Epoch Arts is run by a small group of like-minded individuals. They have each spent the better part of their lives creating, experimenting, teaching and exploring different aspects of the arts.
Our People:
Elizabeth Namen - Artistic Director: Theater Department
elizabeth@epocharts.org
Elizabeth, the Artistic Director of Epoch Arts, heads up the theater department and all artsitc aspects of Epoch Arts. She is the founder of the Ague Spring Players and Epoch Arts. She currently teaches 1-2 classes per semester and is the administrator of all Epoch Arts Days, Senior and Junior student plays, and the Ague Spring Player performances. She also devotes much of her time volunteering for community events and fund raising for the organization. Elizabeth attended Trinity College majoring in Theater Arts. Her previous employment includes youth instruction at Oddfellows Playhouse in Middletown, CT and teaching artists at The Hartford Stage in Hartford CT.
Omar Namen - Musical Director and Technical Director
omar@epocharts.org
Omar provides Epoch Arts with all aspects of musical coordination and stage design for performances. He oversees the music department and all recording sessions as well as music classes and Brookside Nights. He has experience as a journeyman carpenter and makes necessary renovations and improvements to the Epoch Arts space and provides Epoch Arts with all aspects of technical coordination for all events and performances. Omar attended Drexel University studying sound engineering and has volunteered for the organization for the past 11 years composing music, teaching classes, and designing and building sets.
Janel Kochuk- Out Reach Development
Janel has volunteered her time to Epoch for over 3 years in a variety of areas. She is a life long resident of East Hampton and is happily married with 6 children, one who has recently been adopted. Janel opens her home to foster many children of all ages and ethnicity, as she is a licensed therapeutic home for children, including respite care. She continually goes through training in a variety of areas dealing with children and family issues. She has the knowledge and skills needed when dealing with tough issues like drug and alcohol abuse, peer pressure, sibling rivalry and low self esteem. Janel specializes in building confidence in each individual no matter where they come from or who they are. She not only has the proper training, but also the life experience as she has overcome many obstacles in her own life. Janel co teaches Breaking Silences and Freebirds and heads up all outreach opportunities and events.
Teresa Spooner- Administrative Assistant
Teresa has been with Epoch Arts for the past 6 years. She has helped design and create costumes for a variety of performances and continues to do so. With experience in office manager and administration, Teresa became Epoch’s office administrative assistant in the fall of 2007. She oversees all the administrative staff and various capacities of management for the organization.
Britta Gustafson-ProductionAssistant
Since Britta's first production, in 2005, she has been deeply involved in Epoch's work. Beginning as an actress, she has moved on to write and direct her own shows, assistant teach classes, co-teach Breaking Silences, and help coordinate events. She is very happy to be staff member, and hopes to continue her work at Epoch. She is currently a student at Manchester Community College.
Rachel Martin- Assistant Artistic Director
Rachel has been apart of Epoch Arts for over 9 years. Begining as an actress in the mainstage plays, Rachel then volunteered her skills as teaching assistant for many classes and events. Working with youth within the community, church and library programs she also has traveled to work with children around the world: China, Africa and Belize. She is a seasoned artists and has captured her love for children in her many paintings and drawings.
Support Staff
Jon Schroth - Artistic Director: Film department
Jon has been involved with Epoch Arts for the past 12 years. He has served various roles in the Ague plays from pit-musician/set-painter to graphic designer/videographer. He now runs the film department, teaching classes and organizing film festivals and movie nights. Jon received his degree from Ringling School of Art and Design before beginning a career in animated feature films with Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox Animation. He continues to create independent films, for which he has received numerous awards. He has taught at NYU's Center for Advanced Digital Application and enjoys working with the youth at Epoch Arts. Jon also created and maintains the Epoch Arts website.
Josh Shook-
Josh has been part of The Ague Spring Players since 2002 both in acting and set construction. He has volunteered as stage manager and assistant technical director as well as worked on various projects throughout the building. He is employed at Whelen Engineering Company and is experienced in electronics and machine operation. He is also a state certified firefighter and has been an officer in the East Hampton Volunteer Fire Department.
VAL GRECO- Creative Design
Val volunteers her creative time and energy to Epoch by helping design our brochures and flyers. She has owned and operated Greco Design for over 25 years. She has many years of design and production experience, freelancing for agencies and companies throughout CT. Past responsibilities range from developing campaigns and targeting marketing plans to coordinating print projects to art directing photo shoots.
Visiting Artists
Amanda Morris- Art Department
Amanda was born and raised in Oregon and attended Oregon State University and The Academy of Art College in San Francisco, CA. She worked in Advertising for 10 years as an Art Director in San Francisco and Senior Art Director in Los Angeles and Manhattan. In 1995 she left advertising and moved to La Serena, Chile with her husband for his job in astronomy. She currently lives in East Haddam with her husband and 3 wonderful children. This year Amanda will be teaching arts and crafts to students 6th grade and up.
Kathy Sanderson- Theater and Music
Kathy Sanderson grew up on stage singing and acting in plays. She went to Palm Beach Atlantic University and majored in Theatre Arts and Dance. When she graduated, she worked for three years at Goodspeed Opera House as a carpenter. Now, Kathy is working at home as a mother to a very active one year old.This semester Kathy is teaching Musical theater to students 2nd grade and up.
Brian Schroth- Theater Department( Improv)
Brian is a late convert to the world of the arts. Three years ago, he had hardly acted before and never played an instrument in his life. However, in 2007, fellow EA teaching artist Brandt Sanderson convinced him to perform in an improv show while home on winter break from college. Brian was surprised to find that he absolutely loved it, and he has been performing improv ever since. Brian refocused his life on the arts and started piano lessons in 2008. Now he plays piano for ballet lessons and shows at the Christian Academy of Dance in Killingworth, and will be playing in the pit band for the 2011 Ague Spring Players show. Brian teaches improv at Epoch Arts and hopes to provide kids the same opportunity to pursue a passion in the arts that he found.
Rachel Martin-Theater and Art Department
Rachel has been apart of Epoch Arts for over 9 years. Begining as an actress in the mainstage plays, Rachel then volunteered her skills as teaching assistant for many classes and events. Working with youth within the community, church and library programs she also has traveled to work with children around the world: China, Africa and Belize. She is a seasoned artists and has captured her love for children in her many paintings and drawings. This season, Rachel will be teaching the K-5th grade art class and the 6th-12th grade photography class class.
