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Our Faculty
Tammy Franklin- Founder & Director- Tammy started performing at the ripe old age of 6. She
was active in the vocal jazz program at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, and
completed college at the University of Colorado- Denver, majoring in vocal music. She has
been musical director on "Oliver Twist" and "Free to Be, You and Me" and directed Rogers &
Hammerstein's "Cinderella", "If the Shoe Fits", "The Wizard of Oz", "Brigadoon", "Bye Bye Birdie",
"Honk!", Disney's "101 Dalmatians- Kids", "Who Am I This Time", "The Tale That Wagged the
Dog", "The Gift of the Magi", Disney's "Beauty & The Beast", "The Sound of Music", "Miracle on
34th Street", "Damn Yankees", "Shenandoah", Disney's "High School Musical" and "The
Seussification of Romeo & Juliet". She taught vocal music for 11 years. Not a seamstress, but
a gifted shopper, she has also costumed such shows as: "Alice in Wonderland", "The Sound of
Music", "Miracle on 34th Street", Disney's "Aladdin" and "Shenandoah". Her own performing
credits include: "Brigadoon" (Meg), "The Sound of Music" (Liesl), "Oklahoma!" (Ado Annie), "The
Sound of Music" (understudy- Maria), "Shenandoah" (chorus), "The King and I" (chorus), "State
Fair" (chorus), "South Pacific" (chorus), "Annie" (Grace Farrell), "Nunsense" (Mother Superior)
and "Honk!" ((Ida). Her family attends Highlands United Methodist Church, where she is the
worship accompanist. Tammy 's biography is featured in the 2006 and 2008 editions of
"Who's Who Among American Women" and in the 2007 edition of "Who's Who in America". She
also reviews theatre for National Youth Theatre (www.nationalyouththeatre.com). The biggest
accomplishments she sites so far, though, are her 2 boys, Peter and Cole.
Eric Franklin- Director, head of technical theatre, Director- Eric is pleased to be part of Rising
Curtain's team. He has designed the sets and ran the technical perspective on many shows,
including "Wizard of Oz", "Yearbook", "Free to Be, You and Me", "Brigadoon", "Bye Bye Birdie",
"Honk!", Disney's "101 Dalmatians- Kids", "Who Am I This Time", "The Tale That Wagged the
Dog", "The Gift of the Magi", Disney's "Beauty & The Beast", and "The Sound of Music", "Miracle
on 34th Street", "Damn Yankees", Disney's "Aladdin", "Shenandoah", Disney's "High School
Musical" and "The Odd Couple". When convinced to do it, he is a great actor, having played
such parts as Samuel in "The Curious Savage", Marley in "A Christmas Carol", a police officer
in "Annie" and Bullfrog in "Honk!". He took to the stage again during the holiday season of 2007
in a magical performance as Kris Kringle in "Miracle on 34th Street" and starred as Oscar
Madison in the fall fundraiser show, "The Odd Couple".
Buffy Barfoot- faculty/ choreographer- Buffy holds a Master's Degree from the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an emphasis in choreography and performance. She
received her Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Alabama. The Ashiya
International Ballet in Japan commissions her for a guest artist residencies each year. She is
also a certified yoga instructor. Buffy is doing the choreography for "Once Upon A Mattress" this
year.
Sheri Despain, faculty/ musical director- Sheri started playing the piano when she was 11
years old. She has always enjoyed playing both piano & clarinet + singing. She has
participated in many choirs through her life as singer, accompanist and director. She has been
part of church productions of "The Wizard of Oz" and "My Fair Lady". Her proudest moments are
as a wife and mom to three talented children. She has been a piano teacher for the past 10
years and enjoys helping her students to develop their talents. Sheri has been blessed and
challenged to be the organist at her family's church for the past 7 years. We were pleased to
have her as part of our productions of "Damn Yankees" and Disney's "High School Musical"
and this year, she is working with us again for "Once Upon A Mattress" and "Seussical".
Kerry Greenhill- faculty/ musical director- Kerry is the Choir Director at Highlands United
Methodist Church, and is proud to carry on a family tradition of a love of music and theatre. She
has sung in choirs and other musical groups for almost as long as she can remember, and
started directing them while still in high school. Kerry has also performed in musicals and
plays from "Oliver!" and "Godspell" to "Auntie Mame" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and
once directed a student production of "The Importance of Being Earnest". Having served many
of her teenage years volunteering in church nurseries, she has worked with Highlands UMC's
Vacation Bible School program for the past two years. Kerry graduated with a Master of Divinity
from the Iliff School of Theology, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Education from the
College of William & Mary in Virginia. She is currently the associate pastor at Highlands United
Methodist Church. Kerry has served as director on RC's Developing Dramatics productions of
"Stories from Pooh" and "Alice in Wonderland", did the musical direction for Disney's "101
Dalmatians" and was one of our musical directors on "Shenandoah" this spring.
RaeLynne Hicks- faculty- RaeLynne is a gifted pianist who is accompanying for our turn at the
Musical Theatre Competitions of America this February. She & her husband own a business in
Strasburg, so she can tell you a LOT about commuting to classes! 2 of her children, Johnathan
(Young Joe Hardy, "Damn Yankees", Chad Danforth, Disney's "High School Musical" & Rolf
Gruber, "The Sound of Music) & Bekah (ensemble, Disney's "High School Musical" and the
herald in Disney's "Cinderella"), act with Rising Curtain.
Charlotte O'Hara- faculty- Charlotte is a proud mama to 4 children- Rob, Jaclyn and Daniel
(who are all actors at Rising Curtain) and Hannah, who will start classes as soon as she turns
3, no doubt! Charlotte played Doris Walker in our production of "Miracle on 34th Street" and
was the kooky Ms. Darbus in Disney's "High School Musical" this summer. She has assisted
or directed several of our younger children's and middle school classes. We are thrilled to
have her as part of our team!
Jaclyn O'Hara- senior student intern/ choreographer- Jaclyn is a high school senior who has
also started college classes. She is heading up the choreography for Disney's "Cinderella"
and also teaches the "Dance for Actors" elementary class as well as many of our off-site after
school enrichment classes. Jaclyn has many, many years of dance experience in a variety of
disciplines and choreographs numbers even in her sleep. She has been part of the RC
program since the very beginning, having played the Enchantress in Disney's "Beauty & The
Beast", Doris in "Damn Yankees" and several other roles. She will grace our stage again this
spring as Lady Larken in "Once Upon A Mattress".
Meghan Rowe- faculty/ choreographer- Meghan is a graduate of Benedictine College in
Atchison, Kansas, where she graduated with honors magna cum laude. She has been
featured in "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges (2006-2007
edition) and was named to the National Dean's List. She has taught dance and served her
internship at Benedictine College and was captain & choreographer for their Varsity Spirit
Squad. Meghan is choreographing for RC this year on our Monday Competition Class and
"Seussical".
was active in the vocal jazz program at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, and
completed college at the University of Colorado- Denver, majoring in vocal music. She has
been musical director on "Oliver Twist" and "Free to Be, You and Me" and directed Rogers &
Hammerstein's "Cinderella", "If the Shoe Fits", "The Wizard of Oz", "Brigadoon", "Bye Bye Birdie",
"Honk!", Disney's "101 Dalmatians- Kids", "Who Am I This Time", "The Tale That Wagged the
Dog", "The Gift of the Magi", Disney's "Beauty & The Beast", "The Sound of Music", "Miracle on
34th Street", "Damn Yankees", "Shenandoah", Disney's "High School Musical" and "The
Seussification of Romeo & Juliet". She taught vocal music for 11 years. Not a seamstress, but
a gifted shopper, she has also costumed such shows as: "Alice in Wonderland", "The Sound of
Music", "Miracle on 34th Street", Disney's "Aladdin" and "Shenandoah". Her own performing
credits include: "Brigadoon" (Meg), "The Sound of Music" (Liesl), "Oklahoma!" (Ado Annie), "The
Sound of Music" (understudy- Maria), "Shenandoah" (chorus), "The King and I" (chorus), "State
Fair" (chorus), "South Pacific" (chorus), "Annie" (Grace Farrell), "Nunsense" (Mother Superior)
and "Honk!" ((Ida). Her family attends Highlands United Methodist Church, where she is the
worship accompanist. Tammy 's biography is featured in the 2006 and 2008 editions of
"Who's Who Among American Women" and in the 2007 edition of "Who's Who in America". She
also reviews theatre for National Youth Theatre (www.nationalyouththeatre.com). The biggest
accomplishments she sites so far, though, are her 2 boys, Peter and Cole.
Eric Franklin- Director, head of technical theatre, Director- Eric is pleased to be part of Rising
Curtain's team. He has designed the sets and ran the technical perspective on many shows,
including "Wizard of Oz", "Yearbook", "Free to Be, You and Me", "Brigadoon", "Bye Bye Birdie",
"Honk!", Disney's "101 Dalmatians- Kids", "Who Am I This Time", "The Tale That Wagged the
Dog", "The Gift of the Magi", Disney's "Beauty & The Beast", and "The Sound of Music", "Miracle
on 34th Street", "Damn Yankees", Disney's "Aladdin", "Shenandoah", Disney's "High School
Musical" and "The Odd Couple". When convinced to do it, he is a great actor, having played
such parts as Samuel in "The Curious Savage", Marley in "A Christmas Carol", a police officer
in "Annie" and Bullfrog in "Honk!". He took to the stage again during the holiday season of 2007
in a magical performance as Kris Kringle in "Miracle on 34th Street" and starred as Oscar
Madison in the fall fundraiser show, "The Odd Couple".
Buffy Barfoot- faculty/ choreographer- Buffy holds a Master's Degree from the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an emphasis in choreography and performance. She
received her Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Alabama. The Ashiya
International Ballet in Japan commissions her for a guest artist residencies each year. She is
also a certified yoga instructor. Buffy is doing the choreography for "Once Upon A Mattress" this
year.
Sheri Despain, faculty/ musical director- Sheri started playing the piano when she was 11
years old. She has always enjoyed playing both piano & clarinet + singing. She has
participated in many choirs through her life as singer, accompanist and director. She has been
part of church productions of "The Wizard of Oz" and "My Fair Lady". Her proudest moments are
as a wife and mom to three talented children. She has been a piano teacher for the past 10
years and enjoys helping her students to develop their talents. Sheri has been blessed and
challenged to be the organist at her family's church for the past 7 years. We were pleased to
have her as part of our productions of "Damn Yankees" and Disney's "High School Musical"
and this year, she is working with us again for "Once Upon A Mattress" and "Seussical".
Kerry Greenhill- faculty/ musical director- Kerry is the Choir Director at Highlands United
Methodist Church, and is proud to carry on a family tradition of a love of music and theatre. She
has sung in choirs and other musical groups for almost as long as she can remember, and
started directing them while still in high school. Kerry has also performed in musicals and
plays from "Oliver!" and "Godspell" to "Auntie Mame" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and
once directed a student production of "The Importance of Being Earnest". Having served many
of her teenage years volunteering in church nurseries, she has worked with Highlands UMC's
Vacation Bible School program for the past two years. Kerry graduated with a Master of Divinity
from the Iliff School of Theology, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Education from the
College of William & Mary in Virginia. She is currently the associate pastor at Highlands United
Methodist Church. Kerry has served as director on RC's Developing Dramatics productions of
"Stories from Pooh" and "Alice in Wonderland", did the musical direction for Disney's "101
Dalmatians" and was one of our musical directors on "Shenandoah" this spring.
RaeLynne Hicks- faculty- RaeLynne is a gifted pianist who is accompanying for our turn at the
Musical Theatre Competitions of America this February. She & her husband own a business in
Strasburg, so she can tell you a LOT about commuting to classes! 2 of her children, Johnathan
(Young Joe Hardy, "Damn Yankees", Chad Danforth, Disney's "High School Musical" & Rolf
Gruber, "The Sound of Music) & Bekah (ensemble, Disney's "High School Musical" and the
herald in Disney's "Cinderella"), act with Rising Curtain.
Charlotte O'Hara- faculty- Charlotte is a proud mama to 4 children- Rob, Jaclyn and Daniel
(who are all actors at Rising Curtain) and Hannah, who will start classes as soon as she turns
3, no doubt! Charlotte played Doris Walker in our production of "Miracle on 34th Street" and
was the kooky Ms. Darbus in Disney's "High School Musical" this summer. She has assisted
or directed several of our younger children's and middle school classes. We are thrilled to
have her as part of our team!
Jaclyn O'Hara- senior student intern/ choreographer- Jaclyn is a high school senior who has
also started college classes. She is heading up the choreography for Disney's "Cinderella"
and also teaches the "Dance for Actors" elementary class as well as many of our off-site after
school enrichment classes. Jaclyn has many, many years of dance experience in a variety of
disciplines and choreographs numbers even in her sleep. She has been part of the RC
program since the very beginning, having played the Enchantress in Disney's "Beauty & The
Beast", Doris in "Damn Yankees" and several other roles. She will grace our stage again this
spring as Lady Larken in "Once Upon A Mattress".
Meghan Rowe- faculty/ choreographer- Meghan is a graduate of Benedictine College in
Atchison, Kansas, where she graduated with honors magna cum laude. She has been
featured in "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges (2006-2007
edition) and was named to the National Dean's List. She has taught dance and served her
internship at Benedictine College and was captain & choreographer for their Varsity Spirit
Squad. Meghan is choreographing for RC this year on our Monday Competition Class and
"Seussical".
