Susan J. Vinick (Artistic Director)
Mrs. Vinick began her theatre training in Windsor, Connecticut under the tutelage of Ernest P. Cirillo, founder of the Cirillo Summer Theatre. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and drama from the University of Connecticut, where she also pursued a Master of Arts degree. She has done further graduate level study at Central Connecticut State University. Mrs. Vinick has served as faculty member/dramatics director in several area high schools and performed and directed for numerous CT community theatres and within the professional venue. Mrs. Vinick’s professional associations include membership to the New England Theatre Conference and she has served on the board of the Windsor Jesters. Aside from her theatre training, Mrs. Vinick has also studied voice and piano. For the Cirillo Summer Theatre, Mrs. Vinick oversees the directors of the junior division while doing book direction for the senior division. She is also the liaison with recreation department management in all matters pertaining to the theatre program.
Tom Wise (Senior Division Instrumental Music Director)
Mr. Wise returns to the Cirillo Summer Theatre for his second season as our instrumental music director, this following six seasons with us as an actor and vocalist. A graduate of UCONN, Mr. Wise holds a BA degree in Jazz Studies and a B.S. degree in Music Education. While there, he was a member of the jazz and wind ensembles, the latter group having played at Carnegie Hall in 2004 and having received Downbeat magazine's award for Best Classical Recording in 2005. For the SummerWind Performing Arts Center in Windsor, CT, Mr. Wise performed as combo saxophonist at the Wynton Marsalis concert. He currently teaches music in Killingly.
Deborah Curylo (Senior Division Vocal Music Director)
Mrs. Curylo holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Hartt School of Music, a graduate certificate from the Kodaly Musical Training Institute at Hartt, and a Master of Education in Creative Arts in Learning from Lesley University in Cambridge MA. She teaches music at the Metropolitan Learning Center in Bloomfield, is an adjudicator in the Western Massachusetts ACDA Regional Junior Choral Festival, serves as music director for the Windsor Youth Theatre, and provides vocal training in a summer musical theater program at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. Mrs. Curylo has been with the Cirillo Summer Theatre since 2003.
Sarah Laurenzano (Senior Division Vocal Music Director)
Ms. Laurenzano is a
2009 graduate of UMass Amherst with a B.A. in Classics. Trained in classical
piano since 1994, she has participated in many musicals at the high school,
college, and community theatre level since 2002. Some of her experience
includes serving as the rehearsal and performance pianist for over ten shows
and various recitals for voice, as well as vocal directing two shows at UMass.
In addition, she has worked with children learning music and theatre at Summer
Sonatina International Piano Camp and JCC Springfield Summer Camp for Drama. We are pleased to welcome her back to the Cirillo Summer Theatre.
Todd Santa Maria (Senior Division Choreographer)
Mr. Santa Maria graduated from Central Connecticut State University's Department of Theatre and Dance and has since worked with a multitude of community theatres all over CT. Among the over twenty shows that he's choreographed are West Side Story, Footloose, Grease, Pippin, Evita, Children of Eden, and Disney's High School Musical. As a performer, Todd worked with such groups as The Warner, TheatreWorks, Thomaston Opera House, Hole in the Wall, Little Theatre of Manchester, and others. Outside of CT, Todd was an Entertainment Cast Member for the Walt Disney World Company in Florida, performing in MGM Studios, Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Typhoon Lagoon. (Perhaps you spotted him as the butler in the haunted mansion or in other roles throughout the park.) We heartily welcome Todd back again this season.
Karen Vinick (Junior Division Director)
Ms. Vinick currently attends City College in NYC, where she majors in voice and studies music education and theatre. Her eventual goal is to teach music at the elementary school level within the inner city, where she also hopes to bring the musical theatre experience to her students. Over the last fifteen years, Ms. Vinick has held major roles in musicals in educational institutions and youth and adult community theatres throughout Connecticut. Last year, Ms. Vinick had the opportunity to work on Broadway as a merchandising associate for both Liza Minelli's one woman show and West Side Story, giving her invaluable insight into the professional theatre. The 2010 season will mark Karen's sixth as director of our junior division and her ninth as a performer within our senior division.