Marisa DelMonaco, therapist, has a BA, a LMT and is certified in nutritional therapy and emotion code. Additionally she is a graduate of the Institute for Integrated Nutrition. She has studied holistic health for many years encompassing meditation, relaxation and personal growth work. Nutrition and wellness are a focus of her life and studies. She graduated from the Florida School of Massage and is a licensed Massage Therapist. Ms. DelMonaco has been an enthusiastic attendant to the Chekhov International Theatre Festival and fundraiser for the last eight years. Her previous board work includes six years service on the board of the Housatonic Valley Waldorf School in Newtown, Connecticut. She first served as secretary and then treasurer, and spent additional years helping in a fundraising role. A Redding resident for the past eleven years, Marisa is a mother of two and enjoys cooking, hiking, painting, dancing, cross country skiing and maintains a meditation and yoga practice. She and her husband David Schoenberg run their practice -- Mountain Therapeutics -- a wellness center in Redding.
Nancy Ponturo is a professional actor who last performed in "Almost Maine" and "Love Letters" at New Pond Farm in Redding. For the past fourteen years she has been the Artistic Director of Summer Shakespeare at New Pond Farm. She has directed at the American Globe Theatre and The Dramatists Guild in NYC as well as The Rich Forum and The Ridgefield Theater Barn in CT. Nancy has directed plays for Joel Barlow High School and Weston High School as well as "Poetry in Motion" at the Wilton Library.
Stephanie Trolle is the owner of a pet services company which operates in the Ridgefield area. As an avid theater goer, Stephanie understands the importance of the arts in the community and has been a long-time supporter of the Chekhov Festival, attending performances and donating her services to the annual auction. Living in Ridgefield and servicing her clientele in town has given her an understanding of how the town works. She was a Psychology Major and English minor at Ithaca College. She has a Nurse Assistant certificate and graduated second in her class. She also comes with extensive experience as a teacher and nanny. Her talents and interests include music, sports, nature, gardening and hiking. Stephanie is a passionate singer and has been a member of the Ridgebury Congregational Church Choir for over twenty years as well as a frequenter to karaoke night. She is a cofounder of the Wolfpit Running Club and and completed the Ridgefield Triathlon six times. A published author, Stephanie enjoys writing and hopes to use this skill in her work for the festival. She now resides in Danbury with family.
Hamilton Clancy (Artistic Director) founder and current artistic director of the Drilling Company and with them has led Shakespeare in the Parking Lot for over a decade.. 2015 producer: Two Gentlemen of Verona (TDC’s Bryant Park Shakespeare), As You Like It (Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, Romeo and Juliet BPS), MacBeth SitPL, Taming of the Shrew (BPS) this summer in Manhattan with TDC’s Bryant Park Shakespeare and The Drilling Company’s Shakespeare in the Parking Lot .2014: directed the Bryant Park Shakespeare production of Hamlet, as well as critically acclaimed productions of Twelfth Night and Othello: produced the world premiere of C. Denby Swanson’s, The Norwegians which ran for 168 performances Off-Broadway. Actor Film and TV: (upcoming) Spielberg’s BRIDGE OF SPIES (2015), THE BETTER ANGELS, Coen Brothers’ BURN AFTER READING, AMERICAN GANGSTER, and EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE. His numerous television credits include the series ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK on Netflix in which he currently portrays the part of Kowalski.
He is fortunate to be husband of Karen Kitz-Clancy and father of Joseph Clancy.
Jeffery Albanesi was born and raised in Ridgefield where he attended public school. He graduated from Emerson College with a major in advertising and public relations and a minor in performing arts. After 20 years of metropolitan life in Manhattan, he returned to bucolic Ridgefield in 2009 where he still resides. He is an account executive for Argento Vivo Sterling Silver in New York City. His greatest interest is the local arts scene and he has become a well-known attendee to events in Ridgefield and its surrounding towns. He is very active in social media and creates excitement for art shows and performances he attends. Jeffery is a long standing Chekhov Festival supporter and brings his networking, enthusiasm and devotion to our board.
Lenka Pichlíková – Burke (Festival Dramaturg) Lenka is an American actress of Czech descent, the seventh generation of her family to appear onstage since the 18th century. Her great-uncle was the noted national actor, Ladislav Pešek. While in Czechoslovakia, she performed on stage in many theatres, played in twelve films, and created over 40 television roles, rising to the rank of Advanced Master Artist. In addition to performing as a speaking actress, she was also involved professionally in classic pantomime. Since the 1980s she has resided in the United States, where she has performed onstage in speaking for more than 25 years. Since 1988, she has been a member of the Actors' Equity Association, the union which represents professional actors. In 2006 she was named the "Best Mime"
of Fairfield County, Connecticut. She teaches performing arts, dramatic literature, and cultural history, and translates plays.
Patti comes to the Chekhov Festival board as a lifelong resident of Fairfield County and an experienced real estate broker. She graduated with a B.A. degree in International Business from Simmons College. Following various international assignments, she and her husband Charlie raised four children in Ridgefield. Patti feels that the Ridgefield area is the best place in the world to live!
Her volunteer activities have included working with the SafeRides of Ridgefield, the Soccer Club of Ridgefield, the Ridgefield PTA, and St. Stephen’s Church. For ten years, she served as organizer and host of the Ridgefield Bernese Mountain Dog Parade.
She is currently a realtor at Neumann Real Estate and has been an award winning agent including “5 Star Real Estate Agent” designation in Connecticut Magazine and Westchester Magazine.
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Michael Chekhov Theatre Festival