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Julie Zatko is a Northwest Ohio theatre director, educator, and writer whose work spans community theatre, youth theatre, theatre education, and arts journalism. A graduate of The University of Toledo, she has built a career focused on creating meaningful theatrical experiences while helping performers of all ages develop confidence, creativity, and a deeper appreciation for the performing arts.
As a director, Zatko has more than 80 productions to her credit, with experience in university, regional, community, and youth theatre. Her directing approach is collaborative and centered on creating an environment where artists can take creative risks, grow their skills, and connect with the work. Her recent directing credits include Seussical Jr., with Stop Kiss for The Village Players Theatre among her upcoming projects.
Education has always been an important part of Zatko’s theatre career. She spent 17 years as the theatre advisor at Rossford High School, where she produced and directed 38 productions. Three of those productions were selected as full-length features for the Ohio Educational Theatre Conference.
Zatko has also developed and presented theatre education workshops for the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) and throughout the local community. Her workshops have explored directing, acting, movement, script analysis, writing, and improvisation, providing educators, performers, and theatre participants with practical tools and new approaches to theatrical training. She currently serves as the primary teacher for teen classes at Toledo Talent.
In addition to directing and teaching, Zatko is a theatre writer and correspondent for BroadwayWorld, covering theatre and the performing arts throughout the Toledo and Cleveland areas. Through interviews, features, reviews, and arts journalism, she shines a light on both professional productions and the vibrant community theatre scene.
Across her work as a director, educator, workshop facilitator, and writer, Zatko is committed to strengthening the theatre community and creating opportunities for artists to learn, collaborate, grow, and tell meaningful stories.
 

Roy Berko, a life-long Clevelander, holds degrees, through the doctorate from Kent State, University of Michigan and Case--WesternReserve/The Pennsylvania State University. Roy was an actor for many years, appearing in more than 16 plays, 8 TV commercials, and 3 films. He has directed more than 30 productions. A member of the American Critics Association and The Cleveland Critics Circle, he has been an entertainment reviewer for more than fifty years. For three years he was a regular on Channel 5, ABC-Cleveland's "Morning Exchange" and "Live on 5," serving as the stations communication consultant. He has also appeared on "Good Morning America." Roy served as the Director of Public Relations for the Volunteer Office in the White House during the first Clinton Administration. He was a professor of communication and psychology who taught at George Washington University, University of Maryland, Notre Dame College of Ohio, Towson University. and Lorain County Community College. Roy is the author of 38 books. He was selected by Cleveland Magazine as one of the most interesting people in Cleveland.  He was named the outstanding theater reviewer in the Midwest and one of the top ten reviewers in the country by Broadwayworld.  He was also recognized by Google as one of the most important and influential arts journalists/critics in the United States.

A former dancer turned arts writer and critic living in Cleveland, Ohio, Steve performed classical and modern works during his dance career, sharing the stage with noted dancers Robert LaFosse, Antonia Franceschi, Stacy Caddell, Joseph Duell, Robert Wallace, Sandra Brown, and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Steve has a degree in Communications from The Pennsylvania State University and is Chairman Emeritus of the Dance Critics Association, an international association of dance journalists.

His writing credits include articles and reviews on dance and the arts for over twenty regional, national, and international publications, including The Plain Dealer (Cleveland), Dance Magazine (New York), Pointe Magazine (New York), Dance International (Vancouver), Broadway World (New York), Fjord Review (Toronto), DanceTabs (London), and CriticalDance (Seattle).

Steve was also an Associate Editor at ExploreDance.com and is the creator of the arts website artsair.art and the Facebook groups Arts Air NE Ohio - Dance Community Hub and Arts Air Dance Ohio.