Diversity Statement

Music theater is a universal language; therefore, CLOC makes every attempt to practice color- and culture- conscious story telling while maintaining the integrity of the works.  Consequently, we actively seek to recruit company and staff who represent the diversity of society, inclusive of all experiences.  With different minds, bodies, and experiences we will create outstanding productions. The mission of the DEI Committee is to make recommendations to CLOC so the company will become a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion in the theater arts by
training diverse company members in all aspects of performance, production and theatre arts administration.
​
The mission of the DEI Committee is to make recommendations to CLOC so the company will become a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion in the theater arts by training diverse company members in all aspects of performance, production and theatre arts administration.

Goals:

• To expand the racial and ethnic diversity of CLOC company members, staff, and board
• To employ inclusive recruiting practices by expanding the network of colleges​ and universities who send students to CLOC for training
• To create an equitable and inclusive environment for training in music theater

DEI Fellowship:

To provide equitable support to participants of CLOC, we have established a DEI Fellowship Fund that will provide funding to those who cannot otherwise afford to be part of this intensive summer internship experience. Specifically, it will cover the loss of income from jobs mandated by financial aid and it will cover the costs of transport to and from to Cape Cod. We actively seek donors to this fund. In order to donate, please click the button and select Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fellowship.

Donate

---

Members:

• Marie Younger Blackburn (she/her): Marie is the Host- Moderator of “Conversations That Matter” a panel discussion that explores Race, Diversity, and Inclusion. Marie is also the Visionary and Event Planner of Driven Cape Cod's Conference for Women. She was the former Chef De Partie at CLOC for several seasons.

• David Bryson (he/him): Currently retired, David was the chief legal officer and Board secretary of Endurance International Group Holdings, Inc., a multinational Internet services company, where he built and led a diverse legal team providing and managing all legal and regulatory services for the company globally.   David is past Board Chair of ArtsBoston (AB), a non-profit audience development organization supporting the theatre and arts community, and currently a member of the Board of Directors of Cape Symphony. David was an inaugural member of the BankBoston Law Office diversity leadership council and has spoken on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

​

• David Cantor (he/him): David is a proud alum of the CLOC vocal company (1972-1977) and now serves as Treasurer on the CLOC Board of Trustees. He has worked as a professional actor for the past 40-plus years.

• Marissa Gonzales (she/her): Marissa Gonzales is the Director of Marketing for WICKED on Broadway and has been part of the show's marketing team since January 2015. Originally from Albuquerque, NM, Marissa studied Theatre at Eastern New Mexico University. She now lives in New York City, where she also bakes custom cakes and cookies for Broadway shows. Marissa is an alumnus of several CLOC seasons, having tackled the roles of Box Office Treasurer, Publicity Director, Work Director, and Chef.

​
​

• Sylvia Langford (she/her): Sylvia 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.​  She has served on the board since 2021.

 

• Orlando Montalvo Avalo: is a versatile performer praised for his artistry across musical theater, opera and oratorio. As a Young Artist with the Opera Company of Middlebury, he has appeared in roles including Parpignol (La Bohème), Gherardo (Gianni Schicchi), and Dormont (La Scala di Seta). He also debuted as Count Belfiore in Die Gärtnerin aus Liebe and Alfred in Die Fledermaus through Middlebury College’s German for Opera Singers program. Montalvo made his professional debut with New Orleans Opera as Don Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro and has performed with LSU Opera as Justice Scalia (Scalia/Ginsburg) and Encore Opera Company as Monostatos (The Magic Flute). From 2021 to 2023, he was a member of the College Light Opera Company, where he appeared as Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance), Alexis (The Sorcerer), and Sebastian (The Little Mermaid). He holds vocal performance degrees from Louisiana State University and Rhode Island College.​

• Rae Nishi (she/her): Rae is the Chair of this Committee and is a retired neuroscientist who is a year round resident in Falmouth.  Previous to retirement, she was an executive (Director of Education) at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) where she was also a member of the Woods Hole Diversity Advisory Committee.  Prior to arriving at MBL, she was a tenured full professor of neurological sciences and founding director of the Neuroscience Graduate Program at the University of Vermont. She has enjoyed a number of CLOC performances as a member of the audience.​​