Staff
Executive Director
David McCarthy
A native Nutmegger and dynamic leader with a passion for the arts, David brings a wealth of experience and creative vision to OHP. With boundless enthusiasm, expertise, and a passion for the arts, he aims to deepen community connections and inspire a shared love for community theater.
David is well-known for his nonprofit leadership, dedication to fostering creative collaboration and engaging diverse audiences. With a background in strategic communication, fundraising and development, and community organizing, McCarthy has consistently demonstrated a commitment to enriching communities through the arts.
David earned his Master of Environmental Management Degree from the Yale School of the Environment. His graduate work concentrated on forestry, natural resource management, climate change adaptation, and policy, as well as the practice of values-based communication and resilience.
As Executive Director, David oversees the organization’s strategic initiatives, fundraising and development, and community outreach. He aims to expand OHP's reach, create meaningful partnerships, and bring fresh perspectives to its acclaimed reputation and performances.
Email David:
d.mccarthy@operahouseplayers.org
Board of Directors
president
MAYA NICOLE MATTHEWS
Maya Nicole Matthews is proud to be in her fifth year of service with Opera House Players. She started as Publicity/Marketing Manager with an excellent team that reimagined the vision of marketing for the organization. Maya Nicole served as Vice President for 3 years before moving to the Presidency in 2024. She is very involved in the non-profit community and is currently the Executive Director of Enfield Loaves and Fishes, a community soup kitchen right across the pond from OHP. She is also on The Connecticut Science Center Gala Committee, the Enfield 4th of July Committee as the Community and Parade Director, and formerly served on the Board of ERfC. In her previous professional life, she worked for the Town of Enfield and the Enfield Board of Education. Maya Nicole is proud to have taken part in three Opera House Players productions as an actor, including the first non-musical by the organization at 100 High, American Son. She is the proud Momma to her son Kaleb—arguably her greatest accomplishment.
Email Maya:
president@operahouseplayers.org
Secretary
REVA KLEPPEL
Reva has been involved with the Opera House Players since 1999. She has performed in over 35 shows and considers OHP to be her "home away from home". She is happy to continue her role on the Board as Secretary. Trained as a public health social worker, she is employed at Baystate Medical Center as a Clinical Research Manager where she works in medical education assisting residents, faculty and medical students with their research and patient interaction skills.
Reva is also the founder of “Reva’s Returnables” where she collects redeemable cans, bottles and glasses and donates the proceeds to the Opera House Players to support the renovation of our new space.
Email Reva:
secretary@operahouseplayers.org
Executive Producer
LINDSAY RYAN THOMAS
Lindsay is a fifth-generation Connecticut theater performer, dating back to when her great-great grandfather appeared onstage in the earliest days of the Ivoryton Playhouse. Her mom started her own successful theater group at the age of 17, and some of Lindsay’s fondest childhood memories are of watching shows at Goodspeed Opera House from the orchestra pit, next to her dad.
With a passion for performance in her DNA, Lindsay originally studied voice in college, but ultimately chose to pursue a different career path and obtained a Juris Doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Law. She has over 15 years of experience in insurance and securities compliance and privacy.
Lindsay first became involved with OHP in 2016 when she played the Witch in Into the Woods. Other favorite OHP roles include Lucille Frank in Parade and Francesca Johnson in The Bridges of Madison County.
It was through her onstage work at OHP that Lindsay met her husband, Tim Reilly. They live in Middletown, and are the proud parents of Maeve.
Email Lindsay:
execprod@operahouseplayers.org
MEMBER AT LARGE
ARIANA MAGGIO
Ariana brings a strong background in business management to the Opera House Players, with a Bachelor of Science in Business from Bay Path University and an Associate of Science in Business Administration from Asnuntuck Community College. As the Business Manager at Meyers Sappington Law, she handles complex financial transactions, manages payroll, and oversees the everyday operations of the firm, while also offering strategic insights to help guide decision-making.
Ariana has a passion for supporting community organizations, which has been demonstrated through her previous work with Maya Nicole Matthews at Enfield Loaves & Fishes and her current role as Secretary of the Board of Directors for Educational Resources for Children. Her love for the arts and commitment to Opera House Players extends behind the scenes, where she is excited to apply her expertise to managing the Costume Warehouse. Ariana looks forward to using her skills in administrative management, financial planning, and organizational growth to help the Opera House Players thrive.
Email Ariana:
a.maggio@operahouseplayers.org
youth representative
ETHAN SIRARD
Ethan has been involved with Opera House Players since 2019. He has appeared in a variety of OHP productions, including Be More Chill (Michael), Kinky Boots (Ensemble), and The Little Mermaid (Prince Eric), and is grateful for the opportunity to serve as the first youth representative on the OHP Board of Directors!
In addition to his work with OHP, Ethan is a dedicated student and leader. He is currently a senior at Enfield High School. He is a member of the National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society. He is also a third-degree black belt and certified karate instructor at Villari’s Martial Arts. Among many other leadership roles, Ethan is proud to have represented the Enfield Lamplighters as both president and treasurer.
Ethan will forever have a love for theater. He looks forward to continuing his involvement with Opera House Players and helping inspire future generations of theater artists to feel the same passion he feels working with OHP!
Email Ethan:
e.sirard@operahouseplayers.org
VICE PRESIDENT
NATE FERREIRA
Nate has been involved with theatre since he was a kid. He quickly realized that he was more interested in the technical aspects of theatre than he was in performing. Nate has worked as a technical instructor or director for dozens of local high school and middle school performing arts programs, as well as regional and community theatre groups. He joined the board of the Opera House Players in 2019 as Facilities Manager after helping us with several technical emergencies at the Enfield Annex.
Among many other credits, Nate has been Producer/Program Director for the drama clubs at Enfield and Somers High Schools; and Technical Director at Granby Memorial High School, Enfield High School, and the Bing Arts Center.
Outside of the theatre, Nate runs an interactive media production company, a podcast network, and a custom apparel business. He also provides design and technical consultation for local photography, video, and audio recording studios.
Email Nate:
vp@operahouseplayers.org
Treasurer
MARC COSTANZO
Marc, known by many as Marcevan, graduated in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Marist College. He continued his education at SCSU where he earned a post-baccalaureate certificate in accounting. His work in bank, tax, and CPA firms has given him experience across multiple facets of finance and accounting for a wide array of business types. He currently works as an Accounting Manager for a cyber security firm in Danbury.
He owes his theatrical interest to his fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Sabatini. He has worked both on and offstage with a wide range of different theater groups across Connecticut since 2014. This includes OHP shows such as Twisted Tales of Poe, Rent, and American Son. He is excited and honored to take on this new challenge as OHP's treasurer.
Email Marc:
treasurer@operahouseplayers.org
PUBLICITY MANAGER
SARAH STEPHENS
Sarah has a bachelor’s degree in studio art with a focus in graphic design and a master’s degree in organizational leadership. She is an Art Director in the Marketing Department at Western New England University and has worked professionally as a graphic designer for over ten years. She works with writers, designers, photographers, and website and social media managers to promote the University’s many events, programs, and opportunities.
Since 2021, she has led OHP's publicity efforts. She oversees a team that manages social media, maintains the website, edits videos, writes press releases, and creates printed materials such as posters, postcards, programs, and merch. The publicity team also ensures that OHP is represented at community events to connect with local patrons, volunteers, and organizations. Cohesive branding is used across platforms to create communications that inform the community about each production and event, and presents OHP as the long-standing and revered organization that it is. She is dedicated to elevating and maintaining the OHP brand in the local community and beyond. She is grateful to be part of the OHP community!
Email Sarah:
publicity@operahouseplayers.org
MEMBER AT LARGE
NATE SINNOTT
Nate joined Opera House Players in 2021 and has since contributed as a sound designer to five shows, including RENT, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and School of Rock. He got his start in theater in eighth grade, when he first worked as a sound operator.
Currently, Nate is pursuing a degree in Computer Science in London. Despite being abroad, he handled sound design remotely for American Son, OHP's first non-musical production, and flew in to operate it during the show’s run. Alongside his studies, Nate worked at Apple, where he’s gained valuable experience in both customer relations and technology solutions. He also partners with Enfield Loaves & Fishes, where he takes the lead in modernizing their IT infrastructure to enhance the nonprofit’s operations.
Nate is excited to apply his experience in technology and IT to help Opera House Players grow. He looks forward to contributing to the group’s mission and helping ensure its success and sustainability for years to come.
Email Nate:
n.sinnott@operahouseplayers.org
