David E. Leidholdt - Producing Artistic Director
Contact David at [email protected]
Has been a Director, Producer, Artistic Director and Teaching Artist working in and around the New York City area since 1993. In 1996 Mr. Leidholdt started working as a freelance Director and Choreographer for the American Family Theatre in Philadelphia eventually becoming the Artistic Director in 2007. Also, in 2007 he helped to create the ReVision Theatre is Asbury Park, NJ. As Co-Artistic Director Producing: Kingdom a new musical based on the Latin Kings (Winner Best Musical New Jersey Star Ledger), The Breakup Notebook a Lesbian Musical starring Beth Malone (Winner Best Musical New Jersey Star Ledger), the world premiere of The Bikinis staring ‘Orange is the Black’ Start Annie Golden, The Rocky Horror Show (Year End Best Award New Jersey Star Ledger and Tri City News), Hello Dolly and regional premieres of Xanadu and Spring Awakening.
Mr. Leidholdt was one of the founding producer for The New York Musical Theatre Festival and helped to bring to fusion such shows as; [Title of Show], Alter Boyz, Rooms and Next to Normal. In 2005, Mr. Leidholdt served as the Associate Producer for The Barrington Stage Company where he produced Hair and Tony winner Donna McKechnie’s Gypsy in My Soul.
Mr. Leidholdt has been a teacher working with young actors for the past 30 years teaching in such established institutions as the Professional Performing Arts School and The Actors Institute in New York City, Stagedoor Manor, Interprovinicial Musical Theatre in Canada, Cranbrook Theatre School and Ohio Northern University.
He has been honored to be a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society since 2001 and an alumni of The Lincoln Center Directors Lab in 2000 and 2001. Studied Directing at Playwrights Horizons Professional Program and The Actors Institute and holds a BFA from the University of Detroit.
David Gritzner - General Manager
Contact David G at [email protected]
David rejoins Millbrook for his 9th season. He was most recently Executive Director of the State College Community Theatre, and has held a variety of corporate/management positions. David has an MFA in Lighting Design from the prestigious California Institute of the Arts, a BFA in Theatre from UCLA, and is a graduate of the Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy. He is a former concert pianist and organist, and still works actively as a freelance Lighting Designer.
Shannon Agnew -Artistic Associate, Director
Contact Shannon at [email protected] or through her website here www.shannonagnew.com
Shannon Agnew is a professional actress, writer, and director. During her studies in Pace University’s BFA musical theatre program, she studied and worked alongside industry professionals including David Simpatico, William Finn, Amy Rogers, Bob Cline, Edward Allan Baker, and Rhonda Miller. During her college years she began offering coaching sessions, and began theatrical education work with the All Stars theater education program, and teaching for The Hedgerow Theatre, America’s first repertory theater.
Shannon’s passion for performance grew into a love of teaching. She cultivated educational programs and taught for numerous theaters and organizations including: Ocean City Theatre Company; The Center Theater; Millbrook Playhouse; Big Apple Musicals LLC; Off Book Productions; Beautiful Soup The a teRn collective; Sundog Theatre Co.; Macy’s Entertainment; and The Director’s Gathering Philadelphia. Her belief that a mastery of theatrical fundamentals can improve every aspect of life and create sustainable careers in the arts drives her curriculum creation. She has been celebrated for her energetic, kind, and immerse teaching styles.
Her work as a professional performer, writer, and director continues alongside her teaching artist work. This spring, she can be found directing the theater for young audience series for The Ocean City Theatre Company, and the regional tour Ellis Island: Gateway to a Dream for Sundog Theatre Co.
Mo Ortbal - Resident Musical Director
Margaret Ortbal currently works as a choir and drama teacher in the Jersey Shore Area School District. She holds a Bachelors of Music Education from Penn State University. In her first Millbrook season (2017) she music directed Seussical on the main stage and Annie JR with the Millbrook Youth Ensemble
Martena Rodgers – Resident Musical Director: Martena is a retired music teacher with a B.S. in Music Education and an M.A. in Theatre. She is a board member at the Community Theatre League of Williamsport where she most recently directed Nunsense. Martena, a Millbrook Board member, has music directed numerous shows, including Forever Plaid, My Vaudeville Man, The Marvelous Wonderettes and last summer’s Life Could Be a Dream. In 2015, she directed The Queen of Bingo, and in 2016, she music directed and played Vera in Smoke On the Mountain.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Erla Mae Frederick
Vice President
Scott Owens
Treasurer
Yvonne Hughes
Assist. Treasurer
Michelle Crowell
Recording Secretary
Jo Anne Hoberman
Corresponding Secretary
Linda Hughey
Board Members
Calvin Arter
Jim Berkebile
Ronnie Bair
Kasey Blesh
Millie Crawford
Adam Coleman
Rachel Hanna
Ann Marie Hunsinger
Kristine Meeker
Alison Parker
Martena Rogers
John Shaffer
Angela Stoner
Bobbie Way