Staff Biographies
Cory D'Arco
LUT Artistic Director, Stage Director, Vocal Coach
cory@lightsuptheatre.org
Currently earning her BA in Vocal Performance from Gordon College, Cory is a Soprano with ten years of stage experience. A co-founder and artistic director of Lights Up, she served as artistic director, choreographer, and vocal coach for the suumer 2008 production of Light Up The Stage! and as stage director and vocal coach for the 2009 production of Once Upon a Mattress. Cory currently works for Arlington Children’s Theater, having vocal coached for their productions of Little Shop of Horrors, West Side Story, Godspell, Urinetown, and Cabaret as well as The Lexington Player’s productions of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown!, Forever Plaid, and It’s a Wonderful Life. No stranger to the stage herself, favorite credits include “Vera” in Mame, the title role in Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and “Lily” in The Secret Garden. She performs regularly with Gordon College’s Symphonic Chorale and Women’s Choir, and danced for 14 years at Dance Track in Melrose. On weekends, Cory is a youth choir director and cantor at two local churches, and is a private vocal instructor. She took on her first Music Directing venture for ACT’s 2009 summer production of Honk!, Jr. and will fill the same position for this summer's Beauty and the Beast, Jr.
Brendan Kenney
LUT Artistic Director, Music Director
brendan@lightsuptheatre.org
Primarily a pianist, organist, and flautist, Brendan has performed with various bands and pit orchestras across the North Shore and works as a professional cantor and organist at local churches when he is not running a rehearsal. He is currently the Music Director and Conductor for the theatre programs at Arlington Children’s Theatre, Wakefield High School, and Lights Up Theatre. Since 2005, he has music directed nearly twenty shows including: Little Shop of Horrors!, West Side Story, Godspell, Urinetown!, Cabaret, Once Upon a Mattress, The Music Man, Anything Goes, and Mack and Mabel, among others. Brendan is member in good standing of the American Guild of Organists and the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. Recently, he had the opportunity to meet and observe Mr. Robert Billig (original Broadway conductor: Les Miserables and Miss Saigon) as he conducted Young Frankenstein in the orchestra pit of Boston's Opera House. Brendan is proficient in American Sign Language and, upon completion of his undergraduate schooling, will earn degrees in Music Education and American Sign Language interpretation.
Taylor Lombard
Choreographer
taylor@lightsuptheatre.org
Taylor is an undergraduate at Brandeis University, where she is studying Psychology and Theater with a concentration in Musical Theater. A member of the school's Adagio Dance Company, Taylor performs in the company's Dance Fest once a semester and with the Basketball Dance Team, dancing at half-time at Brandeis basketball games. Taylor became a certified dance teacher in August of 2008, with completion of the Dance Teacher's Club of Boston's Dance Education Training Course. In addition, she competed with Center Stage Dance Studio of Melrose for five years, and danced with Dance Track of Wakefield for fourteen years where she also taught ballet. An active performer in Arlington Children's Theatre for five years, she performed in various musicals including West Side Story (Francesca) and Cabaret (Kit Kat Girl) and also fulfilled roles as dance captain and stage crew. She had the great opportunity of participating as a high school intern in the Citi Performing Arts Center Education Department's Sing Out Loud! musical theatre internship in the summer of 2009. Taylor is thrilled to be a part of the LUT staff, and is looking forward to a great summer!
Staci Butler
Assistant Director, Production Stage Manager
staci@lightsuptheatre.org
Staci is so excited to be back for the second summer of Lights Up Theatre. Staci is currently attending North Shore Community College, and hoping to transfer somewhere soon to major in theatre arts. Her recent show credits include, Guys and Dolls, Medea, Our Town, Cymbeline, The Music Man, and Fractured Fairytales. Staci has been in shows as both a performer and a stage manager and is excited to work with such a talented group.
Samantha Cresta
Assistant Choreographer
samantha@lightsuptheatre.org
Samantha Cresta is currently a Business Major at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. With fourteen years of dance experience and nine years of choreographing experience, this is Samantha's first summer with Lights Up Theatre. Currently dancing for Movement Dance Studio as well as UMASS Lowell's Dance Team, Samantha has had many performance experiences as well as a diverse education in dance. She is very excited to work with local children who are just as enthusiastic about dance and theatre!
Matthew Evangelista
Technical Director
matthew@lightsuptheatre.org
For the past two years Matthew has been holding the position of Director of Theatre at the Performing and Fine Arts High School of Lawrence, stepping into the role after completion of his two bachelors degrees in Music and Theatre Education from Salem State College. Matthew has been working in and out of Wakefield and other surrounding towns in community and educationally based theatre groups since 1995 when becoming a member of the Wakefield Repertory Youth Theater Program. Matthew will be continuing his theater education at Emerson College in the fall through a Master degree program in Theatre education.