Our Staff
The Stage Right staff is small by design, with kids being able to keep an instructor for a length of time and build up a trust and rapport with that person. This also means the instructors have to be extremely qualified and able to sustain and education experience over a period of years, keeping the student engaged and moving forward in their knowledge.
Instructors
Voice and Private Voice - Dr. Ben Brinkley
Acting - Anthony Marino and Elizabeth Brinkley
Dance - Renata Marino
Ballet Mistress - Heidi Hunter
Pre-School Program - Rebecca Shirey and Renata Marino
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Originally from Wisconsin, Renata came east in order to go to Point Park University and major in musical theatre. While there she became the epitome of a triple threat, at the top of class as an actor, singer and dancer. After graduation, she found work immediately in professional theatre with roles for; the City Theatre, St. Vincent Summer Theatre, the Pittsburgh Playhouse and Gargaro Productions (Now Pittsburgh Musical Theatre) to name a few. Renata has been named one of the “Performers of the Year” by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette for such varied work as Columbia in “The Rocky Horror Show” and Gloria in “Return to the Forbidden Planet.” Along with keeping her finger on the pulse of the school, Renata teaches the higher level dance classes as well as working as a choreographer and director for the theatre company. |
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Tony is a homegrown product, and attended California University as a Broadcasting major. He is fond of saying that he is one of the few who ever escaped the yoke of having a ‘fallback’ job. After college he was hired as an announcer and producer by WQED-FM where he worked for five years, eventually becoming public relations directo. He was rescued from this highly stimulating, non-dream job when he was given his first Equity contract by the Pittsburgh Public Theatre for a production of Sweeney Todd. Deciding he had been kidding himself by not doing this full time, he quit WQED and found theatre work plentiful. As well as working for The Public, CLO, Gargaro Productions and St. Vincent Summer Theatre, he also found a great deal of work in, ironically enough, radio voice-overs. Represented by The Talent Group in Pittsburgh, Tony has had the pleasure of doing a number of television commercials, industrial films, radio ads, and two very cool projects: the movie Sudden Death, and as the voice of Johnson the pink elephant in the nationally syndicated children’s show “Johnson and Friends” seen on FOX networks from 1994-1997. Tony teaches acting, advanced acting as well as directing for the professional theatre company. |
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Chris Rizk, is the founder of Stage Right and Executive Director. With a Masters in Public Management from Carnegie Mellon, Chris is responsible for business management, marketing, development and grant writing for Stage Right. Chris is also producer of the theatre company. With an extensive background in singing, Chris substitutes in the voice classes and teaches private voice classes. |
Administration
Executive Director - Christine Rizk-Orosz
Artistic Director - Anthony Marino
School Coordinator - Renata Marino
Accounting - Lori Harr
Administrative Assistant - JoAnne Salvatore
Production Staff
Wardrobe Mistress - Kim Markijohn
Costume Designer - Rachel Parent
Scenic Designer - Mark Kissner
Construction - Mark Cole, M.C. Maintenance
Sound Technician - Nick Donley
Board of Directors
President - Deborah McDonald
V. President - Ray Brannon
Secretary Treasurer - Jack Simon
Maury Auer
James Boggs
Anthony Marino
Christine Rizk-Orosz
The Company
Stage Right Professional Theatre Company employs equity actors, local pros and young budding pros from local universities like Point Park, University of Pittsburgh and Seton Hill among others. Stage Right students are also used in the professional productions, allowing them to be mentored to at the highest level. This direct contact with performing pros gives the kids a leg up on college competition as well and aids immeasurably with their development. Stage Right Theatre Company is interested in producing family friendly entertainment that breaks new ground in how it is presented. A use of non-traditional casting and artistic freedom creates a production atmosphere that guarantees audiences a fresh and exciting experience even if it’s a show they’ve seen produced before. All of this means one thing for Stage Right patrons, the thrill and quality of professional theatre in your own backyard. Ironically enough, score of patrons have asked actors after Stage Right productions where the show was headed next, thinking it was a traveling show and not a shining example what it is a top notch professional theatre that has its roots firmly planted in the Western Pennsylvania.