Marydell Merrill - Teacher / Director 

She has directed over 25 productions, as an actor she has performed with several Connecticut companies

including Long Wharf Theatre and Connecticut Free Shakespeare. Marydell is an audio describer for the

vision impaired and describes several productions every season for Yale Repertory Theatre. As a workshop

presenter she has participated in the Yale Repertory Theatre WILL POWER! teacher workshops, the CT

Association for Physical Fitness, Health, Recreation and Dance, Master Teaching Artist for Break dancing

Shakespeare at Hartford Stage, and several educational theatre festivals at the state, regional and national

level, including the International Thespian Festival. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and is

the current State Director ofConnecticut Thespians, an Educational Theatre Association Affiliate. Marydell

was the recipient of the 2014 Inspirational Theatre Educator Award from the International Thespian

Society, and the Hall of Fame Award from the NorthEast Educational Theatre Festival. Her work with

middle school students was featured in the fall 2014 issue of Teaching Theatre.

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Gregory J. Downing - Lighting Designer

Greg is the Director of Engineering for a video display company. He has been a lighting designer for 30

yearsand was the Technical Director for the John Lyman Center at SCSU for 20 years!

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Sara Normand - Costume Designer

"Sam" has been with Hamden Theatre for over thirty years. She holds a BFA in Theatre Management and

Costuming from University of Rhode Island. She worked for many years with Stage Lighting Rental Service

and spent several summers at Mac-Hayden Theatre. She served for ten years as Production Stage

Manager for CDA High School Theatre Festival.

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Meg Normand - Assistant Costume Designer

Meg has done costuming for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Santa Fe Opera, Long Wharf

Theatre and other regional theatres. She now enjoys volunteering for the Hamden High School Mainstage

Ensemble.

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Brean Yates - Master Carpenter/Technical Director

Previously Brean worked as the technical director for the Saybrook Stage Company building sets for

Noises, Deathtrap, Moon Over Buffalo and The Wayside Motor Inn. Theatre is a departure from his

full-time work as an independent contractor where he has done everything from historic restorations, to

deck and patio work and even new construction. In his earlier career he helped to create a theatre space

and built a stage at Albertus Magnus College. Brean is excited to be working with the students of

Hamden Mainstage as he continues to master the concepts of stage construction techniques. When not

working, Brean enjoys boating on Long Island Sound and spending time in the Thimble Islands.

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Alejandro Lopez - Scenic Charge Instructor

Alejandro Lopez is a graduate of Hamden High School and Mainstage Ensemble. He is an actor and a

theatre artisan. Previous tech credits include: Play Director for Spring Glen School. Company Manager,

Prop Designer, Graphic Designer for Connecticut Free Shakespeare. Prop Designer, Graphic Designer,

Scenic Charge Instructor for Hamden High School. Stage Manager for Pantochino Productions.

 

David Valley - Properties Master

While new to Hamden, Mr. Valley has a long history with theatre. During his school years, he acted and

helped with sets and props. In college, he hung out with his girlfriend (now wife) at the Uconn Theatres.

He was Technical Director at Guilford High School Theatre Arts from 2002 to 2012 and Properties

Advisor/ Designer from 2012. He still consults at Guilford. Mr.Valley enjoys woodworking, metalworking,

electronics and tinkering. His extensive workshops allow him  to create some of the intricate props you

see on stage. Mr. Valley hopes to have a long and fruitful run at Hamden.

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Kate Socha- Instrumental Director/Conductor

Kate teaches Music Technology and Instrumental Music Lessons at HHS. Kate served as Instrumental

Director/ Conductor for our productions of Oklahoma! and Disney's Beauty and the Beast This is Kate’s

third year working with Mainstage Ensemble.

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