Donna R. Mercier has been on stage since the age of 3. She studied dance with
Mary Dunphy and Beverly & the late Lee Burton; voice with the late Charlotte Gray, and attended Lowell State Teacher's
College. Mrs. Mercier has directed over 40 musical productions, was drama director for Illing Middle School where she
expanded the program to include the Bennett & Odyssey Middle Schools, and also worked with St. Joseph's School in
Rockville for 2 years as drama director of their after school drama club.
Donna is past President of the former Manchester Arts Council and is presently serving as chairperson of the
Manchester Arts Commision appointed by the Town's Board of Directors. She creates and directs classes and activities year
round for our non-profit's homebase at 113 Summit Street. Mrs. Mercier is co-founder of C.A.S.T. and serves as executive
director.
Donna Schaffer is an active soprano and accomplished pianist. Mrs. Schaffer
has appeared as soprano soloist with the New York City Choral Society, the Manchester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale, the
Northeast Concert Choir, and the Middletown Chorale. Her operatic roles include Musetta in Puccini's La Boheme, Rosina
in Rossini's The Barber of Seville, and Gretl in Humperdinck's Hansel & Gretl. She has made numerous recital apperances
throughout the country and has directed the educational outreach program at the Natchez Opera Festival in Mississippi.
She is a student of Dr. Sherry Overholt of NYC. Mrs. Schaffer holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of
Michigan and a Master of Music from the University of Connecticut. She has served on the faculty at the University
of CT., the Ethel Walker School, and the Young People's Institute. Donna owns and operates Summit Studios, a performing
arts studio which serves over 500 students per week in Manchester, CT.
Marcus Fink is our assistant director and business manager for C.A.S.T. After
Dark. Marcus is also a member of our Board of Directors. He graduated from Central CT State University with
a BFA in Theater & Stage & Production Management. He is the director of Youth Activities for the CT Region of
United Synagogue Youth, a non-profit organization. He is President of the Jewish Youth Director's Association.
Jaime Morano is a former C.A.S.T. student, a co-founder of C.A.S.T. After Dark,
and a student at both Manchester Community College and the Hartford Conservatory. She has worked as a dance instructor
at Summit Studios and a director at C.A.S.T. for its Let's Pretend Class and Saturday Morning Broadway Jr. Series.
Jaime has performed with both Little Theater of Manchester and Manchester Musical Players. She has also studied
dance with Betty-Jane Turner.
