Studio B provides a unique opportunity for all ages to experience live theater, whether as a cast member in a show or as a student. Meet some of our instructors and directors.

STAFF:
DeAnna McDearmont-Executive Director
Tina Orman-Accountant


INSTRUCTORS/DIRECTORS

Elizabeth Nowell is a graduate of Midwestern State University with a degree in Vocal Music Education. She has recently moved to the Dallas area from Wichita Falls and is looking to continue being involved with her passion—theater. She has many years of theater experience and over 8 years of vocal training. Elizabeth has starred in musicals such as West Side Story and The Wizard of Oz as well as the opera production Die Fledermaus. She is excited about sharing her knowledge with students at Studio B. At Studio B she has taught Triple Threat and Tween Musical Theater and choreographed Annie, Jr.
 
Melody Jones is a graduate of Northwestern State University where she majored in theater with a focus in musical theater performance. She has also studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and the Texas Shakespeare Festival. After receiving her diploma she toured with Missoula Children's Theatre International Tours for a year before moving home to Texas. She is a member of Level Ground Arts theatre troupe in addition to acting with other theaters throughout the Dallas area. She recently directed Annie, Jr.at Studio B and was award a Nellie Award for Best Mainstage Director.

Charles Ballinger (Director) is an award winning director of such productions as “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, “West Side Story”, “Oklahoma!”, and “Phantom”.  Mr. Ballinger returned to Dallas in 2006 and has directed for MBS Productions, Theatre Arlington, Casa Manana Children’s Theatre. Garland Civic Theatre, One Thirty Productions, Fig Theatre Company and Irving Community Theatre. For these theatres he has directed productions of “Dream Café”. “Kiss the Boys”, “Moon over Buffalo”,  “Doubt”, “Nunsence”, “Of Mice and Men”, “The Book of Liz”, “Harvey”, “Big River”, “A Bench in the Sun”, and “Catch Me If You Can”.  He is the Former Artistic Director of the Indianapolis Civic Theatre, Santa Barbara Civic Theatre, Casa Manana Musicals, Inc., and North Broward Prep School.  During his tenure with these theatres, he directed productions of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”, “Ragtime”, Brighton Beach Memoirs”, “Man of La Mancha”, “The King and I”, “La Cage Aue  Folles”, “South Pacific”, “The Little Shop of Horrors”, “The Lion in Winter”, “Blithe Spirit”, and “The Sound of Music”.  Mr. Ballinger also served as Assistant Professor of acting and directing for the Cooperative Department of  Speech and Drama of Saint Mary’s College and the University of Notre Dame in South Bend Indiana.  He taught acting and directed for the Theatre Department of Texas Christian University as an Adjunct Professor.

Sharon Veselic (Director) has been directing in the area now since 2006 where she started with “The Secret Garden” and “Annie Get Your Gun” at the Artisan Center Theater.  She then moved on to do “Steel Magnolias” at Garland Civic Center, “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof” and “Lucky Stiff” and “Twelve Angry Jurors” at The End of Runway Players, “The Rocky Horror Show”, “ Jekyll and Hyde” and “Nuncrackers: the Nunsense Musical” at Greater Lewisville Community Theater, “The Sound of Music”, “Carousel”,  “Cinderella” and “Bye Bye Birdie” at the Campus Theater for Denton Community Theatre, “Babe the Sheep Pig” and “The Miracle Worker” at CATS (Creative Arts Theatre School), and “The Fantasticks” at OnStage in Bedford.    She moved to Arlington, Texas from the Washington, D.C. area where she was one of the Directing Interns at the Prestigious Arena Stage.  She is a graduate of St. Leo College with degrees in Childhood Education and Theater Arts.  She was also the Artistic Director for Stage Door Players, one of the nation’s finest Children’s Theaters:  Adventure Theater.  While living in New York City, Sharon worked on numerous films, mini-series and After School Specials as a Production Office Coordinator.  

Nick Gould is a director, designer and actor. He has been involved in theater since his freshman year of high school and is a theater graduate student at Emerson College in Boston and a graduate with  BFA in Theatre Arts with focuses on Performance and Design from the University of Texas at Arlington. His directing credits at Studio B include You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Sweeney Todd, for which he won the first ever Nellie Award for Best Director in 2010 and was again awarded with Best Director for a workshop for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown in 2011. At UTA, he has directed several of his own plays and was selected to direct The Questioning of Nick as a part of the 2010 TheatreFest, a festival of one-act plays directed by students. Nick has also performed extensively at Studio B including roles of Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, and the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz.

John Green received his Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Stephen F. Austin State University and is currently finishing his Master’s from Stephen F. Austin State University.  He has performed many operatic roles in the university setting including but not limited to Rinuccio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Vasek in The Bartered Bride.  During his collegiate years John Green he was very involved with Lamp Lite Theatre in Nacogdoches performing roles such as Horton in Seussical the Musical and Drake in Annie Warbucks.  Other musical roles include Tateh in Ragtime and Buffalo Bill in Annie Get Your Gun.  His most recent professional engagements include being a Young Artist at Sarasota Opera and is currently on contract with Fort Worth Opera.  In July of 2011 John Green will be traveling to Salzburg, Austria to perform the role of Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte in the Austrian American Mozart Academy’s summer program.

Jennie Lynn Patten has been dedicated to teaching young theater artists for over four years. She is currently earning her Master’s degree in drama with an emphasis in Theatre for Youth from Texas Woman’s University. She directs for North Dallas KidStage and Western Hills Elementary. Patten has received many awards for her work including the Winifred Ward Scholarship for Excellence in Theater for Youth. She has both directed and choreographed You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Schoolhouse Rock, Peter Pan and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Marqui Maresca graduated with a B.A. in Theatre form UCLA where she studied with stars such as John Rubinstein, Mel Shapiro, and Anthony Hopkins. Her credits include: Saturday Night Fever- National Tour, the World Premier of Ginger and Me, and Scratch & Burn- MTV. She has also been seen singing and dancing in projects for Coca Cola and Fox. Marqui has taught multiple theatre, film, and television workshops at the Tennessee and California State Thespian Conventions. She currently owns and operates MMOV Studios with her husband Michael Maresca. At Studio B, she has directed It's a Wonderful Life and Little Shop of Horrors as well as taught numerous classes. Marqui won a Nellie Award for Best Director for her work for Little Shop of Horrors.

Karen Tipton has been a theatre actor and director for many years and a professional storyteller since 1991, where she combines performing with teaching. She has taught writing and performing workshops, told stories at state/regional festivals and performed curriculum enrichment programs to students throughout Texas, California, Kansas, Oklahoma and the United Kingdom. Karen loves to perform and some of her favorite roles include Vera Charles (MAME), and Reverend Mother (Nunsense). She has also served as Costume Producer in more than 25 theatrical productions including The King & I, Beauty & the Beast, Peter Pan, Cinderella and Narnia. Karen has directed many shows throughout her career and her latest and favorite to date is You Can’t Take it With You at Studio B in 2010. 

THE MARILYN NELSON THEATER AT STUDIO B PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Studio B Performing Arts Center has been providing live theater and acting classes and workshops in The Center since 1999. It is currently under the direction of Executive Director DeAnna McDearmont. When Studio B began, it was a part of The Academy of Fine Arts owned and operated by Sarah Tedesco, whose family (The Nelsons) donated the building and land for its use as the academy. The theater itself was dedicated to Mrs. Tedesco’s mother, Marilyn Nelson, who was instrumental in bringing the arts to the community. When the academy closed in 2002, Pamela-Putman Whittaker was named as Artistic Director for Studio B and the theater began to operate as a non-profit community theater alongside the Highland Village Parks Foundation. She continued operating Studio B adding performances and classes as well as promoting community awareness about the theater. In 2007, Robin Hackett took over as Artistic Director and in 2008, DeAnna McDearmont was hired as Managing Director for the theater. Studio B continues to grow and still strives to maintain a family-friendly environment while providing the local community with quality live theater throughout the year as well as providing top-notch theater training to students.

DeAnna McDearmont
Executive Director


DeAnna McDearmont has been actively involved with Studio B since 2005 as a cast member, a full time volunteer, instructor, director and currently as full time Executive Director, overseeing all aspects of the theater. DeAnna was hired in 2008 and was integral in promoting Studio B and growing the awareness and programs offered at the theater. DeAnna is a graduate of Texas Woman’s University and has a background in journalism and public relations. Growing up, she participated on stage in performances, danced for many years, and was involved with choir and band. She loves working with children and has served on several board and PTA (Vice President, Publicity, and Arts in Education) positions and was the founding member of the MOMS Club of Lewisville. She has also taught and wrote creative curriculum for LISD and other organizations. At Studio B she has served as a preschool creative dramatics instructor and has directed several shows including Alice in Wonderland, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Very Peanutty Christmas, Hogwarts Festival, Harry Potter & the Obnoxious Voice, The Artistocats, Seussical Jr, and The Frog Prince. DeAnna was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement award at Studio B. To contact DeAnna, email studiobtheater@gmail.com.

Our Volunteers:

Studio B is fortunate to have many people who love to help and volunteer behind the scenes. Our theater would not be possible without their help. Studio B is comprised of the Highland Village Parks Foundation, and the Volunteer Committee. Studio B is also supported by the City of Highland Village and other sponsors. If you are interested in volunteering or sponsoring, please email studiobtheater@gmail.com.

Highland Village Parks Foundation: Jennifer Buckles (President), Charlie Turner, Scott Hudson, Katie Troy, Jack Kavanaugh, Paul Enderby

Studio B Volunteer Committee
Harry Crenshaw, Michelle Fischer, Jen Adame, Kathryn Webber, Stacey Domzalski, Bill Gould, Kayla Mick, Terri Micaletti, Rebeca Reneau, Sherry Paddie, Sharla Pine, Melissa Singer,Pam Whittaker, Karen Tipton, Jess Hoisington, Mary Gehlsen, and Barb Killin