COMPANY at Manatee Performing Arts Center

Prior to his move to Bradenton, Rick was the Entertainment Director for the USO of Metropolitan New York and the organizer of the Miss USO Contest. His USO troupe was featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox News, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and on The Miss America Pageant. The same USO troupe performed as part of the USO Celebrity Tours in the Middle East, Europe, and the Baltic. Other directorial credits include numerous shows at Surflight Theatre in New Jersey, Theatre by the Sea in Rhode Island, The Arundel Playhouse in Maine, Wolford Hause Dinner Theatre in Virgina, New London Barn Playhouse in New Hampshire, Stage Door Canteen Theatre at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Westbank and Duplex Theaters in New York City, and on many cruise ships. He has served on the faculties of Wagner College on Staten Island and Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in New York City. Rick is the past President of the Florida Theatre Conference, Past President of the Florida Association of Community Theaters, and is the past President of the board for the American Association of Community Theatres. Rick was honored as a recipient of the Fellows Award from AACT. Rick most recently directed MPAC’s productions of How to Succeed, Titanic, Chaplin, Mamma Mia, Pippin, I Do, I Do, Winter Wonderettes, Matilda, West Side Story, Barnum, Mary Poppins, Cabaret, Newsies, Hunchback of Notre Dame, A Little Night Music, The Producers, Boynton Beach Club, Assassins, 42nd Street, Chess, The Little Mermaid, Secret Garden, and Into the Woods.

Caren Brady is celebrating 35 years as a Fairy Godmother for all things costume. A graduate of Bluffton College, Caren started her career at Stagecraft Theatrical in Cincinnati Ohio and eventually opened her dream business, Cincinnati Costume Company. This shop costumed productions throughout Ohio and the nation. After losing Cincinnati Costume Company in a fire in 2007, Caren joined Cincinnati Landmark Productions as their Costume Shop Manager, Costume Designer, and Props Mistress and served there for over 12 years. Now Caren is beginning a new chapter, here at Manatee Performing Arts Center. She is thrilled to be working with this cast and production team. Much love to family and friends far and near who always support the crazy costume lady!”

Kristin has been a part of the Manatee Players since she was twelve years old in a variety of capacities and has been the Production Manager for fourteen years. Kristin’s most recent stage management credits include How to Succeed, Titanic, Chaplin, Mamma Mia, Matilda, Mary Poppins, Cabaret, Newsies, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, A Little Night Music, and The Producers. Other favorite stage management credits include Assassins, 42nd Street, Chess, The Little Mermaid, Secret Garden, Into the Woods, Tarzan, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, My One and Only, Shrek, Whorehouse, Anything Goes, Evita, The Boynton Beach Club, and the award winning productions of Sweeney Todd and Sunday in the Park with George. She also was co-stage manager for Pippin, I Do, I Do, Nunsense, Winter Wonderettes, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, West Side Story, and Barnum. Kristin recently co-directed/choreographed MPAC’s productions of The Will Rogers Follies and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. She has enjoyed being a part of the crew working sound for several productions. Kristin graduated with Honors from the University of Florida with a degree in psychology and a minor in sociology. She worked for several years with at-risk youth in Manatee County. “Thank you to the volunteer crew who work so tirelessly to make the magic happen!”