Meet the Creative Team

Timothy Allen McDonald

Timothy Allen McDonald is an award-winning musical theatre librettist and leading authority on musical theatre education. Librettist credits include Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach (Benj Pasek and Justin Paul), Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (Paul Williams and Christopher Gattelli), Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka (Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley) and Between The Lines (Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson). With New York Times Best Selling author Jodi Picoult, McDonald co-wrote The Book Thief which will open in 2022 in the U.K. and Breathe the world's first musical set during the pandemic performed by an all-star cast including Brian Stokes Mitchell and Kelli O'Hara. McDonald is the founder and CEO of iTheatrics and Junior Theater Festivals worldwide.

Gerry McIntyre

Gerry McIntyre -Choreographer: Has won widespread acclaim for his most recent choreographic credit: the Berkshire Theatre Group's production of Godspell -- sold out, twice-extended, with rave reviews. He was recently made Associate Artistic Director of the York Theatre. made his directing debut at The York with the 2018 Musicals in Mufti presentation of Hallelujah Baby. Kinky Boots - The Hangar Theatre, Soon of a Mornin - Lions Theatre. Once On This Island - Martin Beck Theatre, Virginia Stage, Pioneer Theatre, Actors' Theatre Of Louisville, La Mirada Theatre (Robby Award for Best Director, Ovation nomination for Best Choreography and Best Musical); Ain't Misbehavin - Actors' Theatre of Louisville, Gateway Playhouse and Theatre By The Sea Chicago - Ogunquit Playhouse; Joseph....Dreamcoat starring Diana Degarmo and Anthony Federov - Lyric theatre; The National Tour of Dreamgirls. As a Choreographer: Anything Can Happen In The Theatre and Forbidden Broadway The Next Generation at the York Theatre. Side by Side, Tommy and My Fair Lady at the Berkshire Theatre Festival; A Saint She Aint - Westport Playhouse; Laura Comstock's Bag Punching Dog (LA weekly nomination Best Choreography). The Wiz - Broadway Sacramento, Priscilla - Gateway Playhouse, After The Storm documentary. Gerry is the choreographer of the hit Off-Broadway show Spamilton. As a performer: the original company of Once On This Island, Anything Goes with Patti Lupone. And one of the three Americans cast in the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. With Donny Osmand. www.gerrymcintyre.net

Racky Plews

Racky trained at Sylvia Young Theatre School and Arts Educational, London.

Racky's directing and choreography has taken her across the globe. Most recently she has directed and choreographed American Idiot in the West End and for the UK & International Tours. Racky has also created, directed and choreographed the largest and most technical production to date for Royal Caribbean on one of the biggest ships in the world. When lockdown was announced she was about to direct the Footloose UK Tour, which will hopefully start up again very soon when all is safe.

Directing and Choreography credits include: American Idiot (West End, UK & International Tour), Footloose (West End & UK Tour), Knights of the Rose (West End), Summer Holiday (UK Tour), Thoroughly Modern Millie (UK Tour & Canada), Vanities (West End), Guys and Dolls, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Into The Woods (The Gatehouse), Respect La Diva (West End), Jekyll & Hyde (UK Tour), The Effectors - Superheroes (Spectrum of the Seas), and Josephine Baker (Beckett Theatre, New York).

Jeff Calhoun

JEFF CALHOUN: Broadway: Disney's Newsies (Tony Award Nomination for Best Director), Bonnie & Clyde, Jekyll & Hyde, Grey Gardens, Deaf West's Big River (Tony Award Nomination for Best Revival of a Musical), Brooklyn, Annie Get Your Gun, Grease (Tony Award Nomination for Best Choreography), Tommy Tune Tonite, and The Will Rogers Follies. Tour and Internationally: Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 and Disney's High School Musical 1 & 2. Mr. Calhoun is an associate artist at The Ford's Theater in Washington D.C. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Covenant House International, a non-for-profit helping homeless youth in thirty cities across six countries. He recently directed Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home For The Holidays and A Night of Covenant House Stars on AmazonPrime. Twitter and Instagram: @thejeffcalhoun

John Prignano

Throughout his life, John Prignano has been a loyal advocate of Educational Theatre both professionally and personally. Since obtaining a BA in Dance/Theatre from Montclair State College in 1986, he has been involved in the arts in many facets - whether touring in productions of A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Damn Yankees, and Guys and Dolls to name a few, introducing young people to classical music by performing as "Garfield" and "Odie" with symphony orchestras, or judging National Dance and Talent competitions throughout the country for Rising Star and other organizations.

For nearly twenty years, John has been employed by Music Theatre International, and in his role as COO and Director of Education and Development, has not only led workshops around the world for teachers and community theatres, but has been instrumental in creating tools and fostering an environment at MTI that encourages meaningful dialogue and interaction between the licensing house and theatre educators.

He has been a strong voice for providing teachers and schools with the resources and the support to build new arts programs and sustain existing ones. As a representative of MTI, John has been recipient of the EdTA Standing Ovation Award, the FATE (Florida Association of Theatre Educators) Outstanding Arts Advocate Award, AACT (American Association of Community Theatres) Corporate Award, WYACT/NJ Performing Arts Center Outstanding Arts Advocate Award and the OCTA (Ohio Community Theatre Association) President's Award.