PLAYERS
JEANETTE LEONE
was the only child at recess allowed to watch Twilight Zone. She would cast and direct replays of stories with her friends to entertain the other students. Many years later she fell in love with Community Playback Theatre and classes with Fred and Toni. Graduating now to real stories from real life has been an honor. Jeanette considers being trusted with your story as a gift to be treated with care and respect.
was the only child at recess allowed to watch Twilight Zone. She would cast and direct replays of stories with her friends to entertain the other students. Many years later she fell in love with Community Playback Theatre and classes with Fred and Toni. Graduating now to real stories from real life has been an honor. Jeanette considers being trusted with your story as a gift to be treated with care and respect.
FRED HARRIS
is a mask maker and collects plays. He sees theatre as a universal language. As a child he took make-believe seriously, and has retained a sense of fantasy. By the early 70’s he was an improv facilitator and video verité pioneer. A founding member of Community Playback Theatre, Fred celebrates the individuality of its members. Fred has trained in psychodrama and works as a therapist in private practice.
is a mask maker and collects plays. He sees theatre as a universal language. As a child he took make-believe seriously, and has retained a sense of fantasy. By the early 70’s he was an improv facilitator and video verité pioneer. A founding member of Community Playback Theatre, Fred celebrates the individuality of its members. Fred has trained in psychodrama and works as a therapist in private practice.
TONI HORVATIN
began her theater career directing and performing with her cousins in lively song and dance extravaganzas for the family. She discovered Playback Theatre in answer to a spiritual quest, and feels that each gathering is a mysterious and exciting event of co-creativity -- audience, actors, and universe. An LCSW, she has also studies psychodrama and is co-editor of The Quintessential Zerka, a collection of the writings of eminent psychodramatist Zerka Moreno.
began her theater career directing and performing with her cousins in lively song and dance extravaganzas for the family. She discovered Playback Theatre in answer to a spiritual quest, and feels that each gathering is a mysterious and exciting event of co-creativity -- audience, actors, and universe. An LCSW, she has also studies psychodrama and is co-editor of The Quintessential Zerka, a collection of the writings of eminent psychodramatist Zerka Moreno.
BETTY MACDONALD
fell in love with the theatre when she first appeared before an audience as a tap-dancing butterfly at the age of three. A sculptor, she created portraits, whimsical figures, fierce monsters, and celestial bodies. For more than 30 years she has brought whimsy, fierceness, dance, and music to Community Playback Theatre. Betty reads from her poems and essays as host of her show Words Carry Us livestream from Green Kill in Kingston, NY.
fell in love with the theatre when she first appeared before an audience as a tap-dancing butterfly at the age of three. A sculptor, she created portraits, whimsical figures, fierce monsters, and celestial bodies. For more than 30 years she has brought whimsy, fierceness, dance, and music to Community Playback Theatre. Betty reads from her poems and essays as host of her show Words Carry Us livestream from Green Kill in Kingston, NY.
LEE MYER
played the role of the Dog in his seventh grade original production of “The Trial of Rip Van Winkle.” After graduation from Oberlin College, Lee pursued professional theater regionally and in NYC. Lee became a member of Community Playback Theatre in 1993. For the past 24 years he has worked as a clinical therapist and supervisor privately and for Ulster County. Lee is especially excited by creativity and connection in all its wonderful array.
played the role of the Dog in his seventh grade original production of “The Trial of Rip Van Winkle.” After graduation from Oberlin College, Lee pursued professional theater regionally and in NYC. Lee became a member of Community Playback Theatre in 1993. For the past 24 years he has worked as a clinical therapist and supervisor privately and for Ulster County. Lee is especially excited by creativity and connection in all its wonderful array.
JUDY SWALLOW
once made a gigantic poster saying “The Show” and used it for years to announce plays created on the spot with her elementary school friends. She was a founding member of the original Playback Theatre company in 1975 and has continued to co-create with her pals ever since. She has taught Playback skills nationally and internationally and is pleased that there are Playback companies in over 50 countries. She is also a co-director of the Hudson Valley Psychodrama Institute in Highland, NY.
once made a gigantic poster saying “The Show” and used it for years to announce plays created on the spot with her elementary school friends. She was a founding member of the original Playback Theatre company in 1975 and has continued to co-create with her pals ever since. She has taught Playback skills nationally and internationally and is pleased that there are Playback companies in over 50 countries. She is also a co-director of the Hudson Valley Psychodrama Institute in Highland, NY.
VAL WELLS
has been a member of the ensemble since its inception. She feels Playback brings a healing experience to the storytelling audience as the actors empathically reflect their challenges and celebrations. Val also engages her creativity in the handcrafts of paper marbling and bookbinding, and enjoys open water swimming, hiking, and gardening as ways to interact with Hudson Valley nature. She works as an occupational therapist in a skilled nursing facility.
has been a member of the ensemble since its inception. She feels Playback brings a healing experience to the storytelling audience as the actors empathically reflect their challenges and celebrations. Val also engages her creativity in the handcrafts of paper marbling and bookbinding, and enjoys open water swimming, hiking, and gardening as ways to interact with Hudson Valley nature. She works as an occupational therapist in a skilled nursing facility.
VINCENT FURFARO
Company Member Emeritus
was a founding member of the original Playback Theater company, as well as of Community Playback. He brought presence and heart to portrayals as an actor until his hearing dimmed in 2001. Since then, and until pandemic times stopped live Community Playback performances, he continued contributing creatively by enhancing Playback scenes with colors, textures and rhythms of light. Since his retirement from the lightboard, he finds each show he can attend, with its varied life stories, an exhilarating and educational experience in the development of the human spirit.
Company Member Emeritus
was a founding member of the original Playback Theater company, as well as of Community Playback. He brought presence and heart to portrayals as an actor until his hearing dimmed in 2001. Since then, and until pandemic times stopped live Community Playback performances, he continued contributing creatively by enhancing Playback scenes with colors, textures and rhythms of light. Since his retirement from the lightboard, he finds each show he can attend, with its varied life stories, an exhilarating and educational experience in the development of the human spirit.