Laura Connors Hull (Creative Cauldron Producing Director/Founder) Laura
began her three decade theater career in Northeastern Ohio performing,
directing and teaching drama to children and adults. She served as
Artistic Director for the G.B. Repertory Theater for nine seasons.
Under programs funded by the N.E.A. and Ohio Arts Council, she teamed
with language arts teachers in public schools utilizing exercises in
creative dramatics to enhance the curriculum. After moving to
Washington, Laura worked in theater administration for 14 years and
served as the Director of Communications at Arena Stage. In 2002 she
returned to her passion for teaching theater arts, gathered a coalition
of like-minded artists, and launched Creative Cauldron. In 2010 she received the Caroll V Shreve Humanitarian Award from the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce recognizing her efforts launching ArtSpace Falls Church, Creative Cauldron's artistic home and flexible community arts venue.
Sheryl Gorsuch(Business Manager) is an independent business owner and
Certified Personal Chef, in addition to providing accounting services for
Creative Cauldron. In her spare time, she serves as an School Board Chairman for Alexandria City Public Schools and remains active in PTA. Ms.
Gorsuch holds a B.A. in Economics from Pomona College in Claremont CA and has
managed corporate restaurants with more than 150 employees and $4 million in
sales.
Katie Turner (Marketing and Development Associate)
Katie joined The Cauldron team right at the beginning of our third year at ArtSpace. She is a recent graduate of the College of Charleston with a B.A. in International Business and has worked extensively in the DC area with other organizations focusing on grassroots marketing endeavors. In her spare time she coaches soccer and plays as well. Katie has also performed at The Cauldron, stepping-in and singing a couple of songs with Jack Wagon.
TEACHING ARTISTS
Bruce Turner (Music)
Bruce has been playing guitar and bass extensively in the DC area and abroad for many years. His musical styles and experience cover a broad range of genres including Classic Rock, R&B, Blues, Jazz, Folk, Gospel and even Country. In the 90's Bruce immersed himself in Jazz study, played in numerous Jazz clubs and produced a solo Jazz CD that won wide acclaim among local Jazz musicans. Currently, in addition to teaching and producting musical events at Creative Cauldron, he also performs regularly with several area bands, is a member of the Downtown Baptist Church Choir in Old Town Alexandria, and works on recording studio projects. Bruce teaches Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, and Bass Guitar and in a style that helps the students learn their instrument while having fun and playing their favorite songs.
Denise Perrino (Theater)
A Theatre Educator and director of high school and middle school plays and musicals since 1976, Denise is now a theater emeritus. She helped develop the Theater Arts curriculum for the Fairfax County Public Schools. She believes that incorporating theater across the curriculum is the way of the future. Denise has directed over 100 productions during her theater teaching career. Under her direction, Mclean High School was nominated for 55 Cappies Awards and won 15, including Best Play in 2002, and the school was invited to perform at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. She is a graduate of Catawba College and was inducted into the Blue Masque Hall of Fame in recognition of her meritorious life in the theater. She is the Director of Education and Development and performing artist for Faction of Fools Theatre Company.
Lauren Williams (Music & Theater)
Lauren is a gifted musical theater artist who has been performing professionally since she was a young child. Locally she has appeared in leading roles at the Studio Theater, Signature Theatre and the Kennedy Center's Theater for Youth Program. She also performed in summer stock productions with Maryland Arts Festival. Lauren holds a B.A. in Music from Catholic University and teaches an early music program at the Friendship Heights Pre-School and in an outreach program with Martha's Table.
Matt Conner (Theater and Music) Matt
is a talented veteran of Washington area stages who holds a BFA in
Musical Theater from Shenandoah University with a minor in piano. His triple talent as a
singer, dancer and actor has won him featured roles at Signature
Theater, Olney Theater, Source Theater, Synetic Theater, Actor's
Theater of Washington, Open Circle Theater, West End and Toby's Dinner Theaters. Matt has
been playing piano and composing music since he was a young child, and
has a wonderful wellspring of creative ideas. His original musical
“Nevermore” based on the poems of Edgar Allen Poe was commissioned by
Signature Theater and given an acclaimed world premiere in January of 2006. He is currently working on a new musical for Signature based on the Underground Railroad.
Michael Thornton (Theater & Music)
As an actor, Mike has performed nationally with the Capitol Steps, including five summers at the Houseman Theatre and the Supper Club, NYC. Other Off-Broadway credits include Peter in Edward Albee's Zoo Story, John Guarre's A day for Surprises, Chelsea Repertory's Madwoman of Chaillot and the American Premiere of Blood Brothers. Mike has appeared locally at the Kennedy Center, American Century Theatre and Signature Theatre. Film/TV/Radio credits include HOMICIDE, Life on the Street, Shady Hill Kidnapping on American Playhouse, 1990's Radio Hour on NPR and The Power Of Dreams on the Discovery Channel. He served as Artistic Director for Mohawk Theatre Guild, MA; Millbrook Playhouse in PA, and Impala Theatre Company, in Arlington, VA. He also has directed at Millbrook Playhouse, and Montgomery College. Mike taught voice and theatre at Hartt College, University of Hartford/ Hart School, with graduate study at the Manhattan School of Music. As a singer, Mike has performed with the Hartford Symphony Pops, The Cerveney Singers, "Topazz", and with his own Jazz ensemble at Blues Alley, Bohemian Caverns, Twins and other jazz venues.
Oran Sandel (Theater) As
a 23-year veteran and former Artistic Director of the Living Stage
Theatre, an educational outreach company of Arena Stage, Oran received national
recognition working with at-risk youth and disenfranchised adults. A
versatile and dynamic artist on the Washington area theater scene since
1975, he currently works as a freelance consultant, teacher, writer,
director and performer at venues such as The Shakespeare Theater,
Horizons Theater, The Washington Revels and the Library of Congress.
Oran’s teaching credits include: The Smithsonian, The Shakespeare
Theater and C.A.T. (Center for Creative Artistry in Teaching). He
recently received a grant from Theater Communications Group to
develop an improvisational theater troupe for the African Continuum Theater.
Paul Spiegelblatt (Lighting Design)
A lifelong resident of Annandale, VA, Paul graduated from Radford University with a major in Lighting and Scenic Design/Technical Direction. He worked for many years in the supply side of theater, designing stages and rigging systems all along the East Coast. He then moved to IT and audio engineering, supporting television and radio stations. He does live sound for several bands in the DC area and does onsite recording for various clients. He was theatrical consultant doing the build-out of ArtSpace Falls Church
Stephen Gregory Smith (Theater, Music & Dance) Stephen Gregory Smith has
been seen on numerous local stages including Arena Stage, Ford's Theatre, Wolf
Trap, The Kennedy Center, Metro Stage, Signature Theatre, Round House Theatre,
and Olney Theatre. Stephen has been performing since the age of 8.
In 2004, he received the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting
Actor in a Resident Musical for his portrayal of jimmy Curry in 110 in the
Shade at Signature Theatre. Stephen was educated at Shenandoah Conservatory,
and resides in Arlington.
Sylvana Christopher (Dance) Sylvana Christopher Sandoz is a native Washingtonian with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography from The Ohio State University. She is the Founder of the Glade Dance Collective and her work has been presented at Dance Place, The Dinner Party, 12x6 and The Field. She has performed works by Vladimir Angelov, Melissa Saint Amour, Meisha Bosma, Gesel Mason, Kelly Mayfield, Lucy Bowen McCauley, Juan Carlos Rincones and Helanius Wilkins. Currently, she dances with BosmaDance and teaches at Holton-Arms Center of the Arts, Results Gym and Joy of Motion Dance Center.
VISUAL ARTS/SCENIC DESIGN
Margie Jervis
Margie, our collaborating
scene designer, is a Falls Church native. Her career spans 30 years of art
making, beginning with Fine Art exhibited internationally, to Theatrical
Design. Her journey in theater began on the west coast as a Scenic
Painter and Sculptor at both the Seattle Repertory Theater and Seattle Opera in
the 1980s and 90s. The latest decade features design assisting for Seattle
Opera and The Washington National Opera. At WNO, her favorite assignments
were the shows she designed for the Children's Opera Program, the original
works "The Thunder of Horses" and the "Enchantment of
Dreams". Margie enjoys "the freedom in creating beautiful simple
iconic places, for the spirit and imagination" and is happy to bring this
to Creative Cauldron.
Eileen Levy Eileen draws her creativity from a lifetime's experience working as a visual artist, teacher, performer and writer. In her native England, she studied visual arts at the London College of Art and Design and drama at the Unity Theatre. After arriving in America, Eileen completed masters studies at Empire State College and taught visual arts in the Rochester, NY public schools for twenty years. While in Rochester, she made regular appearances on "Skipper Sam" a popular television program for children. On the program, she led young viewers in creative craft and visual art activities. Eileen is an accomplished painter whose works are frequently exhibited through shows curated by Falls Church Arts.
Bill Abel Website: www.WhereArtHappens.com Bill Abel has painted professionally and taught watercolors to all ages for the past 12 years. His formal training has been self-directed, consisting of college level course work in painting and drawing, as well as, numerous workshops with internationally known watercolorists, such as Mary Alice Braukman, Judi Wagner, Carl Dalio, and Tony van Hasselt. Painting is a true labor of love for Bill, and his learning has always been fueled by his desire to grow as an artist and help others do the same.
Guest Teaching Artists compliment this circle throughout the year.
