PlayZoomers Board of Directors
Janet R. Carpman, PhD - President, Executive Director
Jan Carpman is PlayZoomers co-founder, Executive Director, and Board President. With Mary Ann Nichols, she produces all PlayZoomers shows, casts many, and directs on occasion. Jan also produces the “Act Me a Story” children’s literacy program in conjunction with the Michigan nonprofit Washtenaw Promise.
Jan has indulged her passions for theatre and music over many years by acting in musicals and straight plays; and directing, stage-managing, and more with community theatre companies. For nearly 25 years, she was a performer, producer of numerous sold-out shows, and Board President for two Michigan song-and-dance troupes. Now based in Boston, she is also a wayfinding consultant, speaker, and co-author of two, award-winning books. Jan holds a PhD in Architecture and Sociology from the University of Michigan, a Master of City Planning (MCP) from Harvard University, and a BA in Sociology from the University of Rochester.
Mary Ann Nichols, MA - Clerk
Mary Ann Nichols is a lifelong practitioner and lover of theatre and music. As an actor, director, teacher, acting coach, and violist, she has worked at nearly every level: from professional developmental theatre, industrial films, and dinner theatre to directing high school programs and middle school musical theatre camp. Starting in 1981, she was a radio announcer in major market stations, beginning as a classical announcer and programmer at WGMS (Washington, DC) and WCRB (Boston, MA). Most recently, she was the local and national voice of underwriting at WBUR, Boston’s NPR News Station. In addition to co-founding PlayZoomers, Mary Ann was president of Star Players of Bristol County for many years and Executive Director of the Heart of Taunton, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the cultural and aesthetic environment for downtown Taunton, MA. She holds a BA in Speech & Drama from The Catholic University of America and an MA in Drama from Tufts University.
Joshua Secunda
Joshua Secunda has appeared in PlayZoomers productions of “Good Corporate Citizen” and “How We Saved the World,” and directed productions including “Your Favorite” and “Santa Noir.” Joshua trained as an actor with members of the Royal Court Theatre; the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Neighborhood Playhouse, and the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. He has appeared as Pseudolus in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” Murray in “A Thousand Clowns,” Felix in “The Odd Couple,” and Dr. Rosy in Sheridan’s “St. Patrick’s Day.”
Gary Giurbino
Gary has been involved in theater since the age of 10 when he played the ‘Giant’ in Jack in the Beanstalk. The theater bug grabbed him and he was hooked for life. His major in college was technical theater, but Gary has been on stage more often than working backstage. Gary has performed in various Playzoomers productions and in a variety of on-stage and film roles. His credits include McQue in "NOIR," Daddy Cane in "Bright Star," Claude Frollo in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," Herbie in "Gypsy," Mr. Clayton in "Tarzan," Charlemagne (and much earlier in his career, Pippin) in "Pippin," Sam in "Mamma Mia!," Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson in "A Few Good Men," G.W. Nethercott in "Sordid Lives," and Bobby in "Company." Film credits include the lead role of Roberto Confortola (Bobby) in the film "Soul Eclipse." Gary is also a full-time video producer and also manages a small video production team for Google.
George Dougherty, JD Treasurer
George Dougherty is a former trial lawyer now vigorously pursuing a fulltime acting career. He has appeared in many PlayZoomers productions and has a special love for Shakespeare, having most recently appeared as Alonzo in the Tempest in Chicago and as Claudius in a performance as part of a program at RADA. He is a lover of improv, having performed on stages at The Second City and IO theaters in Chicago and at the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland as part of a production that he also produced. George attended Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and The Northwestern School of Law in Chicago. He is excited to be part of PlayZoomers current mission and its talented and wonderful Board of Directors.
Morris Schorr
Morris Schorr has degrees in Theater Arts from Binghamton University and the University of Illinois. Although he came to Los Angeles in 1970 to be a movie star, he spent most of the next 30 years managing law firms. Upon retiring in 2005, he returned to his first love, and while movie stardom continues to elude him, he has appeared in films (most recently The Wandering Day), on TV shows (most recently Modern Family), on stage (most recently A Black and White Cookie) and in web series (most recently Ghost Ghirls). He has also directed extensively at various L.A. theaters and, for the past few years, has acted and directed with PlayZoomers. He is currently active with and on the Board of Directors of SkyPilot Theatre Company, Inc.
Thomas W. Stephens, PhD (1942-2024) Board Member Emeritus
Thomas W. Stephens was an educator, award-winning playwright, director, and sometime actor. Tom founded the Department of Theatre at Randolph College (formerly Randolph-Macon Woman’s College) in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he was Thoresen Professor of Theatre, Emeritus. An active participant in regional theatre, he was a past president of the Southeastern Theatre Conference and former regional chair of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Tom’s plays were produced nationally and internationally. He held a BA in English from Gannon University, an MFA in Speech and Drama from The Catholic University of America, and a PhD in Theatre from University of Denver.
Tom was an early, ardent, and generous supporter of PlayZoomers. He joined the PlayZoomers Board of Directors and provided wise counsel and a rich array of scripts. His PlayZoomers legacy includes two productions he directed: “Infidelity” and “Greening Zabella” and seven he wrote: “When I Leave This Place Behind,” “Sketching,” “Grandpa is with Jesse,” “That Froelich Girl,” “MayTag,” “Greening Zabella,” and “The Follow-Up Fellow.”
Bringing heart, kindness, and humor to every interaction and theatrical project, Tom was a deeply respected and much-loved member of the PlayZoomers community.