The Lightning Thief at Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts

Zoe Bradford Co-founder / Artistic Director / President In 1978, Zoe Bradford and Jordie Saucerman created The Company Theatre (TCT) in a church basement with a budget of $50 upon the request of a group of arts-starved students from Weymouth. TCT rapidly grew into a full-fledged non-profit organization with a mission of entertaining and educating thousands of enthusiasts from the Greater Boston area. Originally from Chicago, Zoe actively pursued film making, photography, and fine art at the Art Institute of Chicago’s teen program. Her paintings and photography were exhibited in Chicago and the Atlanta Museum of Art. Zoe continued her education at Webster College and The Kansas City Art Institute, where she won the prestigious Kansas City Film Festival two times. In 1987, Zoe and Jordie founded the Academy of the Company Theatre (A.C.T.) which provides unique arts training through theater classes, apprentice programs, and internships. They purchased the theater complex and adjoining buildings located on 3 acres in Norwell in 1992. This allowed them to fully realize their mission of producing high quality theatre while creating a diverse and welcoming arts environment. Zoe and her staff take pride in encouraging people from all races, ethnicities, and folks from the LGBTQ+ community. Zoe specializes in period architecture and costumes, play analysis, incorporation of symbolism, dramaturgy, photography, and videography. Zoe has directed nearly two hundred plays, musicals, and workshops of original performance art, most of them alongside Jordie. She has been recognized by the city of Quincy for arts education, the Independent Reviewers of New England, and the New England Theatre Conference with a Life-time Achievement Award for excellence in American Theatre. She is a five-time award winner of the prestigious Moss Hart Award for Best Production in New England. Her original works include Gloryland the America Show (1990; Moss Hart Award), and the historical musical, Paragon Park (2012; Moss Hart Award). Currently, Zoe is collaborating on another original work, Born to Do This, The Joan of Arc Rock Opera, which will premiere in July of 2023. Zoe remains President and Artistic Director of TCT as she continues to pursue and share her passions in the performing and visual arts.

Michael Hammond Managing Director / Development Michael Hammond has a broad background in theatrical teaching, directing, acting, choreography and writing. Company Theatre audiences may remember Michael as Harold Hill in “The Music Man”, Tateh in “Ragtime”, (IRNE Nomination for Best Supporting Actor) Jesus in “Jesus Christ Superstar” and Will Rogers in “Will Rogers Follies”. Having performed as the leading actor in countless community and regional shows, he has garnered acclaim with award-winning Company Theatre productions such as playing “Cosmo Brown” in the Moss Hart Award winning “Singing in the Rain.”. In his directing endeavors, he has enjoyed success directing “Bridges of Madison County”, “Clue” and “Fantasticks” to name a few. Broadening his creativity, the Moss Hart Award winning “Paragon Park” the Musical was Michael’s first venture as a playwright alongside Company Theatre co-founder, Zoe Bradford. Current project is collaborating on “Born to Do This - The Joan of Arc Rock Opera” with Zoe Bradford and Mel Carubia. If you ever find yourself wishing you were on stage or a part of the theatre community, it is never too soon or too late. We will find an opportunity that suits your interests. Make art and make a difference.

Libby Emerson Lewiecki Director of Administration Libby Emerson Lewiecki holds a Master's of Management of Human Services from Brandeis University and has spent over thirty years working in nonprofit management. As the Director of Administration at The Company Theatre, she takes pride in her work and enjoys being part of a team that is dedicated to creating high-quality productions that inspire, entertain, and educate.

Robert McDonough joined the amazing team at The Company Theatre in August 2022. He formerly worked as the Choral Director at Coakley Middle School in Norwood, MA. Before that, he studied Music Education at UMass Amherst with a focus in classical voice and piano. Robert’s love for music and theatre began when he was just a little kid performing in plays and musicals at school. He began music directing shows at age 17 and has worked on multiple productions at The Company Theatre, including HAIR, for which he received the 2022 Broadway World Boston award for Best Musical Direction and Orchestra Performance. In his spare time Robert enjoys baking goodies, reading books, practicing piano, and spending time with his puppy-niece, Dora!