Past shows

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to provide quality theatrical experiences to all people, whether they be in the audience, on stage, or behind the scenes. We look to add value to the ICC of Jamaica Estates by involving its members while also attracting outside participants and audience members, thus enhancing the church's value to the community.  We will work to harness and develop the artistic skills of all participants, while building friendships through creative collaboration.  We believe in fostering the educational value of the theatrical experience, to develop the skills and imaginations of the youth.  We commit to continually embrace new opportunities to make theater more accessible to all.

OUR ORIGIN

In 2014, 7 people who had a passion for theatre wanted to extend that passion to others. It was their mission to make theatre an attainable experience for not only aspiring performers, directors, technicians, or designers, but specifically to audiences that don’t always have the pleasure of going into Manhattan to gain the theatre experience.

In August of 2015 after countless efforts of finding the perfect fit for their dream, the Immaculate Conception Church of Jamaica Estates said “Let’s do it!” to the company’s founders. Royal Star Theatre was born.

Now, thanks to The Immaculate Conception Church, Royal Star Theatre is bringing the magic and education of theatre to the Jamaica, Queens Community.

OUR BOARD

	Amanda Doria, President, is a founding board member of RST, who has been performing onstage for over forty years. She has been seen onstage here at RST in Broadway Around the World, Side by Side by Sondheim, and Young Frankenstein. She was the Production Coordinator for Spamalot, Seussical, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and the Assistant Director for The Wedding Singer.  When not running Board Meetings, she is usually chasing after her extremely energetic 6-year-old. Somewhere in there, she manages to run the billing department at a boutique law firm on Long Island. Love to DRC & ELC.
	Erik Neilssen, Vice President, is proud to be a founding member of Royal Star Theatre. He has been seen on stage for RST's Broadway Around the World and Beyond A Dream Come True. He has directed Spamalot, Little Women ,and Newsies, receiving a Josie nomination for his work on Spamlot and winning the award for his work on Little Women. He was lead Production Coordinator for Broadway Around the World, The Wedding Singer, and Seussical the Musical, and Stage Manager for Side by Side by Sondhiem. Erik is grateful he has the opportunity to work with the RST Board to help develop RST's resources and build upon its technical abilities. He enjoys spending any down time he has with his wife Jackie and their dog Tucker.
	Charlene D. Greenberg, Treasurer, is proud to be one of the founding board members of Royal Star Theatre. She has over 35 years of producing experience ranging from Treasurer, which is her current position at RST, to President, Vice President, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer at the Free Synagogue of Flushing Community Theatre Group.
	JK Larkin, Secretary, is ecstatic to be joining the board of Royal Star Theatre. Previous credits with the group  include You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown!, Little Women, and both Valentine’s Day Revues. JK graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 2020 with a double major in Theater Performance and Directing with a double minor in Drama Therapy and Dance. Outside of his position on the board, JK is passionate about his collection of plants, reptile, amphibian, and fish, and brags about his Pokémon knowledge a little more than the average adult probably should.
	Tara Mangione, Marketing Officer, is ecstatic to be joining the board of Royal Star Theatre. They began their journey at RST performing in their debut show Broadway Around the World, and continued the journey performing in The Wedding Singer (Holly) and Seussical (Wickersham #1). Tara has been involved in other community theaters in Queens and Long Island for 10 years, not only performing but as a Stage Manager, Dance Captain, and Choreographer as well. After graduating from Molloy College/CAP21 with a BFA in Musical Theatre during the peak of the pandemic, they have been itching to get back into the swing of things. Outside of the theater world, they can be found doing projects on Photoshop, playing video games on their Nintendo Switch, or watching horror and Marvel movies.
	Amanda Montoni, Director of Financial Development, is one of the founding members of Royal Star Theatre. She has performed in Broadway Around the World, Spamalot, Seussical the Musical, and Newsies. She has contributed choreography to Broadway Around the World, Side by Side by Sondheim, and Young Frankenstein. Her directorial debut was made with The Wedding Singer, and she was a co-production coordinator for Little Women. She has had multiple roles on the board, but currently serves as the Director of Financial Development. When she is not bringing the magic of theater to the community through RST, she is doing so by teaching theater classes, choreographing and directing shows in Queens and Long Island, and teaching dance. Her creative mind doesn’t stop there, as she is also a published poet, author, and playwright.
	Alex Jamison Ferlazzo, Director of Resource Development, began performing with Royal Star Theatre in 2016 in the musical Spamalot after moving to New York from Philadelphia. RST immediately felt like family, and she became invested in performing with and helping this group. Since then, she has performed in Little Women, Young Frankenstein, The Wedding Singer, and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and was Assistant Director for Seussical the Musical! She joined the fundraising committee to help initiate fundraisers such as car washes and Kiss the Cast before finally joining the board in 2018 as Secretary. In 2019, Alex was elected as Vice President and continues to find joy serving in this role.
	Alison Kurtzman, Director of Communications Development, joined the board of Royal Star in January of 2019, but has been working with the company since Spamalot in 2016! She has worked in producer and director roles with RST and other local theaters for the last few years, but first fell in love with theater when she starred in her kindergarten play. Alison graduated from Syracuse University with a dual degree in Journalism and Psychology, before moving to the NYC area. When not working with RST, Alison works as the Communications Manager for Kaplan Inc.
	Maryellen Pierce, Director of Artistic Development, is one of the founding board members of Royal Star Theatre. She is grateful for the opportunity to have directed and choreographed five shows for RST - Broadway Around the World, Young Frankenstein, Melody of Love, Seussical, and half of No Strings Attached, our virtual offering during the pandemic. She has also been Production Coordinator for various RST productions and yearly talent shows. In the past 50 years, she has been involved in all aspects of theater professionally and for various community theater groups and schools throughout NYC. Before starting RST, she served as Artistic Director for FSF Community Theatre Group for 25 years. Maryellen has been nominated several times for Josie Awards and brought home the award for Best Director for Legally Blonde and Ragtime. As a newly retired H.S. Teacher, she now has more time to devote to theater and family.