Artistic Staff at TRYPS
EMILY ADAMS – Aberystwyth University/Drama & English Literature – England
Ms. Adams is an actor, teacher, and director. She has toured nationally with various British theatre companies, including performances at the Royal Albert Hall, Greenbelt Arts Festival, and York Minster Cathedral. She taught scrip analysis and vocal technique at the Young Actor’s Company at the Contact Theatre in Manchester. She completed the Chicken Shed National Inclusive Theater Training and Development Programme and was hired by the Cotton Shed Theatre as director of the weekly performing arts workshops and co-directing productions: Forgotten, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, and The Gallery. She raised over $25,000 for Cotton Shed through the National Theatre’s Youth Theatre Programme. She is trained in British Sign Language. Most recently, she was the Project Manager for DanceSyndrome, an inclusive dance company pairing professional dancers and dancers with learning difficulties. She is the co-founder of The GreenHouse Theatre Company in Columbia, MO.
BOB BOHON – BS/Music Education & M.Ed/Music Education – Instrumental & Vocal, MU/Columbia
Mr. Bohon is the former Musical Theater & Show Choir director at Rock Bridge High School, where he taught for 27 years. He was recognized as the Columbia Public Schools Outstanding Secondary Education in 2000. He has directed over 50 musicals at Rock Bridge. He has been the Music Director for Arrow Rock Lyceum Theater and TRYPS Children’s Theater productions, including Little Shop of Horrors, My Way, Cinderella, Peter Pan. He has appeared in a national tour of Sweeney Todd and in regional theater productions of: Guys & Dolls, 1776, The Music Man, South Pacific. He has directed the TRYPS productions of High School Musical and The Wizard of Oz.
NOLLIE MOORE, BS & MS/Music Education – University of Missouri-Columbia
Mr. Moore began his career as a music educator Rock Bridge Elementary and Gentry Middle School and was recognized as one of the Outstanding Teachers of the Year. In 2001, he joined the faculty of Columbia College as Instructor of Music & Director of the Froman Singers. Under his directions, the Froman Singers have performed at Carnegie Hall, Westminster Cathedral, and at the First Annual All-China Choral Directors meeting in Beijing, China in July 2007. Professionally, Mr. Moore performed leading roles in Die Fledermaus, La Traviata, Madama Butterfly and Carmen. He has directed for TRYPS: Footloose, Grease, Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Seussical Jr.
ELIZABETH BRAATEN PALMIERI – BA in Theater / St. Olaf College
Ms. Palmieri is an actor, director and theatre educator hailing from Minnesota. She has been on stage since age four and toured with children’s theatres across the Midwest. In 2004, she graduated from St. Olaf College with Distinction. She acted with regional theatres around the US, splitting her time between New York and Minneapolis. For the past decade, she has taught and directed for Stages Children’s Theatre in Minneapolis, The Young People’s Theatre Program and The New England Youth Theatre in Vermont. Ms. Palmieri has directed the TRYPS productions of As You Like It and the Encore casts of Seussical Jr. and Treasure Island. She is the co-founder of The GreenHouse Theatre Company in Columbia, MO.
ANNETTE RENWICK – BA/Music Education – Southeast Missouri State
Ms. Renwick is a certified K-12 music educator, with an emphasis in Voice. She travelled with a select Vocal group while in college. She has also been a part of several Worship Teams. She has sung the National Anthem at many Mizzou Sporting Events: Basketball, Gymnastics & Wrestling as well as for Race Car Speedways and Veterans Programs. She has taught and directed since 1989 in both public and private schools. She has been the director of holiday productions at several churches. She has directed drama, talent shows, assemblies, and productions – including Shenandoah and Oliver! She joined the TRYPS creative team as vocal director for Seussical Jr. and director of Vocal Academy.
HALLIE RIEVES – BA in English, minor in Education – Central Methodist University
Ms. Rieves has taught dance for over 20 year, most currently an instructor at DanceArts of Columbia. She choreographed musicals for the Rock Bridge High School for ten years. She has choreographed and performed in productions for the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre including: Oliver!, The Sound of Music, and Fiddler on the Roof. Ms. Rieves has appeared in regional theatre productions including: Chicago, Cabaret, Evita, Peter Pan, and Kiss Me Kate at the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, Florida. She has choreographed TRYPS productions of Peter Pan, The Little Princess, Miss Nelson is Missing and Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, Seussical Jr., The Wizard of Oz and Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
EMILY ROLLIE – PhD Candidate/MU Theatre Dept., MA/Theatre Production-Central WA University
Ms. Rollie is currently pursuing a PhD in theatre at the University of Missouri. She earned her BA in English from St. Olaf and her MA in theatre production from Central Washington University. She was a director and stage manager at the Paradise Theatre and a theatre instructor with the Broadway Conservatory and Tacoma Community Enrichment Program for children in ages 5-10 years. She directed a production of Charlotte’s Web and The Jungle Book. She directed two productions of Peter Pan for the Tacoma Actors Guild STAR Camp. Ms. Rollie brings a wealth of extensive teaching experience, curriculum development, and workshop instruction for youth.
JAZZ RUCKER – BA/Vocal Music Education – University of Missouri/Columbia
Mr. Rucker is the Choral Music instructor at Lange Middle School. He earned his BA in Vocal Music Education in May 2011, where he studied with Ms. Ann Harrell. Mr. Rucker has been the Music Director for TRYPS productions of Hairspray, Disney’s Camp Rock, and Willy Wonka, Jr. In high school, he performed the roles of “Bud Frump” in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, “The Teen Angel” in Grease, and “Nathan Detroit” in Guys & Dolls. In college, he performed with the MU Show-Me Opera in the roles of “Maestro Spinelloccio” in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, “Dr. Falke” in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, and a priest in Mozart’s The Magic Flute. He appeared as “Seaweed” in the TRYPS production of Hairspray. At CEC, he has appeared in the title role of Dracula: The Musical and as the Vocal Director for Jesus Christ Superstar. He is the director for the Boonslick Chordbuster’s Barbershop Chorus.
JILL WOMACK – BA/Speech & Drama–MU/Columbia & MFA/Theater–Univ. of NC at Greensboro
Jill Womack is TRYPS’ founder and executive artistic director. She earned her MFA at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) in 1997. She worked professional in both LA and NYC and was a member of SAG and AFTRA. She taught acting at UNCG, Oakland Jr. High School, and the Imperial College Summer Enrichment Program in London, England. She has studied Shakespeare and Classical Styles from John Ulmer, Richard Cotrell, and John Neville. She has produced and directed for TRYPS, as well as created workshops, outreach programs, and course curriculum. She conceived and commissioned the first original script for the company, The Selfish Giant, which was selected for the 2002 Kennedy Center’s New Visions/New Voices Festival. As a playwright, Ms. Womack adapted Tom Sawyer–with nationally-renowned folk musicians Win & Paul Grace and Dregs-based on local author Barri Bumgarner’s novel. Ms. Womack is a recipient of the Kennedy Center’s Coolfont Scholarship and the Kennedy Center’s Award of Excellence.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS HIRED FOR TRYPS PRODUCTIONS, CLASSES & CAMPS:
MUSICIANS:
Audra Sergel–BS/Vocal Music Education – University of Missouri/Columbia
Carol Schmitz–Rehearsal Pianist/The Columbia Mother Singers
DESIGNERS:
Justin Cole–Performing Arts Manager & Tech Director/Rock Bridge High School
Molly Fiegel–Director/5th Wall Productions & TRYPS Lighting Designer
Kyle Hess–BA candidate/MU, Jesse Hall Tech Staff, & TRYPS Lighting Designer
Mike Pierson–Director of Theater/Rock Bridge High School – scenic design
PAINTERS:
Meridith La Fond Howell – BFA candidate/Columbia College
Nicholas Page-BA/Columbia College – graphic design
Nikie Watson-BFA candidate/Columbia College
TEACHERS:
Lena Ajans Mitchell–BA Theater/William Woods University
Emma Carter–BFA candidate/Stephens College
Allison Frisch–BFA candidate/Stephens College
Kayla Glydewell–BA candidate/Special & Elementary Education, Central Methodist
Donna Hills–BS/Elementary Education, Retired Teacher/New Haven Elementary
Casey Kensinger–BA candidate/Special & Elementary Education, Central Methodist
Naomi La Fond–BA candidate/University of Missouri-Columbia
John Lampe–BFA candidate/Stephens College
Alexis Marcus–BA candidate/University of Missouri-Columbia
Dylan Shelofsky–BFA candidate/Stephens College
Morgunn Skipworth–BA candidate/Columbia College
Afton Thomas–MA/Theatre, University of Missouri-Columbia
VOLUNTEERS:
Company Photographers – Amy Enderle/SilverBox, Kim Watson/Pinnacle Graphics
Tea Party Coordinators – Victoria Mongillo, Tricia Mumma, Carri Risner, Sandy Decker
INTERNSHIPS:
Technical Theater–Kameron Bong, Hannah Cajandiig, Brendan Clark, Allison Frisch, Markus Heinrich, Jesse La Fond, Nikie Watson
Shadow Teachers–Alexis Barnes, Shannon Baumeister, Dakotah Cooper, Alexis Decker, Nora Hennessy, Maggie Brothers, Allison Sword, Evann Twitchell
Ally Akyol, Corrinne Hubbard, Hazel Folkerts, Bennett Lopez