MICHAEL BARNARD - Producing Artistic Director. Michael is in his seventh season as Phoenix Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director; Michael is extremely proud of the accomplishments of the theatre over the last six years. “The amazing staff, strong board, and the remarkable talent pool bringing their gifts to the stage have brought such growth to this institution." Formally Director of Theatre for the City of Phoenix and Assistant Producer of Musical Theatre of Arizona, Michael has directed over 400 productions from New York to Los Angeles . He directed the National Tour of “Veggie Tales Live” for Clear Channel and has been a consultant for Universal, Osaka, Japan . Michael was also a senior show director for the Disney Corporation staging such shows as “ Pocahontas”, “Hunchback of Notre Dame, Festival of Fools”, “Animazement, the new classics revue” and some 300 corporate and special events. Michael has directed for several Theatres in the Phoenix Area and over 600 special events in the Valley. He has also been the show director for IMTA, the International Models Talent Association, for 18 years. An Arizona native, Michael was PT’s production manager and resident director/ choreographer during the 80’s. Since then, he has directed more than 50 productions here, including How to Succeed in Business, Man of LaMancha, Sophisticated Ladies, Into the Woods, Children of Eden, The Quiltmaker’s Gift and Chicago . He created the Follies Fundraiser for Phoenix Theatre and has directed Woman Who Care Events and Enchanted Evenings for 6 years. Michael received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from ASU and his Master’s degree in Theatre with a Directorial emphasis from Northwestern University.

Phoenix Theatre Producing Artistic Director:
Michael Barnard, (602)889-5280

DANIEL L. SCHAY - Managing Director. Daniel joined Phoenix Theatre as Managing Director in July 2004; he has spent his career in the arts as an administrator, producer, and director. Daniel served 6 years as Executive Director of the Sedona Cultural Park , responsible for the programming and development of its 50-acre campus of arts and educational facilities and the Sedona International Film Festival. Before coming to Arizona, he served as Managing Director of the Philadelphia Drama Guild and as Producing Artistic Director of the Merrimack Repertory Theater in Massachusetts. As a consultant, he has worked with theater and dance companies all over the country. Daniel has also served as a program evaluator for the National Endowment for the Arts, and has been a theater grants panelist for the arts councils of Massachusetts, Florida, and Maryland , and for the Arizona Commission on the Arts. Daniel has directed five plays for Phoenix Theatre’s New Works Festival, and over 30 productions at regional theatres around the country. He has taught at Yale, Florida State University, and U. of Massachusetts/Lowell, and served on the boards of Arizona Town Hall , Arizonans for Cultural Development, the Arizona Presenter’s Alliance, the Sedona-Oak Creek Chamber of Commerce, and the Sedona Teen Center . He is a graduate of Yale University in English and Theater Administration. He is father of Adam, age 6, and husband of Barbara, a senior research analyst for Strategic Perspectives, Inc.

Phoenix Theatre Managing Director:
Daniel L. Schay, (602)889-5281

VINCENT VANVLEET - General Manager. Vincent has been with Phoenix Theatre for eight seasons handling operations and finance and has been an instrumental part of the management team that has lead to the tremendous growth at Arizona ’s oldest cultural arts institution. Most recently Vincent acted as the project coordinator for the Phoenix Theatre 2001 Bond Project supervising the construction of the new 7,200 square foot production building and the renovation of Phoenix Theatre’s Little Theatre. He will also be the project coordinator for the new 10 million dollar expansion at Phoenix Theatre.  Over the past sixteen years he has achieved great success in technical production and arts management working for eight years as the Production Stage Manager for the nationally recognized Shakespeare on the Green Festival as well as Production Stage Manager for the critically acclaimed Writer’s Theatre Chicago. Vincent has stage managed events for ISSSP, Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, Shaw Chicago, The Phoenix Symphony’s production of Desert Yuletide, Child Help USA, and Valley Leadership, among many others.  Additionally, he has tour managed for both Cool Heat - Urban Beat in Lisbon, Portugal and Rennie Harris Puremovement.  Vincent has a BA in Acting and Directing with an emphasis in Stage Management from Barat College . 

Phoenix Theatre Administration:
Vincent VanVleet, (602)889-5295

ALAN J. PREWITT - Founding Cookie Company Artistic Director. Alan was the Cookie Company Artistic Director and a staff member of Phoenix Theatre for 26 years before his early retirement in June 2007. A native of St. Louis, MO., he graduated Cum Laude from Park College, in Kansas City, MO.  After graduation he served as the Theatre/ Dance Specialist for the Cultural Division of Kansas City and producer for Theatre under the Stars.  During his time with Cookie Company he penned over 75 original scripts for Cookie Company though it was never really part of his job description to do so. Alan was honored in 1994 with the National Society of Arts and Letters “Career Achievement Award”, in 1997 with the “Outstanding Contribution Award” from the AriZoni Awards and in 2000 with the Arizona Theatre Alliance “Award of Excellence in Arts Education”.  A pioneer in the field of shadow-signed theatre and audio-reverse interpreting for the hearing impaired, he is also the originator of “Spanish Infused” scripts for Cookie Company making sure all children in our community was able to enjoy a live theatre experience.  He is the co-creator and author of Cookie Company’s Be Smart with Art touring musicals, promoting learning through the theatrical medium. Alan’s long-running role as Benjamin Franklin takes him into classrooms across the country and via satellite transmissions, all around the world. Alan was proud to be on the Arizona Commission on the Arts, Artist and Peer Consultant rosters.  Considered an expert in the field of Arts Learning and Arts Integration he continues to travel the country conducting Artist/Teacher Institutes that train teachers to incorporate theater and dance into their classroom curriculum. His family musical, The Quiltmaker’s Gift, now being performed nation-wide, including First Stage in Milwaukee, had its world premiere on the Phoenix Theatre Mainstage in December of 2002.  “The Gift” is still giving to PT and the children of this community and is proudly celebrating its 6th Anniversary this season.  Alan is currently residing in Hannibal, MO preparing several other scripts for future publication, contributing to the cultural fabric of that community and keeping a close eye on his beloved, aging parents.

ROBERT KOLBY HARPER - Associate Artistic Director/Cookie Company Artistic Director. Originally from Georgia , Robert has lived in Phoenix for over 13 years.  He is a graduate of Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts and has been an Artists in Residence at Phoenix Theatre for the past three years where he directed (Swing, Route 66, Cole and Smokey Joes Café), choreographed (Cabaret, Chicago) and performed in Chicago (The Jury), Cabaret (Emcee), Funny Thing Happened….Forum (Hysterium), A Chorus Line (Bobby), RobberBridegroom (Goat), Rumors (Ernie), and Private Lives (Victor). For the past three years he has taught theatre for Arizona Schools for the Arts through a partnership with Phoenix Theatre. He has garnered 17 Ari-zoni Awards for directing, choreographing and acting as well as numerous other critical accolades.  Prior to making PT his home he was the resident choreographer for Valley Youth Theatre productions of Grease, The Wiz, Oliver, Honk, Little Shop of Horrors and Schoolhouse Rock. He has worked extensively with many of the Valleys theatres and educational institutions including ASU, ASU West, Actors Theatre, Az. Jewish Theatre, Mesa Community College, Theatre Works and Stagebrush on shows such as as  How to Succeed…., Little Shop of Horrors, Meet Me in St. Louis, Grand Hotel, Barnum, The Will Rogers Follies and Grease to name a few.

Phoenix Theatre Associate Artistic Director/ Cookie Company Artistic Director:
Robert Kolby Harper, (602)889-6321

Finance & Human Resources:
Betty Wildes, Business Manager, (602)889-5289

Marketing:
Brian Kunnari, Marketing Manager, (602)889-5284

Development:
Beth Reynolds, Development Manager, (602)889-5299

YTG:
Beth Cowan (602)889-5293

Production:
Michael J. Eddy, (602)889-6301

Costume Shop:
Marjie Bell, (602)889-6314

Scene Shop:
Mark Reynolds, (602)889-6312

Designs & Props:
Katie McNamara, (602)889-6307