OVATION Theatre Collective is a group of theatre artists committed to prioritizing positive process on the way to exceptional stage experiences. We see theatre as an opportunity-filled adventure for directors, performers, designers, technicians AND audience members. We believe theatre can: 

• build dynamic, empathetic community
• explore challenging issues involving humanity and society
• inspire, lead, instruct, reflect. 

OVATION Core Values:   Respect, Excellence, Collaboration, Community, Diversity

OVATION is an experienced team of theatre artists/educators:

Janice Vertucci Schreiber: Passionate about theatre since her childhood, Janice has been involved in the theatrical experience as a director, actor, and educator for over fifty years. Janice is a graduate of  the East Carolina University Theatre Program and eventually taught in their Department of Theatre and Dance. She has done graduate studies in theatre at UNC- Greensboro, California State University, Central Washington University, and the University of Southern Maine where she received certification in the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique. Janice attended directing workshop studies through the Yale School of Drama and The Juilliard School. For thirteen years, she was the Director of Theatre at Arendell Parrott Academy in Kinston, North Carolina.  In those many years of her theatrical journey, Janice found a path to her own self-worth and empowerment. Guiding others to engage personal experience and creativity to build a confident sense of performance self drives Janice's teaching. Through involvement in the arts, we can gain much more knowledge about our humanity. Contact Janice at janatucci31@gmail.com or 252-375-5017.

Julia Wharton:  A theatre educator and director with over 25 years of experience, Julia strives to make her theatre processes constructive, creative and challenging to maximize participants’ engagement and growth. Julia was most recently the High School Theatre teacher at Franklin School of Innovation in Asheville. She has worked with actors ages 3 – 65, has 18 years of experience as a full time theatre teacher at the middle and high school levels, and has held Virginia and North Carolina teaching certification. She has directed over 50 school, university, community and professional productions of plays and musicals, and has led public speaking/communication classes and workshops. Married to a US diplomat, Julia’s teaching and directing credits include work in the US, Chile, Bolivia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Guatemala. While in Zimbabwe, Julia was an Associate Artist for Danai Gurira’s (award winning actor/playwright) Almasi Collaborative Arts. A determined advocate for the arts, Julia feels passionately that theatre has a unique power to nurture, inspire, and empower individuals and communities.  Contact Julia at  msjuliawharton@gmail.com or 703-599-0607.

Patricia Sands:  Teaching International Baccalaureate Theatre (IB) and drama (6-12) for more than 30 years overseas established her love of teaching students from all walks of life. Teaching world theatre forms, dramaturgy and theatre history, along with devised theatre, genres, and study of theorists/practitioners was the focus of the two year long course, alongside performance, direction, and technical work.  Patricia’s direction of more than 100 productions in American-sponsored schools in Honduras, South Africa, Malaysia, Taiwan, Serbia, and Qatar established her love of working with teams!  Patricia earned the MA in Theatre Production at Central Washington University, and is also a certified teacher.  Patricia’s vocal music background includes a BM in Voice and an MME in Choral Music Education.  Her career in music direction and performance led to her work with opera companies in Singapore and the USA, while giving concerts in several countries as a classical soprano.  Patricia has a voice studio in Asheville and works with injured and healthy singers in the region, as an NCVS Certified Vocologist. She is a Field Supervisor for student teachers at WCU, and Directs and Music Directs theatre productions in the Asheville area. Contact Patricia at patricia@psvoicestudio.com, or 828-464-1505.