Great Lakes Theater Names New Director of Education

KELLY SCHAFFER FLORIAN and LISA ORTENZI will jointly lead the company’s expansive education programming.

CLEVELAND, OH – Great Lakes Theater (GLT), Cleveland’s professional classic theater, announced the joint appointments of longtime, GLT education department staff members Kelly Schaffer Florian and Lisa Ortenzi as the company’s new Directors of Education. Florian will serve as GLT’s Director of Educational Services and Ortenzi will act as Director of Educational Programming.

“We are proud to promote two longtime company members into leadership roles within our organization,” said Charles Fee, GLT’s Producing Artistic Director. “Together, they bring a tremendous breadth of knowledge to our education department…forged by their extensive experience with our company - Lisa from an artistic and programming perspective having guided our School Residency Program and Kelly from an administrative and customer relations background as the steward of our Student Matinee Series. Their complementary skill sets, collaborative spirits and keen visions make Kelly and Lisa an ideal fit for this new management structure within our organization. We’re thrilled for them to be leading this important facet of our company.”

Kelly Schaffer Florian joined GLT’s education department in 2000. Prior to arriving at GLT, Kelly worked as Education Coordinator for the SFX Broadway Series in Cincinnati, Ohio where she also served the subscription, group sales and ticketing departments in the years preceding her education appointment. An accomplished stage manager with a B.A.C. in Theatre from Bowling Green University, Kelly has collaborated with a host of regional arts organizations and theaters that include Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theatre (Cincinnati), The Human Race Theatre, Porthouse Theatre and Weathervane Playhouse.

Lisa Ortenzi returned to GLT in 2001 to serve as the Supervisor of the company’s School Residency Program after working with GLT from 1993-1997 as an Actor Teacher. Prior to her tenure at GLT, Ortenzi performed and directed for Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Massachusetts. An adjunct faculty member of Baldwin Wallace University (BW) beginning this fall, Lisa currently serves as the Artistic Director of BW’s Triple Threat Music Theater Program for Conservatory Outreach. Lisa has also collaborated with a host of other regional arts organizations including Cleveland Youth Theatre, Cleveland Public Theatre, Cleveland Shakespeare Festival and a variety of local community theaters and high school drama programs such as the Ohio Education Theater Association. Lisa holds a B.A.C in Theatre and Radio/TV/Film from Bowling Green State University and a M.A. in Directing from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts.

“We’re excited to empower two talented members of our team,” said Bob Taylor, GLT’s Executive Director. “I am confident that Kelly and Lisa will ably continue to advance our commitment to community and education in significant ways as they have for over a decade with our company.”

Posted on: August 24, 2013

Category: Press Releases