Michelle Romeo

Stuart Motola

Michelle Romeo
Artistic Director, Founder, & Boulder Program Director
Michelle has been doing theatre all her life, with her roots as an aspiring performer and dancer as a child and young adult in New York City. She holds degrees in Theatre and Dance with a secondary emphasis in Film and Multimedia from Southern Oregon University, Hunter College in NYC, and Naropa University in Boulder, Co. She has extensively studied acting pedagogy, improvisation, and vocal technique in New York City at La Mama, Circle in the Square Theatre, HB studios, and Theatre Sports. She has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to study with such renowned acting teachers as Stella Adler, Uta Hagen, Peter Goldfarb and Ruth Zaporah among others. In the early nineties Michelle worked at the renowned Magic Theatre in San Francisco and was privileged to have been a part of the World Premiere of Paula Vogel’s “Baltimore Waltz”. Watching this play in development ignited her passion for directing and developing new work. She undertook her directing career by self producing and writing several original plays and short films while studying the work of master directors as an intern at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. She moved to Boulder, Co in 1996 and started Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids, an award winning youth theatre where her mission was to create highly creative, innovative, and fresh children’s theatre for the community. Michelle has directed over 70 plays in all genres of Theatre from well known musicals such as “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Oliver” to dramas such as Eve Ensler’s "Necessary Targets" and most recently Sarah Ruhl’s "Dead Man's Cell Phone". In 2009, she opened her own cutting edge adult theatre and resident company Theatre O in Boulder, Co. In January 2010 she launched Theatre O’s inaugural season by co producing “Conviction” an original production which made its off Broadway premiere in February 2010.

Stuart Motola
Director of Operations & Denver Program Director
Stuart has been working with Rocky Mountain Theatre For Kids since its inception fifteen years ago. A state licensed secondary school teacher, he has worked with children in the educational and creative arena for over twelve years. He has a great passion for helping children succeed on stage, which he has seen time and again launch children’s self esteem to new heights. He brings a wealth of educational, business, and production management experience to Rocky Mountain Theatre For Kids. Stuart is also a novelist and playwright. He is currently working on a full length dramatic script titled "Enemies and Allies".

Instructors
All Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids staff undergo a Colorado State and Federal background check.

	Kate Lieberman Director Kate was the executive director of Boulder Conservatory Theater and assistant production manager at the Omega Institute of Holistic Studies. She has recently taught at Boulder Waldorf Kindergarten and The Mandala Center. Her expertise include: musical theater, set/costume design, movement, and voice. Kate received her theater education at Herbert Berghoff Performance Studios in New York City. Kate has been with RMTK for five years and most recently directed our 2009 Younger Company summer camps and looks forward to directing the 2010 Younger Company Camps.
	Amanda Brown Director / Choreographer Amanda was raised in the local community theatres and art centers in Dalton, GA. During college, she studied theater at the 2004 Summer Acting Conservatory at Michael Howard Studios in New York City. In 2005, she obtained a B.A. in Theatre Arts at The University of the South: Sewanee. In Dalton, Amanda served as the Theatre Arts Director and Visual Arts Coordinator at The Creative Arts Guild, and through a new-formed partnership with Westwood Elementary, worked as their primary art teacher. Amanda is excited about the new home she has found at RMTK and is thrilled to have an opportunity to give to all the children who have an interest in the arts.
	Heidi Anderson Director / Music Director Heidi is so honored to be a part of Rocky Mountain Theater for Kids. She holds a Bachelors of Music Arts in Classical Vocal Performance from the Eastman School of Music. She has been performing professionally around the world since the age of 19. Heidi was one of the youngest members of the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center's Opera Program and has won numerous Opera competitions including one in Salzburg, Austria, which yielded a solo concert at the famous VonTrapp home. After pursuing a life of performing in New York, Heidi decided to start a family here in Colorado where she began teaching Performing Arts. Ms. Anderson is passionate about imparting her love for music to children.
	Laura Martinelli Choreographer  Laura is thrilled to be a part of Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids. Laura has studied theatre and dance throughout high school and college, including study at the American Conservatory Theatre. In 1990, she and her husband opened their own theatre company in Northern Californa, The 4th Wall, where they produced highly acclaimed, adult dramas and children's theatre camps. In 2007, Laura traveled to New Jersey to take the week long Teacher’s Course at the annual Dance Educators of America intensive. There, she studied ballet with America Ballet Theatre instructor Raymond Lukins, Musical Theatre with Bob Fosse's protege, Dana Moore, and tap from Steps on Broadway's fabulous tap teacher Ray Hesselink as well as modern, ballroom, lyrical, latin and hip hop. Laura has taught jazz, ballet, tap and gymnastics and has been doing choreography locally for the last 5 years. When Laura is not dancing, she is happily busy with her 5 children, husband and huge extended family.
	Matthew Davis Choreographer / Assistant Director  Matthew is excited to work with suchtalented kids and be a part of the RMTK family. He has his Bachelors of Theater from Minnesota State University and has worked in several theaters across the country. He recently finished a stint as the Associate Artistic Director at the Playhouse Merced in California and was privileged to teach acting and dance at the conservatory there. Some of his acting credits include Pouncival in Cats, Hamlet in The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged), Rosencrantz in Hamlet, Harvey Johnson in Bye Bye Birdie, Mr. Goldstone in Gypsy, and Sgt. Fogarty and a Dancer in Chicago. He has choreographed several shows including Something’s Afoot, Trying B.B. Wolf and Aristocats for RMTK’s summer program.
	Chuck Novatka Choreographer / Asst Director Chuck Novatka is a self-proclaimed "True Renaissance Metro" who has recently traded life in New York City for the clean air of Colorado, and is DELIGHTED to be a part of the RMTK family. He is a theatre graduate from Albany University and has an extensive professional theatre resume which includes "Scrambled Eggs" and "Water Under the Fridge" which he wrote and performed at Manhattan Repertory Theater. (on 42nd Street) to acclaim. Before joining RMTK, Chuck taught many youth acting, dance, and playwriting courses in New York. He currently teaches playwriting at the Contemporary Learning Academy (Denver) and has completed his first Children's book entitled, "Dolly the Llama."
	Brian Dean Music Director  Brian Dean is a versatile pianist, composer, arranger and pedagogue originally from Yakima, Washington. Brian holds a Masters in jazz pedagogy (University of Miami), and is a Doctoral Candidate in Jazz Studies (A.B.D.) at the University of Colorado, where he was also a graduate teaching assistant. As a pianist Brian has performed throughout the United States and Canada where he has shared the stage with several prominent jazz artists including vocalist Nancy King, trumpeters Brad Goode and Allen Vizzutti, bassist Johannes Weidenmueller, and drummer Steve Houghton. Most recently Brian was an accompanist for Broadway stars David Green and Tony Award winner Judy Kaye. His arrangements have been featured throughout the United States, and his debut jazz CD—Waiting for Answers is set for release sometime in 2010.
	Jeanette Cerami Younger Company Director   Jeanette is entering her third summer as a Director for Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Denver in Theatre and International Relations. She has a background in acting, lighting design, and directing and is currently working with Papercat Production Company in several comedy sketches. Her passion is improv and comedic acting and she looks forward to continuing her work in this area during the 2010 Younger Company Summer Camp, as well as on stage.
	Morgan Flahive-Foro Assistant Director / Choreographer  Morgan is very excited to be joining the RMTK family. She recently graduated from Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University with a BFA in Acting, where she studied under and worked with amazing Chicago Artists such as 500 Clown, Steve Scott Assosiate Producer of the Goodman Theatre, Ted Hoerl with Act One Studios, Jane Alderman of Jane Alderman Casting and Redmoon Theatre Company. Morgan grew up studying dance in Colorado and has performed with such ensembles as David Taylor Dance Theatre and Parker Dance Academy. Morgan has won excellence awards in tap and jazz from New York City Dance Alliance and Dance Educators of America. She was the primary ballet, tap and jazz instructor for Rico School of Music and Dance in Chicago for the past year before deciding to move back to Denver. She loves teaching, and feels very lucky to be working in Boulder with RMTK.
	Kari Kraakevik Music Director  Kari is a composer, arranger, classical singer, clarinetist and pianist, and presently, a teacher at University of Colorado. Ms. Kraakevik holds a BA from Pepperdine University in music theory and composition with a vocal performance emphasis. As a vocalist, Kari has performed in many musicals and operettas around the LA, Chicago and Phoenix area, as well as premiered numerous pieces of her own and of other composers. Major voice teachers include: renowned Kathleen Roland-Silverstein, Martha Lindsey-Glenn, Louise Loftquist and Susannah Murray. Major composition/sound design teachers include, N. Lincoln Hanks, Richard Skvorec, Bryn Corbett and most recently John Drumheller, at University of Colorado. Kari is currently pursuing her MM in music composition at CU Boulder. She loves teaching at all levels, and believes that RMTK provides a unique atmosphere in which she gets the opportunity to work with the next generation of talented musicians, actors, dancers and altogether, truly gifted artists!
	Jennifer Bartos Director  Jennifer has had great joy working with the staff and students at Rocky Mountain Theater for kids. She has musically directed and directed the younger company summer camps in Denver for several years and is looking forward to her third year as a director for 2010. Jennifer holds a bachelors degree in Music Management and a masters in Education both from the University of Colorado at Denver. She has taught music, band, theater and dance at Barney Ford Elementary for last seven years. In 2007 and 2010 she was honored with the Mile High Teachers award from Denver Public Schools. In her spare time she enjoys teaching private piano and spending time with her 4 year old daughter MaKenna. Jennifer believes, "Every child has a talent and it is my passion to find it, mold it, and make each child shine!"

Kelly McAllister Director  Kelly is a playwright, actor and director. Plays include: Last Call, which won the 2002 FringeNYC Excellence in Playwriting award, and is featured in Best Stage Scenes 2002 (Smith & Kraus) and the anthology Plays and Playwrights 2003 (NYTE); Muse of Fire; Burning the Old Man, which won the 2005 NYIT award for Outstanding Full Length Script and is featured in One on One- Best Men’s Monologues for the 21st Century (Applause Books), Best Men’s Monologue’s 2005 (Smith & Kraus), and Plays and Playwrights 2006 (NYTE); The Morons, which won the Ten by Ten one act contest at Triangle Theatre Company, NC; as well as others.  He had his first international production in May 2009, when Divadlo na Zabradli of Prague opened Cesta Horiciho Muze, the Czech translation of Burning the Old Man- where it is still performing to sold out houses. In 2003, San Jose State University named him Graduate of the Last Decade for the School of Humanities. He was also a senior reviewer for nytheatre.com for 2003-2005. Currently he is working on a screen adaptation of Burning the Old Man, as well as a new play about the Modoc War of 1873. He is represented by Harden-Curtis of NYC.