Artistic & Production Staff
Lauren Page Burner
Producing Artistic Director
Lauren holds an advanced professional certificate in Performing Arts Administration from NYU's School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Currently a senior at New York University, she is an Educational Theatre major and Dramatic Literature minor. This summer, Lauren held a full-time internship with Theatre Communications Group, the national service organization for the not-for-profit American theater. As the Government, Education and Management Programs Intern, Lauren traveled with TCG to Denver, CO for the 2008 National Performing Arts Convention.
Lauren studied abroad at The American University of Paris in 2007; in 2006, she interned with the New York Musical Theatre Festival as a Gala Associate and Administrative Associate. In May 2009, she will be certified to teach Theater in New York and New Jersey, grades K-12.
Past Tragoedia directing credits include Side Show, Bat Boy, Zombie Prom and three annual Back to Broadway fund raisers. As part of Tragoedia's educational programming, she produced an acting workshop at NYU with original composer/lyricist of Bat Boy, Laurence O'Keefe. In 2006, she worked on the first-ever NYMF Awards Gala (an evening in honor of Broadway producer Kevin McCollum) which featured special performances by [title of show], The Drowsy Chaperone, Bob Martin, Sutton Foster and Anthony Rapp. A graduate of Miss Kim's School of Dance, Lauren studied jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop and point for fifteen years.
Steven Grimler
Associate Artistic Director
Steven assistant directed Tragoedia's production of Side Show this past summer. He made his debut with the company last year when he assisted with Tragoedia's production of Bat Boy. He is known for his past direction in Back to Broadway (2007), Schoolhouse Rock Live!, Plaza Suite, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Wizard of Oz, and A Christmas Carol. As a performer he has appeared in Footloose and was a lead player in the Edison Arts Society's Festival of One Acts.
Lisa Brown
Set & Scenic Designer
Lisa is a professional artist, NJACT reviewer and the resident set designer, props mistress and scenic designer for Tragoedia. She holds a BA in Art Education and English Education with certifications (K-12) from William Paterson College of NJ as well as a Masters in Education from Rutgers University in Education with a concentration in Creative Arts. A firm believer in the healing power of the arts, Lisa directs her training and workshops towards that end by developing "Art As Therapy" programs. Her work has been exhibited across the country from as far as California to as locally as the Watchung Arts Center. Past theater credits include Tragoedia's productions of Side Show, Bat Boy and Zombie Prom. Her other artistic ventures include photography, sculpture and writing. For more on Lisa and her work, visit her on the web at www.art-as-therapy.com.
Jean Burner
Executive Producer
Jean successfully helped produce Tragoedia Theatre's three annual Back to Broadway fundraisers, in addition to Side Show, Bat Boy and Zombie Prom. She has since completed her second year as a theater reviewer for NJACT and has seen over 20 theatrical productions this past year within NJACT, at New York University, and both on and off Broadway. Jean continues to enjoy working with the cast and crew and seeing them grow and share their talents.
Barry Burner
Company Manager
Past Tragoedia credits include Side Show, Bat Boy and Zombie Prom. Barry has been involved in the business community with Bethlehem Steel, AT&T, Lucent Technologies and currently with Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson Company. His main hobby is freshwater Tournament Bass Fishing and saltwater Striper fishing.
Brennan McVicar
Web Designer
Brennan is a senior majoring in Film & Television Production at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. When he's not making movies, he enjoys web and graphic design as well as programming. For Tragoedia, he designed the postcard for the production of Bat Boy as well as this website. He wishes Lauren good luck and hopes she enjoys the site.