Who’s Who

STEPHANIE STIEFEL WILLIAMS (Agnes) is an active and versatile performer in musicals, concerts, and plays and has appeared in numerous locations throughout the Northeast. A member of Actor’s Equity Association, she has appeared professionally in a variety of roles at venues such as Broadway’s Marriott Marquis, Legacy Theatre, Hartford Stage Company, Foxwoods’ Fox Theatre, Atlantic City’s Tropicana, Turning Stone Casino, and the Garde Arts Center. Among these roles, her favorites include Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Anita in West Side Story, Lola in Damn Yankees, Maria in The Sound of Music, and Guenevere in Camelot. Although her professional focus has been in musical theatre, she also has been engaged frequently as a concert soloist, as well as an a cappella ensemble singer. Locally, Stephanie was a featured performer in Barefoot in the Park, the inaugural production at Legacy Theatre in Branford, where she is a proud founder, repertory member, and trustee president. In addition to her work with Legacy, Stephanie sits on the Performing Arts Advisory Council at the University of Notre Dame and has been a member of the Board of Trustees at the Goodspeed Opera House. She has become involved on a producing level with critically-acclaimed productions of Gypsy and Showboat in London’s West End, the revival of Sweeney Todd in New York, and Broadway’s Escape to Margaritaville. As a former Miss Connecticut, she represented our state at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Fairfield University and a Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law. Stephanie is the proud mother of two adult children, Valerie and Rick, and lives in Guilford with her wonderful husband, Luke. She would like to thank her sister, Joan, for patiently helping her rehearse.

KEVIN MICHAEL REED (Director) is a theatre director and designer exploring the intersection of art and technology in performance. His production credits in theatre include producer, director, playwright, dramaturg, and Lighting & AV designer. He was a dancer and performer into early adulthood; for 15 years, he ran an award-winning fashion photography and motion capture studio in New York City’s garment district before returning to theatre. Recent directing credits include: X by Alistair McDowall (The Lir), Shadows by CJ Lloyd Webley (Squire Lane Theatrical / Theatro Technis), and Version 2.0 by Kashyap Raja (Squire Lane Theatrical / Leicester Square Theatre). Recent collaborators, in various roles, include: Once Off Productions (Looking For América), Birmingham Repertory Company (Constructed by CJ Lloyd Webley), BiggerThanMe Productions / The Other Palace (Pattie Shop Diaries), The Lir Academy (Blood Wedding, Wish List), Equinox Theatre Company (We All Come From Somewhere), Corn Exchange / Dublin Fringe Festival (Bodies of Water), Pan Pan Platform / AOB Arts Management (Symphony of Worms), Asylum Productions / Abbey Theatre (The Big Chapel X), Ballet Ireland (Swan Lake), Gerrard Martin Dance Company / AndWhat Queer Arts Festival (B), Tenth Muse Productions / Omnibus Theatre London (Beauty & The Beast, a new adaptation), and Vista Life Innovations (All Shook Up, Addams Family, Man of La Mancha). He produced the critically-acclaimed productions of Reese Thompson’s WHORE: A Kid’s Play and JOY DONZE: 13 & Not Pregnant at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In March 2020, he founded TheatreMaker.ie, and produced and technical directed its weekly live webcasts Stage Door Live and Irish Theatre This Week, the series ending in early 2022. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, he has consulted and technical directed live streamed productions, conferences and symposiums for various theatre companies throughout Ireland, including Axis Ballymun (The Windy Lady’s Christmas Live Stream), The Lord Mayor of Dublin (Brigit 2022), The Lir (Machinal, Meat, Midwinter, Twelfth Night, Julius Caesar, Eclipsed, The Unreturning, Salome, Wish List, Image of an Unknown Young Woman), Dance Ireland, Outlandish Theatre Platform (RUINS|BODIES), Dublin Arts & Human Rights Festival, Carlow Arts Festival, and KCAT Arts Centre. Kevin holds a BFA in Photography from the Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY), a MA in Playwriting from City, University of London, and MFA in Theatre Directing from The Lir, National Academy of Dramatic Art (at Trinity College Dublin).

CATHYANN RODING (Music Director) was the Director of Choral Music at Branford High School for 32 years before retiring in June 2017. Before that, she taught both in New York and South Carolina. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Long Island University and received her Master’s at Hartt School of Music here in Connecticut. Over the years, her choral groups performed in many highly esteemed places, such as, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center as well as various festivals and performing tours of England, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, and the Czech Republic. When it was not a trip year, Cathyann and her choirs took on a big project and tried to raise money for worthy groups in town. Some well-known projects that spread good will while raising a lot of money were Rock and Roll over Beethoven, Bach to Rock, The Prayer Cycle, and The Peace Project. In addition to Choral Music, Cathyann was the Musical Director and Choreographer of Branford High’s Spring Musical. Some of her favorites include productions of Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof, Anything Goes, Aida, In the Heights, Les Miserables, and Titanic. She was known for her complicated tap numbers and intricate choreography. Over the years Cathyann has received some wonderful awards and honors that she is proud of including: Branford’s Citizen of the Year, Branford’s Teacher of the Year, New Haven’s Woman of the Year, and Parade Marshall of our town holiday parade. She was inducted into the Branford Education Hall of Fame in April 2008. Since her retirement she has enjoyed accompanying groups and playing for productions at Walsh Intermediate School and Branford High School. She is absolutely thrilled to be the Music Director of this production of I Do, I Do! and is grateful to everyone at Legacy Theatre for making her feel so welcome.

SARAH PERO (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back at Legacy again for the 2022 season as Production Stage Manager for I Do! I Do!. Born and raised in New Haven, CT, Sarah has been involved with local community and professional theatre for 20+ years. As Production Stage Manager for various Community Theatre Productions in Rhode Island and Connecticut, some of her favorites include: Tick, Tick Boom; Little Women: The Musical; You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown; Christmas Eve: A New Beginning (original work). As a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Sarah taught drama in New Haven Public Schools and taught theatre classes with Performing Arts Programs (South Windsor, CT). Sarah then worked at the Music Theatre of CT (Norwalk, CT) School of Performing Arts, as Administrative Manager, Teaching Artist, Director, Music Director, and Choreographer for the school. Sarah also managed the Box Office and was the Resident Sound Designer for MTC’s Professional Main Stage. Following MTC, Sarah worked as Administrative Manager at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre (Bridgeport, CT). Most recently, Sarah co-directed Shrek Jr. with Alliance Children’s Theatre (New Haven, CT) and served as the Production Stage Manager for multiple Legacy productions in the 2021 season. Sarah is also currently teaching theater classes with Legacy in partnership with Branford Parks and Recreation.

RICH BURKAM (Technical Director) came to Connecticut to study music and music recording at UNH. He played in bands such as 4:20, Space Cushion, and Over The Line. His studies continued, learning to be a luthier under Barry Lipman and Chris Tatalias, giving him a taste for fine woodworking. Richard now owns a woodshop that makes fine furniture, in a space which is shared with lighting designer Jamie Burnett. Together they have built sets for many production companies, including Elm Shakespeare, Yale Baroque Opera Project, and many small black box theater productions.

JAMIE BURNETT (Set & Lighting Designer) is a Graduate of Carnegie Mellon University as a Founding member of The Elm Shakespeare Company. The 2019 production of Comedy of Errors was his 24th Season with the illustrious company. As resident Set and Lighting Designer for the Elm Shakespeare Company he designed lighting for every production for the past 26 years. He has designed sets for almost every production till 2009. Hopefully you saw last year’s Halloween show of Scary Shakespeare scenes in Edgerton park. Taste of Terror 2. International Festival of Arts and ideas 2018, Lighting design: Requiem for an Electric Chair, 2017 Never Stand Still, Iseman Theater. Collective Consciousness Theater company: Lighting Design. Skeleton Crew, Rasheeda Speaking, Jesus Hopped the A Train, Sunset Baby, Top Dog Underdog. Also designed the past 4 seasons. SCSU shows include lighting design for Stop Kiss, Much Ado About Nothing, The Boyfriend and Our Country’s Good. Sacred Heart University: In The Heights, Jesus Christ Superstar. The past few years he has lit the main hall in the New Haven Armory with artistic lighting for the Citywide Open Studios events serving the unique art installations there. With Projects for a New Millennium, he was Designer for the Stamford Train Station Façade Lighting. Producer/Lighting Designer/Production Manager for 2014 hit Terra Tractus (The Earth Moves), also (2005) Terra Mirabila, (2001) Terra Lumina and Terra Continuum (1999) the grand multimedia extravaganzas all performed in the Stony Creek Granite Quarry. He also designed PNM’s Branford Luminata (2010) lighting the town hall on the Branford Green. He is a consultant, Lighting and Set designer, special events planner, and film/video Gaffer as well as a licensed electrical contractor. His company, Luminous Environments, specializes in Theater and TV Studio Renovations and site-specific public art installations involving specialized lighting. His latest Projects include Branford High school Theater, Fairfield community theater, Southington High School Theater and this very Theater as consultant and Lighting and rigging Systems design and installation. He also designed the all of the shows for this inaugural season of The Legacy Theatre. He is a 2005 recipient of the New Haven Arts Award.

JUNE GOLD (Costume Designer) is excited to return to Legacy this season as costume designer for I Do! I Do!, a show that is full of all sorts of fun looks! Costume design credits with Legacy include A Christmas Carol, and consulting for the 2022 production of The Tales of Custard the Dragon. Best wishes to all involved in I Do! I Do! and the entire 2022 season!

ADAM JACKSON (Sound Designer) is excited to be a part of Legacy Theatre’s second season. Adam has been involved in over 40 productions both in front of the audience and backstage. Of the many shows he has been on stage for, Adam has most enjoyed portraying the likenesses of J. Bruce Ismay in Titanic (2017), Henry David Thoreau in The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail (2017), Farquaad in Shrek (2018), Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (2018), and both Lucas Beineke and Gomez Addams (understudy, performed) in The Addams Family (2019). Adam was head stage manager for Shoreline Theatre Company’s Inaugural Season and has continued to work with them in the areas of lighting and sound design as well as the technical director for their summer camp shows. Adam has also worked as a sound engineer for various productions and concerts, and more recently, helped produce several live-streamed events during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Adam is currently studying music education at Western Connecticut State University with a concentration in classical trombone. Adam works on the student crew at WCSU, helping to plan and run events. He also works as the sound engineer at The River Church in Danbury. In his free time, Adam works on some of his own projects, which have previously included recording an album of barbershop songs, conducting several big band recording sessions, and planning a live concert in Branford which included the performances of 30+ musicians from all over Connecticut.

CALLIE LIBERATORE (Props Designer) has been a props manager and makeup technician for the past three years. For three years and counting she has worked at the Ivoryton Playhouse starting as an intern and working her way up to props manager. The past year she got the great experience of joining the Legacy Theater as a makeup/wig technician and props manager.

KIERSTEN BJORK (Theatre Manager & Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be a part of the company of I Do! I Do! at Legacy this season. She most recently played the roles of Fan, Mrs. Fezziwig, and others in Legacy’s A Christmas Carol, and Young Joan Joyce in Legacy’s hit show, Joan Joyce. She also served as the Assistant Stage Manager for Legacy’s productions of The Last Five Years and Oedipus Rex. In addition to working on shows with Legacy, she is also the Theatre Manager for the company. Kiersten is a 2021 graduate of Fairfield University, graduating summa cum laude with degrees in Theatre and English. While at Fairfield, Kiersten had the opportunity to play a variety of roles, both onstage and off, for the university’s resident theatre company, Theatre Fairfield. Favorite performing credits with Theatre Fairfield include Percy in The Spitfire Grill and Susan in [title of show]. In addition to her work with Legacy, Kiersten also does freelance theatre work for the Quick Center for the Arts and Theatre Fairfield. As a Branford resident with a love for theatre and music, she is beyond excited to be a part of Legacy and their mission to bring inspiring theatre to the community.

JORDAN BRINT (Musician: Bass) Jordan’s initial introduction to music was through her brief stint as a violinist from the third to sixth grade. Upon deciding the instrument wasn’t large enough, she picked up a bass for the first time and hasn’t put it down. While she ultimately decided to pursue a degree in psychology through Brown University, her love of the instrument held firm. Since then, Jordan has been lucky enough to continue pursuing that passion by playing throughout the state and has formed some of her closest friendships and fondest memories in the process.

NATE DOBAS (Musician: Drums) is a versatile drummer who is home in a variety of musical settings, such as rock, funk, big band or pit orchestra. A wealth of experience, he has played with countless regional acts opening for Cowboy Mouth, King’s X, Sister Hazel, Dick Dale, The Breakfast, John Fogerty, The Tubes and Eddie Money. Additionally, he has played with Billboard Artists Funkee Boy and Leila. In 2006, Nate was 1 of 2 finalists from CT in Guitar Centers Drum Off. Nate plays drums with Mark Daniel and the Free Radicals. Nate has studied with Dom Famularo, John Riley, and Henrique DeAlmeida. Nate has also studied with legendary instructor Gary Chaffee. Previous drumming show credits: Mama Mia, Once (Svec), Tommy, Rock of Ages, Urinetown, Rent, City of Angels, Leader of the Pack, Producers, and Little Mermaid. Also, Addams Family, West Side Story, Taffetas, and Anything Goes. Thank you to Jen for everything! And kudos to Alex and Geneva their un-ending support (healing is fun!). Gratitude also goes to James Beier, Remo, and all the wonderful folks at Vic Firth.

JOHN PRINS (Musician: Piano) played piano and keyboardist in many Branford High School holiday and other concerts and musical productions – including Carmina Burana at Carnegie Hall. Playing onstage as Oscar the rehearsal pianist in 42nd Street when his son was in the lead role of Julian Marsh was a highlight of that experience. John was Music Director for a successful run of The Fantasticks! with the Newtown Players in Newtown, CT this past November. For several years he provided musical respite for Sunday visitors to CT Hospice; played keys with the Jassmen jazz band at various venues in the Greater New Haven area; had a piano trio and, from an early age, accompanied his father, an accomplished violinist, across a broad range of ensemble music – whenever Papa said, “Let’s play!” No regrets! And with a full library of violin-piano music is always looking for someone to take his place.

SPECIAL THANKS FOR I DO! I DO!

Gavin Hartney, Martin Scott Marchitto, Phillip Peglow, Damian Doria, Roberta & Morris Rosenberg