education staff
Musical Players
Nina Meehan (Musical Players Program Coordinator) has been directing youth through CCCT Drama Camp and after school programs for the past fifteen years. When she was in high school, she performed on the CCCT stage. She also directs the Civic Arts Education Jr. Theatre program where she is very proud that her students have won awards at the Broadway Jr. festival twice during her tenure! In addition to teaching, Nina co-founded Bay Area Children's Theatre, a nonprofit theatre company dedicated to performing professional shows for children and family audiences. Nina is a performer and storyteller. She has worked with many Bay Area theatre companies including the California Shakespeare Festival, Willows Theatre (Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for the production), the Shotgun Players, and Playhouse West (Dean Goodman Award for supporting actress). Nina holds her BS in Theatre and Education from Northwestern University. She is currently pursuing her Master's in Nonprofit Administration from University of San Francisco.
Noelle Arms (Musical Minis, Kids & Juniors Director) has been making and teaching theater in the Bay Area for the last 10 years. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Theater from Chapman University, with an emphasis in performance and directing. Noelle studied at The Eugene O'Neill National Theater Institute in Connecticut and with Complicite Theater in London. Beyond acting, directing, and teaching, Noelle is an award winning playwright and Stage Manager. She teaches here at CCCT, with the City of Walnut Creek Youth Theater Company, and at Poison Apple Productions where she heads educational classes and artistic oversight for production.
Christina Martin (Musical Teens Director) holds a BFA in Musical Theater from Brigham Young University and a California Teaching Credential for Music, Dance and Drama. Christina was a Drama/Dance teacher for a prestigious Magnet for the Arts Junior High School. She is actively involved in many live productions throughout the Bay Area and is a private vocal coach.
Jenny Adler (Assistant Director) recently graduated from UC Davis with a BA in Dramatic Arts and Music (Vocal Performance) where she performed onstage in many opera and musical theatre pieces. Now back in the Bay Area, she is working towards earning her music teaching credential. She is thrilled to be at CCCT where she grew up in the Drama Camp program and has been a Drama Camp counselor for the past 5 summers.
Deirdre Ashby (Choreographer) has trained extensively in ballet, tap and jazz since the age of five. She is also a singer and actor and has appeared in numerous productions around the Bay Area. Besides her performance credits, Deirdre is also a credentialed teacher and worked in elementary education for nearly ten years. Deirdre is very excited to begin her second season as choreographer and co-director for the Musical Teen program!
Lizzy Asarnow (Assistant Director) has been involved with CCCT since she was seven years old, including this past summer as a counselor for Live at CCCT Summer Drama Camp. She was inspired by the way drama camp brought out creativity and talent in each child. She is excited to continue this work with the Musical Players because it brings together the several years she has worked with children along with her skills as a singer, songwriter, and musician. She is a senior at Albany High School.
Gregg Klein (Music Director) has been performing, directing and providing musical direction for more than 40 years. He first appeared on stage as Winthrop Paroo in "The Music Man" and has never looked backed. In addition to his role as musical director for Musical Players, Gregg is also resident musical director for Poison Apple Productions in Martinez, and has also worked with Center Stage Theater in Pleasant Hill and Chanticleers Theatre in Castro Valley. Gregg has also directed numerous productions throughout the SF Bay Area for companies including Altarena Playhouse, Masquers Playhouse, Pinole Community Playhouse, CTA Crossroads Theatre and Pittsburg Community Theatre.
Ruby McNitt (intern) is very excited to intern at CCCT for the first time. She has been in six Musical Players productions with CCCT, including Seussical, Bye Bye Birdie, and Snoopy. She is an 8th grader at Martin Luther King Middle School and is 14 years old.
Zoe McPheron (intern) has been an active participant of the Musical Players program for many years. She started in the program back in 2008 when she was ten years old; highlights include, Charlie Bucket (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Mad Hatter (Alice in Wonderland), and most recently Snoopy in Snoopy the Musical! She started interning last year for Aladdin Kids and absolutely loved. She is delighted to continue working for this new season of Musical Players at CCCT.
Annie Stonebarger (intern) is 13 years old and has been actively attending the Musical Players program for 7 years. She goes to Tehiyah Day School and has been learning there for 9 years. Annie enjoys acting at CCCT because the people there are so welcoming and everyone is like a big family. Annie says that she has learned a lot from the program and can't wait to learn more in years to come.
Gloria Waxman (intern) has been doing theatre here at CCCT since she was seven. She loves the dancing portion of Musical Players, and she is incredibly grateful for the opportunities CCCT has provided her. She is an 8th grader at Portola Middle School.
Summer Camp Staff
To be announced Spring, 2013.
IMPROVISATION FOR YOUNG ACTORS
Austin Zumbro has studied, performed, and taught improvised theater all over the Bay Area, including BATS and SF Sketchfest. After four years as a member of the Stanford Improvisers, Austin graduated with a BA in Human Biology. Since then, he has worked with groups of all ages, from stodgy old business executives to three year-olds, but refuses to draw the obvious parallels between them.
Arie Levine has been teaching in Live at CCCT programs since 2005. After getting an early taste of improv as a young person in CCCT's Summer Drama Camp, Arie went on to perform for four years in Desperate Measures - Wesleyan University's short form improv troupe. Since returning to the Bay Area, Arie has trained with BATS, Leela, and a variety of other local improv institutions. She has performed in 24-hour improv shows on a few occasions, but promises not to subject your children to such a ridiculous endeavor.
