Jackie Hammond (Producing Artistic Director/Co-Vocal Director) is a two-time ariZoni Award-winning Musical Director and National Youth Arts Award-winning Musical Director who has been teaching music and theatre for over 25 years. She graduated with honors from San José State University (Creative Arts and Musical Theatre). Jackie is a graduate of the American Musical Theater Artists’ Institute where she rigorously trained in voice, dance and acting, as well as Shakespeare, improvisation, and stage combat. She also spent a summer studying opera with the chairman of the music department of Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Jackie has extensive experience in the performing arts and professional theatre where she has played leading roles in many musical productions, and has also received ariZoni Nominations for her portrayal of Cinderella in Into the Woods; she is a eleven-time ariZoni nominated Vocal Director and has received four NYA Nominations as Director and Vocal Director, as well as an NYA Award for her vocal direction of CATS, with co-vocal director Shawna Weitekamp. Favorite roles have included Gino/Harpo Marx in Day in Hollywood/Night in the Ukraine, Annie (twice)as Lily and Miss Hannigan, Cathy in The Last Five Years, the Witch in Into the Woods, and Fantine in Les Misérables alongside her daughter Noelle Hammond who played the role of Little Cosette. Jackie has worked with performers ages 2-adult. She composed original arrangements of songs for San José State’s Touring Group, “Company One” where in her college years, she performed with them, as well. Jackie has vocal directed, directed, and choreographed for many theatres in CA and AZ, including one of the nation’s largest youth theaters in San José. Directing and performing experience includes well over 100 shows to her credit with prestigious theaters such as American Musical Theatre of San José (Equity Theater), Cabrillo Stage, Foothill Music Theatre, This Side of the Hill Players, Second Stage West, University Theater, Desert Foothills Theater, Theaterworks, West Bay Opera, Children’s Musical Theatre of San José, Young People’s Theater, iTheatre Collaborative, Phoenix Theatre, and Arizona Broadway Theatre performing in Jeff Kennedy’s Christmas Cabaret. In addition to working in theater, Jackie teaches private voice lessons and held the title of Miss Santa Clara County. She would like to thank her husband, Jeff and her helpful mom for their support. Jackie loves spending time with the lights of her life., her twin children, Lennon and Noelle who always fill her days with entertainment, smiles and love.
Jim Gradillas (Director) has been teaching /directing youth theatre for 28 years. He has been a professional actor, teacher, director, and writer all over Arizona during this time. Jim has won Fourteen AriZoni Awards for Theatre Excellence, which includes five for original writing. He has also won several National Arts Awards and Child Empowerment Awards. He was also a teaching artist for the Arizona Commission on the Arts. He has directed and taught for Mesa Arts Center, Valley Youth Theatre, Theater Works, East Valley Children’s Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, Greasepaint Youth Theatre, and has directed and wrote for Scottsdale Christian Academy, Montessori Kingdom of Learning and Mesa Arts Academy. He currently produces, directs and writes for a youth theatre, Acting Zone in Goodyear, AZ and directs performance troupes and theatre programs at SNAP in Scottsdale. Jim is thrilled to be back to be a part of Musical Theatre of Anthem. He absolutely loves it at MTA. Thank you Jackie for the opportunity! He would like to thank his amazing casts and the super talents of Sierra, Jess, Lyndsie, and Melissa. Jim lives with his lovely wife, Michelle (and writing partner), and two beautiful dogs in West valley.
