Staff - ACADEMY OF MUSIC

Staff

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Before joining the Academy of Music Theatre, Executive Director Debra J’Anthony served as the executive director of the Shea Community Theater in Turners Falls, Mass., for sixteen years. During her tenure there, she was awarded the Community Theater Association Back Stage Award and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Senate Official Citation. In addition to her work as an arts administrator, Debra taught flute and chamber music at Stoneleigh-Burnham and Eaglebrook schools, and has performed professionally as a musician throughout North America and Europe. Her passion for the arts takes many forms. Debra is a published poet, and is a current board member of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce and MassCreative. Debra is a member of the Hampshire Regional Tourism Council, Paradise City Cultural District Committee, Massachusetts Cultural Council Gaming Mitigation Panel, Association of Performing Arts Presenters, and New England Presenters.

Melanie Slabaugh is happy to be joining the team at the Academy of Music Theatre. Before moving to Massachusetts, she taught high school English, speech, and theatre in Ohio, where she also co-chaired the theatre department and directed numerous productions. She also served as assistant general manager at the Amish Country Theater in Ohio, where she also appeared on stage as a regular cast member in the comedy shows. Melanie was active in her local community theatre in Ohio, and is eager to continue learning and growing at the Academy of Music. She holds a master’s degree in theatre from the University of Akron. In her spare time, Melanie loves to read, write, listen to podcasts, and play with her two rowdy cats.

Dori Parkman is a former owner/producer of the Starlight Dinner Theater that was located in Orlando, FL. She has produced sixteen Broadway-style musicals including Cabaret, 42nd Street, The Sound of Music, Grease, Singin’ in the Rain, and Nunsense: A-Men! Most recently, she was the General Manager for WAM Theatre in Berkshire County and later became Director of Finance. Dori has also previously worked for the Front of House for Blue Man Group in Chicago, managed the call center for Blue Man Group in Orlando, and also spent several years as a talent scout for kids. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and an Accounting Assistant Certificate from Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, Connecticut. In addition to her work with the Academy of Music Theatre, Dori is also a bookkeeper for several organizations, mostly in the nonprofit sector. She is proud to be raising a strong-willed young daughter and an affectionate and happy son.

Aliana de la Guardia is a Cuban American nonprofit arts leader, operatic soprano, and producer who champions new artistic works that challenge conventions. De la Guardia boasts executive skills honed through participation in arts and nonprofit leadership programs from Philanthropy Massachusetts, Essex County Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, OPERA America, and Double Edge Theatre. An experienced producer of new opera and multidisciplinary works, she has steered the progressive ensemble, Guerilla Opera, through the creation of 40 new operas, nationwide tours, studio albums, short films, professional development programs for artists, community outreach programs, and DEIA initiatives since 2007, and co-directs Bahué, a duo and initiative that brings the voices of Latinx composers to new classical music. As an engaged member of her community, she served on grant selection panels, Opera America’s Membership Council and Women in Opera Steering Committee, and is a Board Director for the New England Philharmonic. This Latina arts leader is at the forefront of her generation with a track record of crafting transformative experiences that uplift underrepresented voices, enrich lives, and that resonate deeply within the hearts of audiences.

Kyle Lawrence recently moved to western Massachusetts from northern Utah where he’s been an active part of the theater community for the past 16 years. His experiences in theater range from being an actor and director, to designer, composer, and educator. He studied Musical Theatre at Weber State University, and has a Level 2 Certification in Evidence Based Voicework from Maddie Tarbox Vocal Studio. As an educator he loves helping students to find their home in the arts. He encourages students to explore and excel as individual artists and as collaborators of the theater, striving to support safety, respect, and cooperative creativity in the arts.

Kadence Cole comes to the Academy from her hometown in Georgia. She first got involved with Massachusetts’s thriving theatre scene by working with Berkshire Theatre Group for their 2018 and 2019 summer seasons, where she worked as a Box Office Assistant and Accounting Intern. When she isn’t working on shows for the Academy, you can often find her writing scripts, learning about the circus, and hosting boardgame nights.

Emily Leue is returning to theater after taking time off to focus on her family. Previously, she has worked at The American Repertory Theater, The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, Showmotion, Inc., The Des Moines Metro Opera, The Yale Repertory Theatre, The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, and Jacob’s Pillow, among others. She is a graduate of the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University. At home, in addition to her human family, she has chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, a large vegetable garden, and a rather enthusiastic English Shepherd who watches out for everyone.

Zazie Tobey first discovered her love for musical theatre choreography at Amherst Regional High School as an ensemble member. She received her BA in Dance from Mt. Holyoke College and has performed and taught internationally in Turkey, Serbia and Germany. In addition to her role as Associate Educational Director at Academy of Music she choreographs at Ascendance Inner World Arts in Florence and for the Northampton High School Musical. Zazie’s choreography has been selected for American College Dance festival, the Asheville Dance Theatre, and the Summer Melt Festival in NYC among others. When she is not teaching dance, Zazie runs her own gardening business.