STAFF & OFFICERS
JONO DAVIS,
Executive Director
Jono Davis is an Atlanta-based performer, director, and stage manager. Previously, he was the Executive Director of Aurora Theatre at the Lawrenceville Arts Center. He was additionally the Artistic Director and Manager of the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, a Cobb County PARKS facility (2019 Agency of the Year). Within his eight+ years in Cobb County, his work at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre and its concert series, The Overture Series, was awarded a global Telly Award, several Suzi Bass Awards, and over 30 BroadwayWorld Awards, including Best Musical and Favorite Local Theatre. He served as Entertainment Coordinator for Cobb’s International Festival, which was awarded Event of the Year by Cobb Travel & Tourism. Jono has been nominated three times for Artist of the Year by Cobb Life Magazine's Best of Cobb Awards. In the last decade, Jono's had his hands in over 80 productions in Atlanta. He has worked and performed at Actor’s Express, Alliance Theatre, Arts Clayton, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Aurora Theatre, Fabrefaction Theatre, Georgia Ensemble Theatre (Suzi Bass Award nominee), and SAIAH. Jono recently served as Lead Casting Director for an upcoming new musical series coming to Apple TV+. He also generates all graphic design and marketing work, designs and operates the website, and manages social media outlets for Georgia Theatre Conference, Atlanta Unifieds, and The Overture Series. Thank you for supporting the arts!
Jono Davis
The Overture Series
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
LUCY LYNN BRYSON,
President
Lucy is the current Theatre Directorand Teacher at Brunswick High School. Before joining the Glynn County School System, she served as the Education Director for Golden Isles Arts & Humanities. Lucy Lynn also spent time as a freelance Director and Teaching Artist working with Lexington Children’s Theatre, the Orlando Repertory Theatre, Springer Opera House, University of Central Florida in partnership with the Kennedy Center, and others. She holds a BSEd from Columbus State University in Theatre Education and a MFA in Theatre with an emphasis in Theatre for Young Audiences.
Lucy Bryson
Brunswick High School
IAN G. ANDERSEN,
Vice President
Ian is an assistant Professor of Acting and Voice at Valdosta State University. As an artist and educator, Ian’s research interests lie in the areas of outdoor classical theatre, supporting/activating classical texts, and the modern actors approach to poetic texts. As an actor, he has spent more than a decade as a Company Member with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival; where roles included Slender in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Poins in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, Ian in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare…Abridged, Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night, and Freddy in Noises Off. Other favorite roles include Hamlet in Hamlet, Bo in Appropriate, Cassio in Othello, Posthumous in Cymbeline, Costard in Love’s Labour’s Lost, Dr. Caius in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Boss Mangan in Heartbreak House, Dev in Stupid F*#king Bird, Orgon in Tartuffe, and Robert in Boeing Boeing. Ian has also had the pleasure of treading the boards off-Broadway at Theatre Row, and regionally with The American Players Theatre, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, and Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. His teaching credits have taken him to Colorado, Montana, Wisconsin, Alabama and Georgia. Ian holds a BFA from the University of Colorado, Boulder and an MFA from the University of Alabama. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Ian G. Andersen
Valdosta State University
SAM CASEY,
Secretary
Sam is the High School Theatre Director at Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, GA. He holds a Masters of Theatre Education from Columbus State University. He is a graduate of the International Performance Ensemble at Pace University in New York City. Most importantly, Sam is a proud student-alumni of the Georgia Theatre Conference (‘12 ‘13 ‘14). He is passionate about theatre education in Georgia. As a K-12 educator, and former chair of the Youth Division, he strives to create a welcoming environment for theatre students of all ages at GTC.
Sam Casey
Greater Atlanta Christian School
ARIANA PEREZ-LUGONES,
Schedule Programmer
Bio coming soon!
Ariana Perez-Lugones
Camden County High School
BRENDA MAY ITO,
Past President
Brenda is a Professor of Theatre at Columbus State University in Columbus, GA. She is the Program Director for the MEd in Theatre Education, the only MEd theatre program in Georgia and the BS in Education Theatre degree, the only university system program offering the Bachelor of Science in Education and teacher certification in drama. She is also the Program Director for CSU’s Theatre for Youth programs. The CSU Department of Theatre Youth productions are seen by over 50,000 children each year. She received her MFA in Theatre (concentration Theatre for Youth) at University of North Carolina-Greensboro, her MA in Theatre at Missouri State University, and her BS in Education Dance degree from Missouri State University. Brenda is the recipient of the 2010 Woodruff Arts Center’s Georgia Arts in Education Leaders award, the 2014 Southeastern Theatre Conference Sara Spencer Child Drama Award, and the 2014 Leighton Ballew Award for Distinguished Service to Theatre in Georgia. Brenda is in her 26th year at Columbus State University.
Brenda May Ito
Columbus State University
SHIRLEY SPENCER,
Historian
Shirley began her teaching career at Central Michigan University and then roamed around from Central Texas Institute to Univ. of Maryland – Heidelberg. Finally putting down roots in the state of GA where she taught 28 of her total 33 years at Glynn Academy as their Theatre Director, One Act Play and Literary Coordinator. Shirley began working with Georgia Theatre Conference in ’96 as the Vice Chair of Secondary followed by Chair of Secondary, Secretary and later Chair of Community Theatre. Shirley is also a Hall of Fame Member of Georgia Thespians. Shirley hold a ED.S Degree in English from Georgia Southern University; MA – Interpersonal & Public Communications from Central Michigan Univ.; and a BS. In Theatre Education from Wright State University Dayton, Ohio. Shirley has happily retired to Athens, GA. where she is active with several Community Theatres: Town N Gown’s Reading Committee and she performs light hearted roles for Athens Creative Theatre.
Shirley Spencer
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY DIVISION
PAMELA WORKMAN,
College & University Chair
Pamela Workman is the Chair of Theatre at Brenau University and an Associate Professor who teaches Principles of Design, Costume Design, and Crafts classes. She is the Resident Costume Designer for Gainesville Theatre Alliance. Pamela earned her B.A. from Morehead State University (KY) and her M.F.A. from the University of Oklahoma. She has toured Children's Theatre Productions, took a show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and is a freelance costume designer, commissions, and baker. She has designed such shows as Beauty and The Beast, 9 Parts of Desire, Much Ado About Nothing, Commedia del ‘Arte Androcles and the Lion, and Zimmerman’s The Odyssey.
Pamela Workman
Brenau University
COMMUNITY THEATRE DIVISION
JULIE C. BUSBY,
Community Theatre Division Chair
She is the Conference Coordinator and Technical Director at Southeastern Technical College (25). She is the President for the Franklinia Playhouse Community Theatre. She is a board member for Salvation Army. She works with the Vidalia tourism and the city of Vidalia. She believes live performance can make one think about the big picture of how you as a person or group can effect change (see the bigger picture of the world) She likes to see all the arts work together to make the world a kinder and more beautiful place.
Julie C. Busby
Southeastern Technical College
JOSH SINYARD,
Community Theatre Division Vice Chair
Bio coming soon!
Josh Sinyard
The Encore Company
PROFESSIONAL THEATRE DIVISION
THANDIWE THOMAS DeSHAZOR,
Professional Theatre Division Chair
Thandiwe Thomas DeShazor (Thandi) is an actor, writer, producer and director. He is the writer/director of Natural Woman: Unofficial Aretha and other plays. His recent directorial collaborations include True Colors Theatre, Teatre du Reve, Out of Hand Theater and Out Front Theater. His Atlanta theatre credits include Angels in America and The Legend of Georgia McBride. His Television credits include “Lodge 49”, Murder Calls”, “Fatal Attraction”, and Swamp Murders. He started Thandi & Company to collaborate with other creatives to bring their ideas to life.
Thandiwe Thomas DeShazor
Director, Writer, Actor, Activist
ROBERT MITCHEL OWENBY,
Professional Theatre Division Vice Chair
Robert Mitchel Owenby (Robby) is an Atlanta-based actor, photographer, creative professional, and community advocate with deep roots in Georgia’s theatre and arts community. Select Atlanta theatre credits include work with the Alliance Theatre, Aurora Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Actor’s Express, and Serenbe Playhouse. On screen, he has appeared in "Spider-Man: No Way Home", "Richard Jewell", Netflix’s "Sweet Magnolias", and Hulu’s "Dopesick". In addition to his work as a performer, Robby is the owner of Robert Mitchel Owenby Photography, specializing in headshots, portraits, branding, event photography, and theatre production photography. His perspective as both an actor and photographer informs his passion for helping artists, organizations, and creative professionals be seen with clarity, personality, and professionalism. Robby is also deeply involved in community service and advocacy. During the pandemic, he co-founded the Atlanta Artist Relief Fund, which provided meals, mental health resources, and unemployment assistance to out-of-work artists across Atlanta. He is active with the DeKalb Democrats, having served as Events Co-Chair and currently as a voting member, and he serves as President of the Peachcrest Trace Homeowners Association. He is also a member of BNI and OUT Georgia, Georgia’s LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. Robby is proud to serve on the Georgia Theatre Conference Board of Directors and support the artists, educators, students, and theatremakers who make Georgia’s theatre community so vibrant. www.RobertMitchelOwenby.com
Robert Mitchel Owenby
Photographer, Actor, Activist
SECONDARY SCHOOL THEATRE DIVISION
JOE SENDEK,
Secondary Division Chair
Mr. Joe Sendek is the Theatre & Performing Arts Director at Perry High School. A 1991 PHS alum, Mr. Sendek is proud to introduce the world of Theatre and challenge students to discover a new facet of creativity. Mr. Sendek has a Masters degree in the Education of Theatre/Communicative Arts from the University of Montevallo in Alabama. He was a member of the Theatre Honorary Fraternity, Alpha Psi Omega and also received a Bachelor's degree in Acting and Directing at UM. Recently, Mr. Sendek received the Best Director's Award from the South Eastern Theatre Conference. Mr. Sendek enjoys travelling with his wife, Mrs. Melissa Sendek, a PHS Spanish Teacher, and their son, Jacob. He also enjoys puppetry, playwriting, and wants to learn ASL.
Joe Sendek
Perry High School
WALKER SCOTT,
Secondary School Vice Chair
Walker Scott is a theatre educator, director, designer, and stage manager based in Atlanta. He holds dual undergraduate degrees in Speech Communications & Theatre and Computer Science from LaGrange College and is currently completing his MFA in Theatre with a concentration in Directing and Design. Walker’s professional background includes theme park entertainment, lighting design, stage management, acting, and producing contemporary theatre through the Atlanta-based company Art Attack, where he served as Managing Director. Passionate about arts education, he teaches Advanced Drama, Stage Management, Theatre Design, Technical Theatre, and Stagecraft at an Atlanta arts magnet school. Walker is dedicated to mentoring and cultivating the next generation of theatre artists through both classroom instruction and hands-on production experience.
Walker Scott
Buford High School
THEATRE FOR YOUTH DIVISION
