Staff
Jo Ann Ventor - Executive Director and Executive Producer
Running a non-profit is not new to me! I started a small theatre company in a nearby lake community back in 2008. We started with a group of 5 children and ended with over 40! I knew then I had found my passion. Soon after, I formed a local theatre company called Buzz Theatre Productions. I then took an opportunity to partner in the former Rhino Theatre Group, LLC. After 6 years of a flourishing and successful partnership (and after surviving the storm of Covid), I decided I wanted to get back to my roots in children's theatre, as watching a child grow and develop a love of theatre gives me such joy and purpose. On top of my dedication to theatre education, my focus for StageWorks is to highlight unique and thought-provoking content, and specifically musicals and plays not-often-produced for an adult cast. This vision brings meaningful and high-quality yet affordable productions to the community theatre scene in New Jersey. I am hopeful that StageWorks has an impactful legacy, and that we do our part to enrich the lives of those in our community with our art.
Sam Franz - Office Manager & Social Media Coordinator
Sam Franz is a theatre artist who wears many hats. She has been working in theatre since she was young, first as an actor, and then eventually as a director, stage manager, producer, set designer, light designer, and more. She holds a BA in Communications (Radio, TV, Film) and English from The College of New Jersey, where she also minored in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. While there, she served as the President of All College Theatre, a student-run straight play organization, and the Vice President of improv troupe The Mixed Signals. After a brief stint as a high school English teacher, Sam began working in the office at Rhino Theatre and realized that theatrical work is the only kind that she enjoys. She now serves as the Office Manager and Social Media Coordinator for StageWorks Theatre Group, and continues to make theatre a part of her every day life. Some of her past directing credits have included Anastasia, Heathers: Teen Edition, She Kills Monsters, Puffs, and Post-It's: Notes on a Marriage. She has served as the stage manager for several One Acts Festivals, recitals, ballets, and operas, and has recently been the production assistant for Rhino Theatre's productions of The Lightning Thief, Beauty and the Beast, Little Women, and The Wizard of Oz. Sam can typically be found at her desk, but she has been known to go home sometimes.
Emily Steen - Education Coordinator &
Arts Outreach Program Manager
Emily is a recent graduate of Calvin University, where she studied Sociology (BA) with a concentration in community development and a minor in theatre. She is currently working towards her MA in Arts Administration at Rowan University. As a director, actor, and educator, Emily is passionate about empowering young individuals to explore their identities, express their voices, and engage with their communities. Emily founded the drama program at Crossroads Summer Camp in 2016 as a freshman in high school. Since then, she has guided its growth, transforming the drama department into a thriving arts education program that now operates year-round. She has directed over 20 youth productions and counting and is thrilled to bring her dedication to young artists to StageWorks and its local school partnerships
Gina Buongiorno - Night Manager
With a love for all aspects of theatre, Gina has performed, directed, produced, and even worked a spotlight or two throughout the years. Her theatre journey started in high school and with decades of putting it on pause, she returned to it after leaving a successful career in pharmaceutical advertising. It was shortly after when she began working in the building that now houses StageWorks as Night Manager and the occasional House Manager. Gina is so excited to continue working at Studio 237 and be part of its success.
Board
Our Board of Directors meets four times per year. March, June, September, December
Vanessa Bluemke - Board Member
Vanessa has had a love of theatre since her childhood in New York City. She is thrilled to marry that passion with nearly two decades of Strategic Planning and Marketing experience to help StageWorks grow and achieve its mission in the community. She is currently the Senior Director of Strategy for the Joint Replacement division of Stryker, a Fortune 500 medical device company, where she has worked since 2010. She leads the strategic planning process and high-impact initiatives for the division, collaborating across functions and businesses to help achieve strategic goals and advance healthcare. Prior to 2010, Vanessa spent nearly eight years in various Marketing roles within the Estée Lauder Companies, bringing new products to market across several cosmetic brands and categories. She resides in Ridgewood, NJ with her husband and three children (all of whom have performed in various Rhino Theatre and Studio 237 productions). Since 2017, Vanessa has participated in several productions herself, including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Pippin, and Absolutely Dead. Vanessa holds an MBA from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College and a BS in Psychology from Mount Holyoke College.
Mafalda Cavanaugh - Board Member
Mafalda Cavanaugh is a communications professional and a life-long theatre lover. She is currently Marketing and PR Director for the American Theater Group. a professional theater company in Somerset County currently celebrating its tenth season. In addition, she serves as Marketing Chair and a member of the Board of Center Players, an award-winning community theater in downtown Freehold. Mafalda holds a BA in Theater and Communications from American University and resides in Manalapan with her husband and their three children, and in her free time loves attending both professional and community theatre and traveling.
Judi McDermott - Board Member
Judi McDermott lives in northern New Jersey with her husband and three children. As a child, her birthdays and school breaks included going to shows on Broadway. Birthdays spent watching Tommy Tune and Ann Reinking were the absolute best experiences! Judi's oldest son, Liam, has been engaged in theater for the pas eight years through school as well as Rhino Theatre and Judi is a proud "theater mom". She is also the Co-President of her younger children's Home School Association where she works with the school administration to create community building events. Judi is the owner and managing member of Gomperts Penza and McDermott, LLC where she has been practicing family law for over 24 years. Judi recently concluded a 15 year term on the Statewide Panel for the New Jersey Committee on Character for the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Judi is an avid runner and has completed 16 marathons - there is nothing better than a Peloton Broadway run to start the day! She looks forward to bringing her love of theater and community building to StageWorks at Studio 237.
Steven Ventor - Board Member
Steven Ventor has been a Construction Professional for over 40 years and holds a BS in Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology. He is a principal in a Construction Management Firm that specializes in movie theater construction and operations which does business throughout the country. Steve is also the Founder and Managing Partner in Bowtie Management, a firm which specializes in managing properties, including movie theaters, restaurants, and entertainment centers. In his career, he has focused on setting up systems that create cost effective results along with superior operations and customer service. Steve enjoys traveling and golfing in his free time and also has developed a fondness of live theatre as his wife and one of his two daughters have actively been in the business for some time now.