Making it Happen Behind the Scenes...

Joe Palmer - Executive Producer & CEO
E-Mail: jpalmer@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Joe brings a varied background and experience ranging from investment banking to education to the Carousel. He is nationally known as a speaker on merger and acquisition topics or marketing professional services and has authored two books and numerous publications.

Joe received his BSBA and MBA degrees from The University of Akron. He began his second of many careers in education teaching both high school and college. He left education to pursue a career as a financial consultant providing client services in debt financing, profitability analysis and business valuations. This career provided the springboard for Joe to launch another career in providing merger and acquisitions transactional services. He has been the lead negotiator on over 88 transactions throughout the United States exceeding over one billion dollars in aggregate value. He also co-sponsored an IPO in 1997.

Joe is very excited about refreshing his career again-especially with the Carousel.

He and his wife, Gloria, reside in Wadsworth, Ohio, while their much smarter and married daughters and grandchildren live in Florida.


David W. Slaght - President
E-mail: dslaght@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Mr. Slaght has led a fine career in culinary arts and restaurant management. He attended the world-renowned Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York and was subsequently appointed Executive Sous Chef at the City Club in Miami, Florida.

Upon his return to Ohio, Slaght was hired as Executive Chef at Carousel's original location in Ravenna, Ohio. Slaght assisted in the opening of the new Carousel in Akron and was promoted to Director of Operations shortly thereafter. He has served as General Manager since 1997, overseeing total theatre responsibilities for the Carousel and most recently in January of 2003, David became Co-Owner and President of the Carousel.

Over the past 20 years, Mr. Slaght worked at Paragon Restaurant Group, stinted as Corporate Executive Chef for Don's Pomeroy House and was part owner of a well known Akron Italian restaurant.

The Westlake, Ohio native enjoys the pleasures of seeing the Carousel's guests delight in an afternoon or evening of fine dining and theatre. When David is not working, he loves spending time with his three young children, Kendall, Kaden and Cooper. His other pastimes include boating, snow skiing, working around the house and cooking elegant meals for friends and family. David is also an active member of the Cuyahoga Falls Rotary as well as the American Culinary Federation where he serves on the board of the local chapter. Bon Appetit.


Sean Cercone - Vice President & Artistic Director
E-Mail: scercone@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Sean Cercone is in his fourth season as the Artistic Director at the Carousel. Cercone began his theatre career as the Founding Artistic Director of the West Virginia Shakespeare Festival.  While at Carousel, Cercone has been responsible for the development of a New Works program and the creation of Carousel’s Signature Series, which consists of one main stage production per year that is created through environmental style.  An enthusiastic member of NAMT, Cercone is the Co-Chair of the Festival Selection Committee and was selected as one of Crain’s Business 40 Under 40 Top Executives of 2004.  Directing credits include HOT L BALTIMORE, TAPE, DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, BRICK AND THE ROSE, THE HOUSE OF YES, PUMP BOYS AND DINNETTES and development of a new musical CUMBERLAND BLUES, written by Drama Logue-winner Michael Norman Mann and music by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter of the Grateful Dead.  Cercone received his M.F.A. from West Virginia University.  He has worked as a guest artist for The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival and American College Dance Festival and served as the Board President for the Cleveland Theatre Collective.


Lisa Miley - Director of Administration
E-Mail: lmiley@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Lisa has been at the Carousel longer than anyone in the executive offices and is the "go to" person on all administration issues. Lisa started at the Carousel as a hostess in 1978 when the theatre was located in Ravenna, her birth town. She eventually climbed her way up, working in just about every position possible at the theatre, including backstage as a dresser and as Box Office Manager. As Director of Administration, Lisa is responsible for all aspects of Accounts Payable and Receivable. Lisa lives with her husband and their two young daughters, Jenna and Raegan. She loves baking, reading mysteries and pop fiction, fitness, and spending time with her family.


Richard Ferensic - Director of Operations
E-Mail: rferensic@carouseldinnertheatre.com

An Akron native Richard has been in the hospitality industry for 30 years. After spending 10 years on the west coast holding executive positions at Lacosta Hotel & Spa and Trans Pacific Restaurant Group it was time to come back home and continue his career. Serving as General Manager at some of Northeastern Ohio's finest Country Clubs, Hotels and Restaurants Richard has gained insight as to how important the guest service and culinary departments are in the hospitality industry. "We have far less to fear from outside competition, than from inside inefficiency, discourtesy and bad service." Great food, great service and a great show that's what we strive for at the Carousel. As for Richard"s time away from the Carousel Dinner Theatre he enjoys spending time with his children and all activities that deal with the great outdoors.


Michael J. Stein - Production Manager
E-Mail: mstein@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Michael served as the Stage Manager for 26 years for the Carousel before taken on the role of Production Manager. His responsibilities include evaluating the technical integrity while developing and evaluating the production process as well as overseeing all technical areas of each production. Michael's career at the Carousel has taken him from the days of the "in-the-round" theatre in Ravenna, Ohio to the "state of the art" proscenium stage here in Akron, Ohio. Other theatre experience includes Long Beach Civic Light Opera; The Freedman Forum of Anaheim, California; Center Civic Repertory of Cleveland; The Kenley Players in Warren, Ohio and Macy's Parade Day Studio. Originally from Warren, Ohio, Michael is an alumnus of Kent State University and John F. Kennedy High School. He is the proud grandfather of 4, Alexis, Taylor, Zion and Chance, and loves to golf and support the Browns, Indians, Cavs and Buckeyes. As always love to Carlie for her support.


Sarah Lance - Marketing Manager
E-Mail: slance@carouseldinnertheatre.com

After living three years near Austin, Texas, Sarah is glad to be back in her native Akron, Ohio. She previously worked as a marketing assistant at a landscape architecture firm and as an account coordinator for an advertising agency. A graduate of Kent State University, Sarah received her B.B.A. in Marketing and holds a private pilot certificate for airplanes. She is very grateful for the love and support from her husband, Kevin. Hobbies include reading, riding bicycles, golfing, photography and travel.


Danielle Loibl-Gee - M.A.- Group Sales and Services Manager
E-Mail: dloibl-gee@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Danielle has been with the Carousel since January 2007.  Previously she had spent most of her career in the non-profit world of mental health.  She received a B.A. in Communications from the University of Cincinnati with a minor in Business Administration and an M.A. in Public Speaking from the University of Cincinnati with a minor in African American Culture. Currently she serves on the Board of Directors of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation.  She is a member of the 2007 Provisional class of Akron Junior League and an Alpha Delta Pi Alumnus.  She is a member of the Akron Summit Council on Tourism serving as First Vice President and a member of the Western Reserve Tourism Council, Ohio Tourism Association, The National Tourism Association, American Bus Association, the African American Travel Association as well as numerous North East Ohio Convention and Visitors Bureaus.  She is currently working toward becoming a Certified Tour Professional and Certified Travel Industry Specialist.  Danielle is also a certified fitness instructor at the YMCA in Tuscarawas county.  She is thrilled to be a part of the theatre and travel world and is grateful to the Carousel for giving her the opportunity to be a part of such a quality organization.  But most of all, she thanks every group that visits. Spending time with them is the best part of her job!


Susan C. Payne - Corporate Sales and Services Manager
E-Mail: spayne@carouseldinnertheatre.com

With over 25 years of hotel and service industry experience, Susan began working at the Carousel in the early summer of 2001. She provides local corporations and schools with information about the theatre, reservations, and our other services including banquet space, advertising and special programs. Susan came to us from the Radisson in downtown Akron, where she was the Sales Manager. She previously worked as the Director of Sales at the Holiday Inn Akron South for 20 years. Residing in Green with her husband, she has two children and enjoys golfing and spending time with family and friends.


Diane Motil - Group Sales and Services Representative
E-Mail: dmotil@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Diane has lived in Akron all her life. She is married with children and is the proud grandmother of one wonderfully terrific grandson. Diane began working at Carousel in Feb 2002 as a Box Office Reservationist, and in November 2005 she began working part time in Group Sales. In July 2006 she was promoted to the full-time position of Group Sales Representative. Diane is happy to be a part of the Carousel Dinner Theatre Staff.


Jodie Fiala - Network and Systems Administrator
E-Mail: jfiala@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Jodie came to the Carousel with Entertainment very near and dear to her heart. A graduate of Kent State University, Jodie spent most of her young career with SeaWorld Cleveland and Six Flags Worlds of Adventure. She joined the Carousel as the Box Office Manager in late 2004 and in early 2006 was promoted to Network and Systems Administrator.


Shelia Adams - Box Office Manager
E-Mail: sadams@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Shelia comes to Carousel after five years with the American Red Cross where she was instrumental in coordinating the delivery of emergency messages to military families and in reuniting families with International Tracing, which is an organization dedicated to reuniting families with those who are lost or missing in countries of conflict or are displaced due to the Holocaust. She has a Secretarial Science degree from Hammel College and is currently pursing a degree in Business Administration at Walsh University. Shelia resides in Summit County with her three children and wonderful husband. She enjoys kayaking with her family on Lake Superior and the Atlantic Ocean off Tybee Island, Georgia. Other hobbies include gardening, reading, farming and spending time with her loving family.


Jim L. Morrison C.E.C - Executive Chef
E-Mail: jmorrison@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Chef James L. Morrison is a Northeast Ohio native who attended the University of Akron. He is one of only a few chefs in the area to have earned the Certification level of Executive Chef through the American Culinary Federation. James has worked for nearly three decades in the industry in various regions of the country, learning the many flavors of American Cuisine. When he is not cooking, you will find him with his family, on his Harley or on the golf course chasing the little ball.


Clarence Edmonds - Guest Services Manager
E-Mail: cedmonds@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Clarence began working as a part-time and seasonal server at the Carousel back in 1988, when he owned his own construction company and needed work during the winter months. He was also attending The University of Akron at that time, and graduated in 1991 with a B.S. in Business Administration. Clarence quickly parlayed his new degree into his current position, where he is responsible for the complete satisfaction of your dining experience here at the Carousel. Clarence lives in Akron with his wife and their two children. When he's not strutting around the office singing, he loves doing interior home improvements, is an avid walker, and enjoys good jazz, football and boxing.


Brian Hedges - Maitre d'
E-Mail: bhedges@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Brian is a proud graduate of the University of Akron, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He came to the Carousel 14 years ago and loves working with and supervising the Back Server staff (16 to 20 year olds) for the past 7 years. "They give me a great deal of satisfaction and pride, back serving is a first employment for many of these kids." In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, gardening, being outdoors and being at home. Brian likes to visit New York City and the New England states. An Akron native and resident, he previously worked for Guys Party Centre as a wedding reception supervisor.


Jennifer Nicholas - Beverage Manager
E-Mail: jnicholas@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Jen is an Akron native and resident who joined the Carousel family as a food server in October 1998. With her fourth promotion, she received her current position of Beverage Manager in 2006.

When Jen is not working she enjoys spending time with her beautiful baby girl. She loves to shop and spend time with family and friends. However, just spending time with her daughter is all that really matters to her. Jen always has a smile on her face and loves to laugh with everyone. She enjoys her job here at the Carousel and cannot see herself anywhere else.

She would like to thank her family, friends, and her Carousel family for making her the person she is today. Much love to all.


Dale Dibernardo - Costume Designer and Manager
E-Mail: ddibernardo@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Dale Dibernardo has been designing costumes for theater, opera and television for more than fifteen years. A former New Yorker, she now makes her home here in Akron. She is credited with designing projects starring Rich Little, Sandy Duncan, George Chakiris, Peter Scolari, John Davidson, Dick Van Patton, Estelle Harris, Donna McKechnie, Priscilla Lopez and a host of other celebrated performers. She would like to thank Joe and David for adopting her into the Carousel family after serving thirteen years in foster care.


Steve Parsons - Resident Musical Director
E-Mail: sparsons@carouseldinnertheatre.com

Steve is pleased to be in his second full year at the Carousel. For ten years, Steve was the Resident Musical Director at The Players Guild Theatre. Other credits include The Ohio Shakespeare Company, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and productions in New York. Additionally, he provided new arrangements and orchestrations for Dean Pitchford’s official revised version of FOOTLOOSE, created new versions of the NUNSENSE scores for creator Dan Goggin, wrote original music for the hit video game COLLEGE SLAM, and performed in the “Tickestra” for the FOX animated television series THE TICK. Steve was also the arranger for the Grateful Dead musical CUMBERLAND BLUES, which was recently performed at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. An active composer and orchestrator, Steve is orchestrating the regional musical IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE and is a consultant and contributor to the upcoming biography of legendary songwriter Stephen Schwartz.

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For reservations or questions on Seating and Ticket availability,
contact the Carousel Box Office: (330) 724-9855 or (800) 362-4100
Carousel Dinner Theatre is located at 1275 E. Waterloo Road, Akron, OH  44306.

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 Carousel is proud to employ members of the American Federation of Musicians, Actors Equity Association and Society of Directors and Choreographers.