A.C.T. Educational Staff

Melissa 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–most recently Beneath The Skin, a musical that seeks to defeat the stigma of mental illness, The Curious Case of Oliver Chase, a local take on a Willy Wonka-esque candy maker, America’s Next Top Monster, and the critically acclaimed “T: An MBTA Musical” which premiered at ImprovBoston and later was performed at the A.R.T’s OBERON. She has musical directed many shows as well, including CATS, which won a Moss Hart award, A Chorus Line, Newsies, Heathers: High School Edition, The Lion King, and School of Rock at The Company Theatre. Her recent acting credits include productions of Evita, Ragtime, The Little Mermaid, Avenue Q, Chicago, and Les Misérables, also at The Company Theatre. She is a former dance teacher for Fresh Pond Ballet and 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.
Melissa teaches Center Stage 2 (Tuesday), Center Stage 3 (Tuesday), Teen Improv, and Center Stage 1 (Thursday) and musical directs all A.C.T. shows.

South Shore native Cynthia Krebs trained with Children’s Ballet Workshop and the Boston Ballet before moving to California, where she studied with the Oakland Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. After several summer intensives with the New York City Ballet, Cynthia was accepted into the Joffrey Ballet, when an injury ended her ballet career. Cynthia followed her performing arts passion by pursuing a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in musical theatre and communications at The California State University, Chico. In addition to instructing at Studio One and ACT Summer Camp, she is an instructor at Secret Physique Barre Studios, a guest instructor at South Shore Ballet Theatre of Hanover, and Dance Workshop of  Hanover. She has taught at Boston Youth Moves and The Jeanette Neill Dance Studio in Boston, and had given master classes for the Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston. Cynthia returned to performing at The Company Theatre in their productions of Mary Poppins and Billy Elliot, where she also assisted the choreographer. Cynthia is excited to be a part of the talented ACT team!
Cynthia teaches makeup workshops and offers coaching for audition videos for college.

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 Studio One staff!
John teaches Beginner and Advanced Broadway Technique, Center Stage 1 (Thursday), Children’s Tap, Adult Tap, and Contemporary.

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!
Christie teaches Center Stage 1 (Tuesday), Children’s Improv, Theatre Games, and Children’s Acting 1 (Wednesday).

CHRISTA DUNN

Christa is originally from San Diego, CA. She studied Theatre and Improvisation 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.
Christa recently taught at the ACT Summer Camp. She has also taught for DramaKids, and runs an annual week-long Theatre Games camp for kids through Weymouth Recreation. She lives in Weymouth.
Christa teaches Center Stage 2 (Thursday).

CHRISTOPHER SPENCER

Chris is an aspiring music and theatre educator, and by day, substitute teaches in Quincy. This is his first year teaching at Studio One, though he has taught at The Company Theatre’s Summer Workshop for the past two years. Chris has appeared in several Company productions, including A Christmas Carol (Fred), Legally Blonde (Emmett Forrest), Mary Poppins (Robertson Ay/Valentine), The 39 Steps (Goon #2), Jesus Christ Superstar (Matthew), Les Miserables (Graintaire), and Spring Awakening (Moritz Stiefel). Other recent roles include Lord Farquaad (Shrek) 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.
Chris teaches Center Stage 1 (Tuesday), Center Stage 2 (Thursday), and Children’s Voice.

MATTHEW MAGGIO

Matt is returning for his third year as an instructor for the Studio One 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, Family Performing Arts Center in Bridgewater, The Little Theater of Stoughton and Massasoit College, among others. Recent credits include Willy Wonka (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory), LeFou (Beauty and the Beast), Kiron (Eris’ Chain), George Banks (Mary Poppins), Sherman (1776), and Pilate (Jesus Christ Superstar). He is very proud to be a part of the Studio One team and hopes that the program grows as much as its students grow with it.
Matt teaches Teen Acting, Children’s Acting 1 (Saturday), Children’s Acting 2, Center Stage 3 (Saturday) and Acting Through Role-Playing Games.

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’, Lady Grace Manley-Prowe in ‘Something’s Afoot’, Musetta in ‘La Bohème’, Fiordiligi in ‘Così fan tutte’, Maria in ‘The Sound of Music’ (Wakefield Repertory Theatre), and most recently Mrs. Gibbs in Rorem’s opera ‘Our Town’. With The Company Theatre, she has been thrilled to be in the Ensemble of ‘Les Miserables’, Abigail Adams in ‘1776’, and Winifred Banks in ‘Mary Poppins’. Her 2016 season has included portraying Naomi in an operatic treatment of Christopher Durang’s ‘Naomi in the Living Room’ with Boston Opera Collaborative, Turtle/Large and Terrible Frog in ‘A Year with Frog and Toad’ at Wheelock Family Theatre, Elettra in Mozart’s ‘Idomeneo’ with Boston Opera Collaborative, Miss Wells in ‘Dracula’ with Company Theatre, and Countess Ceprano in ‘Rigoletto’ with Longwood Opera. 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 Studio One. www.StephanieMannSoprano.com.
Stephanie teaches Adult Voice.

CHRISTOPHER LANDIS

Christopher holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree (BME) with an endorsement in Vocal Performance from the Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA. Christopher also earned his Master of Arts Degree in Theatre Education from Emerson College in Boston.
Christopher has been fortunate to teach at all levels of music education: collegiate, intermediate, and elementary. He has taught in the states of Virginia, Maryland, and presently Massachusetts. While being an educator in Virginia, Christopher was selected to be the Assistant Director of the High School Choral Invitational hosted by Shenandoah University. As an elementary 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. More recently, Christopher was a show choir director at Waltham High School in Waltham, MA. During his work at Waltham High, Christopher was the director of the award-winning show choirs, Music Express and Music Unlimited. Under his direction the show choirs received numerous Gold Medals, finalist(s) recognition at both the local and national levels, as well as Grand Champion. The show choirs were often recognized for outstanding soloist(s) both locally and nationally, outstanding stage presence, outstanding costume design, and best vocals.
Christopher currently teaches at Hingham Middle School in Hingham, MA where he is the middle school choral director. Under his direction, the Hingham Middle School honor choir, Junior Choral Spectrum, has been awarded consecutive Platinum Medals at the Great East Festival in Agawam, MA. In the spring of 2015, Christopher was chosen to direct the South Eastern Massachusetts School Bandmasters Association (SEMSBA) middle school honor choir – representing the top middle school vocalists from the South Shore area of Massachusetts.
For two seasons, Christopher had the privilege of performing with the prestigious Baltimore Opera Company. He has appeared in numerous 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 Majors in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Malcolm in The Full Monty. As a director, Christopher has directed such musicals as: The Sound of Music, Little Shop of Horrors, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and The Secret Garden; as a musical director, he has directed such musicals as: Hello Dolly!, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music, and Guys & Dolls; and as a choreographer, Christopher has choreographed such musicals as: Seussical, Mary Poppins, and Into the Woods.
Christopher resides in Weymouth, MA with his fiancé, Joe, and their two dogs: Otis and Gracie.
Christopher offers private lessons, including lessons to help students prepare for All-State, Senior and Junior District Auditions.

LIZ TRONNI

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.
Liz teaches Adult Broadway Dance.

EMILY RADZIWON

Emily teaches Youth Yoga.

SARAH FLANAGAN

Sarah Flanagan is a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. Originally hailing from New York, Sarah works as a teacher and freelance fight director all up and down the East Coast, trekking from theatre to theatre with her trusty dog and a bag full of swords in tow. While the bulk of her training is with the Society of American Fight Directors and the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat, Sarah has also begun training with the German combat society (Stage Combat Deutschland), the Canadian combat Society (Fight Directors Canada) and several Historical European Martial Arts groups. Sarah is pleased to be returning to the Company Theatre’s fall teaching season- she adores teaching and is looking forward to sharing the art and craft of stage combat with you!
Sarah teaches Stage Combat workshops.

DANNY BOLTON

Danny Bolton is thrilled to have this opportunity to work withACT students! A busy actor and actor-coach, Danny is presently
entering his twenty-first season of teaching for Wheelock FamilyTheatre and divides his time between acting and teaching and directing and has also had the good fortune to teach with such companies as Watertown Children’s Theatre, Wellesley Summer Theatre For Children, New Art Center in Newton, North Shore Music Theatre and City Spotlights at The Wang Center For The Performing Arts. As an actor, he has worked at theatres ranging from Speakeasy Stage Company to Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Lyric Stage Company of Boston Reagle Music Theatre and Wheelock Family Theatre. Some of his favorite roles include parts in The Drowsy Chaperone (IRNE Award for Best Actor In A Musical), 1776, Legally Blond and Deathtrap right here at Company Theatre; Wheelock Family Theatre’s Annie, It’s a Wonderful Life, Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse and Trumpet of The Swan; Holiday, Hay Fever and The Last Night of Ballyhoo at Wellesley Repertory Theatre and Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, When Pigs Fly (IRNE Award for Best Actor In A Musical), Jewish Theatre of New England, and Nora Theatre Company. The veteran of three national tours, Danny is a graduate of Boston College and continues to keep busy in video and commercial work and as a Company Member of Theatre Espresso. Member of Actors’Equity Association since 1995.
Danny teaches Adult Acting as well as workshops. He also offers private lessons and coaching.

MEGHAN RYAN

Meghan Ryan is a Braintree native and is excited to bring her talents to ACT. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she studied Theater and Early Childhood Education. Favorite past productions include: Mostly For Millennials on Adult Swim (Chantel California), Sweeney Todd (Ensemble), First Date (Casey), Legally Blond (Margot), Next to Normal (Natalie), A New Brain (Rhoda), The Wild Party (Mae), Spring Awakening (Wendla), and Godspell (Bless the Lord soloist).

Meghan teaches Acting the Song and private voice lessons.

CAT UMANO

Cat is thrilled to be back as an instructor at A.C.T., having started as a camper, and then becoming a regular performer on the Company Theatre stage. She also previously taught Tap & Jazz in the first years of Studio One. Cat is a graduate of the Integrated Conservatory Program of American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. Having been trained in all styles of dance, Cat began choreographing, coaching, and teaching for community productions, studios, schools, and universities. She is a competitive ballroom dancer and most recently finished a national tour as both the Lead Dancer and Rehearsal Director for a professional ballroom dance company. Favorite theatre credits include: The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet), A Chorus Line (Cassie, Val), The Addams Family (Morticia), and NINE (Carla). She is so excited to be back and share her passion with these amazing students!

Cat teaches Commerical Dance, Ballroom Monday Dance Nights, and private dance lessons.