Sarah Campbell (she/her) (Co-President)
Sarah Campbell is a member of the USC School of Dramatics Arts class of 2022, pursuing a BA in Theatre and a minor in Entertainment Industry. In high school, Sarah worked with the Educational Theatre Association in Georgia and Nebraska as a stage manager. Sarah has a love for educational theater, and during the summer of 2019, she worked as an intern in the education department of the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. She also spent a summer training at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts studying Production & Design in 2017. Some of her favorite productions to work on were Memphis (Backstage Manager), Big Fish (Stage Manager & Featured Ensemble), and The Addams Family (Stage Manager). She assistant stage managed MTR’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and co-produced Dogfight, LSS @Home, and Unprecedented. She is currently a producer on The Addams Family! She’s excited to continue working and growing with MTR!
Nick Kassoy (he/they) (Co-President)
Nick Kassoy is a member of the USC School of Dramatic Arts’ class of 2022, pursuing a BA in Theatre and a minor in Music Production. From Glen Rock, New Jersey, Nick graduated from the Academy for Technology and Computer Science at Bergen County Academies where he was also deeply involved in the theatre program. He has served as a scenic design intern at Edward Pierce Studio for the Broadway production of Angels in America, as well as a lighting intern for New York Stage and Film's 2019 Powerhouse season. These days, Nick primarily works as an actor, music director, composer, and designer, and continues to explore all aspects of theatre. Favorite credits at USC include Eurydice (Composer), Ghost Quartet (Music Director), The Busybody (Marplot), Happy Puppet Hour 2 (Composer), as well as many productions with MTR: Avenue Q (Assistant Lighting Designer), Spring Awakening (Associate Lighting Designer), Long Story Short (Songwriter/Orchestrator/Lighting Designer), Spelling Bee (AMD), Dogfight (AMD), LSS @Home (Music Supervisor), Unprecedented (Music Copyist), and The Addams Family (Music Coordinator). He is excited to continue the work of reshaping MTR into a more inclusive organization focused on work that redefines the musical theatre canon.
Erica Ammerman (she/her) (Production Manager)
Erica Ammerman is a sophomore at the USC’s School of Dramatic Arts, pursuing a BA in Theatre along with a minor in Dance at the Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. Erica graduated from the Academy for Visual and Performing Arts: Theatre Concentration at Bergen County Academies, where she trained for four years along with attending the Cherubs Program at Northwestern University in the summer of 2018. Back home in Northern New Jersey, Erica was the Co-Artistic Director of a student-run theatre company and has worked as a Production Intern at the Metropolitan Playhouse in NYC. As an actor, some favorite credits include: Durdles in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Bergen County Academies), #7 in The Wolves (The Cherubs at Northwestern University), and Kellin in Crocs! The Musical (New York Theatre Festival). Erica has also had the opportunity to perform in three world premieres of new musicals, two of which being workshopped in New York City. She first got involved with MTR by Assistant Lighting Designing The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and is extremely excited to see what the future holds for her time on the MTR board as a director, producer, lighting designer, choreographer, and hopefully so much more!
Ella Lao (she/her) (Secretary)
Ella Lao is a B.A. Theatre major with an acting emphasis and an Entertainment Industry minor. She grew up in the performance world starting her practice in aerial arts, but then moving into the musical theatre genre. Her favorite musical she has performed in is Godspell, but her favorite show is Carousel. She is very excited to share her artistic passions as a member of Musical Theatre Repertory and cannot wait to learn and grow in this environment.
Madison Thompson (she/her) (Treasurer)
Madison Thompson is best known for starring as “Erin Peirce” in season three of Netflix’s fan-favorite show “Ozark.” In addition to Ozark, Madison has appeared in several television series, including recurring roles on "Kevin (Probably) Saves the World" (ABC) and "Shots Fired" (Fox), as a guest star on "NCIS: New Orleans"(CBS), "American Housewife" (ABC) and "Creepshow" (AMC's Shudder) and additional appearances on "Henry Danger" (Nickelodeon) and "Major Crimes" (TNT) among other shows. Aside from acting professionally, Madison is a Presidential Scholar in the USC class of 2023. She is in the BCA Program, a joint-degree in the Marshall School of Business and SCA as well as a Thornton Musical Theater Minor. She is thrilled and honored to work so closely with this group of artists and to join the MTR family. Madison is pursuing this degree and collaboration with MTR with the hopes that the experience will prepare her for a future of producing and directing theater and tv/film, in addition to continuing her on-screen career.
Samuel Avila (he/they) (Public Relations)
Samuel Avila is a BM Choral Music major and Musical Theatre minor. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Samuel got his start singing in his local church choir and numerous musical theatre vocal competitions around Los Angeles including the 2017 & 2019 Jerry Herman Awards under the direction of Kenny Ortega and Michael Orland. On campus, Samuel is a student employee for the Department of Public Safety’s Logistics Division, serves as a Thornton Ambassador for incoming students, is a member of the Thornton Community Engagement Program, sings with the USC Chamber Singers, serves as Secretary for USC ACDA’s Student Chapter and is a member of Troy Tones A Capella. Samuel is excited to be apart of MTR’s Artistic Board and serve as your Public Relations Board Member this year! In the future, Sam hopes to sing professionally around the Los Angeles area as a session singer and begin teaching.
Gabriella Antifantis (she/her) (Member at Large)
Gabriella Anifantis is a double major in Cinema Media Studies and Theatre. Originally from Washington, D.C. she has ventured to the West Coast, to pursue the entertainment industry both on and off stage/screen. Some of her favorite shows to have been a part of are HAIR, Urinetown, RENT, and Guys and Dolls. Before becoming a member of the board, she acted in MTR’s production of Long Story Short, and looks forward to continuing working with the group in other capacities. Apart from theatre, she is a writer for SPEC, USC’s lifestyle, culture, and wellness magazine. She is also a member of the Hellenic Students Association, Women’s Network, and a singer in Troy Tones Acapella.
Eric Renna (he/him) (Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion)
Eric Renna is proud to be a part of USC’s School of Dramatic Arts class of 2022 and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts, Theatre - Acting Emphasis degree with a Minor in Musical Theatre from Thornton School of Music. Ever since being cast as the iconic village fish seller in a middle school production of Beauty and the Beast, Eric has devoted all his love to theatre. He has studied musical theatre for nine years and recently transferred to USC’s theatre community this year. Eric has been involved with theatrical projects with California companies like One More Productions at GEM Theatre, Rose Center Theatre, New Play Project, and The Del Rey Players. Some of his recent roles include Benny in In The Heights with Loyola Marymount University, Gabe Goodman in Next to Normal with The Del Rey Players, and Chino in West Side Story with One More Productions at GEM Theatre. He is honored and thriving as a new member of Musical Theatre Repertory and is committed to helping the board’s committee for diversity, equity, and inclusion to create a safer and more welcoming space for theatre artists. Visit www.ericrenna.com for more.
Jordan Rice (he/him) (Member at Large)
Jordan Rice is a student in the School of Dramatic Arts and is expected to graduate in 2024. He will graduate with a BA in Theatre with an Acting Emphasis and a minor in Musical Theatre. Jordan grew up in Chicago, Illinois where he did theatre for young audiences, community theatre, as well as educational theatre (during High School). His favorite roles have been Cosmo in Singin’ in the Rain as well as Emmett from Legally Blonde. He also studied musical theatre at the NYU New Studio on Broadway during one summer as well as with a group called The Performing Arts Project. He became involved with MTR by working as Co-Director on the song “Make This Bed,” a part of MTR’s song cycle Long Story Short Part 2. Jordan is thrilled to be joining the MTR artistic board and cannot wait to begin working on various projects.
