CORPORATE SPONSORS

Richard Luongo and Elevator Designs: Logo Design

FOUNDING MEMBERS

Lisa Antonecchia (Artistic Director) is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory where she earned a BFA in musical theatre and a concentration in directing (class of 1993). Lisa brings sixteen years of professional experience to CORE. She has directed and or choreographed over 50 shows including 5 World Premiere Pieces. Aside from her directing and choreographing credits, Lisa helped to launch the John Jay Middle School Drama Program, in NY, which she helped run for ten years; it is now in its 17th season!

She has worked as the Co-Theatre Director at Camp Emerson, the Drama Specialist for the Wakefield Repertory Youth Theatre, as a Director at Bentley College, Brandeis University, Boston University, Pine Manor College, Manhattan College, and Regis College, where she has also served on the Theatre Faculty. Lisa has worked in publicity on the Broadway and Touring productions of Riverdance, and the touring company of Barrage. Technically Lisa has worked as a Scenic Designer, Scenic Artist, Props Master, Lighting Designer and Costume Designer, she is an Assistant Technical Director at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, has stage-managed, at such places as Harrah's Casino Atlantic City, and has even worked as a Scenic Assistant on WGBH'S Antique's Road Show.

Lisa has participated in and been nominated at both the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theatre Festival (EMACT) and the EMACT DASH Awards. The production of Kiss of the Spider Woman which she directed and choreographed won 7 DASH Awards, including Best Director of a Musical and Best Musical. She has presented workshops at various locations including the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF). Lisa spent three years with the New England Theatre Conference (NETC) where she helped to coordinate their student based Theatre Olympiad and Yearly conventions, as well as chairing their professional division. Lisa is a member of Stage Source and the Society of Stage Director and Choreographers.

Lynne R. Johnson (Director of Education) comes to CORE with over twenty years of teaching, directing, and acting experience in the theatre. Five years ago, Lynne decided to enhance her experience with knowledge by going back to school to receive her B.A. degree in Theatre Education. A recent graduate of Regis College she is ready, willing and able to commit herself back to a career in Theatre Education, which is her passion. Lynne has worked with children and young adults of all ages both as a classroom and workshop teacher, and as a director and mentor.

Lynne has dedicated herself to keeping the arts alive because she believes they are vital to our society. In order to survive the recent cutbacks within our school systems, Lynne believes it is imperative to nourish the creative arts. With her passion, experience and ability to follow through with the collaboration of her peers, Lynne's goals help make theatre, dance, music and art a stable part of our children's lives.

Jennifer Gasser (Business Manager) has a Masters Degree in Theatre from Northwestern University. She has participated in over 30 local community theatre productions over the last 15 years as Actor, Director, or Producer.

Most recently, Jennifer was Guest Services Manager at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City where Lion King has been running for 8 years.

Adam Roberts (Associate Business Manager) is an active composer, playwright, and music director, Adam recently completed the studio recording of Harold and the Purple Crayon, his first full-length original musical. He has also composed the scores for Molly's Dream (Boston Theatre Works), and Marat/Sade (Bridge Theatre Company). His ten-minute play Thank You for Riding - directed by Lisa Antonecchia - was featured in the Huntington Theatre Company's Breaking Ground series.

Previous acting credits include Schoolhouse Rock Live!, the Beadle in Sweeney Todd (Firehouse Theatre) and the Duke of Krakenthorp in Donizetti's Daughter of the Regiment (Boston Lyric Opera). Adam sings with local a cappella sensation Honorable Menschen and works for the Huntington Theatre Company as the Audience Development Coordinator.

"I am so very thrilled to be working in an environment like theatre. The people are amazing, I am so lucky! I love it!"

Lauren Sison (Costume Director) has recently earned her B.A. at Regis College where she was able to evolve as a performer and costumer and spent much of her time helping to run the Regis College Costume Shop. Some costuming credits include: Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Importance of Being Ernest, A Piece of My Heart, How I Learned to Drive, and By the Bogs of Cats.

Some other interests of Lauren's include her passion as a competitive figure skater; her commitment to the Violin, and martial arts. Lauren's recent credits include working at Papermill Theatre in Lincoln, NH, where she was the assistant on the musicals Cabaret and Evita. Most recently, Lauren participated in the EMACT DASH Awards to which she was nominated for Best Costume Designer for Kiss of the Spider Woman.

Christina Aprea (Education Associate & Early Childhood Instructor) graduated from Regis College in May of 2005 with her BA in Fine Arts. She is now working with children and theatre in the Arlington area.

The past shows she has taken part in include: Schoolhouse Rock Live!, Cabaret, A Piece of My Heart, JOAN, Out of Me, Jungle Book and Lysistrata. For the past two summers she directed Beauty and the Beast, Rent meets Wicked (a Musical Review), Charlie Brown, and Ruthless at Camp Kennybrook in Monticello, NY.

Amanda Ventura (Pre-Teen Dance Instructor) is currently attending Regis College pursuing a BA in Theatre. She has been actively involved in theatre, on and off stage, at Regis and in her hometown of Hudson, MA. With CORE, Amanda performed in the Premiere GALA, Schoolhouse Rock Live!, and A Christmas Carol. She has participated in many productions with the Hudson Area Arts Alliance, Hudson High School, and Clinton Community Theatre.

Amanda has been dancing for many years at Dance On… Studio in Hudson, and also has experience teaching and choreographing. Favorite roles include Napthali/Baker in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Hedda Hopper in Red, Hot, and Cole.

Dan Gorgone (Web Designer) received a Masters of Arts in Internet Communication from Suffolk University and is a proud graduate of Bentley College where he is an alumnus of the dramatic fraternity Alpha Psi Omega.

Dan is a supporter of independent film and co-founded Random Foo Pictures, an indie production company with whom he has written and directed many shorts. Over the past decade, Dan has acted in over 75 film and video productions across in the United States, as well as Canada and Japan. Some of Dan's film highlights include appearances in the short Maestro with Saturday Night Live's Seth Meyers, and in promotions for "Monday Night Football" and ABC Sports. His favorite stage roles include Charles in Pippin, Justice Wargrave in Ten Little Indians, and the Warden in Kiss of the Spider Woman.