POLARIS NORTH
a membership co-operative of theatre artists
POLARIS NORTH OF DIRECTORS 2024-2025
Board President
John Sannuto
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Board Member Since 2022
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Current Responsibilities/Committees Chaired:
Organization Admin/Policy, Studio Improvement, Fundraising, Membership, PR/Marketing Communications
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Theatre Bio:
PN Member since 2016.
Actor/Singer/Dancer/Director/Choreographer.
Adjunct Full Professor Drama, Long Island University
Board Vice President
Barbara Parisi
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Board Member Since 2024
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Current Responsibilities/Committees Chaired:
Entertainment Industry Audition Workshop, Grants/Fundraising, Policy, Industry Outreach
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Theatre Bio:
Director/Actress/Lighting Designer.
At PN co-directed John Corin’s play Brad Pitt and the Exploding Head (fall, 2023) From 2009 to 2017 Barbara directed and designed the lighting for Decades Apart: Reflections of Three Gay Men, an original one-man show, written and performed by Rick Pulos, which toured U.S. cities including San Francisco, Santa Monica, LA, NYC, and Connecticut. Also, Co-founder and Executive Director/General Manager of the Ryan Repertory Company at The Harry Warren Theatre in Brooklyn, NY since 1972. Barbara directed the Company in over 165 productions, ranging from musicals to dramas and comedies. Her interest lies in developing original work. Doctorate in Performance Studies from New York University’s Tisch School for the Arts. Professor of Communication Studies, Performance Studies, Gender Studies and Theatre at LIU Brooklyn. Editor of the Best American Short Plays series (2004-2010) for Applause Theatre and Cinema Books/Hal Leonard Group Publishing. Barbara is an ARTNY Board member and also spent nine years as a paralegal in her early career.
Board Treasurer
Francis Parkman
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Board Member Since 2015
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Current Responsibilities/Committees Chaired:
Finance, Fundraising, Policy
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Theatre Bio:
PN member since 1983.
Theatre maker.
Most recent sponsor of Polaris favorite Chance Acts! among many other productions at Polaris North.
Board Secretary
Jen Nolan
​profile in the members gallery​​
Board Member Since 2025
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Current Responsibilities/Committees Chaired:
Board Secretary
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Theatre Bio:
PN member since 2019.
Jen always knew that being on the stage or in front of the camera is where she had to be, from roles on stage like Nurse Kelly in Harvey, and Vicki/Brooke in Noises Off, to film roles such as Catherine in Weiland, and Anna in Transubstantiation.
She has taken a great deal of acting classes on the West and East coast over the years she's been studying.
She is honored and looking to do her best in her latest role as Secretary of Polaris North Board.
Board Member At Large
Damien Bosco
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Board Member Since 2024
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Current Responsibilities/Committees Chaired:
Studio Improvements, Lighting, Membership, Policy, Industry Outreach, Directors Group.
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Theatre Bio:
PN member since 2013.
Actor, Director.
He is a member of Actor’s Equity and the Screen Actors Guild. Damien has acted in Polaris North productions and has directed some. Damien is also an attorney who has counseled nonprofits in the past.
Board Member at Large
Meliora Dockery
profile in the members gallery
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Board Member Since 2021/2022
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Current Responsibilities/Committees Chaired:
Organization Admin/Policy, Polaris North Website Administrator
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Theatre Bio:
PN member since 2018.
Actor, Playwright, Audiobook Narrator, VO talent, and Monologist.
She earned a BFA in theatre arts from SUNY at Purchase. Mel has appeared in many Polaris North productions and has performed in major cities throughout the United States. Her book narrations can be heard at Audible.com.
Board Member At Large
Basil Horn
​profile in the members gallery
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Board Member Since 2025
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Current Responsibilities/Committees Chaired:
Polaris North Website
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Theatre Bio:
PN Member since 2016.
Basil Horn was born and raised in Moscow, Russia. He moved to the United States in 2001 to pursue acting and singing, and joined the Ryan Repertory Company in Brooklyn in 2007 as a set decorator and videographer. A year later, he had his U.S. debut as a performer in Ryan Rep’s benefit Harry Warren in Brooklyn (2008) and since then has performed in many shows with them.
He was a sound designer and media artist for Antinous (2011) by Amelia Arenas at the First Floor Theater, La Mama, and worked on multiple characters in Fires In The Mirror (2012) at LIU Brooklyn. He is featured in the short film 5 Minutes (2012) by Wilson M’Biavanga, which won Honorary Mention at the 2013 Los Angeles Movie Awards in the NYLA International Film Festival.
Since then he has performed in many plays in and around New York City and appears frequently in performances for Polaris North, both on Zoom and in person.
For the past seven years he has gained prolific experience and growth as part of William Roudebush’s workshop, Acting By Mistake.
He's also a visual artist and a hand-crafting artisan at sewing, knitting and crocheting.
Since 2010 he has run his own drapery and upholstery business, working closely with architects, interior designers and visual artists.
He graduated Summa Cum Laude from LIU Brooklyn in 2017 with a BFA in Jazz Studies.