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About
our Staff and Guest Designers
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In 1954, Morgan Stock became the
first Chair of the Theatre Department, followed by Peter DeBono and
Gary Bolen. These men created a program and productions that reached
deep within the community and that have served as the cornerstone of
our theatrical community for decades. As the fourth Chair in the
Theatre Department’s history, I am knowingly stepping into the very
large shoes of the leadership that has come before me. My job is to
galvanize our department and community as we embrace opportunities
for growth, while redefining how we excel at providing our students
with a professional theatre experience and education. Monterey
Peninsula College and the Monterey community have a rich history of
presenting quality, engaging theatre. I am honored to be joining
that tradition here at MPC and look forward to embracing our patrons
and community as we move forward. Thank you for this opportunity
and for your dedication and passion in supporting our Theatre
Department. I look forward to our journey together. |
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TEck@mpc.edu |
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Laura Coté, Instructor - Theatre Arts Department
A native New Yorker, Laura Coté has called the
Peninsula home since 1998. A cum laude graduate from Vassar College
with a degree in Drama, she enjoys combining her classical
theatrical training with the more modern approaches to teach and
create unique and distinctive art. She has worked locally as an
actress, set designer, and director. Here at MPC Laura Laura teaches
Beginning Acting. Laura's directing credits at MPC include
The Desperate Hours (2018), The Adventures of Robin Hood (2018),
Present Laughter (2017) and
The Guys (2013.) In addition, she directed four of
our popular MPC Theatre Story Book Theatre productions, including The Princess and The Pea
(2010), The Snow Queen (2011), Little Women
(2012)
and Cinderella (2013). She also directed
Glorious (2013) and Good People (2014) at the
fondly remembered Magic Circle Theatre. Laura first discovered her
calling at the age of nine when her family took her to see Annie on
Broadway. She fondly remembers sitting in the audience thoroughly
enchanted and thinking, "I'm going to do that one day"...and now she
does!
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LCote@mpc.edu |
831-646-4209 |
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Douglas Ridgeway, Technical Director - Theatre Arts Dept.
Douglas Ridgeway is happy and proud to be the Technical Director
for the MPC Theatre Arts Department. He is currently teaching the
Stagecraft course, and would like to thank all the students who have
contributed to the finish of this production. He has designed sets,
lights, and sound for many theatrical productions, such as Brown
Buffalo for Company of Angles in Los Angeles; Play, Action, The Bald
Soprano, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Glendale
College; Moby Dick Rehearsed and 7 Redneck Cheerleaders at Long
Beach City College; and Inherit the Wind, Blood Wedding,
and All in
the Timing, to name but a few of the productions presented at
College of the Desert during his tenure. Doug was MPC Production
Designer for last season's Scapin (2016) and
this season's Evita (2016).
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DRidgeway@mpc.edu |
831-646-4211 |
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Justin Gordon - Instructor, Theatre Arts
Department
A professional actor, writer, and director, Justin is thrilled to
join the faculty of the MPC Theatre Arts Department, where he
teaches Screenwriting, Acting for the Camera, and Movement. Justin trained at Shakespeare's Globe in London, England, (where he
also studied at the British Academy of Stage Combat), and is a
graduate of the Professional Theatre Training M.F.A. program at the
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Regionally he has appeared
at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Rogue Music Theatre, Cornerstone
Theater Company, LA Theatre Ensemble, REDCAT, The Krannert Center,
and freeFall Theatre Company. Justin is also a frequent performer
and Fight Director for Pacific Repertory Theatre in Carmel, where he
most recently appeared in Antony and Cleopatra, Cyrano, King Lear,
and Twelfth Night. His film and television credits include We Were
Soldiers, What's Bugging Seth, Absentia, The Unbreakable Sword,
Oculus, Before I Wake, Gehenna, and the forthcoming Netflix Original
Series, Age of the Living Dead. Recent directing credits include
Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Complex Theatre, Hollywood) and Red
Light Winter (The Armory Theatre, Illinois). He is a proud member of
Actor’s Equity, SAG-AFTRA, and the Society of American Fight
Directors.
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JGordon@mpc.edu
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Gloria C. Mattos Hughes - Costume Designer
Peninsula
native, Gloria, has been designing costumes for community theatre
since 1968. She has designed for several theatre companies and
directors in the bay area and locally. Most currently she has
designed costumes for most MPC Theatre Company productions for the
past several years, including: Anything Goes, RENT,
Art, Grease, The Comedy of Errors, Oklahoma!, Sweet Charity,
Evita, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, 20,000 Leagues Under
the Seas, and Preset Laughter. Gloria has also served the
local community by providing leadership for the following arts
organizations: Arts Habitat, Artists Equity Central Coast Chapter,
City of Seaside Art Commission and Monterey Bay Center for the Arts.
For Gloria, creativity is the soul of a community.
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Costume Shop - 831-646-4293 |
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Kurt Schweickhardt - Instructor
Kurt got his B.A. in Acting and
Directing from Cal State Hayward (now East Bay), and his M.F.A in
Acting from the University of Minnesota. After grad school he
worked as an actor and acting instructor/coach in the Twin Cities.
He performed on most of the professional stages there, including The
Guthrie, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, The Jungle, Park Square and
others. He has performed in movies and on TV as well, including
featured roles in Amerika, Fargo, and
Factotum. He is a member of Actors Equity Association
and is part of the Financial Core of SAG-AFTRA. He taught a variety
of Theatre courses at Normandale Community College in the Twin
Cities for 34 years. He returned home to CA in the Fall of 2017.
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kschweickhardt@mpc.edu |
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Susanne Burns - Instructor/Director
Susanne Burns has been an adjunct faculty member and
acting teacher at Hartnell College. She has been a resident actor
and director for The Western Stage, as well as TWS Young Company &
Outreach Coordinator. Acting credits include; Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney
Todd, Lillie Vanessi in Kiss Me Kate and Agnes Gooch in Mame.
Directing credits include; The Hostage, Rabbit Hole, Real Women have
Curves, and The Arsonists. She was last seen on the MPC stage as
Miss Hannigan in Annie (2005). Susanne directed The Ant
and the Grasshopper (2012) and Huck Finn (2013)
for MPC Storybook Theatre. She was Assistant Director for the MPC production of Almost Maine
(2015)
and Director of Scapin (2016.)
Suzanne is currently a Director and Instructor, as
well as the company Casting Director at Pacific repertory Theatre in
Carmel. |
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SBurns@mpc.edu |
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Henry Guevara - Box Office Manager
Henry studied theatre at Loyola Marymount University, receiving his
B.A. in Theatre in 1984. He was a company member of The Western
Stage for several years, performing and working in the
Production Office as assistant to the Company Manager. He
taught and performed at Staff Players Repertory Theatre and
Children's Experimental Theatre in Carmel, and was Box Office
Manager at Pacific Repertory Theatre from 1995 to1999, in addition
to stage-managing and performing at other theatres around the
Peninsula, including MPC. In 2000 Henry began working in the
MPC Theatre Box office, and continued acting in various MPC
productions. He became Box Office manager in 2007.
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HGuevara@mpc.edu
mpcboxoffice@mpc.edu |
BO: 831-646-4213
Fax 831-372-1982 |
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Eric Maximoff - Instructional Aide/Master Carpenter
Eric graduated from MPC's Technical Theatre program,
and then began his career here at MPC as a scene shop
assistant. From Monterey he traveled to Las Vegas to work at the MGM
Grand, among other venues, before landing a gig with Cirque du
Soleil. With the Cirque he helped install and run Alegria in
Biloxi, Mississippi. Eric returned to MPC to work as a carpenter,
and then became the Master Carpenter in 2008. He has designed
several sets, including Hansel and Gretel, Company, and
Christmas Carol, among others. |
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EMaximoff@mpc.edu |
831-646-4293 |
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MPC Theatre Department
Emeritus Staff |
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Gary Bolen, Chairman Emeritus - Theatre Arts Department
Gary Bolen retired as Theatre Arts Department Chairman at MPC on August 6, 2016. He holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Theatre from Cal State University Fullerton and an M.F.A. in Acting from UCLA. A member of the Screen Actors Guild, Actors’ Equity and AFTRA, as well as the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Mr. Bolen appeared in dozens of television dramas, sit-coms, soaps and national commercials prior to his employment at MPC. His most recent appearances on the Morgan Stock stage were in Chapter Two, and as a last minute replacement for one of his cast members in Urinetown the Musical. He has directed numerous shows at MPC, including Once Upon a Mattress, Company, Rent, Beyond Therapy and Les Miserables. Our July 2016 production of Evita was Gary's final directorial endeavor as Artistic Director of the MPC Theatre Department. In addition, he is husband to Sherie Bolen, whom he calls "The world’s most patient woman" with whom he will now get to spend a little more time. We wish them both well!
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Peter DeBono - Chairman Emeritus
Mr. Peter DeBono has recently retired as Theatre Arts Department Co-Chair, and is now Chairman Emeritus of the MPC Theatre Department where he taught and directed for over 40 years. He is the 2011 recipient of the Allen Griffin Award for Teaching Excellence. Peter received his BA in Theatre Arts and his Master of Fine Arts degree from UCLA. He is also a 42 year member of the Screen Actors' Guild.
Some of Peter's directing credits include Neil Simon's Plaza Suite and Chapter Two, Our Town, Death of a Salesman and Art. He has directed over 150 plays and musicals in his career. Peter currently serves on the MPC Theatre Company Charitable Trust.
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Dan Beck, Technical Director Emeritus - Theatre Arts Department
Mr. Beck began his theater career as a student at MPC, then
transferred to San Francisco State where he received a double degree
in Theater and Industrial Arts education. Dan was uniquely qualified for
his role here as Technical Director for over 40 years. He was in charge of
every technical aspect of the Main Stage and Studio Theatres. He
also taught Theater Workshop and Lighting classes, and designed
scenery and lighting. Dan over saw the 2013 renovation of the theatre,
keeping his eye on the "experts" to make sure they got it right.
Sweet
Charity (2016) marked Dan's final show as Technical
Director, and he retired on July 31, 2015. Department Chairman Gary Bolen has stated
that "You cannot replace someone like Dan Beck, you can only hire a
replacement for the position," to ensure that the legacy known as "BekTek"
carries on.
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Learn some
Beck-isms |
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Sky A. Rappoport, Theatre Manager Emeritus - Theatre Arts Dept.
Sky Rappoport has worked in Performing Arts administration for over
20 years. He became the MPC Theatre Company
Box Office Manager and Special Projects consultant in
1989. In 2007 Sky became MPC Theatre Manager. Sky served in that
position thorough June 30, 2014, at which time the position was
dissolved due to state budget cuts and staff layoffs that
drastically affected the MPC Theatre Department and MPC Theatre
Company. Mr. Rappoport holds a Bachelors of Science degree in
International Business from CSU Monterey Bay, where he was a
founding ‘pioneer’ student, and served as the founding president for
the CSUMB Alumni Association, also serving on the CSU state wide
Alumni Council representing CSU Monterey Bay. In addition to
his past work with MPC, he is a general partner in Box Office Guys,
a full service box office consulting and service business
specializing in New Concepts Software and Boca Systems; He is a
licensed California Tax Practitioner and maintains an accounting and
tax practice, specializing in small business and non profits; Sky
remains active on the Advisory Board of the MPC Theatre Company
Trust.
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MPCTheatreTrust@gmail.com
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831-646-4213
Fax:
831-372-1982 |
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Morgan Stock - Founder/Chairman Emeritus
M organ Stock was born July 8, 1919, in Newark,
Ohio, moving to California with his family in 1935, and
studied acting at the Pasadena
Playhouse. After World War II Morgan returned to
California, settling in Monterey in 1946. He
studied at both Monterey Peninsula College, and Stanford, receiving
a B.A. and M.A. Morgan taught English, Public Speaking, and
Drama at MPC for 28 years. He founded the MPC Theatre
program, spearheaded the college's building of a
state-of-the-art-theatre, and was appointed the first
head of the Theatre Department in 1954.
Morgan directed the first play on the new
main stage in1970. The main
stage was named after Morgan in 1999, and the entire theatre
building was renovated in 2013. While Morgan did not live to see the
reopening of the theatre he founded, that 1970
opening production of West Side Story, began a
legacy that continues to this day. |
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Guest Choreographers, Designers, and Directors |
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Sherri Beck - Choreographer
Sherri began her theatre career
at MPC in 1975. She studied and performed in San Luis Obispo and Los
Angeles for 8 years then returned to the Peninsula. She has been
performing and choreographing ever since. Her favorite roles include
The Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd, Kathy in Company, and featured
dancer in Tommy. She choreographed Musical of
Musicals and assisted Susan Cable with Cabaret.
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Susan Cable - Choreographer
Rent, The Producers, My Fair Lady, Cabaret, Guys and
Dolls, Urinetown and Evita (2016) are just a few of the many shows Susan has
choreographed for MPC. She has choreographed throughout the
United States and the Caribbean and has received the prestigious
L.A. Drama-Logue Critics Award for choreography. Recently Susan
choreographed a tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein in San Juan,
Puerto Rico. As National Dance Director/Choreographer for the United
States Men’s Olympic Gymnastic Team, she was invited to Italy to
create their dance program. She has also coached in Hungary,
Rumania, Bulgaria, and Spain and was selected US Delegation Leader
for the Pan American Games held in Brazil. Her career as a
professional dancer encompassed Broadway, National Tours, ballet
companies, TV and nightclubs. Teaching credits include UC Irvine,
CSU Fullerton, South Coast Repertory, Rancho Santiago College,
Saddleback College and head of the Dance Department at Santa
Catalina School.
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Carey Crockett - Scenic Artist, Designer and Director
Carey Crockett graduated from Seattle’s Burnley School of
Professional Art in 1976 and in 1980 he relocated to Monterey, where
he founded The Unicorn Theatre. Crocket is one of this area’s most
talented and prolific scenic artists. In addition to The Unicorn
Theatre, he has designed and painted sets for numerous local theater
companies, such as MPC Theatre Company, Pacific Repertory Theatre,
The Forest Theatre guild, Staff Players Repertory Company and
Children’s Experimental Theatre, in addition to The Unicorn Theatre. Carey is also a skilled caricature artists and
illustrator, whose clients have included The Pebble Beach
Corporation, Monterey Bay
Aquarium, The Monterey Convention Center, Highlands Inn, Hyatt
Resort Monterey, Carmel Valley Ranch, Stone Pine, Bernardus Lodge,
Rancho San Carlos and Kit Parker Films,
Holidays-Monterey, The Conservatory Theatre, and The Seattle Opera.
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