Joey Nasta (Director) is an NYC-based actor, director, and producer proud to working with Aspire PAC for the first time! Recently, he performed as Monty Navarro in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder with the Light Opera of New Jersey. Currently, Joey can be seen performing in Christmas at the Playhouse at the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse. He works as General Manager for ADH Theatricals, which is producing the upcoming world premiere of The Christine Jorgensen Show; serves as Campaign Chief of Staff for the Lake Placid Center for the Arts; and is Executive Producer of the Spokehouse Productions, a site-specific theatre company that has produced work across NYC, from inside Vanderbilt mansions to Williamsburg bars. He worked in fundraising at PlayCo and Ensemble Studio Theatre, and in general management at Clubbed Thumb. Joey studied Acting and Directing at Fordham University. Many thanks to Lisa, Leigh, Mel, Cheryl, Madie, and the entire cast and crew for being the best team any mad chocolatier could ask for.
K. Leigh Weinman (Music Director) is pleased to add her musical talent to this production. In addition to her years of experience as an accompanist and music director, she has been teaching piano privately in Morris County for more than 25 years. Miss Leigh, as she is known by her students, enjoys nothing more than sharing her love of all forms of music, and she is especially passionate about collaborating with burgeoning young performers as they discover the thrill of musical theater while they develop and engage their talents. Leigh started her own journey in the theater during her high school years, which included a memorable opportunity to perform in the pit ensemble for a summer theater production of Pippin. It was this experience that instilled her longstanding love of the art, and the joy of the kinship that musical theater inspires. She also performs regularly as both a sole accompanist and as part of a pit ensemble for full scale local high school and community theater productions. Previously, Leigh musically directed Aspire's productions of Disney's Moana Jr., Disney's The Lion King Jr., 13 The Musical, Something Rotten, Shrek JR., The Prom, and Mean Girls High School Version, and also played in the pit orchestra for Aspire's Big Fish, and conducted from the keys for Something Rotten and Mean Girls. Leigh would like to thank her fellow production team members, our talented cast and crew, and her family for managing without her while she’s off doing what she loves.
Melanie Della Peruti (Choreographer) is so excited to be choreographing her eighth show with Aspire Performing Arts Company! She previously choreographed Aspire's productions of Dare to Dream, The Prom, The Addams Family, Shrek the Musical JR., 13, Legally Blonde, and Disney's Moana JR. Melanie is a graduate of Montclair State University where she studied dance and elementary education, and is currently a Kindergarten teacher. She has previously worked with The Cranford Dramatic Club and Onstage Theater Camp where she has choreographed shows such as Seussical, The Addams Family, Mamma Mia, and Legally Blonde. She is SO proud of the cast and cannot thank them enough for all of their hard work. Thanks to Lisa, Joey, Leigh, Madie, and Cheryl for being a great team!
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