BISFA Production Team
Production Team
Niki Lewis (Director)Niki is an accomplished actress, director, singer, writer and educator. She was the founder and artistic/executive director of Authentic Community Theatre and the Summer Institute for the Arts in Washington County. Mrs. Lewis served as a master teacher for the Maryland State Department of Education for Maryland’s Artistry in Teaching for Creative Classrooms. She was also a member of the Maryland State Arts Council Teaching Artist Roster, a Wolf Trap Creative Arts Team Member, the Arts Infusion Specialist for Washington County Public Schools and a commissioned playwright for the National Endowment for the Arts. A graduate of Shepherd University, Mrs. Lewis previously taught elementary music and middle school general music and choir, high school dance and drama. She has specialized training in drama, acting, vocal performance, dance, improv, movement and other stage disciplines. Her favorite soloist performances include singing with The Maryland Symphony Orchestra and artists from the Metropolitan Opera, winning NATS Eastern Regional Finalist at Columbia University, NYC and performing in the Washington, DC debut of Die Tote Stadt by Korngold. Her most memorable stage roles include Agnes in Agnes of God, Mary Warren in The Crucible, Marjorie in Extremities, Maggie in A Chorus Line, Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Lucy in The Telephone, Hansel in Hansel & Gretel, Frasquita in Carmen, Monica in The Medium and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. |
Nicole Ruark (Assistant Director / Choreographer)Nicole has had the honor of performing and choreographing throughout the country as well as internationally. Her work as a professional performer includes favorite roles in Cats, The Will Rogers Follies, A Chorus Line, Crazy for You, Guys and Dolls and Sweet Charity. Ms. Ruark’s contemporary ballet work has landed her several awards including Top Honors and Outstanding Choreography at the Youth American Grand Prix in New York and Outstanding Contemporary at the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland as well as gold and silver medals at the New York City Dance Alliance. She has extensive experience as a director and choreographer for universities, regional and touring companies around the world. Currently a teaching artist, Ms. Ruark is an Artist-In-Residence at Barbara Ingram School for the Arts and The Mid Maryland Performing Arts Center. She spent many years as a resident artist for the prestigious Broadway Theatre Project and is on the dance faculty of the renowned Imagination Stage in Washington DC. Ms. Ruark graduated cum laude from The American University with a Bachelors of Arts in Theatre. She attended The Joffrey Ballet School on scholarship and is the recipient of the Herbert R. Brent Scholarship, the Herb Edelman Acting Award, American University’s Outstanding Musical Theatre Performer award, and the Greenberg Scholarship for the Performing Arts. Learn more at www.NicoleRuark.com
|
Melissa Mackley (Music Director)Is the Director of Choral Activities and Lead Teacher for the Vocal Department at Barbara Ingram School for the Arts. Now in her 30th year of teaching, Mrs. Mackley holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Frostburg State University and a Master of Music, from the School of Music at Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY with concentrations in both voice and piano. Mrs. Mackley has previously played keyboard for BISFA’s productions of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Legally Blonde, Wizard of Oz, Shrek, The Little Mermaid, and Seussical. She is thrilled to be at the conductor’s podium for her eighth BISFA show. |
Evan Smedley*
|
Mackenzie Guynes*
|
Triforce
|
|