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Lester Malizia (Director) was Artistic Director for Seaside Music Theater in Daytona Beach, FL for over 20 years. While at the theater he directed over 87 major productions including premieres of work by Stephan Schwartz, Maury Yeston and Milton Granger. He has translated and directed several operas, He was a founder of the Rogue theater in Orlando where he directed Angels in America. he has been awarded The Distinguished Career Award by the Florida Professional Theater Association and The Richard Fallon Award for Innovative Leadership in the Theater. He served for 8 years on the Board of the National Alliance for Music Theater and 4 years as the Chairman of the Professional Division of The Southeastern Theater Conference. He is currently an Adjunct at Westminster College. He was an original producer of the Broadway hit MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET.

 

Nicholas Samson (Music Director) holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Youngstown State University's Dana School of Music. He has held positions with musical ensembles such as the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, the Ashtabula Symphony Orchestra, the Panyard Steel Orchestra, and the Cadets Drum & Bugle Corp. As a commercial musician, he has performed in numerous big bands and shows, having worked and performed with entertainers such as the O’Jays, Peter Tork of The Monkees, Martha Reeves of Martha and the Vandellas, Sam Moore of Sam & Dave, Jay Harmon of Sly & the Family Stone, Andre Clarke, guitarist for the late Marvin Gaye, and famed arranger, composer, and steel drum instrumentalist, Ken "Professor" Philmore. Nicholas has conducted and performed in orchestras for numerous musical theatre productions, having held the position of Resident Music Director at the Youngstown Playhouse, Youngstown, OH, and having served as Music Director for productions at Lakeview High School, Cortland, OH, and the ACC. He currently teaches music at Maestro Arts Performing Arts Academy, a private music education facility that he co-owns with his wife, Brianne, located on the second floor of ACC. He and his wife currently reside in Sharon with their five month old son, Alexander.