Chris Carnicelli
I’m a 24 year stage veteran all over Ventura County who has acted, written, and directed over 21 plays for Ventura County’s Gypsies-in-a-Trunk children’s theater troop. I spent six years with the Pinki’s Playhouse rep company, and I’ve also written several screenplays and plays.
Whether it’s Melodramas, musicals, children’s theater, or straight dramas, I’ve been in them. My hero is Lon Chaney, Sr. and I have been described as “The Man of a Thousand Faces” when it comes to character makeup.
My children’s books, Something’s in the Forest! & Charlie’s Halloween Party are available at Amazon.com and you can currently read my movie reviews and other columns in Moorpark’s Community Link newspaper.
I’ve heard tell that my laugh is singularly definable and I’ve actually been asked to come out to a play just to get the audience laughing along. Isn’t that something?
Lloyd Cooper
Lloyd has won three Drama-Logue Awards for best musical direction and was nominated for an Ovation Award. He has worked on many productions for Cabrillo Music Theatre. Lloyd was the musical director for Happy Days – A New Musical written by Garry Marshall and Paul Williams. He has worked as pianist, composer, arranger, and/or conductor on “Father Dowling,” “Matlock,” “Perry Mason,” “The Prince of Tides,” “Godzilla” and “The Holiday.” He served as orchestrator and musical director (music by Stephen Schwartz) for My Antonia. The Diary, an original musical written by Lloyd and his wife, Barbara, was recently produced at the Scherr Forum Theatre.
David J Daniels
When not producing content for the Walt Disney Studios, David has found a home in the theatre community of Ventura County. As the director of over 10 shows since 2007 for ARTS, a performer for both ARTS and SVCAC and the resident videographer for Cabrillo Music Theatre, David keeps himself pretty active on the theatre scene. Some of his favorite shows David has taken the helm of are The Drowsy Chaperone, Once On This Island, Legally Blonde and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. David is also writing his own original musical, The Superhero Diaries, to be produced in the near future.
Kimberly Demmary
Kimberly Demmary has been working the boards for over 10 years. And she has loved every minute of it! She is a 5 times, 4-Star Theater Award winner, and twice produced playwright. Her two plays, Game of Life and Seatbelts Required has been produced in both Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Kimberly has been fortunate enough to play some outstanding characters but her favorite roles include the lovable but risqué pooch Sylvia in Sylvia and the totally emotionally damaged older sister Janet, in her play Seatbelts Required.
Joshua Finkel
Joshua Finkel MFA is an award winning director, acting coach, and Broadway/Hollywood actor who gives helpful advice in his Coach’s Corner column on VC On Stage. Mr. Finkel owns and runs his Creative Combustion Acting Studio in Studio City as well as the ANMT Performers Workshop in North Hollywood. Joshua is on the theater faculty at CLU and will be teaching spring break master classes at the Rubicon in Ventura. On Broadway, Joshua starred as Molina in “Kiss of the Spider Woman” opposite Chita Rivera, as Thenardier in “Les Miserables,” and as Lumiere in “Beauty and the Beast” at Cabrillo (Scenie Award), among many others.
Recent VC Directing Projects : “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (Panic! Productions)
Terry Fishman
I was born in the UK and emigrated to the USA in 1975. I have lived in Thousand Oaks for 24 years which is our slice of Paradise. I have been fortunate to appear on most of the major stages in Southern California. My favorite roles have been Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady,” C. S. Lewis in “Shadowlands,” Claudius in “Hamlet,” and Roscoe Dexter in “Singin’ In the Rain.” My passions are Shakespeare and Gilbert and Sullivan and I love to teach theatre craft.
Brian Robert Harris
Brian has been acting for 20 years and directing for 10. He spent two years as artistic director at Camarillo Skyway Playhouse, (2012-13)
Brian’s philosophy is that theatre should confront and involve its audience as viscerally as possible, not just enlighten and entertain them. He believes that if the audience is too comfortable, something is going wrong. As an actor, he depends very much on Meisner, Adlerian script analysis, and improvisation.
Brian also coaches actors, and is open always to new clients. To discuss your goals and how he can help you achieve them, feel free to e-mail him anytime.
Mary Kimball
Mary has been working as a stage manager in theatre for many years. She currently stage manages for the Young Artists Ensemble. Besides YAE, she has worked with Cabrillo Music Theatre, the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, cARTel: Collaborative Arts LA, and Cornerstone Theatre Company.
Read MoreMary has been working as a stage manager in theatre for many years. She currently stage manages for the Young Artists Ensemble. Besides YAE, she has worked with Cabrillo Music Theatre, the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, cARTel: Collaborative Arts LA, and Cornerstone Theatre Company.
Deidre Parmenter
Deidre Parmenter has been an active participant in Ventura County Community Theatre since 2004, returning to her passion after a long hiatus. Since rejoining the fray as Assistant Director in Into the Woods, Jr at Conejo Players Theatre, she has performed, directed, produced, stage managed, and worked crew on over 25 productions. In addition, she has served two terms as Business Advisor prior to her current position as President of Conejo Players Theatre. With CPT, she has helped implement children’s audition workshops and other outreach programs.
Deidre looks forward to sustained involvement and continued growth in this fabulous theater community!
Ken Patton
Ken has always been passionate about words, theater and music. He has worked on a myriad of productions in both Ventura and Los Angeles Counties lending his talents as a director, producer, costume designer, and performer as well as a producer and story consultant for various independent features. Currently, Ken works freelance as a production manager, event manager, and Consultant.
Ken has just completed work on a play titled Mine, as well as the book and lyrics for the musical Dirty Martini, with music composed by Paul Duffy. Both projects have workshop performances slated for August 2014.
Courtney Potter
Courtney Potter has been performing since the age of 6 … and there’s footage of her singing at a televised wedding between two Cabbage Patch Kids to prove it. She’s trod the boards all over California in shows slowly becoming too numerous to mention — and with noted companies including Glendale Centre Theatre, Cabrillo Music Theatre, Conejo Players Theatre, High Street Arts Center, and the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. She’s a mezzo-soprano with a big ol’ belt (who can swing soprano if need be); she does voiceover; she’s a published writer; and she can make a mean tabouli.
Rachael Pugh
Sandy Shanin
Sandy Shanin (Music) has composed music for five musicals, including, Curses (with Harriet Belkin), Women in Love (with Meredith Stiehm), The Spark: Hannah Senesh and Shahrazad: Heads or Tales (both with Noelle Donfeld) and Ohio (with Ken Gardner and Sara B.…
Read MoreSandy Shanin (Music) has composed music for five musicals, including, Curses (with Harriet Belkin), Women in Love (with Meredith Stiehm), The Spark: Hannah Senesh and Shahrazad: Heads or Tales (both with Noelle Donfeld) and Ohio (with Ken Gardner and Sara B. Ware). Some of these works have been finalist or semi-finalist in the O’Neill National Theatre Conference, Chicago Stages Festival. Her musicals have had staged readings in Los Angeles, and Chicago and/or London. Shanin has released an album of affirmation songs, I Live in This Moment. Her lyrics (Jocheved) were included in the oratorio entitled Women of Valor by composer Andrea Clearfield. It was recently recorded and released on Albany Records (performed by the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony). Her passion is writing songs for causes, including SongsOfLove.com. Sandy is married to Bill Lasarow, publisher of Visual Art Source online and ArtScene visual art digest. They are proud parents of Eliana Lasarow.
James Castle Stevens
Having pursued a career as a professional actor, and having performed in local theater for many years, my passion and experience has led me to directing.
Recent directing credits include IN THE NEXT ROOM (OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY), PRELUDE TO A KISS and AMADEUS at Santa Paula Theater Center, THE MUSIC MAN at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE at Ojai Art Center Theatre, LEND ME A TENOR at Camarillo Skyway Playhouse, and BARNUM and BELL BOOK & CANDLE at High Street Arts Center. I have directed in Los Angeles County as well.
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