Erin Thomas-Foley, Director of Education
Erin has more than  a decade of experience with SPARC, as a teaching artist, program manger and Director of Education. She has been a key faculty in the CORE program for years and has been the major force behind SPARC’s STAGES program taking arts training to the Richmond regions schools and youth centers. She has greatly expanded the diversity of program offerings for SPARC, and her energy and enthusiasm for the performing arts and children has inspired many. As an artist, Erin is among Richmond’s leading acting talents and has performed at Barksdale Theatre, Theatre IV, Firehouse Theatre as well as internationally. She holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Longwood University and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University and has served as a guest artist instructor for University of Richmond’s Joan Oats Institute for Higher Education. She is Actor’s Equity Eligible and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

Debra Clinton, Director of Production
Over Debra’s nineteen years with SPARC, she has helped create several SPARC programs including SummerStarz, SPARC On Tour, SPARCLERS, and the BRAVO! Middle School Camp. She has taught for VCU and City University of New York. Debra has directed countless productions for SPARC, and now oversees all production activities for SPARC, including the “Rehearsal and Production” program. In addition to her work with SPARC, she is also Artistic Director of the Weinstein JCC's Jewish Family Theatre.  As an actor, Debra has been seen locally at Swift Creek Mill, TheatreVirginia, Henley Street Theatre, and TheatreIV/Barksdale, in addition to regional credits along the east coast. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dramatic Arts from Emerson College and a Master of Fine Arts in Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Rhonda Abouhana teaches voice lessons in a private studio in the West End. She attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where she received a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. Rhonda taught k-12 music for 12 years in Baltimore and has sung in musical theatre, operatic, and choral settings. A former SPARC student herself, Rhonda is thrilled to teach for this organization that inspired her love for the performing arts.

Linda Beringer comes to Richmond after living and working in Surrey, England for twenty years.  She received her MA in Theatre Education through NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education.  She is also certified to teach in British state schools, having qualified at the University of Reading in Reading, England.  Linda is experienced in working with students from elementary through high school level.  She is happily enjoying Richmond and exploring opportunities to be ON stage as well as behind it.

Taylor Bernard Taylor Bernard graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Theatre Education from VCU.  Taylor is the Theatre Director/Drama Club Sponsor at Midlothian Middle School and has spent a great deal of time working with children as a nanny, tutor, counselor, and teacher. Taylor has worked for a number of local organizations including the VCU-Carver partnership, VCU Summer Arts Intensive, Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV, Richmond City Schools, and spent a semester abroad studying Theatre and Literature in Perth, Australia. 

Jason Campbell is a theatre and musical theatre teacher at Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology. Jason has been in local productions at Richmond Triangle Players, Barksdale Theatre, Swift Creek Mill Playhouse, Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Kings Dominion. He has also toured nationally with the American Family Theatre and S.A.I.L. Productions. Jason received his MFA in Theatre Pedagogy from VCU.

Danaë Carter A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Danaë worked with the Richmond Ballet and Oakland ballet until her retirement in 2009. Highlights of her career include ‘Puck’ in Bill Soleau’s  A Midsummer Night’s Dream, both female leads in John Butler’s Carmina Burana,  and the title role in Agnes DeMille’s  A Rose for Miss Emily. Also a full time student at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and a teacher at the Latin Ballet and Richmond Ballet, Danaë enjoys every minute of teaching for SPARC and relishes the opportunity to explore the different mediums through which we all express ourselves.

Paul Deiss is happy to be working with SPARC once again after serving as an associate instructor from 1991 to 2008.  Paul is currently the resident music director for Swift Creek Mill Theatre and an Associate Music Director for Theatre IV, where many of his original one-act musicals have been produced.  Two of his original songs have been published through Songcastle Music/ASCAP. His recent CD, Christmas with Drifty, is available at Amazon.com.  Paul is an adjunct faculty member at Luther Memorial School and the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School.

Courtney Edwards is a native of Smithfield, Virginia, and a recent graduate from Longwood University with a B.A. in Theatre.  Courtney has performed in many productions, including Beauty and the Beast (Smithfield Little Theatre), Crimes of the Heart, Grapes of Wrath, Little Shop of Horrors and Eurydice at Longwood University.  A talented model, actress, and singer, she can also be found on the cover of three books, Rebecca’s Promise, Rebecca’s Return and Rebecca's Choice.

Heather Falks was born and raised in central Texas. She received her BFA in Directing from Texas State University and moved to Richmond to pursue her MFA in Theatre Performance at Virginia Commonwealth University. Soon after moving to Richmond Heather discovered SPARC and has been teaching Mini SPARC, Rising Stars, SPARClers Summer Camp and the STAGES program in Richmond and Henrico elementary schools for over three years.

Jenny Fralin has performed in numerous shows with Swift Creek Mill Theatre, Barksdale Theatre, Dogwood Dell, and Henrico Theatre Company. Her most recent performance was the role of Fastrada in Pippin at Dogwood Dell in 2010. She has been on the SPARC faculty for the past three years, teaches dance for musical theatre at the Center for the Arts at Henrico High School, and has choreographed for Freeman High and Collegiate Middle. Jenny graduated from East Carolina University with a B.S.B.A. and a minor in dance.

Kim Fox is adjunct professor of piano at Randolph-Macon College, teaches private piano lessons, serves as accompanist at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and the Center for the Arts at Henrico High School, and is the musical director in the Richmond community. Favorites include: You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown for Firehouse Theatre Project, Godspell for Cadence Theatre Company, and This Beautiful City for Richmond Triangle Players (RTCC nomination). Kim is currently working on her master’s degree in music education from VCU.

Martin Garner After receiving a B.F.A. in Acting from DePaul University’s Goodman School of The Arts with a minor in Digital Cinema, Martin began his career in Chicago appearing in productions with the Steppenwolf Theater Company, Baby Wants Candy, The Cupid Players, The Merle Ruskin Theater, The Alley Theater, Improv Olympic, and culminating in his dream spot with the Second City ensemble. During his time in Chicago he began teaching improv and volunteering in urban renewal projects. He came to Richmond for his Masters of Education, met and married the woman of his dreams in the process, and is thrilled to bring his talents and love of improv to SPARC.

Robin Harris is a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory with a BFA in Music Theatre. For SPARC, Robin has taught BRAVO!, STAGES, Advanced BRAVO!, SummerStarz, CORE, Music Theatre Intensive, and August Adventure Camp. She also provides vocal direction for local high school musicals including Once Upon a Mattress, The Wedding Singer, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, (James River High School), Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, and West Side Story (Midlothian High School). Robin is a professional choir member at Historic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and has been performing on Richmond Theatre Stages for almost ten years.

Jenny Hundley received her BFA and MFA from Theatre VCU and has been performing, directing and teaching for over 25 years.  Her recent acting credits include Jack in Theatre IV’s Jack and the Beanstalk, and Lisa Kron in Well at the Barksdale Theatre at Willow Lawn.  Jenny began teaching drama at Collegiate School in 1991 and is a recipient of the Craigie Educational Excellence Endowment Award.  Jenny directed SPARC’s production of Bugsy Malone, Jr. this past summer.

Anna Johnson is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and The British American Drama Academy. She served for nine years as Artistic Director of a theatre arts and education program in Sun Valley, Idaho called St. Thomas Playhouse, and currently serves as Artistic Director of Cadence Theatre Company and Minister to Children at St. Mary's Episcopal Church.  Favorite Richmond directing credits include: Godspell, Oleanna, The Fantasticks, Fool for Love (Cadence Theatre Company), My Children! My Africa! (Theatre IV Little Theatre), A Devil Inside (Theatre IV Little Theatre), Tone Clusters (Firehouse Theatre Project), and A Doll's House (Henley Street Theatre).  Acting credits include roles in Steel Magnolias, Rabbit Hole, Sight Unseen and Bus Stop.

Brendan Kennedy Brendan recently returned to his hometown of Richmond, VA, after spending the past seven years working in theater in New York City.  He could not be happier to be joining the SPARC community and building lasting relationships that he hopes will make him a familiar face around the organization.  Big thanks to Erin Thomas-Foley for inviting me into the SPARC family!

Ben Miller is a bass-baritone and pianist from Newport News, VA. Ben has performed with numerous ensembles, including the Virginia and Knoxville symphonies, and his theatre credits include Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar, Georg in She Loves Me, along with pit band experience for productions ofThe Secret Garden and Beauty and the Beast. Ben directs music at New Covenant Presbyterian Church, and and enjoys performing at other local churches.

Steve Perigard is an actor and director and has been working in the Richmond theatre community for over twenty years at SPARC, Barksdale Theatre, Theatre IV, Theatre Gym, Firehouse Theatre, Company of Fools, Theatre Virginia, Theatre VCU and Randolph Macon College. Steve spent twelve seasons as Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV’s Associate Artistic Director, directing over 50 productions including Circle Mirror Transformation, The Velveteen Rabbit, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Clean House, Peter Pan, Intimate Apparel, The Full Monty and Cyrano de Bergerac.  Performance credits include Into the Woods, The Constant Wife, Fifth of July, and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.

Matt Polson has been a SPARC teacher since 2005, and he recently directed the first ever Advanced Bravo! summer camp for SPARC.  An accomplished actor and director, Matt has appeared in productions at Barksdale Theatre (25th Annual...Spelling Bee), Theatre IV (The Sound of Music, Beauty and the Beast), Firehouse Theatre (Spinning Into Butter), Swift Creek Mill, Richmond Shakespeare, and more including national commercials, television shows, and feature films.  Matt recently won the Audience Choice Award for the 2011 48 Hour Film Project, and is currently the Director of Promotional Videos for Henley Street Theatre. 

Sarah Provencal is a new member of the SPARC family, though she has been teaching theatre since 2003 to both big kids and little kids in New York, North Carolina, and now Virginia.  She teaches Directing, Acting, and Public Speaking at VCU. She received her BA in Theatre/English from SUNY Geneseo and is currently pursuing her MFA in Theatre Pedagogy at VCU. 

Stephen Rudlin A featured soloist in The White House Gala, the Reagan Years, A Capitol Fourth, and A Ford’s Theatre Christmas, Stephen’s solo CD debut Being Alive premiered as the only CD in New York’s Cherry Lane Musical Theatre Library, featuring Tony Award-winning Maury Yeston’s “Unusual Way” from the Broadway Musical and movie Nine. Theatrical affiliations include: Ford’s Theatre, TheatreVirginia, Theatre IV and Barksdale Theatre.  Stephen has produced and performed in Cabaret Tonight with Jan Guarino and Tempy Barbry for over 20 years.  Stephen last sang on the Carpenter Theatre stage as Emcee of the National Tour of the Sing-Along Sound of Music. His proudest achievements include teaching and mentoring over 5,000 children in Richmond Public Schools Arts programs and, of course, SPARC.  He’s coached privately over 250 voice students, many of whom pursue their dreams in NY, LA, DC and beyond.  He stays vocally in shape and is inspired by singing daily for his 99 year old dad!

Susan Sanford is a respected Richmond actor and director.  She most recently appeared in Theatre IV’s The BFG and directed Ferdinand the Bull.  Last season, Susan appeared in The Sound of Music as Baroness Schrader (Richmond Theatre Critic’s Circle award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical).  Other Richmond credits include The Little Dog Laughed (RTCC nomination), The Man Who Came To Dinner, Proof, Batboy the Musical, The Taming of the Shrew, and Twelfth Night.  Susan recently relocated to Richmond after 4 years in Los Angeles, where she appeared in several national commercials. 

Laine Satterfield has performed in, taught, choreographed, directed and created theatre both nationally and internationally. She most recently appeared in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at FTP. Other Richmond credits include Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Eurydice, The Little Dog Laughed and Macbeth.  She holds a BFA from Tisch School of the Arts at NYU and has trained at the University of Eurasian Theatre, Stella Adler Conservatory, Carnegie-Mellon University, and the University College of London (dramaturgy - Shakespeare and modern British). She has taught at New York University, Stella Adler Conservatory, Aquila University, Virginia Governor’s School, Company of Fools, Artspower, SPARC, CFA and various workshops in the states and abroad. She is a member of Actors Equity Association.

Stephanie Smith loves being a part of the SPARC team and has a great time working with the Mini SPARC students.  She enjoys directing children’s plays and incorporating yoga into her classes.  Stephanie also teaches second grade and theatre at Hanover Academy in Ashland, VA.  In addition, she is a performance instructor for St. Catherine's Brilliant Summer program.  Stephanie’s love of theatre extends beyond the classroom as she has performed in many plays herself.

William Southerland William Southerland most recently received his MM in choral conducting from UNC Greensboro. In his theatrical experience, William has played a variety of roles including Jesus in Godspell, Rusty Charlie in Guys and Dolls, Young Eric in Phantom as well as ensemble credits in 42nd Street, Little Shop of Horrors, and Marshner’s Der Vampyr with the Florida State Opera. In addition to his work at SPARC, William is the full-time chorus teacher at Thompson Middle School in Richmond and volunteers on the board of the Friends of Dogwood Dell.

Ali Thibodeau was most recently seen in in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at The Empire Theatre. Favorite credits include Liesl Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Miss Dorothy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (RTCC award, Best Supporting Actress in a Musical), and Sharpay in Disney's High School Musical with Barksdale Theatre; Tigerlily in Peter Pan with Theatre IV; and Polly Freeman in Normal with Stage 1 Theatre Co.

Peggy Thibodeau has had an extensive career teaching dance for over 30 years—teaching  Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, and Theater Dance from age 3 to adults. She received her BA in Dance from the University of Maryland and created their first tap program while also working at universities and performing in regional and touring productions in the DC area. She settled in the Richmond area and became the owner and artistic director of Shuffles Performing Arts Center for 18 years. She has now moved to a new chapter in life teaching full time dance for Jessica Morgan’s School of Dance and enjoying her passion for theater and dance with SPARC.

Pam Turner received her degree in dance from the North Carolina School of the Arts and then continued her studies in New York. She has taught for Richmond Ballet, VCU, and Tidewater Ballet and currently serves as the artistic director for Richmond dance Center. She has choreographed for Kings Dominion, Carowinds, Virginia Tech, and a national tour for Georgia-Pacific. She has also choreographed many musicals for SPARC including  Music Man, Pippin, Cats, and West Side Story and currently teaches in the Stages program. In 2007 she received the Theresa Pollack Prize for dance in the Richmond community.

Durron Marquis Tyre is a graduate of from the University of Richmond, where he received a BA in Theatre Performance.  His acting credits range from working with Theatre IV’s touring Children’s Theatre Company to acting in many shows with Swift Creek Mill Theatre (Joseph...Dreamcoat, Forever Plaid, Plaid Tidings, Once Upon A Mattress), Richmond Triangle Players (Zanna, Don’t!) and Firehouse Theatre (The Great American Trailer Park Musical, and RENT– for which he won Richmond Theatre Critic’s Circle Award in 2010).