Stacy Ruttenberg (Founder/Artistic Director) has been creating, directing, producing, and acting in her own projects since she was a little girl. She has performed on the stage at Hampshire College, Smith College, UMASS Amherst, and on screen for EJA Productions, Greenwich Dreamtime Productions, Visit Films, and the Infinite Monkey Project. She has worked behind the scenes, directing, stage managing, and producing shows for many theaters, including Theatre Genesius and The Eastbound Theater. Stacy spent five years in an educational environment, working individually with students exhibiting learning difficulties, teaching reading and comprehension. It was there that she first conceived Slant of Light’s education program, striving to create another vehicle for students to express themselves. Her next move was to Manhattan, interning at the brilliant Women’s Expressive Theater, where she not only garnered experience in the non-profit sector, but in her distaste for the “biz of the biz” realm of New York City, fully realized her mission for Slant of Light, to create a safe place where artists can create without catering to the commercial appeal of the masses. Stacy holds a BA in theater and psychology from Smith College, in Northampton, MA.
Leslie Dini (Associate/Production Director of Play Reading Series/Marketing Associate) played the roles of Erica, Whitney, and Avery in Slant of Light's first original production of M&Ms in Heaven this past August. She fell in love with Slant of Light (and, of course, Stacy Ruttenberg) and forced Stacy into giving her a job as an associate for the company.
Leslie is a dancer/singer/actress. A performer by nature, she started dancing at the age of 2 years old, eventually becoming a member of the US Tap Team- winners of the World Tap Dance Championships in Reisa, Germany. Leslie's musical theater experiences include minor roles in her high school's productions of Damn Yankees and Guys n Dolls. She went to Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY as a theater major, a member of the 2006 National Champion dance team, and a featured National Anthem vocalist.
Aside from working with Slant of Light, Leslie is pursuing a career as an actress in theater, musicals, and film while working as a waitress.
Patrick Marro (Associate) originally auditioned for Slant of Light as a
vocal enthusiast. However, his singing was not music to our ears, and once we asked him to stop, he
tried to convince us he could dance. Two broken legs and a sprained wrist later
(ours, not his), we realized Patrick did not have a clear concept of his own
strengths and weaknesses. Fortunately, we did, and placed Patrick in the role
of John in Slant of Light’s first
original production, M&Ms in Heaven. No stranger to the stage, Patrick has performed at the Eastbound
Theater, Westport Community Theater, Stratford Arts Festival, Square One
Theatre, and for the Putney Players at Booth Park. Not limiting his acting to
the stage, Patrick has worked in NYC on the shows Gossip Girl and Lipstick Jungle, and been featured in the forthcoming Angelina Jolie
movie Salt.
During Patrick’s tenure as John, he was able to regain the respect of the company by making himself an
indispensable presence. He
was immediately snapped up to work for the company as an associate.
It should also be noted that Patrick’s performance in M&Ms
in Heaven was so stellar that he managed to
convince founder/artistic director/writer/director Stacy Ruttenberg to take
over the role of Johanna for the M&Ms tour, just so she could have the chance to play
opposite him.
Irene Pozoukidis (Educational Consultant)
Frances Curcio (Actor) proudly joined Slant of Light this past year when she auditioned and was cast for the M&Ms in Heaven Educational Tour. While living in NYC Frances trained with All My Children`s Darnell Williams as well as at The America Academy of Dramatic Arts and The William Esper Studio. She has been featured in television shows such as ER and Third Watch. In addition to pursuing acting, Frances also manages a tanning salon.
Kit Novotny (Actor) Kit Novotny is a newcomer to CT, and is very excited to be working with the lovely people at Slant of Light! She recently received a BA in theater and anthropology from the University of Chicago, where she was a member of the improv and sketch comedy group Off-Off Campus and created an award-winning one woman show, "re/collect." Kit has worked with Chicago's About Face Theatre, Court Theatre, The Second City, Museum of Contemporary Art, Gorilla Tango Theatre, and ComedySportz, and has trained with the British American Drama Academy and Shakespeare & Company. She currently teaches theater across CT with the Cheshire Youth Theater and Performing Arts Programs.
Emily Iannaccone (Resident
ASM) has always been interested in theater. She began in high school
and fell in love. As well as several high school productions, she has
worked at the White Barn
Theater as part of their internship program. After a couple of years
off to pursue veterinary medicine, she has learned even more about team
work
and critical thinking. Emily looks forward to working with everyone on
this endeavor, and
bringing on the laughter and fun!
