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RION TOWERY
CLAUDE RYAN (RION) TOWERY
Director / Choreographer / Educator
 

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1061 E. Park St., #16, Carbondale, IL 62901           riont.123.choreo@gmail.com         riontowery.com          817.723.3586


Curriculum Vita

Education

Master of Fine Arts in Directing (2019 – 2022)

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL

Thesis Production:  Hay Fever by Noel Coward

Thesis Paper: The Family That Plays Together Stays Together: Directing Hay Fever by Noël Coward

Advisor: Olusegun A. Ojewuyi, Professor and Interim Dean of The College of Arts & Media

  • Three years of focused directing, coaching, and in-depth character building and play analysis with BA, BFA, and MFA performers through course work and departmental, main stage productions. Comprehensive study, research, and hands-on work in classic and contemporary theater. Intensive research in period styles, design, and acting theory.

Awards:

  • Dean’s Outstanding Graduate Student Award – School of Theater & Dance

  • Eugene Jackson Outstanding Graduate Student

 

Bachelor of Arts in Music and Vocal Performance (1999 – 2003)

Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, LA

 

Teaching and Mentoring Experience/

Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL (2019 – 2022)

Instructor of Record, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

Theater 217 – Acting

Preparing the actor’s instrument through basic acting technique; concentration / relaxation exercises; improvisations. The class introduces young actors to Stanislavski’s analytical approach to acting that helps them to find a way to live truthfully under the imaginary circumstances of a play. The course objective is the discovery and development of the actor’s inner resources.

 

Instructor of Record, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

Theater 101 – Theatre Insight (3 semesters)

Through in-class activities, discussions, some lecture, projects, readings, and written critiques of season productions, students examine how plays are written and produced, and how these plays reflect the people and plays that produce them.

 

Instructor of Record, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

Theater 424 – Audition Techniques

Methods of audition for theater and musical theater, the course covers audition techniques for open calls, cold reading/singing, improvisation, interviews, as well as the development of an audition portfolio and the preparation of headshots and resumes.

 

Instructor of Record, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

Theater 103C – Beginning Jazz Dance Techniques

To begin acquaintance with the elements of jazz dance technique at the basic level with an application of these elements to classic and contemporary musical theatre, repertory, and performance.

 

Graduate Assistant Assignments

College of Arts and Media Social Media and Marketing Team Member

Oversee the marketing, and social media campaign for the new College of Arts and Media

 

Public Relations and Marketing Liaison

Redevelopment of the Southern Illinois University School of Theater and Dance

 

Chancellor’s Scholar Program

Choreographed a dance for the purpose of morale building/school spirit, to be used for recruitment, retention, and promotion for Southern Illinois University, through the Chancellor’s Scholar Program.

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Directing Experience/

Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL (2019 - 2022)

McLeod Summer Playhouse

2022 – Godspell Conceived & Originally Directed by John-Michael Tebelak

Director, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • As Director, my vision for "Godspell" centers on a group of outcast misfits who, drawn to the charismatic teachings of a figure named Jesus, end up following him on a fantastic and zany journey.  On this wacky journey, and with the inspiration of this Jesus figure, these so-called “undesirables" form an unanticipated community that discovers together the beauty of mutual compassion and good will. I invite all to come and be a part of the journey. In addition to Directing "Godspell," I am also responsible for overseeing the marketing, and social media campaign for "Godspell," which includes art design and promotion of ads and billboards. My overall responsibilities as Director include audition and cast actors; assemble and oversee the production team; provide design directives; lead rehearsals; and manage the production schedule of the project, ensuring that all the moving parts connect.

 

2021 – Hay Fever by Noël Coward

Director, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • With the use of manners, slapstick, and verbal wit, my vision for Hay Fever was influenced and driven by my thematic concern, “The family that plays together, stays together!”. Like the Blisses, we all participate in the playing of games, with our immediate family, our friends, those with whom we want to be friends, or all the above – games, that any audience could admit they have played. And, after a pandemic, what audience wouldn’t want to laugh.

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2021 - World Goes Around  conceived by director Scott Ellis, choreographer Susan Stroman, librettist David Thompson, and David Loud who created the vocal and dance arrangements.

Choreographer, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

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2020 - Tuck Everlasting a musical based upon the American children's novel Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. It features music by Chris Miller, lyrics by Nathan Tysen and a book by Claudia Shear and Tim Federle, with direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw.

Choreographer, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

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2020 – The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

Director, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • I focused on a theme that spoke to my own lived experience and personal truth – until we as human beings are capable of accepting others, unconditionally, for who they are, we will not obtain the true, deep, and soul fulfilling type of relationship we desperately desire. Through my use of mise en scène and Commedia techniqes, gender bending, and an all-inclusive cast, my postmodern interpretation of “Shrew” sought to convey the message that it sometimes takes the patience, love, and understanding of someone from a different race, culture, and experience to teach us to be aware of our sometimes-destructive behavior.

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2019 - Springtime by María Irene Fornes

Director, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • My vision and concept for Springtime was influenced by the play’s thematic concerns: love, sacrifice, betrayal, and their ability to incite conflict. I wanted to bring to the surface the play’s use of dualities, and its characters having contrasting sides, much like the environment in which they exist. My directorial interpretation drew from Fornes’s approach as a visual artist, playwright, and director. I experimented with the actors’ corporeal movements within scene transitions, specifically rhythm and tempo.

 

Additional Teaching and Mentoring Experience /

Dance Instructor & Choreographer (2005 – 2019)

Instructor, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery, Ambition Dance Productions, Grapevine, TX

  • (2014-2019) Choreographed for this comprehensive dance education program offering technique classes in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, pointe, modern, hip hop, musical theater, drill team prep, tumbling, acro/flexibility and stretch conditioning. 

  • An award-winning choreographer for Ambition’s competitive company which is for the more serious dancer starting at age 5 through 18, where my students were required to take technique classes in all genres of dance, learning pieces that were competed at local competitions and events with a focus is to enhance and master dance technique and artistry.

 

Dance Choreographer, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery, Tammy’s Dance Center, Waxahachie, TX

  • (2007 – 2019) Provided dance classes for recreational and competitive dancers.

  • Adopted an integrated approach to theory and practice with dancers, teaching challenging techniques alongside history lessons, compositional methods, and contextual analysis.

 

Master Teacher, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery, The Hockaday School, Fine Arts Dance/Theatre Dept., Dallas, TX

  • (2017 – 2018) An active member in the National Association of Independent Schools

Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism, The Hockaday School’s Performing Arts program offers a hands-on experience. Under the professional and renowned leadership of gifted artists, students direct plays, choreograph dance pieces, and curate shows.

  • Developed a robust and relevant curriculum for opening new pathways for student to succeed in a competitive dance climate, offering classical and contemporary forms of ballet, modern, jazz, and hip-hop classes. Broadened the dance students’ talent by cultivating and inspiring each student to realize their artistic vision.

 

Dance Choreographer, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery, Preston Dance Center, Dallas, TX

  • (2011 - 2017) PDC is recognized as a prestigious dance studio in the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, area in dance education. Founded in 1990, PCD has instructed over 10,000 dance students, many who advanced to professional careers in the entertainment industry.

  • Instructed dances on engaging in dance as a mode of inquiry, knowledge production, and critical thinking through embodied creative process, theoretical research, literature, and performance.

 

Adjunct Faculty, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery, Summer Spotlight, Troy University, Troy, Alabama

  • (2014 - 2015) Dance, at Troy University, is an all-encompassing program that not only prepares its graduates for a professional performance career, it also includes the extensive areas of choreography, pedagogy, and artistic direction.  Our students train intensively in the styles of ballet and contemporary.

  • Guest Choreographer & Master Teacher in jazz, contemporary, commercial, and hip hop.

 

Guest Choreographer, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery, Jazz Festival, San José, Costa Rica

  • (2013) The jazz festival roster of performers included renowned university jazz groups, trios, bands and soloists from the United States, Europe, South America and Asia. The very best rising talents are brought together at the festival from an outstanding program of performances! Of course, the artists include Costa Rican musicians and groups. The performances takes place in San José and the outlaying Central Valley and other provinces. The events are organized by the Costa Rican-North American Cultural Center.

  • Guest Choreographer & Master Teacher in jazz, contemporary, commercial, and hip hop.

 

Master Teacher & Guest Choreographer, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery, NTG Dance Convention

  • (2007-2012) Choreographer for competitive dance conventions where dancers compete by performing dance styles like tap, lyrical, jazz, acro, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, and modern. 

  • Instructed dances on engaging in dance as a mode of inquiry, knowledge production, and critical thinking through embodied creative process, theoretical research, literature, and performance.

 

Guest Choreographer, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery, Dance Arts Center, Racine, WI

  • (2011 - 2013) Providing the finest in performing arts training and offering a broad curriculum in dance for all ages, DAC offers advanced techniques for dancers interested in professional careers.

  • Trained students to make connections between the study of dance, and somatic approaches to movement.

 

Dance Choreographer, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery, Studio A, Southlake, TX

  • (2009 - 2014) Studio A offers a combination of classical training and contemporary perspective that produces dancers who are well-versed in technique and choreography, preparing them for professional endeavors such as music video performances, the Broadway stage, or classical ballet.

  • Developed in dancers key movement skills related to use of breath, body connectivity, balance, flexibility, articulation, alignment (static or dynamic), weight shift, rotation, initiations, mobility and stability.

 

Adjunct Faculty, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery, University of Texas, Arlington, TX

  • (2008 - 2009) Choreographer for Continuing and Community Education at UT, Arlington. The UT, Arlington program provides classes, workshops and other learning opportunities to enrich the lives of those throughout our community.  A variety of non-credit and credit classes and activities are offered throughout the year. Programs are coordinated to reflect the needs and the interests of the community college population. These programs are changing, as needs and interest are also changing, but include academic enrichment, health and fitness, theatre, dance, computers, history, crafts, hobbies, personal enrichment, and professional development.

  • Taught beginner, intermediate, and advanced classical dance in jazz, ballet, contemporary and hip hop.

 

Dance Choreographer, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery, Dance Continuum Co.

  • (2006 - 2011) Offering dancers, teachers, and parents experiences in dance focusing on core values of inclusivity, diversity, and equality.

  • Created original dance movements and routines for performances, productions, and national competitions for individual dancers as well as for a group of dancers.

 

Professional Experience / STAGE (2003 – 2019)

DISNEY WORLD / FANTASMIC NIGHTIME SHOW, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • DISNEY WORLD’S FANTASMIC NIGHTIME SHOW brings to life a voyage through Mickey Mouse’s dreams and imagination, featuring fireworks, characters, live actors, water effects, pyrotechnics, lasers, music, searchlights, decorated boat floats, professional dancers, and mist screen projections. 

  • A Chimney Sweep performer at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL, dancing to songs like, “Step In Time,” from Walt Disney’s 1964 film Mary Poppins, composed by the Sherman Brothers.

 

MGM STUDIOS / DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS / MGM STUDIOS, renamed in 2008 as Disney’s Hollywood Studios, is the third theme park at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.  Originally built as a movie-themed pavilion resembling a film soundstage, it now stretches over 135 acres with active film and television production services, an animation facility branch, and a functioning backlot containing permanent exterior buildings for outdoor scenes in filmmaking, television, and temporary set construction.

  • Cast as a martial arts warrior/stuntman, doubling for the actor, as a trained professional requiring unique physical skills to perform daring acts involving risky or hazardous activity during the filming of stunts and dangerous scenes.

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THE ROYAL COURT at DISNEY WORLD, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • Clap your hands, sing along and boogie down with Disney’s Royal Court dance group down Main Street U.S.A. to Cinderella’s Castle. Dazzling floats make you want to move and shake along the way.

  • Performer and dancer as member of Disney’s Royal Dance group, at Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL.

 

ENCORE NATIONAL DANCE COMPETITION, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • ENCORE NATIONAL DANCE COMPETITION produces the finest dance competition events in the industry.  Touring across the U.S., events consistently provide integrity, credibility, and respect for all dancers, teachers, and attendees.

  • Master Teacher & Master of Ceremonies for Encore’s national tour and dance competitions.

 

VOCAL TRASH, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery / Singer, Guitar, & Dancer

  • VOCAL TRASH is a diverse blend of environmental performers, engaging audiences across the U.S. and beyond with exciting, high-energy performances of pop, rock, swing, and classic oldies. Playing to capacity crowds from Las Vegas to Madison Square Garden, to Romania and Morocco, Vocal Trash are environmental activists raising awareness about environmental issues and promoting ways to protect the sustainability of the planet.

 

THE HOUSE OF DIFFA, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • THE HOUSE OF DIFFA in Dallas, TX, presents an extraordinary fashion experience, providing an exciting mix of philanthropy, theatrics, and legendary runway production for over 2,000 patrons enabling grants for HIV/AIDS service organizations in North Texas.

  • Compere for the 2016 fundraiser, “The Circus,” held at the Gaylord Convention Center, Grapevine, TX, introducing and offering description, dance, and humor for all on-stage performers taking part in the program.

 

MARY KAY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • MARY KAY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION, Dallas, TX, an annual career conference, hosts 35,000 enthusiastic Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants.  Mary Kay organization strives to enrich the lives of women across the globe and has inspired countless women to harness their entrepreneurial spirit through an independent MK business.  Mary Kay is a leader in funding women’s cancer research and domestic violence shelters and has awarded more than $78,000 to women’s shelters and domestic violence service providers.

  • Lead singer and dance performer for annual Mary Kay International Conventions held in Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX areas.

 

THE NUTCRACKER & THE MOUSE KING, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • The Nutcracker is an 1892 two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, with score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

  • Choreographer, actor, dancer/played the role of the mischievous Mouse King.

 

A-MAX ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRIAL, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • A-MAX is a high-end entertainment company providing customized entertainment.  Choreographed with high energy, uniqueness, class and sophistication, professional dancers provide show-stopping entertainment.

  • Choreographer and dancer, Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, TX.

 

CABI FASHION SHOW & INDUSTRY, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • CABI (Carol Anderson by Invitation) brings a uniquely styled clothing line where women receive the opportunity to hear about the newest trends in clothing, and discover their individual style, while gathered in the company of close friends. CABI’s stylists, entrepreneurs, confidence-builders and world-changers, help women change how they see themselves.

  • Model, dancer, and actor for CABI fashion shows in the Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX area.

 

COOL YULE AT SIX FLAGS OVER TEXAS, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • COOL YULE at Six Flags Over Texas is a magical Christmas wonderland for the entire family. Over one million colorful lights, larger-than-life toys, Christmas trees, giant ornaments, massive stacks of presents, singing, dancing, and festive entertainment by professional artists, will get everyone in the spirit for the holiday season.

  • Using my natural gifts for dancing, inspiring choreography, and a unique style, performed as lead singer and dancer at Six Flags Over Texas holiday entertainment.

 

HOWL (Fright Fest) AT SIX FLAGS OVER TEXAS, Claude Ryan (Rion) Towery

  • HOWL/Fright Fest at Six Flags Over Texas is a creepy and catchy event with plenty of spooky sing-a-longs, scary skit performances and dance routines, held during the Halloween season.

  • Lead singer and dancer throughout the season of HOWL/Fright Fest, eliciting much anticipation and excitement. Haunting choreography, combined with earie songs and lyrics, triggers the audience’s imagination and sense of spooky adventure.

 

Additional Professional Experience / THEATRE

(2003 – 2019)

CABARET, a 1966 musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Joe Masteroff (Ohlook Performing Arts Center, Southlake Grapevine, TX)

  • Played the role of Bobby, a featured character in Cabaret, is a dancer/performer (Kit Kat Boy) at the Kit Kat Klub, a seedy place of decadent celebration.

 

CRAZY FOR YOU, by Ken Ludwig, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and music by George Gershwin (Emmett Hook Performing Arts Center, Shreveport, LA)

  • Played Bobby Child, leading role and principal character in CRAZY FOR YOU

  • The role of Bobby required strong singing, acting, tap and ballroom dancing skills. Bobby is involved in singing and dancing to 12 songs: K-ra-zy For You, I Can’t Be Bothered Now, Things Are Looking Up, Could You Use Me?, Shall We Dance, Slap That Bass, Embraceable You, What Causes That?, Stiff Upper Lip, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Final Chorus.

 

MY FAIR LADY, a 1956 Lerner and Loewe stage musical based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 stage play “Pygmalion.” (Emmett Hook Performing Arts Center, Shreveport, LA)

  • Played the role of Freddy Eynsford-Hill, the uneducated and unintelligent son of an improvised noble family.  Freddy loves Eliza and haunts the street by Higgins House to catch a glimpse of her.  He marries her at last and submits to her benevolent tyranny.

  • The role required proficiency in singing and dance, specifically jazz and soft shoe tap dancing.

 

Down In The Valley, a folk-opera in one act by composer Kurt Weill and librettist Arnold Sundgaard (Anderson Auditorium, Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, LA)

  • Played the role of Brack Weaver, a teenager who falls in love with a girl, Jennie.

  • The action begins in a jail the night before an execution and is told in flashback form.  At an Appalachian prayer meeting, Brack meets Jennie and falls in love.  However, her father wants her to go to a dance with his shyster creditor, Thomas Bouche‘, who the father thinks will bail him out of his money troubles.  Jennie disobeys and goes to the dance with Brack.  At the dance, the villain, Thomas, gets drunk and threatens the Brack with a knife. The two fight, Thomas dies (by his own weapon), and Brack is condemned to be hanged. On the night before his execution, he escapes to spend his last hours with Jennie, before turning himself in to meet his fate.

 

Cotton Patch Gospel, a musical by Tom Key and Russell Treyz, with music and lyrics written by Harry Chapin and produced by Philip M. Getter (Laurel Little Theatre, Laurel, MS)

  • The role required a natural southern accent, and a trained voice for singing, to play the role of Jesus.  The rephrasing of well-known scripture into the context and colloquial language of the United States deep south, provides humor in the production lines delivered out of their familiar scriptural language. (i.e., Jesus _ after being tested by the devil _ "I passed."; and Matthew: "And then angels appeared with a sack of chili cheese dogs for him." Instead of: Matthew 4:11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

  • The story begins with the story of a young couple. Mary is engaged to Joe Davidson ("David's Son" referring to the lineage of Christ coming through the line of David). Even though she is a virgin, she is found to be with child before they are married. This child is conceived of the Holy Spirit. Joe considers not going through with the marriage but is visited by an angel who tells him that it is the will of God that is occurring and not foul play, so he marries his girl. Due to an income tax audit, they must then travel to Gainesville; on the way, Mary suddenly goes into labor. There's no room for them at the Dixie Delight Motor Lodge, but the manager helps Joe break into an abandoned trailer out back, where the baby, Jesus, is born: "They wrapped him in a comforter and laid him in an apple crate". Jesus grows up like no other child in Georgia with his neighbors befuddled and his parents often at a loss as to what to do. Jesus then is baptized by a wild preacher named John the Baptizer, and begins to teach the people and convince the disciples. He shares with them the love and peace he offers, and miraculously heals and feeds many. During this time Jesus gathers a band of constant followers (known as the Apostles in the Bible.) This group eventually heads off to Atlanta with a mixed air of excitement and foreboding.

 

Recruitment & Retention for Southern Illinois University School of Theater & Dance

2019 SETC Convention, in Knoxville, TN

  • In 2019, I Served as personnel at the SIU School of Theater & Dances table, overseeing questions and interviewing perspective students.

 

PR & Marketing – SIU School of Theater & Dance

  • In 2021, I was assigned to rebuild the School of Theater & Dances PR & Marketing. This included designing and making all of the publicity materials for each show of the 2020-2022 production seasons, revamping social media pages for the school and creating a manual for the school’s PR & Marketing for future graduate student and faculty who may take over the responsibility.

 

College of Arts and Media Publicity and Marketing Team

  • In 2021, I was assigned to be a part of the newly established, student run (both graduate and undergraduate students) Publicity and Marketing Team for the College of Arts and Media. This team, hand-picked by the Dean of the College of Arts and Media, consists of students from each of the schools that make up the College of Arts and Media. The goal of this team was to design and create and new, more cohesive, advertising platform for the entire College of Arts and Media, where each of the school's share all the event going on in the college amongst each other, as oppose to the individual schools advertising their events separately. 

 

Honors & Awards In Choreography (2013 – 2019)

 

Special Skills

  • Proficient in Dance, both classical and contemporary style (ballet, jazz, tap, modern, contemporary, commercial, hip-hop, break dancing); Stage combat choreography, both physical and weapons (Elizabethan sword fighting techniques); Roller skating/Rhythm skating (quad skates), Graphic design (Adobe InDesign); Motorcycle operator, Vocal dialects (British, French, drunk and drug induced impediments); Puppetry; Guitar playing (six-string, bass); Percussion; Classically trained vocalist (opera, Broadway, pop, rock, and contemporary styles); Music editing (Protools, garageband); Professional DJ/Mixologist; Costume design.

 

References

Anne Fletcher, Professor of Theatre / Dramaturgy

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, IL

Email:  afletch@siu.edu

 

Susan Patrick Benson, Associate Professor - Voice and Speech Specialist

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, IL

Email:  susanpb@siu.edu

 

Mark Varns, Interim Director, Professor of Theater/Lighting Design

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Email: varns@siu.edu

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Ronald Naversen, Ph.D. Emeritus Professor of Design Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, IL
Email: rnaversen@gmail.com
Phone: 618-201-1942

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Andrew Abrams, Artistic Director - Capital City Theatre. Composer of "But I'm a Cheerleader, The Musical." Former Head of the BFA Musical Theater program at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, IL

Email:  andrew@capitalcitytheatre.org

Phone: 917-573-0717

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