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Members of the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee Emeritus Members DAVID ALEX Award-winning plays have been staged in several cities. He has received two grants from the Illinois Arts Council for Recognition in Playwriting and one from the Pilgrim Foundation. Recent productions include Ends, an African-American Theatre Festival Award Winner (Univ. of Louisville) at New Jersey Repertory Company; Onto Infinity at Waukegan's Bowen Park Theatre Company; and By the Rivers of Babylon at Chicago Playwrights' Center. Dramatic Publishing has published two of his plays. He has served as Secretary of the Chicago Alliance for Playwrights and the Illinois Theatre Association. Alex retired in 2003 from Hoffman Estates High School,where he taught mathematics, coached track, anddirected the fall play. He occasionally conducts writing workshops for young authors. Back to top CHARLES A. BERGLUND received his undergraduate degree in theatre from Northern Illinois University and a master's degree in theatre from Indiana. For over 30 years he was a high school Speech Arts Department Chair and Director of Theatre. He has been recognized as an educator and director by state and national organizations, and he has directed over 100 plays and musicals on the high school, community, college and university levels. Retired since 2001, he now acts, directs and teaches in many local venues University. Back to top CAROL ANN BLACK has been active in the theatrical and musical industry in the Chicago area for the past twenty-six years. Prior to her retirement, she served as Membership Services Coordinator at Actors' Equity Association where she was employed for sixteen years. Prior to joining the staff at AEA she was co-owner of Bands and Bows, a musical booking agency; prior to that she served as Office Manager and Booking Agent for the Franz Benteler Royal Strings Orchestra. Back to top BEVERLE BLOCH Theatre director, educator and scholar, Dr. Bloch holds a Ph.D. in Theatre from the University of Denver, as well as a Masters degree in Mass Communication. A native Chicagoan, Bloch performed with several local theatre groups including the Center Stage and Second City, while pursuing a B.S. in Speech at Northwestern University. . In Denver, CO, she founded the Comedy Connection, an improvisation-based comedy troupe. while pursuing graduate studies at the University of Denver.. Dr. Bloch has taught courses in Communication, Theatre and Speech at several colleges and universities including the University of Denver, Bowling Green State University, Lewis University, and St. Andrews Presbyterian College and has directed, and adapted more than 30 theatre productions, in Chicago and on university and college campuses. Back to top DOUG BRADBURD is a retired teacher of Theater Arts and English. He has been involved with the production and direction of high school theater for thirty-three years for which he received a Massachusetts statewide award as well as NEASC and National Blue Ribbon recognition. His published articles include several on theater, education and the humanities, and his performance credits include work with Shipping Dock Theater, The New Phoenix Players, US Army Special Services and Rapparee. Back to top JUDITH COXE is a member of Canadian Equity, and of ACTRA. She began performing with The Toronto Children Players. She was host of a television show for children for the CBC, and performed regularly for them in both radio and television drama. She did theater work at Hart House, University of Toronto, and was a repertory member of the Straw Hat Players and the Crest Theatre in Toronto. She taught first art history, then drawing and painting, in her 20 years as a Professor of Fine Art, and as a professional artist. Back to top SYDNEY DANIELS is a director, designer, and teacher. At Harold Washington College, where he was named Distinguished Professor, Mr. Daniels directed and designed sets and lights for more than 60 productions, classics, contemporary plays, musicals, and revues. A co-founder of the Loop Players, he has successfully led them to local, regional, and national competitions. Professor Daniels has directed at Victory Gardens, Pegasus Players, the Green House Project of the Organic, Bailiwick Repertory, the Chicago Cultural Center, and the Harold Washington Library. His productions have won numerous awards including Jeff Non-Equity recommendations. Back to top GEORGE DEMPSEY has been actively involved at the Theatre of Western Springs since 1972 as an actor, director, designer and Board of Governors member/Chairman. Prior to that he was a founding member of the Saigon Theatre and is a former member of the original board at Bailiwick Repertory. An avid Chicagoland theatregoer, George had been seeing an average of 65 productions per year before joining the Jeff Committee in 2005. Back to top DOREEN FEITELBERG holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Witwatersrand University in South Africa, and qualifications in speech and drama teaching from the University of South Africa and Trinity College London. In Johannesburg she ran a large private studio and taught in both the drama and communication departments of the university. She has acted, directed and judged drama festivals and speech examinations. She holds the position of Life Vice President of the South African Guild of Speech and Drama Teachers, and was on the executive board of the Shakespeare Society of Southern Africa. Currently she is a private tutor in voice, acting and effective speaking skills and is involved in presentations of stories on stage. She is a faculty member of the Theatre School at Columbia College. Back to top WOODROW B. GIFFEY is a Chicago native, involved in our wonderfully diverse theatre community for nearly 25 years. He attended Lewis University as well as North Eastern Illinois University, majoring in theatre education and management. Woody has worked both onstage and in production with local companies such as Lifeline Theatre, Bailiwick Repertory, Victory Gardens and Interplay Theatre. Professional mentors/coaches he has had the pleasure of working with include Glenn Hering, Beckie Menzie, Donald Miller, and Chet Kondratowicz. Woodrow is an editor/design consultant with a variety of local and national print/web media publications. He is truly honored to be a member of the Jeff committee and it's dedication to recognizing artistic excellence. Woody is especially thrilled to participate at such a vibrant time in Chicago, as our city continues to shine by making significant theatrical contributions to the world's stages. Back to top JOHN GLOVER a native of Dayton, Ohio, has been an actor and director in Indiana and Ohio regional theaters for many years. He served as the Director of the Purdue University Theater Company from 1988 to 1993, and in 1989, he had the honor of directing the grand opening of the Theater at the Center in Munster, Indiana. In addition to the university setting, John has directed for several community theaters across Chicagoland and northwest Indiana. A long time resident of Chicago, John is an avid fan and patron of Chicago theater. Back to top JOHN A. GOLDSTEIN is a partner with the Chicago-based national law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, specializing in commercial real estate and lending law. He received his A.B. (magna cum laude) in Mathematics and Art History from Washington University in St. Louis, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa; and he earned his J.D. from Northwestern University. John is a bronze life master in bridge and currently serves as Vice-President of District 13 of the American Contract Bridge League. As an impassioned traveler, he has visited all seven continents. John has served on several equity theater boards in the Chicago area and is a huge supporter of the arts. Back to top JOYCE STERN GREENBERG began her theatrical career as a child performer, and, over the years has worked as a singing comedienne, actress, teacher, director, booking agent, producer, and host of a television discussion/interview series. She is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Speech. For the ten year span between 1986 and 1996, she was the producing artistic director of the nationally acclaimed performing troupe, "Acting Up!", while on staff at Oakton Community College. She then returned to the artistic director position of the troupe, now known as "Still Acting Up!" from 2000 to 2004. Other directing credits include work for Stage Two, Attic Playhouse and the Northlight Theatre Open Door Ensemble. In 2009, Joyce co-founded Spotlighters at the Mette, which she directs and hosts. Produced by the Wilmette Theatre, Spotlighters presents musical revues featuring intergenerational casts of performers between the ages of 9-17 and over 55. Back to top JODY GREENSPAN is a higher education consultant and a national and state political campaign consultant. She was formerly the Senior Assistant Dean at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She majored in theater and psychology at Smith College, Northampton, MA. She also holds a J.D. degree from Boston College Law School. Jody has studied theater administration and production at RADA, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and at the University in London, as well as entertainment law and theater management at Boston University School of Law. She also has worked summer stock at the Lake Region Playhouse in Guilford, NH, and at the Charles Playhouse in Boston, MA. Jody worked as a theater researcher and writer at Theatre Quarterly, a theatrical critical magazine published in London. She loves theater and is proud to be a member of the Jeff Awards Committee. Back to top RICARDO GUTIERREZ is an actor, director and teacher. He was most recently seen in the world premiere of Lydia at the Denver Center Theatre. Ricardo has performed at The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens, and Lookingglass Theatre. This summer he will appear in the Chicago Children's Theatre production of Esperanza Rising, as part of the Latino Festival at the Goodman Theatre. Ricardo has appeared in numerous films, television programs, and commercials. He has most recently directed A Midsummer Night's Dream for his company, Arts-Lanes/Ivanhoe Shakespeare, and La Posada Magica for Teatro Vista. Ricardo is the former Artistic Director of Nosotros in Los Angeles and the Canterbury Theatre in Indiana. Back to top SUSAN HAIMES serves as Immediate Past Chair of the Jeff Committee. She has been involved in Chicago theater for about 40 years, has directed over 30 productions, and has produced more than that, mostly on the North Shore. She was a board member of Steppenwolf Theatre Company in its beginning years. Formerly a drama teacher, Susan is the past president and co-founder of Highland Park Players. Her husband, Dr. Harlan Haimes, shares her love for Chicago theater and attends every production with her. Susan and Harlan's company, Brittany Production, Inc., has produced Equity theater in Chicago. Back to top ROBERT HAUSER was born and raised in Chicago, attending St. Patrick’s High School and the University of Illinois with a degree in history. He is an attorney specializing in civil and criminal litigation and he received his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He and his wife have traveled all over the world. Bob has been or is involved with many not for profit organizations, including NICASA, Lambs Farm, National Association for Down Syndrome, Center for Independent Futures and the Ted Fund. He also serves the University of Illinois as a member of the Illinois Foundation, the Chancellor’s Circle, the Friends of History Board and the Alumni Awards Committee. Actively involved in theatre, Bob has attended and supported various Chicago theatres over many years, and looks forward to serving with the prestigious group of Jeff Committee members. Back to top RICHARD HESLER is a Professor Emeritus at Northeastern Illinois University, where he taught acting and served as Director of Theater. A graduate of the University of Iowa theatre program, he trained professionally at the Game Theatre with Viola Spolin and Paul Sills, co-founded The Unity, an acting company, was on the board of Pegasus, and was artistic director of the Barry Street Loft Theatre, an early off-Loop theatre. He has staged more than 100 plays for university and off-Loop theatre audiences and was formerly a member of Actors' Equity. Back to top DIANE HIRES served as administrator, fine arts department chair, and choral director at Downers Grove High Schools during her 37-year career. She chaired the District 99 music department, honored as the Outstanding Total Music Department in Illinois by the IL Music Educators Association. In addition to conducting choirs and ensembles, Diane served as music director for many high school and community theatre musicals. She received the Harold Decker Award for outstanding contributions to choral music from the IL-American Choral Directors Association and was awarded the Mary E. Hoffman Award for outstanding teaching from IMEA. The State Board of Education and Downers Grove District 99 honored Diane with the "Those Who Excel" Award. Currently, Ms. Hires directs the 65-voice Chancel Choir at the First United Methodist Church in Downers Grove and serves as a guest director, clinician, and accompanist. Back to top MARTHA J. HUDAK A marketing and communications consultant, Martha Hudak specializes in business-to-business marketing for technology businesses. In addition, she is General Manager of Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre and has been involved with theatre as an avocation most of her life. She has studied playwriting with Chicago Dramatists (and a former Board Member), acting, music and dance. She occasionally does some voice-overs and podcasts. She previously performed with a community theatre group, in gridiron and variety shows, and with a Messiah choir and Holiday Pops at Harris Theatre. She holds master and bachelor degrees in journalism and mass communications with a minor in speech broadcasting. Back to top LARRY TODD JOHNSON is a bookwriter and lyricist, whose most recent musical, 40 is the New 15 (with composer Cindy O'Connor), had a critically-acclaimed run at the NoHo Arts Center in Los Angeles, receiving Best New Musical award from Stagescene LA in 2010. The developmental production of 40 is the New 15 received a 2010 GLAAD Media Award Nomination for Outstanding Los Angeles Theatre, and was chosen by Stephen Schwartz for the ASCAP/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop.Now and Then a Hero (with composer Jake Anthony) was part of the Missoula Colony Festival; and his musical drama, All That He Was (with composer Cindy O'Connor), at the Tisch School of the Arts (NYU), earned Larry the Kennedy Center National Playwright's Award and the ACTF Musical Theater Award. His historical-fiction musical, The Last Princess (with music by Allen Hong) was also featured in the Disney/ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop. Larry is Assistant Artistic Director and lyric lab instructor for Midwest New Musicals. Back to top MASAHIRO KASAI was born and grew up in Back to top BECCA KNIGHTS holds a BA in Speech Communication and a concentration in theatre from the Back to top SCOT T. KOKANDY is a banker at PNC Bank and has been in the financial services industry for the last 10 years. By night he is the co-owner of an apparel company, is a restaurant reviewer, and an adjunct faculty member at Ivy Tech Community College. He received his B.S. in Information Technology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and he earned his MBA from Purdue University Calumet. Scot is a passionate theatergoer and on occasion you may find him acting, directing, or producing. Back to top CHET KONDRATOWICZ is a professor emeritus at Lewis University where under his direction a very active theatre department was created, spawning dozens of theatre professionals working in all areas of theatre, film and television. He holds graduate degrees in theatre and English from the University of Minnesota and Loyola University. Chet supervised the design and reconstruction of an airplane hangar into the Philip Lynch Theatre at Lewis University. He has directed extensively on the college, community and professional levels. He currently serves as Director of Fine Arts Programming at Saint Patrick Performing Arts Centre. In May, 2006, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Lewis University. Back to top KRISTOPHER LENCOWSKI
is an actor, director and teacher who moved to Chicago after graduating from the Brown/Trinity MFA Program in Directing. He received his undergraduate degree from the U of Minn., and in Minneapolis performed with Theatre de la Jeune Lune including their National and Off-Broadway Tour, as well as the Jungle Theater, Commonweal Theatre Company and Minnesota Shakespeare. He has directed shows at the Illusion, the National Puppetry Festival and the Lakewood Cemetery. In 2011, he went to Ithaca, N.Y. as Drama League Directing Fellow at the Hangar Theatre. He believes strongly in Chicago theater and is thrilled to be here.
Back to top DAVID LIESSE is a retired teacher and school administrator. His background in theater includes teaching at both the high school and college levels. He has also directed, produced, and acted. David is a former president of the Saints, Chicago's Volunteers for the Performing Arts; and as former chair of the Non-Equity Wing, has produced Jeff Non-Equity Awards shows. Back to top JACQUE LUEKEN
is a director and teaching artist who received her BFA in Acting from Syracuse University. Upon graduation she moved to Chicago to work with Steppenwolf Theatre Co as Asst. Coordinator for their summer acting intensive. Since being in the city, Jacque has directed numerous shows with companies including TYA at Apple Tree Theatre, Noble Fool Performing Arts Academy, VPT, Emergency Theatre Co and Three Cat Education. She has worked in theatre education as a teaching artist with American Theatre Company, Apple Tree Theatre, Noble Fool Theatricals Performing Arts Academy, Emerald City Theatre Co and After School Matters. Jacque also is Executive Director of Three Cat Education, where she writes and directs original scripts for youth productions and summer camps (housed at the Skokie Theatre) as well as teaching and directing at their Lincoln Park location (The Menomonee Club). She also is a founding collective member of Ag47, an arts mentorship program serving pre-teen and teenage girls in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood.
Back to top LIBBY ADLER MAGES is Chairman of Mavin Productions II, Inc., She has produced shows in Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. Libby was the founder of the Rose Theater, a founding member of Stratford Investors (a theatrical investment group) and a former Chair of the Jeff Committee. Her productions have received many awards, including a Tony Award, A Pulitzer Prize, an Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Awards and the Lucille Lortel Award for the most unique theatrical experience in 2001. Recent Chicago Productions include: Over the Tavern, Life's Not Fair...So What, and King O' The Moon. On Broadway she produced the multiple Tony Award winning show Thoroughly Modern Millie (Best musical of 2002). She also produced touring productions of Say Goodnight Gracie, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Enchanted April as well as the London production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Back to top JEFFREY M. MARKS an active trial attorney, has continued as an actor, singer, dancer, musician and theatre technical director, despite his busy legal career. He also counsels and represents artists and theatres. He is a volunteer for Lawyers for the Creative Arts and other arts organizations, chairs a Fine Arts Commission, and produces and hosts a Cable TV Fine Arts series. Throughout the year he also performs with the Chicago Bar Association's political parody revues (The Bar Show/Christmas Spirits), appears in "industrials", and sings with the political comedy/jazz quartet The Acappellants. He is married to director Stevi Marks. Jeff is a past Equity Chair, and is currently Chair of Media and Marketing of the Jeff Awards Committee. Back to top SUSAN MURRAY MILLER is an actress, director and vocal coach. Recently, she was dialect coach for Scenes from the Big Picture (her 9th show for Seanachi), for Look Homeward Angel at Artistic Home Theatre, and Neither Have I Wings to Fly at Citadel Theatre, Lake Forest, Il. She has also coached productions at Theatre of Western Springs, including Serbian and Standard British. Susan has acted Off-Broadway, NYC, at the Reilly Theatre in Baton Rouge, La., Milwaukee Rep, Irish Rep. in Chicago and many other Equity theaters over the years. She has directed at U. of Il., Urbana, Northern Illinois, Beloit College, Principia College and Roosevelt University. She has served as a Winter Dialect Coach for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland. She also has coached for Timeline, Chicago Dramatists and Court Theatre, among others. Susan taught acting at the University of Illinois, Urbana for 14 years, and is a member of AEA, AFTRA and SAG. Back to top ROBERT J. NYE a former Jeff Committee chairman, is an attorney, professor of law, and distance education director and consultant to the intellectual property law center at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Mr. Nye's involvement with the performing arts in Chicago has included counseling members of the arts community, guiding students interested in entertainment law and intellectual property law, acting in video projects of the American and Chicago Bar Associations, and performing in a number of Chicago Bar Association Christmas Spirits shows Back to top MEADE PALIDOFSKY an award-winning playwright and lyricist, is the founder and Artistic Director of Storycatchers Theatre (the new name for Music Theatre Workshop). As Artistic Director, she has overseen the writing and production of more than 40 original musicals based on the real life stories of Chicago youth. Her work with incarcerated teens has been profiled by This American Life and Humankind on National Public Radio, and in the P B & J documentary Girls On The Wall. Ms. Palidofsky was recently part of the Columbia College Chicago/Scotland Arts Council artist exchange at the Citizens Theater in Glasgow. She was a founder of the Chicago Dramatists Workshop. And recently she was awarded a 2010 Chicago Community Trust Experienced Leader Fellowship. Back to top ERROL PEARLMAN received his degree in Music from DePaul University. Pianist, singer, composer and director, he taught stage singing at Loyola University and the Goodman Theatre School of Drama, where he also wrote original scores for their Children's Theatre. He co-founded Center Stage Theatre Arts and the Chicagoland Theatrical Troupe, and produced and directed productions in and around Chicago. He has written musicals produced at the Theatre Building, Chicago Jewish Theatre, University of Wisconsin, National College of Education, Southwest Texas University, The Roxy, and the Hungry Eye Theatre in New York. The retired Fine Arts Department chairman, choral and theatre director of a Chicago High School, he is currently involved in vocal coaching, musical directing and composing a new musical. Back to top PAULETTE A. PETRETTI is a partner with the Chicago law firm of Scariano, Himes and Petrarca, Chtd., where she concentrates in labor and employment law and litigation. She has been a member of the Jeff Committee since 1992; she is currently the Vice Chair and previously served on the Executive Committee as Treasurer and Criteria Chair. Prior to law school, Petretti was a theatre teacher, actress and director in the Midwest and New York City and remains a member of Actor's Equity Association (AEA) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Back to top JOHN GRANT- PHILLIPS (JACK) has been a working professional actor and director for over thirty years. He earned an MFA in Directing from Yale School of Drama , where he was the John Schubert Memorial Scholar in Directing. He has directed over 400 stage plays, acted in over 200 roles onstage and over 75 roles in film, commercials and television. His work has been seen in most major theatre festivals in the world including Avigon, the Betif Festival in Belgrade, Tel Aviv, Edinburgh, the Los Angeles Olympic Arts Festival and the first New York City Festival of the Arts. As a director and producer, Jack has participated in developing over forty original works. He has been an educator and lecturer at Harvard University, Yale Drama School, American Repertory Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre Training, Gonzaga University and the Leslie University Graduate School of Education. Jack is included in both Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. He is currently Artistic Director of the Theatre of Western Springs and a Past President of the American Association of Community Theatre. He recently received the Art Cole Award from the American Association of Community Theatre for his lifetime contribution to community theatre. Back to top MERRIL PRAGER was born in New York, grew up in Evanston and has been a lifelong fan of theater. She has served on the Board of Trustees of Northlight Theatre since 2003. In her professional life, she has a consulting practice providing finance and accounting services to not-for-profit organizations. She also serves on the boards of North Suburban United Way and Acts of Kindness Cabaret, whose mission is promoting cabaret music while helping not-for-profit organizations raise money for their good causes and passing along random acts of kindness. Back to top JERRY PROFFIT earned a master's degree in theater from Northwestern University, directed high school theater for 32 years, and is now the Administrator of the Fast Track Master's in Directing Program at the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University. He has been recognized by both state and national theater organizations for his contributions to educational theater and has served as adjudicator at regional and international festivals. Back to top TINEKE RAAK has enjoyed working with theatres in Washington, South Dakota, Alaska, and Illinois as an actor, director, stage manager, and lighting designer. She has a BA in Theatre from Northwestern College and recently earned a Master’s degree in Arts Administration from Goucher College. Tineke spent several years working in online marketing and is currently the Business Manager for Blue Man Group Chicago. Back to top JOHN RANDLE received a B.F.A. degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an M.A. in interdisciplinary arts from Columbia College. He has designed and built sets for Interplay, Healthworks, the Von Heideke Ballet Company and the NeoFuturists. Back to top LINDA ROBERTS holds a B.A. in English with a concentration in dramatic literature from Indiana University and an M.A. in education from the University of Chicago, where she taught in the Lab School. She is founder and Artistic Director of Roberts Marionettes, tours as a solo performer, and has presented nearly 12,000 performances as a professional puppeteer. She has taught theatre, adapted folktales, studied adjudication, and toured as a circus aerialist; she is also an actress, designer and director. Back to top HARVEY RUBIN as a former advertising agency creative director, created and produced television commercials. This entailed many of the functions necessary to any theatrical production: casting, selecting costumes, sets, and music, as well as assisting in the direction of actors. A theater buff since the age of seven, Harvey has appeared for more than 30 years as an actor in many Chicago-area productions, most notably with Bob Sickinger at Hull House Theater. Back to top ALLEN SCHWARTZ has been an enthusiast, supporter and fan of Chicago theatre since its rise in the early 1970s. A world traveler, he has also sampled theatre all over the globe. In addition, he is an Architectural Tour guide and believes that with its architectural and theatrical gems, Chicago is indeed a Wonderland. Back to top LISA M. SCOTT is a passionate theatergoer and a playwright affiliated with the Chicago Dramatists, Her background in theater also includes improvisation and acting. By day, Lisa provides due diligence research for investment groups and writes on healthcare policy and finance, a field she’s covered as a reporter and editor for many years. She received her B.S. in journalism from Back to top JAMES SEVERNS returned to Chicago after retiring as chairperson of the theatre department at Truman State University in Missouri. Since returning home, he has continued teaching and working in theatre. A graduate of Purdue, Indiana, and Iowa, he also did graduate work at Bristol University, England. He has worked in educational and professional theatre as a director, designer, actor and writer in the United States and Britain. He is a member of Actors Equity and several academic theatre societies. Back to top JASON PAUL SMITH has directed film, cabaret, and theater across the United States. He has produced and directed many Chicago productions including a cabaret and theater series at the Skokie Theater Music Foundation with Three Cat Productions. He recently was awarded a 2009 Ragdale Residency for the documentary entitled “Don’t Mess with Bill: The Story of Dorothy Fairbairn”. He serves on the board of the Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Back to top ESTELLE SPECTOR has been by turns a performer, choreographer, director, producer, and teacher. Presently, she is on the faculty of Columbia College. Formerly head of the theater/movement department of the Goodman School of Drama, The Theatre School of DePaul University, and Loyola University, Ms. Spector spent a season teaching for Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. She is the wife of retired Chicago Symphony Orchestra violinist Fred Spector. Back to top NATALIE VAN STRAATEN studied dramatic literature while earning her B.A. in English at the University of Michigan and later studied theater criticism at Northwestern University. Her professional life has been as writer/editor/columnist focusing on arts subjects. She also has served as a juror/judge/curator for numerous art exhibits, and she has led panels as a moderator on various arts issues. Founding publisher of Chicago Gallery News (1982), Natalie also held a position concurrently as executive director of the Chicago Art Dealers Association (1987-2007). Back to top NANCY WOODRUFF holds a BA in Speech Education and an MA in Liberal Studies. Besides having the pleasure of enriching high school students in her Speech, English, and Theatre classes with her love of theatre, she was Technical Director at York High School in Elmhurst for over 50 productions. After serving on the board of the Illinois High School Theatre Festival for a number of years, she was honored to be the Festival Director in 2000. Besides serving on the Boards of suburban theatre companies, she has worked as a freelance technician for theatre companies throughout the Chicago area, including Marriott Lincolnshire and Light Opera Works. Her retirement in 2002 afforded the wonderful opportunity of joining the Jeff Committee Back to top PATRICIA J. WOZNY is a retired high school teacher and administrator in the areas of Speech, Theater and English. Having received a Masters Degree in Theater from Back to top Emeritus Members PAUL FABERSON a former Jeff Committee chairman, is a retired business executive and consultant in public relations and corporate art. He has served as theater critic for the Lerner newspapers, has acted and directed in Chicago-area theaters, and was a founding member of the board of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. His current board activities include the Association of Corporate Art Curators and the Public Art Committee of the City of Highland Park. Back to top JOAN KALOUSTIAN served two terms as Jeff Committee chair, and as chair of the Equity wing, she produced the 1993 Jeff Silver Anniversary gala as well as several other Jeff Awards ceremonies. She has served on the board of directors of Classic American Theatre and co-produced a number of its staged readings. Joan has a BA in liberal arts from the University of Wisconsin and a master's degree in Marketing from Northwestern's Kellogg Graduate School of Management. When not in the theatre, she is Vice President and Senior Marketing Strategist for The Citigroup Private Bank. Back to top MARVIN MIRSKY a University of Chicago faculty member emeritus, has taught courses in literature, drama, and film. He originated and developed the University's Stratford, Ontario, Shakespeare Festival seminar/tours. Back to top |
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