Missy Armentrout McCollam
Executive Director and founder of The Old Brick Playhouse Company

Education

• BA in Theatre/English from James Madison University, in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
• MFA in Directing and Acting from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.
• Studied at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland.
• Served on a GSE team exchange to Nigeria.

EXPERIENCE

• Toured with the Shenandoah Shakespeare Express and several professional Improvisational companies.
• Directed and performed in The Old Brick Playhouse Touring Company for the past 15 years in hundreds of venues throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and overseas.
• Penned over 20 original musical comedies for children that have been merited at the National Theatre in Washington, DC and the Edinburgh, Scotland Festival Fringe.
• Served as an adjunct faculty member in Theatre and Communications on the collegiate level at James Madison University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Davis and Elkins College, and Alderson Broaddus College.
• Arts Bank instructor in Randolph County, WV.
• Artist-in-Residence in Pendleton County.
• West Virginia Fellowship Award for Playwriting

Philip B. Smith
Executive Assistant, founding board member of the Old Brick Playhouse
and President of the Elkins Area Community Theatre in Elkins, WV.

Education

• BA in English Literature from the University of Nebraska.

Experience

• A veteran of the stage with appearances in over 200 plays in various theatre companies in the Mid-Atlantic region.
• Part of the development of four regional theatres and festivals and has extensive directing and acting experience.
• Serves as theatre instructor for The Old Brick Playhouse Apprentice Program as well as for the Old Brick’s Day Camp for children in the summer.

Diana Vera
Assistant Creative Director

Education

• BA in Expressive Arts Therapy and Theatre from Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, WV.

Experience

• Touring theatre professionally for over 20 years.
• Extensive experience as a choreographer and costumer both in West Virginia and in Texas.
• ArtsBank Instructor in Randolph County for three years and has taught clowning and movement workshops extensively in the Mid-Atlantic region and Texas.
• Worked as an Instructor of Expressive Arts at the Elkins Mountain School and the Darby School in West Virginia.
• Member of an all womens eclectic band, the Elktones for 14 years as a vocalist, percussionist, and harmonica player.
• Performed children’s musical comedies in hundreds of venues from the Edinburgh, Scotland Festival Fringe to the National Theatre in Washington, DC.

Donna Smith
Americorps VISTA for 2007 and 2008

Experience

• Professional Theatre Technician for four years prior to serving in Americorps.
• Apprentice alumnus who hopes to either serve in the Peace Corps or continue her professional theatre career.