Staff and Board

Lou Fazzini
Founder/Executive Director
Lou received his Master of Arts in Theatre Arts, with a specialization in Drama/Theatre for the Young from Eastern Michigan University.
He has served as an adjunct faculty member for the Theatre Arts Department at Macomb College, and is the director for the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts (MCPA) summer drama workshop program. He has developed numerous arts and education partnerships throughout the region, and is the director of the Educational Award winning “Acting Out” partnership with the MISD, Maple Lane Elementary School and Rockwell Junior High School. He was responsible for the development of the Therapeutic Drama program with the Macomb County Juvenile Court and Juvenile Justice Center, and the Macomb County Department of Mental Health's turn-around program. He was the Macomb County coordinator for United Way's Literacy initiative Operation ABC, and was a 2008 ATHENA Award finalist for his work with at risk youth.
Lou is a retired United States Probation/Parole Agent for the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan having received his M.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Detroit.
Lou@atwas.org

Mary Kay Hake
Associate Director
Mary Kay received her B.A. in theatre from Western Michigan University and her M. A. in Theatre Arts from Wayne State University. She joined the ATWAS staff in August 2008 after serving four years as head of the Theatre Department at the Arts Academy in The Woods. Mary Kay is also a former adjunct theatre instructor at Macomb Community College.
kaykayhake@att.net

Michael VanGemert
Contracted Teaching Artist
Michael received his BFA in Music Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University in 2004. He, like his wife Erin, has worked professionally in regional theaters across the country, as well as with Holland America Cruise Lines as a lead male production singer. Michael and his wife Erin now reside in Oxford, and continues to perform where and when the opportunities are present.

Lisa Dobbin
Artistic Director
Lisa has been with ATWAS since the age of eight when she was a student. Having found a passion for theatre, Lisa continued her training and received her B.A. in Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University. In 2002, Lisa started working for ATWAS full time and in 2007 was promoted to Artistic Director.
In addition to Lisa's Theatre Performance Degree, she has a Master's Degree in Psychology (Applied Behavior Analysis) from Western Michigan University and has done extensive program design and implementation of the ATWAS theatre programs with at-risk and underserved populations including our very successful Drama Therapy program.
Lisadobbin@atwas.org

Erin VanGemert
Staff Artist: Musical Theatre & Choreography
Erin VanGemert is originally from Warren, Michigan. She graduated from Sterling Heights High School (WCSPA/Thespian Troupe #1000), and continued on to earn a BFA in Music Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University in 2004. She has since worked professionally in regional theatre across the country, as well as with Holland America Cruise Lines as a lead female production singer-all alongside her amazing husband, Michael! She now resides in Oxford, and still performs, coaches and choreographs throughout the Midwest! Favorite credits include, White Christmas (Betty Haynes), Singin' in the Rain (Kathy Seldon), The Sound of Music (Elsa Schraeder), Cabaret (Rosie/Understudy Sally), and Smokey Joe's Cafe (Delee). http://erinvg.com

Jennifer Ann Wilson
Contracted Teaching Artist
All The World’s A Stage is thrilled once again having former student and current WXYZ-TV Assignment Reporter, Jennifer Ann Wilson running our online Film Making Class. Jennifer was a member of the ATWAS (formerly Macomb Jr. Players) Acting Company, and an integral component of our performance season at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts.
Upon high school attended Northern Illinois University where she received her Theatre degree. A comprehensive background that includes stage, movie, and television experiences, Jennifer eventually pursued a career in journalism, with professional stints in Green Bay, Washington State, and Minneapolis. She eventually relocated to the Detroit area, where she continues her duties as a Freelance General Assignment reporter with WXYZ-TV channel 7.
Board of Directors
David A Ramirez - President
Susan Scheuer - Vice President / Secretary
Suzanne Tarchala - Treasurer
Peter Dobbin - Director
Merle Fazzini - Director
Christina Killmar - Director
Cindy McCann-Clissold - Director
Tommy Nahas - Director
Rachael Williamson - Director
LaTika Fenderson - Advisory Board Member