STAFF
- Executive ProducerJustin Leader
- Executive Orchestra DirectorCarlos Dominguez
- Artistic DirectorRachel Barry
- DirectorJustin Nisly
- Fight DirectorJacob Lehman
- Director of MarketingNikki Davies
- Stage ManagerTom Reinstein
- Assistant Stage ManagerBecky Waddle
- Business ManagerRivkah Darabaner
- Community Outreach CoordinatorBrandie Cardone
- Events CoordinatorDavid Mack
- Disabilities CoordinatorJennifer Giroux
- Costume DesignerChristina Phelps
- Lighting DesignerNatty Simson
- Graphic DesignerStephanie Wynne
- Assistant Graphic DesignerBill Zinsser
- Property MasterSaren Seeley
- Lead Creative ConsultantRobert Berg
- Run CrewMarissa Alvolio
- Run CrewCorey Siegel
JUSTIN LEADER (Executive Producer), after producing Random Acts of Music 6 for the AG Theater Troupe, went on to produce and direct last semester’s smash hit, Assassins, the MTC’s premiere production.
Justin has been trained in performance and direction at NYU’s Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting and the Russian Art Theater at Columbia University.
He has appeared in over forty separate productions, performed at Lincoln Center, starred off-off-Broadway, and can be seen in Kevin Klein’s 2001 film The Emperor’s Club.
He believes it is very important to work with and give back to the Ithaca Community.
CARLOS DOMINGUEZ (Executive Orchestra Director), after directing the orchestra for the MTC’s 2004 production of Assassins, resumes his role as Orchestra Director for Into the Woods.
He can play a variety of different instruments, from woodwinds to brass and has participated in orchestras for many shows including, Fiddler on the Roof, Crazy for You, Carousel, and Guys and Dolls, in which he was an assistant conductor.
Carlos is also involved with the Big Red Bands at Cornell University.
As one of the founders of the MTC, Carlos has worked closely with Justin Leader to bring quality and successful musical productions to the Ithaca community.
He wishes everyone in the orchestra, crew and cast the best of luck and hopes everyone who comes to see the show will enjoy going Into the Woods!
RACHEL BARRY (Artistic Director), a freshman in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell, has ventured from Interior Design in her Design and Environmental Analysis major to create a set for Into The Woods.
She has had experience with theatre throughout her career at West Islip High School, shifting back and forth from behind the scenes, to the orchestra, to center stage.
Hailing from Long Island, she is an avid admirer of the theatre and credits her parents for always taking her and her two brothers to Broadway shows.
She wishes the best of luck to the very talented cast and crew, and looks forward to other projects with the MTC.
JUSTIN NISLY (Director) served as Music Director for the MTC's production of Assassins last semester.
He has appeared in many productions, including The Laramie Project at Hutchinson Community College, for which he received a nomination to compete at the American College Theater Festival.
He is currently active as a pianist, singer, actor, composer, writer, and director.
He is a double major in English and music at Cornell University, and hopes to write and compose for the theatre.
JACOB LEHMAN (Fight Director) hails from Ann Arbor, Michigan where he is a six-year Senior Scholar with the theatrical combat and stunt troupe The Ring of Steel, and in 2003 he founded The Ring of Steel: Ithaca.
He has performed in over a dozen shows, from his debut as the Pirate King in Young People’s Theater’s Pirates of Penzance to professional stunt performance for Otello with the Michigan Opera Theater.
This is his 10th show as a fight director, having worked most recently on Cornell University’s Hamlet, Black Umbrella Productions’ Macbeth, and the film Kit’s Run.
Jacob is a junior and an English major at Cornell.
NIKKI DAVIES (Director of Marketing) was born and raised in Rockland County, New York.
She attended high school at The Frisch School in Paramus, New Jersey.
Nikki is now a freshman at Cornell University in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
As an animal science major, she plans on attending veterinary school and eventually opening her own practice.
Last semester she worked with the stage crew for the MTC's premier production of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins.
She is very glad to be working with the MTC again and looks forward to future productions.
Finally, she would like to thank her family and friends, without whom none of this would be possible.
TOM REINSTEIN (Stage Manager) is a native of Philadelphia, PA and is currently a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences.
He plans to study history while at Cornell.
He has performed in several plays in the past few years, for example, Rev. Brown in Inherit the Wind, Lord Caversham in An Ideal Husband, and most recently, Samuel Byck in the MTC’s production of Assassins.
He was also the Assistant Director for Gypsy and Stage Manager for West Side Story.
He would like to thank his family for their support.
BECKY WADDLE (Assistant Stage Manager) is a sophomore in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
After a semester as Artistic Director, she is taking a smaller role in this production to focus on other activities.
Spending over half of her life moving around the eastern United States and competing nationally in track and field, Becky settled down on a small farm in western New York.
At that time, she picked up ice hockey and is currently playing for Cornell's Women's Club Ice Hockey Team, in addition to trying out rugby.
She is an active member of Cornell's chapter of Sigma Alpha, a professional agricultural sorority.
Becky has two older brothers attending college in North Dakota and NY, and a younger brother finishing up his sophomore year of high school.
RIVKAH DARABANER (Business Manager) is a sophomore premed student in the college of Human Ecology, majoring in Human Biology, Health and Society.
She served as the secretary and treasurer for the Senior Chorus at her HS, which involved organizing a 2-week tour of Spain for 5 musical performance groups.
However, she is thrilled to be breaking into the wonderful world of musical theatre and to be returning to the MTC for Into the Woods.
BRANDIE CARDONE (Community Outreach Coordinator) works in the Housing and Dining office at Cornell and is looking forward to getting back into theatre.
She has performed both on stage and off in high school and at SUNY Cortland where she graduated with a communications degree and theatre minor.
She also attended college in Toronto, Ontario where she received a certificate in Corporate Communication.
Brandie is looking forward to getting back into performing but, for now, is happy to help solicit others in the community to enjoy our performance.
DAVID MACK (Events Coordinator) is a senior theatre major and an applicant for the Actor's Studio Drama School.
He previously played the Proprietor in the MTC's premier production of Assassins.
One of eight directors for the Student Laboratory Theatre Company at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, David has directed scene selections from Alfred Jarry's Ubu Roi, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Last summer, David served as a Theatre Instructor for teens at the Youth Program in Cornell's Adult University, and last fall he had the pleasure of playing George Murchison in the production of A Raisin in the Sun featuring director Regge Life and icon Yolanda King.
JENNIFER GIROUX (Disabilities Coordinator) is excited to be making her second appearance with the MTC after playing Sara Jane Moore in the MTC's production of Assassins.
She’s been acting since she was knee-high to a grasshopper!
Her height hasn’t changed much over the years, nor her deep passion for acting and singing.
Jennifer has been seen in over 30 productions.
Some of her favorites roles include: Mom, to 2 Amazing Children, Adelelaide in Guys and Dolls, and Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors.
She has also been seen swing dancing in the Ithaca Fest and Grass Roots.
Last year Jennifer adventured out on screen in several films.
She also teaches and works as an Independent Sign Language Interpreter.
"Thanks to my beautiful family and friends for all your love and support!"
CHRISTINA PHELPS (Costume Designer) is a senior Textile and Apparel Design major at Cornell, graduating after only three years of study.
Her design work has earned her several awards, including being named an Outstanding Sophomore in 2004.
Her interests include costuming for musical theatre, opera, and ballet, having conducted research on classical ballet tutus.
Christina has recently worked with the West Virginia Public Theatre and in the Schwartz Center costume shop, as well as taking on various roles in the Denton Drama Troupe’s annual production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in theatre, preparing to earn an MFA in costume design.
She is very excited to work with the MTC and would like to thank all of those who have inspired her along the way.
NATTY SIMSON (Lighting Designer)
STEPHANIE WYNNE (Graphic Designer) is a junior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell.
She is an Animal Science major specializing in pre-veterinary medicine.
Last semester, she served as Assistant Director for Assassins and worked on some of the graphic art design.
She enjoys reading, playing video games, and looking at her fish.
BILL ZINSSER (Assistant Graphic Designer) was the Lead Graphic Designer and cast member for the fall production of Assassins.
He is a junior at the College of Engineering studying Information Science, Systems and Technology as well as Computer Science.
His extracurricular activities include Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, the Game Design Initiative at Cornell, and his ska band, the Portside Pirates.
His schedule has left him limited time to focus on theatre, so this semester he was not able to audition and turned over the position of Lead Graphic Designer to Stephanie Wynne.
SAREN SEELEY (Property Master) is in the 12th grade at the Alternative Community School and plans to major in musical theatre in college.
She is happy to be working with the MTC once again; last semester she served as Property Master and performed as ensemble and Emma Goldman in Assassins.
Previously she has worked with the Cornell Savoyards, the Orange Tree Theatre Company, the Kitchen Theatre and the Hangar Theatre, as well as multiple school productions.
She is currently playing the lead role of Cassie in her highschool's production of A Chorus Line.
ROBERT BERG (Lead Creative Consultant) is a senior Liberal Arts major at SUNY Purchase and is thrilled to be participating in the MTC's second production, after having held this position last semester for their first musical, Assassins.
He is particularly excited to be involved in Into the Woods, because it is his favorite musical.
Seeing this play with its original cast on Broadway when he was six years old began his lifelong love of musical theatre.
Over the years, he has seen seven separate productions of it, including the recent Broadway revival.
Throughout elementary, middle, and high school, performed in such shows as Grease, Barnum, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, as well as performing in choir.
He wishes the entire cast and production team the best of luck.
MARISSA ALVOLIO (Run Crew)
COREY SIEGEL (Run Crew)