Alma has been involved with ITMP since 2014 as a volunteer parent for group dynamics, props and set design. Alma has been a performer, director and producer to different Community Theater groups and Catholic School Drama Programs for the past forty years both here in the United States and in the Philippines. Some of her favorite shows include Passion Play (Mother Mary), Rent (Mimi Marquez), and Les Miserables (Eponine). Alma has been attending Broadway Teachers Workshop since 2018 learning new teaching/directing methods and enhancing production skills and sharing her knowledge and experience to our local community theater. It is always a pleasure to see our performers blossom to their full potential in this production of Newsies. Currently, Alma has two daughters Arya the multi-talented one and Cupcake the gorgeous Silver Fox Yorkie.

Kathleen has been volunteering in the theatre program since 2015 when her daughters first began their love of the stage in Wizard of Oz. Since then Kathleen has helped in all manners behind the scenes but over the last few years has concentrated on helping Roberta and Kim in the costume department.

Katie (Catherine) Crombez uses she/her pronouns and is a musician who has been performing and directing in the metro Detroit area for more than 15 years. She graduated from Madonna University with a degree in Piano Performance in 2017 and is also a trained singer. Additionally, she plays the harp, violin, guitar, ukulele and drums. She has maintained a private lesson studio for more than 10 years and loves directing and teaching people of all ages with all abilities.

When she is not singing on stage or sitting at a piano, Katie is a Clinical Research Coordinator at University of Michigan and spends her free time going to concerts. oes here

Olivia Deane has been involved in theatre in various capacities for more than half of her life (much longer if you count the plays she started putting on in her family’s living room as a toddler). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Theatre from Rochester University. She has directed a production of Steel Magnolias at her alma mater and several children’s programs at church. Some of her favorite acting credits include: Cressida (Troilus and Cressida), Katherine (Taming of the Shrew), Maria (The Sound of Music), and Chris (Dancing at Lughnasa). When not in the theatre, she enjoys doing puzzles, soap making, and going on adventures with her husband, Jordan, and their puppy, Magic.

Shelby Dragone has always loved music and is excited to share that with the performers and staff of ITMP. Realizing that she could Shelby is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Music and performs and teaches regularly in the southeast Michigan area. She has been working in children’s theater since 2018 and joined the ITMP team in 2021. When not behind a piano, you can find Shelby behind a good book!

Brandon is a lifelong children’s theater professional with a deep love of fostering performance skills in young people. This is her second show with In the Mitten Productions; last year she had the joy of coaching the Lion King casts in animal movements and fight choreography. When not working on full productions with ITMP, she teaches theater, dance, and music at The Hawk. Outside of working at the theater, you can find Brandon singing with her band the Y-Town Hoolies, studying to be a respiratory therapist, gaming, or hanging with her daughter and husband.

It started small in 2014, … since you are here, can you just help set teardown for Tarzan. The sneakily, hey, can you come help build a tower for Rapunzel? Oh, and these other set pieces? Oh, and can you work the right wing during show? Hey, can you help build set for Mary Poppins? Run the right wing crew? Great, now can you design and take build lead on Wizard of Oz? Perfect! Seussical’s next. Learn how to do basic Sound and Lighting (leave the shows to the experts!), calling shows, running show stage crews; Music Man (painting buildings) add teaching kids how to build sets, Shrek, Guys and Dolls, Beauty and the Beast, High School Musical, Addams Family, Big Fish (make a river), Lion King jr (make a Sun that rises and sets), Elf jr (make it snow!), Annie jr, Anna Paints Trees, Alice in Wonderland jr, Honk jr, Schoolhouse Rock, Mamma Mia, James and the Giant Peach, Little Mermaid jr,… WAIT it’s COVID, cancel those last three. Learn to be a video and sound editor for On Line Shows, next add filming and editing for Shrek jr at outside locations (wind, rain, snow, float plane, wind, more wind!). Back to stage: Sponge Bob, Descendants, Mamma Mia (for real this time!), Oliver jr, look Mary Poppins again only bigger!, Lion King jr, High School Musical jr.

Kim started her theatre experience in 5th grade when she was cast to play Hamlet … the boys in the class couldn’t memorize all the lines! Fast forward to 2001 when her then 9 year old daughter auditioned for School House Rock. After helping with props … she was hooked. Kim worked with other production companies before starting In The Mitten Productions in 2016. Since 2016, ITMP has produced over 30 productions, including multiple creative endeavors during the pandemic, and have inspired over 1000 young performers.

Kim has a degree in computer engineering - which comes in handy in her role as Producer and Director. She enjoys learning and has participated in multiple Broadway workshops.

Kim has been married to Carl for over 32 years. She continues to be inspired by the talented crew of ITMP and more by the amazing young performers that we work with.

Maura Jones has always loved theatre, music and working with the next generation. She began performing and singing on stage in Elementary school, and fell in love with the way that theater can transform lives. Maura has worked with kids and youth for the past 20 years and brings her experience in theatre and teaching together in the hopes that the next generation will be impacted during their time with ITMP.

Maura began proudly volunteering with ITMP in 2014 when her children also began to express an interest in theater. Maura enjoyed many years creating costumes, painting sets and falling in love with the backstage side of productions before moving into directing. Maura looks forward to continuing to inspire and engage with performers in further productions with ITMP.

Maura lives in Farmington Hills with her husband Bill, and her three daughters Phebe, Samantha and Claire.

Lisa Maxine Melinn started performing at the age of 5, and grew up on stage. She attended Syracuse University, where she earned a BFA in Drama. Lisa was a cast member of The Second City/Detroit, where she co-wrote and performed in numerous sketch comedy and improvisational reviews. She can be seen in the feature film Ocean of Pearls, which was awarded Best Feature Film at the 2009 Detroit Windsor International Film Festival, the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Choice Award at the 2008 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and the Audience Choice Award at the 2008 Toronto ReelWorld Film Festival. Other roles include Zillah in A Bright Room Called Day, Tina Vitale in Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding, and Helen in Night of the Living Dead: The Musical.

When not performing, Lisa has taught acting, Movement for the Actor, Audition Technique, Acting for Film and Commercials, and improvisation to students of all ages. Teaching credits include classes and Master Classes for The Second City/Detroit, Water Works Theatre Company, Michigan Youth Theatre, Jewish Community Centers of America, and Oakland Community College. A published author, Lisa co-wrote the chapter “Action Against the Chaos” featured in Hamilton and Philosophy.

Sarah has been directing with In The Mitten Productions for 6 years. She graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater. When she is not teaching kids how to love the theater as much as she does, you can find Sarah spending time with her family up north, watching baseball, at the beach, reading or playing board games.

Daryl Treger has been working with the Farmington Hills Youth Theater for seventeen years. Initially roped back into the theatrical realm by his then first grade child Marleigh for Alice in Wonderland, he had not taken the stage since he was in high school. But once reacquainted, the theater bug bit him again! Daryl was a performer with his family in several productions, playing such roles as the Genie in Aladdin, Professor Porter in Tarzan, and Mr. Banks in Mary Poppins. For the last twelve productions he has been an assistant director, and will continue in this capacity for Legally Blonde. If you can cuh-CAW properly, he will admit you into Brown Cesario’s Wet Crows Fan Club.

Elizabeth “Miss Liz” Tumminello is thrilled that The Mitten team chose “a girl like her” to assistant direct. She has been teaching and directing youth theatre for over a decade, and has had the pleasure of working with young performers all over southeast Michigan from preschool to high school age. Miss Liz directed 6 shows at Walled Lake Central High School and served as their youth chorus director for 4 years. She has a degree from Eastern Michigan University in theatre/ communication and education. She has performed in over a dozen collegiate and community productions, at the Michigan Renaissance Festival, studied voice for 7 years, and most importantly, loves sharing the art that is live performance with young actors. Helping performers discover the “possible” within themselves is her greatest wish and she feels so grateful for the opportunity here in Novi.

Tracey Turner is thrilled to join the In The Mitten Productions team! She earned her Bachelor’s of Vocal Music Education from Eastern Michigan University, and continued her studies at the University of Michigan in the Masters of Arts in Education program. Tracey’s 25 years of private vocal instruction has included students of all ages, primarily assisting high school students achieve top honors at festivals & competitions. Tracey is a long time resident of Farmington Hills, a soloist for North Congregational Church and an adjunct voice professor for Oakland Community College. Tracey adjudicates at Solo and Ensemble festivals for the Michigan School Vocal Music Association and also provides clinics and individual instruction for areas high school choral and musical theater programs. When she isn’t teaching or performing, she loves to spend time with her family.

Nikki Waananen joined ITMP in 2020. She came to the group, like many, after volunteering to help when her daughter first started in theatre. Nikki has been a preschool teacher for 22 years. This experience has been key to her success. with ITMP.

Nikki is proud to have been involved in many productions with ITMP including the filmed production of Shrek Jr and stage productions of SpongeBob, Descendants and Lion King Jr. Nikki loves continuing to learn more about theatre and inspiring the young performers in our area.

Nikki lives in Farmington Hills with her husband KC and daughter Sydney and dog Samson.

Born and raised in Detroit Michigan, Charnell, a multidisciplinary artist, has been heavily intrigued by all things creative. Her vision is heavily influenced by her father, who started in his young life as pursuing fine and performing arts himself. Throughout her life, Charnell has taken part in various fine art camps, intensives, and creative workshops to foster the foundation of her crafts. Much of this can also be credited to programming through MaryGrove College in Detroit, Michigan, where she practiced theater, and dance.

Charnell is excited to continue to pass her love for dance and the arts on to the youth performers in our area. She brings her expertise and passion for movement and choreography to ITMP. More than that Charnell hopes our performers embrace their talent and find a passion for performing arts just as she did.

As a performer, she has played Ella in the 1st National Tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, starred in Far From the Madding Crowd at New York City's Signature Theatre, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! at the 5th Avenue Theatre, Roman Holiday at The Guthrie Theatre, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Les Misérables, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, et al., amongst her numerous concert and symphony work. Alexandra is deeply passionate about the arts and she truly believes that as arts instructors, we are teaching young minds to be empathetic, honest, joyful, and brave - all under the beautiful guise of music and theatre.