Director/Department Artistic Director

Cece is in her 32nd year with the Stratford Playhouse. In addition to directing and teaching theatre classes, she is married to Thomas and mom to Matthew and Zachary. CeCe is a past recipient of the Texas Educational Theater Association Educator of the Year and has won seven Tommy Tune Awards for directing. She is excited to welcome Alyssa Davidson to the team this year.

Technical Director

David is in his 18th year at Stratford as the technical director. He has a degree from the University of Iowa in English and a degree from St. Cloud State University in theatre education. He was the director of theatre at MacArthur High School for ten years. He has worked professionally and nonprofessionally in theatre companies in Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Cloud and Houston. He is married to Cindy and the proud daddy of Audrey and Iris.

Associate Director

Alyssa is in her seventh year at Stratford Playhouse. She has directed Mamma Mia, Zombie Prom, Footloose, Nunsense and Legally Blonde the Musical which was nominated for nine Tommy Tune Awards and won three: Best Ensemble, Best Costume Design and Featured Performer! She previously taught at Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School for three years. Alyssa is a Houston native who graduated from HSPVA, the University of Oklahoma with a BFA in Musical Theatre, and Rice University with a Master of Arts in Teaching. Alyssa couldn’t do this without her biggest supporters: her friends, family and her husband, Mike.

Choir Director

Marcie is in her seventh year as Director of Choirs and twelfth year teaching at Stratford High School—her alma mater and a place she’s proud to call home. Living her dream, she feels honored to work with such talented students and be part of Stratford’s exceptional fine arts team. Marcie holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Baylor University and a master’s from Florida State University. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation of musicians. Marcie thanks her family for their love and support—and a special thank you to her husband, Tommy Chenault, for his unwavering support.

Associate Choir Director

Gyasi J. Blanton, a native of New Jersey, is thrilled to be a part of the production team with Stratford Playhouse. He is an active musician, music director, music educator and composer/ arranger and is currently serving in his 6th year as the Assistant Director of Choirs at Stratford. Prior to coming to Texas, he was one of the artistic directors with the New Jersey Youth Chorus “Coro Vivo.” Under his direction, this ensemble performed at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and Madison Square Garden. Mr. Blanton’s compositions, Invictus, Entreat Me Not to Leave You, and The Dream Keeper, have been performed in recitals, master classes and concerts. He is passionate about researching and performing the non-idiomatic choral music by Black composers. He holds the Bachelor’s of Science and Bachelor’s of Arts degrees from Lincoln University, PA as well as a Master of Music Education degree from Florida State University. Thank you to my support system: my family and friends! Rest in Paradise Grandma!!!