ABOUT US
Arc Stages is a multifaceted arts organization in Pleasantville, New York, which is composed of three theatre companies under one roof.
The Next Stage: a professional theatre company that endeavors to produce high quality contemporary theatre as well as new works, cabaret, workshops and staged readings.
The Community Stage: a community theatre company for actors, singers and technicians from all walks of life that offers the best in musicals and dramas.
The Educational Stage: an educational theatre company where students of all ages (youth and adult) can explore the world of theatre though a professional rehearsal process, master classes, outreach and intensive ensemble work.
These three theatres, all under one roof, strive to better serve the community and its artistic needs. We are thrilled to be your artistic haven and look forward to creating more exciting, transformative theatre!
Arc Stages is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
STAFF
Adam David Cohen (Artistic Director)
Adam David Cohen is the co-founder of Arc Stages and Little Village Playhouse (now the Educational Stage). He is a Graduate of the Musical Theatre Writing Program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and currently a member of the Advanced BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. He has composed the scores for Oh Manhattan! (performed at Rose's Turn), Sodom(produced by Horse Trade Theater Group), The Apple and Other Slip-ups (produced at Pendragon Theatre, Cragsmoor Playhouse), RumpleStiltSkin (produced at Little Village Playhouse), The Hadleyburg Project (produced at the Metropolitan Playhouse), and A Stranger to the Muse, which received a staged reading at Manhattan Theatre Club Studios. Adam has worked as a composer for Independent Film Channel, Bravo and American Movie Classics.
Ann-Ngaire Martin (Artistic Director of the Community Stage)
Ann-Ngaire Martin is a co-founder of Arc Stages, and a professional actor who has appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway and in many East Coast regional theatres. In 1987 she moved to Chappaqua where she raised three children, joined the Chappaqua Drama Group and directed musical theatre in the public school system. With the Drama Group she appeared in Chess and You're A Good Man Charlie Brown and directed The Robber Bridegroom. She produced, directed and choreographed musicals for three years at Horace Greeley High School and five years at Pleasantville High School. Her professional credits include Grease on Broadway, On The Swing Shift at The Manhattan Theatre Club, Little Shop of Horrors off-Broadway and many productions with The Westchester Broadway Theatre and Coyote Theatre.
Stephanie Kovacs Cohen (Artistic Director of the Educational Stage)
Stephanie Kovacs Cohen is the Artistic Director of the Educational Stage. She founded the Visions & Voices and Adult Playwriting Festivals here at Arc Stages, and has been a director and teaching artist across the country. Favorite productions include: Dancing Lessons, The God of Isaac, LOVE/SICK, The Apple, & The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Trained at NYU, Yale and A.C.T., she is an AEA/SAG actress and also worked as an independent casting director.
Galit Messman (Director of Education)
Galit Messman has been a Teaching Artist, Director, and Camp Director at Arc Stages (and formerly Little Village Playhouse) since 2004. Galit has directed many youth productions with Arc Stages, including Into the Woods, Urinetown, Assassins, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Rent, etc. BFA in Theatre from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. As an actor, Galit has performed on stage all around NYC, including at the Kraine and Abingdon Theatres, and Metropolitan Playhouse, and has appeared in films featured at the Soho Film Festival and others. Galit has been a resident actor of two theatre companies in NYC: Nylon Fusion and Carnival Girls Productions. As a Director and Teaching Artist, Galit worked for the SUNY Purchase Arts in Education department, with the critical literacy program Neighborhood Bridges, as well as teaching pre-show sessions to students in K-12th grades. In addition to working at Arc Stages, Galit is also the Educational Director for Pleasantville Community Synagogue, where she runs a Hebrew School for students aged 5 – 13.
Stacey Bone-Gleason (Arts Manager, Director/Teaching Artist)
Stacey Bone-Gleason is a professional teaching artist, actress and arts administrator. She has taught for numerous cultural organizations in Westchester and NYC including Arc Stages, CAE, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Purchase college, BAM, TADA!, and she has even taught pre-show lessons internationally in Istanbul. She has helped to develop and perform TYA performances for the Museum of Jewish Heritage in NYC and presented at arts education conferences such as the NY TIOS and Face to Face conferences. As an actress she has performed Off-Broadway, regionally and internationally in shows ranging from classical to contemporary and musical theater. Favorite credits include Unbroken Circle produced by Seth Rudetsky, Macbeth, Tempest and Midsummer (Tempest Ladies) in NYC and Istanbul, The Baristas (South Carolina Rep) and Private Eyes (Arc Stages). As an administrator she has worked at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, TADA! youth theater and now Arc Stages. Training: NYU/Stella Adler Studio of Acting (BFA) and Educational Theatre at CCNY (MS).
Amy Schiff (Educational Stage Music Director and Voice Teacher)
Amy Schiff has been a musical director and voice teacher for 20 years and with the Educational Stage of Arc Stages (formerly Little Village Playhouse) since its beginning. She has an MA in Musical Theater Performance form NYU and a BA from Binghamton University. Amy has done her most rewarding and challenging work at Arc Stages / LVP with shows like Sweeney Todd, Pacific Overtures, Saturn Returns (The music of Myths and Hymns) and original shows like RumpleStiltSkin and New Hamelin. As a voice teacher her priority is guiding each student to find a healthy tone and unique voice.
Marcus Baker (Educational Stage and Community Stage Music Director)
Marcus Baker is a freelance music director and pianist working throughout the greater New York area. He has worked with Arc Stages as one of two resident music directors for many years and has music directed and performed at every level of music theatre from elementary school through professional regional theatre work at the Arizona Theatre Company.