Board of Directors
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Deborah Dameron
Chair Debbie worked in public health for more than thirty years, starting in West Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer. She went on to get a master’s degree in Public Health. Debbie moved to Vermont in 1983 where she and George raised their son, Sam. Debbie worked for more than twenty years at the Vermont Dept. of Health. She spent the last seven years of her career as VP for Cancer Control at the American Cancer Society. An appreciation for theater and the arts has always been a big part of Debbie’s life. She served on the board of Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival for twelve years. She cherishes having Vermont Stage and live theater available in Burlington. Debbie and George live in Hinesburg. |
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Joel Harris
Vice-Chair Joel is a native New Yorker where he practiced law for 40 years. He specialized in international corporate and commercial litigation and arbitration. In 2007, he retired and moved to Essex, Vermont. An avid theater goer since college, during his New York days, Joel regularly attended theatrical performances, particularly at off and off-off Broadway venues and summer stock in New England and Canada. Once he settled in Vermont, he and his wife promptly subscribed to Vermont Stage and have been regulars ever since. A graduate of Columbia College, Harvard Law School and the University of London, Joel has served as a board member of various non-profit organizations, including bar associations, small theater companies and in Royal Savage Yacht Club in Charlotte. |
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Rebecca Ryan
Secretary Rebecca learned at the fragile age of 13 that she had stage fright but she has always admired stage performers. She married into a hambone, theatrical family and has a love for theater, and especially Vermont Stage! Rebecca has worked for the American Lung Association for 17 years, currently as Division Director leading a team of 35 health promotion staff for the Eastern Division. She has led legislative and educational efforts to prevent lung disease and improve lung health across Vermont. Rebecca is an avid runner and triathlete and has competed at the national and world championship levels. She has also served at sea with the US Navy, and did consular work for the U.S. State Department. She lives near Camel’s Hump Mountain in Huntington, Vermont with her dog, Blue, and her husband, Terry. |
Alan Matson
Treasurer
Alan’s career and education has been in finance and statistics. Since 2001 he has been involved with start up companies and individual consulting projects. He was a founding member of eSecLending and Lionshares. He has always been active in the community projects that interest him: Burlington Children’s Space, City Market, Burlington School District, Keep BT Local and the Vermont Real Estate Cooperative. Alan has loved theater since his early days of working backstage as a Harvard undergrad. Alan and his wife, Dale, are long time supporters of Vermont Stage. They live in Burlington.
Treasurer
Alan’s career and education has been in finance and statistics. Since 2001 he has been involved with start up companies and individual consulting projects. He was a founding member of eSecLending and Lionshares. He has always been active in the community projects that interest him: Burlington Children’s Space, City Market, Burlington School District, Keep BT Local and the Vermont Real Estate Cooperative. Alan has loved theater since his early days of working backstage as a Harvard undergrad. Alan and his wife, Dale, are long time supporters of Vermont Stage. They live in Burlington.
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Judy Allard
Judy’s love of the performing arts began with music lessons and participation in choir, band, and chorus in elementary and high school. The interest continued in college with her participation with the Lane Committee (as House Manager and Chair) attending nearly all the Lane presentations. A teacher of science, particularly biology, for 38 years in the Burlington System, she included many performing arts assignments for her students. She is a regular attendee at performances at the Flynn, the Lane Series, Saint Michael’s Playhouse, and Vermont Stage. She especially likes Winter Tales and the outdoor performances done by Vermont Stage. She is looking forward to getting “behind the scenes” at Vermont Stage. |
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Bob Bolyard
Bob had been active in the local theater scene since 1988, appearing with Lyric Theatre, Vermont Rep, Green Candle Theater Company, The Open Stage, and Saints and Poets Production Company. Bob is also a founding member of the drag troupe The House of LeMay who have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and awareness for local organizations and charities. As Amber LeMay, Bob created “Amber Live!”, a weekly live-streamed comedy/talk show (www.amberlive.tv), where, since March of 2020, has talked to people from all over the world. Bob has worked with the UVM Clinical Simulation Laboratory for 25 years, currently as a Standardized Patient Educator. |
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Caroline Crawford
Caroline is a higher education marketing and communications professional. Her love of theater was shaped by her years in a children's theater and improv troupe on her native Staten Island, NYC. After moving to Vermont in the early 90s, she was a member of Theatre Factory and a founding member of the improv group Off The Cuff. More recently she's enjoyed performing at The Moth, traveling with her husband Brian, and watching her kids play Ultimate at UVM and Middlebury. |
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Barbara Frankowski
Barbara is a pediatrician who came to Vermont for her first real job in 1985 and never left. She has been a member of the faculty in the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program (VCHIP) since its beginning in 2000, and she served as the health consultant for the Burlington School District for 20 years. Barbara enjoys outdoor sports and cooking and gardening, and she loves music and theater. She and her husband live in Jericho and attend many local arts events. |
Amy Lilly
Amy is a freelance writer who covers the arts. She was an English major at Villanova and received her Ph.D from the University of Iowa. She covers graphic arts, classical music, architecture and reviews books for several local and regional newspapers and magazines. She reads plays for fun and loves going to the theater. Amy is dedicated to charity and supports many non-profits. She lives in Burlington with her husband and son.
Amy is a freelance writer who covers the arts. She was an English major at Villanova and received her Ph.D from the University of Iowa. She covers graphic arts, classical music, architecture and reviews books for several local and regional newspapers and magazines. She reads plays for fun and loves going to the theater. Amy is dedicated to charity and supports many non-profits. She lives in Burlington with her husband and son.
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Linda Magoon
Linda retired after having worked in Banking for over 35 years, first as a Special Events Manager and then as a Senior Leader in Service Quality, Training, Call Center Management and Retail Banking. Linda lived and worked overseas for eight of those years, fulfilling her long-time dream of introducing her husband and four children to the world of international cultures and languages. She returned to her New England roots in 2003, moving to Vermont and joining Citizens Bank. Linda is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in French and of the American Graduate School of International Management where she received her International MBA. Currently she serves as a Commissioner of the Church Street Marketplace and after years of supporting both the Flynn and Lyric theaters, she is thrilled to be welcomed as a member of the Vermont Stage Board. |
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Molly Mara
Molly first became involved in theater as a young professional, volunteering with Lyric Theater in various backstage capacities, including make-up, props, set painting, and costume construction. She eventually took on the roles of Costume Designer, Assistant Technical Director, and eventually, Producer. She has been a Family Consumer Science teacher in Milton, Vermont. Molly loves theater and is excited about possible future youth programs at Vermont Stage. Molly and her family live in Williston. |
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Maria McGrath
Bio coming soon. |
Peter Richardson
Peter was working for the mayor of San Francisco when he took a night job as an understudy in the original theatrical production of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” That experience cemented his love for theatre. Government service then took him to Washington, DC, and Boston and careers financing subsidized housing and developing commercial real estate. Peter moved to Burlington in the mid-1990s. One of the pleasures of living in Vermont has been attending productions of Vermont Stage.
Peter was working for the mayor of San Francisco when he took a night job as an understudy in the original theatrical production of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” That experience cemented his love for theatre. Government service then took him to Washington, DC, and Boston and careers financing subsidized housing and developing commercial real estate. Peter moved to Burlington in the mid-1990s. One of the pleasures of living in Vermont has been attending productions of Vermont Stage.
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Eliza J. Spencer, MBA, MPA, PMP
Eliza (she/her/hers) has been a self-proclaimed theatre nerd her whole life and studied theatre and vocal music in college before obtaining her MBA and MPA. A native Vermonter, Eliza recently moved back to the state after living in NYC, New York State and the Washington, DC area. Eliza is the Founder/CEO of Elmhaven Consulting, where she provides management consulting services for Federal government agencies. Eliza is honored to join the Vermont Stage board. She believes everyone should have access to the performing arts, especially in rural areas, as it is an important tool for learning, engagement, and discourse. |
