Diversity Statement

Musical 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 and different bodies we will create outstanding productions.

The mission of the DEI task force 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 musical theater

Members (in alphabetical order by last name):

• 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 in MA. David was an inaugural member of the BKB Law Office diversity leadership council and has spoken on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

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• 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 spent six seasons at CLOC, holding the positions of Box Office Treasurer, Publicity Director, Work Director, and Chef. Marissa is a Marketing Manager for 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. Marissa is an avid cookie and cake decorator.

• 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.​

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• Zachary Manlapid (he/him): Zach is an alum of the Music Staff (Associate Conductor 2019-2020) and is an active conductor, vocal coach, singer, and violist. He is currently a graduate conducting student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

• Alison Morooney (she/her): Alison has been a stage director at CLOC since 2017. She graduated with a BFA in musical theatre in 20212 and is currently pursuing her MFA in directing at Penn State University.

• Rae Nishi (she/her): Rae is the Chair of this Task Force 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.

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• Mark Pearson (he/him): Mark is Executive/ Artistic Director of CLOC.  Mark received his BA in theater and philosophy from Boston College and his MFA from Boston University. Previously, Mark's theater career focused on 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.