CARMELA LANZA-WEIL
M.F.A. Towson University. Theatre for self-producing artists of new & experimental work. 2009
B.S. Summa cum laude. Concordia University. Business and Marketing
Certificate (A.A.) American Academy of Dramatic Arts/West
EXPERIENCE (selected)
Special Projects Consultant, Medical Reserve Corps, Franklin & Berkshire (September 2022 – present) “The Prep School” podcast producer; launched February 2024. Continued work on the Covid Play (see below). Various administrative tasks.
Creator/Director/Producer, “Covid Stories” (working title) (2023-present) Workshop/development productions of a new play based on first-person stories gathered from older adults in western Mass. about experience during the lockdown due to the pandemic. In collaboration with Rebecca Daniels, Denise Schwartz, Greenfield Community College, and the Medical Reserve Corps.
Stage Director, “The Celtification of Emily Dickinson” (December 2022) A Rosemary Caine/Wilde Irish Women concert production.
Staff, Tennessee Williams Festival, Provincetown, MA (Sept 2022 & 2023) Volunteer Coordinator
Stage Director, Weaving Penelope (February – June 2022) A new play’s workshop production exploring feasibility of ritual scenes on-stage.
Playwright/creator, “Seed to Show” Play Development Workshop with Donna Oblongato (January – March 2022) Developing/creating a new show about personal experience with the lockdown.
Co-Producer, Silverthorne Theater Company (April 2019 – December 2019) Produced The Revolutionists and The Diary of Anne Frank. Assisted with the company’s transition from founder to paid staff.
Stage Director, Silverthorne Theater Company (June 2019) The Fantasticks played to sold out performances and standing ovations.
Volunteer Coordinator, Medical Reserve Corps of Franklin & Berkshire Counties (Oct 2018 – Sept 2021) Work with volunteers to prepare them for emergency deployments in the role of second responder.
Stage Director, Mohawk Regional Schools (December – March 2018) Stage director for Little Shop of Horrors featuring high school and middle school students. Led a team of teachers and community professionals to present this strange and wonderful show. Three performances March 16-18, 2018.
Producer, Fabulous February Fringe Festival, Shelburne Falls, MA (February 2017 & February 2018) Screening of films by women filmmakers, live performance, workshops, and community conversation.
Executive Director, Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association (July 2015 – February 2018) Managed a member association the hilltown region of Western Mass. Around 250 business members including artists, crafters, small business owners, farmers, entrepreneurs, and recreation people. Produced/promoted events and happenings in the the village of Shelburne Falls. Initiatives included Hilltown Arts and Thriving Community Happenings (HATCH) in collaboration with The Art Garden and Phyllis Labanowski; producing Moonlight Magic, the Iron Bridge Dinner, the Bridge of Flowers Road Race, and Art Walks.
Producing Director, 29th Annual Bread & Roses Festival, Lawrence, MA (March – Sept. 2013) Coordinated all aspects of a Labor Day outdoor arts festival. Responsibilities include negotiating and contracting with artists and vendors, managing interns and volunteers, marketing (PR, print, traditional, web and social media), fundraising, scheduling, community engagement activities, and permits.
Artistic Director, Bump In the Road Theatre, Portland, OR & Baltimore, MD (2002-2013) Founding artistic director for company dedicated to exploring universal human challenges through community-based original theatre events. Conceived, co-created/wrote, directed, and produced five new full-length plays and several shorter pieces dedicated to exploring grief, end-of-life issues, aging, caregiving, the health care system, domestic abuse, at-risk youth, and forgiveness. Also produced and directed previously scripted plays connected to the theme. Other projects included a new play reading of “Spark” by Caridad Svich for Veterans Day 2012 and new play development projects in Baltimore and Portland, OR.
Independent Artist/Teaching Artist with Young Audiences, Regional Arts and Culture Council (OR), and Independently (1996-present) Work with a variety of populations — in schools, community centers and professional organizations — including Pre K- 12, college students, adults and senior citizens on short and long term projects, usually focused on presenting a previously scripted or newly created theatre production. Recent projects: directing The Wizard of OZ and Alice in Wonderland for Immaculate Conception Middle School, and The Last Flapper for The Red Door Theatre presented at the Capital Fringe in July 2012.
Education Director, Everyman Theatre, Baltimore, MD (2010-2011) Created new internship program in collaboration with area universities; created and taught new classes; increased class and camp offerings doubling enrollment; created new partnerships and strengthened existing relationships. Won $10,000 grant to transform a vacant storefront into a dedicated education space. Collaborated on fundraising and marketing, supervised interns, teaching artists and professional instructors.
Education Coordinator, Baltimore Shakespeare Festival (2009 – 2010) Responsible for coordinating the National Endowment for the Arts “Shakespeare for a New Generation” program including marketing, partnerships, scheduling, and managing the student matinee program to public schools in the Baltimore area. Included writing, publishing, and distributing the study guide, conducting pre- and post-performance school visits, scheduling bus transportation and providing lunches for qualified students.
Artistic Associate, Portland International Performance Festival (2000-2002) Responsible for coordinating advertising, marketing, event logistics, opening night galas and volunteers for a summer festival that presented four main stage productions, lecture series, classes, films and workshops with artists from around the world. Coordinated the African American Audience Development Project that brought together leaders in Portland’s African-American community with the festival staff to plan a performance project with guest artist Lorraine Johnson-Coleman.
Director of Theatre, Concordia University (1996-1999) Led theatre department with a theatre-for-youth emphasis. Taught all performance classes. Director and producer of all mainstage plays and events each season. Included community outreach, recruitment, grant writing, and curriculum development.
Coordinated “MADE for Kids” (Music, Art, and Drama Education) programs including the Annual Arts Festival and the “MADE” summer camp for at-risk youth.
Assistant Director of Education and Outreach, Portland Opera (1989-1995) Designed the first Resident Artists of Portland Opera training program for young opera singers. Responsibilities included establishing policy and procedures, programming, contract negotiation, marketing, and scheduling grant-funded regional tour.
Supervised and trained department staff and volunteers. Taught acting, improvisation, and theatre games; conducted tours; coordinated special events; and spoke publicly on behalf of the organization. Managed finances for the department including ticket pricing, sales projections, and budgeting of all department projects including production expenses, marketing, fees, and independent contractor negotiations. Wrote grants in collaboration with Development Department.
Stage director and production manager for Hansel & Gretel presented at Portland Center for the Performing Arts annually for three years. Director and co-creator of An American Magic Flute, which toured to over 75 school and community centers over two seasons.
AWARDS & GRANTS
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts individual artist grant.
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts for STC.
Mass. Cultural Council award for Short & Sweet (tiny) New Play Festival (Spring 2020)
Adams Grant (Mass. Cultural Council) for H.A.T.C.H. (Hilltown Arts and Thriving Community Happenings) with GSFABA and West County Arts & Culture, (2014, 2015)
Finalist in Baltimore Playwrights Festival new plays competition for “Reprieve,” which enjoyed a staged-reading presentation March 2012.
Operation: Storefront. $10,000 award to provide a storefront space for Everyman Theatre education activities including classes, community engagement events, and workshops (2011)
Guest Artist at the ATHE National Conference through New Play Development Program to attend and work as an actor (2010, 2012) and director (2011).
Banner carrier for commencement exercises for the School of Graduate Studies, Towson University (2009).
Graduate Student Grant Award for Conference Presentation (2008)
Grants awarded to BUMP: Regional Arts & Culture Council Project Grants (2003, 2004); Regional Arts & Culture Council Neighborhood Arts Grants (2003, 2004, 2005); Oregon Arts Commission/NEA (2005); Regional Arts & Culture Council Organizational Development Consulting Grant (2004); Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Last Acts Initiative: Model Program (2002, 2003); Equity Foundation (2003); Providence Hospital Center on Aging (2003, 2004); College of Naturopathic Medicine (2004); Wells Fargo Bank (2002)
Semi-Finalist for Echoing Green (2002)
Community Service Award, Lincoln High School, 2000
TEACHING
Morgan State University
- Guest lecturer, advanced acting (2013)
Prince George’s Public Schools
- Monologue Judge (2013)
- Theatre workshops for Festival Day (Movement for Actors 2012 and Performing Shakespeare 2014)
- Professional Development for Teachers (2012)
Weinberg Center (2011-2012)
- Senior Theatre
Everyman Theatre (2010-11)
- Solo Performance
- Theatre 101: an overview of professional theatre production procedure
- Beginning Acting
- Seminar in vocal production
- Season orientation for high school students
Adjunct & Graduate Teaching Assistant, Towson University, Towson, MD (2008-10)
- Acting I for non-majors
- History of American Theatre
- Guest Lecturer, Dramaturgy. Topic: Maria Irene Fornes
Director of Theatre Program, Concordia University, Portland, OR (1996-99)
- Acting I for Majors and Non-majors
- Acting II
- Creative Dramatics
- Theatre and Performance
- Theatre for Teachers (Education)
- Stage Management
Assistant Director of Education and Outreach, Portland Opera (1989-1995)
- Acting for Singers
- Acting for the Business Professional
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS/ATTENDANCE
Kennedy Center Teaching Artists Seminar, Washington, D.C. (2012)
Playback America National Conference, Washington, D.C. (2012)
Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) National Conference; Actor in New Play Development Workshop. Washington, D.C. (August 2012)
Co-Presenter: Women in Theatre pre-conference: “Creating Community through Theatre”
Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) National Conference. Director for New Play Development Workshop. Chicago, IL (August 2011)
Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) National Conference. Actor in New Play Development WorkshopCo-Presenter: “Rage, Speak, Acting Against the Machine” Panel. Los Angeles, California (August 2010)
Women in Theatre Conference, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (September 2009)
Women in Theatre Pre-Conference & Association of Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) New York, NY (August 2009)
Year of Grotowski Festival, Wroclaw, Poland (June 2009)
Women in Theatre Pre-Conference & Association of Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE). Performed as an actor in a workshop production of PlayWorks 2008 winning play, “Companeras.” Denver, CO (August 2008)
Conference of Hospital Administrators and Physicians. Presented: “Old Age Ain’t No Place for Sissies,” a play about aging and caregiving created with Bump In the Road Theatre. Bend, OR (2003)
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Last Acts Initiative Regional Conference. Presenter: “I Think About Life,” a new play about end-of-life issues (with Bump In the Road Theatre) St. Louis , MO (2003)
The Shakespeare Authorship Studies Conference. Director/presented student actors in “Scenes from Shakespeare”Concordia University, Portland, OR (1997)
DIRECTING/PRODUCING/WRITING (selected)
2023 – “Captive Audience, The Covid Show”. Creator/director/producer of this first-person play about the COVID-19 pandemic. Three staged readings presented in May 2023. Writing continues…
2022. “The Celtification of Emily Dickinson” Stage director. A Rosemary Caine/Wilde Irish Women concert production.
2022. “Weaving Penelope” Stage director.
2019 The Fantasticks. Stage director for Silverthorne Theater Company.
2019 “Canary in the Gold Mine.” Stage director/outside eye for new work by Jonathan Mirin, Piti Theater Company.
2018 Little Shop of Horrors. Stage director for the Mohawk Regional Schools spring musical production featuring middle and high school students.
2015 “Aidan’s Gift.” Stage director for world premier, produced by Silverthorne Theater in Greenfield, MA.
“I saw Aidan’s Gift last Saturday night. I thought it was a powerful play and a remarkable performance. Thank you to all who were involved in creating and performing this amazing play.”… Anne Yeomans
2014 Wizard of Oz. Stage Director of middle-school production for Immaculate Conception School in Towson, MD.
2013 “Tenders of the Feet” staged reading in Portland, OR. Producer.
Girls Empowerment Mission (GEM) keynote performance based on interviews with graduating seniors. Writer, director.
Alice in Wonderland, Jr. Stage Director of middle-school production for Immaculate Conception School in Towson, MD.
2012 “Spark,” by Caridad Svich. Staged reading co-production with Baltimore Theatre Project. Producer/Director.
The Last Flapper with Red Door Theatre for the DC Fringe. Director.
Annie, The Musical. Stage Director of middle-school production for Immaculate Conception School in Towson, MD.
The Danes of Our Lives. Production with senior citizens at the Weinberg Center, Owings Mills, MD. Director.
Staged reading of “Repreive,” a finalist for the Baltimore Playwrights’ Festival new play competition. Writer.
2011 Hershel and the Hannukah Goblins. Readers theatre presentation with Weinberg Center Seniors.
** Bury the Hatchet (a play about forgiveness) produced at the Philly Fringe Festival, Philadelphia. Writer, co-director, producer, actor.
** Eggs & Issues by Kelsey Murrel. Ten-minute play development workshop at the ATHE Conference in Chicago, IL. Director.
** Solving the Problems of Flight by Kate Robinson, MFA final thesis project. Outside eye and talkback moderator for multi-media solo performance.
2010 New Play Development Workshop, Producer, Portland, OR (June 2010) ** Tenders of the Feet. Director, producer.
Study Guide for Baltimore Shakespeare Festival production of Hamlet. Research, writing, production, and distribution to over 700 middle/high school students.
2009 **Bury the Hatchet (a play about forgiveness), a play exploring personal stories, scholarly, religious and literary responses to questions of forgiveness. Co-production of Towson University and Bump In the Road Theatre. Writer, director, actor, producer, set designer.
**GEM Girls, a play inspired by stories of high-at-risk high school students for the Girls Empowerment Mission in Baltimore. Writer, director, producer.
2008 **CHANA’s Bat Mitvah, an evening of monologues presented as the keynote at the fundraising and appreciation event for CHANA, an organization that supports victims of domestic violence in the orthodox Jewish community in Baltimore. Writer, director, actor.
365U, Towson University at the Tractor Building at Clipper Mill (found site) in Baltimore. Co-producer, director.
2006 A Coloured Place, Run of the Mill Theatre in Baltimore. Staged reading as part of the South African play festival. Director.
**Crossing East Heritage Festival, MediaRites Production in Portland, Oregon. Director.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rigler Middle School and YMCA Arts & Literacy Program, Portland, OR. Director.
2005 **Adventures in Ill-Care, an original play exploring the challenges of the healthcare system in America created in collaboration with five playwrights and four social service/healthcare agencies. Bump In the Road Theatre, Portland, OR. Director, writer, producer.
The Waiting Room, Drammy award-winning production. Bump In the Road Theatre, Portland, OR. Director, producer.
2004 ** (Old Age Ain’t) No Place for Sissies, an original play about aging and caregiving, created in collaboration with four playwrights and five agencies serving the elderly and their caregivers. Bump In the Road Theatre, Portland, OR. Writer, director, producer.
**The Gift of Speech. Ellen West Productions, Portland, OR. Director.
2003 ElderFest, Staged reading of Hannah Free. Bump In the Road Theatre. Director, producer.
2002 **I Think About Life, a new play exploring end-of-life issues created in collaboration with hospices, grief support groups and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Last Acts Initiative; Regional tour. Bump In the Road Theatre, Portland, OR. Director, producer.
The Hobbit, Lane Middle School. Regional Arts and Culture Council, Portland, OR. Director.
**Summer camp for high school students. Dramatized essays submitted to MediaRites on the topic of teen mental health in Portland, OR. Director/producer.
2001 **The Time Between, MediaRites Theatre Imagine in Portland, OR. New play created through a collaborative process with playwrights, actors, community interviews and designers. Director, co-producer.
Macbeth, Lane M.S., Regional Arts and Culture Council (OR). Director.
Tongue of a Bird, MediaRites Theatre Imagine (OR) Director, co-producer.
**Roosevelt High School two-week intensive arts camp for area middle and high school students in which original stories were created, scripted and performed in Portland, OR. Director.
2000 Cenerentola (reduced version) Portland Opera Works! Regional Touring Production. Director.
1999 archy & mehitabel, Concordia University/Portland. Director, producer.
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Concordia University. Director, producer.
1998 The Real Inspector Hound, Concordia University. Director, producer.
1998 Quilters, Concordia University community outreach production. Director, producer.
**Janie Bigo, MediaRites production at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center. Director.
1997 Antigone, Concordia University. Director, producer.
Romeo & Juliet, Concordia University. Community outreach production. Director, producer.
Godspell, Concordia University. Director, producer.
1996 The Good Doctor, Concordia University. Director/producer
**Lady Buddha, MediaRites. Director.
Oliver, Concordia University community outreach production. Director, producer.
Gertrude McFuzz & Green Eggs and Ham, Northwest Children’s Theater, Portland, OR. Director
1995 Hansel and Gretel (reduced version). Portland Opera outreach production. Winningstad Theatre. Director, producer.
**The American Magic Flute (reduced version) Portland Opera outreach production. Co-creator/Director, producer.
1994 Hansel and Gretel (reduced version). Portland Opera outreach production. Winningstad Theatre. Director, producer.
**The American Magic Flute (reduced version) Portland Opera outreach production. Co-creator/Director, producer.
1993 Hansel and Gretel (reduced version). Portland Opera outreach production. Winningstad Theatre. Director, producer.
**What Kind of Music is That? Portland Opera outreach production. Co-creator/director.
** New Work
WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING (selected):
Putting the “Play” in Playwriting with Catherine Weingarten with The Creative Center (January 2023)
“Seed to Show” playwriting workshop with Donna Oblongato (Fall 2022)
Kennedy Center’s National Seminar for Teaching Artists (August 2012)
Richard Armstrong Voice Workshop (MD)
Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Metlife Artists in Healthcare Training I & II (MD)
Theatre ZAR Intensive, Wroclaw, Poland. Physical theatre, voice
Maryland Artist/Teacher Institute (Arts Integration)
Playwriting with Juanita Rockwell, David White
Devising: Rinde Eckert, Sabrina Hamilton, Eric Nightengale, Stephen Nunns
Directing: Lee Breuer, Sabrina Hamilton, Yuri Ornoff, Eric Nightengale, Stephen Nunns.
Solo performance: Leslie Felbain, Tim Miller, Richard Armstrong.
Puppetry: Theodora Skipatares.
Dramaturgy: Robyn Quick, Stephen Nunns.
Lighting design: Jay Herzog.
Set design: Daniel Ettinger.
Viewpoints
Patternmaking (draping and flat).
Quintessence: Language and Imagination Theater: Directing and Acting Workshops (OR)
Shakespeare & Co. Weekend Intensive (OR)
Masterclass with Kristin Linklater (WA)
Grant Writing Workshop at Technical Assistance for Community Service (TACS), OR
Marketing Your Non-Profit Organization Workshop (TACS)
Development Workshops (TACS)
NaCL/Sojourn Theatre (Workshop) (OR)
Auditioning for the Camera; Ryan Artists/Lana Veenker Casting (OR)
Camera Techniques, Lana Veenker Casting (OR)
Opera America “Words! Music! Opera!” Training and Implementation (OR)
RELATED ACTIVITIES, MEMBERSHIPS:
Local Cultural Council, Buckland, Member (2023 – present)
Buckland Board of Health, Member (2022 – present)
Memorial Hall Association consultant (2023 – present)
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)
Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) Women In Theatre Focus Group (2006-2012)
Theatre Communications Group (TCG)
Providence Hospital Center on Aging Advisory Council, Portland, OR (2003-2006)
Regional Arts & Culture Council Neighborhood Arts Project Artist, Portland, OR (1999-2006)
Young Audiences of Oregon Roster Artist (2000-2006)
Grant Panelist, Regional Arts & Culture Council, Portland, OR (2002, 1998)
Bump In the Road Theatre, Board Member, (2002 – 2013)
MediaRites Board Member, Portland, OR (1998 -2001)
President, Portland Area Theatre Alliance (1994-95). Advisory Board Member (1995-96)