STAFF MEMBERS
Elizabeth C. Cunha, Founder/Executive Artistic Director, is the founder of Traveling Theatre. She has a BA in Theatre and received her MFA from Rhode Island College with a concentration in Performance and Society. She has been seen performing on a multitude of local stages including Barker Play House, Pawtucket Community Players, Mill River Theater and Rhode Island College. Her passion for teaching the arts to students of all ages and abilities led her to develop the concepts and curriculum for workshops provided by Traveling Theatre. She has studied under such greats as Jennifer Mudge, Bob Colona, Fred Sullivan, Jr., Wendy Overly, and P. William Hutchinson. Elizabeth’s greatest desire is to establish an accredited public school in Rhode Island that focuses on educating the whole child at the elementary and middle school levels.
Kevin M. Cunha, Managing Director/CFO, has more than 20+ years of experience in Electro-mechanical design engineering, process control, machine design and fabrication, building design and has multiple degrees, certifications and licenses in mechanical engineering, fire science engineering, robotics, environmental science and electromechanical engineering. He has worked for multiple leading engineering firms in Rhode Island, such as Cadence Science Inc, Interplex Engineered Products, Tyco Fire Products R&D Laboratories, American Power Conversion and Walco Electric Co. Kevin is an affirmed industrial artist who creates 3D artwork using metals, glass, plastics, and stone. His passion for various art forms led him to start Traveling Theatre with his wife, Elizabeth, with the hope of providing quality arts education to the children of Rhode Island. He uses his talents in engineering and design to construct environmentally friendly scenery and set dressings for productions, and teaches Traveling Theatre’s vocational classes; Young Inventors, Handy Kids "Go Green" and Mechatronics. Youth in these classes design and fabricate solar panels kits, electric mini cars and skate boards, environmentally friendly rockets and a array of "green" products to educate youth in science, mathematics and physics. Kevin looks forward to the opportunity to share his talents with students eager to learn about the various aspects of technical arts and theatre for many years to come.
Sarah G. Cadieux, Associate Director of Education, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Education from Emerson College in Boston, MA. Since joining Traveling Theatre in the fall of 2007, she has worked as a Lead Teaching Artist, Choreographer, and a production crew staff member for various enrichment classes and youth productions all over Rhode Island. Sarah is currently Traveling Theatre’s resident choreographer and lighting designer. As the Associate Director of Education, Sarah ensures that all of Traveling Theatre’s Teaching Artists have the proper training and understanding of the principles of enrichment education. Sarah also works with Traveling Theatre’s high school interns from The MET, the After-School Apprenticeship Program and the Workforce Investment Act program. Outside of Traveling Theatre, Sarah is a co-founder and designer/choreographer with the award winning Urban Fusion Independent Winter Colorguard unit and has worked as a visual staff member/colorguard instructor for the BMC Durfee High School Marching Band. Sarah is also an independent contractor/crew member at the Zeiterion Theatre in MA.
Charles Lafond, Associate Artistic Director, is a graduate of Rhode Island College with a BA in Theatre Performance. Chuck has been a teaching artist with Traveling Theatre since January 2007. He has over 10 years of stage experience, performing in such role as Jason in “Medea,” Snake in the American Premier of Slobodan Snajder’s “Snake Skin,” and the title character in William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” He also directed Neil Labute’s “The Mercy Seat” as part of the Rhode Island College’s Growing Stages 2008/2009 season. Charles now heads Traveling Theatre’s Imagine Productions, directing “Raised in Captivity” by Nicky Silver, “Bash” by Neil LaBute, and “Bent” by Martin Sherman.
Karen Boucher, Community Outreach Coordinator, earned her Bachelor's of Arts from Providence College. Before joining us in 2008, she served as the Director of Education and Outreach with All Children's Theatre, where she designed and implemented a Theatre Arts and junior summer camp curriculum. As Traveling Theatre's Outreach Coordinator, Karen oversees the organization's marketing, PR and event planning and serves as administrative assistant to the Executive Director and the WIA program. She was also the co-chair for our Encore Gala Event in May, and this past summer, she directed Traveling Theatre's six week-long summer arts enrichment camp.
Jeffrey Rosenzweig, Teaching Artist, graduated from Providence College in 2006 with a BA in English. He volunteered throughout college at an after school program called Garden Club, a class about growing and cooking vegetables, run by the non-profit South Side Community Land Trust. He worked with middle school aged youth during the summer before his senior year at a sleep away camp in Wakefield, RI. He spent his post-graduate year volunteering full-time at Bailey Elementary School in South Providence with AmeriCorps, through the RI Children’s Crusade. He has been instructing classes of all ages and mentoring high school interns for Traveling Theatre since January 2008. He is ecstatic to have found this opportunity to further his experience in teaching enrichment arts literacy and working at a non-profit.
David Luken, Teaching Artist, is a graduate of the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati. Following his passion for knowledge and the arts, he received a BA in Asian Studies from Berea College and spent a semester abroad in Yunnan, China, where he focused on arts, culture, and language curricula, including Tai Chi and Wushu instruction. David’s wide array of talents affords him the ability to teach many areas of the arts, including woodworking, stage craft, industrial arts, movement, and performance.
Tiffany Moreau, Teaching Artist, has an associate of arts degree from the Community College of Rhode Island and is looking to continue her education at the University of Rhode Island. While attending CCRI, she participated in the theatre program as an actress and was also a member of the Chamber Singers Club. Since joining Traveling Theatre in September 2008 as an AmeriCorps volunteer, she has worked with middle school aged youth as a teaching artist, stage manager, costume apprentice, and director within the Cranston, Woonsocket, and Lincoln school districts.
Lidi Chea, Marketing & PR Intern, recently graduated from Umass Dartmouth with a degree in Marketing. For the past two summers, she has been working as a tutor/counselor for Upward Bound. In the fall of 2009, she started her internship with us. Although, she has no experience in theatre or the arts, she is excited nonetheless. In her short time with us, she has helped redesign various print and web media.
Seth Chitwood, Marketing & PR Intern, is thrilled to be working with Traveling Theatre. Recently, Seth was at Wagner College in Staten Island, NY, but is now about to attend RIC in the fall. Seth has direct several shows, including; Sideways Stories From Wayside School, Going to School, Drama Club Must Die!, and an award-winning play: The Katrina Project: Hell & High Waters. Stage credits include: Annie (Warbucks/Burt Healy), The Wizard of Oz (Lion), The Brick and the Rose, Les Miserables, Into the Woods, Twelfth Night, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Little Women, How to Succeed…(Bud Frump), and amongst others.
