Bios
OCPA Artistic Director
OCPA Board of Directors
OCPA Instructors
OCPA Artistic Director
Jeff
Tabler, Artistic Director, is the co-founder
of
the Conservatory. Jeff graduated from the American Academy of
Dramatic Arts
in New York and holds a degree in cinema from Ithaca College. He has
been
involved in film and theatre for more than 30 years as a teacher,
director,
writer, producer, and actor. He also teaches and directs for OCPA.
OCPA
Board of Directors
Elizabeth
von Radics, President, is a
professional editor of college textbooks and marketing materials and
owns an
editing business in Medford. Her husband owns and operates Musichead, a
local
music store, and teaches the Rock Band classes for OCPA. Elizabeth
holds
master’s degrees in English and communications from San Francisco State
University. Their two daughters are active in OCPA.
Pam Ward, Vice
President, is a
kindergarten teacher in
Grants Pass. She has been involved in theater her whole life and loves
working with children. She recently graduated from Southern Oregon
University with her master of arts degree in teaching and also has a
bachelor’s degree in early childhood development.
Carrie Gamache, Secretary, is the marketing/advertising director for
a major retailer in southern Oregon. With a background as a news reporter who crossed
over to ad sales, she successfully coordinates all media buys and
charitable sponsorships. The mother of three, she loves helping with
children in her community. Always a fan of local theater, she became
involved with OCPA when her children developed a love for acting!
Deborah
Dewer, Treasurer, teaches science and math to seventh and
eighth graders at Sacred Heart School. Her two daughters are active in OCPA, and her husband does
wildlife surveys for the Bureau of Land Management. Deb runs various
programs at Sacred Heart, including a haunted house, a winter musical
(as assistant director), a science fair, a talent show, and the middle
school’s anti-bullying program.
Dennis
Foster, a
co-founder of
OCPA, also founded and directed the Eagle Institute of Performing Arts
and
several small theatre companies. He has a bachelor’s degree in
education from
Portland State University, with master’s coursework in theatre
production at
Central Washington University. He has 20 years of experience in theatre
as a
director, producer, and actor. He lives with his wife and two children
in
Beaverton.
Nina Pieper Woods is a
freelance book editor and proofreader. She donates time to several
local nonprofit organizations in addition to OCPA, including OSF and
other local arts organizations. She was a founding member of Ashland
Middle School's Anti-bullying and Harassment Committee. Nina has a
bachelor's dgree in history from the University of California at
Berkeley. She has three children, the youngest of whom loved his OCPA
camp experience so much his mom signed up to serve on the Board!
Tammy
Sona
is the assistant general
manager of a local health care cooperative and the manager of the OCPA
Dance
Troupe. With a bachelor's degree in business management and marketing,
she has more
than 20 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, program
development,
organization, and management. When her daughter discovered she had a
passion
for dancing, Tammy committed herself to ensuring that local high school
students would have the opportunity to experience dance education
outside of
the studio environment.
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OCPA Instructors
Andrew Brock currently
teaches music and conducts chorus at Talent Elementary School and is an
adjunct professor of music at Southern Oregon University. Andrew has
master’s degrees in voice and music education from the University of
Oregon. He has performed with the Eugene Opera, Eugene Symphony, Rogue
Opera, Obsidian Opera (Bend), University of Oregon Opera Ensemble,
Rogue Valley Chorale, and the Siskiyou Singers.
Brandy Carson, acting
instructor for Quilt, has
appeared locally with the Oregon Cabaret and Rogue Music Theatres,
Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Oregon Stage Works. She has performed
in Los Angeles and in Off-Broadway plays. Brandy’s credits also include
work in films and television commercials. She is a member of SAG,
Aftra, and Equity.
Marcia Katzmar has taught
singing in public
and private schools for more than 25 years. She holds a master’s degree
in
music education and has worked in many shows involving youth. Marcia
joined the
OCPA staff in the summer of 2001 as has served as the musical director
for
OCPA’s productions of Treasure Island, The Wizard of Oz, Godspell, andCharlotte's Web.
Darcy Rogers runs OCPA's Latino program. She has
deep involvement in the
Latino community; her experiences of traveling and living in Latin
America
have ignited her passions for integrating and motivating students. She
is a
high school Spanish teacher and currently involved in the planning of
the
Crater High multicultural, project-based arts school. She recently
obtained her
master’s degree in Spanish literature.
Caroline Shaffer, a member of
Equity, has
acted and performed with children in theatre; worked in Shakespeare
festivals in
Utah, California, and Alabama; and is in her sixth season at Oregon
Shakespeare
Festival, both as an actor and as a part of its education program. She
holds a
master of fine arts degree from American Conservatory Theatre and
bachelor’s
and master’s degrees from San Francisco State University. This is
Caroline’s third summer with OCPA.
Aisha
Wand,
a
popular professional dance instructor in Ashland, joined OCPA in 2005
as the
choreographer of Fame. Her career as taken her from performing
at the
Honolulu Theatre, to studying in New York and Los Angeles, to working
on MTV
and VH1 with many well-known artists. Aisha has also performed as a
headliner
in the Las Vegas–based show Legends in Concert.
Tyrone Wilson, a member of
Equity, joined
OCPA as an instructor with the Magic of Theatre summer camp 2003 and
has
directed The Wizard of Oz and
Bye Bye Birdie. He brings years of acting skills and diverse
educational abilities to OCPA. Tyrone holds a master of fine arts
degree from
the Yale School of Drama. He continues to act with the Oregon
Shakespeare
Festival, of which he has been a part for the past 10 years as an actor
as well
as a teacher with its educational program
.
