Amick Byram Co-Founder
Amick starred in several Broadway shows including Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Sunset Boulevard and over 50 professional Equity productions. He has worked extensively in television and has made many appearances on prime time including Frasier, Kristin, Ally McBeal, Friends, and Star Trek, The Next Generation, to name just a few. He also sang the role of Moses in the animated feature The Prince of Egypt.
Amick was an original co-producer of the New York premiere of the stage musical, Radio Gals at the John Houseman Theater on 42nd Street and also produced and wrote Great Gershwin!, The Best of Broadway, and A Hollywood Tale. He produced and directed the world premiers of David which has toured internationally; Ben Hur in Orlando, Florida, an $8 million stage production; 1 to 1, an original rock/multimedia musical; the world premiere of Pinocchio and Mounette, a new adaptation of the classic tale for the stage written by Allan Jay Friedman and Bob Merrill (Carnival, Funny Girl, Sugar); and most recently completed the world premiere workshop staging of Aesop based on the life of the classic Greek writer.
Amick also directed Les Miserables, Brigadoon and Into the Woods and The Secret Garden at the Lyceum Theater in Orange County, California. Both Brigadoon and Into the Woods were voted best production of 2004 and 2005 by Daily Pilot. Amick has two Grammy nominations for vocal jazz albums, recently recorded his first solo CD titled Encounter, and has directed many award winning cast albums and dramatic recordings. He is also an alumni of the prestigious Lincoln Center Directors Lab West and is an adjunct faculty member in the theater department at Vanguard University of Southern California.
Susan K. Berkompas Producing Artistic Director / Founder
Susan has been a producing artistic director since 1998 and is the Department Chair of the Vanguard University theatre arts program. She received her B.F.A. in acting/directing from the University of Montana and her M.F.A. in acting/directing from the California Repertory Company. She has studied Shakespeare in Oxford with the British American Drama Academy where she worked with renowned Shakespeare teacher and scholar, John Barton.
Susan is an associate member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and AFTRA. She is the 2005 receipient of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Award for Excellence in Theatre Education and is an alumnus of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab West. She also serves on the Education Committee at SCR.
She has directed plays such as: The Glass Menagerie; Othello (The Daily Pilot's top college pick for 2006); The Boys Next Door; Macbeth; A Midsummer Night's Dream; Charley's Aunt; and Pump Boys and Dinettes. Her favorite roles are: Velma Kelly (Chicago); Frau Schneider (Cabaret); Eleanor (Lion in Winter); Desdemona (Othello); Queen Elizabeth (Richard III); Queen Hecuba (Agameimnon); The Witch (Into the Woods); Monda (Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean); and Blanche (A Streetcar Named Desire).
Paul Eggington Scenic Designer/Ensemble
Paul is a former Ensemble member of Lamb's Players Theatre in San Diego and the Colony in L.A. He has performed for over 30 years on stages internationally, off-Broadway, in film and on television. He has also done much voice-over work during the past several years.
Paul's credits include The Rivals with Marion Ross and Too True To Be Good with Kelsey Grammar. He recently played Nigel Harrison in the upcoming TV series Fashion House as well as the role of Iago on the Lyceum Stage for Vanguard University. Paul is a full-time staff/faculty member at Vanguard University in the Theater Arts Department where he is also the scenic designer and technical director.
Vanda Eggington Associate Artistic Director
Vanda was on staff at Lamb's Players Theatre in San Diego for the past 25 years as a performer and the resident Musical Director. She has written numerous arrangements and original compositions for a variety of productions. She is co-creator of the critically acclaimed hit shows Boomers and American Rhythm, two of San Diego's longest running musicals.
She has directed The Secret Garden, She Loves Me, Godspell, and Tintypes and has performed in Boomers, Smoke on the Mountain and Godspell. Vanda is a graduate of California Lutheran University and the Sherwood Music Academy.
She is also an adjunct professor at Vanguard University where she directs and teaches musical theatre. Vanda has directed the Orange County premieres, Oklahoma Riggs and Cleopatra's Wake, both written by David McFadzean who is the co-creator of ABC's Home Improvement.
Lia M. Hansen Costume Designer
Lia Hansen has been active in the Orange County theatre scene for over 20 years. She has designed operas, musicals, and straight plays for such local venues as the Newport Theatre Arts Center, the Harlequin Dinner Theater, Orange Coast College, Golden West College, Vanguard University, and consulted for other educational institutions.
Lia received her M.F.A. from San Diego State University. She has designed for the Old Towne Opera House in San Diego and assisted in preparing the costume exhibit “An Elegant Art” at LACMA. Lia's most recent designs have been seen on the Lyceum Stage including: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; The Glass Menagerie; Othello; Saint Joan; Side By Side By Sondheim; Macbeth; Three Sisters and Into The Woods to name a few.
David Pecoraro Intern Coordinator / Website Manager
David is a Professor of Theatre, M.F.A.; Temple University. Theatre Department Production Manager, Lighting Designer, and Head of Stage Management. Teacher and professional stage manager since 1980. Theatre and special events manager in both academic and professional settings including Israel, Calgary, New Orleans, San Diego, Hollywood, New York, Washington D.C., San Antonio, and Las Vegas. Special projects include The Glory of Christmas, the Papal Visit, Olympic Ceremonies, and Superbowl Halftime shows. Teaches Stage Management, Lighting Design, Intro to Theatre, Dramatic Theory & Criticism, and Career Directions & Your Daily Bread.
Marianne Savell Founding Member
Marianne was Producing Director of Actors Co-op theatre company in Hollywood from 2002 to 2005. Her professional directing credits include: Gulf View Drive; Someone Who'll Watch Over Me; Angel Street, Translations; As It Is In Heaven; It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play; God & Shakespeare; and Molly Sweeny. Her professional acting credits include: The Seagull; The Voice of the Prairie; The Hasty Heart; As You Like It; All My Sons; Uncle Vanya; Twelfth Night; Bullshot Crummond; and Henry V. She received her MFA in Acting at the Professional Actor Training Program at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and also studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
Marianne is an adjunct professor at Vanguard University where she directed the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival regional finalists The Lion In Winter and As It Is In Heaven. She is an alumnus and participant in the Lincoln Center Directors Lab West and is an associate artist with Taproot Theatre Company. She is also on the advisory Board of Provision Theater Company in Chicago.
Deborah
is a classically trained actor, director, and choreographer. Acting credits include her role is Boys Chase Girls as Karen,Viola inTwelfth Night, Helena in Midsummer Night's Dream, Raina in Arms and the Man, Sabrina in Skin of Our Teeth, and Juliet inRomeo and Juliet. Deb has also written a book titled The Bard in Brief on teaching and directing Shakespeare.Thank you Bean, Boo, and Belle, lovies!
James C. Mulligan Member, Designer
Designer and artisan project highlights include Disney's FANTASMIC!, the HERCULES PARADE, ANIMAZEMENT, LIGHT MAGIC, and HAUNTED MANSION HOLIDAY as well as design and model work for Disney's California Adventure; all while a resident artist with Disney's Art Dept. Mr. Mulligan's theatrical work includes the Broadway production of THE GOLDEN CHILD, and the National tours of ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, BYE BYE BIRDIE, and STOMP. Other venues include the Irvine Barclay, South Coast Rep, Moonlight, Starlight, OCPAC, Saddleback, and of course, VUSC. He currently owns Mulligan Pictorial, a firm specializing in high end murals and decorative finishes.
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