Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre & Children's Theatre

DINNER THEATRE • CHILDREN'S THEATRE
5 Willowdale Drive • Frederick, Maryland 21702
Telephone: (301) 662-6600

Take a look behind the scenes of the
WAY OFF BROADWAY
DINNER THEATRE • CHILDREN'S THEATRE

If you are a regular guest at the theatre, chances are you have had the opportunity to get to know everyone that works so hard "backstage" to make sure everything runs smoothly so that you have a wonderful visit. However, if you are new to Way Off Broadway, allow us to introduce ourselves.

The youngest member of the Kiska Family, Way Off Broadway has been a second home to Trey since he was in high school, even before the family bought the theatre, working in every area of the theatre from the kitchen to the Tech. Booth, as well as appearing on stage. He has also performed at the Weinberg Center for the Arts. Now, as an Associate Producer, Trey has his hand in pretty much everything that goes on at Way Off Broadway. A graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, his degree in Architectural CAD Design certainly comes in handy around the theatre.

Bill is Way Off Broadway's Executive Producer and the theatre's President and Chief Executive Officer. Having earned a degree in Music and Theatre from Duquesne University, he performed with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, both in Pittsburgh and during its European Tour while in college. After graduating from college, he taught Music and Theatre in Pennsylvania before moving to Maryland and entering the world of business. Over the years, Bill has directed such productions as Oliver!, The King and I, Hello, Dolly!, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Annie, the regional premiere of Neil Simon's Goodbye Girl - The Musical, The Wizard of Oz, and Forever Plaid, just to name a few of his favorites. No stranger to performing himself, his proudest moment onstage was appearing as Georges in the regional premiere of Jerry Herman's smash-hit musical comedy La Cage aux Folles. Before becoming WOB's chief executive, he traveled Europe as Vice President of International Operations for an incentive travel corporation that was based in Potomac, Maryland.

Many people in the Frederick area will recognize Deb from her days as the Spa Coordinator at Studio One Hair Salon and Day Spa. But now it is her job to oversee the Box Office and general business operations of Way Off Broadway. With a business degree under her belt, she also gets to take care of the books! A gourmet cook in her own right, she and Bill have been involved with specialized catering since they were first married. While Deb is usually one of the hardest working people keeping everything going behind the scenes, she did make a cameo appearance in 2004's The Goodbye Girl - The Musical and again in 2007's Forever Plaid.

As Managing Director, it's Justin's job to oversee the overall productions and operations of Way Off Broadway. Over the years, he has been involved behind the scenes with more productions than he can even remember, usually in the role of Producer, Production Manager, or Technical Director. For Way Off Broadway, he has directed Wait Until Dark, Steel Magnolias, Lullabies of Broadway - A Musical Review (which he also wrote), and Grease. He is also the one behind WOB's interactive murder mysteries, having written A Rock-n-Roll Golden Oldies Murder and The Case of the Oldest Living Showgirl, as well as the theatre's original holiday productions, An Old Fashioned (Radio) Christmas, Holiday Cheer, and 'Tis the Season. A graduate of The George Washington University, his formal education is in Communications and Public Relations. In addition to his involvement in theatre, Justin has also been very active in government and public service. Previously, he worked in Washington, DC where he served as Special Assistant to Former Transportation and Labor Secretary Elizabeth Dole.

Susan has been writing and directing children's shows and teaching summer camp at WOB for nearly as long as the theatre has been around. She graduated from Western Maryland College with a BA in Theatre-English Secondary Education and has taught and directed in Frederick County schools since 1985. She has also performed and directed at theatres in Maryland, West Virginia, and Washington, DC and for four years, she toured elementary and middle schools with educational shows for children through Young Audiences of Maryland. Frederick residents can also see Susan on Comcast hosting the entertainment show Artscape.

Deanna is a graduate of Westminster Choir College of Rider University, where she earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano. She has played keyboards for many Way Off Broadway productions over the past several years, including The Sound of Music, The King & I, Annie, Guys & Dolls, The Wizard of Oz, and 2005's An Old Fashioned (Radio) Christmas. Beginning with 2006's Holiday Cheer, Deanna took over the orchestra as the theatre's Musical Director. In addition to working at Way Off Broadway, she teaches piano through a DC-based studio, does work with children with special needs, and plays piano for churches and other local theatres.

As Way Off Broadway's General Manager, Christie handles much of the day-to-day business of the theatre. Her extensive work in the theatre as a performer and accomplished dancer and choreographer, combined with her administrative background make her the perfect person to keep things moving smoothly around the theatre. Having performed since she was in high school, a few of her favorite past credits on stage include Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, Dotty Otley in Noises Off, Cassie in A Chorus Line, and, of course, how can she not mention her appearance as Cha-Cha in Grease, where she met her husband, Trey.

Cathie has been composing the music and serving as Musical Director for the Children's Theatre at Way Off Broadway since it first began in 1996. A member of the voice faculty at Hood College, she also teaches private voice lessons through her studio in Frederick. In the past, Cathie has also musical directed Way Off Broadway's Mainstage productions of Ebenezer (for which she also wrote the music and lyrics), WOB's Christmas Spectacular, The Sound of Music (both the 2001 and 2008 productions), The Wizard of Oz, and Oklahoma! Not always behind the scenes, she appeared onstage as Sister Amnesia in Nunsense.