an Opera” program which guides students as they create, produce and perform their own original opera. During the 2006 and 2007 seasons, Koepke performed with the Santa Fe Opera at the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s Disney Theater in Albuquerque. Koepke came to Opera Colorado in 2007, where she works in education and community programs and directs the company’s Young Artist residency program. She has directed Opera Colorado’s touring productions of Roméo et Juliette, Hänsel und Gretel and Carmen. In 2012, Koepke directed the student matinee production of Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. In addition to her position with Opera Colorado, Koepke continues to perform in the Denver area, most recently becoming recognized for her work as a Gaelic vocalist.Bio photo
Jodie Langel, Workshop Presenter.
Jodie will next be seen in the Prepre-Broadway tryout of “The Tale of Two Cities” at the Asolo Repertory Theater in Sarasota, FlFL. Jodie was last seen starring in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change in New York. She premiered on Broadway as in the role of Cosette in Les Miserables while still attending NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts (CAP 21), and later went on to play the role of Eponine. Her Broadway tour credits include the role of Bertrande in the Prepre-Broadway tour of Martin Guerre (including runs at the Guthrie, Ahmanson, and Kennedy Center, the Narrator in the National Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Grizabella in the National Tour of CATSCats, where she was the youngest person to ever portray the role. Regional credits include: Eva Peron in Evita at the Aladdin Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas and The North Carolina Theater, Robin in the revival of Smile, Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, Chess at Paper Mill Playhouse directed by Rob Marshall, the lead in a brand brand-new musical at the legendary Eugene O’ Neill Theater Conference directed by Bobby Long bottom, and the West -Coast premiere of The Thing about Men. Jodie has been a featured lead soloist for President Clinton, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra, the celebrated Lyric and Lyricists series at the 92nd Street YMCA, and the Mets/Yankees Subway Series! Jodie had the distinct honor of singing the National Anthem at the re-opening of the American Stock Exchange alongside Governor Pataki and New York City’’s firefighters and policeman. Jodie also was awarded “”Best National Anthem Singer of 2007”” by the Mets. Jodie has much Televisiontelevision, Radio radio and Hosting hosting experience, having last hosted the VH1 T.V. show “Singing Scentsations“, a reality show for rock star moms who sang at the Grammy Awards. She has also been featured on CNN, NPR and top radio programs all over the country. Jodie was one of the head teachers at the American Idol Camp in 2007. She holds an M.F.A in Acting acting from U.C.L.A.UCLA and has taught at U.C.L.AUCLA, The New School for Drama, and the Seth Riggs Vocal Camp in Los Angeles. She holds her own Musical musical Theater theater intensive in New York City called “”Making it on Broadway,”” aptly named after her bestselling book, both in the Summer summer and Winter winter and around the country. She also currently coaches and teaches and upcoming seminars are always available at her website at http://www.jodielangel.com www.jodielangel.com.
Heather Lawrence, Adjudicator and Workshop Presenter.
Heather studied acting at the University of Northern Colorado where she earned a B.A.BA in Theatre theatre and with The Denver Center Theatre during its 2003 summer intensive program. Since her return to the stage, Heather has become a recognizable presence on the Northernin Colorado theatre working with Openstage Theatre and Company, Bas Blue and Denver’s Curious Theater Company. Some of her credits include Hermione in The Winter’s taleTale, lady Lady Macduff in Macbeth, Wanda in Dirty Story and ScheherezadeScheherazade in The Arabian Nights. Most notably, Heather performed in the Regional regional premiere of the 365 play cycle by Suzan-Lori Parks at the Curious in Denver and last December, she received the 2006 Ovation Award for Best Supporting Actress from the The Denver post Post for her portrayal of Zillah Katz in Openstage’s production of A Bright Room Called Day.
John Leonard, Workshop Presenter.
John Leonard is the head of the Musical Theatre program at the University of Northern Colorado. A native of St. Louis, John directed/choreographed the 1983-84 St. Louis Pops Concert and Dames at Sea, and was the recipient of the 1984 Regional Director’s Award. John received his MFA from the University of California, Davis, and went on to direct/choreograph many musical productions in the San Francisco and Bay area including, The Sound of Music, A Chorus Line, Side by Side by Sondheim, Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret, Anything Goes, and A Grand Night for Singing (for which he received two 1997 Bay area “Arty Awards” for ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Musical’). While at UNC and Little Theatre of the Rockies, John has directed/choreographed Falsettos, Always…Patsy Cline, The Secret Garden, My Fair Lady, No No Nanette, The Sound of Music, My Way… A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra, 42nd Street, A Grand Night for Singing, Grease, Cabaret, Side Show, Grand Hotel, 1940’s Radio Hour, The Boyfriend, and directed Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Damn Yankees, Annie, Stuart Little, and Charlotte’s Web. John also directed/choreographed My Way for the Bucks County Playhouse in Pennsylvania, Godspell for GCTT, and choreographed My Way at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
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Talia Liccardello, Guest ArtistBio photo
Amy Long, Adjudicator.
Amy Long has been a professional teacher in Northern Colorado for almost 14 years and holds an MA in Theatre Education from the University of Northern Colorado. She currently works teaching drama to kindergarten through fifth grade students and has produced and directed over 20 plays specializing in work with children of all ages. Amy has collaborated with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to create curriculum overview samples for drama in the elementary classroom as well as integrate theatre and health instructional unit samples. The CDE has also partnered with Amy in the classroom to film her instruction as a drama teacher as part of a database for educators to create baselines for assessment for instruction. She has also worked on the national level to benchmark student work and performances using the new national drama standards.
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Cory Losenicky, Adjudicator.
Cory received his Bachelor’s and Master Degrees in Theatre Education from the University of Northern Iowa. He has been a high school Theatre Director and teacher for the past 14 years. He began his career at an inner-city high school in Iowa where he started their Theatre program. He is now the Theatre Director at Greenway High School in Phoenix, AZ. He has served on the Arizona Thespian Board for the past seven years and is the incoming State Director.
Jay Louden, Guest Artist.
Jay Louden, Assistant Professor. Jay holds an MFA in directing from the University of California, Irvine a BA in Theatre from Indiana University and completed the Professional Actor Training Program at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. His regional theatre acting credits include: “The Foreigner” and “The Philadelphia Story” at Alaska Repertory Theatre, “You Can’t Take It With You” at Arizona Theatre Company, “A Christmas Memory” and “Richard III” at the Mark Taper Forum and “Who’s Happy Now?,” “The Comedy Of Errors,” “Macbeth” and “Julius Caesar” at the Old Globe Theatre. His film and television credits include: “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Opposing Force,” “Scarecrow and Mrs. King,” “Remington Steele,” “Jake and the Fat Man” and “The Young and the Restless.” He has directed over 40 productions in professional and educational theatre including: “Tartuffe,” “The Hot l Baltimore,” “The Diviners,” “Twelfth Night,” “Major Barbara,” “The Winter’s Tale,” “Bullshot Crummond,” “Buried Child,” “Little Shop Of Horrors,” “Rumors,” “The Dining Room,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Heidi Chronicles.” In addition, he was certified by the National Society of Fight Choreographers and has choreographed over 20 fights for numerous productions.
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Mary Lucas, Workshop Presenter.
Mary has been painting professionally for over twenty years. She began her career at the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, California. Since then she has had the good fortune to work in such well-known theatres as the Old Globe in San Diego, the La Jolla Playhouse, the Utah Shakespeare Festival and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. In Denver, she also worked for Chameleon Studios, a small independent company, painting interiors, television sets and various projects for nationally and internationally known companies. She loves working at UNC and living in Greeley with her husband, and three children.
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Brian Luedloff, Adjudicator.
Mr. Luedloff is Professor of Music and  Director of Opera Theatre at University of Northern Colordao, where he has directed twenty-five productions. Professionally he has directed nearly one hundred opera and theatre productions across north America.  Mr. Luedloff was appointed Artistic Director for Opera Ft. Collins in 2011.  He was a Directing Fellow at Boston University, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Directing, in affiliation with the Huntington Theatre Company.  He pursued Advanced Acting studies at the American Conservatory Theatre, and his undergraduate studies were in music and theatre at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he was a company member with the Missouri Repertory Theatre (now the Kansas City Rep) and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.
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Mark Maranto, Adjudicator. 
After surviving child actor status in productions like the National Tour of On Golden Pond and The Goodman Theater of Chicago’s Chicago’s first A Christmas Carol, Mr. Maranto went on to complete his actor training from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. For the past fifteen 15 years he has coached speech individual events in the state of Illinois where he has guided multiple students to state and national field rounds in Original Comedy, Original Oratory, and Special Occasion Speaking; he has directed six state finishing Performance in the Round selections. Additionally, he has directed numerous plays and musical productions, including his own adaptation of Anne Tyler’s Tyler’s short story, “Teenage Wasteland.” Mr. Maranto holds a Masters master’s degree in Theatre theatre Directing directing from Roosevelt University, and is thrilled to return each year to this amazing conference, as he believes wholeheartedly in the incredible power of theatre.
Kelli Marino, Adjudicator.
Living and working in Chicago, Kelli is the dramaturg for Remy Bumppo’s productions of Night and Day, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?. Kelli was last year’s “Fugard Fest 2010” Staff Writer and Dramaturg for Timeline, Remy Bumppo, and Court Theatre’s productions of “Master Harold”…and the boys, The Island, andSizwe Banzi is Dead. In addition to Remy Bumppo, Kelli is currently the dramaturg for A Red Orchid Theatre and Craig Wright’s new adaptation of The Iliad. She has also worked for American Blues Theatre, American Theater Company, Northlight Theatre, Collaboraction, and Citadel Theatre. Kelli holds a M.A. in Theatre Studies from the University of Arizona and a B.A. in Theatre Education from the University of Northern Colorado. She is the Co-Regional Vice-President of the Chicago Chapter of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of America and the proud Coordinator of Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Artistic and Technical Team!
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Kody Maynard – Adjudicator.
Kody Maynard is the theater educator and director at Challenger Middle School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Kody is also the acting coach at Pine Creek High School and has returned to both of these schools as a theater professional and alumni of their programs. Academically, he focused his bachelor’s degree at the University of Northern Colorado on Theater Education and his master’s degree on Human Communication. As a part of this educational journey, Kody stepped into the role of playwright and produced two one act pieces performed on campus titled GET OUT and Glare.  Professionally, Kody followed his childhood dream of performing for the Disney Company and worked at the Orlando site for four years seasonally while pursuing his two degrees. Kody has recently directed The Just So Stories and has coached the cast of Pride and Prejudice.
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Tim McCracken, Workshop Presenter.
Mr. McCracken is a professional actor, teacher and playwright, having performed in theatre, television, and film for 25 years. He has appeared in numerous theatre productions in New York and around the country. He also has performed locally with the Denver Center Theatre Company, Curious Theatre Company, the Arvada Center, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, and Stories on Stage. Timothy has taught at many universities nationally. He has an MFA in Theatre from the National Theatre Conservatory and a BA in Theatre from Whitman College.
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Steven McDonald, Workshop Presenter.
Steven is an Assistant Professor at the University of Denver, where he serves as the Technical Director/Production Manager for the Department of Theatre. Previously, he spent 16 years as the Production Manager for Theatre & Dance at the University of Colorado. Since beginning his academic career in 1994, he has taught Stage Management, Sound Design, Properties, Lighting and Stage Technology. Steven has worked for a variety of performing arts organizations, including the Seattle Rep, South Coast Repertory Theatre, Curious Theatre Company, the Colorado Dance Festival, Rocky Mountain Revels, and 20 seasons with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Steven earned his MFA in Theatre Design & Production from the University of California, Irvine.
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Brian McManus, Workshop Presenter.
Brian is a regular performer and instructor at the Bovine Metropolis Theater in Denver. He spent five years in New York studying improv with the Upright Citizens Brigade, the People’s Improv Theater, Armando Diaz and more. Over the last 15 years he has performed in more than 1500 shows and continues to perform weekly with the Bovine’s SansScript Players and Denver’s Impulse Theater. In addition to teaching class levels 1-5 at the Bovine and directing various community groups, Brian has provided customized workshops for the Colorado Improv Festival, Colorado High School Thespian Conference, the Young Actors Institute and others. For the past two years he has been directing improv at Lakewood High School and Smoky Hill High School, working with students put together improv shows performed at the school.
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Tom McNally, Auditor/Workshop Presenter.
Equity actor Tom McNally is professor of theatre arts at the University of Northern Colorado where he serves as artistic director of The Little Theatre of the Rockies and coordinator of the Acting Program. In 1994, Professor McNally was named National Theatre Arts Teacher of the Year, by the Educational Theatre Association. The following year he was named Higher Education Educator of the Year by the Alliance for Colorado Theatre. He serves on the board of the Higher Education Council of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and Alliance for Colorado Theatre. He is the author of the textbook Acting: The Active Process. Tom McNally came to UNC from Pennsylvania State University where he was director of undergraduate studies and co-coordinator of the professional acting program. From 1973 to 1982, Professor McNally served as chairman of the Department of Theatre and Music Theatre at Loretto Heights College. He received his BA from Regis College and his MFA from the University of Denver and studied in the New York studio system.
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Gillian McNally, Workshop Presenter.
Gillian McNally serves as assistant professor of theatre education at the University of Northern Colorado. She has extensive experience particularly with underserved, low income populations in some of this country’s most harshly economically challenged cities. Recently, Gillian worked with TRIO, a national program which helps low-income and first-generation students gain access to college. Before coming back to her home state of Colorado, Ms. McNally served as the resident teaching artist for People’s Light and Theatre where she created the Professional Development Program for teachers. The program was honored with the Educator 500 Award from the Institute of Educational Excellence and Entrepreneurship at West Chester University in May of 2005. Also at People’s Light, Gillian worked with New Voices, the nationally recognized program, which works with diverse urban and suburban high school students in Philadelphia. At the university level, Ms. McNally has taught undergraduate and graduate theatre and/or arts education courses for The University of Texas at Austin, Temple University, West Chester University and Arcadia University. A proud Longhorn, she holds an MFA in drama and theatre for youth from The University of Texas at Austin and a BFA in acting from Webster Conservatory of Theatre Arts.
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Sean Macintosh, Guest Artist

Sean received my undergraduate BA at University of Portland, and my MFA in scenic Design from University of Boston and current a professor at Casper College. This last summer I opened two shows on off Broadway. I have also free lanced design in Boston and Chicago and worked for the Goodman Theatre and Court Theatre.

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Tamara Meneghini-Stalker, Workshop Presenter.
Tammy L. is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at the University of Colorado-Boulder where she teaches movement, voice and acting. She is an Associate Instructor of the Fitzmaurice Voicework and a certified teacher of the Williamson Physical Technique. As a professional actor and member of the Actors Equity Association, she has worked extensively in New York and Chicago. She has received numerous Joseph Jefferson citations for her acting work in Chicago, most notably, COMPANY, ANIMAL FARM, and SWEENY TODD. Most recently she directed a production of CHICAGO, the musical at Creighton University that was awarded the Omaha Arts and Entertainment Award for Best Musical Production in Omaha.
Pamela Jamruszka Mencher, Workshop Presenter. 
Pamela is the Chair chair for the Visual and performing Performing Arts department Department and the Founder founder and Program program Director director of Theatre theatre aArts and dance at red Red Rocks Community College. In addition to her responsibilities at the Collegecollege, she serves as Grants grants and Development development Director director for the Rocky Mountain Theatre Association and is a playwright, actor, director, and costume designer.
Jose Mercado, Workshop Presenter.
Instructor Jose Mercado is an Assistant Professor of the Theatre, Film & Video Production Department at the University of Colorado Denver. He earned an MFA in Theater from UCLA where he received the Jack Nicholson Prize in Acting and worked on Los Angeles stages with such luminaries as Kathleen Chalfant (Wit), Tony Plana (Ugly Betty) and Megan Mullally (Will & Grace). He has numerous credits in commercial and voice-over projects. He was named 1 of 10 to watch in Arts & Entertainment in Denver in 2008.
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Alyssa Miles, Workshop Presenter.
When Alyssa is not busy taking pictures and making spreadsheets for Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas where she is the Assistant Manager, she is teaching & directing Children’s Theatre all around the Denver Metro area for KidStage. She is also an actress and has performed in over 15 productions, most recently in Bunnicula the Musical with Curtains Up Productions. As a graduate of Chaparral High School she is excited to be back at Colorado Thespian Conference for 2010!
Kathy Morath, AMDA Guest Artist
Kathy Morath is an actor, director 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, off-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.
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Anne Murphy, CU Guest Artist
Anne Murphy is a theatrical costume designer and teacher. Her design work has been seen at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Portland Center Stage, Indianapolis Repertory Theater, Syracuse Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Williamstown Theater Festival, and American Players Theater. As a design assistant, she has worked at the Huntington Theater (Boston), Tanglewood Music Center, and the Denver Center Theater Company. Currently, she is a Lecturer with the CU Department of Theater and Dance, where she is also a frequent design collaborator. Ms. Murphy holds a BA in Theater from California State University, Northridge, and an MFA in Costume Design from Boston University.
Patrick Newell, Workshop Presenter.
Patrick, baritone, is the founder of the Musical Theatre program in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Wyoming. He is also the resident Stage Director of Helios Ensemble in Dallas, Texas. As a performer he has been seen in roles such as Sweeney Todd, Miles Gloriosus, Schaunard, Figaro (The Ghosts of Versailles), and Captain Corcoran. His Direction credits include The Magic Flute, The Medium, Into the Woods, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Songs for a New World. His Music Direction credits include A Little Night Music, The Secret Garden, A Chorus Line, The Last Five Years, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. His productions in small venues with Helios Ensemble have received critical acclaim, and lead to a series of presentations with the National Association of Teachers of Singing in Los Angeles. His vocal students have performed in national tours and in regional theatre productions across the United States. He holds the Doctor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Indiana University, where he also received his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees.
Joe Norton, Adjudicator.
Joe has been an actor, playwright and producer for various companies in New York City, and is presently the Associate Director of Education & Outreach for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the charity voice of the American Theatre industry. He is a certified AIDS Educator and volunteers his time leading AIDS/HIV workshops in schools and community organizations throughout the Northeast. In New York, he has been a chosen panelist repeatedly for the Annual AIDS in the Arts Conference, the Columbia University AIDS Awareness conference, and the Volunteer Opportunities in the ARTS discussions in New York City. Joe serves as a Director 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, as well as at several ITS state festivals and conferences, and at the NY State Theatre Education Association Conferences. He is the recipient of the national HIV/AIDS Partnership’s annual Red Ribbon Leadership Award (2006) and the EdTA’s President Award (2007).
John O’Hagan, Workshop Presenter.
John joined the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Wyoming as an Assistant Professor of Theatre (Acting) in the fall of 2008. Prior to that, John taught acting as a sabbatical replacement at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. He spent two seasons as a member of the acting company at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival appearing in Cyrano de Bergerac, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, On the Razzle, and The Taming of the Shrew. He had the great, good fortune to play Hamlet during the second of two regional school tours for OSF. These tours consisted of performing and teaching Shakespeare to high school and college students in Oregon, Washington and, oddly enough, Arkansas. He has directed for Idaho Repertory Theatre, Idaho Theatre for Youth, Idaho Shakespeare Festival and the College of Idaho. John also served as the Director of Education for the Idaho Shakespeare Festival and as Company Manager for Idaho Theatre for Youth. He received a Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts (Education) in 2003 for his work for both ISF and ITY. He received his MFA from the University of Idaho where he also was the 2006 Rex Rabold Fellowship recipient.
Assistant Professor, Acting - Directing - Stage Combat
James Olm, Guest Artist
James Olm is the coordinator of the Musical Theatre program at Casper College in Casper, Wyoming. This past June, his newest musical, The Magdalene – of which he was composer/playwright/lyricist – opened Off-Broadway at the Theatre at St. Clements in New York City. In The Magdalene, he worked closely with Tony Award-winning director and lyricist Richard Maltby Jr. Olm has written three other musicals, composed music for many dramas, and is published with Samuel French, Inc. in New York. He has directed or musically directed over forty dramas and musicals, from professional to high school theatre.
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Hillary Olson, Adjudicator.
Hillary a BA in Acting and Directing with a minor in Business from the University of Northern Colorado and has been an actress and patron of the Denver Metro Arts Community since the age of two. Her favorite roles include Helen Barabander in Who Will Carry the Word with Open Stage Theater Company and Melody (a bunraku-style puppet) in Kids on the Block (a puppet show about bullying that served over 3,000 students in the Metro area) that Hillary also directed for The Children’s Museum of Denver. Hillary has taught arts education programs, written and directed children’s theater productions and developed acting classes for The Children’s Museum of Denver, Rocky Mountain Theater for Kids, The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Backstory Theater Academy and The City of Northglenn. She is currently a board member of the Northglenn Arts and Humanities Foundation and is also the After-school Theater Education Coordinator for Imagination Makers.
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Brian O’Sullivan, Adjudicator.
Brian is the Director of Amateur Licensing for Music Theatre International in New York City. He is thrilled to be adjudicating at the Colorado Thespian Conference once again this year. He was a high school thespian himself once upon a time, and has loved theatre ever since.
Samantha Provenzano, Workshop Presenter.
Samantha Provenzano was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV. She recieved her B.A. in Acting from the University of Northern Colorado. She is currently on the improv house team The Factors at the Bovine Metropolis Theater. Samantha is excited to work with the Colorado Thespians for the first time and especially excited for the Junior Thespians, where she will be doing scene work on both monologues and scenes.
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Charles Packard, Adjudicator.
Charles Packard began his professional career as a Stage Manager then migrated to tech/design. In 1997 he moved to Denver and launched No Necktie Productions, providing scenic and lighting design and construction for theatres across the front range. In 2000 he joined the Aurora Fox full time as technical director while continuing freelance activities on the side. Charles is now the Executive Director of a rapidly growing Aurora Fox.
Jodi Papproth, Workshop Presenter. 
Jodi Papproth has been a theatre teacher and director since 1993. She received her BFA from Drake University in Des Moines, IA, and her MA in Directing directing from Roosevelt University in Chicago. She is the one-woman theatre department at Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs where she teaches drama, advanced acting, theatrical makeup, improvisation, and Tech Theatre. Jodi was named Colorado Theatre Educator of the Year by the Alliance for Colorado Theatre (ACT) in 2005. Jodi is returning to the president position for ACT for two years and remained a member on their Executive executive Board board for several years.
Chip Parsons, Guest Artist
M.F.A. Columbia University (Anne Bogart, Kristin Linklater, Andrei Serban, Arnold Aronson). B.F.A. University of California at Santa Barbara (James Donlon, Michael Morgan, Barbara Bosch, Tom Whitaker, Judi Dickerson). Assistant Professor, University of Colorado at Boulder. New York acting credits: Hamlet (dir. Barbara Bosch); Cold (dir. Cynthia Croot); Svejk (with Stephen Spinella) and Andorra (dir. Liviu Ciulei), Theatre for a New Audience; Richard III (dir. Andrei Serban), La MaMa; Godard (dir. Robert Woodruff), Ohio Theatre; Song of Seven Cities (dir. Peter DuBois). Regional: Richard III (title role), Colorado Shakespeare Festival; A Man for All Seasons, Arvada Center; Lambs Players Theatre and Write Out Loud, San Diego; Stories On Stage, Denver. Prague: Angels in America (Eastern Europe premiere) and King Stag, Misery Loves Co. (dir. Richard Toth). Film and TV: “Law & Order”; Hidden in Silence; network commercials.
Pat Payne, Guest Artist
A Colorado native has been involved in theatre since childhood, began producing and directing at 18 years old and has gone on to produce nearly 50 theatre productions and concerts. He is also founder of Spotlight Theatre Company where he serves as Executive Producer. Producing highlights include: 12 Angry Men (Henry Nominated Best Ensemble), I Love, Your Perfect, Now Change (the Denver Edition), An Evening with Charles Langley, Charles Langley: Home for the Holidays” (a 6 concert sold out tour), Spotlight Theatre Co’s And Then There Were None. In addition Pat is an accomplished director of plays and musicals all over Denver. Named 2009 Best Director by the Boulder Daily Camera for his production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change! Other directing credits include; Hairspray and Ragtime (asst. Director) Arvada Center Shape of Things at Silhouette and most recently A Chorus Line with Ignite Theatre. Other related activities include Former Managing Director BDTA Academy, Past President Firehouse Theatre Company Board of Directors, Past Board Member SWAG, Past Board Member Troupe Theatre, and current Board Member: Colorado Theatre Guild. Pat holds a BA in Theatre emphasis Directing from the University of Northern Colorado.
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Dr. Mike Pearl, Guest Artist
Dr. Mike Pearl is a Thespian from (and a graduate of) Rocky Ford High School and is proud to be a Meloneer. He taught theatre and directed plays at schools in Kansas, then at Smoky Hill High School and Grandview High School. Shows include Hello, Dolly!, The Rimers of Eldritch, The Diviners, Charley’s Aunt, The Diary of Anne Frank, Noises Off, Oliver!, Anything Goes, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, Oklahoma!, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, The Man of LaMancha, and many others (and some shows more than once). As Director of the Smoky Hill High School Thespian Troupe, he and the troupe hosted a Colorado State Thespian Conference at Smoky Hill High School. Dr. Pearl lead the Colorado host committee for the 1998 National Conference of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education held in Denver. He was treasurer, then president, of the Alliance for Colorado Theatre. He has also served on the Colorado State Thespian (Adult) Board of Directors in various capacities. Dr. Pearl has been named a Colorado Theatre Educator of the Year by the Alliance for Colorado Theatre, a Teacher of the Year by the Cherry Creek School District, and a Member of the Hall of Fame by the Colorado Thespians. Dr. Pearl received his Ph.D. in theatre from the University of Nebraska. Now that Doc has retired from teaching school, he gets to practice what he taught. He is playing “Scrooge” for the Firehouse Theatre through December 17 at the John Hand Theatre in Lowry Town Center. Other credits include “Norman,” On Golden Pond, Vintage Theatre; “Hugo,” God’s Man in Texas, Aurora Fox; “Doyle,” Rear Window, Spark Theatre; and “Rev. Hooker” in the upcoming Dearly Departed, Spotlight Theater. He has also performed for Littleton Town Hall Arts Center, Miner’s Alley Playhouse, the Victorian Theatre, and the Colorado Film School. Doc is represented by Maximum Talent and has appeared in several national commercials. Mike likes to travel with his wife Eileen and hang out with their daughter Mary and son Charles.
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James Peck, Guest Artist

I have been a professional, actor, teacher and mask artist for 25 years: acting at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for 19 season, and teaching part time at Southern Oregon University and Ashland High School. As Artistic Director of Nutshell Masks & Theater I create and teach using masks as a central creative inspiration. In 2011, I taught this “Masks and Movement” workshop at the International Thespian Festival and created a production of “Haroun and the Sea of Stories” at Ashland High School. I am currently working on my Master’s Degree at Naropa University. For more visit:www.nutshellmasksandtheater.org.

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Lindsay Price, Workshop Presenter. 
Lindsay is the primary writer for Theatrefolk, an independent publishing company that sells plays to high schools around the world. Most recently her play THE FLYING BANDIT The Flying Bandit appeared at the Showboat Festival Theatre in Port Colborne, ON, and SHATTERED Shattered was performed by Constellation Theatre Company in Dorset, England. Both WAIT WAIT BO BAITWait Wait Bo Bait and STROKE STATICStroke Static reached the All Ontario level of the Sears Drama Festival, and EMOTIONAL BAGGAGEEmotional Baggage was performed at the State level of the Florida Thespian Festival.
Josh Putnam, Adjudicator.
Josh Putnam is the Artistic Director of Catchpenny Kids Theatre Company. For the last five years, Josh has been a tireless innovator in Denver’s theatre community. While his goal is to change lives on a holistic level, he has found that creating an integral art within theatre makes all levels of performance accessible to more people. You may have seen him as a Shakespeare Festival judge, or doing audition workshops throughout town. Josh has also remained active in Denver’s acting community by being a part of shows with Mirror Image Productions, and doing various film projects, like a recently filmed commercial spot. He would love to give some recognition to UNC Greeley and Dr. Mary Schuttler for showing him what it truly takes to be an educator, and an overall artist. He is very excited to take part of Thespians this year!
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Erin Ramsey, Guest Artist
Erin is an advanced/actor combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors and is trained in many different fighting styles including unarmed combat and swordplay. She choreographs fights and teaches stage combat to students of all ages, all along the Front Range. She graduated from Metropolitan State College with a BFA in Technical Theatre and Design. In addition to fight choreography, she is also a stage manager, scenic designer, and theatre technician.
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Anthony Reimer, Workshop Presenter.
Anthony is a freelance actor and representative for the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. He hails from Boulder, Colorado and has been a New Yorker on and off since 2001. As an actor, Anthony has worked with the New York Classical Theatre, Capital Repertory Theatre, Cape May Stage, Gateway Playhouse, Red Fern Theatre, Brown County Playhouse, Alabama, Pensacola & Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festivals, and here at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. FILM/TV Credits include: Evenflo® The Savvy Parents Guide, Rescue Me with Dennis Leary, Chasing Zero with Bonnie Somerville. Some of Anthony’s Commercial Credits include: Scottrade & the “Ritz Camera” guy. MFA: University of Alabama/Alabama Shakespeare Festival, BA: University of Northern Colorado, Graduate of the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts.
Kayla Reynolds, Adjudicator.
Kayla Reynolds is currently is the drama teacher and troupe director at Sagewood Middle School in Parker, CO. Along with chartering the school’s inaugural troupe, over three years she has continued to grow Sagewood’s opportunities for young students to find their passion. She attended the University of Northern Colorado and graduated with a BA in both acting and theatre education.
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Richard Robichaux, Workshop Presenter.
Richard has worked with Al Pacino, Susan Sarandon, Billy Crystal and many other great actors and directors. His theatre credits include leading roles at the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C., Yale Repertory Theatre, Mark Taper Forum and great theatres in New York, California and everywhere in between. His work has been seen on every major network and at the Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals. A frequent guest artist he has worked with the Juilliard School, Yale School of Drama and the NY Conservatory to name a few. MFA: Rutgers University.
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Mike Rock, Workshop Presenter.
Mike Rock has been a fixture at Thespian events including The International Thespian Festival and many state conferences. He is a founding member of ComedySportz and The Bert Fershners on Comedy Central. He has had guest appearances on Law and Order, Conan O’Brien, Viva La Bam, MTV’s Damage Control, TRL, VH-1’s Awesomely Bad Hits, Modern Family, Chelsea Lately, and The Guiding Light. He’s the voice of Property Ladder on TLC and has done numerous commercials and voice-overs. He holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin and is both an actor and writer.
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James Rogers, Adjudicator.
James joined the School of Theatre Arts and Dance as the Technical Director in the fall of 2009 as an emergency hire. James is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a B.A. in Theatre Arts and completed half of his M.F.A. at Florida State University before taking the position here at UNC. James is excited to return to work along side his fellow faculty as a full time permanent employee. It has been James’ goal to work in academic theatre ever since he joined the theatre program as a student. Some of James’ past design credits include Scenic Design, Technical Direction and Carpentry; Florida State University Production of Hush: An Interview with America; UNC School of Theatre Arts and Dance productions of Into The Woods and A Few Good Men; The Little Theatre of the Rockies productions of Forever Plaid, Sunshine Boys, Nunsense; Florida State Production of New Horizons: New Play Festival ‘08. James has also been involved with Little Theatre of the Rockies for five seasons since 2003 and became the season Technical Director of LTR in 2010.
Seth Rossman, Adjudicator.
Seth Rossman is a former ACT Theatre Educator of the Year (1998) and a member of the Colorado State Thespian Hall of Fame (2002). He taught for thirty-two years, twenty-six as a theatre teacher, directing approximately one hundred plays and musicals. As a member of Actors’ Equity Association, he began his professional acting career at the age of seventeen in the title role of Li’l Abner, then acting from New York to Colorado, most recently in The Aurora Fox’s production of The Graduate. . His favorite roles include Buffalo Bill in Annie Get Your Gun, Harry Van in Idiot’s Delight, Renato DiRossi in Time of the Cuckoo, and Charlie Cohn in Man in the Glass Booth. He lists his favorites plays that he has directed as Seven Keys to Baldpate, Lost in Yonkers, Twelfth Night, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Brigadoon, The Miser, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, and Sylvia. Seth has stage managed at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, the Guthrie Theatre, and the Elitch Gardens Theatre. Locally, he was the first stage director at both the Shwayder and Aurora Fox Theatres; also, he has directed at the Sangro de Cristo Arts Center, Littleton Town Hall Arts Center, Colorado Stage Company and The Edge Theatre.
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Susan Rossman, Adjudicator.
SUSAN ROSSMAN was the theatre and speech teacher at the University of Denver High School until it closed its doors in May 2008. During that time she directed two plays and one talent show every year. She also formed a children!s theatre group for a few years called The Wiggle Puppies which performed in elementary schools. She served as a member of the board for the Alliance for Colorado Theatre (a professional organization for theatre teachers). She has also taught playmaking at the Arvada Center, Stage Eleven Drama Academy, Gove Community School and the Vail Youth Symposium. Susan has tread the boards in local community theatres for the past 20 years performing at the the Arvada center, the Shwayder, the Victorian, the Aurora Fox, Germinal Stage, the Avenue Theatre and Dave & Buster!s. She was a founding member of The Colorado Stage Company in Lone Tree.
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Steven Rotramel, Adjudicator.
Steven graduated with his BFA in Theatre and Dance with an emphasis in costume design from the University of Wyoming. He is now back at UW as an Assistant Temporary Lecturer, running the costume shop and teaching costume construction classes. Steven returned to complete his third stint with The Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, NY this past summer, where he worked as a first hand for Carmen directed by Anne Bogart. Other recent credits include designing costumes for Open Stage Theatre’s production of Dead Man’s Cell Phone, and volunteering with the Colorado Ballet. Steven also has his hand in other aspects of the theatre as well, having stage managed for Bill Bowers’s one man show It Goes Without Saying, and also being Stage Manager for Bill’s premier production of Hey O Kah / Hok A Hey at the University of Wyoming. Performance credits include Reverend Parris in The Crucible and Cousin Garland in Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse.
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Michael Ruckles, Adjudicator. 
Michael Ruckles serves as musical director/private voice faculty for the School of Theatre at the University of Northern Colorado. Originally from Cañon City, he studied piano at the University of Southern Colorado before completing a degree in Voicevoice/Music music Education education at UNC. Michael lives in Greeley with his wife, Lindsay, and their basenji, Figaro. He maintains a busy private studio specializing in technique for Musical musical Theatre theatre and Contemporary contemporary Commercial commercial Musicmusic. At UNC, Michael teaches private voice and music, directs the two main stage musicals, the Freshman Practicum, and the NYC Agent Senior Showcase. Recently, Michael worked as vocal coach/assistant musical director for a demo recording of the rock musical Chess produced for Sir Tim Rice. Michael was the guest musical director for Voices of Freedom, a Denver fundraiser benefiting the victims of 9/11, and in 2001, sang backup for Sarah Brightman’s “La Luna” tour. Michael spends July in Tampa where he is on the faculty at Ann Reinking’s Broadway Theatre Project. He is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Chris Russell, Fight Instructor
This is Chris Russell’s third year working with Erin Ramsey at the Thespian Conference. You can usually see him around town performing in various shows, not all of which include fighting, but rather a different type of choreography. He recently finished A Chorus Line, and will be opening A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum soon. Thanks to Erin, the teachers and all the students for keeping the arts alive.
Tracy Salter, Adjudicator.
Assistant Professor of Theatre, Tracy Salter, is the Coordinator of the Department of Theatre at Graceland University. Tracy came to Graceland after teaching, directing and acting at The University of Northern Colorado. Her specialties include Voice and Dialects, Shakespeare, Greek Theatre and Improvisation. Tracy received her MFA in Acting from the University of Florida and is proud to be a part of the Iowa State Thespian Conference. She is looking forward to meeting the students!
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Mitch Samu, Workshop Presenter.
Mitch Samu is a professional music director, conductor, composer, and accompanist. Mitch has accompanied over 25,000 auditions in his career as both a pianist and a music director. He has more than 200 productions as music director to his credit during his career. Some of his Broadway credits include: The Lion King, Saturday Night Fever, Little Shop of Horrors, Crazy for You, Christopher Durang’s musical, Adrift in Macao, Side Show, Dreamgirls, and Jesus Christ Superstar. He is the composer of major choral works written for the church including; Jesus, the Last Mile, God’s Trombones, and a Christmas musical Just a Miracle. His full-length musicals include: We’ll Beat the Odds, Jesus the Last Mile, a Passion Musical and Motherhood: The Agony and the Ecstasy? Mitch is the creator of 3 Steps Back, a 30-minute touring musical for children 5–11 years old around the issue of abduction awareness.
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Robert Michael Sanders, Adjudicator. 

Robert has performed for 25 years in television, theatre, films, voice overs, and as a touring and writing musician. Some music credits include writing songs for American Woman TV and Miami Ink with multiple Grammy list nominations for best new artist in 95’ and producer of the year in 2008. Some acting credits include; Memphis, Man of No Importance, The Wedding Singer, Ragtime, Almost Maine, The Full Monty, Escanaba in da Moonlight, Gypsy, Sylvia and The Rainmaker. Winner of 2010 Marlow Award for best comedic actor in The Love List, with best ensemble awards for Skin of our Teeth and Honk. Robert is also a full time theatre director for the Aurora Fox, Town Hall Arts Center, Slingshot Theatre Productions, Vintage Theatre, Performance Now, Cherry Creek Theatre.  Robert also works year round in the entertainment industry producing many different shows, booking and promoting the arts.
I am so thankful that I get to do what I love.
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Mitch Samu, Workshop Presenter. 
Mitch Samu is a professional Music music Directordirector, Conductorconductor, Composercomposer, and Accompanistaccompanist. Mitch has accompanied over 25,000 auditions in his career as both a pianist and a Music music Directordirector. He has over more than 200 productions as Music music Director director to his credit during his career. Some of his Broadway credits include: The Lion King, Saturday Night Fever, Little Shop of Horrors, Crazy for You, Christopher Durang’s Musicalmusical, Adrift in Macao, Side Show, Dreamgirls,and Jesus Christ Superstar. He is the composer of major choral works written for the church including; Jesus, the last mile.., God’s Trombones, and a Christmas musical Just a Miracle. His full-length musicals include: We’ll beat the Odds, Jesus the Last Mile, a Passion Musical and Motherhood: The agony Agony and the Ecstasy? Mitch is the creator of 3 Steps Back, a 30-minute touring musical for children 5–-11 years old around the issue of abduction awareness.
David Saphier, Workshop Presenter.
Mr. Saphier is currently in his tenth year as a Teaching Artist for the Denver Center Theatre Academy. Before moving to Denver, David has worked in education departments at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and The Coterie Theatre. Mr. Saphier received his BA at The Colorado College and his MFA in Theatre for Youth at Arizona State University. He has acted or directed in many productions and was last seen as Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night for the Denver Victorian Playhouse. He wrote The Little Things, which was selected for the Playwrights Showcase of the Western Region. He also directed Jungalbook, Class Action, Charlotte’s Web, Rhinoceros and The BFG for the Teen Performance Program.
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Michael Sartor, Workshop Presenter.
Director, writer, actor. Michael has coached Idina Menzel, Zach Braff, John Stamos, Kathryn Helmond, Richard Thomas and groups in the recording industry such as Dream, Nobody’s Angel and No Secrets, with labels at Jive, Hollywood Records and Capitol. As a writer, he contributed to Disney Cruise Line and contributed special material for Mary Martin, Cyd Charisse and Tony Award–winning Jay Johnson. Michael created Broadway Arts Workshops, bringing his approach to young artists around the country.
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Brett Scott, Guest Artist Bio photo
Melinda J. Scott, Workshop Presenter.
Melinda has been a theatre practitioner for over forty years, with thirty years experience as a workshop facilitator and fifteen years as a director, concurrent with her acting work. She served as Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s (CSF) education director from 2001-2010, cultivating programs that use a comprehensive approach to engage learners and teachers in Shakespeare’s text and times. Prior to joining CSF, Melinda worked with the Boulder Conservatory Theatre (BCT) as a teacher, director and artistic co-director. Collaborating with twenty-two BCT actors, she created a script adaptation of Norton Juster’s award-winning The Phantom Tollbooth, performed at the National Conference of the American Alliance for Theatre & Education. In addition to acting with CSF (four non-consecutive seasons), Melinda has done live voice performances for the Colorado Modern Music Festival and the Colorado Music Festival. Among her favorite roles she cites Olivia in Twelfth Night, Sarah in Quilters and Witch One in Macbeth. Recent directing credits include The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged for Poudre High School in Fort Collins. Melinda received her B.F.A degree in theatre performance from C.U. Boulder. Her long-time passion, constantly renewed by discovery through work with actors, is Shakespeare.
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Christine Sharpe, Adjudicator.
Christine graduated last May from the University of Northern Colorado where she received her BA in theatre arts with an emphasis in acting performance. Recent credits include: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, last month at Boulder’s Dairy Center, Anton in Show Business for Open Stage, The Merchant of Venice, and Indoor/Outdoor.
Richard Shore, Workshop Presenter & Adjudicator.
Richard has performed internationally as a collaborative pianist, and has worked as a choral and theatrical conductor. Among Richard’s musical directing credits are award-winning productions of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, She Loves Me, and Wonderful Town, as well as critically acclaimed productions of My Way, Urinetown, the Yeston/Kopit Phantom, and many others, including regional premieres and original works. At UNC he has served as musical director for over twenty productions, workshops, and practica. Elsewhere in Colorado he has performed at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the Arvada Center, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Denver Theatre in the Park, the Lake Dillon Theatre Company, the Aurora Fox, and the Avenue Theater. He has served on the faculties of the University of Northern Colorado, the State University of New York College at Cortland, and Dean College in Massachusetts. He has also taught at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute and the Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp, two of the nation’s most prestigious programs for young performers. Richard holds a BA from Harvard University and a doctoral degree from Boston Univer­sity.
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Allison C. Smith, Adjudicator.
Allison’s life of performance began when she was five years old, falling in love with the arts and how being on stage made her feel.  She worked hard at it and eventually found herself lucky enough to be accepted into the Theatre Acting program at the University of Northern Colorado.  After achieving her BA, Allison moved to Denver to put her education to practice.  Allison has had the privilege of performing in a wide range of shows throughout the Denver theatre community including “A Very Dark Holiday Festivus” and “Leading Ladies” with Vintage Theatre, “Killers and Other Family” at the Edge Theatre, “The Wiz” with Afterthought Theatre, “Dearly Departed” at Spotlight Theatre Company, and with Firehouse Theatre she performed the role of Grace in “Tigers Be Still”.  Her favorite role over the years was as Gwen in Firehouse Theatre’s performance of “Coronado” in 2012 where she was hired to replace an actress at the start of tech-week rehearsals.  This whirl-wind and powerful experience was an opportunity that she felt was awe-inspiring and life-changing.  Allison continues her craft and aspires for greatness with each performance, though has recently taken some down-time from the world of theatre to pursue her master’s degree in counseling at Regis University.  Allison is thrilled to have been a part of the Colorado Thespian Convention over the years, and is honored to have the privilege of adjudicating performances by talented young individuals and hopes that her feedback will be helpful in their growth as performers.
Jeremy Sortore, Guest Artist.
Jeremy Sortore is an Equity actor and professional voice coach with over a decade of teaching experience. Formerly on the voice faculty of the University of Colorado at Denver, Jeremy maintains a small private singing studio, teaches yoga, and freelances as a dialect and performance coach. Recent dialect projects include Cabaret, The Lady With All the Answers, and Nine at the Arvada Center; and A Touch of Spring and Enchanted April at Miner’s Alley Playhouse. Jeremy has been seen onstage with Denver Center Attractions, the Arvada Center, Theatre Aspen, the Aurora Fox, and others, and is the surtitles author and coordinator for Opera Colorado. www.jeremysortore.com
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Gully Stanford, Guest Artist
Gully Stanford spent 35 years in the regional theatre movement, from stagehand to managing director (Denver Center Theatre Company 1981-84). Since 2004 he has been Director of Partnerships at College In Colorado, the state’s free, portable, online one-stop-shop for career and college planning. His specialty lies in guiding students to successful careers via planning and training and intentional career pathways. Colorado has over 186,000 creative careers/jobs, making creativity the 5th largest career sector in the state. Married to DCPA Executive Vice President Dorothy Denny, their children attended Denver Public Schools.
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Ted Stark, Workshop Presenter.
Ted Stark has been hired by several companies including The Santa Fe Opera and Central City Opera to teach their interns resume/portfolio composition and presentation. Before becoming a Senior Instructor of Costume Technology at The University of Colorado, Ted worked professionally in New York City for several Broadway costume shops. Additionally, Ted runs a professional costume construction business, tascocouture, whose work hasbeen featured on stage at The Santa Fe Opera, The Alley Theatre, Papermill Playhouse, Boston Ballet, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Minnesota Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago. To see his work, visit tascocouture.com.
Kim Steiner, Workshop Presenter.  
Kim is currently the Music music Supervisor supervisor of I Love You, You’’re Perfect, Now Change, having music directed shows in New York, Boston, San FransiscoFrancisco, San Diego, Reno, Chicago, and all over the country on the National national Tourtour. He was also the Music music Supervisor supervisor of the show Forbidden Vegas. On BroadwayB’way: Nine, High Society, In My Life. Off Broad’way: The Fantasticks, Forbidden Broadway (2001, 20th Anniversary, SVU), FAMEFame, the musicalMusical. National Tours: Forbidden Broadway, Forbidden Hollywood. International: Phantom of the Opera. Regional: Guys and Dolls (Leon Rabin Award nomination –- Best Musical Direction), When Pigs Fly, As Thousands Cheer, La Cage aux Folles, the World world Premiere premiere of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, Kiss of the Spider Woman, among many others. Kim has conducted/played for many talents such as Carol Channing, Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Sam Harris, Oleta Adams, among others. He played, arranged and co-produced the 2001 Broadway Cares, Equity Fights Aids AIDS CD, Home for the Holidays. He is also a proud member of the Central Nyack Fire Department.
Cameron Stevens, Workshop Presenter.
Cameron has been a performer for 30 years, mostly in the Denver Metro Area, and is a proud thespian graduate of Horizon High School. His favorite performances include Malcolm in The Full Monty, and Bobby C in the Broadway National Tour of Saturday Night Fever. Cameron is a Henry Award winner for his ensemble performance in Littleton Town Hall Center’s production of RENT. He also is an accomplished pianist and composes his own music.
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Frank Stewart, Workshop Presenter.
Frank is a professional actor and an entertainment attorney. He holds a master’s in acting from Northwestern University. He has studied professionally with Robert Lewis and Jose Quintero, among others. Mr. Stewart has numerous credits to his name in acting including theatre, television and motion pictures. Mr. Stewart is a frequent guest at the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, and has enjoyed numerous visits to the Colorado State Thespian Conference. Mr. Stewart was a high school thespian and is currently based in Los Angeles, California.
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Maggie Stillman, Workshop Presenter.
Maggie Stillman is the Makeup, Costume, and Retail Manager at Norcostco, Denver. She is a professional makeup artist and freelances with many of the theatre companies in the Denver Metro Area. Maggie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education. Maggie has been teaching makeup workshops on the local and national level for four years.
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Kenny Storms, Adjudicator. Kenny Storms is the Academy academy Registrar registrar and part part-time teaching artist for the DCTA. He received his B.A.BA in Actingacting, Directingdirecting, and Education education at the UNC. He has taught children and teens at the DCTA, Island Theatre Workshop in Martha’s Vineyard, and completed his student teaching at Ponderosa High School. His most recent stage credits include Death and of a Salesman for the Denver Repertory Theatre, and Land of the Dolls at the Bug Theatre. In 2006 he produced and directed 4.48 Psychosis for the Boulder International Fringe Festival and was the Artistic artistic Director director for the Denver Repertory Theatre Company.
 Kristy Jo Stupka, Adjudicator.Kristy is an award-winning theatre director with degrees in both theatre and education. She is on the staff of the professional theatre, The Alliance, and has had the privilege of directing for Ms. Jane Fonda and Turner Broadcasting, as well as with the Jimmy Carter Project in Georgia. She is the former theatre director for the Dekalb School of the Arts (and brought them victory in their state one-act play competition). Kristy Jo has been a guest at the Sundance Film Festival and is currently directing theatre in Atlanta and assisting with film casting in Los Angeles.
Nate Thompson, Univeristy of Colorado Denver, Technical Theatre Artist
Nate Thompson is the Technical Director for CUDenver department of Theatre and Film and for Central City Opera.
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Jeannette Triomphe, Adjudicator. 
After her fifteen 15-year career as Director director of the Musical Theatre Program at the University of Northern Colorado, Jeannette Triomphe is enjoying her return this year directing Opera Theatre at UNC. Her work in theatre has involved the direction and and/or choreography of more than seventy-five75 productions in educational, community and professional theatre. Some of her credits include: A Chorus Line, Evita, Quilters, Anything Goes, Oklahoma! Amadeus, Candide, Die Fledermaus, Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro, Peter Pan, Into the Woods A Lion In Winter, A Christmas Carol, Quilt, The King and I, A Little Night Music, The Secret Garden, and many musical theatre and children’s theatre touring productions. Jeannette holds an MFA in Dance dance from the University of California at Irvine and a BA in Theatre theatre Arts arts from California State University, Fullerton. Her love and support of the arts in Greeley continues to be the driving force in her roles as Artistic artistic Director director of the Greeley Community Theatre Troupe, the Arts Alive Committee and Administrator administrator of the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra.
Anne Toewe, Adjudicator/Workshop Presenter.
Before joining the theatre faculty at UNC, Ms. Toewe lived in Miami, Florida, where she taught at several universities, and designed costumes for numerous regional theatrical productions as well as several music videos. Among Ms. Toewe’s favorite designs are The Rocky Horror Show (Summer Rep., Boca Raton, Florida), Eclipsed (New World School of the Arts, Miami, Florida), Angels in America (New Theatre, Miami, Florida) and Romeo and Juliet (South Dade Auditorium). While in Florida, Ms. Toewe received a Carbonell nomination for best costume design for James Joyce’s The Dead at GableStage (Miami). Prior to living in Miami, Ms. Toewe lived in New York City, where she was an assistant designer on numerous Broadway productions. Ms. Toewe holds a BS in biology from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, and an MFA from Tulane University in Louisiana. She is currently working on her PhD in Theatre at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
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Megan Van De Hey, Adjudicator.
Megan has been a professional actress for over 15 years.  Regionally Megan has performed at the Arvada Center, Curious Theatre Company, The Aurora Fox,  Vintage, The Avenue Theatre, Little Theatre of the Rockies and Littleton Town Hall to name a few, and is fortunate enough to make her full time living as a performer in Colorado.  Megan has been a multiple Henry, Ovation, True West, and Marlowe award winner since re-locating after spending 7 years building her career in Chicago, where she was a 3-time Joseph Jefferson Nominee.  Megan is a proud card holding member of AEA and currently serves on the Equity Liaison Committee.
Megan Van De Hey
Kelly Van Oosbree, Workshop Presenter. 
Kelly Van Oosbree is a sales representative for Barbizon Light of the Rockies, which is a one-stop source for sales, service, installation, and integration of lighting equipment and accessories for the Theatretheatre, Film film and Televisiontelevision. Barbizon has been in business since 1947 and Kelly has been involved in theatre since 1979—- growing up with a mother that who is a director and a father that who is an electrician. She holds a B.A.BA from the University of Iowa in Theatre theatre Arts arts with an emphasis in lighting and set design. Kelly was the Master master Electrician electrician for Walden Family Playhouse—- a professional children’’s theatre owned by Walden Media. She has also worked for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts as a technician and designer for DCPA’’s Special special Eventsevents. Kelly is also an annual presenter at the Colorado Community Theatre Festival.
Andrea Villa, Workshop Presenter.
Andrea has worked in Hollywood as a story editor, writer and short film director. He is now an ontological coach practicing in the Boulder area offering coaching to individuals and organizations. In his spare time, he volunteers for Inner City Outings providing wilderness education for under privileged youth. He is a level 2 TRE practitioner.
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Scotty Walsh, Workshop Presenter.  
Scotty Walsh is a professional circus performer and cabaret artist, specializing in comedy trapeze, spaghetti juggling, and comedy magic. He studied Ccommedia Dell’Arte dell’arte at the Scuola Dell’Attore Dell’Attore Comico with Antonio Fava and specializes in the role of dimwitted agile-bodied servant, Arlecchino. An instructor at the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts in Seattle as well as at the Boulder Circus Center, he has appeared with C’’koi Ce Cirque, Circus Contraption, and the Banana Moon Circus, and collaborated with members of Cirque Du du Soleil and Teatro ZinZanni.
Allison Watrous, Workshop Presenter.
Ms. Watrous recently completed a 20-month of Girls Only! TheSecret Comedy of Women at the Galleria Theatre. She has worked extensively as an actor and teaching artist throughout New York, California and Colorado. Allison also teaches at the National Theatre Conservatory and the Denver School of the Arts. Allison earned a Master in Fine Arts in Acting at the National Theatre Conservatory and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre at Drake University. Her favorite roles include Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lady Croom in Arcadia, Sally Bowles in Cabaret and Betty in Landscape of the Body.
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Janine G. West, Adjudicator.
Janine is a retired theatre educator, having completed a 28-year teaching tenure at Wray High School and Boulder High School, respectively. She served on the Colorado State Thespian Board (and was an original board member) for 17 years and was the Colorado chapter director for five of those years. For the Educational Theatre Association, she served as a territorial director for three years and was a leadership coach for seven years. In 2004, she was inducted into the Colorado State Thespian Hall of Fame, and in 2007 was inducted into the Educational Theatre Association Hall of Fame. Much of her spare time is now spent volunteering as a Canine Coach for the Behavior and Training Department at the Longmont Humane Society.
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Chris Will, Workshop Presenter.
Chris is an Instructor of Musical Theatre at Western Wyoming Community College. Originally he is from Loveland, Colorado. He received his BFA in Theatre and Dance from the University of Wyoming followed by a Master of Performance in Musical Theatre from The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Scotland. While in the UK, Chris had the wonderful experience of working with some of the key producers and practitioners currently working in theatre – including Martin Lowe (MD Mama Mia) and was honored to represent the United States as Young Buddy in a West End star-studded production of Follies in Concert, which was specially arranged by Sir Cameron Mackintosh. Chris has also performed in several workshops for new musical theatre, including the opportunity of working with Jason Robert Brown. For the past ten years he has been performing and directing professionally all around the world including two Off-Broadway shows (Time Being, and The Jungle Queen).
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Asédo Wilson, Adjudicator.
Asédo has performed in plays such as Captive Audience, Romeo and Juliet, The Colored Museum, Tartuffe, Angels in America and Ragtime. He has also appeared in the films Twisted and Looking for Sunday. Currently he is in the process of writing a one man show entitled Things That Make My Brain Itch. He graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 2006 with a BA in Theater Arts. This summer, Wilson began work on his MA degree as part of the Theater Education Intensive at UNC. This is his first year at Colorado Thespians and is looking forward to this year’s conference.
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Ken Womble, Workshop Presenter.
Ken Womble received an MFA in acting from Southern Methodist University and a BFA in acting from Florida State University. He has appeared in two Off-Broadway premieres, and in several regional and summer stock productions. Film and TV roles include the title character in the independent film Bartleby, and recurring parts on Guiding Light, General Hospital and All My Children. He studied acting with master teachers Michael Howard and Warren Robertson in New York. His preparation in voice and Shakespeare included four months of private study with Claudia Anderson, a Linklater-designated teacher, and work with Tina Packer at Shakespeare & Company’s month-long intensive. His adaptations of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet have received over 35 productions around the country. Ken was invited by Anna Strasberg, Lee Strasberg’s widow, to teach film acting at the famed Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Los Angeles, and has taught film acting workshops at various college and high school conferences. Ken coaches acting privately and professionally, and has directed over 50 plays. He has directed for television as well, and wrote and directed/wrote two documentary films. He is a member of Actors’ Equity, SAG and AFTRA.
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Mona Wood-Patterson & Charles Ford, Workshop Presenters. 
Mona and Charles have been the theatre directors at Durango High School for the past eighteen 18 years. In addition to their work at DHS, they combined their expertise to found their own theatre company, Merely Players, as well as the Durango Shakespeare Festival. They taught theatre in England as Fulbright recipients and their theatre program was recognized as an outstanding school by the Educational Theatre Association.
Scott Wright, Adjudicator.
Scott is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado Theatre and Dance Program where he received his BA in Theatre Education after switching over from the Musical Theatre program. Over the past 11 years Scott has crossed the country as a dancer, actor, singer, and choreographer in regional theater productions, summer stocks, and numerous dinner theater productions. Since his return to Colorado in 2002 Scott has received regional acclaim and honors for his work as a director and choreographer in SWING (Greeley Tribune “best choreography 2008), Altar Boyz (2007 Denver Post Ovation Nomination for Best Choreography), Cats – director/choreographer (2008 Denver Post Ovation nomination for best Revival of a Musical), and Cats (2004 Denver Post Ovation Winner for best Choreography). Scott has appeared as a guest director and choreographer with Little Theatre of the Rockies, Colorado State University Department of Theater and Dance, Carousel Dinner Theater, Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, The Denver Vic, Cabaret Dinner Theater, and as a choreographer for PGT Entertainment based out of Florida. Scott is currently part of the Performing Arts Department at Erie High School where he serves as the schools choir accompanist. In 2011 he will return to UNC as part of the Theatre Education Masters Program.
USITT Student Chapter, Univeristy of Wyoming, Guest Artists
Jodi Youmans-Jones, Workshop Presenter.
Jodi is currently the coordinator of the dance program and resident choreographer for the Casper College Department of Theatre and Dance. She has both her bachelor’s degree in theatre and dance and her MFA in dance performance and choreography. She has performed, choreographed and taught many genres of dance including musical theatre. Some of her musical theatre credits include Oklahoma, Chicago, Anything Goes, West Side Story, A Chorus Line, Forum, and most recently, Beauty and The Beast, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Jodi’s workshops are high energy and hands-on so be ready to move, perform, and, of course, have fun.
Portrait
Jamie Young, Western Wyoming College, Guest Artist
Jamie Young is an Associate Professor and the head of the musical theatre program at Western Wyoming College. Young has been teaching at the college level for 17 years and has produced, directed, choreographed or performed in more than 100 productions – all centering on family values that strengthen society. He has recently completed the first draft of a book that encapsulates his process of heightening reality in musical theatre performance and teaches these methods to more than 70 students a year in Wyoming.
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Joey Young, Adjudicator.
Joel is an actor, singer, and voice coach living in Denver. Over the past 12 years, he has performed in numerous stage productions and world premiers throughout the Midwest, Chicago, and Denver areas. Joel has worked with such talents as Broadway writer/director James Lapine, composers William Finn and Michael John LaChuisa, and was a featured vocalist for Russell Crowe’s band at the Chicago House of Blues in 2005. Notable Chicago credits include George in Sunday in the Park with George (Chicago Jeff Award/After Dark Award – Leading Actor), and Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Chicago Jeff Award – Supporting Actor). Joel is a 2-time Denver Henry Award Nominee and has worked locally with The Arvada Center, Denver Victorian, Next Stage, Miner’s Alley, and Firehouse Theatre Company. Joel holds a BA in Theatre Performance from the University of Tulsa and a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Northern Colorado.