Young Performer's Community Theater of Mason
We were very fortunate to have had the following talented people volunteer their efforts for our second production, MTI's Honk! Jr. By clicking on one of the following names, you will be directed further down the page for more information on that individual.
Producer - Becky Corstanje
Becky is an RN and has an MS in Administration. Most recently, Becky produced Acting Up's wildly successful premier production The Wizard of Oz. In the past, Becky has been responsible for managing medical departments and multi-million dollar budgets. Becky has been a supporter of community theater for years. She has been a make-up technician for several Children's Theater of Mason productions. Becky recently won an Orchid Award for Excellence in Make-Up and Hair for the Lebanon Theatre Company's production of The Octette Bridge Club.
Associate Producer - Laura Peebles
Laura has a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Illinois. Who knew that such a degree would hone certain "detail-oriented" skills in perfect preparation for the responsibilities of an Associate Producer in community theater! She has always had a love of musical theater. Most recently, Laura was the Assistant Producer for Acting Up's The Wizard of Oz.
Director - Brent Peebles
Brent has acted in plays and musicals for years. He is currently appearing as "Pawnee Bill" in Loveland Stage Company's production of Annie Get Your Gun. Brent has also appeared in two Children's Theatre of Mason musicals: as "Willy Wonka" in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and as the pig "Uncle" in Charlotte's Web. During theater "off hours", Brent acts as a patent attorney for the Procter & Gamble Company.
Musical Directors
Gloria Murry. Gloria studied music education at Cincinnati Christian University and Northern Kentucky University. Since junior high school she has played piano and keyboard in several musical productions; some of her favorites include, Once Upon A Mattress, Carousel, Oklahoma, Hello Dolly, West Side Story, Meet Me In St Louis, Music Man, and The Sound of Music. In addition to being the Music Director at the Jamestown Church of Christ in her hometown of Jamestown, Ohio, Gloria is assistant director and plays keyboard with the Ohio Metropolitan Theatre Orchestra who accompanied Acting Up in its premier production of The Wizard of Oz. Gloria’s musical pursuits are in addition to her job as the Human Resource Director at Brands Insurance Agency in West Chester. Gloria is thrilled to be making her musical co-directing debut with Acting Up.
Benjamin Price. The Ohio Metropolitan Theatre Orchestra OMTO), under the guidance of Maestro Benjamin Price, provided the wonderful live music for Acting Up's production of The Wizard of Oz. Benjamin is the concert timpanist for the Southwest Ohio Symphonic Band (a division of Miami University), and a registered timpanist with the Ohio Arts Program. He has conducted and composed music for the Majesty Pops Orchestra, performing key events throughout the United States. In 2001, Benjamin completed an internship as an audio director at Worldport Film Productions in Cincinnati, OH. He graduated from the prestigious William Steinway University in 2004, and is currently attending Ohio Christian College pursuing a double major in percussion performance and conducting. Benjamin is also a piano specialist with Premier Pianos in West Chester, Ohio.
Choregography - Lori Pilone
Lori has a BFA in Ballet from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. She has performed in numerous musicals and ballets over the years. Lori taught dance for 10 years in the New Jersey and Philadelphia area. She has also performed in modern dance companies in New York City and Philadelphia. Most recently, Lori choreographed Acting Up's The Wizard of Oz.
Set Designer - Bob Fritzsch
Bob has been designing sets for over 46 years, earning him 14 Orchid awards for excellence in set design. He has designed and created sets for over 45 shows, including Acting Up's production of The Wizard of Oz. Bob won the 2001 Mario Pitocco Award for excellence in technical theater. He has also appeared on stage many times.
Costume Designer - Uma Raghavendran
Uma has a degree in Fine Arts and a certificate course in Fashion Design. Prior to moving to Ohio, Uma lived in California working in the fashion industry for 3 years. Most recently, Uma designed the costumes for Acting Up's production of The Wizard of Oz. She has also helped with costumes for seven continuous Children's Theatre of Mason productions, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Aladdin and His Wonderful Magical Lamp.
Lighting Designer - Josh Branch
Josh has been part of lighting design for multiple community and school productions including Theatre Xavier’s production of Les Miserables. He also does sound design, costume design and set construction. Josh will be a sophomore at St. Xavier High School in the 2006-2007 school year, but during his free time you can normally find him out on his bike or in the theater working on another show.
Stage Manager - Becca Johnson
Becca has a BA in Sociology from the University of Cincinnati, which is absolutely no use in dealing with 40-100 children backstage. However, being a homeschooling mother of 4 is great for learning to manage chaos. Becca has produced and directed yearly Christmas and Easter Musical productions for the past ten years at Faith Church in Milford, Ohio. Most recently she was stage manager for Acting Up's The Wizard of Oz, and directed an original Musical More Than a Story.
Production Artist - Heidi Moody
Heidi has a BA in Graphic Design from Samford University. Heidi was responsible for transforming the artwork from Bob Fritsch's set design miniatures to a life size set, for Acting Up's The Wizard of Oz; as well as creating the "Tin Man" logo for the same production. She has worked many years as a 2D/3D computer animation artist, and also enjoys painting large murals on any blank wall she can find.
Hair & Make-up Designer - Lydia Cousineau
Lydia has been part of the hair and make-up crews for several local theater productions, including Acting Up's The Wizard of Oz; and The Children's Theatre of Mason productions, Annie Jr., Aladdin and His Wonderful Magical Lamp, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In her "spare" time, Lydia makes professional use of her BS in Nursing from Ball State University.
Acting Coach - Brahm Corstanje
Brahm has been involved in several local productions, including acting roles inthe Lebanon Theatre Company's A Thousand Clowns (for which he was nominated an Orchid Award for Excellence in Acting), The Octette Bridge Club, and most recently, See How They Run. He also directed Charlotte's Web for the Children's Theatre of Mason. Brahm can also be seen weekdays performing as a patent attorney at The Procter & Gamble Company.
Last updated Wed, January 2, 2008 9:09 AM
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