PRODUCTION & STAFF BIOS
VENUE BIO
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Opening its doors on New Years Eve 1979 in downtown Denver’s Arts Complex, the DCPA consists of six programming lines that place our guests at the center of everything we do. We bring Broadway’s hottest touring shows and classic Cabaret to the Mile High City, while our Tony Award-winning Theatre Company produces handcrafted classics, world premieres, and modern hits with help from local artisans. We are an incubator for new play development, honing works that have been produced in regional theatres, on Broadway, and on the big screen. Off-Center is an industry leader in immersive theatrical experiences, constantly pushing the limits of our artform. And our theatrically trained Event Services staff collaborates with clients to host unforgettable events in dramatic spaces. At the DCPA, we go way beyond the stage, nurturing a lifelong love for theatre in students of all ages through DCPA Education classes and tailor-made Theatre for Young Audiences productions. And together, we’re engaging with people from every corner of our community to build a more inclusive home for all artistic voices.
PRODUCTION BIOS
Emma Ackerman (She/Her) Stage Manager
This is Emma's first show with Phamaly, and she is pleased as punch to be here. A recent transplant from Pennsylvania, she spent the last 15 years working at Touchstone Theatre, a small professional ensemble theatre in Bethlehem, PA, where her work included production management, design, performance, admin, and arts education. Recent local work includes Night Terrors with Artists Anonymous, Amelia's Big Idea with Miners Alley, and Triumph of Love with Wheat Ridge Theatre.
Annie Booth (She/Her) Assistant Director
This is Annie Booth's debut with Phamlay. She recently moved back to her home town of Parker, Colorado from LA. After taking a break from theatre to pursue screen acting and directing she is thrilled to be back to her roots of the stage. She would like to thank both Phamlay and Ben for giving her this amazing opportunity and her family and friends for their support.
Madison Booth (She/Her) Costumer Designer
Madison Booth (she/her) - Costume Designer. This is Madison’s second year with Phamaly. Madison Booth earned her MFA in costume design at the University of Maryland, College Park and moved to Colorado in 2021. Madison is currently the assistant costume coordinator for Opera Colorado as well as a freelance costume designer. Operatic Design: Gianni Schicci, Proving Up, and La Bohème with Opera Steamboat and Otello (principal costumes) with Central City Opera. Select Colorado Theatrical Design: Cinderella (Arvada Center), Amerikin (Curious Theatre Company), Rent(University of Denver), Little Women(Theatreworks UCCS), The Rocky Horror Picture Show(Phamaly Theatre Company), and Fourteen Funerals(BETC). Madison has also designed for short films as well as being the resident stylist for the music and outreach group Electric Root. https://madisonbooth.com/
Jareth J. Charles (he/him) - Poster Designer
Jareth J. Charles is a local Denver artist who works at Access Gallery. He has been writing and creating his own characters since his teens. He published and illustrated a book titled "The Feelings Book" that helps children with autism describe their emotions. He has illustrated two books available for purchase at Access Gallery titled "The Purple Lion" written by Rebecca Petty and "Cuco's Cart" written by Tony Catanese.
Ashley Coffey (She/Her) Choreographer
Assistant Choreographer to Latisha Hardy, Ashley Coffey is the Chief Adviser of Latisha Hardy’s Lady Boss Dance Team. Among many responsibilities, Ashley coaches and consults Latisha Hardy’s leadership through Ashley Coffey Coaching,LLC, and has built Latisha Hardy’s Dance Fitness Program through NEXUS Community Fitness & Performance Training. Ashley not only contributes to the leadership growth, team retention, injury prevention, and fitness training of Latisha Hardy’s Dancers but she also actively participates on the LHDC Competitive Dance Team as Ashley has been formally trained in ballet since 2003 and dancing professionally since 2012. Ashley has danced in numerous ensembles throughout her dance career, some of them world-awarded.
Peter Dearth (He/Him) ASM
A Colorado native, Peter has worked with some wonderful theatre makers from around the state. These include OpenStage, Bas Bleu, Opera Fort Collins, Front Range Music Theatre, Canyon Concert Ballet, Ignite, Curious Theatre, Phamaly, Vintage, Opera Colorado, The Denver Center Theatre Company, and Denver Center Attractions. His work with these organizations encompasses performing, directing, producing, advising, and serving on boards of directors. Directing credits include Cherry Docs, The Fall of the House of Usher, And Tell Sad Stories of the Deaths of Queens, The Laramie Project (Northern CO premier), Dreamgirls, Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe, On the Rocks (regional premier by local award winning playwright Jeffrey Neuman), Godspell, Newsies, In The Heights & The Last Session. Peter is forever grateful to his fiancé Darren, friends & family for their support. CSU B.A. Theatre and Direction.
Donna Debreceni (She/Her) Music Director
Donna Kolpan Debreceni is SO jazzed to be back with Phamaly for this most unique and wonderful production of ‘A Chorus Line’! Her first show with this company was ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ in 2002, followed by ‘The Pajama Game’, ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamCoat’ (did that one twice!), ‘The Wiz’, ‘Urinetown’, ‘Man of LaMancha’, “Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, ‘Evita’, ‘30th Anniversary Concert’, ‘Chicago’, and she had the pleasure of creating the backing tracks for ‘Spitfire Grill’. A proud 3rd generation Denverite and multiple Henry Award recipient, Donna would like to thank Ben for taking her on this journey; thanks to Milt for the lessons and inspiration; to Todd for love and support; and as always, “Thanks again, Mom, for making me practice!”
Claire Hayes (She/Her) Choreographer
Claire is elated to be back with Phamaly. Previous shows with Phamaly include Rocky Horror Picture Show and Spring Awakening. It is an honor to be apart of the 35th season. Claire would like to thank Jari, Ashley, Latisha, and Savannah for their collaboration and brilliant choreography. Thanks to Ben for his constant support. Thanks to the cast and crew for creating something beautiful. Finally, Claire would like to thank her friends and family for joining her in the theatre again. @clairej.hayes
Jari Majewski Price (She/Her) Choreographer
Founder/President of Feel the Beat, FTB Innovations, and Teacher of the Deaf, Jari combines more than 20 years of sign language and performance experience with her love for working with Deaf and Neurodivergent individuals. Jari holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from NYC’s Pace University, with a concentration in Communication and ASL. She also holds a Masters in Deaf Education (M.Ed.) and Early Childhood Education (MA) from Columbia University. From early on, Jari noticed that doors were closed to neurodiverse communities within the performing arts, and drove her to create much-needed solutions to inaccessibility. To expand inclusive opportunities, she launched a fully accessible dance studio coupled with a customized curriculum and led the development of a groundbreaking bone-conductive floor that converts sound into vibrational energy allowing you to feel sound & music. Jari continues to advocate for worldwide accessibility, to open doors that were once closed to marginalized communities.
Shannon McKinney (she/her) – Lighting Designer
This is Shannon’s 2nd show with Phamaly. Her first was Honk! which traveled to Japan for the True Colors Festival, 2020. Recent credits: Noises Off, Beautiful (The Arvada Center); Much Ado About Nothing, King Lear (Colorado Shakespeare Festival); Grounded (BETC). Regional designs include productions at Steppenwolf, The Goodman, Lookingglass Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, and The Alliance Theatre. Shannon has received seven CTG Henry Awards for Outstanding Lighting Design. She is a professor at the University of Denver.
Nick Renaud (He/Him) Scenic Designer
Nicholas Renaud (he/him) Previous credits include Midsummer Night's Dream, Chicago, Honk, Alice in Wonderland (Phamaly); Cost of LIving (Curious Theater Co) This is Modern Art, SantaLand Diaries, Lived/Re-Lived (Off Center, DCPA), MilkMilkLemonade (Shrewd Production, Austin Tx, B. Iden Payne Nom.) Nicholas is currently a resident scenic design assistant with the DCPA Theatre Company where he has assisted over 75 productions. Training: BFA from Emerson College, Boston, MA. www.NicholasRenaudDesign.com
Nicki Runge (She/Her) – Director of Artistic Sign Language
Nicki is thrilled to return for her second year with Phamaly Theatre Company. Her previous work as DASL includes Spring Awakening, and she has performed in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Nicki is grateful for the support of her family, friends, and Phamaly's patrons. Proudly Deaf, she is dedicated to bringing inclusive storytelling to the stage.
Richard Sauer (He/Him) Crew Lead
This is Richard 10th season with Phamaly, he has his BFA in theatre and film from CU. He is excited to be working with Phamaly and is proud of all the cast and crew. He wants to thank friends and (F)amily for all their support. And a special thanks to his partner Emma for all her love and support.
Savannah Svoboda (She/Her) Choreographer
This is Savannah’s debut with Phamaly and she is thrilled to be joining this incredible team. An alumnus of Colorado State University, Savannah is from Fort Collins, CO where she is the Artistic Director for Full Expression! A Dance Collective. Past choreography credits include The Addams Family, The Magic Flute, Elf The Musical, and Six Years Old. She would like to thank her community and the collective for helping support and build her dreams!
Ashlyn Volk (She/Her) Asst. Choreographer
This is Ashlyn’s 1st year with Phamaly. She is thrilled to be an assistant choreographer with this show. Last fall she was a dancer in the show Indescribable with The Silhouettes and Phamaly. A few past credits (all with the Silhouettes) include America’s Got Talent the Champions, AGT Superstars Vegas, Biden/Harris Political fundraiser event, Busch Gardens, PBS documentary: The Same Color Shadow. Ashlyn would like to thank Lynne Waggoner-Patton for connecting her with Phamaly, her mom and dad, and all of Phamaly Theater Company for letting her join in on this show. Ashlyn lives with Tourette Syndrome and OCD.
Teri Wagner (She/Her) Choreographer
Founder and Artistic Director of Spoke ‘N’ Motion Dance and a founding member PTC and is thrilled to be returning as a choreographer. She has been dancing (using a wheelchair) since age 11. She completed 3 years of training with The Dancing Wheels Company and School in Cleveland, OH. She also trained in Belgium in wheelchair ballroom dance. Teri is a company dancer with Ballet Arts Theater and Berthoud Dance Company and has enjoyed dancing on stages throughout metro Denver and public school programs that help to bring understanding of dancers with disabilities.
Brittany Whittenberg (She/Her) – Captions
This is Brittany's second year running captions for Phamaly. She loves the theater communities that have been ever-welcoming. Brittany got her BA in English from the University of New Orleans in 2010. She’d like to thank her incredibly talented girlfriend, Annie Sand, for bringing her into Phamaly last year. Brittany copes with cPTSD, and has been healing for twenty years now.
STAFF BIOS
Corinne Melon (she/her) – Managing Director
Corinne is an arts administrator, vocal coach, and opera stage director dedicated to bringing equity to the arts and advocating for performers. Prior to working at Phamaly, she served as the Executive Director for the Arapahoe Philharmonic, bringing a renewed focus on artistic excellence to the company. Corinne founded and served as the Executive Artistic Director of Denver Immersive Opera, a company dedicated to supporting female-identifying and LGBTQAI+ artists while creating immersive operatic productions that resonate with modern audiences. She has also served as the Production Manager for Boulder Opera Company and Company Manager for Boulder Music Institute. Corinne holds a Performer’s Certificate in Voice from the University of Denver, a dual MM in Opera and Musical Theatre Performance from Arizona State University, and a BM in Voice Performance with a minor in Theatre from Middle Tennessee State University. Corinne lives with anxiety and depression.
Ben Raanan (he/him) – Artistic Director
Ben Raanan is a disabled theatre maker and advocate originally hailing from Chicago, Illinois. His artistic focus is centralized around creating artistically rigorous theatre with, for, and about the disabled community. Ben is the Artistic Director at Phamaly Theatre Company, the longest running disability theatre company in the United States. Ben received his BFA from Drake University with a concentration in directing/musical theatre, and his MFA in directing from DePaul. Some of his favorite directing credits include: Spring Awakening, My Name is Asher Lev, Spitfire Grill (Phamaly Theatre Company), Cost of Living (Renaissance Theatre Works + Curious Theatre Company), Macbeth (Spectrum Shakespeare), Antigone: Born Against, Eleemosynary, Bob: A Life In Five Acts, Crumble: Lay Me Down Justin Timberlake (Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati) Mockingbird (Falcon Theatre).
Erin Banthoff (she/her) – Operations Manager
Erin is a Denver-based theatrical artist always searching for the next creative opportunity. By day she navigates the creation of stigma abolishing theatre with Phamaly Theatre Company, on staff since 2019, proudly working as the Operations Manager. By night she is trying to find time for everything else: performance, podcasting, costuming, design, directing, and learning to cook better than your mama can. Every day she is thankful for her supportive circle and partner in crime, Jeremy Althoff. Erin lives with Hashimoto’s Disease, Fibromyalgia, and Anxiety.
Annie Jacobs (she/her) – Technical Production Manager
Annie joined Phamaly in December 2019. She moved to Denver from Connecticut, where she had been the Director of Production at ACT of Connecticut. Prior to that, she had spent over a decade production managing in New York theatres, including APAC, Queens Theatre, and Prospect Theatre Company. Her time in New York also included working at Showman Fabricators. While there, her projects included Broadway's Sweeney Todd, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Disney's The Little Mermaid, Disney World's American Idol Experience and NBC's The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon. Annie is an alumnus of the Theatre School at DePaul University and the School of Drama at Yale University.
Lauren Lynch-Eidson (she/her) – Marketing & Communications Manager
Lauren (she/her) hails from Clarksville, TN, and earned an MFA in Arts Administration from Texas Tech University. She has had a passion for accessibility in the arts for many years, spending three+ years volunteering in-person and virtually for A.B.L.E. Ensemble, a Chicago-based theatre for, with, and by individuals with developmental disabilities, and volunteering at Phamaly before becoming a full-time employee. Lauren is also an Adjunct Professor in Arts and Culture Management at The University of Denver, and a newly published playwright. Previously, she had the privilege of working at Wonderbound Ballet, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, among others. When she's not at work, you can find her playing board games, singing with the Denver Feminist Chorus, or stealing cuddles from her dog, Harry Pupper, and her husband, Eric. She lives with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
AJ Watson (He/Him) – Production Accessibility Manager
AJ is very excited to be entering his first year with Phamaly. Originally from the east coast and earning his chops in the world of film and television, serendipity brought him to the company after walking down the street, newly arrived in Denver and deciding to go to a performance of Alice in Wonderland presented by Phamaly! From there he volunteered backstage for Vox Vergere and then A2’d for Spring Awakening.
