Significant Talent
Monday, August 19th, 2024 / 7:00 pm
The cast and crew of Significant Productions are proud to present a showcase of their Significant Talent. Join us in the historic lobby of The Sharon as SigPro's own Gary Powell, Mark Kirshenbaum, Alec Speers, Dio Raquel, Nichole Pollack, Jessica "Birdie" Nix, Madi Carr, Ally Southgate, and other surprise guests take a night off from presenting all the shows you love at both the Sharon and the Studio theaters to share with you some of their favorite songs.
Mark Kirschenbaum:
Mark Kirschenbaum has been involved in the theatre business for over 30 years. He has worked as an actor, director, production manager, company manager and theatre teacher throughout the state of Florida. Most recently he has been seen on stage as Vice Principal Panch in Spelling Bee, Dindon in La Cage Aux Folles and Cladwell in Urinetown at the Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol. Michael in Elegies at The Sharon Performing Arts Center and as Freddy in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors at the Savannah Center. Mark is thrilled to be working with this amazing team and looks forward to creating magnificent pieces of performing arts with Significant Productions
Alec Speers:
Alec Speers is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado where he obtained a Bachelors in Theatre Studies and a BA in Music. Alec has performed in several places around the world including in Germany with Opera Classica Europa, Asheville North Carolina, Opera Ft. Collins and Loveland Opera Theatre in Colorado, and with Central Florida Lyric Opera in Florida. While performing on stage is his passion, he loves being the House Manager for Significant Productions because he gets to directly interact with the people that continue to keep the arts alive-you! Alec also wants to thank his immensely supportive family, some of which reside in France!
Dio Raquel:
Dio Raquel Jr currently serves as the Associate Lighting Supervisor for Significant Productions. He assists both the Sharon Performing Arts Center and the Studio Theatre as a lighting technician. Born and raised in Honolulu, HI and moved to Las Vegas, NV to pursue his education in theatre. He obtained his Theatre Performance Certificate from Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts (Las Vegas, NV) and recently received his B.F.A. in Theatre Studies, emphasizing in Arts Leadership, Lighting, and Musical Theatre from Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, NE). He has a love for music, dance, photography, and most importantly; matcha ice cream.
Gary Powell:
Gary Powell has been the musical heart of Significant Productions since the beginning, and for years before SigPro was ready to fly it's own banner. The performance tonight has been made possible by Gary's constant encouragement to every person here at the Sharon and at the Studio theater to follow their dreams, live their life to the fullest, and hone their voices to be able to sing the songs in their hearts. Some of tonight's performers are seasoned professionals, some are relatively new to the stage, but every song will be elevated by Gary's masterful accompaniment.
Nichole Pollack:
Nichole Pollack has been with Significant Productions as an Assistant House Manager for a little over a year and has loved every minute of it. Born and raised in California, Nichole moved to Florida in 2015 after graduating from Cal State Long Beach with a BA in Technical Theatre, focusing on Stage Management, Costume Design, and Light Programming. She then performed at Walt Disney World for eight years before returning to her true calling: working production and front of house with a theatre company. While she is not one to usually go on stage to perform, she has been in a few plays and musicals, her most favorite role being Spot Conlon in Disney's Newsies! It's thanks to all the encouragement of her friends and family, both inside and outside of SigPro, that she's able to feel more confident singing solo on the stage outside of a musical!
Jessica Nix:
Jessica "Birdie" Nix has been singing since she was 4 years old. Her inspiration comes from Phil Collins, Alicia Keys, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, and Sir Elton John. By day, she is SigPro's Marketing and Media Coordinator, engaging with you on social media and creating video content. By night, she transforms into Birdie and, with her trusty electric ukulele, plays shows around the Villages and on Anna Maria Island.
Madi Carr:
Madi Carr is the Production Coordinator for Significant Productions. She graduated from University of Alabama at Birmingham with a BFA in Musical Theatre with a minor in Management. After touring as a performer for a year, she decided to be in one spot and put her management and hospitality skills to use. You may have seen her perform in her very own cabaret titled "Crossing a Bridge" here at the Sharon, or running around the theatre on show days as part of the production team.
