CREATIVE TEAM BIOS

(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

Charles Fornara

(Music Director/Conductor) celebrates 20 years and 50 shows as MD at TNP with this production. He has music directed over 175 productions, including at TNP: The Sound of Music, Something Rotten!, Mary Poppins, Gentleman’s Guide, The Wedding Singer, Mamma Mia!, Chicago, Sister Act, The Rocky Horror Show, Catch Me If You Can, The Spitfire Grill, Les Misérables, All Shook Up, 42nd Street and many others, as well as over 20 teen productions for KidzAct. Also in Naples for TheatreZone, he has music directed nearly 40 shows including Rock of Ages, A Little Night Music, Bridges of Madison County, Aida, The Secret Garden, Legs Diamond, Sweet Smell of Success, Grand Hotel, Little Women and Hair. Originally from Providence, RI, Chas conducted Jim Steinman and Roman Polanski’s Dance of the Vampires in Stuttgart, and has taught and coached singers all over the US and Germany, now offering private lessons here in Naples. A proud member of Actors’ Equity, he has appeared in almost 100 musicals, operas and concerts, including several appearances here in Naples with TheatreZone, most recently as the title role in Sweeney Todd . Much love to his beautiful wife, Dawn, and a big thank you to this wonderful orchestra! He dedicates this production to Lachlan Youngberg, a great friend and member of the original world-première Berlin cast. RIP LHP.

Dawn Lebrecht Fornara

(Director/Choreographer) celebrates 20 years at TNP with this production. She is a native of New York and has served as director and choreographer for TNP’s The Sound of Music, Something Rotten!, Mary Poppins, The Wedding Singer, Mamma Mia!, Chicago, Sister Act, The Rocky Horror Show, Catch Me If You Can, Legally Blonde, The Spitfire Grill and 42nd Street , among others, and with KidzAct for many productions, including Joseph…Dreamcoat, Hairspray, Disney’s Camp Rock, Les Misérables and CATS . Dawn has choreographed many shows for TNP, including A Christmas Carol, Gentleman’s Guide, All Shook Up, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Cabaret , and, as a performer, she has been seen in the National Tours of 42nd Street, Seussical the Musical, Anything Goes and Grease. A proud member of Actors’ Equity, she has been seen here in Naples in TheatreZone’s Sweeney Todd (Beggar Woman), Jekyll & Hyde (Lucy), Stepping Out with Donna McKechnie, Legs Diamond (Kiki) and Hair, among others. Other recent roles include Sheila ( A Chorus Line), Sally Bowles, Velma Kelly, Bombalurina (Cats) and Ulla (The Producers). Love to husband Chas and her family.