Meet Laura
My name is Laura K. Vannah and I founded Bright Star ProductionZ in the summer of 2004. I hold a B.A. in Psychology from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and now a M.A. in Theatre from Binghamton University.
When I moved to Mexico, NY in 2003, I really had no idea of all that I would do and become over the next six years.
I have been on stage in a variety of forms and roles since I was four years old.
My first passion is music and I spent fourteen years as a classically trained pianist. I spent ten years studying at the New England Conservatory for Music and was in the Boston Ballet's Nutcracker for three years as a child.
In 1998, I rediscovered acting and the theater in my first official acting class at the Actor's Workshop in Boston, MA. I felt like I was finally home. For four years, all my creativity and attention became focused like a laser beam.
- I took class after class; played numerous roles;
- Was one of two chosen to represent Team USA in Los Angeles for the World Championships for the Performing Arts, where I won the Silver Medal in Acting, the Bronze Medal in Stand-Up Comedy, and the Overall Championship Medal in Stand-Up Comedy for the 20-29 age group;
- Completed the Director's Apprenticeship program at the Actor's Workshop, Boston;
- Became a member of StageSource, The Alliance of Theatre Artists & Producers of New England;
- Was hired as the editor and marketing representative of The Source, and subsequently became StageSource's Director of Member Services;
- Worked for three years at Comedy Theater Productions, America's FIRST murder mystery dinner theater, as David Goldstein's Stage & Production Manager;
- And, in 2001, was nominated for a Native American Music Award as a member of the Thunder Hawk Singers. The Thunder Hawk Singers won a 2009 Native American Music Award for Best Traditional Recording for their CD Native Pride.
- Worked for over 10 years in the corporate world with Friendly’s Corporation, StageSource, Stride Rite, Gordon Brothers Partners, and Office Team
- Have facilitated focus groups for 100+ adults and children
- Was awarded the Certificate of Achievement in 2003 from the Native Addictions Services Society of Calgary Alberta for her work with the Traditional Pathways Group
Do you see where all of this is headed? Yeah, well at the time, I had no clue as to where all this would ultimately lead me.
It was about that time that I got 'cold feet' or maybe it was an alternate form of stage fright and I began to doubt myself. For the next three years, I ran in the opposite direction, away from my dreams. While I was in the process of denying my dreams nd my heart's calling, I was learning some incredible skills and life lessons ~ I created and ran my own Desktop Publishing business, taught a bi-weekly workshop on Native American Animal Totems at a Native Addictions Centre and ran focus groups for Many Guns Traditional Consulting, Inc. ~ all of which lead me to Mexico NY and brought me right back to where I left my treasure box in 2001.
As the owner and Executive Director of Bright Star ProductionZ, I have directed and produced over 50 productions in the past six years.
I founded The Native Circle: Touch the Earth Day in 2006, an annual Native American Music festival held in Mexico NY; have taught workshops on Native American Animal Totems for the past seven years in both Canada and the US; and taught Basic Acting Processes at Binghamton University, while earning my Master’s Degree in Theatre.
I am the Co-Founder of CNYTS, the Central New York Theatre Source, with Nancy Fox in 2007, and Co-Founded ANPACT, the Association for New Paradigms in Acting and Creative Techniques, with Emmanuelle Chaulet in 2009.
I developed the Spiritual Acting Technique for actors from my Masters Thesis entitled, “The Spiritual Actor: The Power of Spirituality in Acting and Actor Training using Spiritual Practices and Native American Animal Totems”. Preview this cutting-edge, ground-breaking work Here.
Spiritual Acting is the synthesis of the core principles and processes of acting, awareness practices, Native American Animal Totems work, and Shadow work. Read all about what I hope to help actors with on the Actor Training & Coaching page and Team Totem Performances page.
I am so grateful that I was encouraged to start all of this six years ago and I hope to continue producing great shows, festivals, and workshops over the coming months and years through Bright Star Theatre Company.
I thank you, Mexico and Oswego County, for your continued support (and attendance) of our various adventures. I LOVE what I do, so make sure to check back often to see what new things we're offering.
Laura
Wearer of Way Too Many Hats