Dr. Vanessa Callanan-Brown (Director/Customer): Vanessa has been teaching Speech, English, Debate, and Drama at Start HS for the past 10 years. She earned her Bachelors Education Degree in Communications/Theatre Arts & Language, Literature, and Writing. Vanessa completed her Masters Degree at Eastern Michigan University in Communications, with her thesis focused on Instructional Communication. She recently earned her Doctoral Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
Vanessa would like to thank her wonderful husband James Brown for all of the support, laughter, and love he provides (for this show and everyday), Scout (their puppy dog) for kisses and snuggles, Nancy for her continued guidance, Bella Merrill for being a wonderful and dedicated student director.
Nancy Ludden (Producer/Advisor): Nancy has been teaching theater, English and speech at Start for 24 years. She holds a Bachelors degree in Education and Communications from the University of Toledo and a Masters of Theater Arts and Teaching degree from Bowling Green State University. Nancy has advised the Start chapter of the International Thespian Society since 2002 and developed a program to provide students “hands on experience” in all parts of theater production from building sets, acting, stage management and even directing. Here at Start she has directed over 30 shows like: A Midsummer Nights Dream, Moon over Buffalo, Romeo and Juliet, The Diviners, M*A*S*H, Little Women, Don’t Drink the Water, Shenanigans, How I met your Father, I Hate Shakespeare and Almost Mane. In addition she has been involved in several musicals including White Christmas, The Drowsy Chaperone, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Little Shop of Horrors and Mamma Mia!. Nancy would like to thank the wonderful production team and her husband, Robert Ludden for being so understanding. She would also like to thank the YMCA staff, Walk the Word Church, and the parents who helped so much.
James Brown (Technical Director): has been an honorary member of the Spartan Thespian's Club for the better part of eleven years. " Jimmy" as he is known among friends and family, is reprising his role of Technical Director. In his forming acting life, Jimmy played the roles of Salieri in Amadeus, a dumb Brooklyn gangster in Kiss Me Kate, and Angelo the Jeweler in The Comedy of Errors. Currently, Dr. Brown is part of the AVID team here at Start High School and enjoys spending all the time he can with his wife, Vanessa Callanan-Brown.