About SPA

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 Los Angeles native Barb Stitzer started acting when she was six years old and spent the next 20 years working as an actress in television, film, soap operas; commercials and theatre. She studied directly with the legendary Sanford Meisner, who then taught her to teach others to Live Truthfully Under Imaginary Circumstances. She coaches actors from beginners wanting to get their first agent to recognizable names. She is a Momager to her daughter Tenley, a television actress with a recurring role on Vindication, a faith based television series and to Zoe, a copywriter and novelist. She is also an award winning commercial photographer, and trains her actors to look and, more importantly, feel their best in front of the camera.

Her favorite moment is when a young person’s eyes light up when they make the connection between who they are as a person and who they are as an actor, because that is where the magic begins.

 Lisa Huston, a 1988 Music-Ed / Piano graduate of Otterbein College (University) has been working with youth musicians professionally since 1988. She began her career teaching ages K-12 in Danville Local Schools. While at Danville, she also began having the students perform musicals each year. Unlike past performances in Danville that used recorded music, Lisa introduced live musicians to accompany the performance. She also directed, or performed as musical director, for community theater and church musicals during this time. Since moving to a position as High School Choir Director at Big Walnut in 1998 (and Assistant Band Director since 2000), Lisa served as Music Director for the High School Drama performances from 1998 to 2019. During her career she has directed and been Musical Director in over 40 musicals in the public school, summer community theater and church productions and has taken groups of students to multiple locations nationally to learn from professional musical theater performers.

 Ben has had the honor and privilege of being a professional working actor, director, and artist educator in the Columbus area for the past 10 years. He got his start as an Acting Apprentice with CATCO is Theatre back in 2014. That next fall he played Smudge, in Forever Plaid, with CATCO is Theatre in their main stage season. After spending time with several companies as an actor he got the directing bug and directed a one act in a local theatre festival in 2017. Last fall he got the chance to direct the musical, The Fantasticks, with having the role of Judah in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to follow. Ben has worked with; CATCO Is Theatre/ Kids, Actors Theatre, Weathervane Playhouse, Evolution Theatre Company, and Original Theatre Productions along with various other companies. At this moment, Ben has worked on a total of 47 shows and is thrilled to have the chance to spend the fall with your young artists on Into The Woods Jr. He can’t wait to collaborate and get to work. 

 Mary-Kate was born and raised in Worthington. Her passion in theatre was piqued while working alongside Bronwynn and David Hopton as a Thomas Worthington student. She is an alumna of Bowling Green State University with a degree in Theatre, where she was able to expand her experience with acting, movement, directing and theatrical hair and make-up. Mary-Kate is a Board Member at Worthington Community Theatre and Manager at Worthington Pools. 

Taryn could not be more delighted to be choreographing Into the Woods Jr. at Sunbury Performing Arts! She has worked all over Ohio and in parts of Missouri as a performer, choreographer, director and stage manager. Most recently, she has directed Anne of Green Gables with Aethereal Jest Arts Council and performed in Evolution Theatre Company’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Taryn holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Missouri State University. “Have Courage and Be Kind.” 

Jen is thrilled to sign on as the costume director for SPA's production of Into the Woods Jr. You may have seen her last costume directing for SPA's production of Annie, Jr! She is the proud owner of JMichele Design, LLC. where she creates luxury, custom athleisure-wear for her clients. Jen has a BA from Otterbein University and has over 15 years of experience altering and customizing fine fabrics. She looks forward to working with her daughter, Riley, and the rest of the cast to bring this amazing musical to life onstage through costumes. 

Melissa makes her debut as set designer for Sunbury Performing Arts’ upcoming show Into the Woods! Her days are filled serving as Director, Global Compensation for Cardinal Health, and in her “downtime”, Melissa enjoys fueling her artistic side by designing and sewing clothing, painting landscapes, and putting the finishing touches on her latest DIY projects. Her most recent accomplishment includes assisting with the set design and construction for Sunbury Performing Arts' Willy Wonka Jr. production.

Melissa is a proud alumnus of The Ohio State University earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and serves on the Board for the Columbus Compensation Association. She and her husband Curt reside in Galena, Ohio, and have been happily married for over fifteen years. They love spending time with their two boys; Jake (13) and Alex (11), and their German Shepherd, Taylor.