Theatre Adventure’s Board of Directors
Genna Durante
President of the Board
Genna is a licensed psychologist near Burlington, VT, where she works with children, adolescents, and parents. She holds a doctorate degree in School Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Genna has been involved in Theatre Adventure since its inception in 2004 when she was invited to be a teacher for the first summer program. From the start, Genna could tell that Laura and Darlene had a vision for building a community that was inclusive, inspiring, and full of joy. Genna is so grateful to be part of the team that began to turn this vision into reality. Genna remained teaching at Theatre Adventure for five summers. An avid dancer, Genna enjoyed creating accessible choreography for Theatre Adventure’s musicals. After leaving the Brattleboro community to pursue graduate school, Genna supported Theatre Adventure from the audience and enjoyed watching the troupe members evolve creatively and build skills over the years. Genna is honored to return to the Theatre Adventure community as a Board Member.
Steven Kappel
Treasurer of the Board
Steve has had a career dedicated to trying to improve our State’s health care systems. He formerly worked for the Vermont Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Office doing policy and financial analysis related to health care. His career has also included working for the Health Department; Blue Cross Blue Shield; the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration; and the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care. Steven spent ten years on the faculty of the Vermont Leadership Institution and also taught part time at University of Vermont. He is currently enjoying partial retirement working as a Health Policy Consultant, enjoying part time employment at a local bookstore, and volunteering as a board member of the People’s Health and Wellness Clinic in Barre whose mission is to provide medical and dental services to folks without health insurance. Steven has been an admirer and supporter of Theater Adventure since 2004, and believes that its work and mission are amazingly valuable. He is thrilled to join the Board.
When not working or volunteering, Steven can be found tinkering in his old Vermont farmhouse, which he has been reconstructing for thirty-five years. In Steven’s words “I’ve spent the last 30 years trying to solve two critical problems: how to make the health care system work better and how to keep the basement of an old farmhouse from flooding every spring. I’ve not managed to solve either one”.
Janice Wightman
Secretary of the board
I am a Nationally Certified American Sign language/English Interpreter. I have been working in this field for 28 years. I have been lucky enough to interpret in a variety of settings including several trips to other countries with students from American Universities studying abroad. They included time in New Zealand (studying Anthropology), Italy (studying Renaissance Art History), Australia/New Zealand (studying Rainforests), China (studying Feng Shui/Architecture)
I have lived in Montpelier/Barre VT, Townshend VT, Lebanon, NH and currently in Charlestown, NH. I am a freelance interpreter and I have done work in various settings including but not limited to Undergraduate and graduate level courses, Mental Health/Treatment programs (In and out patient), Medical situations-emergency room, post-op, surgery, birthing, Corporate business and city government, Graduations, funerals and weddings and of course performance interpreting.
When I am not working you will find me out in the woods somewhere on the back of a horse. I am hoping soon to start competing in Endurance riding, riding up to 50 miles at a time. I also love to dance. I competed in ballroom dancing for several years. And of course, I love to travel! I have my sights set on Norway and Greece. I have also been a volunteer Wish Granter with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Vermont for 28 years. I have granted over 55 wishes to kids living with life-threatening medical conditions.
In May of 2014, I was asked by a colleague to provide sign language interpreting services for the Theater Adventure spring show, “Deeper into the Jungle.” Every show I have interpreted leaves me feeling uplifted. Seeing the performers doing what they love leaves me with such a powerful feeling, I almost float out of the theater or when I leave the zoom performance. Theater Adventure is truly magical and from the beginning has always tried to be inclusive. When Laura approached me to join the board of directors I was honored and excited! I look forward to seeing what I can contribute to this amazing organization!
Geoff Burgess
Although now retired, I have been a lifetime educator, mostly teaching neurodiverse students at Landmark College. At Landmark, I taught courses such as Interpersonal Communication, Conflict Resolution, Media Studies, as well as Pedagogical Principles and Practices in the Communications and Education Departments. In addition, I taught Intercultural Communication for Study Abroad programs in Europe, West Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
As well as teaching, I served as Chair for the Communications and later the Professional Studies Departments and finished my professional career as the Dean for the School of Professional Studies and Science. In these capacities, I developed the College’s internship program, student radio station, TV studio, student newspaper, and the Academic Speakers Series. I hold degrees from Hobart and William Smith and Marlboro Colleges.
As a longtime Brattleboro resident, I am married to (retired) therapist and (active) artist Karen Kamenetzky and have three adult children and two grandchildren. I love to garden, watercolor, bike ride, and kayak.
My experience at Landmark College with individuals who think differently echoes my interest in Theater Adventure. I believe in the value of creating and supporting opportunities for people - all people - to explore and express themselves.
Ora Grodsky
Ora has consulted with organizations that work for social change for over 25 years. She’s a skillful facilitator, trainer and guide with a creative, empathetic approach, engaging groups to increase their alignment, optimism, and sense of direction. She co-founded Just Works Consulting in 2000.
Ora grounds her work in her deep commitment to racial, social, environmental and economic justice, and inner attention and healing.
Ora is married to Jonathan Rosenthal. They live near Boston, Massachusetts (USA) and are the parents of two amazing adult daughters and the caretakers of one feisty cat. She is the author of several white papers and a forthcoming book on transformational organizational consulting.
Julianne Kaplan
Julianne has been actively involved with Theater Adventure since 2008, working with numerous aspects of the organization as a teacher, volunteer, and board member. She has also worked as a personal care assistant and is a community advocate for inclusion. As co-chair of the Theatre Adventure Board of Directors Marketing and Community Outreach committee, Julianne has a love for sharing her passion for inclusion with her community.
Dyana Lee
Although her first love and career was in the theatre, working as an actress and stage manager off-Broadway, on tour and in summer stock, Dyana took a detour (for more than 35 years), to become a lawyer, practicing in New York and New Jersey. Most of her legal career was in government service, as a prosecutor, inspector general, or general counsel.
She also spent more than a decade as a consultant serving government clients managing integrity monitoring teams of forensic auditors, engineers, investigators and environmental and safety professionals on large-scale construction projects, including the September 11 Memorial and Museum, and the Moynihan Station Project. But her love for theatre, children, and the outdoors has always been with her, and in 2023 she relocated to Vermont full-time and began to pursue each of these passions in earnest. She has returned to acting, performing in recent productions of the Guilford Center Stage and the Rock River Players.
Dyana serves as a Guardian ad Litem in Windham County, advocating on behalf of the best interests of children in family court proceedings, and is an avid hiker, cyclist, skier, and gardener. When Dyana discovered Theatre Adventure in the summer of 2024 she was amazed by this extraordinary organization and its mission and asked if she might get involved. She is honored to become a part of the Board of this magical theatre community
Wendy Pauloo
Wendy spent most of her childhood as a member of a traveling troupe of young actors in South Orange NJ. Steeped in the teachings of Viola Spolin, a proponent of Creative Drama, she brought those passions to Northern NH and taught Creative Drama to children for over 30 years. Upon moving to Easthampton Ma, she became the Assistant Production Manager at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School, where the youngest of her 4 children was a student actor.
While still in NH she earned a BS in Human Services and worked with children and families in distress, formed a foster care program for high-risk children, and was a Support Services Coordinator and Domestic Violence Advocate at a Domestic Violence shelter for women and children.
Moving to Guilford Vermont she spent the next 8 years caring for her husband, Dan, who was suffering from Lewy Body Dementia. During that time she met Melody Squires and through that friendship heard about Theatre Adventure.
She joined the Board of Directors towards the end of 2022 after seeing a few of the productions and being moved and amazed at the extraordinary skill. love, and passion of the actors and teachers. She is honored to be part of this life-changing theatre.
Mary Traver
Mary Traver grew up in Eastern MA, went to UMass after high school, fell in love with the Pioneer Valley and never left. She eventually graduated from Smith College with a degree in psychology and has worked with adults with disabilities for most of her adult life.
She has worked for or with the United Arc, Nonotuck Resources, Riverside Industries and UCP, was a co-chair of the Greenfield Special Education Parents Advisory Council and is currently the coordinator of the Special Needs Family Alliance, a support group for parents and others with loved ones with disabilities. She has many years of experience as a Human Rights Officer, Coordinator, Committee Chair and is now serving on the Human Rights Committee for UCP and Goodwill of Berkshire county.
Mary is married and has three children and three grandchildren. Her son, Noah, has been a member of Theatre Adventure for about three years.
She loves reading, especially science fiction, spending time with her grandkids, and serving in her church.
She currently lives in Greenfield with her husband, Gene, her son, Noah, and their two cats, D’Argo and Chiana.