ORPHEUS THEATRE STAFF

Michelle Gardner, Executive Director

Janet Lampo, Office/Box Office Manager

Sarah Lynn Hazard, Publicity & Marketing Manager

ORPHEUS THEATRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kathy Tobiassen, President

John Chamard, Vice President

Sarah Patterson, Treasurer

Maria E. Kelso, Kathleen Mami-Moore, Julia Baxter-MacGregor,

Bill Goertemoeller, Doug Decker, Debra Ost, Owen Ayre, Michael Valinoti

About Orpheus Theatre:

Orpheus Theatre was founded by Oneonta resident and SUNY Oneonta professor, Peter Macris.

Macris had also founded the renowned Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, NY in the 1970s.

A devotee of both opera and musical theatre, Mr. Macris sought out the resourcefulness and talents of

area residents and business leaders to bring a theatre company of its own to Oneonta.

In 1984, Orpheus Theatre made its debut to the public in true theatrical style with a production of

THE SOUND OF MUSIC at the historic Oneonta Theatre, which in the 1920s was a regular stop

for performers on the vaudeveille circuit.  Thus, Orpheus Theatre was born, and has been going strong ever since.

In 1995, Orpheus moved from the Oneonta Theatre to its current home at the Goodrich Theatre on the SUNY Oneonta campus.  Firmly rooted in the community, Orpheus continues to pull from the large talent pool of area residents for all areas

of production including performing, directing, choreographing, costume design, lighting and set design, and musical direction. 

On occasion, actors and production personnel are hired from New York City to compliment our productions. 

This makes Orpheus Theatre productions a unique experience by blending the best of both worlds.

Over the course of the past 26 years, Orpheus has continued to do what they set out to do, and added new projects

and programs along the way. By adding workshops for children and teens, Orpheus continues to expose children to the

world of theatre, teaching lessons, providing performance opportunities, and instilling a genuine love for theatre in area youth.

Spawning out of the workshop programs, Orpheus now has two touring theatre troupes: Musical Kids-On-The-Goand

The Starstruck Players Teen Theatre Troupe. In addition to young children, Orpheus has also recently opened up their

mission to include aspiring playwrights and directors with the Playwright Project Competition: an annualcompetition for playwrights to submit new works, and compete for a produced production directed by an up and coming new director.