Rachel Stubbs – Sword forger, weapons presenter, stage combat choreographer and photographer.
Rachel has been active in theater combat as an actress, a choreographer, as well as weapon creation. Rachel is active in theater in the Chicago area, Babes with Blades, the Bristol Renaissance Faire, and much more.
Presenting: History of Weapons: the Roman sword through rapiers. Stage combat.
Mike Ostrowski – Professional Comedian
For over 25 years, Mike Ostrowski has entertained audiences across the Midwest as a polished, energetic comedy talent, headlining many of Chicago’s best clubs and opening for big names at concert halls in several states. Ostrowski’s ability to work with a diverse group of talents–including country artist Lee Greenwood, jazz band Special EFX, pop star Michael Damian and fellow comics Pauly Shore, Richard Lewis and Jerry Seinfeld–proves Mike’s act appeals to all types of audiences. He’s won awards competitions with his act, gained the respect of comics and club owners everywhere.
Presenting: Improvisational comedy, stand-up comedy, comedic acting, stage timing
Felicia Pfluger – LATTE Producer, Artistic and Managing Director.
Felicia has been directing productions for over a decade. With a varied background in theater, dance, song, script writing, teaching, counseling and management, she enjoys empowering teens for LATTE. Felicia approaches as theatre as Montessori meets Socratic method, allowing teens to develop leadership and theatricality simultaneously.
Presenting: Physicality, Stage Chemistry, Character and Relationship Development and Personalization, and Monologue Timing
Neil Massey – Sword forger, weapons presenter, stage combat choreographer
Neil Massey has developed quite a reputation for his stage combat weapons, which include rapiers, daggers and broadswords. They have been used in theaters across the country and overseas, others have been sold to university theater departments. Neil is a Stage Fight Director and owner of Rogue Steel.
http://roguesteel.com/rapiers.html
Presenting: History of Weapons: the Roman sword through rapiers. Stage Combat.
Barb Kalnes – Producer, Consultant in the Performing Arts
Barb has been dazzling the entertainment industry for quite a while. Her versatile abilities as a professional jazz, opera, gospel singer are utilized on her latest CD gracing the airways, Wayfaring Stranger. Barbara has toured and has two CDs playing on the radio currently. Additionally, she has worked with the Lyric Opera.
Presenting: Finding Comfort in your Vocal Performances. Improving your vocal performance.
Steve Schroeder – Professional Stage Exploration and Exercises
Steve, when not attending to duties as a professor at the College of Du Page Communications department, can be found Performing as the Bristol Renaissance Faire Mayor. Live Theatre venues with audience interaction are his natural element!
Presenting: Readers Theater Performance
John Paulett – Stage and Screen Actor, Director, and Playwright
John Paulett has worked professionally as an actor, director and playwright for forty years. His credits include film work such as The European Kid (official selection a SXSW and the Boston Film Festival,) produced plays such as In the Case of Henry Tandey, which premiered at the University of Memphis, and acting roles in Chicago, Cleveland and New York. John has published three books: Forgotten Chicago, Printers Row, and Pentecost Peanuts Popcorn and Prayer. He teaches currently teaches film and creative writing at Fenwick High School, where he is also the Music Director for the Blackfriars Theatre. John holds Masters’s degrees in Theatre and Theology and is currently completing a Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Antioch University (Los Angeles.).
Presenting: Instant play writing: 15 minute “flash plays” which are then to be quickly rehearsed and performed.
Kristine Scott Schultz, CYT, RYT
Kristine has enriched her life by exploring many avenues. She has a background in art, film, photography, singing, acting, dance, movement, musical theatre, fitness, yoga and teaching. Kristine worked many years in the film industry in Chicago where she utilized many of her talents. In 2001 she began a family with her husband Carl and she became a stay-at-home mom. While staying at home she began to teach fitness and study yoga. Kristine graduated from the Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program at the Temple of Kriya Yoga in Chicago in the spring of 2004. She currently runs her own yoga program, Yoga, Wellness & You, which focuses on working individually with clients to help them achieve their personal health and wellness needs. Kristine uses the practice of yoga in its entirety to help clients meet their personal goals. Kristine is also currently studying in the Para Yoga Training Program with Rod Stryker. Kristine is blessed to be able to study yoga and is grateful to share the gift of yoga with others.
Presenting: Neutral Body Posture Exercises, Cinematography
Alyssa Pfluger – College Intern, Director, Script Writer
Alyssa has a love of theater and teaching knows no bounds. Alyssa holds the college intern position of LATTE troupe senior mentor. She is a playwright with plays chosen for production and encore performances. Directing over 20 shows, lead acting in countless more, Alyssa believes firmly in the mission of LATTE.
Presenting: Theater acting games, warm ups, enunciation, and projection exercises.
Ron Keaton – Professional Actor and Vocalist
Ron has been dazzling audiences for years. This Chicago Equity Actor has shown his versatility as a veteran actor and songster. His latest work as a playwright is Whispers to the Moon, a one man production that transports the audience to the world of a hobo musing on life.
Presenting: Script writing, acting techniques, the acting code,
Ellie Babka - Producer
As producer, director, script writer, actress for the Riverside Township Radio Players, Ellie is passionate about the Golden Age of Radio (1930’s – 1950’s). She loves Jack Benny, Suspense, the Shadow, Fibber McGee and Molly and was a devoted listener of Chuck Schaden’s “Those Were the Days” radio program.
Sound effects are mostly re-created just as they were for the original plays – footsteps, door closings, fire (crackling cellophane) and theme music taped from live orchestras that often were part of programs.The Riverside Township and presents a live monthly program at the Township Auditorium to a live “studio” audience, free of charge. The shows are also televised for Local Cable Network 6 as well as streamed on the internet under www.riversideradio.net.
Joe Jencks – Internationally known singer
Joe is an international touring performer, songwriter, entertainer, and educator. From venues like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, to coffee houses, festivals, spiritual communities, and schools, Joe Jencks has spent the last nine years touring full time. His songs have traveled to every continent via radio, CDs, web casts, and other musicians. http://joejencks.com/index.php?page=bio
Presenting: Song and lyric writing, vocalizations
Dick Best – Producer
Dick’s credits include being a radio and TV commercial producer, creator and writer. He is well versed in corporate advertising and public relations director. He is a writer and producer of simulated radio and theater skits.
Dick has been active in a variety of theater troupes including Old Time Radio West (pro and semi-pro radio actors reading old radio scripts from the 1950′s-60′s). Acting credits include Scrooge in Dicken’s Christmas Carol, as well as everything from a high school student, to a Yiddish foil for Jack Benny, to Chester on Gunsmoke, to a Hungarian store clerk, as well as a commercial announcer.
Presenting: Dialects, Physicality
Donna Ameismeier – Radio Plays
Donna has acted in the Riverside Township Radio Players (RTRP) for several years. Her favorite roles so far are Ben Gunn in “Treasure Island” and Baby Snooks. She grew up listening to her late mom talk about fond memories of old-time radio shows. She loved listening to Chuck Shaden’s “Those Were The Days” – especially to The Shadow and the Fibber McGee and Molly programs. That inspired her to join the RTRP.
Presenting: Radio Plays
Nick Edinger – LATTE College Intern, Writer
We are excited to have Nick return to lead acting warm ups and offer candid answers in a Q and A about how to balance stagecraft and life for the student.
Presenting: Stagecraft and Life, Theater warm ups
