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Leadership Team

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Michele Heitner-Brabender

Michele, a founding member of CCTNC, is a performer at heart, with nearly a lifetime of experience in the arts including music, children’s theatre, community theatre and art, as well as teaching performance, music and art to humans of all ages. She has performed in over a dozen shows and choirs, has worked on the production teams (in an array of capacities from costuming to set design, to property management to stage management to backstage management and directing) for over three dozen community and local shows. She was nominated for an AriZoni award in 2022 for her collaborative design and execution of a fully articulating Milky White puppet (Into the Woods, Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre in Scottsdale, AZ). She is thrilled to once again be involved in community theatre after a multi-year break. She recently directed, prop designed and designed the set for CCTNC’s first performance–Community Garden by Justin Borak. Michele lives in Clayton with her husband of thirty years, two of their four (amazing and talented) adult children and two very adorable poodles. Michele currently teaches voice, piano and theater/musical theater to all ages and is a graphic artist and web designer.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Liza Ginette Bell

Liza Ginette Bell, a founding member of CCTNC, has been a performer since toddlerhood. She has a background in dance and performed in high school and college theater. As a child, her love of theater grew as she watched her uncle perform in his own high school and college productions, and sometimes performed with him, when a young actor was needed. In addition to serving as CCTNC’s Creative Director, Liza made her debut with Clayton Community Theatre, in Community Garden by Justin Borak, playing the roles of both Sadie and Jordan. She looks forward to continuing to serve the community by connecting our community members through the art and magic of local community theatre. Liza lives in Clayton with her husband and son.