STAFF LEADERSHIP
Tom Burmester,
Executive Director Tom Burmester is a producer, theatre-maker, and educator. In Los Angeles, as Audience Experience Designer for Center Theatre Group, he created engaging participatory experiences for audiences at the Ahmanson, Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre, as well as for The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage, working with world-class artists, such as Madrid’s classical theatre company Rakatá, Rude Mechs, Second City, and Culture Clash. His work in the emerging field of participatory and immersive theatre was recognized in American Theatre magazine and by LA Weekly's annual "Best of LA."
Tom was the founding Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble (LATE), where he produced and directed over 30 new plays and developed "one of the finest and most committed ensembles performing on any Los Angeles stage," according to Backstage. During LATE's residency, he served as Managing Director of the historic Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica. His work as playwright, director, and producer of The War Cycle earned awards and recognition, including three Ovation Award nominations and a Special Citation from LA Weekly for "Excellence and Breadth of Vision." Prior to the pandemic, he was a Founding Co-Director and producer of the Ground and Field Theatre Festival at UC Davis. This three-year sandbox project invited international playwrights to create new plays and musicals that centered narratives of environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Tom served as an Adjunct Professor of Performing Arts at St. Mary's College, where he taught Science Fiction Theatre and Season Planning. He has also taught acting, directing, design, and theatre studies at UCLA and UC Davis. Tom earned his Ph.D. in Performance Studies at UC Davis, where his research explored the intersection of theatre, play, games, and performance psychology. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Directing from UCLA and a BA in Theatre and Dance from UC Davis. Tom is also a certified personal trainer (NASM) and a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. 
Andrea St. Clair,
Education Director Now heading into her fourth year as Education Director, Andrea holds her BA in Theatre Arts from San Jose State University and is an alumnus of the CAP21 Summer Professional Intensive. A proud member of Actor’s Equity Association, Andrea has performed in musical theatre up and down Northern California, including holding Dance Captain credits in many shows. She has previously performed with the likes of Tony-Award Winning Actor James Monroe Iglehart, Adrian Zmed, Arielle Jacobs, Dirk Lumbard, and more (some “before they were stars!”) Back in 2008, Andrea was featured in Scott Alan’s Monday Nights, New Voices cabaret where she was coached by and sang the songs of Georgia Stitt at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre in New York. She is also a veteran of many commercials and industrials. Originally from the Bay Area, Andrea has been dancing for most of her life, though initially she fell into dance after being diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. With a background in tap, ballet, contemporary, jazz and musical theatre, Andrea danced competitively for many years with Schumacher’s School of Dance under Dolly Schumacher-James and Wendy James as well as technical training with Dance Arts Center with Berle Davis. It was under Berle where Andrea grew to truly appreciate tap and jazz technique and credits his tutelage for her love of the craft. In addition, Andrea has had the privilege of studying both in San Francisco and NY under the likes of Cecelia Marta, Michael Raine, Tony Stevens, Marilyn D’Honau, Sam Weber, Frank Hatcher, Kobi Rozenfeld, Terrill Mitchell, and Meghan Way Stinson. She previously taught, choreographed, and managed the studio at Capitol City Dance Academy in Sacramento where her choreography for their competitive companies took top honors at many national competitions. In addition to teaching dance, Andrea previously taught the teen acting class at Studio24 and through workshops in the WOH’s Outreach Program; she was also a certified substitute teacher for several public school districts and charter schools for almost a decade. Andrea has also completed training with the iTheatrics Summer Teaching Academy and with TIE for Theatrical Intimacy Coordination. For the Woodland Opera House, Andrea has directed and choreographed My Fairy Lady, Shrek, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Elly Award for Best Production), Elf the Musical, Young Frankenstein (Director, Chesley Award – Favorite Production), School of Rock, and Legally Blonde, as well as Godspell JR, Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical JR, Mean Girls JR., and the pilot of Dare to Dream JR., a Disney musical revue (for which the WOH was 1 of 6 theatres selected to produce this new title) for our Rising Stars education musical series. She has also choreographed for the WOH for productions such as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Curious George and the Golden Meatball, and is also the current director for the Broadway Bound Training and Performance group. Andrea, along with Music Director, Lori Jarvey, have led cast members from the Woodland Opera House to win “Excellence in Ensemble Work” in 2022 and 2023 (Chitty JR. and Godspell JR.), the 2024 award for “Outstanding Production” for our cast of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical JR. an “Excellence in Acting” award for Mean Girls JR. and having her students perform in the West Coast premiere of Dare to Dream JR at the Junior Theatre Festival West in Sacramento. She has also choreographed for Musical Mayhem Productions, Folsom High School, and Cosumnes Oaks High School. Her work has earned her an Elly Award and multiple nominations. 
Melissa Cunha,
Theatre Operations Manager Melissa Cunha is a Persian American interdisciplinary artist and embodied actor. She is the Co-Executive Director and among the founding Core Members of Bike City Theatre Company. She has worked as a: stage manager, production manager, company manager, director, and actor for BCTC, as well as an educator leading several of BCTC’s educational programs. Melissa received her B.A. in Dramatic Arts and Film Studies at UC Davis, where she focused on experimental Shakespeare. This is where she found her passion as an embodied actor for devised, experimental work. During her undergraduate work at UCD, Melissa had a passion for collaborating with her peers, and became a founding member of Millennial Theater: a company focused on original, and inclusive devised pieces of work. Apart from acting, she has worked for Music Circus at Broadway Sacramento and Davis Shakespeare Festival. After graduating, she performed internationally on ELEMENTS by Shogo Ota in Bogotá, Colombia. Melissa later became a certified yoga instructor focusing her studies on the importance of the human body and wellness. Melissa went on to receive her M.A. in Theater Arts with a focus on education and acting from University of CA, Santa Cruz. At the university, she taught acting for undergraduates and held yoga classes for actors. Her credits at UCSC include Karen in THE CHILDREN’S HOUR, and assistant directing for Kinan Valdez on AMERICAN NIGHT: THE BALLAD OF JUAN JOSE. Following graduation, she trekked across the country to NYC where she worked on film and experimental theater with The Builders Association with Marianne Weems. She understudied and assistant stage managed for their production of ELEMENTS OF OZ. Melissa is currently acting in GOOD EARTH, working on a new initiative HATE-FREE TOGETHER, certifying for her Pilates license, teaching yoga, and having fun doing acrobatic yoga in the park. |
Denise Miles,
Production Coordinator Denise Miles (Resident Costume Designer/Production Coordinator) has been designing and creating costumes for the Sacramento theater community for nearly years. She served as the resident costume designer for St. Francis High School’s theater department from 2005-2016 and for River City Theater Company from 2005-2012. Denise joined the Woodland Opera House as resident costume designer in 2011. Additionally, she has designed for Artistic Differences Theatre Company, Davis Musical Theatre Company, Lipstick Theatre at Northwestern University and Beating of Wings. Denise holds a design degree from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. 
Christopher Travlos,
Director of Marketing and Development Christopher Travlos is a Sacramento-based actor, director, and theatre-goer. Born in Berkeley, Christopher attended the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City for their 3-Year Conservatory (2012). After a stint in NYC, he headed north to Montréal and completed a degree in Creative Writing and Interdisciplinary Studies of Sexuality from Concordia University. Finally, Christopher obtained his Single Subject Credential in English at the Kalmanovitz School of Education at St. Mary's College of California and earned a Master's in Teaching in 2018. Christopher began his journey with the Woodland Opera House on stage as Igor in Young Frankenstein in 2023, then joined the staff as the Community Engagement Coordinator later that year after five years teaching dramatic arts at a high school in Sacramento. Now the Director of Marketing and Development, he utilizes his passion for people and storytelling to ensure the Opera House is publicized and funded. |
