artistic
director
Maria Rendina Frantz - dancer, teacher, choreographer and actor has worked in various mediums, including dance, theatre, performance art, film and television for the past thirty years. Ms. Frantz studied extensively with the companies of Erick Hawkins, Martha Graham, June Lewis and Twyla Tharp and studied choreography with Leonide Massine, Bessie Schonberg, June Lewis and Pearl Lang. Ms. Frantz danced with Dance June Lewis & Company and with choreographers Judith Leifer and Dan Wagoner, and several choreographers, before her first attempt at 'MotionTheatre'™ choreography in 1978. Ms. Frantz earned a M.A. in Dance and Dance Education from Columbia University and a B.A. in Dance from Point Park University. Maria Rendina / Motion Theatre co-produced with the Pennsylvania Dance Theatre and since presented her original works in N.Y.C., Washington, D.C., Maine, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, California and in Avignon, France. In 1995 she founded Movement Arts in Santa Fe, NM before moving to Santa Barbara in 1997. She is a member of National Dance Association, Congress Of Research in Dance, Congress of International Dance, Screen Actors Guild, the S. B. Dance Alliance, and the S. B. Performing Arts League. Most recently Maria co-taught with Katherine Duke, Artistic Director the Erick Hawkins Dance Company the Hawkins Winter Dance Intensive in January 2009.
Matt
Tavianini - Matthew is pleased to be working with Motion Theatre Dance Co. He currently
serves as the managing director/producer/ actor of BOXTALES Theatre Co. He is a graduate of
UCSB and the FSU/Asolo Conservatory where he received his M.F.A. in acting. Some of his favorite
roles are Michal in The Pillowman, Karl in The Last Days of the Empire, Sir Andrew Aguecheek
in Twelfth Night, Telemachus in BOXTALES production of The Odyssey; Joe in The Last Night of
Ballyhoo, David in The Rivals, and Thurio in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Matt in Wrench, and Bobby
in American Buffalo. Matthew also teaches acting, Shakespeare and stage combat, and directs
junior high school students here in Santa Barbara and has also enjoyed working at the Westport
Playhouse, The Odyssey Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Asolo Theatre, Santa Barbara Theatre Group,
The Ensemble Theatre, Speaking of Stories, Santa Barbara Shakespeare Co., City at Peace, and
with the Lit Moon Theatre Company.
Abigail
Linton - This is Abby’s first season joining Motion Theatre as dance member and rehearsal
director. Abby graduated in June 2010 from UCSB with a degree in Dance and Communication. Last
year she was part of the UCSB Student Dance Company and went on tour to New York. She is originally
from the East Bay Area and trained for 15 years under Lynne Homeres at The Lamorinda Ballet
Center. Abby would like to thank her friends and family for all of their support over the years.
Stuart Orenstein has been acting since 1990. He has appeared
in such diverse venues as The Pasadena Playhouse, Old Globe (W. Hollywood), Off Ramp Theater
(Hollywood), Getty Villa (Malibu) and Brandeis Bardin Institute (Simi Valley). He is currently
a theatre arts student at SBCC. At SBCC he has appeared in “Moonchildren”, “In Their Eyes”,
“Closest Madness””Machinal” and “Tartuffe”.. At the Center Stage Theater he has appeared
in “Twelve Angry Men” and “Inherit the Wind”. In Ojai he appeared in Senga Classic Stage Company’s
Production of “I Remember Mama”. Stuart was featured in the SBCC Film Studies Film “Rose
are Red” and in UCSB Film School’s “Theoryland” which was screened at the SBIFF in 2010.
He gives many thanks to Maria and the beautiful dancers of the Motion Theatre Company for this
opportunity to expand his performance repertoire.
Anthony
Kortick is an actor, songwriter, pianist and musician, who has appeared in hundreds of plays
in the course of his life. He has written songs and music for individual artists as well as
for documentary films and plays. He was last seen in Santa Barbara in the SBT production of
"Our Town". He has worked as pianist/percussionist for dance classes for over 20 years, including
UCSB and the State Street Ballet. His favorite color is blue, he's a Taurus, and likes pretty
sunsets and long walks on the beach.
Allan
Stewart-Oaten grew up in Australia, studied Math and English at Melbourne University, came
to Michigan State to study Statistics ("useful math"), and spent nearly 40 years in the Biology
and Ecology departments at UCSB. His only acting experiences are giving lectures and reading
to his children and grandchildren, especially "doing the voices". He has no more idea
how this will turn out than you have.
Jenelle Rodriguez grew up in
Kendra
Fong spent her formative years in Boulder, CO, before moving to Santa Barbara. She
discovered her love of dance at SBCC with Kay Fulton and also performs in the Afro Cuban
performance group Suenos Cubanos. Kendra has a background in visual arts-studied Fine Arts
(painting) at California College of Arts & Crafts. In 2010 she became a member of Motion
Theatre Dance Company and she studies ballet, modern and yoga. Kendra is also a mom and
co-owner of Peterson’s Tree Care.
Carol Sauceda has studied acting at SBCC and SBCC Continuing Education classes. She
is also a longtime member of Toastmasters, International and has earned her Distinguished
Toastmaster designation. She works for UCSB doing sexual harassment prevention and diversity
training. The “Mysteries of Light” production resonates with her and she is thrilled to be
working with the Motion Theatre Dance Co.
Lamberto
Viramontes is a relative newcomer to the world of performing arts and dance. He is a
native Santa Barbarian, but also lived in Mexico as a child. He has always been fond of the
Arts but as a youth he focused more on traditional sports with Baseball being his favorite.
After graduating from Santa Barbara High School he attended Santa Barbara City College,
where he took his first dance class at the age of 19. Soon thereafter he transferred to
California State University Channel Islands to continue his studies. He decided to become a
Performing Arts major with a dance emphasis, as well as a minor in Business. He is currently
in his last semester of undergraduate studies and will graduate in the spring of 2011. Some
of the more notable performances have been the Motion Flux (2009), a showcase for student
and staff choreography at Moorpark College. He also danced and choreographed in the
California State University Channel Islands Spring Showcase (2009). Lastly he was also part
of the California State University Channel Islands Spring Production of the Heidi Chronicles
(2010), where he played the role of Scoop.
Maia Mook first appeared onstage at the Lobero Theater in Alhecama Productions' "The
Miracle Worker" in 1980. Subsequent performances include "Little Women" and "The Sound of
Music", both at Goleta Valley Community Center, and "The Most Happy Fella" at SBCC's Garvin
Theater. More recently, Maia has been studying acting since 2008 with Carol Metcalf. She
was last seen as Sally Talley in "Talley's Folly" and Mrs. Krebs in "Inherit the Wind", both
with DIJO Productions at Center Stage Theater.
Aden Hailu started taking acting
classes in January 2010 with Carol Metcalf and is currently studying at The Frisch Studio in
Santa Barbara. Aden has completed one showcase and is currently working on her second
directed by Carol Metcalf. Her theatre debut will be at the Center Stage Theatre with the
Motion Theatre Dance Company. Aden would like to thank director Maria Frantz and the cast
for the opportunity to be part of an amazing experience. To her family and friends thank you
for the love and support.