Faculty & Staff
Amanda Simmons, Producing Director of Theatre Arts
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Ms. Simmons is overjoyed to be a part of the faculty at New Albany High School as the Director of Theatre Arts. She is a graduate of Morehead State University with her B.A. in Theatre, and M.A. in Communications, and has a second M.A. in Roosevelt University's Theatre Directing Intensive program. Simmons has been a theatre educator for the past twenty years. Highlights include taking two student productions to the International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland with the American High School Theatre Festival, developing new works with Actors Theatre of Louisville and local playwrights, and touring Theatre for Young Audience school tours. Additionally, she has collaborated on theatre programming with staff and students at Down Syndrome of Louisville and Kentucky Autism Training Center. She has also served Stage One Family Theatre, Actors Theatre, and Kentucky Performing Arts in a variety of artistic, educational, and administrative roles. Go, Bulldogs!
[email protected] |
Andrew Duff, Technical Director/Technical Theatre Teacher
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Andrew is thrilled to be part of the team at New Albany High School as their Technical Theatre Teacher. With a BFA in Theatre from Western Kentucky University and an MFA in Theatre Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign under his belt, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role. Originally hailing from the Pacific Northwest, he has lent his talents to a wide array of productions, including theatre, dance, opera, and music performances, totaling over 150 shows in the Seattle, WA area, the Midwest region, and even internationally. Prior to joining New Albany High School, Andrew served as an associate professor of Lighting Design, Sound Design, and Stage Management at Western Kentucky University, as well as an assistant professor of Lighting Design and Stage Management at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
[email protected] |
Crit Fisher, Resident Designer
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A graduate of Indiana University Southeast with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Theatre, Crit has a rich background in technical direction and design. Before joining New Albany, he honed his skills as Technical Director/Designer for Charlestown High School Theatre and Louisville Collegiate School.
Crit’s regional theatre credits are extensive, including work with TheatreWorks of Southern Indiana, Clarksville Little Theatre, Derby Dinner Playhouse, and Bunbury Theatre, among others. Over the years, he has been part of many memorable productions such as SHREK: The Musical, The Laramie Project, Bright Star, May We All (MTI Pilot), The Addams Family, and The Baltimore Waltz. His work on The Baltimore Waltz earned him a nomination for a Barbizon Award for Theatrical Design Excellence. An active member of the Educational Theatre Association, Crit serves as an adjudicator, a member of the Thespy Committee, and has been a recurring guest artist at the International Thespian Festival. This spring, Crit will return to his passion for directing as the production designer and director for Radium Girls. [email protected] |
Carrie Quillo, Costume Shop Manager/Designer
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Carrie is a 7th Grade English teacher at Hazelwood Middle School where she also helps to direct the middle school theater program. Carrie's own journey with theater began her sophomore year of high school at Floyd Central High School. Carrie has had one daughter graduate from NAHS and two more will be seen in the upcoming theater season. Recently Carrie expanded her costuming experience by working with The Costume Crew on the ACT Louisville production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Getting to work with students at NAHS combines two of her loves; working with teens and sewing!
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Lama Braaksma, Guest Artist/Scenic Design
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Lama Braaksma is a visual artist and theatrical designer based in Louisville. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre with an emphasis in scenic design from Hope College. Lama’s Chicago design credits include Redmoon Theatre (Costume and Puppet Design), Oracle Theatre (Costume Design), and Hope Summer Repertory Theatre (Scenic Painting). Regionally he has worked with Kentucky Shakespeare Festival (Mask Design), The Coop Theatre (Puppet Design), Western Middle School for the Arts (Puppet Design) and Actor’s Theatre (Scenic Painting). Lama taught ceramics and visual art for seven years at Mercy Academy, where he collaborated with Amanda Simmons on numerous production, highlights include Trojan Women (Costume Design, Senor Tortuga (Puppetry), Peter Pan (Scenography) and Matilda(Scenography). He had the opportunity to assist with scenic painting for NAHS’s May We All last year and is thrilled to be collaborating with the talented creative team and talented students on this production. In addition to designing and creating art, Lama enjoys travel and doting on his beloved cockapoo, Stefon.
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Frances Lewis, Guest Artist/Costume Design
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Frances Lewis is a Louisville native who has made a mark in fashion and entertainment. After working with Katy Perry at the 2019 Met Gala and appearing on Project Runway Season 17, she spent time in Los Angeles working on movies, ads, and TV. Since returning home, she has launched her own company and contributed to numerous shows, including a standout project with Red Line Productions on Kinky Boots. Proudly bringing her experiences back to the Kentuckiana area, she continues to make an impact.
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Steven Vaught, Guest Artist/Choreographer
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Stephen is a graduate of the musical theatre department at the Youth Performing Arts School (Class of 17’). He previously spent a year on the Broadway National Tour of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (Swing, Dance Captain). He played 48 cities and was a part of the third company ever of the Donna Summer Musical. Prior to tour, he performed regionally all across the country: Kinky Boots (North Shore Music Theatre, Theatre by the Sea), Guys & Dolls, 42nd Street, Elf, Chicago (Broadway Palm), The Will Rogers Follies, Holiday Inn, Honk (The Dutch Apple), Bye Bye Birdie (The Wick Theatre), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Fantasticks (Tibbits Opera House), Cry Baby (Tent Theatre). All the while, planting the seeds to build his career as a choreographer & teacher. He has choreographed for Tibbits Opera House, YPAS, New Albany High School, Centerstage at the JCC, Jeff Riverstage & Dancensation Studios!
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Megan Bliss, Guest Artist/Choreographer
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Megan Bliss has choreographed and performed at several professional, community, and educational theaters locally and across the country. In 2001, Megan graduated from New Albany High School after being heavily involved in the Theater Arts program and continued her education at Wright State University where she obtained a Bachelors of Fine Arts. Megan then moved to Florida to perform at the "happiest place on Earth", Walt Disney World. She returned to Southern Indiana and began performing and choreographing for local theaters like Derby Dinner Playhouse, Stage One, Music Theater of Louisville, CenterStage, New Albany High School, and Floyd Central High School. Currently, Megan is a math coach and 4th grade teacher at Slate Run Elementary School, the Elementary Math Curriculum Chair for New Albany/Floyd County Schools, and teaches dance at Weber School of Dance. She and her husband, Tyler, have two children, Marina and Kahler. She is very proud of New Albany Theatre Arts and considers it an honor to work with such talented and professional young actors.
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Chris Harbison, Musical Director/Pit Conductor
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Chris Harbeson-Borgelt is a sought after pianist, vocalist, and private instructor in the Kentuckiana area. He is an alumni of Floyd Central High School, where he was heavily involved with the nationally-recognized choir, handbell, band, orchestra, and theatre programs. He has performed with a number of the area’s top choral ensembles, including the University of Louisville Collegiate Chorale and Voces Novae. Recognized for his dynamic playing and strong ensemble skills, he is frequently asked to perform both solo and collaboratively in recitals and concerts. In addition to his work with New Albany Theatre Arts, he is also on staff at the University of Louisville School of Music, serving as a staff accompanist for voice students and instrumentalists. Two Grand Studio, his private teaching studio in New Albany, offers high quality private instruction in piano, voice, guitar, and more. With over one hundred lessons taught each week across multiple instructors, his students consistently receive top scores in competitions, acceptance into music school, and roles in professional theatre companies. He holds BA degrees in French and Music from the University of Louisville and lives in Lanesville with his husband and their three dogs!
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Sarah Higdon, Box Office Manager
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BACKSTAGE Builders Core Team:
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