Miami Childrens Theater Staff

Angela L. Ardolino, Founder
The Executive Producing Director and Creator of the Miami Childrens Theater, Angie founded Miami Childrens Theater in 1996.  She has over twenty years of performing, producing and directing experience in the theater, television, film and fashion industries’. Ardolino has directed and instructed youth (ages 3-21) in
full-scale professional productions (over 70 to date) for the past twelve years. The productions are both eclectic and critically acclaimed. From Shakespearean drama and comedy (Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing), Broadway musicals (Les Miserables, Into the Woods, West Side Story) and other popular and classical plays (Cyrano de Bergerac, Crucible).  Ms. Ardolino has mentored 100s of students through the years and has seen many of her former actors succeeding on the highest levels. In 2011-12 alone, five former MCT students have lead or featured roles in national Broadway tours.

Beth Fath Executive Director
Beth Fath has been an important contributor to the Miami Childrens Theater for 14 of its 16 year history. Serving in the role of board member and eventually president through 2010, Ms. Fath assumed the title of Executive Director in 2011. In conjunction with Ms. Ardolino, Beth helped steer Miami Childrens Theater through its prodigious growth as a company from 1998 to 2010. Beth came to MCT from a 27-year career in the music business. On top of Beth’s role as Executive Director she has also costumed all of MCT’s productions over the past decade.

Tim Fath, Director of Theater Operations
Both an accomplished artist and a twenty-year year veteran of the book and music business. Mr. Fath comes to MCT after a lengthy career with the Warner Music Group, where he served as a national account executive. Mr. Fath has overseen the growth of the theater operations to include more productions per year as well as  bringing Miami Childrens Theater to new venues such as Pinecrest Gardens and the South Dade Cultural Arts Center.

Damaris Lopez-Canales, Artistic Director:
Born and raised in Bronx, New York. At age ten Damaris attended the Boys and Girls Club of New York performing arts program. Her performances include lead roles in the musicals Annie, Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, and Sandy in Grease. Ms. Lopez-Canales graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts in New York with a vocal performance degree and in 1996 Damaris graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Music in musical theatre. Her 15 years of extensive training includes: classical music, musical theatre, gospel, jazz, pop, and R&B. Ms. Lopez-Canales has since performed in several theatres throughout South Florida (Coconut Grove Playhouse, Actor’s Playhouse, Hollywood Playhouse, Miami Shores etc…) in such shows as Guys and Dolls, Little Shop of Horrors, Oliver, Pippin, Man of La Mancha, Evita, Little Mary Sunshine, Funny Girl, Phantom, etc. Ms. Lopez-Canales has also performed in several children’s shows, such as Little Red Riding Hood, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Beauty and the Beast, Jungle Book and many more.

Christine Blair Vega, Lead Musical Theater Director:
Christine Blair Vega holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance / Musical Theater from the University of Miami. She has appeared on many South Florida stages including the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, The Women’s Theater Project, Actor’s Playhouse and the Jerry Herman Ring Theater. Ms. Vega is an accomplished teacher and director, having directed numerous shows at MCT, Summer Theater Academy at UM, and Actors Playhouse. Amongst an extensive resume of performing credits, highlights included How to Succeed in Business, Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Elektra, Good New!, Playhouse Creatures and Exonerated. Christine Blair Vega MCT directing credits include Annie, School House Rock, Disney’s Aristocats, Mulan, Frog and Toad, and many other productions. Christine has been instrumental in MCT’s afterschool theater program, establishing programs at several local schools.

Anna Flavia Zuim, Music Director:
Ana Flavia has been hailed not only for her excellence as a pianist, but also for her versatility. She is a sought-after pianist, collaborative pianist, electric bassist, and conductor. She has been a pianist, musical director/conductor and bassist in many musicals such as “West Side Story,” “Smokey Joe’s Café,” “Evita,” “Company,” “The Fantasticks,” “Kiss me Kate,” “Pippin,” “The Cocoanuts,” “The King and I,” “The Music Man,” “Honk,” “Oklahoma,” “Oliver,” “Bye, Bye, Birdie,” “Grease,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Side by Side,” “The Little Shop of Horrors,” “Carousel,” “Personals,” “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “School House Rock,” “Pinocchio” and “Annie.” In addition, she has done many musical reviews, including a review of songs from the famous French composer “Jacques Brel” and an original production of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” with rock and pop music. She is recently working on the production of the show “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” She is currently on faculty at University of Miami and Barry University. Ana Flavia holds an undergraduate degree in music from UEL-State University of Londrina in Brazil. She completed a Master’s degree in piano performance in 2005 from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida where she received an award for her outstanding work as a musician. She is now pursuing a PhD in Comparative Studies in the Fine and Performing Arts track at FAU where she is working on an original musical project composition. Ana continues to be active as a soloist and is involved in musical theater productions.

Laura Nanes, Director
Laura Nanes has a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music degree, both from Michigan State University in Opera Performance. Her credits include: Antonia; Les contes de Hoffmann, Despina; Cosi fan tutte, Anne Trulove; The Rake’s Progress, Mme Warblewell; The Impressario, Carla; Nine. She also directed el Retablo de Maese Pedro and opera scenes programs, as well as assistant direction and choreography for the world premiere opera Sleepy Hollow. As a performer with Seagle Music Colony in upstate New York, Ms. Nanes sang the somewhere voice in West Side Story, Sister Berthe in the Sound of Music, and Mustardseed in Britten’s Midsummer Nights dream. Her credits in Texas include Rose in the southern premiere of Caroline, or Change, as well as Emmy in the new musical, The Gold. She has toured with the Motor City Lyric Opera, as well as Brainstormers, an improv comedy group. Now you will find her entrenched at the Miami Children’s Theater where she is directing and musical directing. Ms. Nanes has taught vocal lessons since 2003. She teaches a strong technical foundation to the voice to ensure vocal health, musical knowledge, and optimum sound for each unique singer.

Celia Merendi, Lead Choreographer and Director:
Celia was born and raised in Miami, Florida and showed a true passion for dance at a very young age. Under the instruction of internationally respected Martha Mahr, Celia was given a foundation of Classical Ballet and professionalism which set the tone for her career. By 13, she was already a full-time scholarship student of Mahr, broadening her horizons and pursuing acting and singing as a Musical Miracle at the Actor’s Playhouse. She attended summer workshops on scholarship at prestigious companies such as The Royal Ballet (London, England), American Ballet Theatre (NYC) and The Joffrey Ballet (NYC). She graduated from New World School of the Arts in the Musical Theatre track and was awarded 3rd Prize as a National Foundation of Advancement of Arts winner in Ballet. With a B.A. from Rollins College majoring in Theatre and minoring in Dance, Celia also worked professionally with The Orlando Ballet under the artistic direction of the late Fernando Bujones where she performed in the corps de ballet and several soloist roles. Recent major credits include the National Broadway Tour of CHICAGO and a reality television dance series choreographed by Marguerite Dereks entitled “Your Mama Don’t Dance “ on Lifetime. Celia is thrilled to be home, performing locally at Actors’ Playhouse among other regional companies, teaching and choreographing with the best of the best and future talents of the big stage.

Hannah Citrin, Straight Theater Director and Teacher:
Hannah Citrin is a Miami Beach native who began her theater endeavors at New World School of the Arts (class of 2005). She attended Florida State University and graduated in May of 2009 with her B.A in Theater. During college, she studied theater with some of the best in London, England. Hannah has appeared in plenty of productions through out the years including Gablestage’s school tour production of As You Like It. She has worked backstage and as a stage manager with the amazing Mad Cat Theater Company and interned with City Theater for Summer Shorts and Shorts for Kids. As a playwright, she has had two plays produced. Hannah specializes in acting, directing, playwriting, improvisation and character and preparing students for auditions.

Monica Rosell, Director

Monica Nicole Rosell earned her Master’s of Fine Arts in Dramaturgy from New York State University: Stony Brook (’11), where she taught undergraduates Script Analysis and Theatre History, and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from the University of Miami ‘08, completing an intensive four month study of Shakespeare plays and theory at Kent University in Canterbury, England. She is proud to have graduated from Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in 2004. Previous Credits include: Rock Odyssey at the Adrienne Arsht Center directed by Emmy Award Winning Douglas Love, Avenue Q, Jungle Book, Urinetown, Godspell and Rent, Romeo and Juliet, Playboy of the Western World, Eurydice, The American Play, Midsummer Nights Dream, Reconstructing Mama (Off-Broadway), Steel Magnolias, and was an Associate Literary Manager for The John Gassner New Play Contest (NYC) and the dramaturg for the winning play– Monstrous Beauty by Karla Jennings.

Ron Headrick, Guest Director:
Ron Headrick is the dean of South Florida musical theater directors. Mr. Headrick’s breadth and scope of directing credits cover virtually every major theater venue in South Florida, most notably his 21 year association with New World School of the Arts as director, choreographer and professor. Mr. Headrick’s students can now be seen in all major theatrical outlets including feature film, network television, and Broadway. Mr. Headrick holds a BFA in Theater and Dance from Texas Christian University as well as a Master’s Degree in Theater and Directing from Florida Atlantic.

Madelin Marchant, Adjunct Teacher

Madelin Marchant is one of South Florida’s most respected and experienced drama teachers, running the highly successful South Miami Middle School Drama Magnet program. Ms. Marchant’s track record of sending her students to great performing arts magnet high schools is unparalleled in the county. Madelin is an extremely gifted actor actor herself, with multiple roles in film, televsion and stage.