Nashville Children's Theatre Board of Trustees

Nashville Children's Theatre Resource Council

Nashville Children's Theatre Staff

Candice Atnip, Operations/Outreach Associate
Sally Baker, Education Coordinator
Julee Brooks, Director of Education/Artistic Associate
Steve Bianchi, Director of Marketing/PR
Dan Brewer, Company Stage Manager
Scot Copeland, Producing Director
Allison L. Dillon, Managing Director
Julie Dysart, Stitcher
Erica Edmonson, Secnographer
Jennifer M. Fernandez, Box Office Manager
Michelle Taylor, Bookkeeper
Mitch Masarro, Assistant Technical Director
Mike Sanders,Technical Director
Patricia Taber, Costume Designer
Lorna Turner, House Manager/School Reservations Coordinator

Administrative Staff
Allison L. Dillon, Managing Director
Allison joined Nashville Children’s Theatre in 1999 from The New 42nd Street, Inc., the non-profit organization established by New York City and State to redevelop 42nd Street’s historic theatres. As Associate Director of Development, Allison helped to raise $1.2 million annually for The New Victory Theatre – New York City’s first and only year-round, professional theatre for kids and families. Before moving to Nashville, Allison helped to launch the $25 million capital campaign for the New 42nd Street studios, a multi-use facility designed to provide subsidized rehearsal, office, and performance space to a myriad of non-profit performing arts organizations. Past affiliations include the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the Arizona Youth Arts Festival, and the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre. Allison received an MFA in Children’s Theatre Management from Arizona State University, and she holds a BA in Drama from Stanford University.

Candice Atnip, Operations/Outreach Associate
Candice holds a B.A. degree in Theatre from The University of Central Florida in Orlando. While in Orlando Candice worked at Disney's Animal Kingdom as a character. Candice has served as an acting teacher for Madison Children's Theatre in Alabama. She also worked in Development for Barrington Stage Company in the Berkshires and was the Box Office Manager for Oregon Children's Theatre in Portland before making her way back to the South. Candice is excited to be back in the South where you can get Sweet Iced Tea and is thrilled to be working with NCT. In addition to her Theatre background Candice holds a certification to teach Yoga to children.

Steve Bianchi, Director of Marketing/PR
Steve first worked with the Children’s Theatre in 1997 as a technical volunteer and was quickly hired part-time. In 1999 he came on full-time as NCT’s Box Office/Administrative Associate and office coordinator for ASSITEJ-USA, which had recently moved its headquarters to NCT in conjunction with Scot Copeland’s term as President of the organization. After five years operating NCT’s Box Office and managing the operations of a national service organization for professional children’s theatres, Steve was promoted to Director of Marketing/PR in August 2004. Steve came to Nashville by way of Indiana, Georgia, and New Jersey. He attended Anderson University in the flat lands of Anderson, Indiana, where he studied English, Drama, and Public Relations.

Jennifer Fernandez , Box Office Manager
Jennifer has a strong background in theatre: she holds an MFA in playwriting from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University and she is a former intern with the George Street Playhouse. Jennifer has served as proofreader for Estreno theater journal, and she also worked as the Assistant to the Director of Membership, Volunteers and Audience Services at the Zimmerli Art Museum in New Jersey. In addition to her MFA, Jennifer received her B.A. in English from Spring Hill College.

Michelle Taylor, Bookkeeper, joined Nashville Children’s Theatre in June 2008 following six years as an HR specialist at Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home. Earlier in her career, Michelle served for five years as Business Manager at St. Luke’s Community House and she served in the same capacity at Park Center, Inc. for nine years. Michelle holds an Associate’s Degree in Banking with a concentration in Accounting from Nashville State Community College, with additional coursework in HR Management from Columbia Southern University.

Lorna Turner, House Manager/School Reservations Coordinator
Lorna facilitates ticket orders for the hundreds of schools that visit Nashville Children’s Theatre each season. Lorna has developed an extensive working relationship with teachers throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee, and her excellent customer service skills and attention to detail helps her manage the Front of House Operations for all school and public performances. Lorna worked as a legal secretary for seven years before joining Nashville Children's Theatre in 1980.


Artistic Staff
Scot Copeland, Producing Director
Scot has been Producing Director of Nashville Children’s Theatre since 1985. He has directed over a hundred plays for young audiences and has written twelve. In 1972 he was a founding member of the Whole Backstage Theatre in Guntersville, Alabama – a theatre that still serves its community to this day. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Montevallo and his MFA in Child Drama from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has served on the boards of the Southeastern Theatre Conference, the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, and the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America. He served two terms as President of ASSITEJ/USA -- the US division of the International Association of Professional Theatre for Children and Young People. Scot is proud to be a native Tennessean.

Dan Brewer, Company Stage Manager
Dan has worked as a professional stage manager and director since 1976. Notable stage management credits include Waiting for Godot at the Kennedy Center and a national tour of Hansel and Gretel with The Center for Puppetry Arts. Dan joined the staff of Nashville Children's Theatre in 1985, and he served on the Tennessee Theatre Association’s Board of Directors for seven years. Dan holds an MFA in Child Drama from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a BA in Theatre Arts from Virginia Tech.

Julie Dysart, Stitcher
Julie was imported from Iowa to assist with costume construction at NCT. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2008 with a B.A. in Theatre Design and Production focusing on Costume Design. Previously she worked in the UNI costume studio and has professional experience with tailoring. She owns more shoes that she could ever wear.

Erica Edmonson, Scenographer
Erica is a professional scenic artist and designer who has been living and working in Nashville since 2006. She earned her BA in Technical Theatre with a minor in Studio Art from Indiana University, and a Technical Certificate in Scenic Art from Yale University’s School of Drama.  She has also worked professionally as a scenic artist for North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, Massachusetts, and the University of California Irvine.

Mitch Massaro, Assistant Technical Director
Mitch is a recent graduate from Belmont and holds degrees in Theatre and Music. He's worked with People's Branch Theatre and Actor's Bridge, and is excited about his new position at NCT. Mitch looks forward to being a part of NCT's future and hopes to make his local alma mater proud.

Mike Sanders, Technical Assistant
Mike spent his college years at Transylvania University, where he earned his degree in Theater and Philosophy, as well as working side-by-side with Sandy Everett. Afterwards he spent two years as Technical Director for the Downtown Arts Center in Lexington, Ky. Now he is pleased to be joining the NCT staff, and looks forward to many great shows.

Patricia Taber, Costume Designer
Patricia, Costume Design and Construction, joined NCT's artistic staff in 2000. Patricia has an extensive background in both costume design and construction, in addition to her training as a professional actress and vocalist. She has designed costumes for Tennessee Dance Theatre and Circle Players in Nashville, and earlier design work includes Pirates of Penzance, Grease, and Amahl and the Night Visitors. Pat graduated from East Tennessee State University with a BA in Humanities. Some of her favortie designs for NCT have been Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Before the People Came and The Arkansaw Bear.

Education Staff
Julee Brooks, Director of Education/Artistic Associate
Julee is a graduate of the MFA program in Theatre for Youth at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Julee has served as Education Director of the North Carolina Theatre for Young People and as an artist-in-residence at the Berkshire Theatre Festival. She has also designed curriculum and taught classes for North Shore Music Theatre and Lakes Region Summer Theatre. Most recently as Nashville Children's Theatre, Julee directed The Tempest and A Woman Called Truth at NCT this year. She also holds a B.A. from Centre College in dramatic arts and government.

Sally Baker, Education Coordinator
Sally is currently finishing an MFA from the University of Texas at Austin in Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities. She has served as the Education Coordinator for California Theatre Center in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Theatre Academy Director for Mad River Theatre Works in Ohio, and a teaching artist for a number of companies in Georgia, California, Texas, and Ohio. She holds a degree in Secondary Education and Theatre from the University of Georgia and a secondary teaching certification in English and Drama. She is delighted to join NCT's Education staff.