Manager of Integrated Communications, CANDICE BAILEY – x204
Candice joined the Garden Theatre team in July 2018. She has been active in the arts since she attended community theatre and art classes in her childhood, and has been playing oboe and saxophone in band ensembles and pit orchestras since sixth grade. Candice is a 2017 graduate of Reinhardt University, and received a B.S. in Business Marketing, a B.A. in English Literature, and a Minor in Music. She also holds a Certificate in Leadership Practice from Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership. When she’s not at the theatre, she loves to bake, read, cross-stitch, and visit the theme parks.
Lead House Manager, DEVIN BARRASS – x211
Education Director, NICK BAZO – x201
Nick is a Cuban American director, teaching artist, and arts administrator originally from South Florida. Previously he worked in Boston as the Director of Programs for The Theater Offensive where he ran the True Colors: OUT Youth Theater Program for LGBTQ Youth. He also worked as the Manager of School Programs at Boston’s Citi Performing Arts Center and at the Orlando REP as a teaching artist and actor. Nick holds an MFA in Theater from the University of Central Florida, a BA in Theatre from Rollins College, and a Youth Development Training Certificate from The BEST Initiative. He studied with nationally renowned artists including Tectonic Theatre Project (creators of The Laramie Project), Double Edge Theater, Norma Bowles, Octavio Campos, and Michael Rohd. He is a former board member at the American Alliance for Theatre and Education and at the Pride Youth Theater Alliance. In 2014 Nick received the Wesley V. Montgomery Memorial Mentorship and Leadership Initiative award from the National Performance Network.
Associate Artistic Director, ROBERTA EMERSON
Roberta Emerson is a Director, Actor, Producer, and educator among many other hats she proudly wears. She is a graduate of both the University of Minnesota with a BFA in Acting and Theatre Management and New York University with an MFA in Acting. She has worked as an actor and director in many regional theaters around the country, has done extensive voice over, commercial and film work, and has been a teaching artist both stateside and in Europe. Roberta is an active voice for the representation of BIPOC artists and as such, serves as the Theatre Relations lead and Interim Executive Organizer with the Central Florida Entertainment Advocacy Organization. She is also on the Board of The Arts Bridge Charity, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing relief to struggling artists and Associate Artistic Consultant for CFCARTS. She is currently the Director of Theatre for Montverde Academy’s Theatre Conservatory and is represented by Lock Talent.
Event Manager, BRIAN FALLON – x206
Brian was born and raised in Central Florida. He graduated from UCF in 1989 with a BA in Political Science but while at UCF he worked in the UCF Theatre Department as a House Manager and Box Office assistant. He also took classes in Technical Theatre which led him to a career in event design and production in the Convention and Meeting industry. After spending several years working in the Orlando area he began freelancing as a Meeting and Event Planner. Brian’s career has taken him all over the world, from Casablanca to Hong Kong, with extended work in Switzerland, Ireland, and Italy. Brian has also managed sponsor hospitality for Fortune 100 companies, the Olympic Games of 1998 in Japan, 2000 in Australia, and 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He moved to Winter Garden in 2001 with his wife and in 2003 their daughter was born. They are happy to be raising their daughter in Winter Garden’s family-friendly environment.
Box Office Associate, SUE FOSTER – x211
Sue joined Garden Theatre as a volunteer in 2014 and began working in the Box Office in April 2015. Before the days of being a stay-at-home parent, Sue worked in film and TV distribution for The Walt Disney Company in London (where she’s originally from) and Sony Pictures in Los Angeles. After a spell in Connecticut and then back in the UK, she settled in Central Florida in 1999 with her husband and their daughter. Sue feels privileged to be part of the Garden Theatre family and thoroughly enjoys helping and getting to know our patrons. When not at the theatre, Sue can usually be found enjoying a cup of tea with her nose in a book, on a long walk, or bingeing the latest mini-series.
Production Manager, JASON GOLINSKY – x209
Jason joined the Garden Theatre staff as Production Manager in December 2017 after a long and successful career with Theatre Passe Muraille and many years associated with the Fringe Festival in Toronto, Canada. He made the move to the Central Florida area with the goal of being closer to family, and to further his career with another nonprofit arts organization. His experiences all over North America and Japan, in association with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Technical Theatre and Stage Management, have developed Jason’s skills in all phases of production management, lighting design and beyond. He is excited to contribute these skills to the Garden and to be part of this innovative and dedicated team.
Director of Development, TANNEKA GUICE – x205
Tanneka Guice was born Tanneka Howard in Iowa, yes you heard right, Iowa City, Iowa and raised in Mississippi (Go Alcorn {pronounced ALL-CORN} Braves)! She and her husband moved to Florida in 2002. Tanneka is a first-generation college graduate in her immediate family. The Alcorn State University alum earned both her B.A. in Communications and Master of Science in Education from there. She has over 20 years of experience in the Public Relations and Communications fields. Tanneka loves to encourage, edify, and inspire others, and is honored to play the role of a dynamic leader, yet still operating as a diligent and humble servant. A long time lover of the Arts, Tanneka transitioned from an extensive background in human services to the Garden Theatre in 2021. Tanneka is always willing and ready to share God’s Word with others her humble journey from poverty to preaching. Currently Tanneka is enrolled in Newburgh Theological Seminary and Bible College pursuing her 2nd Master’s degree in Biblical Studies. Simply put, only through unmerited favor, continuous grace and unending mercy, Tanneka is a survivor. Tanneka has been proud to carry the last name of her college sweetheart, LeRoy Guice since 2000. Only through the wisdom given to them, they mastered the art of producing and raising three beautiful children – their Opening Act, Gabrielle Rose, 17, their Finale, Corey Clifton, 13, and their proof of God having a sense of humor, their Encore, Luke Leighton, 3.
Box Office Lead, MARY JONES – x211
Mary relocated from Northern Virginia to Central Florida 25 years ago, and has loved it ever since! Mary first joined the Garden Theatre family as a volunteer 4 years ago, following a career in the reservations department at US Airways. After a year of volunteering, she joined the staff as Box Office Associate. She loves supporting other local arts organizations, including her favorite: Orlando Ballet.
Director of Marketing, DESIREE MONTES – x210
Desiree Montes is an AEA-Equity Singer/Actress/Dancer/Voice-Over Artist and has been a part of the professional Central Florida theatre, film, industrial, and theme park entertainment industry for over 15 years. She is also an Audition Preparation Coach, Director, and Arts Educator. In addition to theatrical stages all over Central Florida, you may have seen her at Universal Studios as Mabel (The Blues Brothers Show) and as Celestina Warbeck (Diagon Alley). As well as Coral/Peach (Finding Nemo: The Musical), and annually as a Gospel/R&B Singer (Joyful! A Celebration of the Holiday!). Some of her notable credits include “Norma Valverde” (Hands on a Hardbody) here on the Garden stage, “Aida” (Aida: the Musical), “Sarah” (Ragtime: the Musical), “Daniela” (In The Heights), “Oda Mae Brown” (Ghost: the Musical), and “Billie Holiday” (Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill). She made her Off-Broadway debut at the 2019 New York Musical Festival. Actively seeking to be a voice for equality, diversity and inclusion, in addition to being on the Actor’s Equity Liaison Committee, Desiree is the Communications & Digital Outreach Lead for Central Florida Entertainment Advocacy, where she has developed and continues to maintain the structure and functionality of CFEA’s websites.
Managing Director, ELISA SPENCER-KAPLAN – x203
Elisa Spencer-Kaplan brings 20 years’ arts leadership experience to her role at the Garden. Mostly recently, she served as Executive Director of New York City’s The Acting Company, leading a five-year period of major transition and significant artistic acclaim, including the 2019 Audelco Award-winning Best Play Native Son and the world premiere of Marcus Gardley’s X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation. As Managing Director of Off-Broadway’s York Theatre, she stabilized the organization’s finances while overseeing award-winning productions including Yank! and Enter Laughing, The Musical. She has also been Managing Director of CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory & Theatre Company, Chicago’s Shattered Globe Theatre, and the Yale Cabaret, where she produced the world premiere of Academy Award winner Tarell McCraney’s Without/Sin. She has also held roles with Yale Rep, Second Stage, and the America-Israel Cultural Foundation. She was a board member of the League of Chicago Theatres and a recipient of the Guthrie Theater’s Rea Management Fellowship. She holds an M.F.A. in Arts Management from Yale School of Drama and an honors B.A. in English from Carleton College. Elisa is excited to join the Winter Garden community with her husband, Broadway and jazz composer Russ Kaplan, and their daughter Emilia.
Group Sales Manager, LANDON ST. GORDON – x208
Landon St. Gordon is an Orlando native who works with progressive candidates in getting elected throughout Florida and the US. He has been a part of over 100 successful campaigns, winning 6 national awards for direct mail design. Landon also works with art organizations throughout Central Florida for a variety of programming needs — a true passion of his. He holds an MBA from Rollins College and was recognized by Orlando Business Journal’s 40 under 40 in 2021.
Front of House and Company Manager, EVAN VALLE – x207
Driven by a strong passion to serve the arts community and foster audience relationships, Evan has been a Box Office Manager in the Central Florida area for the past 6 years. Evan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre from Stevenson University in Stevenson, MD and a Leadership Practice Certificate from Rollins College Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership. As an avid fan of Halloween, you can find him screaming through the streets at Halloween Horror Nights or your local haunted house every October! Evan is honored to be a part of the Garden Theatre team and can’t wait to welcome you at the Box Office!
Artistic Director, JOSEPH C. WALSH – x220
Joseph C. Walsh is an award-winning theatre director and educator who has served the Artistic Director of Arlington Children’s Theatre in Arlington, MA and Wild Oats Productions in the UK. He was the Interim Director of Education at the White Plains Performing Arts Center where he also directed Ghost (starring Natalie Weiss and Steven Grant Douglas) and West Side Story. Joseph directed critically acclaimed productions of Hairspray and Singin’ In the Rain for the Cork Opera House in Ireland. In 2013 Joseph collaborated with West End star Linzi Hateley to devise and direct Linzi Hateley: True Colors – Life Since Carrie at Saint James Theatre in London and 54 Below in New York as well as the London revival of Love Story: The Musical, which was nominated for an Off-West End Award for Best Musical. Joseph directed the Off-Broadway premiere of Sonder at The Player’s Theatre and in London’s West End he served as Assistant Director on Coyote on A Fence and Resident Director on When Harry Met Sally (starring Molly Ringwald and Michael Landes). Joseph spent three seasons as the Touring Director for White Horse Theatre, the world’s largest touring educational theatre company, where his work was seen across Europe and Japan.
Technical Director, JIM ZERVAS – x214
Jim joined the team at the Garden Theatre in January 2018. He hails from North Carolina, but is not a total stranger to Florida – his last stint was as the Technical Director at the freeFall Theatre Company in St. Pete. He received his M.F.A. in Theatre with a concentration in Technical Production from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2015.
Chris Cutillar, Digital Specialist
Kim Kiraly, Volunteer Coordinator & House Manager
Erica Nowak, House Manager
Lori Pello, House Manager
Kristen Pena, House Manager
Lori Weaver, Grants Specialist
The Garden Theatre relies heavily on the dedication of its volunteer Board of Directors and attributes much of its success to countless hours of commitment from this handful of individuals.
Wes Catlett-Miller, Chair
Wiley
Allie Braswell, Vice Chair
The Braswell Group
Larry Henrichs, Treasurer
Visit Orlando (Retired)
David J. Romano, Ph. D., Secretary
Barry University
JoAnn Ankoviak
AdventHealth Apopka/Winter Garden
Diana R. Chambers
Noom
Keith Davenport
Production Executive, Public & Private Sector Events
Ray Fournier
Walt Disney World Resort®
Wendy Givoglu
Valencia College
Andrew Hardy
Disney Cruise Line
Bill Hayden
Universal Orlando
Matthew E. Jassak
Foley & Lardner LLP
Meka King and Felichia Chivaughn
Central Florida Entertainment Advocacy
James Mallonee
House of Blues Entertainment
Greg Mason
Orlando Economic Partnership
Christina McGuirk
Health Central Hospital
Dr. Jeffery Redding
University of Central Florida
Keith Smith
The Walt Disney Company
Wayne Weinberg
Rollins College
Todd Wheeler
Wheeler Projects, Inc.
Becky Roper, Emeritus Trustee
Founding Board President
Pilars Martini
Barbara Roper, Emeritus Trustee
Contour Groves
Junior Board Members
Winter Garden, FL 34787