STEVEN FLEMING
Executive Director
Steven Fleming serves as Executive Director of the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA), bringing decades of experience in arts education, school leadership, and theatrical production. Prior to joining CCTA, he served as Principal of Howard High School and as Assistant Principal at both Hammond High School and Oakland Mills High School. From 2007 to 2015, Steven was a theatre educator at Oakland Mills High School, where he cultivated a strong and vibrant theatre program.
Steven has written local and state theatre curriculum and served for several years as the lead technical theatre teacher for the Howard County Public School System. In this role, he helped develop and implement capital projects for the purchase and installation of new lighting equipment across all county high schools.
In addition to his educational leadership, Steven has an extensive professional theatre background. Beyond the productions he directed as an educator, he has directed and stage managed productions for Toby’s Dinner Theatre and the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts. Highlights include co-directing Les Misérables with Toby Orenstein at Toby’s Dinner Theatre and directing multiple seasons of CCTA’s Teen Professional Theatre program. In 2016, his production of Next to Normal with Silhouette Stages received the Ruby Griffith Award for Outstanding Achievement in a Musical. Most recently, he directed a staged reading of the new musical Joy Comes in the Mourning. Steven has also designed multimedia and lighting for numerous productions throughout the region.
Steven frequently presents at regional and national conferences, including the National Theatre Teachers Conference, the Maryland Thespians Festival, and the Maryland Theatre Teachers Conference. While working in the school system, he organized extensive educational travel opportunities for students, including annual trips to New York City and multiple trips to Europe. His passion for travel continues today, and he also works as a travel agent in his spare time.
BRYNN WILLIAMS
Programs and Education Director
Brynn Williams is a Maryland-raised, high-energy, self-proclaimed theatre geek with a lifelong passion for storytelling. She proudly serves as the Programs and Education Director for the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA) and brings more than 15 years of teaching experience and over 25 years of professional performance credits to her work. Brynn began performing professionally at the age of six, made her national television debut at ten, and appeared on Broadway by twelve.
Her Broadway credits include SpongeBob SquarePants (Sandy/Pearl understudy), Bye Bye Birdie (Ursula Merkle), and the original cast of 13 The Musical (Cassie), where she can be heard on the cast album and featured on the track “Brand New You.” She also portrayed Violet Beauregarde in the first national tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Brynn holds the distinction of being the youngest person ever to receive Broadway’s historic Legacy Robe and can be found featured throughout The Museum of Broadway in New York City, as well as in national magazines and college textbooks.
Over the course of her career, Brynn has shared the stage with an extraordinary range of artists, including Paul McCartney, Carole King, David Bowie, John Stamos, Audra McDonald, Paul Newman, Bernadette Peters, Jonathan Groff, Yolanda Adams, Alec Baldwin, and even Kermit the Frog.
When she’s not onstage or in the office, Brynn finds her greatest joy in the classroom, where she enthusiastically passes on her decades of performance and teaching experience to the next generation of storytellers—many of whom affectionately know her as “Miss Bubbles.”
GERALD JORDAN
Director of Special Projects
Gerald Jordan is a dedicated theatre educator and community arts leader based in Maryland. Since 2013, he has been a driving force at the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA), where he has developed, piloted, and led many of the organization’s signature programs, including Broadway Prep, Broadway Prep Jr., Junior Intensive, Senior Intensive, Rising Stars, Spring Break Camp, Middle School programming, and the Armistead Gardens Baltimore Outreach Program. His work centers on uplifting and empowering students through compassion, creativity, and a wide range of arts-based teaching techniques.
A proven entrepreneur, Gerald won a national business competition at the age of 15 and used the prize to launch a party rental company that he continues to own and operate today. His commitment to arts access and education has earned him local recognition, including being named Employee of the Year and receiving an honor from Visit Howard County for his community impact in 2022.
An accomplished performer, Gerald has appeared in numerous productions at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, portraying roles such as Jackie Robinson, Eddie Souther, Sam Wainwright, and Apollo Creed. He has also performed in multiple benefit concerts in New York City and has twice led the Young Columbians in performances on Broadway in support of the Arts for Autism benefit.
Gerald brings together entrepreneurial insight, professional stage experience, and a student-first teaching philosophy to create inclusive, high-quality arts experiences that inspire young people and strengthen the communities he serves.
MORGANNE CHU
Wardrobe Specialist
Morganne Chu grew up in Howard County, Maryland, and was a student of the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA) during high school. She is now a DMV-based performer who has appeared at numerous regional theatres, including Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Toby’s Dinner Theatre, NextStop Theatre Company, and Olney Theatre Center. In addition to her stage work, Morganne performs in television and film and works as a model.
After graduating from Oakland Mills High School and completing CCTA programs, Morganne attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), studying at both the New York City and Los Angeles campuses, where she earned a BFA in Musical Theatre. While living in these cities, she worked as a student seamstress in campus costume shops, collaborating with designers and gaining hands-on experience in costume construction and design.
When the pandemic brought theatre productions to a halt, Morganne turned her focus to sewing, creating custom costumes for Etsy clients and local businesses throughout the DMV. CCTA remained a pivotal part of her artistic journey, and when the opportunity arose to reconnect with the organization during its 50th Anniversary Gala—held on her 25th birthday—she eagerly embraced the chance to give back to the place that helped shape her as a performer.
Shortly thereafter, Morganne began teaching with CCTA and assisting with costume alterations. She now serves as Costumes Manager and Office Assistant and is thrilled to work alongside the dedicated staff and inspiring students who make up the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts community.
ETHAN HOGARTY
Technical Director
Ethan Hogarty serves as the Technical Director for the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA). He brings more than three decades of experience in sound design, live performance production, and technical operations to his role.
For 25 years, Ethan worked as a field technician for Cardinal Sound and Communications, serving the Baltimore metropolitan area, Washington, DC, and Virginia. In parallel, he has spent over 30 years working in local theatres as a sound technician, running and designing sound for a wide range of live performances and theatrical productions.
Before transitioning fully into live theatre, Ethan worked in radio and spent time as a disc jockey in nightclubs throughout the Baltimore area, developing a strong foundation in audio engineering and live sound environments.
At CCTA, Ethan enjoys building sets and overseeing sound design and production for all CCTA performances, supporting both the artistic vision of each show and the technical growth of the students he works with.
TORI ALIOTO
Assistant Technical Director
Tori Alioto joined the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA) in early 2024 as Assistant Technical Director. They are currently the youngest member of the CCTA staff, having graduated high school in 2021.
Tori attended Full Sail University, where they earned a Bachelor of Science in Film. After graduating, they began working at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in 2023, initially serving on run crew and assisting with production changeovers between shows. Through this work, they were invited by Technical Director Ethan Hogarty to join the CCTA staff.
At CCTA, Tori plays a key role in painting scenic backdrops, assisting with technical setup during rehearsals, and supporting sound operations. They have become reacquainted with setting up and running sound systems while contributing to multiple productions. In addition to their work at CCTA, Tori continues to assist with run crew at Toby’s Dinner Theatre and runs sound for another CCTA program, TAP.
Tori brings enthusiasm, adaptability, and a growing range of technical skills to every production, supporting both the artistic and educational missions of CCTA.
DENISE BUCKBINDER
Director of Finance
Denise Buckbinder has served as the Finance Director for CCTA since September 2014. A proud University of Maryland alumni, Denise brings extensive operational expertise to the organization, having spent years managing the day-to-day HR, financial and business operations of a minority-owned small business federal contractor in Columbia.
Denise is a strong advocate for the arts, having witnessed firsthand the positive impact an arts education had on her own daughter and son. In addition to her professional work, she has been a dedicated community volunteer for decades, serving in her children's schools and various non-profit organizations throughout the area
MIA WINSTON
Marketing Director
Bio Coming Soon.
