Meet Our Board

Joni Manfreedo, Producer/President

Derek M. Hamblin, Artistic Director

Founder

Derek Matthew Hamblin serves as founder and artistic director for Dance4Grandma Theatricals.   He received his B.A in Vocal Performance from Berea College, in Berea, Kentucky, and completed his studies for a Master's in Music (Music Theatre/Opera Performance at Southern Illinois University here at Carbondale.   While pursuing his musical education at Berea, Derek was a member, section leader, and secretary for the Berea College Concert Choir & Chamber Singers. With this ensemble, he was actively involved in recruitment, fundraising, and performed with this ensemble as a soloist and member throughout the United States and Europe.

He also held the position of Finale Desktop Music Publishing Assistant for the Department of Music, which assisted students and faculty with music theory publications and manuscripts. Instrumentally, Derek was Student Conductor and 1st chair Horn for the Berea College Concert Wind Ensemble, and a tenor saxophonist for the Berea College Jazz Ensemble, which also toured. He also helped the Theatre department in music composition (Shakespeare’s The Tempest ’98-’99) and was Chorus Master/Cast in Camelot.

SIU Credits: RUTH (Premiere), Don Pasquale (Ernesto), Parade (Britt Craig), BatBoy (Mrs.Taylor/Rev. Hightower), Singer in Festival of Spirituals Event.

Professional Credits: Jenny Wiley Theatre, Prestonsburg KY {2001 & 2002}

The Taffatas (Cousin Rick/Piano/Mus Dir), Annie (Orch/Asst Mus), Fiddler on the Roof (Orch/AMD), Legend of Jenny Wiley (Orch/AMD), You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Orch/AMD), Guys & Dolls (Orch), New York, New York! Cabaret (Orch), & Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (Asher). Lincoln Amphitheatre, Evansville/Lincoln City, Indiana {2003-2005}~ Young Abe Lincoln (Slave Handler/Chorus/Reh. Accomp), Fiddler on the Roof (Russian Soloist/Lazar Wolf~Understudy), South Pacific (Chorus/Reh Accomp)

Other

• A Chorus Line & CATS (Music Director~ ARTStarts )
• CATS & AIDA ( Keyboards~ McCleod Summer Playhouse & Carbondale Com. Arts)
• Songs for A New World ( Eastern Ky University), Mozart’s The Magic Flute(Tamino~Eastern Ky University), Scrooge(Ghost of Xmas Present~ Eastern Ky University)
• Co-Founder of Musica Antiqua, a professional acapella ensemble that performed in Eastern States, and Europe.
• Member of American Choral Director’s Association during 2001 (Attended the National Convention in San Antonio, TX)
• 1st place finalist for Junior Men’s, Senior Men’s, & Advanced Men’s Categories (’01 ’02 ’03) Kentucky National Association of Teacher’s of Singing
• Recital Presenter( Junior, Senior, History of Music Theatre, and Graduate)
• Major Choral Works( Messiah, Rutter Requiem)
• Studies Abroad~ Choral Performance, Opera Performance, Instrumental History, and Music History( Kentucky Institute for International Studies~Salzburg, Austria)

Technical Director

Brandyn McGee

Jeff Hale

Chris Chaney,Costumes

Calling Herrin, Illinois his home, Chris is actively involved in costume creation and holds an Associate's Degree in Costume Design.  From the stage to Project Runway, Chris's designs and creation's have been seen not only in the Southern Illinois area, but nation wide.

D4G WebMaster

Dale Green

Berea, Kentucky native, Dale Green holds a B.A in English(Creative Writing) from Berea College in Berea, KY.  He currently writes free-lance, is actively involved in theatre, and is a a wiz at computer stuff! 

Who We Are

Dance4Grandma Theatricals is Carbondale, Illinois's newest Music Theatre company dedicated to providing Southern Illinois with quailty Broadway style shows!