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LAURA PENN (Executive Director) joined SDC as Executive Director in 2008 after a 25-year career in LORT management. While keeping a keen eye on the challenges currently facing directors and choreographers, Ms. Penn has begun forging partnerships with key industry constituents, focusing on improving the Union’s communications capabilities and expanding its reach and scope within the industry. She is an active member of the Broadway Coalition of Unions and Guilds (COBUG) and is a member of the Tony Administration Committee and Freehold Studio/Theatre Lab, and a nominator for the Astaire Awards. Ms. Penn continues to serve as Co-Chair for Broadway Salutes and is a founder of this annual event celebrating Broadway artists. She has lead negotiations for Broadway and LORT and continues to spearhead challenge-specific initiatives to educate and empower SDC Members and partners within the industry. Before joining SDC, Laura was the Managing Director of Seattle’s Intiman Theatre for fourteen years. Under her leadership Intiman received the 2006 Regional Theatre Tony Award. She has served as an advocate and catalyst for civic dialogue and community building in the Puget Sound, and she received the “Seattle Distinguished Citizen” Medal from Mayor Paul Schell in 2001. Prior to Intiman, Laura worked at Seattle Rep and Arena Stage. Contact Laura at ext. 233, LPenn@SDCweb.org |
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CONTRACT AFFAIRS
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MAURO MELLENO (Director of Contract Affairs)joined SDC in January of 2000. As Director of Contract Affairs, Mauro supervises the other Business Representatives and oversees all Broadway and first-class touring employment contracts. Previously he led such negotiations as the Dinner Theatre Agreement, OMS, RMT, and CORST, among others. Mauro enjoys the support of an amazingly intelligent and devoted staff of contract representatives, and takes great pride in the work that SDC does for the talented directors and choreographers they represent. Before joining SDC, Mauro worked as the Casting Director at Theatreworks/USA for six years. Contact Mauro at ext. 237, MMelleno@SDCweb.org |
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RANDY ANDERSON (Deputy Director of Contract Affairs) came to the SDC from the JPMorgan Investment Bank. As a Business Representative, Randy administrates a number of collectively bargained agreements including OFF-BROADWAY, LORT, ANTC, CORST, summer stock and dinner theaters and is primarily responsible for theatres in the Northeast region of the United States. A graduate of Chapman University in Orange County, California, Randy has been involved with the Off-Off Broadway community for ten years and has worked as a producer, playwright, director and performer. Contact Randy at ext. 232, RAnderson@SDCweb.org |
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KRISTY CUMMINGS (Business Representative)first came to SDC in the summer of 2010 as the Hauptman Fellow. After completing her fellowship, Kristy continued to work part-time for SDC in several capacities before joining the contract desk full-time. As a Business Representative, Kristy administrates the LORT, RMT, and TheatreworksUSA agreements among others, and is primarily responsible for theaters in the Western region of the country. Kristy earned her M.F.A in Performing Arts Management from Brooklyn College and her B.A. in Theatre and Communication from Fairfield University. She lives in Jersey City with her husband Tim and their son, Connor. Contact Kristy at ext. 231, KCummings@SDCweb.org |
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ADAM LEVI (Business Representative) joined the SDC Staff in February, 2012. He has worked extensively as a theatrical manager Off-Broadway and on national tours. Adam administrates a number of collectively bargained agreements, including LORT, DTA, OMS, and the Special Contract. He is primarily responsible for theatres in the Central and Southeast regions of the United States. Adam is an Associate Member of SDC, a proud member of Actors Equity, and holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from The University of Michigan and an MFA in Directing from the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University. Contact Adam at ext. 245, ALevi@SDCweb.org |
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LISI DEHAAS (Assistant Business Representative)joined SDC in April 2012 as an Assistant Business Representative responsible for processing Tier and CORST contracts. Lisi holds a BA in Theater and Dance from Amherst College and performed her dance theater work widely in San Francisco, where she lived for many years. Lisi also studied television writing at UCLA, worked in the finance department of the Writers Guild West, and writes plays. She is a graduate of the Warner Bros Writers Workshop (Drama). Lisi lives in Manhattan with her partner Sandra, their son Alexander, and their chihuahua mutt Principe. Contact Lisi at LDeHaas@SDCweb.org |
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FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
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COLE JORDAN (Director of Finance and Administration)joined SDC in June 2010. The Director of Finance and Administration is responsible for the coordinating, planning and reporting of all financial activities, delivering effective and efficient accounting, financial systems and processes that meet the current and future business requirements of the Union. Cole comes to SDC from the Rock Spring Club in West Orange, NJ, where he served as the Controller. He has an extensive arts back ground, having received his BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and worked as the Business Manager at both the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival and Caroline’s Comedy Club, and the Controller at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre. Cole lives in Sparta, New Jersey with his wife and their four kids. Contact Cole at ext. 247, CJordan@SDCweb.org |
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MICHELE HOLMES (Senior Business Associate)a New York City native, has been working as Senior Business Associate since 2003. Her responsibilities include billing, resolving membership issues, and assisting with audits and budgets. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. Michele is also a wife and proud mother of two beautiful children. Contact Michele at ext. 240, MHolmes@SDCweb.org |
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KIM ROGERS (Business Associate) a Nashville native, joined SDC in 2005. As Business Associate, Kim oversees the Employer Billing for dues assessments and tracks production royalties. She received her B.A in theatre from Samford University in 2001, where she received a Best Supporting Actress Award for her portrayal of Eileen in The Cripple of Inishmaan. She also earned an Associate Degree in Acting from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2003 and was a Lead Sales Associate for Disney Theatrical Merchandise at Aida and The Lion King. Contact Kim at ext. 238, KRogers@SDCweb.org |
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LENA ABRAMS (Administrative Assistant)came to SDC in 1998. As Administrative Assistant she serves as SDC’s receptionist, greeting the Membership and general public. Lena also provides assistance to the Membership and the staff with daily administration and organization. Prior to supporting SDC and the Foundation, Lena worked for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, one of the oldest unionized clinics, for more than twenty years. Contact Lena at ext. 260, LAbrams@SDCweb.org |
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MEMBER SERVICES
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BARBARA WOLKOFF (Director of Member Services)came to SDC as an intern in early 1997 while completing her Masters in Arts Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. In September 2010, Barbara took on the new role of Director of Member Services to direct Union Member Service vision and strategy as well as lead the way in the area of technology content and utilization strategies. Previously, as Senior Contract Administrator, Barbara focused on the administration and negotiation of the Broadway, Off-Broadway, LORT and ANTC agreements, taking a lead in most of the Off-Broadway and ANTC negotiations. Prior to her arrival at SDC, Barbara owned and operated a graphic design firm in northern California. In addition to her Masters Barbara holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University. Contact Barbara at ext. 246, BWolkoff@SDCweb.org |
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MICHELLE SOKOLOWSKI (Member Services Coordinator)comes from the Theatre Department at International Creative Management where she was Department Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Psychology from Hunter College and recently earned her master’s in Arts and Cultural Management, with distinction, from Pratt Institute. Contact Michelle at ext. 240, MSokolowski@SDCweb.org. |
PUBLICATIONS
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ELIZABETH MILLER (Publications and Online Media Manager, Art Director) was SDC’s Executive Assistant from the fall of 2009 until the spring of 2012. She is now the Art Director of SDC’s new quarterly magazine, SDC Journal. Elizabeth is an MFA graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. Prior to joining SDC, she worked as a graphic designer and arts administrator for Chautauqua Theater Company, Sarah Lawrence and Texas Wesleyan. Elizabeth is an MFA graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, an artist and published playwright. Contact Elizabeth at ext. 252, EMiller@SDCweb.org |
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SPECIAL EVENT ASSISTANCE
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NICOLE HERRINGTON (Special Event Assistant) joined the SDC staff in July of 2012. She is a 2009 graduate from Culver-Stockton College with a B.A. in Theatre as well as History and Political Science. Upon graduation, Nicole worked as an intern at Theatre Aspen in the summer of ’09, then went on as a Production Assistant for The Addams Family pre-Broadway run in Chicago. She then joined Goodspeed Musicals as the Company Management Apprentice and Assistant Company Manger before returning to Theatre Aspen the summer of 2011 as the Company Manager. Contact Nicole at NHerrington@SDCweb.org |
