DR. TINA M. MANUS, PhD, holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and owns Redwood Data LLC, a market research firm that evaluates brand compliance and customer service for businesses. Her blog, Rooted in Drama, along with her op-eds, research projects, and presentations, can be found online. Tina serves on the board of the Arts Alliance of Stratford, where she produces events celebrating original work. Her original one-act play, The Beautification Committee, was chosen by Gail Thacker to premiere at NYC’s Gene Frankel Theatre as part of her short play festival in August 2024. Tina completed her undergraduate studies at SCSU in 2001. She graduated with Honors in Theatre for her thesis on performance artists and club kid culture of the late ’90s–early 2000s. While at SCSU, she was part of the cast of Suburbia which was nominated to compete at the ACTF festival at Brandis University (1999), received an Irene Ryan nomination for her role as “Rosa” in Simpson Street (2000), directed by Miriam Colon, and trained at Circle in the Square Theatre School in NYC. In addition, Tina also performed in Animal Farm: The Musical (Boxer) at Manhattanville College (1997) under the direction of Ted Mann (Circle in the Square) and Felix Ivanov (Juilliard). With a background in community theatre since childhood, Tina has most recently performed with Richter Musicals (Eva Peron’s Mother/Ensemble, Evita, Director: Don Birely), Fuse Theatre (Mlle. Reisz, The Awakening, Director: Lara Morton) and Eastbound Theatre (Gina, On the Other Foot, Director: Stephen Olson & Rose, Stopping Here, Director: Lynne Gannon). She has also directed short plays for The Orange Players and Hygienic Art’s Mayfly Festival in New London. In addition to being a professional vocalist, she performs professionally as an immersive actor with Grymm Studios and the North Pole Express in Essex and NYC. She’s excited to be part of the CCC mentoring program and looks forward to developing and sharpening her skills in theatrical criticism.
