BOB LEAR
Guest Lecturer
TUESDAY June 6th
THURSDAY June 8th
FRIDAY June 9th
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Bob Lear is Senior International Producer for Global Arts Corps / Colonnades Theatre Lab, Inc. (CTL). His involvement with CTL dates back to the 1970’s – early 1980’s, when he served as the theatre’s Executive Producer, alongside Michael Lessac, its founder and Artistic Director.
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Bob was educated at Bard College. He holds a MA degree and pursued Ph.D studies in European History from Harvard University, where he was a Woodrow Wilson Scholar and Fulbright Fellow to Italy. Bob speaks fluent French and Italian. He follows the international theatre and festival circuit and attends theatre, wherever he is, three to four times a week. He is unsure whether this is a habit or an obsession!
SCHELE WILLIAMS
Guest Speaker, Director, Muse Alum
TUESDAY June 6th
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Schele Williams is a director committed to cultivating new musicals and devised work with authentic representation. She is currently directing the upcoming Broadway revivals of Aida (Disney Theatrical Group) and The Wiz as well as the premieres of Mandela the Musical and Indigo. She will be helming Hidden Figures currently in development (Disney Theatrical Group). Schele has directed at regional theaters and festivals across the country and has a long history of work on Broadway in Rent, Aida, and Motown: The Musical. Passionate about pairing social justice with the arts, Schele is a founding member of Black Theatre United, an organization committed to dismantling systemic racism on our streets and stages. She has been a member of Broadway Inspirational Voices for over two decades and serves as chairperson of the board. She is also on the board of trustees for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Schele is the author of the children's book Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History, published by Abram Books for young readers released in 2021.
DOUG RESIDE
Curator of the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library
WEDNESDAY June 7th
Doug Reside is the Curator of the Billy Rose Theatre Division and manages all aspects of the division’s collections and public services. He joined NYPL in 2011 first as the digital curator for the performing arts before assuming his current position in 2014. Prior to joining NYPL, Reside served on the directorial staff of the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities at the University of Maryland. He has published and spoken on topics related to theater history, literature, and digital humanities, and has managed several large grant-funded projects on these topics. Reside is especially interested in the use of digital forensic tools to study the creative process. He received a PhD in English from the University of Kentucky.
RASHAD V. CHAMBERS
Producer, Fat Ham
THURSDAY June 8th
Rashad V. Chambers is a Tony Award winning producer, talent manager and lawyer. Rashad recently produced the New York premiere of the award winning musical Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical. His Broadway producing credits include Fat Ham, American Son, Ain’t Too Proud, Betrayal, The Inheritance, Caroline, or Change, The Music Man and Topdog/Underdog. Rashad also produced the world premiere of It Happened in Key West in London. His first feature film, True to the Heart, won four awards at the Long Island International Film Expo and was an official selection at the Big Apple Film Festival. In addition, his short film, Hunger, was an official selection at the Urban World Film Festival and Latino Film Market Festival.
Rashad attended Morehouse College where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. He also earned his JD and MBA degrees from The Ohio State University. Rashad is a founding member of The Industry Standard Group as well as a board member of On Broadway Performing Arts Training Program and Houses on the Moon Theater Company.
MARCIA GOLDBERG
General Manager, Kimberly Akimbo
THURSDAY June 8th
Marcia Goldberg (General Manager & Partner) has been a partner at 321 Theatrical Management since its inception, working with Nina Essman and Nancy Gibbs for over 20 years. Marcia began her career with the legendary producer David Merrick, managing the original production of 42nd Street. She continued as a company manager for several other producing and general management offices, with select Broadway credits including Prelude to a Kiss, Guys & Dolls (1992 revival), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1994 revival), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1996 revival), Once Upon a Mattress (1997), The Diary of Anne Frank (1997), and Rent. Off-Broadway credits include Eric Bogosian’s Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll and Only Kidding!
Marcia’s recent producing credits include A Strange Loop and Parade (Co-Producer). Additional producing credits include Oh, Hello on Broadway with Nick Kroll and John Mulaney and Fully Committed, starring Jesse Tyler Ferguson as well as Fun Home (Co-Producer), Wicked (Executive Producer) and All Shook Up (Associate Producer). She is currently general manager for Kimberly Akimbo.
An active member of The Broadway League, Marcia serves on the Labor Committee and the Professional Development Committee. She has also been involved in numerous collective bargaining agreement negotiations. Marcia is a leadership council member for the Costume Industry Coalition.
MARTA SANDERS COOPER
Tour Guide, Singer, Diva
FRIDAY June 9th
Marta Sanders-Cooper is a licensed New York City Tour Guide, a MAC and Bistro-award winning singer, devoted wife and loving mother. Today, she is able to weave together her preeminent guiding skills with her renowned cabaret artistry. This gives her the creative juices to develop her hilarious yet dramatic one woman cabaret shows, and also an opportunity to use her performing and communications talents to provide visitor groups to NYC with a truly unique Event Host and City Guide.
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A fiercely independent Marta moved to New York City in 1969 to study musical theatre at the American Music and Dramatic Academy. Following her graduation, went on to sing in night clubs and cabarets around the world. She made her Broadway debut as an original cast member of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
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Soon into her career, Marta became involved with The Guides Association of NYC. She sat on the board of the local professional association for 10 years, six of which she served as President and Vice President. In addition to the local organizations, Marta was a founding member of The National Federation Of Tourist Guide Associations, where she served as Vice President and then also as Vice President of The World Federation Of Tourist Guides Associations.
ALAN MURAOKA
Actor and Director
SUNDAY June 11th
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As an actor, Mr. Muraoka is most recognizable for his role in the Emmy Award winning series Sesame Street, where he has played "Alan," the proprietor of Hooper's Store for the past 21 seasons. With Sesame he has performed concerts at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and with the Boston Pops. He has appeared in seven Broadway shows; Aladdin, the revival of Pacific Overtures (as well as a concert version staged by The Human Race Theatre Company!), Mail, Shogun, My Favorite Year, the Tony-winning revival of The King and I, and most notably Miss Saigon, where he played the lead role of the Engineer.
Alan has been seen in national tours and regional productions, including Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, the Cincinnati Playhouse, Alliance Theatre, North Shore Theatre, Westport Playhouse, Berkshire Theatre Festival, and the Minnesota Opera.
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Extensive film and television credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, 30 Rock, The Late Show with David Letterman, among others.
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As a director Mr. Muraoka received critical acclaim for his all Asian production of the William Finn musical Falsettoland for the National Asian American Theatre Company, which enjoyed a sold-out run at the Vineyard Theatre in NYC. The production was revived in June 2007 for the first-ever National Asian American Theatre Festival held in New York City.
Alan is a graduate of UCLA, where he received the Carol Burnett Musical Comedy Award for performance. He was also the 2004 recipient of the APEX Inspiration Award and the FCC's 2007 Role Model of the Year Award.