Theatre Staff
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John Stephens - Executive Director This is John’s third Season at The Little Theatre. Coming to us from Decatur, IL where he spent 5 years as a music teacher at St. James School in Decatur, IL. John is very excited to be a part of The Little Theatre Family. John comes from a strong performing background. He began to sing and play the piano at age 5 and since then has went on to sing in places like The Grand Ole Opry and U.S. Cellular Stadium for the Chicago White Sox. John spent 9 years with the Decatur Park Singers, starting as a singer/dancer and moving up the ranks to Road Manager and then Business Manager. He also directed the Decatur Young Park Singers for 5 seasons. You might have seen John on stage in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and we are sure it won’t be the last time you see him on our stage. John started at the theatre as Marketing Director in 2006 and has moved up the ladder to now fill the seat on Interim Managing Director. A HUGE thanks to Lori and to the entire Little Theatre Board of Trustees for all they do to help make John’s life easier. |
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Joshua Zecher-Ross -Creative Director New York-based pianist, musical director, and performer, Joshua Zecher-Ross is happy to call The Little Theatre on the Square his Midwestern home away from home and honored to have been named artistic director in February of this year. Since joining The Little Theatre staff in 2010 as musical director, he has music directed and conducted all of the main stage shows, created new musical arrangements for the 2011 Little Theatre Christmas Show, and co-authored the children’s musical Rescuing Rapunzel with his writing partner Janie Wallace. Joshua has music directed and conducted on over 60 regional productions across the country, including the non-Equity regional premiere of Hairspray, the Northeast tour of Mel Brooks’ The Producers, and Cats (directed and choreographed by Jacob Brent). His musical direction has been called “out of this world,” “strong, confident” and “inspired” by critics, and The Berkshire Eagle of Pittsfield, MA gave his work an honorable mention on their list of “Best Musical Direction” in 2009 and 2010 after having featured him in the article “Both Sides of the Piano”, which highlighted his life as an actor and musician. Joshua has developed music curricula for Jewish religious schools, and he was the assistant teacher for the middle school bands at Lenox Memorial Middle and High School in Lenox, Massachusetts. In addition to piano, Joshua plays saxophone, guitar and mallet percussion, and professional and amateur choirs have sung his arrangements of choral music at national concerts and religious services. As a singer, Joshua has performed regionally and in New York and can be heard on Shirah vaShevach, a recording of Jewish liturgical music. He also is a regular performer in the annual benefit concert produced by his mom, “Warm Up the Winter” which raises funds to help provide fuel assistance to families in need in Western Massachusetts. Joshua holds a Bachelor of music in Vocal Performance with a concentration in Music Theatre from the Steinhardt School at New York University. Many thanks to John, Lori, Therese and everyone on staff at The Little Theatre on the Square, and love, as always, to Mom and Dad. |
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Lori Harbaugh – Business Manager It’s hard to believe, but this year marks Lori’s 26th season with The Little Theatre On The Square. She is a lifetime resident of Sullivan who has been known to show up on stage from time to time. These days she’s more likely to be found in her office shuffling mounds of paperwork, ensuring that things continue to run smoothly behind the scenes. Her performance bug has been satisfied for the last nine years by her work with “The Prairie Winds”, a local group who entertains weekly at area nursing and retirement homes. Lori wants to send a huge “thank you” to her wonderful, dedicated box office staff for their loyal support and hard work over the years. We couldn’t do it without you!
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Heather Doré Johnson – Education Director With over 18 years of professional training, Heather began her dancing with the Royal Academy of Dance in Champaign, IL, where she later taught. Her dance focus was on classical ballet, character dance (Hungarian, Russian and Polish folk), free-movement studies (modern), tap, jazz and musical theatre. At 14, she appeared in The Nutcracker with The North Carolina Dance Theatre and in 1999, received her Elementary Grade Certificate, with one of the Nation’s highest scores (Royal Academy of Dance’s Dance Gazette), along with her Primary Grades teaching certification. Through her training with RAD, she completed many master classes with Petrus Bosman, Cynthia Harvey and David Howard. Throughout central Illinois, Heather has choreographed numerous musicals, show choirs, bands, and promotional events and has performed professionally with The Little Theatre on the Square: Jack Milo’s Baggy Pants Burlesque, White Christmas, Hair, Annie, Showboat, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Aladdin, Funny Girl, West Side Story , and TLTOTS’s STAR Tours of The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi and Accidental Friends. Heather has directed/choreographed at TLTOTS: Willy Wonka Jr., Beauty & The Beast Jr., Honk! Jr. and Seussical Jr. She appeared for many years with the Brat Pack as a back-up dancer and temporary lead vocalist and also appeared with Weird Al Yankovic on his Poodle Hat Tour as a back-up dancer. Regional credits include: Man of La Mancha, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Oliver, The Balcony / Le Balcon, Woyzek, Anything Goes, Brigadoon. She received her theatre training from Parkland College: Return to the Forbidden Planet, Five Kinds of Silence, and Cabaret. She has also appeared in independent films and a nationally aired docu-drama, I’d Be Delighted and commercials for Dallas & Co., Manolo’s Pizza, Busey Bank and Horizon Hobby. Thank you for supporting the performing arts and art education. |
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Therese Kincade - Tour Director
Therese is currently the Tour Director at The Little Theatre On The Square where she directs and books the educational tour shows. She has acted in recent Little Theatre productions of Oklahoma!, Footloose, Baggy Pants Burlesque, White Christmas, Annie, Showboat, Follies and Nunsense. Therese also appeared on stage as Golde to Jack Milo?s Tevye at the Doudna Fine Arts Center at Easter Illinois University. In addition, she has directed the Charleston High School Spring musical since 2000: Honk! Oklahoma!, Once Upon A Mattress, Damn Yankees, The Music Man, How To Succeed, Hello Dolly,Dames At Sea, Guys and Dolls, Bye Bye Birdie and Anything Goes. |
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David J. Scobbie - Sound Designer David is pleased to be joining us for his fourth year here at The Little Theatre On The Square as Sound Designer. He comes to us from St. Louis, Missouri where he recently graduated Webster University’s Conservatory with a BFA in Technical Theatre with an emphasis in sound design. He also works for Entertainment Technology Group where he has worked for eight years doing shows with Ralph Butler Band and other various groups. Some of his favorite shows he has done here at The Little Theatre On The Square include Follies, Godspell, The Full Monty, Hairspray and Smoke On The Mountain. He would like to thank his family for all their love and support. Enjoy the shows! |
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Donna Newcome - Second Act Gallery and Box Office
Donna has the great honor of running The Second Act Gallery which opened in mid September. She truly enjoying seeing both the artists with their work as well as the patrons admiring it.
2009 marks her sixth seaon working with the Little Theatre. She say working with because we really do all work together. When it is show time, you do whatever is needed to be done, whether it be taking tickets, working the box office or ushering people to their seats. Donna comes to the Theatre by way of the County Clerk’s office. She held the position of Chief Deputy County Clerk for 9 years. Donna feels truly blessed to have a job she loves working with people she adores. |
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Angelo Torre - Properties Design Angelo is happy to be back in Sullivan at the theatre he considers home. He returns after a 10 year absence. Angelo has toured the continent with various shows including The King & I and How to Succeed in Business. For the last 10 years he has been in NYC on Broadway and television. For TV he’s done props, scenery and lighting for Conan O’Brien, Martha Stewart, several soap operas, the Kennedy Center Honors and The Macy’s Thanksgiving parade. Theatrically, Angelo’s worked on such Broadway shows as You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Kiss Me Kate, Top Dog/Underdog, Into The Woods, Grey Gardens, The Wedding Singer, Sweet Smell Of Success, Sweet Charity, Wonderful Town, Curtains and a bunch more. He’s worked with folks such as Brian Stokes Mitchell, Drew Carey, Brooke Shields, Chita Rivera, Carol Channing, Christina Applegate, David Hyde Pierce, Harvey Fierstein, Christine Ebersol, Wayne Knight, Mos Def, Jeffery Wright and on and on and on. Angelo and his pal Iggy the dog want to thank Miki, John and Lori for EVERYTHING they’ve done for us and we hope you enjoy the skit. |
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Arlene Denning |
Arlene Denning – Ticket Office Manager Arlene returns to The Little Theatre On The Square for her 17th season. In the real world, she is a kindergarden elementary teacher at Lovington Grade School. After school, she continues teaching at Sullivan Preschool. Between her busy schedule and the schedule of husband John, she hopes they can coordinate their free time and “get away” a little. |
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Jerry Reynolds Becky Zimmerman
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Information To Come |
