
Nashville
Children's Theatre Board of Trustees
Chair
Chris W. Green
Vice-Chair
Todd Presnell
Secretary
Bill Zinke
Treasurer
Jane Avinger
Immediate Past Chair
Tammy Johnston
Members-At-Large
Winston Harless
Julia B. Polk
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Dwaine Anderson
Renee E. Cantrell
Kevin B. Churchwell, MD
Mary Clement
Lisa Dean
Roxanna A. Devlin
Loren Elliot
Beth Harwell
LeAnn Kelly
Sima Khayat-Kholghi
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Nina Lindley
Ashoke Bappa
Mukherji
Matthew Mullins
Tom Oreck
Lee Robinson
Donald Seitz
Jim Shulman
Ronnie Steine
Monica Flynn Urness
Karen R. Weir
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Nashville
Children's Theatre Resource Council
Chair
Marti Rosenberg
Bettye Abernathy
Carrie Gentry
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Wendy Goldstein
Ann Stahlman Hill
Leslie Powers |
Sam Stumpf
Ann Teaff
Byron Trauger |
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.
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