The College Light Opera Company
is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt educational theatre governed by a Board of Trustees:
is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt educational theatre governed by a Board of Trustees:
Board of Trustees
Marie Younger Blackburn, (she/her)
DEI Committee
Marie Younger Blackburn was a much loved chef at CLOC for many years. Marie’s passion for connecting people and causes is evident in her many activities on Cape Cod. She is the Visionary and Event Planner of “Driven: Cape Cod's Conference For Women" which seeks to empower women to reach their greatest potential in their personal and professional lives and drive them to be in service to others. She hosts the Zoom show “Conversations That Matter” with topics of Race, Diversity and Inclusion, and she assists her son as the Sales and Marketing Manager for Simply Black & White Catering. Her greatest passion is that of a fierce advocate for people with diverse abilities #includeme. Marie says, "My goal is to see diversity represented in the seats and the stages across Cape Cod starting at CLOC, because Representation Matters.”
DEI Committee
Marie Younger Blackburn was a much loved chef at CLOC for many years. Marie’s passion for connecting people and causes is evident in her many activities on Cape Cod. She is the Visionary and Event Planner of “Driven: Cape Cod's Conference For Women" which seeks to empower women to reach their greatest potential in their personal and professional lives and drive them to be in service to others. She hosts the Zoom show “Conversations That Matter” with topics of Race, Diversity and Inclusion, and she assists her son as the Sales and Marketing Manager for Simply Black & White Catering. Her greatest passion is that of a fierce advocate for people with diverse abilities #includeme. Marie says, "My goal is to see diversity represented in the seats and the stages across Cape Cod starting at CLOC, because Representation Matters.”
Robert Bock (he/him)
Clerk of the Corporation
Robert Bock is a retired high school business teacher, he has been involved with the Cape Cod area theater scene for over 45 years as a performer, director and administrator. He is the former Director/Advisor to the Falmouth High School Drama Club and is a life member of The Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild. He studied with Shakespeare & Co. in Lenox, MA, and is pleased to have worked with the late Edward Gorey and his puppets.
Clerk of the Corporation
Robert Bock is a retired high school business teacher, he has been involved with the Cape Cod area theater scene for over 45 years as a performer, director and administrator. He is the former Director/Advisor to the Falmouth High School Drama Club and is a life member of The Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild. He studied with Shakespeare & Co. in Lenox, MA, and is pleased to have worked with the late Edward Gorey and his puppets.
David Cantor (he/him)
Treasurer, HR Committee, DEI Committee
David Cantor CLOC vocal company 1972-1977. Broadway: Che Evita, Bobinet La Vie Parisienne. Off-Broadway: Nathan Rothschild The Rothschilds Regional: Rev. Crisparkle Mystery of Edwin Drood, Vanya Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, Henry Higgins My Fair Lady, Ricky Roma Glengarry Glenn Ross, Fagin Oliver!, Benny The Desert Song, Benedick Much Ado About Nothing, The Old Actor The Fantasticks, John Adams 1776, Padre Man of La Mancha. Principal roles all 13 Gilbert & Sullivan operas in USA, Great Britain, Italy. TV/Film: Girls5Eva, Orange is the New Black, Madam Secretary, Jessica Jones, Shadow of Doubt, Man in Progress. www.David-Cantor.com
Treasurer, HR Committee, DEI Committee
David Cantor CLOC vocal company 1972-1977. Broadway: Che Evita, Bobinet La Vie Parisienne. Off-Broadway: Nathan Rothschild The Rothschilds Regional: Rev. Crisparkle Mystery of Edwin Drood, Vanya Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, Henry Higgins My Fair Lady, Ricky Roma Glengarry Glenn Ross, Fagin Oliver!, Benny The Desert Song, Benedick Much Ado About Nothing, The Old Actor The Fantasticks, John Adams 1776, Padre Man of La Mancha. Principal roles all 13 Gilbert & Sullivan operas in USA, Great Britain, Italy. TV/Film: Girls5Eva, Orange is the New Black, Madam Secretary, Jessica Jones, Shadow of Doubt, Man in Progress. www.David-Cantor.com
B. Deborah Cohen (she/her)
President
B. Deborah Cohen, president, served on CLOC’s business staff in 1980 and 1981. She has been a loyal supporter since then and a trustee since 2015. Deb is the Chief Financial Officer of SMR Consulting, Inc., an IT consulting firm in Newton, MA. Deb says that she can draw a straight line from her summers at CLOC to everything wonderful in her life including her career in business, her decades long friendships with fellow CLOC alumni/ae, her marriage to the man she met 33 years ago in a New York City Gilbert & Sullivan Society, and of course, her service as a trustee of the College Light Opera Company.
President
B. Deborah Cohen, president, served on CLOC’s business staff in 1980 and 1981. She has been a loyal supporter since then and a trustee since 2015. Deb is the Chief Financial Officer of SMR Consulting, Inc., an IT consulting firm in Newton, MA. Deb says that she can draw a straight line from her summers at CLOC to everything wonderful in her life including her career in business, her decades long friendships with fellow CLOC alumni/ae, her marriage to the man she met 33 years ago in a New York City Gilbert & Sullivan Society, and of course, her service as a trustee of the College Light Opera Company.
Elizabeth Craig (she/her)
Secretary, Volunteer Committee
Betty is a proud resident of Falmouth. She taught in the Boston Public Schools for fifty years. She has, however, no professional experience in the theater. In her teaching, she used acting skills on a daily basis.
She has been a CLOC subscriber since 1985. Her son, Liam, started in the usher corps at CLOC. He joined the company in 1990 and treasures his years there.
Secretary, Volunteer Committee
Betty is a proud resident of Falmouth. She taught in the Boston Public Schools for fifty years. She has, however, no professional experience in the theater. In her teaching, she used acting skills on a daily basis.
She has been a CLOC subscriber since 1985. Her son, Liam, started in the usher corps at CLOC. He joined the company in 1990 and treasures his years there.
Meg Fofonoff, (she/her)
Ms. Fofonoff founded and serves as executive producer of Art Lab. Art Lab, produces commercial theater as well as art/theater/science events. Art Lab has produced several art/science theatrical events with the renowned Marine Biological Laboratories in Woods Hole, MA, and is a producer on the Tony Award-winning The Cher Show, Head Over Heels, Come From Away (London), It Happened in Key West (London), and the Broadway-bound Marie (directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman with music and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty), in addition to currently developing several new works.
Prior to her work at Art Lab, Ms. Fofonoff founded and served as executive producer of Fiddlehead Theatre Company (FTC) from 1993–2016. FTC, a professional, award-winning entity, produced plays and musicals in Boston and beyond.
Ms. Fofonoff founded and serves as executive producer of Art Lab. Art Lab, produces commercial theater as well as art/theater/science events. Art Lab has produced several art/science theatrical events with the renowned Marine Biological Laboratories in Woods Hole, MA, and is a producer on the Tony Award-winning The Cher Show, Head Over Heels, Come From Away (London), It Happened in Key West (London), and the Broadway-bound Marie (directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman with music and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty), in addition to currently developing several new works.
Prior to her work at Art Lab, Ms. Fofonoff founded and served as executive producer of Fiddlehead Theatre Company (FTC) from 1993–2016. FTC, a professional, award-winning entity, produced plays and musicals in Boston and beyond.
Marissa Gonzales, (she/her)
DEI Committee, Marketing Committee
Marissa Gonzales is a CLOC alumnus, taking on the roles of box office treasurer, publicity director, work director and chef over a six year period. Marissa currently the Marketing Manager WICKED Broadway.
Previously she was was the Marketing Manager at the prestigious RPM Agency in New York City, working on the Broadway shows Waitress, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Chicago, and Mrs. Doubtfire.
DEI Committee, Marketing Committee
Marissa Gonzales is a CLOC alumnus, taking on the roles of box office treasurer, publicity director, work director and chef over a six year period. Marissa currently the Marketing Manager WICKED Broadway.
Previously she was was the Marketing Manager at the prestigious RPM Agency in New York City, working on the Broadway shows Waitress, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Chicago, and Mrs. Doubtfire.
Elizabeth Cochary Gross
Development Committee, Chair
Dr. Elizabeth Cochary Gross is an adjunct associate professor and the former director of admissions and recruitment for the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Before her role in admissions at the Friedman School, Dr. Cochary Gross worked as a scientist in the Genetics Lab at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center (HNRCA), reaching the rank of Scientist II. She also taught at the Friedman School at the assistant professor level. Dr. Cochary Gross was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University working in the biochemistry labs at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center for Mental Retardation in Waltham, Massachusetts.
She has been a board member of the Umbrella Center for the Arts in Concord MA since 2007 where she is also serving as a capital campaign chair for the current $25 million dollar campaign. Her passion for the arts began with classical piano lessons. Later she taught herself how to play folk guitar. In college and beyond she studied voice and piano and sang in many choral groups. During that time she played guitar and sang folk music in coffee houses and bars. Her major commitment in the arts over the last 8 years has been planning and implementation of the first Capital Campaign for the Umbrella Center for the Arts.
Liz joined the CLOC Board in 2020 and currently serves as the Chair of the Development Committee.
Development Committee, Chair
Dr. Elizabeth Cochary Gross is an adjunct associate professor and the former director of admissions and recruitment for the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Before her role in admissions at the Friedman School, Dr. Cochary Gross worked as a scientist in the Genetics Lab at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center (HNRCA), reaching the rank of Scientist II. She also taught at the Friedman School at the assistant professor level. Dr. Cochary Gross was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University working in the biochemistry labs at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center for Mental Retardation in Waltham, Massachusetts.
She has been a board member of the Umbrella Center for the Arts in Concord MA since 2007 where she is also serving as a capital campaign chair for the current $25 million dollar campaign. Her passion for the arts began with classical piano lessons. Later she taught herself how to play folk guitar. In college and beyond she studied voice and piano and sang in many choral groups. During that time she played guitar and sang folk music in coffee houses and bars. Her major commitment in the arts over the last 8 years has been planning and implementation of the first Capital Campaign for the Umbrella Center for the Arts.
Liz joined the CLOC Board in 2020 and currently serves as the Chair of the Development Committee.
Katie Lynch Koglin, (she/her)
Katie Koglin is a local harpist, vocalist, actor, and director. She received her Bachelors and Masters of Music from Boston Conservatory, and has played for CLOC since 1994. She has also played with the New Bedford Symphony, Arlington Philharmonic, Lowell Chamber Orchestra, recorded two albums in the Illumine Trio, has been a concerto soloist with Simon Sinfonietta and Falmouth Chamber Orchestra, and has presented numerous concerts, including "The Harp of Rodgers& Hammerstein." Ms. Koglin is a church soloist, has worked with many Cape theaters, and teaches at Cape Cod Academy. For more information please visit Capecodharpist.com.
Katie Koglin is a local harpist, vocalist, actor, and director. She received her Bachelors and Masters of Music from Boston Conservatory, and has played for CLOC since 1994. She has also played with the New Bedford Symphony, Arlington Philharmonic, Lowell Chamber Orchestra, recorded two albums in the Illumine Trio, has been a concerto soloist with Simon Sinfonietta and Falmouth Chamber Orchestra, and has presented numerous concerts, including "The Harp of Rodgers& Hammerstein." Ms. Koglin is a church soloist, has worked with many Cape theaters, and teaches at Cape Cod Academy. For more information please visit Capecodharpist.com.
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Sylvia Langford, (she/her)
DEI Committee, HR Committee Sylvia Langford brings invaluable experience in college level student affairs to the CLOC Board as well as a deep love for the performing arts. Her distinguished career included senior positions at Dartmouth College, UMass Amherst and most recently, Syracuse University from which she retired in 2015 as Associate Vice President of Student Affairs in Discovery and Engagement. |
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Rae Nishi, PhD (she/her)
DEI Committee, Chair; Development Committee
Dr. Nishi has a BS from Stanford; a PhD in Biology UCSD; and was a postdoc in the Department of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School. At the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR, she rose through faculty ranks to full professor, then moved in 2001 to the University of Vermont (UVM) where she was Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology and served as the founding director of the university-wide Neuroscience Graduate Program (NGP) as well as the Director of the Neuroscience,
Behavior, and Health Transdisciplinary Research Initiative. Her research in developmental neurobiology was continuously funded by NIH for over 30 years. She became the Director of Education at MBL in 2016 and retired in 2019. Over the past 20 years, she has been actively engaged in promoting diversity and inclusion. She was the Chair of the Professional Development Committee for the Society for Neuroscience from 2016-2019; a member of the Advisory Committee to the Director (of NIH) Working Group for Diversity from 2017-2021.
DEI Committee, Chair; Development Committee
Dr. Nishi has a BS from Stanford; a PhD in Biology UCSD; and was a postdoc in the Department of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School. At the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR, she rose through faculty ranks to full professor, then moved in 2001 to the University of Vermont (UVM) where she was Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology and served as the founding director of the university-wide Neuroscience Graduate Program (NGP) as well as the Director of the Neuroscience,
Behavior, and Health Transdisciplinary Research Initiative. Her research in developmental neurobiology was continuously funded by NIH for over 30 years. She became the Director of Education at MBL in 2016 and retired in 2019. Over the past 20 years, she has been actively engaged in promoting diversity and inclusion. She was the Chair of the Professional Development Committee for the Society for Neuroscience from 2016-2019; a member of the Advisory Committee to the Director (of NIH) Working Group for Diversity from 2017-2021.
Scott Pinkney (he/him)
Vice-President
Scott Pinkney (Lighting Design) Broadway designs include Harvey Fierstein’s Tony Award-winning Torch Song Trilogy. Off-Broadway credits include Vincent, Becoming Dr. Ruth, Majestic Kid, Divine Fire, and World is Made of Glass. He designed nearly 40 productions for Barrington Stage (named Associate Artist in 2014), including American Son, Best of Enemies, The Crucible, Whipping Man, Carousel, and Follies. His many regional designs include MALA for The Guthrie Theatre and The Huntington Theatre, Don Juan, Denver Center (Denver Critics Award), Comedy of Errors, Commonwealth Shakespeare (Elliot Norton Award), Balkan Women, BRT (Barrymore Nomination), Ulysses on Bottles, Israeli Stage (IRNE Nomination) and My Fair Lady, Theatre Virginia (Phoebe Award). His design for MALA was also broadcast on WGBH. Internationally, he has designed for Singapore Rep and Club Mohamed-Ali in Cairo.
Vice-President
Scott Pinkney (Lighting Design) Broadway designs include Harvey Fierstein’s Tony Award-winning Torch Song Trilogy. Off-Broadway credits include Vincent, Becoming Dr. Ruth, Majestic Kid, Divine Fire, and World is Made of Glass. He designed nearly 40 productions for Barrington Stage (named Associate Artist in 2014), including American Son, Best of Enemies, The Crucible, Whipping Man, Carousel, and Follies. His many regional designs include MALA for The Guthrie Theatre and The Huntington Theatre, Don Juan, Denver Center (Denver Critics Award), Comedy of Errors, Commonwealth Shakespeare (Elliot Norton Award), Balkan Women, BRT (Barrymore Nomination), Ulysses on Bottles, Israeli Stage (IRNE Nomination) and My Fair Lady, Theatre Virginia (Phoebe Award). His design for MALA was also broadcast on WGBH. Internationally, he has designed for Singapore Rep and Club Mohamed-Ali in Cairo.
Clyde Tyndale (he/him)
Facilities Committee, Chair
Clyde is retired from Falmouth Academy where he taught Stagecraft for 26 years and was involved in the technical aspects of nearly all performances during that time. He was Technical Director for the Cape Cod Theatre Project (1996-2011), and the Technical Director for the Bourne (MA) High School Drama Club (1997-2005). He has been working in technical theatre since 1968, and has been technical director, set designer, lighting designer, or sound designer for many theatrical and dance productions over the years, including for CLOC. He was
the Technical director for Workshops for the Folk Alliance Annual Conference (1995-2010), and was Technical Director of the Northeast Performing Arts Conference (1994 - 2000). He was the sound engineer for the Woods Hole Folk Music Society concerts for all of its forty-seven seasons. Clyde owns Euterpe Instruments, a sound reinforcement, lighting and technical production business specializing in folk and acoustic music, and is a co-owner of Pelagic Electronics, a manufacturer of oceanographic and scientific products. He is originally from San Diego, CA, holds a degree in Physics from San Diego State College (now S.D.S.U.), and has lived in the Falmouth area since 1964. He has been a CLOC Trustee since 1980 and currently is the chair of the Facilities committee.
Facilities Committee, Chair
Clyde is retired from Falmouth Academy where he taught Stagecraft for 26 years and was involved in the technical aspects of nearly all performances during that time. He was Technical Director for the Cape Cod Theatre Project (1996-2011), and the Technical Director for the Bourne (MA) High School Drama Club (1997-2005). He has been working in technical theatre since 1968, and has been technical director, set designer, lighting designer, or sound designer for many theatrical and dance productions over the years, including for CLOC. He was
the Technical director for Workshops for the Folk Alliance Annual Conference (1995-2010), and was Technical Director of the Northeast Performing Arts Conference (1994 - 2000). He was the sound engineer for the Woods Hole Folk Music Society concerts for all of its forty-seven seasons. Clyde owns Euterpe Instruments, a sound reinforcement, lighting and technical production business specializing in folk and acoustic music, and is a co-owner of Pelagic Electronics, a manufacturer of oceanographic and scientific products. He is originally from San Diego, CA, holds a degree in Physics from San Diego State College (now S.D.S.U.), and has lived in the Falmouth area since 1964. He has been a CLOC Trustee since 1980 and currently is the chair of the Facilities committee.
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Phil Zimmerman, (he/him)
Facilities Committee Phil Zimmerman is an award winning, registered Architect serving as Senior Associate in charge of architectural staff responsible for a variety of corporate, institutional and large infrastructure projects for a variety of public clients in many states. He was the director of architectural design focusing on sustainable - green buildings - site planning and landscape design and participated on selection boards for site artists selections for the NYC Percent for Public Art Program. In retirement, he has served as vice-president and member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth Governing Board and as a member and chair of UUFF Building and Grounds Committee and was designer and current curator of their Memorial Woodland and sustainable meadow management and improvement program. I am a 'ballet Dad' whose daughter danced at the School of American Ballet and who performed in many of the children's roles while there. We got to participate back stage and saw what the ballet world was like from the inside. |
Management
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Beth Burrier (she/her)
Associate Artistic Director Beth holds degrees in piano, voice and conducting from both Otterbein University and Ithaca College, and has over 150 musicals to her credit, including the National Tours of Rent, Beehive: the 60's Musical and The Full Monty. Some shows she has conducted at CLOC include The Music Man, Crazy For You, Fiddler on the Roof, and the CLOC premieres of Pippin and Les Miserables. She is a Visiting Associate Professor, Musical Theatre at Manhattanville College. |
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Deanna Dziedzina (she/her)
General Manager/ Box Office Supervisor After graduating from Rhode Island College with a BA in Technical Theatre, Deanna furthered her experience while working at Walt Disney World in Florida in many aspects of customer service, management, and new hire training. Since her return to Massachusetts in 1997, Deanna has held a wide variety of positions expanding her professional experience in the areas of hospitality, management, fundraising, and administration. As a lifelong fan of theater, she has performed all over Cape Cod over the past 17 years, including favorite |
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roles such as Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web where she was named one of the Cape Cod Times Performers of the Year and the White Witch in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, where, as a special treat, she was cast alongside her younger son, Noah. Her older son, EJ is currently following in his mother’s footsteps as a Cast Member at Walt Disney World in Florida.
Bryan Moses(he/him)
Head of Design and Production
Bryan is a passionate educator and designer with a deep love for the world of theatre and the arts. He received his B.A. in Theatre at St. Edward’s University, M.A. at Stephen F. Austin State University, and M.F.A. from the University of Houston. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, Bryan is the Head of the M.F.A. Scenic Design Program, where he specializes in computer-aided design and 3d/XR rendering. Bryan is a recent retiree from the volunteer firefighter service and is a proud veteran of the United States Army.
Head of Design and Production
Bryan is a passionate educator and designer with a deep love for the world of theatre and the arts. He received his B.A. in Theatre at St. Edward’s University, M.A. at Stephen F. Austin State University, and M.F.A. from the University of Houston. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, Bryan is the Head of the M.F.A. Scenic Design Program, where he specializes in computer-aided design and 3d/XR rendering. Bryan is a recent retiree from the volunteer firefighter service and is a proud veteran of the United States Army.
Mark A. Pearson (he/him)
Executive and Artistic Director
Originally from Hull, Massachusetts, Mark received his BA in theater and philosophy from Boston College and his MFA from Boston University. Mark has been a member of the CLOC family since 2003 and has held several different positions including costume designer: set designer and technical director: and stage director. Mark has also appeared on the Highfield Stage as a last minute cover. In addition to his dedication to CLOC, Mark has also kept up an active theater career designing, stage managing and assistant directing in Germany at several opera houses including the Aalto Musiktheater in Essen and the prestigious Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf.
Executive and Artistic Director
Originally from Hull, Massachusetts, Mark received his BA in theater and philosophy from Boston College and his MFA from Boston University. Mark has been a member of the CLOC family since 2003 and has held several different positions including costume designer: set designer and technical director: and stage director. Mark has also appeared on the Highfield Stage as a last minute cover. In addition to his dedication to CLOC, Mark has also kept up an active theater career designing, stage managing and assistant directing in Germany at several opera houses including the Aalto Musiktheater in Essen and the prestigious Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf.
