ALLISON KANE: DIRECTOR/PRODUCER/DESIGNER
During the school year, Allison serves on the faculty of North Reading High School as a full time theatre, vocal music, piano, and video production teacher as well as the Performing Arts Manager for the district. Allison has training from Kent State, RADA, Ithaca College and the College of St Catherine. Allison performed for years including a fabulous stint with Comedy Sports TC. She began teaching in Ohio and then moved to Minnesota where she taught in Eagan MN. Allison is the director of NR's own NOTEorious Acappella group. An avid pianist, Allison has been playing since she was 3. In her "down time" Allison likes to design kitchens, write music and hang out with her boys (Henry and Phineas) who are her pride and joy. |
JOHN ELDRIDGE: VOCAL DIRECTOR/CONDUCTOR
John Eldridge is a Boston-based pianist, conductor, and theater music director. Since 2007 he has owned and operated a private studio offering instruction in piano and voice in addition to freelance services as a vocal coach, keyboard programmer, arranger, and orchestrator. As a performer, he has served as a keyboardist and/or rehearsal/audition pianist for the American Repertory Theater, North Shore Music Theater, Speakeasy Stage Company, New Repertory Theater, Gloucester Stage Company, The Company Theater, Greater Boston Stage Company (formerly Stoneham Theater), and Reagle Music Theater. He has performed with orchestras, wind ensembles, jazz bands, and choruses across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Japan. http://www.johneldridgemusic.com/ |
CHRISSY BOWMAN: CHOREOGRAPHER
Chrissy is an alumni, teacher, and now Owner/Director of Lorraine Spada School of Dance. She graduated from Plymouth State University with a B.S. in Dance and Business Management and also completed the Dance Teachers Club of Boston Dance Teacher Education Course. She has performed and choreographed at numerous dance events over the years. This is Chrissy's second year with the Masquers team, she has loved every minute, and can't wait to get started in Shrek! In her "spare" time, Chrissy loves to travel, laugh, & spend time with her and amazingly supportive husband Kyle and her two sweet and sassy daughters Ellie and Kinsley. |
PETER KANE: TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Peter is a Social Studies teacher at NRHS since 2007 mostly teaching World History. He is the Junior Class adviser and the Freshmen Boys Soccer coach. Peter has taught Social Studies in Peabody, Minneapolis and Eagan MN. Peter's hobby is carpentry. Having built over two dozen shows some of his favorites have been Music Man, The Fantastics and Oliver! You can catch him telling dad jokes and hoping to see one more Phish show. |
MARISSA BARRY: ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Marissa Berry is a graduate of Saint Joseph’s College of Maine and very excited to return to her career of lifting things up and putting them down. She is an English teacher at Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School, an alumni of NRHS, and former Vice President of Masquers. She has always hoped to return to working with Masquers, having both performed and worked on the tech crew in Barnum, Zombie Prom, Medea, Lettuce and Lovage, 9 to 5:the musical, Xanadu, and others. She can’t wait to start working on Shrek, and is praying no one tries to find pictures of her dressed as a Greek muse. |
ANDREA GAGNON: REHEARSAL/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Andrea Gagnon has been a member of the math department at North Reading High School since 2015. In her spare time, Andrea sings alto with the Mass Whole Notes, a semi-professional a cappella group based out of Somerville, MA and cantors at local churches on the North Shore. Her love of music and passion for singing and the theater began with voice lessons her freshman year of high school. As if Andrea was not busy enough with teaching, singing, and assisting the Masquers, she is going back to graduate school this fall for a degree in educational leadership. Andrea is very excited to be back with this talented group of students after an amazing experience working on Beauty and the Beast last year. |
KATHY SULLIVAN: COSTUMER
Since 2006, Kathleen has been making sure Masquers’ members are well-dressed during their performances. From Bye Bye Birdie in 2006 through Beauty and the Beast last year, Kathleen and the Masquers’ crew have played a critical role in bringing to life the vision of each performance. While she does not have a favorite show, a couple of which she is most fond are Singing in the Rain (who can forget we had real rain on the stage at the old high school!), A Christmas Story and Peter Pan (We’ll never forget the first time Masquers’ performers actually flew). When she’s not behind her sewing machine, Kathleen often can be found at various volunteer duties |
BEN OWENS: STAGE BAND DIRECTOR
Ben is thrilled to be new to the North Reading School district as the high school and middle school band director! An avid theatre lover, he has performed in many pit orchestras on the trombone and euphonium, some favorites being Sweeney Todd, Legally Blonde and Urinetown! Before coming to North Reading, Ben was performing for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and did 3 tours of the Tony and Emmy Award winning show Blast! in Japan, most recently as the trombone soloist in the new Disney version. He can't wait to get started on this production of Shrek! |