A.C.T. Educational Staff

Robert McDonough is so excited to be joining this amazing team as the Education Coordinator for The Academy of The Company Theatre! He was formerly the Choral Director at Coakley Middle School in Norwood, MA. Before that, he studied Music Education at UMass Amherst with a focus in classical voice and piano. Robert’s love for music and theatre began when he was just a little kid performing in plays and musicals at school. He’s been music directing musicals since the age of 17, and is currently the music director for “Hair” here at The Company Theatre. In his spare time Robert enjoys baking goodies, reading books, practicing piano, and spending time with his puppy-niece, Dora!

Melissa Carubia (she/they) is a music director, composer, and actor making art and music in the Boston area. She holds a B.S. in Physics from Boston College and a Masters in Composition from the Longy School of Music. Melissa has written several musicals for both adults and children including Beneath The Skin, a musical that seeks to defeat the stigma of mental illness, America’s Next Top Monster, and the critically acclaimed “T: An MBTA Musical” which is currently running at The Rockwell theatre in Somerville after having stints at both ImprovBoston and the A.R.T’s OBERON. She has musical directed many shows as well, including Les Misérables, CATS, which won a Moss Hart award, Avenue Q, A Chorus Line, Newsies, High School Musical, Rocky Horror, Heathers, The Lion King, and School of Rock at The Company Theatre. Her recent acting credits include productions of Fun Home, Rock of Ages, Evita, Ragtime, La Cage Aux Folles, and The Little Mermaid also at The Company Theatre. She is a former dance teacher for Fresh Pond Ballet and former professional improviser/educator for the non-profit organizations Urban Improv and ImprovBoston. She also sings, plays keytar and writes original songs for her synth-pop rock band, Minusworld.

John graduated SUNY Fredonia in 2010 with a double major in Acting and Dance. He was also certified as an Actor Combatant(’10-’13) trained under Ted Sharon and tested by J. Allen Suddeth. After graduation he taught ballroom and social dance at Arthur Murray studios in Seattle, Wa. and has performed locally with modern dance company Sokolow Now! A company dedicated to the work of modern dance choreographer Anna Sokolow.. He has performed in The Company Theatre’s productions of White Christmas, Jesus Christ Superstar,1776 as George Read, Mary Poppins as Neleus, and Billy Elliot. John has been teaching for the Studio One program, A.C.T. Summer Camp, and The Dance Workshop of Hanover. He is passionate about art and creation, and is very excited to be a part of the A.C.T. staff!

CHRISTIE READING (DIRECTOR OF DRAMA)

Christie Reading is a Boston-based actor and teaching artist with her Masters in Theatre Education from Emerson College and was accepted to the Stellar Adler Studio of Acting. She has worked with many local theatre companies such as MMAS Blackbox, The Norwood Theatre, Little Theatre of Stoughton, Massasoit Theatre Company, & The Company Theatre. Recent credits include: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Mrs. Meers), Urinetown (Pennywise), The 39 Steps (All Women), Cabaret (Frauline Kost), The Mystery of Irma Vep (Lord Edgar/ Jane), Eris’ Chain (Eris), & The Laramie Project (Reggie) for which she received a Dash nomination. Christie has has dedicated much of her post-college career to advocating arts in schools and is proud to be a theatre educator at ACT & the ACT Summer Workshop!

CHRISTA DUNN

Christa is originally from San Diego, CA. She studied Theatre at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she developed a love of classical theatre. Christa went on to study Shakespeare at The American Globe Theatre, and supplemented her education with course work at Juilliard and Shakespeare and Co. Christa worked for several years as an actor and director in small theatres in NYC, including the Looking Glass Theatre, The Queens Players, and Shakespeare in the Parking Lot. More locally, Christa has done shows on Cape Cod at such theaters as the Cape Cod Repertory Theatre, Barnstable Comedy Club, The Academy Playhouse, and Chatham Drama Guild.

CHRISTOPHER SPENCER

Chris is a music and theatre educator, and by day, substitute teaches in Quincy. He has taught at A.C.T. since 2016, both during the school year and in the Summer Workshop.  He is also an adjunct professor at Massasoit Community College, teaching various theatre and speech classes.  Chris has appeared in several Company productions, including A Christmas Carol (Fred), Something Rotten (Nigel Bottom), Rock of Ages (Franz), Oliver (Mr. Sowerberry), La Cage Aux Folles (Hanna), Legally Blonde (Emmett Forrest), Mary Poppins (Robertson Ay/Valentine), The 39 Steps (Man #2), Les Miserables (Graintaire), and Spring Awakening (Moritz Stiefel). Other favorite roles include Lord Farquaad (Shrek), Jimmy Smith (Thoroughly Modern Millie), and The Scarecrow (The Wizard of Oz). Chris holds a BA in music with a minor in theatre, and an MEd in middle/secondary education, both from UMass Boston.

MATTHEW MAGGIO

Matthew Maggio is so excited to be returning as an instructor for the ACT Program. A graduate of Bridgewater State College with a BA in Communications and Theater Arts, he is an avid actor and supporter of the arts on the South Shore. He has been in multiple productions in the area at The Company Theatre in Norwell, Americana Theater Company, Family Performing Arts Center in Bridgewater, The Little Theater of Stoughton and Massasoit College, among others. Recent credits include Soapy (Gift of the Magi), Man 2 (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change), Willy Wonka (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory), LeFou (Beauty and the Beast), George Banks (Mary Poppins), and Pilate (Jesus Christ Superstar). He also serves as the Director and Adviser for the Scituate High School Drama Club, with recent directing credits including She Kills Monsters, An Ideal Husband, 1776, Tartuffe, and Mamma Mia. He is very proud to be a part of the A.C.T. team again!

STEPHANIE MANN

Stephanie, a native of Richmond, VA, started singing at age 15 and never stopped. She is a graduate of The Boston Conservatory with a Masters of Music in Voice/Opera Performance and of Brandeis University with a Bachelors of Arts in Theatre Arts. An active performer in New England and regionally, she has performed with such companies as Longwood Opera, Raylymor Opera, New England Opera Theatre, Greater Worcester Opera, Boston Opera Collaborative, Turtle Lane Playhouse, Riverside Theatreworks, Asheville Lyric Opera, and The Company Theatre. Equally at home in Opera and Musical Theatre, her credits include Alexandra in ‘Regina’, Amy in ‘Little Women’ (Opera), Donna Anna in ‘Don Giovanni’, Lady Thiang in ‘The King and I’, First Lady, Second Lady, Papagena in ‘Die Zauberflöte’, to name a few. In addition to her performance work, she was formerly on the Board/Clerk of Boston Singers Resource and was the Alumni Coordinator and Historian for Boston Opera Collaborative. She has also held staff positions with Boston Opera Collaborative, Boston Opera Project, and New England Gilbert and Sullivan Society. She is thrilled to be working with others to perpetuate the art and love of vocal performance through A.C.T..

CHRISTOPHER LANDIS

Christopher holds a BME with an endorsement in Vocal Performance from the Shenandoah Conservatory. Christopher also earned his Masters in Theatre Education from Emerson College. Christopher has taught at all levels of music education: collegiate, intermediate, and elementary. While in Virginia, Christopher was the Asst Director of the High School Choral Invitational hosted by Shenandoah University. As a teacher in Maryland, his technique of Kodaly Solfege inclusion with classroom management in the music classroom was presented at the Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA) state conference. At Waltham High School in MA, Christopher was director of the award-winning show choirs, (Gold Medals, finalist(s) recognition at local and national levels, as well as Grand Champion, outstanding soloist(s) both locally and nationally, outstanding stage presence, outstanding costume design, and best vocals.) Music Express and Music Unlimited. Christopher currently teaches at Hingham Middle School where he is choral director, honor choir, Junior Choral Spectrum, has been awarded consecutive Platinum Medals at the Great East Festival. In the spring of 2015, Christopher directed the (SEMSBA) middle school honor choir. For two seasons, Christopher performed with the Baltimore Opera Company. Christopher has worked in various community and regional theaters performing such favorite roles as: Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cogsworth in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Brad in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Malcolm in The Full Monty. Christopher has directed such musicals as: The Sound of Music, Little Shop of Horrors, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and The Secret Garden; He has music directed: Hello Dolly!, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music, and Guys & Dolls; Christopher has choreographed: Seussical, Mary Poppins, and Into the Woods. Christopher resides in Weymouth, MA with his husband, Joe, and their two dogs: Otis and Gracie.

LIZ TRONNI EWING

Liz has been dancing for over 35 years and teaching and choreographing since the age of 14. She started her dance training at Hazel Boone Studios and has continued training at Jeannette Neill’s Studio in Boston and Dance Forever in Braintree. Liz has been teaching jazz dance for the last 17 years at Dance Studio 53 formerly the Dance Studio of Norwell. Some of Liz’s choreography has been seen for 19 years at the Hingham Cabaret. She most recently choreographed Hingham High School’s production of Rock of Ages and Hingham Music Theater’s production of Once Upon a Mattress. When Liz is not teaching she is leasing apartments at Avalon Quincy.

MEGHAN RYAN

Meghan Ryan is a Braintree native who is so excited to be joining the A.C.T. team! She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she earned a BA in Theater Arts and Elementary Education. Since graduating, Meghan has focused on theatre and music education through her positions at Rising Stars, The Academy of Company Theatre, and Priscilla Beach Theatre. The past two years Meghan held the position of Fine Arts Director at St. Francis Xavier School where she taught general music, private voice lessons, and directed two annual musicals. When Meghan is not teaching she loves to perform. Some of her favorite credits are Casey in First Date, Margot in Legally Blonde, Natalie in Next to Normal, and Rhoda in A New Brain. Meghan recently had the opportunity to work in film and became a supporting actress on Adult Swim’s Mostly 4 Millenials. Recently, she was cast in this year’s Plymouth Rock Assurance Bruin’s Commercial with Torey Krug. Meghan’s teaching philosophy is to introduce the basics of acting while bringing a young actors individuality into the performance. Whether it’s singing a song as a funny made-up character, or reading a scene upside down, Meghan loves to explore children’s imagination and creativity to help blossom their own presence on stage. Meghan is so excited to be part of this amazing team and can’t wait to get started!