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Creative Team

Tim Larson (Director) - Tim works for HCA, Inc., as a Program Director in Project Management by day; but by night he’s involved in many community theatre organizations.  Tim directed Titanic the Musical and Oklahoma! (winning Outstanding Director for both), and Annie for Circle Players.  He most recently directed the Nashville premiere of The Producers at Nashville Dinner Theatre. Tim has been interested in musical theatre since he was bitten by the “bug” at age ten while playing Sonny Flood in Dark at the Top of the Stairs.  Tim graduated with a B.A. in Theatre from Western Kentucky University, where he acted, directed, and danced in the university’s dance company under the direction of Beverly Leonard.  Later he opened two dance schools in Eastern Tennessee, was Artistic Director for The Body Electric Jazz Company, and was very involved in community theatre.  He also taught aerobics to make ends meet!

  In 1987 Tim moved to Atlanta where he took a break from the performing arts to pursue a career in healthcare. While in Atlanta, he made a name for himself in the fitness industry as an aerobics instructor at several premier fitness clubs, including Richard Simmons’ Anatomy Asylums. 

 Tim moved to Nashville in 1996 and a few years later was again bitten by the theater 'bug" -- this time to never let go. Since then, Tim has been involved non-stop in community theater and is thankful for the opportunity to work with some very talented people. Tim also loves being on the stage and was recently seen in, Mame, Singin' in the Rain,  HMS Pinafore, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Music Man, Ragtime, Pirates of Penzance, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, and High School Musical. 
Future production that Tim will be directing are; Little Shop of Horrors (October 2009), the revival of Titanic the Musical (Spring 2010), and White Christmas (Nov 2010).  

 
Kate Adams-Johnson (Choreographer and Asst. Director) - Kate is excited to be choreographing the first show for Circle Players 60th season. Kate played the role of Iris in a workshop production of Fame – The Musical for David DeSilva before the show went to Broadway, so this show holds a special place in her heart.  Choreography credits include: Nashville – Circle Players, Nashville Dinner Theater, Act I, Shalom Theater, and Damhsa Onorach Productions. Outside of Nashville, her work has been performed in over 20 states as well as Europe, Russia and Brazil. Favorite onstage credits include Two By Two ( Goldie), Our Town (Emily), Peter Pan (Peter), Grease – touring company (Jan).  Kate has performed with Dino Kartsonakis, Dolly Parton, Oak Ridge Boys, Glen Campbell, Barbara Mandrell, and Whitney Houston among others. Her training is from Roosevelt University, Chicago. Kate was a company member of  Metropolitan Ballet of St. Louis and Northern Kentucky Dance Theater.  She is also a certified Irish Dance instructor by An Coimission of Ireland. Kate gives her love to Travis and Anne, who put up with her never being home.

Rolin Mains (Music Director) -  Rolin is an award-winning composer and producer, orchestrator, conductor, keyboard/pianist, and synth programmer living in Nashville. He has been nominated three times for a Dove Award in instrumental music, having won the award once in 1998.  He won the award for Best Underscore in Nashville's 48 Hour Film Project in 2005.  He is the founder and president of the Nashville Composers’ Association, a group formed for the benefit of composers in the areas of film, television, ballet, theater, and the concert hall. Rolin has scored numerous short films, two features, several documentaries, and children's musicals. He currently serves as Music Director for St. Ann's Episcopal Church in East Nashville and for Christ Church Cathedral's "First Friday" services, (held the first friday of each month).  Rolin also has been music director for Mame, Honky Tonk Angels, A Scattered, Smothered, and Covered Christmas, and The Producers for the Nashville Dinner Theater.  His latest contributions to the arts community include the Nashville New Music Ensemble and Contemplative Concerts
LaTonya Turner (Producer) - LaTonya is excited to help bring Fame the Musical to the stage for the first time in middle Tennessee.  Producing this show had a rocky start, but LaTonya says the talent and dedication of the cast and crew have exceeded those early challenges.   This is LaTonya’s second production for Circle Players, following the higly successful Titanic the Musical.  She brings to theater her experience as a journalist and video producer with Lantmar Media Services.  Her previous work in television news as an investigative reporter and documentary producer has been honored with several Emmys, local and national awards, and provided her the skills to produce for stage.
 Fame the Musical brings back vivid memories for LaTonya as a product of the 80’s.  A native of Louisiana, she remembers the impact of the original movie—not just on her passion for dance and performing arts, but also on the direction of entertainment television and film for the next decade (not to mention the big hair and heavy makeup!) LaTonya is amazed the story and theme song continue to resonate with today’s youth.
An advocate of community service, LaTonya enjoys supporting non-profit community theater with Circle Players, especially after seeing its positive effect on children like her daughter.  She also serves with Nashville Cares, Keep Tennessee Beautiful, and the National Association of Black Journalists.
LaTonya extends her gratitude to Tim Larson, for his amazing direction and trust in her suggestions.  She is honored by the talent, commitment, and energy of the Fame cast, musicians, and production crew.  And she is blessed to have the support of her husband and children in pursuit of a passion that probably brings them little reward—other than to make Mom happy!
Jim Manning (Set Design) -  Jim has won awards by Circle Players for his sets for The Music Man and Oliver! After a scenic design course at Vanderbilt, most of his education in the art has been trial by fire.  Those include the tilting ship in Titanic the Musical; an entirely black and white jazz world in Tartuffe; tree stumps that become houses in Brigadoo; the revolve in Noises Off; choreographing sword fights around the scene changes in Treasure Island; and the 8 x12 onstage pool of water in Metamorphoses. Jim also designs sets for other groups in Nashville including ACT 1, Tigert Communications, Street Theatre, Hume Fogg, and Millworks Theater. Onstage, some of Jim's favorite roles include Howard in Moon Over Buffalo (Best Featured Actor), Will Parker in Oklahoma! (Best Supporting Actor), and Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Best Actor).  He currently is President of Circle Players and is excited about bringing Circle into its 60th season.

Teresa Driver (Stage Manager)
Jennifer Kleine (Costume Design) - Jennifer is a puppeteer and costumer for the Nashville Public Library children's theater, Wishing Chair Productions. She has costumed puppets for A Midsummer Night's Dream, Anansi the Spider, Dr. Trifulgas, and Cinderella. She has also created costumes for Dollywood, Circle Players, and Street Theater. She loves to be onstage, as well, and has performed in Titanic, The Musical and Once Upon a Mattress for Circle Players and in The Producers, as pigeon puppeteer, at the Donelson Senior Center Dinner Theater. Jennifer is having a blast working again with Tim, Kate, LaTonya, and her buddies from past shows. 
Bryan LeVay (Sound Design) - Bryan is a sound guy in Nashville, Tennessee, holding down a day job at iV group as well as doing freelance recording and mixing.  Both gigs take him through diverse styles from Americana to high-energy dance music.  He is very excited to be with Circle Players for Fame the Musical, his first local theater production.  Bryan started in theater in the Washington, DC, area working with MAD (The Music and Drama Group at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center) and The Greenbelt Arts Center doing sound, playing bass, and performing other odd jobs.  He has worked on productions of The Importance of Being Earnest, The Crucible, What The Butler Saw, The Wiz, and South Pacific.  Bryan would like to “blame” his mom for getting him into theater, his dad for letting him continue, and his friends for encouraging him along the way
Amber Willams (Props Mistress/Understudy Ms Sheinkoph) -

Cathy Matthews – Cathy trained at Middle Tennessee State University Theatre Department under Clayton Hawes and, after that, at the “School of Hard Knocks.”  She is a retired lighting designer who has done television, concerts, and corporate work.  Cathy does theatre for fun and has worked with the following performing arts groups in addition to Circle Players: Act I, Town Center Theatre, Nashville Ballet, and Tennessee Dance Theatre.  Cathy says “I am enjoying doing theatre again after a ten-year break and I also enjoy being a professional ‘aunt’ to my many nieces and nephews.”

Additonal Creative Team
Cathy Matthews - Light Designer
Thom Garrison - Assistant Stage Manager
Regine McClain - Marketing
Mel Fowler - Board Liason