Black Box Theatre Staff

STAFF

Jen Turey Draghi - (Black Box Theatre Owner and Producer) - This past summer Jen was hired to stage the musical numbers in The Light In The Piazza at the Weston Playhouse in Weston, Vermont along side Tony Award winning composer Adam Guettel. In 2007, she choreographed Thoroughly Modern Millie and in 2005, she choreographed Crazy For You for The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn, NY. She was last seen performing as the dance captain and ensemble member in Waltham, MA with the Reagle Players in their 2006 producion of Will Rogers Follies and in 2005, she she played the role of Erma in Anything Goes at The Shubert Theatre in New Haven, CT and at The Cape Playhouse in Dennis, MA. She has also performed and acted as the Dance Captain in four productions of Crazy For You in Europe, Canada, Massachusetts and at The Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford, NY where she also assisted the choreographer, Alan Coats. She has also been awarded the 1998 IRNE Award for Best Production for her rendition of Crazy For You for the Reagle Players located outside Boston, MA. In addition to performing in national and international tours of 42nd Street, The Will Rogers Follies and Crazy For You, she has also kicked her heels as a RCMH Rockette. Other performance credits include Inga in Cabaret at the Northshore Music Theater , Lucy in Good News at The Westchester Broadway Theatre and Gertie in Oklahoma, Dance Captain/Assistant choreographer in Bye Bye Birdie, My One and Only , Show Boat and Guys and Dolls for the Reagle Players . Other choreography credits include Crazy For You and Pippin for Richter Park , Anything Goes and Meet Me In St. Louis for WCSU where she is also an adjuct faculty member, the grand opening celebration of the Loew’s Theatre on 42nd Street in New York City, the original rock opera Antigone’s Last Dance and Food, the Musical last seen at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. In addition to performing and choreographing, Jen has taught all over the country, for Dance Power Express, Dance Masters of America, Dance Teachers United and at The Broadway Dance Center for Chuck Kelley, Germaine Salsberg and Lane Napper. Jen also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Hunter College with honors and is a member of the Actor's Equity Association, American Guild of Variety Artists and The Society for Stage Directors and Choreographers unions.

Jason A. Coombs - (Director of Songs for a New World) An accomplished performer who is excited to spend his third summer directing at the Black Box Theatre. He recently graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a B.A. in Theatre Performance. He has performed many roles at the Playhouse On The Green in Bridgeport including, Judas in Godspell, Drake in Honk, Earthquake McGoon in L'il Abner and Schlomo in Fame. Other regional credits include, A Midsummer Nights Dream, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, School House Rock Live!, Jekyll and Hyde, A Piece Of My Heart, Line and The Nutcracker. He made his directorial debut at the United Congregation church with Bang Bang You're Dead, a sensitive one act play about teen violence, which was praised for its subtle exploration of such an intense topic. He also directed the show stopping musical revue, Let's Talk About Love: A Musical Cabaret, last summer at the Black Box Theatre and A Moment In Time: A Series of One Act Plays. Other directorial credits include Lanford Wilson's Home Free!, The Unwanted and What Will Be Done. Jason is a graduate of the Regional Center For The Arts in Trumbull, CT and has studied theatre at Pace University in New York City, Housatonic Community College and Wesleyan University's Center For Creative Youth, where he studied musical theatre with Carolyn Kirsch. Jason is so fortunate to be working with such a talented and dynamic cast and crew this summer and looks forward to another Black Box Theatre season!

Laura Schultz - (Musical Director for Songs for a New World) Laura has been jamming on the piano for 17 years, starting at the age of four. She began playing flute at age nine, and played mallet percussion throughout high school. She has performed onstage in a wide variety of musicals throughout her public school career ranging from Oklahoma! to AIDA. While still in high school, Laura became involved in stage managing for local productions of Into the Woods and Little Shop of Horrors. As a pit musician, she has been heard in regional productions of Footloose, High School Musical, and The Wiz. She has also acted as the rehearsal pianist for runs of Bye Bye Birdie, Oklahoma! and AIDA for her Alma Mater, Bethel High School.

Favorite MD credits include: High School Musical, Once on This Island, and The Wiz. Most recently, she has been heard as the MD and house pianist for the Black Box Theatre in Newtown, CT where she has played in productions of Let’s Talk About Love. She is excited to be a part of the Black Box Theatre third season!