MJ Okawa

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Mesa Arts Center - Mesa, AZ 2014

DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER: Laura Christian

COSTUME DESIGN: MJ Okawa

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Emily Kupitz

LIGHTING DESIGN: Jeff Davis

SOUND DESIGN: Jeremiah Pflieger

MUSIC: Andrew Lloyd Webber LYRICS: Tim Rice

NATIONAL YOUTH ARTS AWARDS- Outstanding Direction: Laura Christian, Lighting Design: Jeff Davis, Outstanding Ensemble. Nominations - Leading Actor: Brady Quisberg, Caleb Allred, Featured Actress: Shanti Okawa, Guest Actress: Kristen Briggs, Supporting Actor: Nate Dutson, Dylan Pinon

Photo Credit: Tim Trumble Photography

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Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

CHOREOGRAPHER: Laura Christian

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Brent Maudlin

LIGHTING DESIGN: Jeff Davis

SOUND DESIGN: Jeremiah Pflieger

STAGE MANAGER: Kona Fotu

Photos by Tim Trumble Photography

BroadwayWorld.com Nominations - Best Set Design, Best Costume Design, Best Leading Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Choreography

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Higley Center for the Performing Arts, Gilbert, AZ 2011

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

CHOREOGRAPHER: Laura Christian

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Sam Henderson

LIGHTING DESIGN: Daniel Davisson

SOUND DESIGN: Jeremiah Pflieger

STAGE MANAGER: Katherine Roll Lang

Photos by Tim Pannell Photography

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Williamsfield Theatre, Gilbert, AZ 2010

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

CHOREOGRAPHER: Laura Christian

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Sam Henderson

LIGHTING & SOUND DESIGN: Neal Popoff

MUSIC: Alan Menken LYRICS: Howard Ashman, Tim Rice & Chad Beguelin, BOOK: Chad Beguelin

Photos by Cortney Hulse

School Edition

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Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ 2013

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

CHOREOGRAPHER: Shanti Okawa

MUSIC DIRECTOR: John Luke Osario

LIGHTING DESIGN: Daniel Davisson

SOUND DESIGN: Jeremiah Pflieger

STAGE MANAGER: Katherine Roll Lang

Photos by Tim Trumble Photography

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Higley Center for the Performing Arts - Gilbert, AZ 2009

DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER: MJ Okawa

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Michael Snyder

LIGHTING DESIGN: Daniel Davisson

MUSIC: Jerry Bock, LYRICS: Sheldon Harnick, BOOK: Joseph Stein

Photos by Tim Pannell Photography

COPPERSTAR REPERTORY CO.

Mesa Arts Center, 2014

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

CHOREOGRAPHER: Laura Christian

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Andrew Briggs

SOUND DESIGN: Jerimiah Pflieger

LIGHTING DESIGN: Jeff Davis

BOOK, MUSIC & LYRICS Lionel Bart - Based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Photos by Tim Trumble Photography

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Higley Center for the Performing Arts

Gilbert, AZ

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Sam Henderson

CHOREOGRAPHER: Laura Christian

LIGHTING DESIGN: Daniel Davisson

SOUND DESIGN: Jeremiah Pflieger

WIG & MAKEUP DESIGN: Gaye Zezulka

STAGE MANAGER: Cullen Law

Music and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty Based on the many children's stories of Dr. Seuss.

Photos by Tim Pannell Photography

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Higley Center for the Performing Arts, Gilbert, AZ 2012

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

CHOREOGRAPHERS: Jamie Hixon & Shanti Okawa

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Jenn Toon

STAGE MANAGER: Katherine Roll Lang

LIGHTING DESIGN: Daniel Davisson

SOUND DESIGN: Jeremiah Pflieger

FLYING: ZFX

MUSIC: Harold Arlen‎ & Herbert Stothart, LYRICS: ‎E.Y. Harburg, BOOK:‎ John Kane

Photos by Tim Pannell Photography

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Higley Center for the Performing Arts, Gilbert, AZ 2011

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

CHOREOGRAPHER: Laura Christian

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Rkiki Wamsley

LIGHTING DESIGN: Daniel Davisson

SOUND DESIGN: Jeremiah Pflieger

COSTUME DESIGN: Rebecca Willcox

STAGE MANAGER: Katherine Roll Lang

MUSIC, LYRICS & BOOK: Meredith Willson

Photos by Tim Pannell Photography

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Higley Center for the Performing Arts, 2010

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

MUSIC DIRECTOR: John Luke Osorio

CHOREOGRAPHER: Laura Christian

LIGHTING DESIGN: Jeff Davis

SOUND DESIGN: Jeremiah Pflieger

STAGE MANAGER: Katherine Roll Lang

MUSIC: Irving Berlin, BOOK: David Ives & Paul Blake‎

Photos by Tim Pannell Photography

Chandler, AZ

MANAGER | TEACHER | DIRECTOR

PERFORMING ARTS STUDIOS- Dance, Acting, Voice, Copperstar Summer Theatre Academy, Camps, Workshops and Copperstar Rehearsals

- Opened in 2012

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Higley Center for the Performing Arts, Gilbert, AZ

DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER: MJ Okawa

SCENIC DESIGN: MJ Okawa

COSTUME DESIGN: Rebecca Willcox

MUSIC DIRECTOR: D’Net Evans Layton

LIGHTING DESIGN: Daniel Davisson

SOUND DESIGN: Jeremiah Pflieger

MUSIC & LYRICS: Stephen Sondheim, BOOK: James Lapine

AriZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence: Best Scenic Design

CAST INCLUDES: Jaime Hixon, Richard Jones, Caitlyn Schow, Chris Okawa, Samuel L. Stith, Stephanie Shumway, Aaron Shumway, Brady Quisberg

Photos by Tim Pannell Photography

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Higley Center for the Performing Arts, Gilbert, AZ

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Sam Henderson

CHOREOGRAPHER: Laura Christian

COSTUME DESIGN: Rebecca Willcox

LIGHTING DESIGN: Daniel Davisson

SOUND DESIGN: Jeremiah Pflieger

MUSIC: Richard Rodgers. LYRICS: Oscar Hammerstein II

BOOK: Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse

AriZoni AWARDS: Music Direction

Photos by Tim Pannell Photography

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Higley Center for the Performing Arts

DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER: MJ Okawa

LIGHTING & SOUND DESIGN: Neal Popoff

STAGE MANAGER: Kelly Evans

MUSIC & LYRICS: Clark Gesner BOOK: John Gordon

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Higley Center for the Performing Arts, 2011

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

CHOREOGRAPHER: Alan Palmer

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Sam Henderson

SCENIC & COSTUME DESIGNER: MJ Okawa

LIGHTING DESIGN: Daniel Davisson

SOUND DESIGNER: Jeremiah Pflieger

STAGE MANAGER: Katherine Roll Lang

MUSIC: ‎Charles Strouse, LYRICS: ‎Lee Adams, BOOK: Michael Stewart

Photos by Tim Pannell Photography

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Higley Center for the Performing Arts, Gilbert, AZ 2011

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

CHOREOGRAPHER: Laura Christian

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Sam Henderson

LIGHTING DESIGN: Daniel Davisson

SOUND DESIGN: Jeremiah Pflieger

SCENIC & COSTUME DESIGN: MJ Okawa

STAGE MANAGER: Katherine Roll Lang

MUSIC: Charles Strouse, BOOK: Thomas Meehan, LYRICS: Martin Charnin

Photos by Tim Pannell Photography

GILBERT PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Mesquite Auditorium, Gilbert, AZ 2009

DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER: MJ Okawa

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Lori Stewart

COSTUME DESIGN: MJ Okawa

MUSIC: Richard Rodgers, BOOK & LYRICS: Oscar Hammerstein

Photos by Tim Pannell Photography

PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS: Promos for Productions Directed & Designed by MJ Okawa

TESTIMONIALS: Participants discuss their experiences and the impact the Copperstar organization had on their lives under MJ’s leadership.

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Mesa Arts Center, 2012

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

CHOREOGRAPHER: Laura Christian

MUSIC DIRECTOR: John Luke Osorio

LIGHTING & SOUND DESIGN: Jeff Davis

STAGE MANAGER: Katherine Roll Lang

BOOK: David Simpatico, MUSIC ADAPTATION: Brian Louiselle

Photos by Tim Trumble Photography

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Higley Center for the Arts, Gilbert, AZ 2009

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

CHOREOGRAPHER: Mark Reis

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Michael Snyder

LIGHTING DESIGN: Daniel Davisson

SOUND DESIGN: Jeremiah Pflieger

MUSIC: Andrew Lloyd Webber, LYRICS: Tim Rice

Photo Credit: Tim Pannell Photography

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Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe, AZ 2013

DIRECTOR: Cambrian James

SCENIC & COSTUME DESIGN: MJ Okawa

MUSIC DIRECTOR: John Luke Osorio

SOUND DESIGN: Jeremiah Pflieger

STAGE MANAGER: Katherine Roll Lang

BOOK: Stuart Ross MUSIC: Various

Photos by Tim Trumble Photography

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Higley Center for the Performing Arts , 2008- 2012, Tempe Center 2013 & Mesa Arts Center, 2014 - 2015

DIRECTOR: MJ Okawa

CHOREOGRAPHER: Laura Christian

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Lisa Lemay, Sam Henderson, Steve Wertz

COPPERSTAR REPERTORY CO.

Founding Artistic Producing Director

COPPERSTAR CLASS ACT: TYA Tour of Arizona schools, presenting professional performances and workshops reaching over 37,000 students.

COPPERSTAR STUDENT MATINEE SERIES: Performances attended by 1800-2200 students per production. Talk backs with the cast and students followed each performance and extensive Student & Educator Packets were created and distributed for all student matinees.