Donnell Adler has had the honor and joy of directing and teaching worldwide for more than a decade including, most recently, with Stages. She has been honored to bring energy, creativity, and a great deal of professional experience to all of her kids...young and old. She is an actress, singer, presenter, professional patient and voice over artist. For the past 30 years she has worked in film, television, commercials, industrials and theatre as well as studying at the Juilliard School. Most importantly, she lives, loves and works in Rochester with her very supportive husband and her ridiculously cute/loving Shihtzu.

Jodi is a doctor of social work who has worked as a family therapist for 26 years. She is a mental health educator and advocate, the author of 5 self-help books, and the creator of countless personal development videos. Jodi recently designed a mental and emotional wellness curriculum for high school health teachers, called COMPASS, which is also a treatment intervention countering teenagers' growing mental health needs. She lives in West Irondequoit with her husband, Ted, and is a mom of three adult children. Her youngest, Lily, an alumna of Stages, is pursuing a career in theater. In addition to the board at Stages, Jodi is a member of My Friend Abby's advisory board and a volunteer at Spritus Christi Mental Health Center.

Christina brings almost 20 years of experience in finance, operations, and education leadership to the board. She currently serves as the President & CEO of Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women, where she oversees the daily operations and long-term strategy of a vibrant all-girls school rooted in the Mercy tradition. Her professional background also includes experience in nonprofit management, sports and entertainment, and corporate accounting & finance.

With a strong foundation in strategic planning, budgeting, human resources, and organizational development, she is passionate about supporting programs that empower young people. Her involvement with Stages began through her daughter’s participation as a student in the program. Inspired by the impact it had on her child, she joined the board to help the organization continue to thrive and grow. Christina is a native of Buffalo, NY and has a B.S. in Corporate & Personal Finance with a Minor in Economics from St. John Fisher University as well as a Masters in Business Administration.

Admiral has been a member and Treasurer of STAGES Board of Directors since 2010. During his tenure, he has worked to keep STAGES finances up to date and in working order. He has also lent his leadership to many STAGES initiatives including computer bookkeeping, the STAGES 24-hour project, and the annual GALA fundraising event. Admiral's on-stage experience is running campfire stage shows at Scout Camp. He brings a wealth of experience in non-profit administration, having served for over 30 years on the board of the Seneca Waterways Council, BSA, eleven of them as Vice-President, Quality Control. He is a Special Education Teacher at Monroe #1 BOCES, and is the Treasurer of BOCES United Professionals, NYSUT. His wife Gina is the reigning "costume queen" at STAGES and daughter Emily was regularly on our stage, working as student director or student costumer, and is looking forward to coming back to alumni shows. The Lord family is committed to helping STAGES provide education and practical opportunities for kids to perform all aspects of theatre.

Hector Manuel considers himself incredibly fortunate to be back at Stages for yet another thrilling chapter! Choreographing two Stages productions with a vibrant, talented group of students has been nothing short of a creative symphony—a dazzling blend of energy, passion, and artistic brilliance. Beyond his work as a choreographer, Hector has held a myriad of theatrical positions, including director, artistic director, and board member for various companies across the region. Now, as a proud board member, Hector is thrilled to help shape and support the future of this incredible organization. Being part of the board allows him to collaborate with fellow visionaries, champion young artists, and ensure that Stages continues to be a beacon of creativity, inclusivity, and theatrical excellence.

Kelly Metras is a seasoned entrepreneur and respected community leader based in Rochester, New York, with nearly three decades of experience in the hospitality industry. She is the co-owner of Salena’s Mexican Restaurant, a beloved local institution that she and her husband, Aaron, purchased in 2011 after spending years working in various roles within the business. Together, they have owned and operated several ventures, meaningfully contributing to Rochester’s vibrant small business landscape.

Beyond her work in hospitality, Kelly is a passionate advocate for women in business. In 2014, she co-founded BOSSY, a networking group that connects and empowers women entrepreneurs through events, workshops, and a robust private forum. She also co-hosts the podcast Getting Real with Bossy, offering candid conversations about the realities of business ownership.

Kelly’s dedication to community and education is reflected in her active participation on advisory boards, her engaging public speaking, and her work as a business consultant- where she helps other entrepreneurs elevate their operations and achieve sustainable growth.

Known for her pragmatic optimism, collaborative spirit, and unwavering commitment to community empowerment, Kelly brings invaluable insight and leadership to every role she takes on.

Sara Olles is a Senior Manager at MMB+CO, a public accounting firm in Rochester, NY, where she specializes in assurance services for clients in the financial and nonprofit sectors. Sara is a native of Albion, NY and holds both her B.S. in Accounting and a Master’s in Business Administration from St. John Fisher University.

At MMB+CO, Sara is actively involved in several firm committees, including the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, the Assurance Technology Committee, and the Women’s Initiative Committee—reflecting her commitment to fostering innovation, empowerment, and inclusivity in the workplace.

Beyond her professional career, Sara has a deep passion for the performing arts and for supporting programs that help young people build confidence and creativity through theater. She is proud to bring her financial expertise and enthusiasm for youth development to her role as a board member of A Magical Journey Thru Stages.

John worked for ten exceptional years in Executive Relations at Microsoft, then began a second career working with nonprofit organizations and independent schools, primarily in development, communications, problem solving, and sustainability. He most recently worked in Advancement and has been serving on the Alternative Revenue, Enrollment, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committees at Allendale Columbia School. John, who grew up in East Irondequoit and returned to the area in 2014, holds a B.A. in Natural Sciences from Colgate University supplemented with Master’s level courses in Teaching at Colgate and Public Administration at Seton Hall University and Rutgers University. John and his wife Lois live in Brighton with their two college-age Stages alumni, they enjoy traveling, theater, and movies, and all love the experiences and friendships they've developed with the Stages Family.

Tom Pembrook has almost 40 years of work experience with instrumentation and technical fields. He has taught classes of every size to people of all ages, including hands-on tech classes at Stages. He now brings this experience to Stages as the technical director.

Jamie is a graduate of Nazareth College, where she studied Technical Production with a focus on Stage Management, Lighting Design, Sound Design, Costume Design, Set Design, and Theatrical Makeup. She has been involved with Stages for several years and brings over three decades of experience in Technical Theater.

Debra Ross is founder and publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com. KidsOutAndAbout.com is an online resource for parents that Deb started in 2001 to help Rochester-area parents find all of our area's great resources and activities. It has since spread around the country and has 2.5 million readers per year. She is the author of Seasons and Reasons: A Parent's Guide to Cultivating Great Kids.

Deb earned her BA in English literature from the University of Pennsylvania. English majors can do everything or nothing, so Deb chose... computers. She started a technology consulting firm for the mail order/direct commerce industry in 1994. In 2001, her second daughter, Ella, was on the way, and Deb realized that the Rochester area had a wealth of activities for kids, but that she'd always hear about them after they had happened. So she created KidsOutAndAbout.com; its ample calendar serves as the backbone of the site. Deb wrote lots of reviews of Stages productions before her kids became involved in 2010. After that, her love of all that Stages did for her kids made her unable to write an unbiased review. But it only grew her fervor for helping the Rochester community realize what a wonderful organization Stages is. She's pleased to be able to contribute as part of the board.

Erica Silloway developed a love of theater at the young age of 7, when she saw Liza Minelli star in Act on Broadway. It was particularly memorable as it was Liza’s birthday and Erica had the special opportunity to sing Happy Birthday to her with the rest of the audience. In 2013, after watching a neighbor’s child perform in a Magical Journey Thru Stages production, she dove in head first, since enrolling her two small children in numerous school year musicals, plays, camps, and Improv troupes. A Title Specialist for Frontier Abstract and Research, Inc by day and a “Stages Parent” by night, Erica has also volunteered her time to the organization as Props Manager for copious shows and most recently came on staff as Box Office Manager. Her biggest accomplishment in life has been raising her kids to be the strong and confident young adults they are today. She credits the “village” she and her children have found within Stages for its contribution to her children’s happiness and success.

Sherry has been the Executive Director managing all aspects of STAGES since 2009 and was the Board President from 2009 to 2016. She has been involved in various capacities since 2003, when her now adult daughter did her first performance with Stages. Believing strongly that a youth community theater offers great benefits to kids who love performing, Sherry led Stages, with assistance from many others, into and through its transition from an inter-generational revue theater to the current full youth community theater. She continues to add creative programs, has increased revenue so as to hire staff, and is always searching for ways to improve Stages.

Sherry, recently retired as an attorney with the New York State Unified Court System since 1991, worked extensively in the area of commercial litigation involving many types of business transactions. This experience provides a broad spectrum of ideas, options, and direction for the business aspects of Stages.

Sherry recognizes that Stages is a family-oriented, high-quality theater due to many hours of dedication and commitment from staff, volunteers, parents and, most importantly, the kids. The families' positive response to the theater environment and programs Stages offers makes the continuing magical journey at STAGES all the more worthwhile.