People Category: Beauty and the Beast Crew

Michael Trujillo (Assistant Director) is usually seen ON the stage for SME shows, but is thrilled to be a part of the amazing production staff this summer. Michael is the drama director at Blacksburg Middle School and a SME board member. Favorite shows he’s directed include: Steel Magnolias (HaeBo) and The Red Badge of Courage (BMS). His acting credits include: The Music Man- Prof. Harold Hill (SME), …Charlie Brown- Schroeder (Blacksburg Theatre), and Joseph…Dreamcoat- Joseph (SME).

Cindy Stauffer is excited to join her first production with SME as costume manager. While studying at the Maryland Institute College of Art Cindy was costume manager for the thespian club, as well as producing collections for the Annual Benefit Fashion Show and Experimental Fashion Show. She graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fiber, with a concentration in Experimental Fashion. She would like to thank the many people who helped create and collect pieces, as well as those who loaned costumes to make this a beautiful show.

Nancy McDuffie has had a lifelong career in music and stage, ranging from opera and chamber music to music theater and drama. Some of her favorite music theater work has been sharing the stage with her family in SME’s original production of The Music Man (Marian Paroo) as well as The King and I (Anna). Other special involvements have been behind-the- scenes with Wizard of Oz, Annie Get Your Gun, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady and Oliver! She is thankful to be returning again this year as vocal director, working alongside her husband, Robert, and with an incredibly talented cast and crew!

As the musical director for My Fair Lady (2004), Oliver! (2005), and The Music Man(2016), this summer marks the fourth time Robert conducts a SME orchestra. He also appeared on stage in the SME productions of The Music Man (1992) and The King and I (2003). Growing up around the theater on stage and in the orchestra, Robert was also involved in many musical and operatic productions as a piano major at East Carolina University. In fact, it was on stage for an ECU production of Dido and Aeneas, that he met his wife Nancy. This summer, he and Nancy collaborate again to help shape the music in this year’s production. SME has always been a family thing for the McDuffies, as they, along with their kids have been in a dozen shows. In real life, he is a landscape architect and emeritus professor from the Department of Horticulture at Virginia Tech. Robert and his wife, Nancy, now own an international travel company called MCDUFFTOURS LLC. They organize group tours around the world. He is thrilled to be holding the baton again with such an exceptionally talented group of musicians, dancers and actors.

Morgan Ehresman (Stage Manager) is ecstatic to be working on her first SME show. She is currently a Production Technician at the Moss Arts Center. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a Theater Arts Degree in 2015. Previously she was Project Coordinator for (Be)longing at the MAC, programmed the lights for Romeo & Juliet with Southwest Virginia Ballet, and her favorite show with the Theater Department at VT was working the light board for Spring Awakening. Finally, she would like to thank her friends and family for always encouraging her to follow her dreams and hopes you all enjoy the show!